Xiao Xitian watched the black-clad leader fall before her, her heart trembling slightly…
If this person died, who would identify Consort Hui?
Xiao Jinheng clearly realized this problem as well. He looked up at Deng Shaoxiang, the commander of the Imperial Guard above the canyon, and cursed inwardly: Is this guy brainless?
The former commander of the Imperial Guard had retired due to illness. This Deng Shaoxiang was newly promoted…
Although he was energetic and impetuous, his mind sometimes couldn't keep up.
“Heh, hehehe…”
The black-clad leader lay before Xiao Jinheng, his eyes glaring at him fiercely. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, you can’t defeat our master. Cough, cough, our master has eyes and ears everywhere, and his power is immense. Even if you ascend the throne, my master can still kick you off, pfft…”
As the leader spoke, he spat out a large mouthful of blood, and the light in his eyes completely dimmed.
Seeing this, Xiao Jiekong pouted. “He’s dead already? We haven’t even interrogated him…”
“It doesn’t matter!” Xiao Jinheng withdrew his gaze. “Even if he doesn’t say it, I know who the mastermind is!”
Anyone with eyes could see that Consort Hui was not a good person, only Emperor Cheng was muddled…
If Xiao Jinheng hadn’t sent Kong Xingzhuo to summon the Imperial Guard before they set off today, they would have all been lying dead in the wilderness by now.
“What should we do now?” Xiao Jiekong patted the dust off his body and then smoothed Xiao Xitian’s stray hair from her forehead.
Xiao Jinheng stepped over the corpse on the ground and walked forward a few steps. “I need to go to the palace. You and Xitian should return to the manor first…”
Today, he not only had to go to the palace himself but also bring Guan Zhongbo along to check if his father, the Emperor, was truly ill.
“Okay, then be careful!” Xiao Xitian said.
Sigh, the Emperor was truly something. He was so astute when handling state affairs, but why did he become so muddled when it came to Consort Hui?
After the three little ones returned to the capital, Xiao Jinheng woke up the groggy old Guan Tou. “Come with me to the palace to see my father, the Emperor!”
Guan Zhongbo, who was completely bewildered: “…”
You scoundrel, can’t you show some concern for the elderly?
To treat the little county princess and retrieve her soul, he had roamed the mountains for so long, enduring hardships and not sleeping well…
He had finally returned to the capital and was planning to take a comfortable nap, but you dragged me out again.
“Your Highness, I’ll go after I wake up!” Guan Zhongbo smacked his lips, turned over, and continued to nap.
Xiao Jinheng: “…”
When peace is restored to the realm, you’ll have plenty of time to sleep.
“Doctor Guan, you must come to the palace with me this time!” Xiao Jinheng said with a stern face.
When Jiekong and Xiao Xitian told him that the Emperor was ill, Xiao Jinheng initially didn’t quite believe it. But after thinking about it carefully, he felt that it was indeed possible…
Consort Hui’s methods were so wicked; she would do anything to achieve her goals.
What if she had given his father some kind of love potion? Then the Great Liang dynasty would be ruined in his hands…
Moreover, Yun Siman had also vaguely mentioned it to him before, saying that there was a type of aphrodisiac circulating in foreign countries. Once consumed, it would make the person develop an inexplicable dependence on the one who administered it.
Once this medicine took effect, even imperial physicians couldn’t detect it, and the person would appear normal…
Guan Zhongbo sighed and reluctantly sat up. “Alright, alright. Your Highness, you must remember, you owe me a favor!”
“Okay, after this is done, I will reward you handsomely!” Xiao Jinheng smiled and nodded.
Meanwhile, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the imperial palace.
Emperor Cheng sat at his desk, drinking crucian carp soup…
Empress Xiao stood beside him, organizing books for him. “Your Majesty, you have been losing weight and having trouble sleeping and eating recently. You should rest for a while. The scenery outside the capital is beautiful now, with lush grass and water. Why don’t you go to the summer resort to recuperate, and also visit the Empress Dowager…”
The current Empress Dowager was over eighty years old. She had been living in the royal mountain villa outside the city for many years and rarely entered the palace.
“I cannot leave now!”
Emperor Cheng sighed, his gaze drifting out the window. “Don’t you see? Ever since Heng’er started investigating the case of the Grand Canal in Jiangnan, he has been fixated on Consort Hui. I have been worrying myself sick over this matter!”
Empress Xiao: “…”
Worrying yourself sick? If she remembered correctly, it was the Emperor himself who had asked Heng’er to investigate this case.
“Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but Heng’er has his reasons for investigating whoever he investigates. You should listen to my advice. After all, Heng’er is doing this for the sake of the country and the dynasty…” Empress Xiao advised in a low voice.
She thought Emperor Cheng would thoughtfully consider Empress Xiao’s words as he usually did, but unexpectedly, he suddenly roared, “You shut up!”
His voice was very loud, startling Eunuch Zhao, who was guarding the door.
Why was His Majesty so angry for no reason?
As far as he knew, His Majesty and the Empress had always had a good relationship and had hardly ever raised their voices in anger over the years…
Empress Xiao: “???”
Has His Majesty developed bipolar disorder?
His sudden outburst was very inexplicable…
“Empress, I’m telling you, Heng’er can investigate anyone, but he absolutely cannot investigate Consort Hui!”
Emperor Cheng was panting with anger, his eyes bloodshot. “Years ago, Consort Hui resolutely left the palace to become a nun in the deep mountains when she decided to leave the secular world. It is said that she knelt before the Buddha statue every day to pray for me and my princes and grandchildren. Such a gentle and virtuous person, what right does Heng’er have to suspect or investigate her?”
Empress Xiao, who was completely bewildered: “…”
Your Majesty, have you been brainwashed by that vixen?
Especially your eyes, they don’t look like those of a normal person at all…
“Your Majesty!” Empress Xiao’s cheeks flushed red, and she felt very depressed. “Consort Hui has been a nun for many years, and you still miss her?”
Hmph, what was so good about that vixen that made His Majesty so devoted to her?
“So what if she became a nun?”
Emperor Cheng cast a cold glance at Empress Xiao. “If we were to compare, I think Consort Hui is more understanding than you, the Empress…”
Empress Xiao: “???”
It’s over, it’s over. It seems His Majesty has completely gone mad.
“If Your Majesty thinks she is good, then go and bring her back. I won’t serve you anymore, hmph…”
Empress Xiao was struck by lightning and uttered this, then fiercely flicked her sleeve and walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation without looking back.
She had been with Emperor Cheng for so many years, and he had never yelled at her like this before. Empress Xiao felt her heart break.
Not long after Empress Xiao left, Eunuch Zhao tiptoed in. “Your, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived…”