Chapter 47 The Prince's Failed Rebellion
Zhang Xiaojia jumped off his horse and walked into the mansion without hesitation. With a sharp look, he signaled the guards to immediately subdue and tie up the doorman.
She decisively ordered, "An Si, lead the troops and seal off the front and back yards. No one is allowed to leave without permission."
The guards moved quickly, each doing their job, ensuring that every room was guarded to prevent anyone from escaping.
Zhang Xiaojia waited for the opportunity, and soon, An Yi arrived with the Chief Censor and a group of censors.
Zhang Xiaojia's tone was cold and resolute: "My Lords, I'm giving you an opportunity to make a contribution. Princess Anguo was tortured to the point of being on the verge of death by Duke Hengguo. Her son died tragically, and her daughter is seriously ill with no imperial physician to treat her. Duke Hengguo's son favored his concubine over his wife and even embezzled her dowry."
The Chief Censor was so angry at Zhang Xiaojia's attitude that he blew his beard and glared at her. His hands were shaking as he pointed at her, "You, you, you..."
Zhang Xiaojia sneered, "You can report me all you want, but if you don't give me justice for Princess Anguo's affairs, I'll tear down your entire house. At worst, I'll go to the imperial mausoleum."
"Bai Zhu, give the dowry list of Princess Anguo to the Chief Censor."
An Si returned and reported, "My Lord, as per your request, every room is guarded. All have been ordered to remain where they are and no one is allowed to enter or leave."
Zhang Xiaojia said, "Take this county lady, the Chief Censor, and the Lord Censor with you to the Anguo Princess's courtyard."
An Si brought them to the courtyard in the far corner of Duke Hengguo's house.
The weeds were overgrown, almost knee-high, and the stone path was covered with fallen leaves and dead branches, making a small, lonely sound with every step.
In the center of the yard, a rockery stands alone, with moss occasionally clinging between the cracks in the rocks, adding a bit of desolation.
Although the surrounding houses still retain their former outlines, most of the doors and windows are dilapidated, and the peeling paint on the wooden frames tells us that the past glory is gone.
There are also many missing tiles on the roof. Whenever it rains, water droplets drip onto the bluestone slabs, adding a touch of desolation.
The flowerbeds in the courtyard had long been abandoned, their former profusion of blossoms gone. Only a few stubborn wildflowers remained, swaying in the wind, looking particularly lonely. A gust of wind blew, stirring up the dead leaves and dust on the ground, as if whispering about the courtyard's current desolation.
Zhang Xiaojia and his friends walked into the house. Although it looked simple on the outside, the inside was spotlessly clean.
Lotus was wearing coarse clothes and feeding medicine to a little girl.
When He Hua saw Zhang Xiaojia, she immediately cried and said, "Princess Lin'an, you are finally here."
Zhang Xiaojia walked up to the child and saw that the child was pale and thin, seriously ill, and looked extremely weak.
In the dead of winter, this simple dwelling lacked even floor heating or a fireplace, and the cold relentlessly invaded every corner. The child huddled in thin bedding, shivering, his eyes vacant.
Zhang Xiaojia took off his leather jacket, wrapped her up in it, fed her some nutrient solution, crushed some health pills, and slowly fed them to her.
Zhang Xiaojia stepped into the inner room again, and the scene before her made her heart ache.
Princess Anguo, once the most gentle elder sister, is now on the verge of death, barely breathing. Her face is as pale as paper, and her body is so thin that it seems like a gust of wind can blow her down.
Zhang Xiaojia didn't have time to think about it, so he ran over and took Princess Anguo's pulse with trembling hands.
She is a miracle doctor, but she is not a deity. Princess Anguo's condition has deteriorated to an irreversible point, and her vitality is rapidly fading.
Tears welled up in Zhang Xiaojia's eyes. She hugged Princess Anguo tightly and said in a choked voice, "Sister Yue, Xiaojia is here."
Princess Anguo forced a smile. She placed her hand gently on Zhang Xiaojia's shoulder and said weakly, "Xiaojia, don't be sad. I'll leave Mingming in your care. I... I want to see the plum blossoms again, okay?"
Zhang Xiaojia nodded quickly, took out a precious pill from his arms, and forced it into Princess Anguo's mouth.
This could not save Princess Anguo's life, but at least it could reduce the pain she suffered in her final days.
Zhang Xiaojia carefully picked up Princess Anguo and said gently, "I'll take you to see the plum blossoms, Sister Yue."
Seeing this, the Chief Censor stepped forward and said, "I have plum blossoms at home, Princess Lin'an..."
Zhang Xiaojia did not hesitate. He carried Princess Anguo all the way out of the Duke Hengguo's Mansion, jumped on the horse's back, and galloped away.
She had only one thought in her mind: to let Princess Anguo see her favorite plum blossoms at the last moment of her life.
Arriving at the Censor-in-Chief's residence, Zhang Xiaojia kicked the door down with all her might. She cried out, "Where is the plum blossom?"
The guard recognized Zhang Xiaojia and knew the situation was urgent, so he quickly led the way: "Princess Lin'an, please follow me."
They arrived at a plum blossom forest. The trees were in full bloom, their fragrance filling the air. Princess Anguo gazed at the beauty before her, a long-lost smile breaking across her face.
In the plum blossom forest, Princess Anguo's smile was like a ray of sunshine on a winter's day, warm but fleeting. Zhang Xiaojia held her tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, she would turn into a wisp of smoke and drift away in the wind.
"Sister Yue, look at this plum blossom, how beautiful it is. Just like you, it can bloom with the most gentle brilliance even in the coldest season." Zhang Xiaojia said with a sob, her voice full of admiration and reluctance for Princess Anguo.
Princess Anguo's gaze wandered among the plum blossoms, as if searching for something. Her eyes settled on a particularly vibrant blossom, which seemed to stand out from the crowd, blooming with its own brilliance.
"Xiao Jia, life is like a plum blossom. Even in a bad environment, you must strive to bloom. Unfortunately, I couldn't persist..." Princess Anguo's voice became weaker and weaker, and her eyes began to blur.
Zhang Xiaojia listened, tears streaming down her face. She held Princess Anguo's hand tightly, feeling the faint warmth from her fingertips.
Princess Anguo's eyes began to blur and her breathing became weaker and weaker.
"It's great to have you by my side in the end."
Zhang Xiaojia was extremely anxious. She called out the name of Princess Anguo, trying to wake her up. But no matter how hard she tried, Princess Anguo did not respond to her.
At this moment, time seemed to freeze. Zhang Xiaojia hugged Princess Anguo, feeling her body gradually grow cold.
The plum blossoms swayed in the cold wind, as if mourning the departure of Princess Anguo.
Zhang Xiaojia hugged her quietly, his tears falling on the plum blossoms and blending with the ice and snow.
With red eyes, she said, "Princess Lin'an, the coffin is ready. Don't worry, it's the coffin that my grandmother prepared for me."
Zhang Xiaojia's bloodshot eyes said, "Go to the Ministry of Justice or the Dali Temple to find a female coroner to come to my mansion to perform an autopsy on Sister Yue. Also, ask Su Qian to perform an autopsy on my mansion. Go and ask the Second Emperor's uncle to return to the capital and come to my mansion. I will make them pay for their blood debt with blood."
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