Chapter 62 The Change of Heaven was not Emperor Chongming's biological daughter.
Feng Tan stepped out of the Chu King's mansion without looking back, and as soon as she reached the street, she couldn't help but vomit.
Recalling everything that had happened since arriving in the capital, she suddenly realized that the Chu King's usual playful demeanor was clearly mixed with dark and erotic thoughts... Feng Tan gradually calmed her churning chest. She and the Chu King were blood relatives separated by a generation, yet the Chu King did not care about these worldly ethics at all... No, she could not measure him with the values of ordinary people. He was able to create Evil Spirit Island with his own hands; where was there even a trace of benevolence and morality in his heart?
He's right; it's a joke that she talked to him about morality and ethics.
A porcelain bowl filled with clear water was handed to Feng Tan. Feng Tan looked up at the person through the sleeve of Lingxiao's flower-embroidered robe. The person had a beautiful face but a cold expression. It was an unfamiliar face.
The visitor gave a brief self-introduction: "Princess Gu Ningdai of Chu, here to bring Lord Feng to the palace on the orders of the Prince."
Feng Tan was a man outside the palace and could not enter the palace without the emperor's decree. She accepted the porcelain bowl handed to her by Gu Ningdai, rinsed her mouth with her nose, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."
Gu Ningdai was a cold-hearted person, and Feng Tan had no intention of dealing with her. She took the human skin mask handed to her by the Princess of Chu and put it on her face. She then changed into a scholar's blue robe, which was commonly worn by common doctors. The two remained silent the whole way.
Eight years later, Feng Tan once again set foot in Yongle Palace. The glazed tiles shimmered in the sunlight, and the tall and majestic paulownia trees under the jade steps and railings cast layers of verdant shade. The green shadows covered the latticed windows, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of the imperial court.
Feng Qinghuang had been asleep for many days. The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital had examined her pulse several times but were at a loss. Several imperial physicians were having a heated debate about her condition outside the palace.
Princess Chu didn't even glance at them. Before stepping into the inner hall, Consort Su came out from the hall to greet her, and the two exchanged a palace salute.
"I heard that the Princess Consort has found a renowned folk healer to examine the princess," Consort Su said gently, glancing at Feng Tan. "Is this the one?"
The Queen Consort of Chu said, "That's right."
Feng Tan tried her best to control her emotions. Consort Su looked so much like her mother. She nodded slightly to Consort Su and said, "Thank you for leading the way, Consort Su."
The palace was draped with brocade curtains, faintly revealing the figure of a person sleeping inside. Shang Chunxiang stood respectfully to the side, her eyes briefly meeting those of Feng Tan, who was dressed as a doctor, before they each looked away without making a sound.
Feng Tan solemnly lifted her robe to take the pulse, while Consort Su looked away and focused her gaze on Princess Chu, gesturing for Princess Chu to come out with her.
After the two left the inner room, Feng Tan quickly took out the antidote from her sleeve, and Shang Chunxiang pinched Hu Shu's chin and fed him the pill.
Looking at Hu Shu's pale face, Feng Tan said to Shang Chunxiang briefly, "Hu Shu will wake up in a day or two after taking this medicine. At that time, I will arrange for you to leave the palace. As for my mother's matter... do not investigate anymore. You have already aroused the vigilance of the mastermind. The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. It is too easy for someone to plot against us."
Hu Shu is lying here now, isn't that a case of being assassinated? It's not worth sacrificing the living for the dead. She will definitely avenge her mother, but not necessarily now. Hu Shu has already broken through one layer of mystery by finding Dou Xiaoquan; she'll handle the rest.
Shang Chunxiang lowered her voice and said, "The antidote was given by the King of Chu? Does that mean he's the murderer?"
Feng Tan stood up and said, "That's possible. It's also possible that he's retaliating against me because I brought down Gao Yu and caused him to lose a piece of the game. We can't draw any conclusions yet."
After analyzing the situation, Shang Chunxiang looked at her young master, whom she hadn't seen for many years, and murmured, "How have you been all these years, Master?"
“Okay,” Feng Tan smiled as she looked at her gradually moist eyes and patted the back of her hand. “Aunt Shang, I’m perfectly fine.”
Shang Chunxiang suppressed her emotions, a lump in her throat making her voice muffled as she spoke, "How could it possibly be better? Everything you've eaten and drunk since you were little has been carefully selected, and you've studied hard in that barbarian land for eight long years... How could it possibly be better?"
An eight-year-old girl who has been pampered since childhood has to bind her chest and study hard to clear the name of her predecessors. In this cannibalistic era, she has to compete with a group of men for fame and fortune. How much suffering did she endure in the process?
“Aunt Shang Chunxiang, now I know why you’re called that,” Feng Tan said teasingly to Shang Chunxiang as she put away the medicine bottle, “Because you’re sentimental about spring and autumn!”
......
Under the paulownia tree outside the palace, Consort Su gestured for the palace maids to keep their distance. She looked up at Princess Chu with a hostile expression and said, "What are Prince Chu's plans? Why did he save her? Does he know that Feng Qinghuang is investigating the cause of the late Empress's death?"
Princess Chu said calmly, "His Highness knows. Just do as he instructs."
A loyal follower is absolutely obedient to his master's orders, but Consort Su was not one of the Chu King's loyal followers. Looking at the icy Chu King's wife, she said sarcastically, "Does the Chu King want Feng Qinghuang to wake up because he wants my life?"
Princess Chu smiled slightly, a smile that seemed strange coming from someone who never smiled. She leaned forward, took Consort Su's hand in hers, and quietly handed her a letter from her sleeve, saying, "Consort Su is the most capable assistant to the Prince. The Prince is unwilling to let Consort Su die."
Princess Chu gently patted Consort Su's closed hands twice and said, "Act as required, and you will immediately attain the enlightenment you seek."
Consort Su's eyes flickered as she watched her leave with her entourage before slowly opening the letter in her hand.
After reading it, Consort Su looked in the direction where Princess Chu had left and said in a cold voice, "Prince Chu has quite the methods."
Mu Qingling stepped forward and asked respectfully, "Would the Imperial Concubine like to return to the palace to rest?"
Consort Su narrowed her eyes slightly and gestured for Mu Qingling to come closer. After a while, Mu Qingling accepted the order and left.
......
Three days later, at sunset, lanterns were lit one after another under the eaves of the Taiji Hall. The east side of the hall was draped with heavy gauze curtains. Sheng Honghai walked unhurriedly from the lattice door. Jiang Lili couldn't help but run over, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and pleaded for help: "Godfather, I'm sorry to disturb your rest today. I really have no choice. Please go in and take a look."
Sheng Honghai was the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court. He was a eunuch, and his imposing presence was not enough to overwhelm the surrounding area, but he remained calm and composed, saying, "Tell me what happened."
Jiang Lili said, "Just now, I don't know which palace maid or eunuch accepted bribes and placed an anonymous memorial in the hall. His Majesty glanced at it, his face changed drastically, and in a fit of anger, he overturned the table!"
Emperor Chongming had reigned for many years, and his ability to keep his emotions hidden was considered an internal skill. After reading a memorial of dubious origin, his blood boiled, and he ordered Jiang Li to immediately investigate who had been to the Taiji Hall that day. The eunuchs of the Ministry of Justice had just finished beating all the palace maids and eunuchs on duty in the Taiji Hall that day, but they still couldn't get any answers.
After hearing the whole story, Sheng Honghai knew that offending the emperor's authority must be a serious matter. He sighed, signaled the maids waiting outside the hall to step back, and entered the hall with a whisk in his hand.
The hall was brightly lit by candles. Emperor Chongming's intimidating aura had subsided, and as Yin gave way to Yang, he sat quietly behind a rosewood table, lost in thought.
Sheng Honghai bowed, picked up the memorial that had been thrown on the ground, and said, "Your Majesty, may I take a look?"
Emperor Chongming waved his hand and said, "You see."
Sheng Honghai skimmed through the text, and even his usually composed face showed a change in emotion. He asked simply, "Does Your Majesty wish to investigate?"
The memorial was somehow delivered to the Taiji Hall, and its author is unknown. The memorial presented a well-reasoned argument, stating that Princess Yongle, who returned to the capital, was not Emperor Chongming's biological daughter.
Emperor Chongming said, "When I performed the Fengshan ceremony at Jingshan, I already tested my kinship with a drop of blood."
Having served Emperor Chongming for decades, Sheng Honghai knew his suspicious nature well and calmly said, "Upon seeing this memorial, His Majesty began to have doubts."
Emperor Chongming opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and fierce, and his voice was cold, "Is Yongle's condition any better?"
Sheng Honghai said, "Thanks to His Majesty's boundless grace, the renowned physician found by the Princess Consort of Chu has cleared the toxins from the princess's body, and she will wake up in less than three days."
“Three days…” Emperor Chongming hesitated for a moment, then stood up from his dragon throne and paced around the hall. “Tonight, tonight only, have the Embroidered Uniform Guard spies take another drop of the princess’s blood. Remember, do not alarm anyone! Have Wei Shengxian go in person! Especially do not alarm the princess!”
Having said that, Emperor Chongming looked at Sheng Honghai, slowly walked up to him, his eyes gleaming even brighter, and said, "You are my chief consort, and also Yongle's chief consort. Do you think she... is Yongle?"
The bronze water clock dripped with a clear, melodious sound, and Sheng Honghai showed the appropriate fear, lowering his voice, "This servant dares not be presumptuous."
Emperor Chongming snorted coldly, staring intently into his eyes, and said, "Speak when I tell you to."
Sheng Honghai recalled the boy who was flogged by the court for slapping Gao Yu at the west foot of the Meridian Gate that day. No matter how humble some people are, they still have the air of a princess. He sighed and said, "This servant thinks that Princess Yongle is not fake. His Majesty tested her and she remembered everything from the past. If it were not the princess herself, who would remember such trivial things?"
A complex light flashed across Emperor Chongming's eyes, his suspicion undiminished. He exhaled and said, "No, we still need to investigate. Send Wei Shengxian there immediately."
Sheng Honghai closed his eyes, his guilt towards Grand Tutor Feng beyond words.
He had received a great favor from Grand Tutor Feng in his youth. Without the Grand Tutor, he would have been sold off cheaply by his parents, castrated, and died from an infection long ago. He would never have been able to rise to the position of Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, in charge of the affairs of the vast inner court. That day, Feng Tan, still hot-tempered as a child, offended Gao Yu and was sentenced to beating in court by the Emperor. According to the rules, the beating must be performed while the victim was naked. He had kept his promise to the Grand Tutor to save Feng Tan's life. Even at that time, he and Grand Tutor Feng had already tacitly understood the identity of this young man who had come from afar.
After tonight, things will probably change drastically.
......
At the same time, Miyako no Masaji.
The embroidered beaded curtain fluttered, and a pool of vibrant blood slowly flowed onto the gleaming palace surface. Yun Jingxun's wrists had been slashed, and she was pinned to the ground, unable to move. She struggled to lift her eyes, looking at the face before her that bore a striking resemblance to the late Empress, a bitter smile playing on her lips.
What happened in the past has become what happens today. Dou Xiaoquan witnessed Consort Gui plotting to harm Empress Xiaoxian. She saved Dou Xiaoquan, which foreshadowed her inevitable death today.
Consort Su looked at her like an ant struggling to survive and chuckled, saying, "Blame it on people like you who are always so kind-hearted, insisting on saving people even when you have no relatives or friends, only to lose your own lives for nothing."
Yun Jingxun felt her life slipping away. She looked at Consort Su's face, her eyes gradually becoming unfocused.
"She wants to investigate me?" Consort Su slowly squatted down, meeting Yun Jingxun's gaze, and said, "She has to be alive to investigate. Oh, and the prerequisite for the investigation is that the only witness in the world is still alive, but you are about to die."
After speaking, Consort Su chuckled again, her ghostly figure reflected in the pool of blood. She patted Yun Jingxun's cheek and said, "When the eunuchs from the Ministry of Justice come to examine you tomorrow, you will only be found to have committed suicide by cutting your wrists."
Having said that, she stood up and left gracefully. The departing figure of Consort Su gradually blurred in Yun Jingxun's eyes. Princess Yongle remained asleep; would her letter still reach the princess?
Yun Jingxun slowly closed his eyes.
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