I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

Upon hearing Zhu Houcong's voice, Yuwen Nian suddenly looked up, hurriedly gathered his clothes, and his cheeks instantly flushed red.

Xiao Jingke, who was in his arms, began to grumble in dissatisfaction.

She frantically tried to comfort him, while also rushing to get up and bow.

Zhu Houcong quickly raised his hand to stop him.

"My dear concubine, there's no need for such formalities."

"Your Majesty, I will have tea prepared immediately..."

"No need."

Zhu Houcong stepped forward slowly, his gaze lingering on Yuwen Nian's disheveled clothes.

"No need for trouble, Ke'er and I can just divide it up."

"what!!!"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already pressed Yuwen Nian down onto the soft couch amidst her gasp of surprise.

An hour later, an ambiguous atmosphere filled the hall.

Yuwen Nian lay limply in Zhu Houcong's arms, her face still flushed.

Zhu Houcong ate all of Xiao Jingke's food for the entire day.

She lightly punched Zhu Houcong's chest in embarrassment and annoyance, her voice tinged with reproach.

"Your Majesty, Ke'er hasn't..."

Zhu Houcong leaned lazily against the headboard and let out a satisfied burp.

He twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers, playing with it as he said, "It's alright, there's a wet nurse, surely my prince won't go hungry?"

As he spoke, he licked his lips as if he still wanted more.

"His Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Nian was so ashamed that he buried his face in Zhu Houcong's chest.

Zhu Houcong gazed at the shy girl in his arms, his eyes gradually darkening.

He took a deep breath, his fingertips gently tracing Yuwen Nian's flushed cheeks, his voice suddenly becoming low.

"Niannian, I have something to tell you, so be prepared."

"what?"

Yuwen Nian was startled by his sudden seriousness. She looked up and met his solemn gaze, and her heart tightened for no reason.

"Something has happened in Southern Chu."

Zhu Houcong said, enunciating each word clearly.

"The Gu family rebelled, and Gu Xichao massacred the Yuwen royal family."

"Including your father, Prince Sheng, Yuwen Lin, none survived."

"Wh...what?"

Yuwen Nian was struck dumb and suddenly broke free from Zhu Houcong's embrace.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly, and her lips trembled uncontrollably.

Her beautiful eyes widened, and tears quickly welled up in them.

"Your Majesty, are you... telling the truth?"

Zhu Houcong nodded heavily and continued, "I have dispatched five thousand elite troops to your elder brother, Yuwen Xuan, to return to Southern Chu to serve the king."

"But beneath the walls of Yuezhou, he was killed by an arrow shot by one of Gu Siling's generals."

The moment he finished speaking, Yuwen Nian completely broke down.

She let out a heart-wrenching cry, collapsing into Zhu Houcong's arms, tears streaming down her face.

Chapter 165 Mei Changsu's Conspiracy

"Father... how could my brother do this..."

At that moment, Yuwen Nian burst into tears, as if the whole world had shattered.

Zhu Houcong could only hold her trembling body tightly and gently stroke her back.

"Niannian, don't cry. Your crying makes me feel bad too!"

Zhu Houcong gently wiped away the tears on her face.

"I have already given Prince Sheng a grand funeral befitting a prince. The dead cannot be brought back to life; please accept my condolences."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Nian's tears flowed even more profusely.

After a while, she suddenly pushed away Zhu Houcong's embrace and raised her tear-filled face.

Her eyes burned with a deep-seated hatred as she gritted her teeth and said, "I will make the Gu family pay for their crimes in blood."

Zhu Houcong grasped her hand and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, when Hu Ruzhen's loyalist army arrives, Gu Siling will have been killed by her own son, Gu Xichao."

"However, after Gu Xichao murdered the emperor and his father, he voluntarily laid down his sword and expressed his willingness to submit to the Great Liang, thus avoiding a major battle."

"Currently, chaos is rampant in Southern Chu, and I need to stabilize the common people. I cannot touch it for the time being."

"But I assure you, once Southern Chu is settled, I will take his life to atone for your father's sins."

Yuwen Nian nodded slightly.

Suddenly, she stared intently at Zhu Houcong and abruptly questioned, "Is it really the Gu family who have rebelled?"

"Did His Majesty secretly instigate this?"

"Nian Nian!"

Zhu Houcong looked pained and hugged her even tighter.

"You are my bedmate, don't you even believe my words?"

"Everyone in the world knows that the Gu family coerced Crown Prince Yuwen Quan into a rebellion. You can find out by asking around."

"If I alone can deceive you, do you think I would allow the entire nation to deceive you as well?"

"Niannian, your questioning of me like this has truly broken my heart!"

"That's not what I meant..."

Before Yuwen Nian could finish speaking, Zhu Houcong had already leaned down and sealed her lips with his.

The kiss was both irresistibly forceful and tenderly comforting.

Yuwen Nian struggled a few times at first, but eventually collapsed in his arms, letting him push her down onto the brocade quilt.

When Hu Ruzhen attacked Southern Chu, he always claimed to be a loyalist army helping the court to suppress the traitor Gu.

Therefore, through their deliberate propaganda, everyone in the world knew that it was the Gu family who had rebelled.

It was also the Gu family that diverted the Luo River, causing flooding among the people.

Furthermore, Gu Xichao murdered the emperor and his father, and slaughtered the entire Yuwen royal family.

Hu Ruzhen, on the other hand, led a righteous army that marched south to defend the emperor.

It was a benevolent act by Emperor Jiajing of the Great Liang Dynasty, who, mindful of the marriage ties between the two countries, specially traveled thousands of miles to assist the Southern Chu court.

It's just that we arrived a little late.

As for Gu Xichao…

Ha ha!

What can be done about a usurper?

Who would listen to his explanation?

As dusk settled, Zhu Houcong finally stepped out of Yongshou Palace, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

He straightened his slightly disheveled dragon robe and waved to Yan Song, who was waiting outside the hall.

"Yan Song."

"This servant is here." Yan Song quickly bowed and stepped forward.

"I do not wish for anyone to speak out on the matter of Southern Chu, lest they disturb Consort Xi's peace."

"This servant understands."

Zhu Houcong nodded in satisfaction and then returned to the Wanshou Palace.

As soon as I stepped into the palace, I saw a graceful figure standing quietly inside.

It was Xiaomeng, dressed in a Taoist robe and holding a whisk.

"The Imperial Advisor has arrived!" Zhu Houcong said with a smile.

Xiaomeng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have come to take my leave."

"Farewell?"

Zhu Houcong frowned.

"The Taoist temple on Mount Sanqing has been completed, and I must personally preside over the consecration ceremony."

How long will it take?

"It could take anywhere from ten days to a month."

"The New Year's celebrations are just over ten days away. Could it be that the Imperial Advisor won't be able to return in time?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng bowed and apologized, saying, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Houcong stared at her for a long time before finally waving his hand.

"Alright, let's go early and come back early."

He paused, then added, "Be careful when you return to Raozhou; don't fall into the Jiangzuo Alliance's trap."

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

"Well, let's go!"

She had barely finished speaking when she took a step forward.

The candlelight in the hall flickered, and the figure in pure white vanished without a trace, like a phantom.

After Xiaomeng left, undercurrents began to surge even more fiercely in Jinling City.

Mei Changsu's game has quietly begun.

Under his meticulous planning, the struggle between Crown Prince Xiao Jinghuan and Xia Jiang, the head of the Xuanjing Bureau, intensified.

The most crucial criminal, Xie Yu, had already been fooled by Mei Changsu.

Xia Jiang was suddenly forced into a series of defeats, losing both face and dignity.

Finally, Xie Yu was convicted and exiled to Lingnan.

Just then, Lin Chen, the master of Langya Pavilion, sent a message.

"Xiao Shu."

Lin Chen, fanning himself with a folding fan, walked up to Mei Changsu.

"I just received a message by carrier pigeon. The Imperial Preceptor Xiaomeng is already on her way back to Sanqing Mountain."

"It will take at least several days to get back to Beijing from here."

Mei Changsu was taken aback upon hearing this, then seemed to realize something and quickly confirmed, "So, she won't be able to return before the Royal New Year Ceremony?"

"That's right."

Mei Changsu stared at Lin Chen, then suddenly smiled, a smile that sent a chill down Lin Chen's spine for no apparent reason.

"Lin Chen, I've suddenly come up with a brilliant idea."