Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 420 The Conspiracy Is Here!

Zhang Fu has been in the palace for fifteen years, and has served in the palaces of the Noble Consort, the Empress, and the Qianqing Palace for several years. From this point of view, he has a considerable understanding of the various inside operations of the palace.

Not to mention that he now works in the Imperial Medical Academy, which is in charge of medicines used in the palace, and the emperor is currently receiving medical treatment and taking medicine, so he has far too many opportunities to make a move!
Furthermore, given that his concubine was executed by the emperor, his resentment towards the emperor must have been considerable.

And isn't the most conclusive evidence the valuable items and travel permits found in his room?
Assassinating the king would not be tolerated even by a new emperor, so after succeeding, he naturally had to find a way to survive.

Living far away from the palace was the best ending for him.

Upon hearing that Yang Bonong had come to ask for a plaque, Shen Qingzhou immediately stuffed the resume he had just read into his pocket: "I'm going to see my father-in-law!"

……

As expected, the garrison troops at the palace gates were not allowing anyone to enter. However, they did not act forcefully, but simply politely suggested that they come back the next day. Most officials had been turned away countless times over the years, so they did not care about this one more time and left without taking it seriously.

A very small number of people had doubts, but the emperor's temperament was unpredictable, and there was no need to offend him, so they also withdrew in silence.

Lu Jie and Shen Qingzhou, who had just arrived, exchanged a glance as they watched the defeated officials from afar. The carriage then immediately headed towards the north palace gate.

There is a very small palace gate on the north side, which has always been used for carriages purchased by the Imperial Household Department to enter and exit.

As usual, the imperial guards at the gate tried to stop him, but Shen Qingzhou slapped the plaque on their foreheads: "The Emperor is in trouble, and Grand Secretary Lu is entering the palace with this plaque to rescue him. You dare to stop him?!"

Two soldiers knelt down with a thud, moving their knees to make way.

Lu Jie immediately led his men inside.

Shen Qingzhou remained outside the door, his longsword thrusting towards their chests again: "Keep your mouths shut!"

The soldiers had never seen such a swift attack, especially since this was the notoriously sickly Young Master Shen. Half of their souls were instantly gone.

……

Li Quan had already ordered Zhang Fu to be apprehended, and on the other hand, he sent someone to immediately convey a message to He Ping, instructing him to investigate the head of the Imperial Medical Academy.

Unexpectedly, a eunuch ran over and said, "Eunuch Li! The head of the Imperial Medical Academy was found hanged in his attic this morning!"

Li Quan was greatly surprised.

Just as they were about to enter the palace to find the emperor, Lin Chi, a Taoist priest from Baiyun Temple, arrived. At that moment, it was time for the emperor to begin the ritual!

"You've come at the perfect time. The last time I was refining pills, I missed the auspicious time, which is why I've been afflicted with illness lately. I must not miss it again today."

The emperor's displeasure was evident as he spoke, and he even glared at the crown prince and crown princess who arrived shortly afterward. Li Quan swallowed back the words he was about to say.

If you violate the emperor's taboos, there is a high chance that you will either die or be injured.

Li Quan can't afford to lose.

The Crown Prince, one of the parties involved whose auspicious time was delayed last time, is even more unwilling to lose.

He stepped back, and before he could even put his footing, he ran into Lu Jie, Cheng Wenhui and the others who were rushing towards him!
"What about the emperor?"

"We were just about to begin the ceremony! The head of the Imperial Medical Academy died this morning!"

Li Quan focused on the most important points, placing all his hopes on the newly appointed Grand Secretary.

As expected, Lu Jie and the others' expressions changed. Before they could even ask how they discovered it, they saw Zhang Fu, who was about to slip away, not far away.

"catch him!"

Lu Jie roared.

A dignified Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, known for his refined and scholarly demeanor, immediately rolled up his sleeves and ran off at full speed.

The three imperial censors behind him also caught up with him with the same anxious expressions.

But someone was faster than them. He Ping, who was leading several imperial guards, was as swift as lightning. In a few leaps, he captured the eunuch!
Lu Jie and the others ran up to him, panting, only to see that Zhang Fu, who had been captured, was bleeding from his mouth and nose, and his eyes were wide open like gongs.

When He Ping reached out and grabbed his chin, his eyes rolled back, and he was already barely breathing.

The group of people looked at each other, their expressions already changed.

He Ping: "Guards! Immediately order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to enter the palace and protect the Emperor!" "Wait a minute!"

Lu Jie suddenly grabbed his wrist, his already turbulent expression turning into a turbulent storm: "He hasn't even accomplished his goal yet, so why must the Imperial Physician die? If he died in his attic, why was the news of his death sent to the palace so early in the morning?"

He Ping paused.

"This is probably their conspiracy!" the refined Grand Secretary of the Cabinet exclaimed. "The real killer is not Zhang Fu; this is just a smokescreen!"

"They created this disturbance to distract us and make it easier for the real killer to strike!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present turned pale.

"Save the Emperor!" He Ping turned around.

Lu Jie pulled him back again: "We need to save the emperor, but listen to me first!..."

……

The dojo was now full.

The emperor had already changed into a Taoist robe, and the crown prince, dressed as a Taoist boy, stood to the side holding a whisk. The crown princess, though unable to move easily, was also ordered to serve Zhu Sha to show her sincerity to the immortal.

The people who rule the world and the people who will rule the world in the future are seeking immortality and enlightenment amidst swirling smoke. This scene is truly absurd and bizarre.

The emperor held a peach wood sword and then glanced at the crown prince: "If you hadn't interfered, my elixir would have been completed. As my son, you should kneel here today to atone for your sins and protect the elixir together."

The Crown Prince silently agreed and knelt down.

A Taoist priest brought over three pills and bowed, saying, "Before the altar is opened, Your Majesty and Your Highnesses are requested to take these pills to strengthen your vital energy and calm your mind, as is customary."

The emperor nodded and glancing at the crown prince, "You are blessed."

The crown prince looked at the pills in front of him, slowly picked them up, and remained silent.

"What are you still spacing out for?"

The emperor raised his voice: "Are you disobeying the imperial edict?"

The prince quickly said "Forgive me" and tilted his head back to put the medicine into his mouth.

Seeing this, the Taoist priest serving the medicine delivered the remaining pills to the emperor and the crown princess respectively.

"emperor!"

The emperor came to collect his medicine, but He Ping's voice came from the doorway. He glanced at the crown prince and crown princess, then bowed at the door: "Your subject has urgent news regarding Grand Commandant Shen!"

The words "Grand Commandant Shen" caught the emperor's eye.

"Come in!"

He Ping stepped forward, looked around, and took the tray from the Taoist priest serving the medicine: "Give me the medicine, and I will serve His Majesty."

The Taoist priest held onto the tray tightly.

The emperor waved his hand: "Go down first, wait in the side hall."

Lin Chi agreed and led his men out.

The Taoist priest who served the medicine walked at the back. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw He Ping put the medicine to the emperor's lips. Only then did he look away, lower his head, and step over the threshold.

The crown prince covered his mouth and coughed a few times.

Hearing the footsteps fade into the distance, He Ping, with a flourish of his fingers, withdrew the elixir that had clearly been placed on the emperor's tongue, saying, "The auspicious time is still a quarter past the hour. The medicine will be more effective if taken at that time. Your Majesty, why don't you wait a little longer?"

The emperor looked at him suspiciously.

At this moment, the crown prince, who was sitting to the side coughing, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, then collapsed to the ground!

The emperor suddenly stood up!