Murong Chong let out a sharp cry. Because of Sima Qingyun's words, his eyes became sinister and ferocious, glowing like a demon from the netherworld, like Satan or Asura.
Sima Qingyun was so frightened that he didn't dare to say a word, only staring blankly at the person at the head. He saw that he seemed to be in great pain. He suddenly grabbed the tea pot on the table and squeezed it hard. The teacup shattered in response.
The fragments embedded themselves into his hand, and scarlet blood dripped onto the desk from between his fingers.
"Your Highness," Sima Qingyun couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. Thinking that he was the late Emperor's bloodline, he couldn't remain indifferent no matter what. What exactly had happened to His Highness?
Why did he react so strongly when the Empress Dowager and Grand Tutor Ye were mentioned? Could it be?
Sima Qingyun's eyes widened. He took a step forward and trembled as he spoke.
"Could it be the Empress Dowager?"
He dared not say the rest of his words aloud. It was truly hard to believe that His Highness was still the Empress Dowager's own bloodline, yet Her Ladyship had taken action against His Highness, pushing someone else onto the throne.
That person bore some resemblance to His Highness, and therefore to the Empress Dowager. Thus, he was also the Empress Dowager's child. However, the late Emperor had only two bloodlines: the Crown Prince, and the current Prince Lin. If that was the case, then that person was an illegitimate son.
"He is also the Empress Dowager's child."
Sima Qingyun was certain of this statement. He was an illegitimate child born from the Empress Dowager and someone else. Who was this person?
Ye Qingtian? There had been rumors of their love when they were young, but after the Empress Dowager entered the palace, those feelings faded.
After all, who dared to discuss royal matters? Yet, after so many years, such a shocking inside story had emerged. Not only had the two of them maintained contact, but they had also produced such a grown child.
This child had even usurped the Crown Prince's position. He had no connection with the Shangguan family and was, moreover, an illegitimate offspring who should not have been born.
"Your Highness, we cannot allow the Shangguan family's imperial throne to fall into the hands of the Ye family. At tomorrow's morning court, I will surely expose the true faces of these traitors."
Sima Qingyun was filled with righteous indignation and extreme anger. He wished he could immediately expose the wicked hearts of this pair of sinister mother and son, and Ye Qingtian, that scoundrel, who had betrayed the late Emperor's good intentions.
The late Emperor had treated him like a brother and even made him the Crown Prince's tutor. Who would have thought that he would play such a vicious trick behind his back?
Murong Chong had calmed down from his pain and anger. His purpose for coming tonight was to save Sima Qingyun's life. He was a subject of the late Emperor, not meant to be sent to his death.
"Do you think you can turn the tide with your own strength?"
Murong Chong's voice was cold and tinged with bloodlust as he looked at Sima Qingyun standing below him. If he were truly capable, he would have appeared before Yun Mo long ago.
Sima Qingyun was taken aback. He looked up and replied with certainty: "There is also Yun Mo, who is stationed at the border. If he knew, he would never stand idly by. There are also some ministers in the court and Prince Shangguan. If His Highness can prove that the Crown Prince is still the legitimate one, then no one can protest."
"The 'some people' you speak of were all old officials who were heavily relied upon by the late Emperor. Do not forget that the people in the palace are trying to deal with you.
Furthermore, the most crucial person in this situation is not on our side. Military power is also in the hands of the Ye family. And then there are the imperial concubines in the palace and the forces behind them. Even if they knew it was a forgery, they would likely try to pass it off as genuine. In that case, it would only lead to bloodshed within the palace walls.
Do not forget that to the east and west of Dong Qin, three great powers are watching covetously. If there is internal chaos and infighting, we will inevitably be carved up by other countries. I am not acting solely to seize the throne, but to ensure everything is safe and sound, and to act only when success is within reach."
"Your Highness?"
Sima Qingyun exclaimed emotionally. He had not expected the Crown Prince to be so far-sighted and meticulous in his arrangements. He believed that His Highness would definitely reclaim the throne, and thus, even if he died, he would have the honor of facing the late Emperor.
"I came tonight because I received news that the Emperor is preparing to take action against the Sima residence. If Prime Minister Sima wishes to preserve the Sima residence, he must first court death to find life."
Murong Chong stood up. His posture was tall and upright, his demeanor refined and elegant, aloof and extraordinary.
"Court death to find life," Sima Qingyun murmured, not knowing how to court death to find life. As long as the Sima residence could be saved, he was willing to die.
Murong Chong no longer looked at him. He snapped his fingers towards the outside, and immediately someone floated in, holding a bundle wrapped in white cloth. He said in a deep voice, "Master."
"Good. Burn this place down."
After he finished speaking, he reached out and pulled Sima Qingyun's body towards the outside of the study. However, before leaving, he did not forget to take the painting and calligraphy from his father.
A clear breeze and bright moon, a hazy night.
The study of the Sima residence blazed with raging flames. The servants in the mansion screamed and shouted, and the vast Sima residence descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, a carriage was parked on the street. Sima Qingyun sat steadily inside the carriage, finally understanding what Murong Chong meant by courting death to find life.
He believed that by tomorrow, everyone in the capital would know that Prime Minister Sima Qingyun had been burned to death by villains. With his death as Prime Minister, would the Emperor still try to kill the Sima residence?
The carriage shot out like an arrow from a bow, disappearing into the twilight, becoming a black dot in the meteor shower.
The next day, the entire capital of Yan was in an uproar. Prime Minister Sima Qingyun had been burned to death in a great fire. Only a blackened skeleton remained in the study. This matter shocked the entire court, and the ministers were in a state of panic.
The mastermind behind this was becoming more and more powerful, even managing to burn Prime Minister Sima to death.
The Emperor expressed his deep sorrow at the death of Sima Qingyun, sending officials to the Sima residence to pay their respects, and then bestowed many rewards to take care of the orphans and widows.
After the morning court ended, Prince Lin's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, his expression grim and unpleasant to the extreme. The officials who followed him dared not speak more. Anyone with eyes could see that His Highness was angry, and who would dare to provoke him?
Shangguan Lin was not only shocked but also angered by the burning of Sima Qingyun.
This matter must have been orchestrated by this man in the palace. He could not stand idly by. Would he just watch as he extended his black hand to the next person?
Who would that person be?
After careful consideration, he believed that the most endangered person at the moment was Grand Tutor Ye. The Grand Tutor was still the Crown Prince's teacher. This Emperor was a fake. Was he not afraid that the Grand Tutor would discover the clue, and therefore would definitely try to kill the Grand Tutor?
After figuring this out, Shangguan Lin immediately led his subordinates Mu Li and Qiao Chu to the Ye residence.
Ye Qingtian had not attended the morning court since the assassination attempt. Upon hearing from the gatekeeper that the Prince had come to visit, he quickly ordered someone to invite him into his chambers.
Ye Residence.
The garden's rockery, the corridors and jade pillars, although elegant and fresh, were much smaller compared to the Prince Qin's mansion. Moreover, Ye Qingtian was not a extravagant person, and there were few servants in his mansion, not even a concubine. He only had an ugly wife.
This fact truly surprised everyone, and subsequently, many people wondered if Ye Qingtian had a chronic illness, which was why he did not take concubines and only lived with one ugly wife.
In the chambers, Ye Qingtian's head was wrapped in a white cloth, and he leaned on the bed, appearing somewhat weak. Upon seeing Shangguan Lin walk in, he struggled to get out of bed to pay his respects.
Shangguan Lin took a step forward and supported Ye Qingtian's body.
"Grand Tutor Ye, there is no need for such formality. Please lie down and rest."