The sound of crying came faintly from a corner of Shufang Palace. With slightly red eyes, Yi Guipin looked at the eunuch kneeling in front of her. She forced a smile and had the eunuch leave the palace. After a moment of silence, her hand, which was pulled back into her sleeve, gripped the handkerchief tightly. In a raspy voice, she said, "I don't believe it."
The Royal Palace was in a mess. The empress dowager had sent out a number of edicts in quick succession. Regardless of whether it was the empress in the Eastern Palace or Lady Ning, they all had to immediately move to Hanguang Palace. Yi Guipin, who had raised the Qing Emperor's youngest prince, was no exception.
At the time, Yi Guipin had clearly heard these edicts in the palace. She knew that the so-called moving to Hanguang Palace was only to make it easier to monitor the people in the palace.
Her thoughts came to a sudden realization. She didn't know what kind of situation she and her son were about to face. The Emperor was dead? The Emperor was dead? The hair at her temples was a bit messy. She shook her head forcefully as if she wanted to chase this shocking news out of her mind.
"How could the Emperor die? How could he die?"
She bit down hard on her lower lip. A white mark was left on her rosy lips. The rain outside the palace had stopped. The cicadas had stopped, but a chilling coldness still filled the air and wrapped around her body, making her shiver uncontrollably.
Although the Emperor never had any particular preference for female charms, and there were no more than 20 concubines in the back palace, Yi Guipin had been the most favored one in recent years. If one were to say that she had no feelings for the Emperor, it would be a lie. However, her sorrow, fear, and unease were not only because of the news of the Emperor's death.
The military, Overwatch Council, and the provinces sent messages from thousands of li to Jingdou to deliver the major news to the nobles in the capital. The Emperor had been assassinated.
The military and the reports from the provinces said that the person who assassinated the Emperor was the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, Fan Xian.
Sir Fan junior colluded with Dongyi's Sigu Jian. During the worship ceremony at Dong Mountain, his rebellious heart rose up and he killed the Emperor.
The reports from the Overwatch Council only confirmed the news of the Emperor's death. The specific description of the process was particularly vague. On the contrary, it confirmed the truth of the first two pieces of news.
…
…
Yi Guipin did not believe it.
It was not that she did not believe that the Emperor had passed away. Rather, she did not believe that this was done by Sir Fan junior. This did not make sense at all. The Emperor's worship was to depose the Crown Prince. After the worship, Fan Xian's position would only become more stable. How could he suddenly choose such an absurd action at this juncture?
Yi Guipin was truly afraid. She felt that a net had already wrapped around Fan Xian and was closely following it around Shufang Palace. She was born in the Liu family, and was connected to the Fan family. Fan Xian was also the teacher of the Third Prince, appointed by the Emperor himself.
If Fan Xian truly became the chief criminal of the rebellion, the entire Fan manor would be executed, and the Liu family would not be spared. Yi Guipin might be pushed into the well, and the Third Prince …
"Mother! Mother! "The Third Prince, who had just received the news, ran into the palace, crying as he ran. When he ran in front of Yi Guipin, he stopped in a daze. With a pair of eyes that were more mature than those of his age, he carefully looked at his mother.
Yi Guipin nodded her head absentmindedly.
The Third Prince pressed his lips together and forcefully endured it. In the end, he couldn't stop it. With a loud cry, he threw himself into Yi Guipin's arms.
A moment later, Yi Guipin gritted her teeth and pulled her son out of her arms with all her might. Looking fiercely into his eyes, she said forcefully, "Don't cry. You're not allowed to cry. Now is not the time to cry. Your father is a monarch of indomitable spirit. You can't cry."
The Third Prince, Li Chengping, sobbed but stood resolutely in front of his mother and nodded his head heavily. Long years of life in the Palace and a year with Fan Xian in Jiangnan had long tempered the temperament of this ruthless prince, who dared to open a brothel at the age of nine. He knew that what his mother was about to tell him was very important.
"Right now, the word is that it was your teacher, Sir Fan, who assassinated the Emperor." Yi Guipin stared into her son's eyes.
After a moment of panic in the Third Prince's eyes, he immediately calmed down and said hatefully, "I don't believe it! Master isn't that kind of person. Besides … he has no reason to do so. "
Yi Guipin forced a smile and patted her son's head. "Yes, although there are reports from the military and the provinces, not many people will believe that your teacher would harm the Emperor. You have to know that he is your father's most valued official."
"We're not the only ones who don't believe it." Yi Guipin gritted her teeth and said, "The empress dowager also doesn't believe it. Otherwise, the Fan manor would have been raided by now, and that crazy woman would not have been buried by the empress dowager."
The Third Prince nodded.
Yi Guipin lowered her voice and said, "But, the empress dowager will not completely disbelieve it. Although I don't know why, your uncle is about to enter the Palace. Sister Chen and Sisi are also about to enter the Palace. If the empress dowager truly believes that the Dong Mountain incident was done by your teacher, the Fan and Liu families will probably immediately sink into desperate straits."
"What can I do?" The Third Prince clenched his fists tightly. He knew that his future was completely pressed on his teacher, Fan Xian. If his teacher was truly beaten to the point of murdering the monarch, he would never have the power to rise again.
"Don't do anything. Just cry, be sad, and stay with the empress dowager …" Yi Guipin suddenly sighed. A pitiful expression flashed through her eyes. She pulled the Third Prince back into her arms. "As long as the Dong Mountain incident is not cleared up and your teacher does not return to Jingdou, the empress dowager will not immediately act against the Fan family. We need this time to influence the empress dowager and then wait for your teacher to return. "
The Third Prince was silent for a moment and then nodded. Like his mother, he always had great confidence in Fan Xian. In their hearts, as long as his teacher returned to Jingdou, he would certainly be able to resolve the entire matter.
The eunuch was rushing them from outside.
Yi Guipin began to prepare to move to Hanguang Palace, completely out of her wits.
A ruthless light flashed through the Third Prince's eyes. He pulled out a poisoned dagger that Fan Xian had given him from under the table and carefully hid it in his cute little boots.
He did not agree with his mother's earlier words. Hanguang Palace was not necessarily safe. For the chair father had left behind, what kind of crazy things wouldn't his two brothers do?
… …
Crown Prince Li Chengqian slowly tidied up his clothing. There was not a glimmer of crazed joy on his face. When the news of the Emperor's death reached the Palace, the Crown Prince, like all the princes and officials, fell to the ground and cried loudly. It was difficult for him to hide his sorrow.
Other than sorrow, there was also a glimmer of white on his face. Walking to the door of the Eastern Palace, he faced the dusk in the distant east and bowed deeply. Two streams of tears fell from his eyes.
After a long time, he straightened his body and thought sorrowfully in his heart, Father, it is not that I am unfilial, but you have already forced me to the point where I have no way out.
Hong Zhu led the guards at the door of the Eastern Palace, waiting to invite the empress and Crown Prince to move to Hanguang Palace.
The Crown Prince glanced out of the Palace doors and then turned to glance at the empress. He furrowed his brows slightly and forcefully hid the helplessness in his eyes. Holding his mother's hand, he quietly said by her ear, "Mother, please restrain your grief."
The usually virtuous and elegant empress had been trapped in the Eastern Palace for half a year and had long lost her former splendor. Suddenly hearing the news of the Emperor being assassinated on Dong Mountain, this woman who had been the Emperor's childhood sweetheart still broke down. Her entire person was like a walking corpse as she listened to the news coming from the various Palaces. She could only sit on the bed and cry.
"Your father is dead …" The empress gazed at the Crown Prince with lifeless eyes.
The Crown Prince slowly lowered his head and said, "I know. However, everyone must die."
His face was still filled with grief, but his words were spoken in an extremely indifferent manner.
The empress seemed to have come to her senses in an instant and understood these words. She gazed at her son with a face full of disbelief. She opened her mouth wide and didn't speak for a moment.
"The worship to heaven is not complete," the Crown Prince said in a low voice. The Crown Prince said in a low voice, "I will rightfully become the next Emperor of the Qing Kingdom, and you will be the empress dowager."
For a moment, countless complicated emotions surged in the empress' heart. Her lips trembled. It was not until a long time later that she stuttered out, "Yes, yes, yes … That goddamn Fan Xian, I … I said a long time ago that he is a fiendish star … Our Li family will eventually be destroyed by the hands of that mother and son. In a moment, go to Hanguang Palace and immediately ask the empress dowager to give the order to execute the entire Fan family! No, execute both the Fan and Liu families and also kill that old dog Chen Pingping! "
The Crown Prince's grip on the empress' hand abruptly tightened. The empress felt the pain and closed her mouth.
The Crown Prince leaned close to her ear and said each word in a quiet voice, "Don't say this. Remember, don't say a word. If you still want me to sit on that dragon chair, then don't say anything. Presently, no one will believe that Fan Xian committed regicide. If you say this, even less will believe it. Thus, we will have to wait in Hanguang Palace. In another four or five days, the witnesses and evidence will all come back. At that time, even if you don't say anything, the empress dowager will know what to do. "
The empress's entire body trembled as if she had never recognized her son.
In the end, the Crown Prince said quietly by her ear, "In a moment, Qin Heng will enter the Palace. You should speak to the old master. Only then will it be easier to speak to the empress dowager."
— — —
In the Second Prince's manor not far from the Royal Palace, the Second Prince was like his brother. As he tidied up his clothes, he pretended to be sorrowful. As a member of the Emperor's family, he was most skilled at acting. Thus, when he was thinking about many things, the expression on his face was still on point.
Wangfei Ye Ling 'er watched him coldly from the side and did not go forward to help. A moment later, she quietly asked, "Do you believe it?"
The Second Prince's hand paused and calmly replied, "I don't believe it. I admire Fan Xian. He has no reason to do such a thing."
Ye Ling 'er furrowed her pretty brows and asked, "Then, why are all the rumors saying this?"
"Rumors are just rumors. They stop at the hands of the wise." The Second Prince lowered his head slightly and rolled up his snow-white sleeves. He was wearing a light-colored unlined robe and appeared particularly low-key and silent. "Before there is evidence, I will not believe that Fan Xian would be so daring."
Ye Ling 'er's heart softened and she quietly said, "Be careful when you enter the Palace."
The Second Prince forced a smile and patted his wife's face. "What is there to be careful about? Father has passed away. However, it is a secret right now and not a funeral. After the Dong Mountain matter is cleared up, the entire country will certainly mourn. Then, the Crown Prince will ascend to the throne. I will still be that unremarkable Second Prince. "
"Are you willing?" Ye Ling 'er looked at him in shock.
The Second Prince was silent for a moment and then suddenly said, "I won't hide it from you. I suspect that the Dong Mountain matter was done by the Crown Prince …"
Ye Ling'er was shocked and covered her mouth with her hand.
The Second Prince laughed bitterly and said, "It is just a guess."
After saying this, he walked out of the manor and called his trusted aide over from a corner. In a quiet voice, he ordered, "Tell father-in-law to prepare to enter the capital at any moment."
Father was dead. The Second Prince stood at the door of the manor and suddenly felt that the sky above his head had begun to release a beautiful blue light. There was no longer anyone who could block his head. He had seen the Dong Mountain matter clearly because the Eldest Princess had never hidden it from him.
If the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, then so be it. Regardless of whether Fan Xian was dead or alive, how could those old fellows standing behind Fan Xian allow themselves to be captured without a fight?
A cold smile rose to the corners of the Second Prince's lips. He would help the Crown Prince. He would temporarily let him sit in that chair and let him face the powerful counterattack of the Overwatch Council and Fan family. He only needed to watch coldly. The Crown Prince, that useless piece of trash, would be exposed as the mastermind behind the murder of his father and the monarch. He wanted to see what would happen to him.
…
There was no time to grieve.
Everyone who knew of the news of the Emperor's assassination had no time to grieve. After a moment of shock, they began to calmly, even coldly, arrange the aftermath. Those who had the right to sit in that chair began to make preparations. Those who had the right to decide who the chair belonged to began to secretly communicate.
Although the empress dowager had, at the first instance, requested that the relevant personnel enter the Palace, she still gave those people enough time to communicate.
Everyone seemed to have forgotten that the person who had died was the most powerful ruler since the founding of the Qing Kingdom, the Sovereign who had ruled this land for over 20 years, and the spiritual symbol of all the Qing people.
They were disturbed by the rewards in front of their eyes and the fragrance in their noses. They only had time to be excited, terrified, and pretend to grieve. They did not have time to truly grieve.
Only one person was an exception.
…
…
The Eldest Princess slowly pushed open the door to the royal courtyard that had been closed for many months. She stood calmly on the stone steps and looked at the carriage and eunuchs who had come to welcome her into the Palace. Her beautiful and exquisite features did not tremble at all. She wore a thin white robe. She was very pretty, very plain, and very sorrowful.
She didn't turn around to glance at the courtyard and slowly raised her head to look at the wisp of blue sky after the clouds and rain dispersed. The sorrow on her face grew heavier and heavier, thicker and thicker, and thicker and thicker to the limit before fading to the point there wasn't a trace of emotion. Her jade-like skin seemed to be about to become translucent, allowing everyone in the world to see the true feelings in her heart.
That pain and calmness.
Li Yunrui smiled slightly. Clear light scattered in all directions. In her heart, she said quietly to a certain Emperor spirit on the distant mountain, "Brother, have a safe journey."
Then, she climbed into the carriage and headed toward the Royal Palace that was about to decide the ownership of the Qing Kingdom.
Unlike the Crown Prince and Second Prince, she did not care to be on guard against the Overwatch Council and Fan manor. Because she stood at a higher position, she could see further. The crux of the entire matter had already been confirmed with the three tired horses that had traveled thousands of li back to the capital. Everything else was just a matter of how simple it was.
As long as the Emperor died, the entire matter would be over.
Regardless of whether or not the empress dowager believed that Fan Xian had killed the Emperor, she was, after all, the empress dowager of the Qing Kingdom. She had to believe it. Furthermore, the Eldest Princess had ways to make her believe it.
As for whether the Crown Prince or Second Prince would succeed to the throne, the Eldest Princess, Li Yunrui, did not care. What she cared about was that person's death.
I can help you. When you abandon me, I can destroy you.
The woman in the carriage smiled and then began to cry.
…
Rain slowly dripped down from the tree branches outside the city gates. A number of days had passed since the three riders entered the capital with the news. There were no walls in the world that did not have a crack. The unusual movements of the Palace and city gate guards, the Jingdou government bailiffs coming out to maintain law and order, and the unusual silence of the Overwatch Council allowed the people of Jingdou to faintly guess the truth of the matter.
The truth that they did not dare to believe.
The reaction of the common people was forever different from that of the nobility. They looked at things more directly and, sometimes, more accurately. They only knew that the Qing Emperor was a good Emperor. At least, looking at the lives of the Qing people, the Qing Emperor was a rarely seen good Emperor.
Thus, the common people were sad, sad, crying, and confused. They didn't know what the future of this country would become. They also had doubts in their hearts. No matter what, they did not believe that Sir Fan junior would be that damned traitor.
At the beginning, the officials also did not believe it. However, the 500 Black Knights belonging to Fan Xian's family still had not reported back. The official ship anchored in Danzhou had disappeared without a trace. The testimony of the lucky survivors of Dong Mountain pointed directly at Fan Xian. Countless pieces of evidence began to gather in the Royal Palace. Although it was not enough to prove anything, it could convince some people who were willing to be convinced.
The Fan manor was already under control.
The Duke's manor was also under control.
Perhaps what was about to arrive was a reign of terror.
It was said that the Palace was beginning to prepare for the Crown Prince to succeed to the throne.
The Crown Prince, who was about to be deposed, was about to succeed to the throne. History and reality were always this absurd.
At this time, a merchant selling soybean oil, wearing a bamboo hat, used the official documents of the Palace Bureau, after much difficulty entered the half-closed eastern city gate. He walked to a corner in the southern part of the city and checked into an inn.
Through the window of the inn, he could faintly see the front and back manors of the Fan manor surrounded by heavy soldiers. The merchant took off his straw hat and looked at the manor in the distance. He held his chest and coughed. A complicated emotion flashed through his eyes.
…
…
In Shanghai, I've been staying at my best friend's home, but I haven't seen my friend and his wife in three days. This is the problem that comes from not going to the same place for a long time. Friends haven't seen each other for four to five years. If they don't see each other, the heavens will be angry and the people will be resentful. Thus, I run through the unfamiliar streets of Shanghai every night, enduring the tearing pain in my chest caused by the flu.
I've been taking medicine and drinking very little, but I haven't gotten better. Looking at the appointments on the paper, I always miss some. I've sunk into a frenzy. When did I become such a busy person? Why is it that each trip to the big city is as long as a spring outing?
For this annual meeting, I've deliberately pushed the date of leaving Shanghai so late because I have too many friends I want to see and chat with, but I still can't arrange them properly. This is my own problem. I'll take up a few pages and snap my fingers to friends I haven't seen. I'll come next year.
PS: It didn't affect the writing of Qing Yu's year. This is something I'm very surprised about. However, I am, after all, sick. My mind has been muddled the entire time. Can I ask everyone for a day off tomorrow? I bowed and left the stage.
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