Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 507 The civet cat exchanges for the prince

Before Lin Zhiqing could figure out the problem, the Crown Prince on the city wall suddenly moved.

"Yes." His voice remained calm. After saying this, he turned around and walked towards the back of the city wall.

That's the direction of the palace.

Lin Zhiqing stood up and looked at Lu Huai on the city tower.

what is the problem?

Is this done?
The Crown Prince was remarkably calm.

How long did Lin Zhiqing plead for that single word "allow"?

With the crown prince's final decision, the marriage alliance collapsed and ceased to exist.

The imperial edict was withdrawn silently, as if nothing had ever happened.

But Lin Zhiqing cannot pretend that it never happened.

In particular, the terrifying night she spent in the palace continued to haunt her.

Why did Consort Rong die?

Why is the Empress said to have hysteria?

Why would someone want to kill her?
Lin Zhiqing will not be at ease until these issues are clarified.

The aftermath of the marriage alliance had not yet faded.

Lin Zhiqing's actions that day have been widely discussed.

When Lu Huai finished dealing with his work and visited the Lin family again, he had already heard Lin Zhiqing's name from the people many times.

When I saw Lin Zhiqing again, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

"Lu Huai, you've finally arrived," Lin Zhiqing said.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

A smile unconsciously appeared on Lu Huai's face: "I've found out about what you told me last time."

Lin Zhiqing immediately became interested: "Has the matter of Consort Shu been completely investigated?"

Lu Huai nodded: "There are some interesting parts, aren't there?"

"What interesting places?" Lin Zhiqing asked.

“She secretly burned paper money for someone last night, and was put in solitary confinement after being discovered,” Lu Huai replied.

"Burning paper money." Lin Zhiqing repeated the two words softly, feeling that her previous guess seemed to be correct.

This paper was perhaps burned for Consort Rong.

Now that the Duke of Pei is in dire straits, Consort Shu's position in the palace is bound to change.

Putting aside the matter of Consort Shu, Lin Zhiqing thought of another matter: "Lu Huai, the marriage alliance has caused such a big commotion, why hasn't the Emperor shown up yet?"

"His Majesty will most likely not show himself at times like this; the Crown Prince will send someone to relay the complete account of the events to His Majesty," Lu Huai replied.
"The same must be true for marriage alliances."

"The Liang envoy is still in the palace, probably waiting for the Emperor to make a decision."

In an instant, a bold idea came to mind.

Lin Zhiqing couldn't help but speak up: "Lu Huai, I have observed His Highness the Crown Prince before."

"He's often in a habit of making decisions, and this time was no exception."

"What if all decisions are made solely by His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Lin Zhiqing said this because she had stayed in Fengyi Palace that day and had not heard that the marriage alliance was to be brought forward.

This doesn't seem to be a decision made by the Emperor.

In addition, the timing was too coincidental.

Why was the marriage arranged to happen at such a particular time?
Lin Zhiqing always tends to overthink things after the ambush at the palace that day.

But as soon as this thought crossed her mind, she couldn't help but take a step back and shake her head.

How can it be?

No, how could it be impossible?
The empress's words echoed in her mind.

"His Majesty is still the same as before; his illness shows no signs of improvement, and he remains delirious."

"Your character 'Qing' is beautiful; it reminds me of someone."

Why is the Emperor's illness not getting better? What if someone is preventing him from recovering?
"Qing" refers to Wuqing!

Wuqing seized the Xie family's territory and usurped it for a long time.

A cuckoo has taken over someone else's nest!?
Yes, it's like a cuckoo taking over someone else's nest.

Everything suddenly connected in Lin Zhiqing's mind, and she froze on the spot.

That day, she was in Fengyi Palace, so she must have been under the Empress's protection. Then, the Crown Prince... She looked at Lu Huai with a solemn expression.

"Your Highness, it's late, you should rest." Eunuch Wang's voice rang out.

The Crown Prince looked up from the desk: "Eunuch Wang, how is Father?"

As usual, Eunuch Wang replied, "It's the same as always."

The Crown Prince spoke more than usual tonight: "What are the Lin family doing right now?"

"Your Highness, Lord Lu has gone to the Lu family," Eunuch Wang replied again.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince nodded and waved his hand, saying, "You may leave."

Knowing that the Crown Prince was a man of his own mind, Eunuch Wang immediately withdrew.

The crown prince lowered his head and continued to handle state affairs.

After an incense stick had burned, he looked at the plaque of Xuanzheng Hall.

He was very familiar with this place.

On a daily basis, government affairs and meetings with ministers are all conducted here.

He originally thought that this kind of life would continue indefinitely.

But today's events shattered his illusions completely.

It's difficult to balance loyalty to the country and filial piety.

The crown prince sighed and wrote these words on the paper.

He had a premonition that what he was doing was about to be discovered.

His long-standing peaceful life had made him somewhat greedy.

A cold smile appeared on the Crown Prince's face. He stood up and touched every part of the Xuanzheng Hall with his hands.

Then, he sat back on the dragon throne, which symbolized supreme power.

He had done this action many times before, but today it felt different.

He was certain that the second young lady of the Lin family was very intelligent and must have already discovered something.

He shouldn't have gone to the Imperial Garden some time ago.

One step wrong, step by step wrong.

The pressure from many things seemed to silently push him to the brink of despair.

Thinking of all this, he smiled softly.

If things absolutely must have a conclusion, then it's better for him to choose his own path.

He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes: "Father, I'm sorry."

With that thought in mind, he turned around and went to the Shengchen Palace.

The current emperor resides in the Shengchen Palace.

As usual, the prince pushed open the door.

A medicinal smell rose into the air, but the Crown Prince seemed not to notice it. He dismissed everyone and then headed towards the inner palace.

Inside the inner palace, the emperor had his eyes closed and looked emaciated.

The crown prince took a deep breath. He knew he might not be able to leave the Holy Palace, so he drew his long sword and walked toward the bedside.

"Father, you should be able to understand me," he said slowly.
"Coming to Dasheng was not my wish, nor was becoming your enemy. I hope you will wait for me at the Bridge of Helplessness."

"I will atone for my sins!"

As he spoke, he slowly raised his longsword, the tip of which aimed at the frail old man on the bed.

"boom!"

At the critical moment, the crown prince felt a sharp pain in his wrist.

Then, with a clang, the longsword fell to the ground.

The crown prince suddenly looked up and saw Lin Qingshan and Wang Yuan standing in the hall, looking at him with furious eyes.

Before he could react, a longsword was already placed against his body, rendering him unable to move.

Then, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

Lin Zhiqing, Lu Huai, Lin Yangyang and others appeared at the entrance of Shengchen Palace, followed by several senior officials.

The Empress anxiously stepped out from the crowd, past the Crown Prince, and walked towards the bedside:

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Lu Nanyue followed after him, carrying her medicine box.

Soon, an elderly man with a haggard face, who looked terminally ill, appeared before everyone.

Everyone present stared wide-eyed, then one by one knelt down and shouted:

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"