Chapter 162 [VIP]
The late emperor passed away during his southern tour.
He also issued an edict to depose the crown prince during his southern tour.
Prince Li did not accompany the emperor that year, but remained in the capital. The edict to depose the crown prince was delivered to the capital by express courier, traveling at top speed.
The entire court was astonished.
Prince Li proposed that the Crown Prince be placed under house arrest without arresting anyone, and that a decision be made after the late Emperor returned to the capital.
He planned to leave the capital to catch up with the late emperor and find out the truth.
Unexpectedly, before he could even leave the capital, the deposed crown prince and his wife committed suicide together.
That's too fast.
Prince Li shook his head and sighed softly, looking at her suspiciously.
Does she mean that the late emperor would suddenly change his temperament, depose the crown prince, and that Changfeng was involved in it?
"Is that possible?!" Prince Li asked, still somewhat skeptical.
However, although this girl is a bit difficult, stubborn, and domineering... she always means what she says and never makes wild claims.
Gu Zhizhuo did not offer any explanation.
Some things are better seen with your own eyes than heard from words.
She put the musket back into its holster at her waist, picked up the cat again, and said, "In any case, Your Highness, please go and take a look at the Meridian Gate first. We'll talk about the rest after you've seen it."
Seeing her serious expression, which showed no sign of perfunctoriness, Prince Li nodded solemnly: "You may go back first, I will go over now."
Prince Li left in a hurry.
"Sigh, what a life of toil."
"It will shorten your lifespan."
Gu Zhizhuo turned to Xie Yingchen and smiled, a smile tinged with malice, and slowly asked, "Right, young master?"
Xie Yingchen: "..." He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that there was a hint of innuendo in this.
"I've had a good rest." Xie Yingchen offered her his wrist. "Feel it."
The cat, which was perched on Gu Zhizhuo's shoulder, slapped his hand away and then rubbed against Gu Zhizhuo's cheek in front of him.
"Meow."
Gu Zhizhu chuckled softly, her voice as gentle as a flower swaying in the lantern light, soft and warm like jade.
Xie Yingchen took her hand, his fingers slipping between hers, their fingers intertwined, and they walked back side by side, while Qingmei tactfully lagged ten steps behind.
The cat wagged its tail listlessly, ignoring Xie Yingchen.
Gu Zhizhuo leaned against him and recounted the whole story as they walked.
It was incredibly exciting and full of ups and downs, she said, her face beaming with excitement.
After explaining in detail the transfer array that Changfeng and Prince Jin had jointly set up in Blackwater Fortress, and her own speculation, she added: "...Therefore, the late emperor would suddenly depose the crown prince and then die suddenly."
After she finished speaking, she felt her hand tighten slightly.
Xie Yingchen seemed to be deep in thought.
His usually gentle face showed a moment of gloom.
Gu Zhizhuo leaned on his shoulder. She knew that this was a knot in the young master's heart that he could hardly untie.
In his previous life, even at the end, the young master still harbored resentment about this, unable to understand why the late emperor suddenly changed his temperament and condemned the deposed crown prince without waiting for his explanation.
The young master had also told her with a sigh that the relationship between the late emperor and the deposed crown prince was as intimate as that between a father and son in the common people. The late emperor would always nag to help the deposed crown prince hold on for a few more years, and then abdicate and retire when he turned sixty.
How could such a late emperor so easily believe that the deposed crown prince would poison him, commit patricide and regicide?
Gu Zhizhu looked up at him, and the starlight was reflected in her pupils.
Xie Yingchen lowered his eyes, and after a while, he smiled faintly and said, "I see."
If one had not witnessed the emperor's mad-like behavior during this period, who could believe that the late emperor's edicts, his merciless scolding and rebukes, and even his vehement call for the death of the deposed crown prince, were not his own intentions?
"Young master, what exactly happened back then?"
After the deposed crown prince committed suicide, the late emperor died on his southern tour. Soon after, the new emperor ascended the throne in accordance with the late emperor's will.
At that time, Gu Zhizhuo was still young and could not possibly investigate these matters further.
The sky gradually darkened.
After the Imperial Guards left, the streets gradually returned to their usual bustling state, with red lanterns hanging along both sides of the street, their candlelight flickering.
As they walked, Xie Yingchen said, "That year, the late emperor made a southern tour to inspect the river works. When he reached Xuzhou, he suddenly fell ill. At first, he felt dizzy while reviewing memorials, and he even fainted once. After that, his illness came on fiercely. The late emperor was unable to get out of bed, and soon after, he vomited blood and was on the verge of death."
Gu Zhizhuo's eyelashes trembled slightly; it did indeed sound like poisoning.
She didn't press further, listening as Xie Yingchen continued, "...His Majesty stayed in Xuzhou for several days, and the imperial physicians took turns treating him. The late emperor recovered, and at that time, some of the imperial physicians suspected that the late emperor had been poisoned. The late emperor ordered the Eastern Depot to thoroughly investigate everything used, but nothing was found to be abnormal."
"The late emperor was a man who couldn't stay idle. After he had recovered to a considerable extent, the imperial procession continued on its way. However, only three days later, the late emperor collapsed again, vomiting blood."
"The imperial physicians at the time once again thoroughly investigated everything the late emperor had used and eaten, including the nourishing soup that my father had sent."
The late emperor had trouble sleeping, so his father specially sought out an ancient remedy, a nourishing soup made by his mother. After drinking it, the late emperor slept much better. Later, wherever the late emperor went, his father would have someone bring a specially prepared medicine packet and have the eunuchs prepare it.
"The poison was found in the nourishing soup; it is a chronic poison."
"The late emperor... he was furious. Without investigation or questioning, he directly convicted my father. The late emperor sent word: The crown prince murdered his father and the emperor, plotted rebellion, and is unworthy of being a human being. His actions deserve to be punished."
"Father and son will never see each other again."
Xie Yingchen's fingers were clenched tightly, and his palms were burning hot.
He took her hand and said slowly, "On that day, the late emperor personally issued the imperial edict to depose the crown prince."
"The imperial edict and a letter written by the late emperor himself were sent to the capital. My father wept blood and committed suicide, and my mother followed him in death."
For Xie Yingchen, everything changed in just a few days.
Looking back now, Xie Yingchen still finds all of this quite absurd.
The day before, he was with his father, learning how to deal with the bandit problem in Yongzhou. That evening, his mother even cooked longevity noodles for his father. But the next day…
"I am the only one left in the Crown Prince's Palace who has been imprisoned."
"And me too."
Gu Zhizhuo looked up at him and smiled.
Xie Yingchen smiled gently: "And you too."
Her body temperature gradually calmed his agitated mind, and he continued, "After Father and Mother personally committed suicide, a secret report was sent to Grandfather, who immediately felt palpitations. He cried uncontrollably, repeatedly asking, 'Why?'"
Xie Yingchen was confined to the Eastern Palace at the time, and he learned this later from the chief eunuch who served the late emperor.
"The late emperor was deeply saddened and filled with remorse because of the deaths of his parents. He completely collapsed within two days."
“At that time, Prince Jin was attending to the late emperor when he was ill. The late emperor knew that he was not well, so he instructed Prince Jin to draft an edict and ordered someone to summon Prince Rong from the capital.”
After the daytime thunderclaps, the night sky was unusually clear, the moonlight was bright, and it cast two faint shadows on the ground.
Gu Zhizhuo said softly, "Young Master, was someone forcing you to commit suicide back then?"
The deposed crown prince is dead.
The young master is the only obstacle; the best course of action is to seize the opportunity to force him to his death.
The young master survived not because the Prince of Jin and his men were merciful and let him go, but because the Yin family's sister had run away, and Heaven had left the young master with a glimmer of hope.
Xie Yingchen nodded: "At that time, everyone around me advised me to go with my parents. Otherwise, if the late emperor was not appeased, he would grind my parents to dust. I would be an unfilial son."
At that time, Xie Yingchen was not yet fourteen years old.
"I pretended to agree and took the opportunity to sneak out of the East Palace and head to Xuzhou. Whether I lived or died, I had to see the late emperor one last time. Unexpectedly, on the way, I discovered that I had been poisoned."
It was only later that Xie Yingchen realized that this was exactly the same poison that the late emperor had been given, clearly intended to create the illusion that he had died out of fear of punishment.
He was delayed on the road for several days due to poisoning.
"By the time I arrived, the late emperor had already passed away."
"The Prince of Jin produced a will, in which the late emperor abdicated in favor of the Prince of Rong before his death."
Without a second thought, Gu Zhizhuo scoffed, "The imperial edict is definitely fake."
Xie Yingchen also smiled.
At that time, he had suffered a series of blows and was too deeply poisoned. Upon hearing of the late emperor's death, he could no longer hold on and collapsed.
He was bedridden for a full month.
At that time, it was the chief eunuch who served the late emperor who looked after him and protected him all the way to the capital.
Gu Zhizhuo suddenly snapped her fingers, remembering something: "Young master, do you remember? Not long after I returned from the Western Frontier, the Emperor and Prince Jin had a falling out, but they made up later. Can Can said that it seemed that Prince Jin used some kind of leverage to coerce the Emperor."
Xie Yingchen was involved in this matter.
He said, "It's an ink stick."
"An inkstick made by the emperor himself as a birthday gift."
Gu Zhizhuo's heart stirred, and she met Xie Yingchen's gaze. Xie Yingchen smiled and said only one word: "Yes."
"The Prince of Jin is really something."
No wonder the emperor was so tolerant of him.
They don't even know how much dirt they have on the emperor.
With the late emperor's edict, the current emperor is the legitimate successor.
With the decree of the deposed crown prince, who was guilty of patricide and regicide, a crime deserving death.
But what if these two things are gone?
The legitimate heirs would then be the deposed crown prince and the grandson appointed by the late emperor.
"Young master, if the city gates aren't closed, let's go to Taiqing Temple. I miss my master."
Unfortunately, they were too late; the city gates were already closed.
There was no one around the city gate; it was quiet and peaceful, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the daytime.
Gu Zhizhuo sent Qingmei back to inform her, lest her grandmother and the others worry if she didn't return for a long time. He then took Xie Yingchen and went up to the city wall together. They stood against the wall and talked for a while. Gu Zhizhuo pointed to the sky and laughed, "Young master, look over there."
"This is the Imperial Star."
A night with a bright moon and few stars is perfect for stargazing.
Gu Zhizhuo was studying astrology, and Xie Yingchen also went to listen to Wuweizi's classes a few times.
Gu Zhizhuo's talent is astonishing, while Xie Yingchen can only recognize things like the Emperor Star, the General Star, and the Purple Star.
A while ago, two stars appeared on the Imperial Star, a rare occurrence. One shone brightly and was dazzlingly beautiful, while the other was dim and lifeless, like a firefly.
That was true at least a few days ago.
But now, things are different.
The once dim imperial star is now rising like the morning star in the darkness.
"The will of Heaven is truly changing."
Gu Zhizhuo smiled and looked back at her. In Xie Yingchen's eyes, her smile was far more dazzling than the Emperor Star.
Xie Yingchen frowned slightly. The star next to the Emperor Star, which she called the companion star, didn't seem to be as bright anymore.
"Yaoyao..."
"Miss Gu, it really is you."
An annoying voice rang in his ear. Gu Zhizhuo frowned slightly, but didn't even turn his head, too lazy to pay attention to him.
"Miss Gu."
Xie Jing quickly walked a few steps to her. He was wearing light armor and holding a sword, seemingly on duty here.
Xie Yingchen gently squeezed her hand, indicating that she had guessed correctly.
When Gu Zhizhuo was still in Yihe County, Prince Jin brought Xie Jing to the Five Military Commands Office. Now he is on duty at the Five Military Commands Office, and recently it was his turn to guard the city.
"Your Highness."
Gu Zhizhuo curtsied, his posture impeccable.
"I...I've been to the Meridian Gate."
Xie Jing sighed softly.
The cage with the wind inside was placed at the Meridian Gate, so that people coming and going could see it.
"oh."
Gu Zhizhuo gave a perfunctory reply.
Xie Jing was already used to her indifference towards him, and said to himself, "It was Lord Jiang from the Ministry of Personnel who told me."
Fearing she might not understand, he added, "Both the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Works are controlled by Prince Jin, and the ministers of both ministries are also his men."
Gu Zhizhuo grew impatient: "Just say what you have to say."
It's rare to see someone like you stargazing with me, but there are always clueless people popping out. It's so annoying.
"Regarding the impeachment of Shen Xu, Lord Jiang asked me to negotiate with Xie Yingchen, but Xie Yingchen was not there, so I went to the Meridian Gate instead."
Xie Jing had met Changfeng a few times before. In his memory, Changfeng had the appearance of an immortal. Therefore, when he first heard that the Eastern Depot had imprisoned and tortured people, he was really angry. But he never expected that Changfeng would become a living dead.
His exposed skin was covered in black spots, radiating a strong aura of death.
Xie Jing hadn't seen many dead people, but as soon as he saw Changfeng, the word "deathly aura" popped into his mind. Not only that, Xie Jing also smelled a strange stench. There were more than a dozen flies swarming around Changfeng's hand, which was clearly rotting.
Lord Jin, the official from the Daolu Division who was traveling with him, burst into tears and cursed the Eastern Depot for using torture to extract confessions, saying that they had turned a perfectly good person into this state. However, this was something that could not be achieved through torture.
Xie Jing immediately thought of Xie Qiyun.
He asked in a trembling voice, "Is Changfeng truly a demonic cultivator?"
Gu Zhizhu smiled slightly: "Of course."
Xie Jing's shoulders trembled slightly, and even though she used such a nonchalant attitude, Xie Jing believed her.
He chuckled self-deprecatingly: "So, the reason Father Emperor became like this was because the Ji family had Changfeng cast a spell on him?"
"Or did Ji Nanke have Chang Feng do it?"
Gu Zhizhu smiled but remained silent.
Xie Jing didn't seem to be looking for an answer from her, and said to himself, "It's Ji Nanke, isn't it?"
"Ji Nanke and Changfeng are very close. She said that Changfeng is a highly accomplished Taoist master, far superior to Qingping Zhenren, and that I must treat him with the utmost respect."
Ji Nanke had never left the capital, yet she trusted Changfeng so much and obeyed his every word. Xie Jing originally thought it was because Changfeng was too good at talking and kept calling Ji Nanke "lucky girl" to make her happy.
"she……"
Xie Jing hesitated for a long time, but when she didn't respond, he finally continued.
These were words that Xie Jing found difficult to utter.
"I think I suddenly don't like Ji Nanke as much anymore."
Xie Jing finished speaking in one breath, then stared nervously at Gu Zhizhuo.
Gu Zhizhuo raised an eyebrow, a slight change in expression on his face.
Xie Jing used to be very protective of Ji Nanke, at least he wouldn't call her by her full name.
Xie Jing looked out of the city wall. The light silver armor did not make him look tall and imposing, but rather somewhat desolate, like the shadows of trees swaying in the wind.
He really, really liked Ji Nanke; if he didn't see her for even a moment, he would feel a burning longing in his heart.
Even though she deceived and took advantage of him time and time again, Xie Jing would only be angry for a short while at most.
But somehow, that feeling faded away.
When he met Changfeng, he wasn't thinking about whether Ji Nanke would be deceived or taken advantage of by Changfeng, but rather whether his feelings for Ji Nanke were as real as he thought.
“Miss Gu, aren’t you supposed to be able to predict the future? Tell me…”
Xie Jing instinctively reached for her arm, but Xie Yingchen slapped his hand away, saying, "Just say what you have to say."
"I……"
Xie Jing was slightly embarrassed, but still finished speaking in one breath, her voice loud: "Did Ji Nanke also use witchcraft on me?"
"Like her aunt, she's ruthless."
After he finished speaking, he stared intently at Gu Zhizhuo, wanting to get an answer from her.
Gu Zhizhu stared at him for a while, then suddenly shifted her gaze to the direction behind him and let out a teasing chuckle.
Xie Jing subconsciously turned around, following her gaze.
Ji Nanke stood a few steps away, her beautiful face filled with disbelief, as if she had been betrayed.
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