Chapter 52: Forgotten Clues
The "Seven-Star Lotus" and other precious medicinal materials that were sent to Medicine King Valley at full speed were like timely rain, saving the old valley master's life which was in danger.
Hu Qing was filled with gratitude and stayed by his master's bedside day and night, personally decocting medicine and treating his illness.
Ten days later, the old valley master finally woke up from his coma. Although he was still weak, his eyes had regained clarity.
Upon learning that it was the Crown Prince of the capital who gave him the medicine to save him, the old man sighed, his eyes filled with mixed emotions.
When his health improved a little and he was able to speak intermittently, the old valley master called Hu Qing to the bedside and dismissed his attendants.
He tightly grasped his disciple's hand with his bony hands, his voice hoarse and heavy: "Qing'er... Master... survived this time... But there are some things I have to tell you in advance. If there is a next time... I'm afraid Master will... die..."
Hu Qing was shocked: "Master, please don't say that! You will definitely get better!"
The old valley master shook his head and took a breath
He continued, "The jade pendant you brought with you... and the life story you told me... When I found you back then, it wasn't... it wasn't entirely accidental..."
He recounted a forgotten story in a fragmented manner.
Fifteen years ago, he traveled near the capital and indeed found Hu Qing in his cradle beside the official road.
But he wasn't the only one at the time.
There was also a person dressed in palace eunuch clothes, with a panicked look on his face and injuries on his body, who was trying to hide the swaddling clothes.
Seeing him coming, the eunuch fled in panic like a frightened bird, not even bothering to take the swaddling clothes.
The old valley master's eyes were blurry as he tried to recall, "It was drizzling... the ground was extremely muddy... He was in a panic and had no idea where to go, as if... he was being chased by someone...
At that time, I thought you were just a poor abandoned child, and seeing that the jade pendant was extraordinary, I was afraid that it would bring trouble.
They quickly took you away, telling everyone they found you on the roadside... Now that I think about it... you must have been... a slave who escaped after being exposed as a replacement for the prince!"
It was like thunder exploding in Hu Qing's ears!
The master's words confirmed the authenticity of the prince's identity and pointed out a terrible possibility: the person who swapped the babies was actually someone in the palace!
"Master... do you still remember the eunuch's appearance? Or... what characteristics did he have?"
Hu Qing asked anxiously.
The old valley master thought hard
Finally, he shook his head helplessly: "It was too long ago... It was raining heavily, and he was looking down... I only vaguely remember... There seemed to be an old scar... about an inch long on his left brow..."
The eunuch with a scar on his brow bone! This became a key but vague clue.
Hu Qing's heart was in turmoil.
He immediately wrote a letter, detailing the old valley master's memories and his own inferences, and sent it to the capital in an expedited manner, directly to the Crown Prince Liu Xiao.
He knew that this letter might cause even greater waves, but the truth had to be revealed.
Liu Xiao received a letter from Hu Qing.
When he read the words "eunuch with a scar on his brow", "replace the prince", "flee from exposure", etc.
His expression instantly turned serious. He immediately realized that the importance of this letter far exceeded that of the "Seven Star Lotus".
Without any hesitation, he took the letter and went to find the emperor.
After reading the letter, the emperor's face was so gloomy that water could drip out of it.
The palace eunuch! It turned out that someone in the palace had planned all this!
To steal his son and separate him from his family for fifteen years! A raging rage burned in his chest, nearly burning away his sanity.
"Investigate!" The emperor squeezed out a word from between his teeth, his voice icy cold.
"Fu'an! Check immediately! All eunuchs who were on duty in the palace fifteen years ago, especially those who may have come into contact with the nursery! Focus on those with scars on their left brows!
Even if I have to turn the palace upside down, I must find this traitorous slave! I will have him...death by slow slicing!"
"I obey your order!" Fu An felt the emperor's rage and dared not neglect it in the slightest. He immediately bowed and withdrew.
All the resources of the factory were mobilized to conduct a more rigorous and cruel screening than before.
For a time, there were undercurrents in the palace and everyone was in danger.
Liu Xiao was also in a heavy mood.
He never expected that behind his life experience, there was such a shocking palace conspiracy.
He also shared this news with the second prince Liu Cong, who had just finished a battle and was resting.
On the one hand, he felt that his second brother was trustworthy; on the other hand, he also wanted to hear Liu Cong's opinion.
Liu Cong was shocked after hearing this. The first thing he thought of was not the conspiracy itself, but the danger this news might bring to Liu Xiao!
"Your Highness!" Liu Cong's expression instantly became extremely serious.
"This matter is of no small importance! Those who participated in this incident back then must have had a mastermind behind it. Now that the past is being brought up again, they must be afraid of the truth coming out! In their desperation, they might do something bad to you!"
His worry was evident in his words, and he even forgot to hide the anxiety and concern in his tone.
Liu Xiao looked at the genuine anxiety in his second brother's eyes, and felt a warm feeling in his heart. He comforted him, "Brother, don't worry too much. Father has already ordered Eunuch Fu to investigate. The guards in the Eastern Palace are also very strict..."
"Not enough!" Liu Cong interrupted him with a sharp look in his eyes.
"It's easy to dodge an open attack, but hard to guard against an arrow from the dark! Those rats hiding in the gutter will resort to any dirty tricks!"
He took a step forward and almost subconsciously grabbed Liu Xiao's arm with such force that
Liu Xiao felt a little pain, "From today on, everything you eat must be passed through my people again! You..."
He was halfway through when he suddenly realized that he had lost his composure. He immediately let go of his hand, took a step back, and resumed his ministerial posture.
But his voice remained tense: "Your Highness, please listen to me and be careful!"
Liu Xiao looked at his second brother's instant loss of control and his quickly concealed nervousness, and a strange feeling flashed through his heart.
Second brother's concern... always seems to be particularly intense and... urgent?
But he didn't think too much about it, and just attributed it to the love of an older brother for his younger brother and the aftereffects of the battlefield.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, brother." Liu Xiao nodded obediently.
Liu Cong felt a little relieved, but the alarm in his heart was still at its highest level.
He decided to immediately mobilize all his forces in the army and in the dark, not only to assist his father in investigating the case, but also to weave an impenetrable network.
Protect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince firmly in the center! Anyone who tries to hurt Ah Xiao must first step over his corpse!
Liu Jue also vaguely learned through secret channels that the palace was conducting large-scale screening for eunuchs with scars.
He immediately realized that something might have changed! It seemed that Hu Qing had found some key clues!
Like an ant on a hot pan, he anxiously contacted the mysterious man: "What should I do? They seem to be finding out soon! Will we be exposed?"
The mysterious man's reply was filled with a desperate madness: "Why panic? Screening takes time. It's just the right time. While their attention is focused on the palace, we can make a feint to the east and attack them in the west!"
"A feint to the east and attack in the west?"
"Don't the Emperor and the Crown Prince value Hu Qing, the exiled prince of Weiyuan, the most? If he 'accidentally' dies on the way back to the capital...
"What do you think the Emperor and the Crown Prince will do? Will they panic? Will they vent their anger on the people who failed to escort them? Will they... create a greater opportunity for us?"
Liu Xuan gasped, "Kill Hu Qing? This... is this even possible?"
"Why not? The mountains are high and the roads are long, with banditry rampant. It's only natural for something to happen. Besides, once Hu Qing dies, there's no one left who knows the Crown Prince's background. Isn't that clean?"
The mysterious man's tone was filled with bewitching and coldness. "This is the best chance! And the last chance! If we succeed, we can turn the world upside down; if we fail... it'll just be a premature closing!"
Liu Xuan was infected by this madness. The thought of once again causing the Emperor and the Crown Prince unbearable pain filled his twisted mind with immense pleasure: "Alright! Let's do it! What do you need me to do?"
"You just need to stay quietly and watch the show. My people will handle the rest." The mysterious man cut off the connection.
A vicious order, accompanied by huge risks, was sent towards Qingzhou.
A murder attempt on Hu Qing is being secretly planned.
At this time, Hu Qing was still immersed in the joy of his master's improvement. He was ready to escort his master to Beijing in person once his master was more stable.
On the one hand, he wanted to express his gratitude, and on the other hand, he wanted to tell the prince and the emperor everything he knew in person.
The capital seemed to have temporarily returned to calm.
The emperor was busy investigating the eunuchs and was furious.
Crown Prince Liu Xiao continued to handle government affairs under the almost paranoid protection of the Second Prince.
The second prince Liu Cong mobilized all resources to protect the prince openly and secretly, and his eyes became increasingly deep and cold.
The Marquis' Mansion remained low-key, Cui Baiyu was under strict surveillance, and the activities were temporarily suspended.
However, everyone could feel the oppressive feeling of impending storm in the air.
The clues brought by Yaowang Valley are like a key that is about to open Pandora's box.
The enemy in the dark has already made the final crazy bet.
The real storm is brewing rapidly in a place that no one can see.
Its first lightning may strike Hu Qing who is still on his way home.
Liu Cong's feelings, which are buried deep in his heart and are becoming increasingly strong, will also face unprecedented tests in the upcoming crisis.
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