Chapter 192: Each With Their Own Worries
To be precise, Chai Du was escorted away.
After removing his golden armor and bidding farewell to the Emperor outside the hall, Chai Du arrived outside the Imperial City. Just as he was about to take the horse handed over by his personal soldier, officials from Dali Temple came rushing over.
“General, regarding the White Horse Town case involving Ji Ying, the confessed details implicate the Gaoyang Army. His Majesty requests the General’s assistance in verifying them.”
Chai Du followed them there.
“Second Brother is too honest!” Chai Yuan angrily smashed the teacup on the ground. “He should have ignored them and left directly!”
At the same time Chai Du was taken away, he and Marquis Yichun knew about it. After all, they were only a few steps apart, so he immediately chased after, but was stopped outside Dali Temple.
“This case is of great importance and is under the primary jurisdiction of Dali Temple.”
“Moreover, His Majesty is personally present; no one may enter without an edict.”
The Dali Temple officials, who usually greeted him with fawning smiles and obsequious bows, now stood straight-backed and spoke in a deep voice. Not only that, they added a sarcastic remark.
“Third Master Chai, this case involves the Marquis after all. You should go back first to avoid suspicion.”
Thinking of this, Chai Yuan raised his hand and swept the ornaments off the desk. “Bastards, daring to speak to me like that. See if I don’t deal with him!”
Marquis Yichun frowned and patted the table. “Cursing a few times is enough. Sit down.”
Chai Yuan couldn’t sit still. “Father, why aren’t you worried at all?”
When he heard that Chai Du had gone with the Dali Temple people, Marquis Yichun didn’t go directly to the Emperor or say anything. He only told Chai Yuan to go to Dali Temple to inquire, while he himself got into a carriage and returned home.
Marquis Yichun said in a deep voice, “From the moment your second brother appeared, I knew he couldn’t leave today.”
He knew something was wrong. Inviting Chai Du back for his birthday celebration? Hah, the Emperor was not one to be entertained by colorful attire for amusement. The Emperor would only use such entertainment to mask his true intentions.
After going to such lengths to lure Chai Du back, how could he easily let him go.
“What does he mean? What does he want? Does he want to strip Second Brother of his military power?”
Chai Yuan gritted his teeth and said in a low voice.
“Is he going to betray his word?”
The Chai Clan supported Deng Shan, and a daughter of the Chai Clan became the Empress. Even after the new dynasty was established, they still controlled the military power of the Border Army.
On the surface, it was said that Deng Shan trusted them the most, but in reality, this was also an exchange.
It was what their Chai Clan deserved!
Marquis Yichun placed the teacup on the table, interrupting Chai Yuan’s words.
“Our Chai Clan’s military power—unless we hand it over ourselves.” He said indifferently, “No one can take it away.”
He smiled again as he spoke.
“Don’t think that with Ji Ying, assassins, and family servants coming forward with accusations, they can frame us with these tricks.”
At this point, he looked at Chai Yuan.
“Don’t worry about your second brother. He has always been steady. It won’t be easy for the Emperor to interrogate him, and your second brother is not afraid at all, so he followed without hesitation.”
Chai Yuan let out an “oh” and slowly sat down, but his heart was still somewhat unsettled.
For the sake of that dead woman, the Emperor actually tricked Second Brother into coming back.
The Emperor truly no longer had them in his eyes.
……
…….
Dali Temple stopped Chai Yuan but couldn’t stop the Empress.
“Your Majesty, I’m not here to quarrel with you.” The Empress walked in, looking at the Emperor straight ahead. “I want to tell you that no matter what my second brother did, it was all for me. If you want to punish, punish me instead.”
The Emperor’s expression was somewhat helpless. “A Feng, I didn’t…”
“Younger Sister, you’re overthinking it.” Chai Du’s voice rang out as he walked out from the side, with two Dali Temple officials following behind him.
“His Majesty only asked me to verify a few matters.” He continued.
The two Dali Temple officials placed several case files on the desk. “Your Majesty, General Gaoyang has already verified them. These people’s movements were all normal; they had no opportunity to appear in White Horse Town.”
The Emperor’s expression was pleased yet annoyed. “I knew those wastes would write nonsense. I told them to investigate carefully, not recklessly.”
“It’s not entirely nonsense.” Chai Du said, “From the traces of the investigation, these people are indeed from the military, and the horseshoe marks are the kind habitually used by our Border Army.”
The Empress sneered from the side. “That’s not surprising. If they knew this… person’s identity, they would naturally know the most suitable way to frame our Chai Clan.”
The Emperor hummed in agreement. “The Empress is right.” At this point, he looked at Chai Du. “So please have Second Brother verify carefully. Since it’s a frame-up, they must be familiar with the Border Army. When framing others, they will inevitably leave their own clues.”
Chai Du’s expression darkened. “I will investigate thoroughly.” He looked at the files on the desk. “Daring to frame and slander our Chai Clan and drive a wedge between His Majesty—punishable by a thousand deaths.”
……
……
“Mother Empress!”
In the Empress’s Palace, seeing the Empress enter, the Prince of Donghai, who had been pacing anxiously inside the hall, hurried to greet her.
“How is Second Uncle? Father Emperor really intends to…”
The Empress glanced at him. “Even if General Chai really did something, what do you have to worry about?”
The Prince of Donghai was stunned. “That’s my uncle…”
His attendants had told him since childhood how formidable his grandfather and uncle were. They were not only his blood relatives but also his support for ruling under heaven in the future.
Of course he was worried about his uncle getting into trouble.
Why did Mother Empress react like this? That was her brother; shouldn’t she be even more worried?
The Empress said indifferently, “You should worry more about your father emperor. Your father emperor is the Emperor, your uncle is a minister. If a minister errs and offends, it is the Emperor who is offended.”
The Prince of Donghai let out an “oh” and hurriedly said, “I naturally know that. I want to share Father Emperor’s burdens, so I want to know where Uncle went wrong.”
The Empress waved her hand to interrupt him. “Enough, it has nothing to do with you. Just stay quiet.”
With his mother’s temper flaring and her face cold, the Prince of Donghai didn’t dare speak again and assented.
The Empress looked at her son’s slightly furrowed brows, sighed softly, and said, “Your father emperor only asked your uncle to help verify a few pieces of news. The questioning is already done, and your uncle has left Dali Temple and returned to Marquis Yichun’s Mansion.”
The Prince of Donghai finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again. “Grandfather is quite composed; he didn’t even come to inquire.”
The Empress’s expression was indifferent. Suddenly, she looked around. “Where is Pingcheng?”
From the time the banquet dispersed until now, especially since the Prince of Donghai knew about Chai Du’s situation and came running to ask, why hadn’t Princess Pingcheng come?
Did she still not know?
……
……
“Your Highness.”
The eunuchs outside the Imperial Study nervously and respectfully watched Princess Pingcheng standing outside.
“His Majesty is at Dali Temple.”
Princess Pingcheng nodded. “I know. Father Emperor is interrogating Uncle.”
The eunuchs looked embarrassed and nervous. “Your Highness, this, this might be a misunderstanding. His Majesty and the General…”
Before they could finish, Princess Pingcheng smiled and interrupted them. “I’m not worried about Father Emperor and the General. Father Emperor has his reasons for what he does.”
The eunuchs breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the princess was about to make a big fuss here. They had heard the Empress had already gone to Dali Temple to cause a scene.
“I’ll wait here for Father Emperor.” Princess Pingcheng said, then stepped inside.
The princess had always come and gone freely here, so the eunuchs did not stop her and let her enter.
Princess Pingcheng stood dazed in the Imperial Study.
She wasn’t worried about her uncle being taken away by Dali Temple. Even if something really happened to her uncle, it had nothing to do with her.
She was Father Emperor’s daughter; she wouldn’t be affected.
What she cared more about now was another matter.
Princess Pingcheng clenched the hand hanging at her side. How strange—as the banquet dispersed, she actually heard a very absurd rumor.
The rumor said that Yang Luo was… Father Emperor’s…
The thought flashed through, and Princess Pingcheng couldn’t help but breathe rapidly. She couldn’t even say those two words, couldn’t even imagine them.
Nonsense.
Yes, utter nonsense.
Just like the previous rumor that Father Emperor was going to take Yang Luo as a concubine.
Princess Pingcheng walked to the desk. Father Emperor’s desk was as cluttered as ever; he didn’t like tidying up, saying he wouldn’t be able to find what he wanted to see.
Her gaze swept over and caught a corner of paper peeking out from under a stack of memorials.
Princess Pingcheng’s tense body relaxed, a smile appeared on her face, and her eyes sparkled.
She recognized it.
This was from that National Academy exam.
But she hadn’t done well, only getting Grade A lower.
Back then, Father Emperor had taken her answer sheet away and kept it as a treasure, placing it on the desk where he could see it anytime.
She truly was Father Emperor’s most beloved, only daughter.
Princess Pingcheng reached out and pulled out that answer sheet, her gaze falling on the paper.
On it, the two words “Yang Luo” were elegant, free-flowing, yet sharp.
Princess Pingcheng felt her ears buzzing, her vision blurring.
What did she see?
She must be dreaming!
