Chapter 157: Is The Emperor Going To Attack Indiscriminately?! For Alliance Leader Ayesire7’s Bonus Update 3
In the Eastern Palace, Consort Lü’s sleeping quarters.
The incense in the censer curled upwards, but it did nothing to soothe Consort Lü’s anxiety.
She was restlessly fingering her prayer beads, trying to suppress the unease that had been swirling in her heart since the Drum of Hearing Petitions sounded.
Suddenly, the hall door was violently flung open, and a trusted palace maid whom she had sent to gather information rushed in, her face ashen white as a ghost, her voice trembling uncontrollably:
“Your Highness! It’s bad! Something terrible has happened!”
Consort Lü’s heart sank, and she feigned composure, scolding, “What’s the panic?! What kind of decorum is this! Speak slowly!”
The palace maid fell to the ground, weeping and wailing, speaking incoherently:
“It, it was Eunuch Sun, he, he was stabbed to death by the Third Prince! Right outside Huagai Hall! Blood everywhere, Your Highness!”
“What?!”
The prayer beads in Consort Lü’s hands snapped with a ‘snap’, and the beads scattered across the floor.
She stood up abruptly, her vision darkened, and she nearly fainted, but for the nanny who quickly supported her.
Sun Ren?!
Her most trusted eunuch! Killed by Zhu Yunteng?!
That son of a concubine who didn’t even dare to speak loudly in front of her?! How is this possible?!
“What in the world happened?! Has Yunteng gone mad?!”
Consort Lü’s voice became shrill, filled with shock and disbelief.
“Your servant… your servant doesn’t know the specific reason.”
“I only heard that the Third Prince, carrying that iron box, insisted on barging into Huagai Hall to see the Emperor, and was stopped by the Imperial Guard and Eunuch Sun.”
“Later… later, somehow, the Third Prince suddenly snatched a blade from an Imperial Guard and… and stabbed Eunuch Sun…”
The palace maid was too scared to continue.
“Iron box?”
Consort Lü blinked slightly, and couldn’t help but murmur, “Could it be that iron box?”
As soon as she spoke, she suddenly remembered the missing iron box that Fu Youwen and Ru Chang had been frantically searching for as if facing a great enemy!
Could it be… could it be that iron box left by Zhao Qian?
How did it end up in Zhu Yunteng’s hands?!
The moment Consort Lü was filled with doubt and surprise, another young eunuch, completely drenched and clearly having run back desperately, rushed into the hall, bringing more detailed and even more fatal news:
“Your Highness! Your Highness! The Third Prince, he… after killing Eunuch Sun, he shouted outside the hall…”
“Shouted what?!”
Consort Lü barked impatiently.
The young eunuch quickly replied, “He shouted that the iron box contained evidence related to the Crown Prince’s death! That the Crown Prince was murdered! He asked the Emperor to uphold justice!”
“BOOM—!”
It was as if a thunderclap from the heavens exploded in her mind!
The Crown Prince’s cause of death?! Murdered?!
Consort Lü was struck as if by lightning, her entire body freezing in place.
The color drained from her face instantly, leaving only an expression of extreme shock and bewilderment.
She had never imagined… never dared to imagine such a possibility!
Zhu Biao, her husband, the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty, how could he have been murdered?!
She clearly remembered how much pain Zhu Biao had been in during his final days.
The carbuncles on his back recurred, causing excruciating pain, high fever persisted, and he wasted away rapidly…
The imperial physicians said it was the carbuncle poison entering his body, coupled with catching a cold, leading to a rapid deterioration of his condition, rendering all medicine useless…
She had always believed it was the Mandate of Heaven! That Zhu Biao had overworked himself, draining his life’s energy!
Although she was overcome with grief, she could only accept that fact.
But now, someone was saying… he was murdered?!
“Impossible, absolutely impossible…”
Consort Lü muttered to herself subconsciously, her body trembling uncontrollably, “Who? Who dared to be so bold?! Who was so venomous?!”
But in the next second, boundless fear doused her shock and anger like ice water.
She suddenly remembered that she had just sent Sun Ren to stop Zhu Yunteng and had even threatened him with the lives of Zhu Mingyue and Zhu Mingyu.
And now, Sun Ren was dead by Zhu Yunteng’s blade, Zhu Yunteng was holding that deadly iron box, loudly proclaiming the Crown Prince’s cause of death and threats…
What would the Emperor think?!
With the Emperor’s suspicious nature… would he think Eunuch Sun’s obstruction was due to a guilty conscience? Would he think that she, Consort Lü, had sent someone to threaten the Imperial Grandson to cover up the truth?!
Would he even suspect that she, Consort Lü, was involved in the Crown Prince’s death?!
These thoughts, like vipers, instantly gnawed at Consort Lü’s heart, making her feel cold all over, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
“Where is Yunwen?! What about Yunwen?!”
She suddenly grabbed the nanny’s hand, her voice hoarse and urgent, her fingernails almost digging into the woman’s flesh.
“The Second Prince, the Second Prince was inside the hall giving the Emperor ginseng soup… he was also…”
The young eunuch stammered back, “He was also ordered by the Emperor to be placed under guard. He is not to leave or enter without an imperial decree.”
Yunwen is also under house arrest!?
Consort Lü felt the world spin, the last of her strength drained away, and she collapsed onto the couch, her face devoid of color.
It’s over. I can’t wash myself clean even if I jumped into the Yellow River.
The immense fear and regret drowned her like a tide.
Why did she have to be so foolish as to send someone to obstruct him?!
If she hadn’t sent someone, perhaps… perhaps Eunuch Sun wouldn’t have been killed, and the Emperor wouldn’t have become suspicious of her and Yunwen!
But it was too late for anything now!
However, after the extreme fear and regret, another emotion suddenly arose in her heart.
An irrepressible resentment, growing wildly like weeds.
Yunteng! Mingyue! Mingyu!
These three wretched offspring!
They obtained something so crucial, learned such a monumental secret, why didn’t they come to tell their mother first?! Why didn’t they consult with her?! Did they trust her so little?
Or…
Were they simply using this opportunity to bring her and Yunwen down, so they could compete for the position of Imperial Grandson on behalf of the deceased Consort Chang and the useless Zhu Yunteng?!
Especially Zhu Yunteng!
He dared to kill someone in public! And dare to spill blood at Huagai Hall!?
He has completely escalated the situation to an unmanageable point, drawing all eyes and suspicion to the Eastern Palace!
He is trying to force them, mother and son, to their deaths!
They are all ungrateful, untamable white-eyed wolves!
Consort Lü trembled with anger, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms, almost drawing blood.
I’ve loved them all these years for nothing! To harm me like this! To harm Yunwen!
But she knew in her heart that no amount of anger and resentment was useful now.
The Emperor had already intervened in the investigation, the iron box had been presented, and Zhu Yunwen being under guard was a fact.
She could do nothing now, and dared to do nothing.
Any slight additional move could be interpreted as a guilty conscience and could bring about utter destruction.
She could only wait.
Wait for the Emperor’s judgment.
Wait for the final outcome that could send her to hell, or… perhaps exonerate her.
This feeling of completely entrusting her fate to another’s hands, of being on the brink of life and death, filled her with unprecedented helplessness and fear.
She gazed in the direction of Huagai Hall, her eyes filled with extreme complexity: fear, resentment, regret, and a faint glimmer of hope, praying for heaven’s mercy.
The entire Eastern Palace was plunged into a deathly silence, a terrifying atmosphere of waiting for the final judgment.
On the other side, Huagai Hall.
Time passed in suffocating silence.
Tang He and Chang Sheng’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter, their expressions shifting from initial shock to profound confusion and deep bewilderment.
After an unknown amount of time, Tang He put down the transcript in his hand, his aged face etched with suspicion. He cupped his hands and said in a deep voice, “Your Majesty, this old servant… the more I read, the more peculiar it seems.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty!”
Chang Sheng added, his tone filled with intense confusion, “This minister feels the same! This… this ledger seems… incomplete? Or rather… illogical?”
“Where is the peculiarity?”
Old Zhu’s gaze was sharp as a knife, “Speak!”
Tang He pointed to the Shaanxi section of the copy, his voice extremely solemn:
“Your Majesty, please look. These several entries regarding the irregular allocation of military equipment and the excess expenditure of provisions and pay in Shaanxi, the amounts are enormous, and the timing is sensitive. They are indeed shocking. However…”
“The strange thing is, these records are all single pieces of evidence!”
He then elaborated:
“For example, this record concerning military equipment for the garrison system under Prince Qin’s command only shows the expenditure, with no record of the receiving party’s approval seal, nor any subsequent cancellation or supplementary records. It’s as if it vanished into thin air.”
“This does not conform to the accounting procedures jointly used by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War.”
“If this were true, it would be impossible for there to be no other traces left in the archives of the relevant government offices.”
“And these records concerning Shaanxi officials forming factions, interfering in the Eastern Palace, or local affairs…”
Chang Sheng added, his brow deeply furrowed:
“They are vague, often using generic terms like ‘a certain official’ or ‘local specialties’ to refer to individuals, lacking specific names, positions, and event details. It’s more like hearsay being reported, rather than rigorous accounting records!”
“Compared to the later entries regarding the expenses within the Eastern Palace, which are recorded in extreme detail, even precise to the ‘liang qian’ (a unit of weight for money), this appears exceptionally abrupt and crude.”
Tang He concluded, his eyes filled with doubt, “Your Majesty, this old servant is not saying that the matters in Shaanxi are impossible, but based solely on what is recorded in this ledger, there are many loopholes, making it difficult to believe directly, and even more impossible to determine the princes’ guilt based on this.”
“Rather, it seems like…”
Their conclusion was: “Someone deliberately bound together some rumors of uncertain truth, or perhaps even genuine issues within the Eastern Palace, with these vague accusations concerning Shaanxi, attempting to mislead public perception!”
“The ledger in the iron box, regarding the abnormal expenses within the Eastern Palace, is recorded in detail and has high credibility, making it extremely damaging.”
“However, the parts concerning corruption, faction formation, and interference in the Eastern Palace in Shaanxi are vague, isolated, and lack corroborating evidence, making them difficult to accept directly. They might even be ‘sand’ deliberately mixed in by someone with ulterior motives, aiming to muddy the waters or to borrow a knife to kill!”
This conclusion caused Old Zhu’s brows to knit tightly, and the suspicion in his heart did not dissipate; instead, it grew even stronger!
It wasn’t a simple matter of true or false, but true mixed with false, and perhaps false hiding true?
Someone mixed genuine, damaging evidence about the Eastern Palace with vague, difficult-to-verify accusations about Shaanxi?
What kind of tactic is this?
Is it to reveal part of the truth, lead me to investigate, and then use my hand to strike down the Shaanxi forces they want to target?
Or, does the matter in Shaanxi actually exist, but the person doing the accounting was not of high enough rank and only had access to partial information, hence the incomplete records?
Or perhaps… these are two completely separate matters, deliberately placed in the same box by someone with an agenda?
Countless thoughts swirled rapidly in Old Zhu’s suspicious mind.
He suddenly recalled Zhu Yunteng’s shouts when he stormed the palace, ‘obstructed and threatened,’ ‘using his sister’s life as a threat’…
Perhaps, the person who obstructed him wasn’t afraid of the Eastern Palace’s affairs being exposed, but of the Shaanxi matters being deeply investigated?
Therefore, deliberately using this method of half-truth and half-falsehood, not only exposing the undeniable problems of the Eastern Palace, but also attempting to divert the greater disaster elsewhere?
Or is this… a scheme by the mastermind to kill two birds with one stone?!
After listening to Tang He and Chang Sheng’s analysis, Old Zhu’s facial muscles twitched slightly, and the anger in his eyes was gradually replaced by a deeper, colder suspicion.
True and false, reality and illusion!
What a clever move! Truly a clever move!
To fool me with something half true and half false!
The detailed and glaring part about the Eastern Palace forces me to investigate!
The vague and flawed part about Shaanxi, is it to make me suspect the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the others?
Or is it to deliberately show flaws, making me think the entire iron box is untrustworthy?!
A surge of furious rage at being tricked and manipulated churned in his chest!
His gaze suddenly became terrifying, and he shot it towards Song Zhong, his voice like ice from the netherworld:
“Song Zhong!”
“This servant is here!” Song Zhong’s heart tightened.
“Go! Bring that Zhao Fengman…”
Old Zhu’s voice carried an undisguised, fierce killing intent:
“To the Ministry of Justice immediately! I don’t care what method you use! Pry open his mouth! I want him to know what the consequences will be for daring to fool me with such a thing of half-truths and half-falsehoods!”
“I want to know, whose doing are these false accounts from Shaanxi!?”
He was almost certain that it was Zhao Fengman, or Zhang Biao behind him, who had tampered with the false accounts in the iron box.
“Yes!”
A sharp glint flashed in Song Zhong’s eyes, and without hesitation, he turned to carry out this blood-soaked order.
However, the moment his foot crossed the threshold of the hall—
“Reporting to Your Majesty—!”
“Imperial Guard Commander Jiang Huan requests an audience!”
Song Zhong stopped, then looked at Old Zhu.
Old Zhu waved his hand expressionlessly, “Let him in!”
“Yes!”
A response came from outside, and soon, Jiang Huan strode in.
The entire hall was silent enough to hear a pin drop, the air as heavy as lead.
The entire Main Hall was silent enough to hear a pin drop, and the air was as heavy as lead.
Jiang Huan immediately collected himself, strode forward, and knelt heavily at the foot of the imperial steps, his voice as steady as possible:
“This subject, Jiang Huan, has completed his assignment to question the Prince Yan’s Mansion and has come to report!”
His arrival seemed to slightly break the congealed atmosphere inside the hall.
Old Zhu’s gaze fell upon Jiang Huan, calm and indifferent, making Jiang Huan feel as if he were being scraped by tangible blades.
“The Prince Yan’s Mansion… what did they say?”
Old Zhu’s voice was hoarse and calm, but beneath this calmness was a volcano about to erupt.
Jiang Huan dared not hide anything, nor dare he add any personal judgment at such a moment, only relaying Zhu Gaochi’s answers verbatim: Zhu Gaochi spoke of Zhu Gaoxu’s rashness and love for play, how he coincidentally saved the Emperor, criticized Fu Youwen and others as deserving death, and stated that Zhu Gaoxu should be disciplined rather than rewarded.
Upon hearing this, Old Zhu did not speak immediately, but after a long silence, he said faintly, “In your opinion, how much truth and how much falsehood is there in Zhu Gaochi’s words?”
Jiang Huan’s heart leaped, knowing this was a fatal question.
He bowed his head and cautiously replied, “This subject is dull and dare not presume to judge. The Crown Prince of Prince Yan’s reply appears comprehensive, but… it is too comprehensive, making it instead…”
He dared not continue.
“Making it seem deliberate, is that it?”
Old Zhu finished his sentence for him, a cold arc curling at the corner of his lips, “A good son raised by the Fourth Brother, just like him, slippery!”
The implication in these words sent a chill down Jiang Huan’s spine.
But he quickly added, “Furthermore, on my way back to the palace, I was stopped again by the Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi. He brought Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gao Sui, claiming…”
“Claiming what?!”
Old Zhu demanded impatiently.
“Reporting to Your Highness!”
Jiang Huan fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling as he said:
“The Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi claims that his second brother, Zhu Gaoxu, was handed a package wrapped in oiled cloth during today’s chaos of subduing the mad ox! Inside was an iron box! They dared not keep it privately and have therefore submitted it to me, to be presented to Your Sacred Hearing!”
As he spoke, he tremblingly held up a rectangular object, tightly wrapped in ordinary oiled cloth.
“What?!”
“Another iron box?!”
Old Zhu, Tang He, Chang Sheng inside the hall, and Song Zhong at the doorway were all stunned!
Song Zhong suddenly turned to look at Old Zhu.
The impatience on Old Zhu’s face instantly congealed, replaced by immense shock and even deeper astonishment!
Another iron box? With Zhu Gaoxu? Was it also slipped to him amidst the chaos?
What… what was going on?!
“Bring it here!”
Old Zhu’s voice carried a hint of haste that he himself did not notice.
The old eunuch immediately snatched the oiled cloth package from Jiang Huan’s hands, quickly checked its exterior and weight, and, confirming no obvious danger, quickly presented it before the Emperor.
Old Zhu did not touch it immediately, but said to Tang He and Chang Sheng, “You two come over as well!”
The three men gathered around the imperial desk, their gazes fixed on the newly appeared oiled cloth package.
Old Zhu took a deep breath and personally untied the oiled cloth.
Revealed inside was indeed a plain iron box, ancient in style, without any ornamentation!
It was almost identical to the one Zhu Yunteng had brought!
Everyone’s breath in the hall hitched.
Old Zhu’s fingers trembled slightly as he unfastened the clasp of the iron box.
Inside the box were, as before, several account books and some letters.
Tang He and Chang Sheng immediately stepped forward, carefully picked them up, and quickly flipped through them by candlelight.
This time, their faces were no longer puzzled, but instantly became extremely shocked and horrified.
Chang Sheng even exclaimed involuntarily, “This… this is…”
Tang He’s hands were also trembling slightly. He suddenly looked up at Old Zhu, his voice filled with disbelief:
“Your Highness! This… this iron box records all the accounts related to Shaanxi!”
“The time, place, people, officials involved, even the specific amounts and the flow of goods… everything is clearly recorded, perfectly matching the imperial archives and the Prince Qin’s reports!”
“This… this should be the missing part!”
As he spoke, he pointed to one page, his voice trembling, “Look! Here it records the ‘unconventional allocation’ of military equipment, with the approval seals and clearance records of the recipient side all present!”
“Completely different from the solitary record in the previous iron box!”
“And these too!”
Chang Sheng also excitedly added:
“Records of Shaanxi officials forming factions, interfering in local affairs, and even communicating with certain officials in the capital, specifying names, positions, dates, bribe amounts, and conversation content… extremely detailed! Definitely not hearsay!”
“Your Highness! Look! The contents of the two iron boxes are completely different!”
Tang He’s voice suddenly rose, filled with the excitement and fear of discovering a shocking secret:
“What Prince Zhu Yunteng brought had truth in the Eastern Palace portion, but was false and incomplete regarding Shaanxi! This one submitted by Prince Yan’s Mansion completes all the true evidence of crimes in Shaanxi!”
“Someone… split the complete account books in two! And gave them to two different imperial grandsons!”
Boom—!
This conclusion struck Old Zhu’s mind like a thunderclap!
All his anger, suspicion, and doubt were shattered at this moment by the sudden truth!
It wasn’t fake! It wasn’t a frame-up! It was real!
Both were real! They were just deliberately separated!
Why separate them?
In an instant, Old Zhu understood!
By handing over the evidence of ‘abnormal Eastern Palace expenditures,’ they intended to use Zhu Yunteng to uncover the truth behind the Crown Prince’s death. But they feared being implicated themselves, or feared the Emperor would suppress the matter to protect the royal family’s reputation.
So, as a precaution, they gave the evidence regarding Shaanxi to another party? And also provided the incomplete ‘abnormal Eastern Palace expenditures,’ hinting that there was another iron box!
And the person who received the Shaanxi portion, perhaps initially unwilling to get involved, but seeing that Zhu Yunteng had risked everything to expose the matter, knew it could no longer be concealed. To protect themselves, or for other reasons, they were forced to hand it over?
Regardless of the motive, at this moment, the two iron boxes combined had formed a complete, clear, and outrageously detailed chain of evidence!
It pointed directly to the ugliness deep within the Eastern Palace, and also to the darkness of Shaanxi and the disloyal intentions of the princes!
Good, good, good!
What a meticulously calculating scoundrel!
Old Zhu’s vision darkened with anger, and his body swayed slightly, but he was instinctively steadied by Jiang Huan.
However, he pushed Jiang Huan away, his face a mask of shifting emotions, his whole body radiating killing intent.
【 Zhang Biao! What kind of people are you training, damn it?! 】
【 Aren’t they my subjects?! How little do they trust me?! 】
【 And! You dog, were you targeting Yunteng from the very beginning?! What kind of “good brother” nonsense! What about giving pig’s head meat?! 】
【 It’s all a scheme! All a scheme! 】
【 You know I can’t possibly kill Yunteng, so you deliberately approached him and then found a way to give him the iron box. 】
【 You know the one who delivered the food was Zhu Gao Sui, so you wanted to drag the Fourth Brother down with you? 】
【 If I don’t believe Yunteng, then the iron box in the Fourth Brother’s hand is irrefutable evidence to bring down the Second and Third Princes!? 】
“Hahahaha—!”
Old Zhu, having understood everything, laughed in extreme anger.
【 Damn it all! You imbecile! How dare you scheme against me, against my sons and grandsons to this extent!? 】
After a chilling laugh, an ultimate coldness and immense killing intent followed. Old Zhu immediately said, “Jiang Huan!”
“This subject is here!”
“Go! Immediately to the Imperial Prison! Tell Zhang Biao! I want his confession!”
“I will give him only one last chance! Tell me the entire sequence of events! If he doesn’t speak! He and his five subordinates will all die!”
Jiang Huan was startled, then understood.
His Highness had acknowledged that the intelligence desperately sent by Zhao Fengman and others was true.
“Yes!”
“And!”
Old Zhu’s gaze swept over the two iron boxes placed side-by-side on the imperial desk, a storm raging in his eyes:
“First, immediately and secretly obtain the list of all personnel who have entered the capital from the Shaanxi Commandery in recent years, especially all personnel from Hongwu 25th year until now, without exception!”
“Secretly investigate all their interactions with the Prince Qin’s Mansion and various government offices in the Capital City! Keep a close watch on all movements of the Prince Qin’s Mansion in the Capital!”
“Second, investigate thoroughly the Eastern Palace’s Bureau of Medicine!”
“All personnel on duty in Hongwu 25th year, alive or dead, find out their backgrounds, interpersonal relationships, and even their ancestral graves! “
“Especially Wang Fu, who fell into the well, who did he associate closely with in life? Where are his family members now? How could he, a mere eunuch, bypass layers of supervision and bring in so many things?!”
“Third, secretly hand over the piece of bright yellow silk from the box to the most experienced craftsmen in the Imperial Wardrobe for examination. I want to know its specific origin, the year of weaving, and… which prince or noble it was originally supplied to!”
“Fourth!”
He looked at the two iron boxes again and said:
“Dispatch additional reliable personnel to ‘protect’ Yunwen and Consort Lü. No one is allowed to contact them without my decree. I want to ensure no more ‘accidents’ occur in the Eastern Palace.”
“Finally!”
He paused, a chilling glint flashing in his eyes:
“All the princes currently in the Capital, and the offspring of princes who have been enfeoffed, are to be placed under guard. No one is to leave, and no one is to contact anyone without my command!”
Hiss!
Upon hearing these four commands, everyone secretly gasped.
Was the Emperor going to attack indiscriminately?!
“Alright!”
After issuing a series of murderous commands, Old Zhu sat on the dragon throne like a stone statue and waved his hand:
“You all… may withdraw for now. I… need to be alone.”
“Your subjects bid farewell.”
Tang He, Chang Sheng, Jiang Huan, and Song Zhong, as if granted amnesty, bowed and withdrew with heavy hearts.
However, just as Chang Sheng and Tang He were about to exit the hall door, Old Zhu, as if casually, added another sentence, his voice steady but with an imperceptible hint of inquiry:
“Chang Sheng.”
Chang Sheng’s steps halted, and he quickly turned and bowed, “This subject is here.”
Old Zhu’s gaze fell upon him, as if engaging in idle conversation, but the depths of his eyes were as sharp as knives, “Did Yunteng… go to pay respects to his mother today? Do you know?”
Chang Sheng’s heart clenched, and a chill crawled up his spine.
Why would the Emperor ask this at this juncture?
He dared not be negligent, nor dare he conceal, and answered honestly:
“Reporting to Your Highness, this subject knows. Prince Yunteng’s filial piety is commendable. Early this morning, he went to the Chang Family Old Residence to pay respects to my sister.”
He deliberately emphasized filial piety, trying to frame his actions.
“Hmm.”
Old Zhu responded noncommittally, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest of the dragon throne, his tone still casual,
“This child is indeed passionate. It’s just… he seems to have been overly agitated.”
He paused, as if mentioning it casually, but his gaze was like a falcon’s, locking onto every subtle change in Chang Sheng’s expression:
“The commotion outside the hall just now… he kept shouting about seeking justice for his father, and he brought out some things. He said he had them after returning from the memorial service.”
Boom!
Chang Sheng felt a buzzing in his head.
What did His Highness mean by this?
Was he suspecting that his Chang family had used Yunteng’s visit to his mother’s memorial to say something to Yunteng, instigating him to appeal to the Emperor?
Or even… was he implying that his Chang family was the mastermind behind this iron box evidence, intending to use his nephew to carry out the act of borrowing a knife to kill?
Tremendous fear and a sense of injustice instantly seized Chang Sheng.
He knelt down again with a ‘plop,’ his face deathly pale, hastily trying to defend himself, his voice changing from shock and fear:
“Your Highness, please see with clarity! I, I would never dare! The Chang family’s loyalty to Your Highness and the Crown Prince is as clear as heaven and earth!”
“My sister passed away early, and we could only take care of Yunteng and his sister with all our hearts, to comfort my sister’s spirit in heaven. How could we have any improper thoughts, let alone commit such treasonous acts of framing the Imperial Family, Your Highness!”
He kowtowed repeatedly, sweat beads forming on his forehead instantly:
“Prince Yunteng’s memorial today was merely an act of ordinary filial piety. I, I truly do not know where His Highness obtained those things! If, if I have spoken a single false word, I am willing to suffer a thousand cuts, and the entire Chang Clan is willing to face the wrath of heaven!”
His reaction was intense and panicked, a natural response of fear and defense after being suddenly smeared with immense filth, not feigned.
Tang He, standing beside him, also bowed and said:
“Your Highness, Duke Kaiguo has always been loyal and brave, and deeply devoted to the Crown Prince. He would never engage in such clandestine actions. This matter may have other complications; please, Your Highness, investigate it clearly.”
Old Zhu quietly watched Chang Sheng’s panicked kowtowing and listened to Tang He’s plea, his face still expressionless.
His previous words were both a test and a warning.
Testing whether Chang Sheng and the Chang family knew or were involved.
Warning Chang Sheng and all imperial relatives by marriage that, regardless of the truth, they should not take this opportunity to cause trouble.
Chang Sheng’s reaction, though seemingly panicked, was within the realm of reason.
Old Zhu’s suspicion prevented him from fully believing, but Chang Sheng’s performance at least showed no obvious flaws for now.
“Get up.”
After a long moment, Old Zhu finally spoke slowly, his tone betraying no emotion: “I was just asking casually. I do know the Chang family’s loyalty.”
He lightly dismissed the question that could have scared someone to death, as if it were truly just a casual remark.
“However!”
His tone shifted, becoming cold again: “Regarding Biao’er’s matter, I will definitely investigate it thoroughly.”
“Until then, manage the people of the Chang family, and also take care of that child Yunteng. I do not wish to see anyone else using his grief over his father’s death to stir up trouble. Do you understand?”
These words were both a warning and an order.
It warned the Chang family to stay in their place and ordered Chang Sheng to keep a close eye on Zhu Yunteng and not cause any more trouble.
“This minister understands! This minister obeys your decree! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust!”
Chang Sheng felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty. He hurriedly kowtowed, his back already drenched in cold sweat.
He knew the Chang family had just narrowly escaped death.
“You may go.”
Old Zhu waved his hand again and closed his eyes wearily.
Tang He and Chang Sheng truly breathed a sigh of relief and almost stumbled as they retreated from Huagai Hall.
It wasn’t until they were outside the hall, chilled by the cold wind, that they felt truly alive again. They exchanged glances, seeing the alarm and lingering fear in each other’s eyes.
Inside the hall, Old Zhu slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the hall doors that had closed again, a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
His gaze fell back upon the iron box.
After a long while, he let out an extremely faint sigh, as if all his strength had been drained in an instant.
【 Biao’er. Dad. I think I know who harmed you.】
His voice was low, carrying infinite weariness and a desolation never before seen.
The situation had taken a sharp turn, and the truth was pieced together in the most unexpected way.
Meanwhile, at the Censorate, in the office of a night-duty censor.
The lamp was still lit.
A middle-aged censor, who appeared to be frowning and was writing a memorial impeaching Zhang Biao late into the night, heard three owl hoots from outside the window.
His pen paused, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes.
He quickly took out another draft from his sleeve, which was even more fiery and inflammatory, and replaced the one on his desk.
The title of the draft was none other than:
《 A Letter to the Scholars of the Realm: Please Execute the National Traitor Zhang Biao to Rectify the Situation.》
Seeking monthly tickets~
【 One more chapter, it will be a bit late. I just got home, will eat dinner first~】
