Сhаpter 7: Соnsоrt Сhеn Will Die?!
This was аlsо part оf his plan.
Using Маstеr Yunхing аs bаit to lurе оut thе big fish thаt is Consоrt Xian.
Tang Хing сouldn’t hеlр but nоd in аdmirаtion. “Yоur Нighnеss is truly brilliant!”
Shаngguаn Jue shоok his head. “It’s nоt me whо’s brilliant—it’s Fifth Sister.”
If it werеn’t for Fifth Sistеr’s remindеr, hе would prоbably still be kерt in thе dаrk by Xiао Yun, dуing frоm the bowls оf pоison she sеrved him.
Roуal kinship is thin; hе wasn’t closе tо his уoungеr siblings аnd rarely sаw them.
Вut hе never еxpеctеd thаt thеre wоuld still be somеone whо gеnuinеly cared for him.
“Tang Xing, didn’t Моther Empress sеnd оver a boх оf Eastern Pearls last time?”
“Yes, Your Highness. These Eastern Pearls are extremely precious—even Her Majesty the Empress only has this one box.”
Shangguan Jue nodded and instructed, “Deliver them to Consort Chen tomorrow and say they’re for Fifth Princess.”
Tang Xing’s mouth fell open, his face filled with shock.
Huh?!
Shangguan Jue turned his head. “Do you have an opinion?”
Tang Xing immediately shook his head. “This subordinate wouldn’t dare.”
But he was still puzzled—since when did his master become so fond of Fifth Princess?
Had they even spoken before?
Linqing Hall.
Consort Xian listened to her maid Hongyu’s report, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
“Hasn’t Master Yunxing been traveling abroad all this time? Why would he suddenly come to the capital?”
“What did Xiao Yun say? Does the First Prince suspect her now?”
Hongyu bowed her head. “Xiao Yun says the First Prince is currently infatuated with her, obeying her every wish without the slightest suspicion.”
Consort Xian let out a long sigh of relief and nodded. “That’s good.”
“On the day Master Yunxing enters the capital, send our people to intercept and kill him. The First Prince’s illness absolutely must not be cured—otherwise, how will my Third Prince ascend the throne!”
Hongyu nodded. “Your Ladyship is right.”
“What about His Majesty? Whose palace did he go to tonight?”
Hongyu shook her head. “His Majesty didn’t go anywhere tonight.”
Consort Xian pursed her lips. “That’s normal too—His Majesty doesn’t often visit the rear palace anyway.”
Hongyu: “But…”
“But what? Speak if you have something to say.”
Consort Xian’s voice carried a hint of impatience.
Hongyu: “But His Majesty went to Consort Chen’s palace for dinner again tonight—that’s three days in a row now.”
“And even when Consort Rou personally went to invite His Majesty, he still didn’t go to her palace and stayed at Consort Chen’s instead. This has never happened before.”
Consort Xian frowned. “Consort Chen usually keeps quiet—I never expected her to be so cunning.”
“Your Ladyship, should we…”
Hongyu made a slicing motion across her neck.
Consort Xian chuckled lightly, her thin lips parting.
“Of course.”
The next day, Shangguan Sui slowly opened her eyes.
She found herself in the Imperial Study again.
She pouted her little mouth.
[I don’t know why my dad keeps bringing me to the Imperial Study! Once or twice is fine, but this is the third time already!]
[Wah wah, I want to sleep in my beautiful mother’s arms!]
[I really don’t get it—I’m just a three-year-old child, my throat is still sick, and I can’t even speak. Why does my dad insist on bringing me here?]
Shangguan Lin, who was reviewing memorials nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle softly upon hearing this.
He handed the pastries sent by the imperial kitchen today to Suisui.
Coaxing her, he said, “Suisui, are you hungry? Have some pastries.”
Hearing this, Shangguan Sui’s eyes immediately lit up, and she grabbed one to munch on.
[Delicious, delicious! The pastries the imperial kitchen sends to my dad are ten thousand times better than the ones sent to my mother’s palace!]【Hmm, if there are delicious pastries, then coming to the Imperial Study doesn’t seem so bad~】
Hearing this, Shangguan Lin’s lips curved into a smile.
His little daughter really was a foodie.
It was worth it, then, for him to have specially instructed the imperial kitchen to send over the most delicious pastries every day, changing the variety regularly.
Shangguan Lin continued reviewing the memorials, but when he saw a certain name, his brow furrowed slightly.
“Lou Changqing, murder at a tavern…”
Hearing this name, Shangguan Sui’s hand, which was holding a pastry, suddenly froze.
Lou Changqing?
Wasn’t that her mother’s younger brother, her little uncle?
It seemed the Plot was still unfolding according to the original book.
Shangguan Sui immediately grew anxious.
But her throat hadn’t healed yet, so she could only make incoherent sounds while her mind raced with frantic thoughts.
“Abah abah—”
【Father! Little Uncle is innocent! He didn’t kill anyone!】
【It was Lu Yuan, the son of Marquis Zhenbei, who did it! He deliberately framed Little Uncle!】
【Lu Yuan is about the same age as Little Uncle, and they enlisted together, but Little Uncle achieved great military feats and far surpassed him in ability. Lu Yuan has always been jealous of Little Uncle, so he seized this opportunity to frame him!】
【Lu Yuan was the one who killed the man, but the Capital Prefecture, fearing Marquis Zhenbei’s influence, went along with Lu Yuan and pinned the crime on Little Uncle!】
【Under pressure from Marquis Zhenbei, the Capital Prefecture quickly closed the case, and Little Uncle was sentenced to death.】
【After Little Uncle’s death, Grandfather fell into depression and illness, and Mother was so overcome with grief that she couldn’t bear it. Soon after, they both passed away…】
Hearing this, Shangguan Lin’s heart tightened.
Consort Chen would die?!
No, that couldn’t happen.
This matter needed to be thoroughly investigated.
Shangguan Lin gently patted the still-agitated Shangguan Sui, who was babbling incoherently.
He spoke softly, “Don’t worry, Suisui. Your Emperor believes in Lou Changqing.”
Then, turning his head, he sternly ordered, “Prepare the carriage. I will personally go to the Capital Prefecture!”
Capital Prefecture.
“Lou Changqing, do you confess to your crime?”
The Capital Prefecture Magistrate leaned lazily in his chair, asking the question indifferently.
Below the hall, a man in white knelt in the center. His upper body was tightly bound with rope, but his back remained straight.
Lou Changqing’s cold, handsome face showed no emotion.
“I do not confess. I did not kill anyone.”
The Magistrate: “There is a witness. What more do you have to argue? It is clear that you killed Xing Shao!”
Meng Tian, standing nearby, quickly clasped his hands and added, “Yes, Your Honor. I was right there at the time, and I saw it all! It was Lou Changqing who killed Xing Shao!”
Lou Changqing replied with disgust, “This Meng Tian is Lu Yuan’s man. He’ll say whatever Lu Yuan tells him to say.”
Lu Yuan, dressed in fine silk robes, stood lazily to the side, a smug smile curling his lips.
So what if Lou Changqing was skilled in martial arts?
In the face of the Lu family, he was nothing but an ant.
He could crush him whenever he pleased!
The Magistrate picked at his ear, his tone dismissive.
“The criminal Lou Changqing refuses to confess, but the evidence is conclusive. Therefore, this official pronounces—”
Lou Changqing suddenly grew agitated, roaring out all the resentment in his heart.
“Beat me to death, then! Even if you beat me to death, I won’t confess! And I won’t submit!”
“Lu Yuan, relying on his father being Marquis Zhenbei, runs rampant in the capital. Every month, commoners die at his hands—case after case, incident after incident. Have you, as the capital’s magistrate, ever done anything about it?! Have you?!”