Chapter 1235 - 1071: Fallen Into the Trap
Chapter 1235: Chapter 1071: Fallen Into the Trap
"Amitabha Buddha!" Liao Wu, bound and brought here, closed his eyes, yet a slight smile formed at the corner of his mouth hidden in the darkness.
Prince Jing approached Liao Wu, "Third Brother, your temperament has really changed a lot! You used to be quick to anger..."
"People always change. This humble monk now comprehends Buddhist teachings, avoiding anger and anxiety..."
"Still not opening the city gates?" Prince Gong watched coldly, now at odds with the Crown Prince. His mother died because of the Crown Prince, making them mortal enemies.
"Open the city gates!" The Crown Prince took a deep breath, glanced at Princess Consort Jing on the ground, his expression dark.
"Don’t forget your promise!" The Crown Prince’s face was stern; though he hated inside, he was powerless.
Prince Gong’s face twisted, "Rest assured! She’s still my legal mother; I don’t want to harm her either. Once I am a hundred miles outside the city gate, I’ll let the Empress go!"
Though he said this, Prince Gong’s sinister tone made everyone present frown.
The Empress was somewhat scared; she trembled as she called out, "Dundun!"
The Crown Prince too had no mood to pay attention to the Empress. The city gates slowly opened, and Prince Gong led the charge through it, naturally having supporters outside.
"Zhao Xian rebels, declare this to the world from today! General He, I command you to lead twenty thousand elite troops behind Zhao Xian, and if necessary, kill him directly!"
The Crown Prince’s face twisted, then he sighed. Today, they’ve let the tiger return to the mountain.
Prince Jing squinted his eyes; one is already not a threat, there are two more, but no hurry!
"Your Highness! But the Empress is still in Zhao Xian’s hands; please reconsider!" Shen Shikang stepped forward urgently, more anxious than anyone about the Empress being held hostage.
The Crown Prince was ultimately only a nephew, but the Empress was his sister. As long as the Empress is alive, the Shen Family remains the leading aristocratic scholarly family in the Capital.
But if the Empress dies, the Shen Family’s status will plummet, far below its former prestige.
"Return to the Eastern Palace for discussion!" The Crown Prince ignored Shen Shikang and directly turned to walk to the Eastern Palace.
Passing by where Prince Jing and Liao Wu were, the Crown Prince suddenly stopped, "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, I hope you behave sensibly and don’t engage in shameful acts behind the scenes, or don’t blame me for being ruthless."
"Second Brother still doesn’t trust me?" Prince Jing gave a bitter smile, his pale face stained with blood was somewhat pitiful.
"The palace has been a bit chaotic these days; it’s better for you two to stay by Father Emperor’s funeral lest you get hurt!"
The Crown Prince glanced at Prince Jing’s injury, implying something unspoken.
Prince Jing and Liao Wu understood they were to be confined, but given the circumstances, they could only comply.
Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Shen Shikang immediately stepped forward to counsel, "Your Highness! You sent General He behind Prince Gong; if Prince Gong finds out, it would harm the Empress. What then?"
Qian Licao was somewhat dissatisfied with the Crown Prince letting Prince Gong go, but since the Empress was being held, none of the Crown Prince’s officials could advise against it.
"Ahem! Mr. Shen, then in your opinion, what should the Crown Prince do? If they truly let him go, they might be letting the tiger return to the mountain. If the other side doesn’t release the Empress, should the Crown Prince still not have him killed?"
"Then ignore the Empress? If the Crown Prince disregards the Empress, he would surely face the scorn of the world. Just like Prince Gong, such immoral acts, not only losing the throne, but he wouldn’t be accepted by the Imperial Family."
Throughout history, filial piety is valued; the Empress is Prince Gong’s legal mother. Prince Gong’s kidnapping of the Empress was enough to bring divine retribution.
"Then watch Prince Gong escape justice and stage a comeback?" Qian Licao knew Shen Shikang is the Empress’s elder brother and naturally wants to protect the Empress’s life.
But the Empress’s life or death doesn’t greatly affect the officials affiliated with Prince Jing. In fact, without the Empress, the ranking of Capital’s aristocratic families would change, benefiting them.
Letting Prince Gong escape is different, it could bring endless troubles!
But this can’t be openly discussed; no one can voice this, only watch how the Crown Prince decides.
"That’s settled! The most crucial now is to devise a plan to eliminate these troubles; everyone, share your thoughts, are there any good ideas?"
The Crown Prince slapped the armrest of his chair, his mind seething with fury. These people just complain amongst each other, grumbling which gave him a headache.
With the Crown Prince’s outburst, the hall fell silent.
After a moment of silence, with still no one speaking, the anger in the Crown Prince’s heart grew hotter.
"What is it? Weren’t you just competing to speak the loudest? Now, when asked to speak, you all fall silent?" The Crown Prince sneered, casting a glance around the hall at them, extremely dissatisfied!
"If only Gu Shaoqing were here..." The Crown Prince suddenly remembered Gu Chengyu, blurting out the name.
But halfway through, he came to his senses, stopping his words. The officials below all twitched their faces, showing displeasure.
"Has Deputy Commander Bai Guan come to report yet?" The Crown Prince asked Pang Chu, frowning.
"Your Highness! He has already been waiting outside the hall!" Pang Chu knew the Crown Prince was in a worse mood than before and was extra cautious.
"Let him in to report!"
"Reporting, Your Highness! I surrounded Marquis Zhan’s Mansion with troops, but the mansion was already emptied, with valuables and rare items moved out, leaving only a few old servants guarding the yard!"
Bai Guan dared not breathe a word; Marquis Zhan’s Mansion being emptied without notice by the Commander’s Department and Military Department was truly absurd.
"What? Where are the people?" The Crown Prince’s eyes widened; an entire mansion moved without these wastrels noticing? Truly shocking.
"It’s likely they’ve already left the Capital to join Prince Gong!"
No need to guess; Lu Chen has rebelled. Would they leave their families waiting for the Crown Prince’s wrath? If not joining Prince Gong, what other retreat is there?
But it’s a Marquis Mansion! A hereditary title, yet they resolutely abandoned it. However, Marquis Zhan’s Mansion had no choice; not siding with Prince Gong means once he fails, they’re doomed too.
At least they’ve retained several lives from the mansion, though it’s a hardship for those of the Lu Family.
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth in anger, "Hmph! Marquis Zhan’s Mansion colluded with Zhao Xian to usurp power, challenging authority, deserving the Nine Families’ execution! You detain the entire Lu Family at my orders!"
Qian Licao and others immediately felt chills; Marquis Zhan’s Mansion, once a prominent hereditary title in the Capital, now facing such a downfall.
This is the consequence of picking the wrong side; today you’re the target for connections in Capital’s aristocracy, tomorrow you’re the prisoner everyone steps on.
...
Cold winds blew through the old window panels; the tattered window paper fluttered in the wind, giving a sense of desolation.
Gu Chengyu looked at the fallen men in black on the ground, feeling quite satisfied.
"Ha! Did you think not eating from my official supplies would make you immune to the trap? People have to drink water, after all!"