The news of the prince's house arrest spread like wildfire, and Changsun Wuzheng presented some of the charges against the prince. They were all evidence and lists of cliques and corruption, so those princeling officials who still had illusions completely lost the opportunity to jump.
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After seeing the list, Emperor Rong completely lost his affection for Wei Zixu and had the idea of deposing the crown prince? Emperor Rong's sudden idea was fueled by Jinyun City and he told Wei Zixu.
The night wind howled, making people panic. The patrolling guards couldn't help but quicken their pace and disappeared under the eaves in the blink of an eye.
More than a dozen dead soldiers gathered in the main hall of the East Palace, uniformed in black night clothes, with sharp machetes tied around their waists, and double-edged swords in their hands. There were scattered candlelights, but their machetes were illuminated very brightly.
The doors and windows in the main hall were closed tightly, making it airtight. Half of the stick of incense had been burned, and the sound of water dripping from the clepsydra on the right side. The vertical arrow marked full on the kettle was getting higher and higher. Prince Xu nervously stood in the main hall.
He kept walking, looking at the standing arrow in the clepsydra from time to time.
A whole stick of incense had burned out, and the atmosphere in the palace gradually solidified. Time passed little by little, and Prince Xu finally couldn't bear it any longer. "Why hasn't Jinyun City come yet?" He shouted loudly toward the door: "Here comes someone!"
A thin eunuch rushed in in a hurry, slipped on his feet, knelt directly on the ground, and reported back tremblingly: "There is no news from your majesty, it should...it should be that we haven't succeeded yet..."
"You haven't succeeded yet? Could it be...could it be that she was exposed? Or did she betray me? She was the one who prepared the ecstasy, and she was the one who drugged her. She can't escape. Yes, she doesn't dare to betray me. I'll wait a little longer.
Wait, wait..." Wei Zixu felt difficulty breathing and his eyes turned black.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Highness the Crown Prince, there is news over there, Miss Jin has sent out a signal!"
Prince Xu glanced at the clepsydra behind him and finally breathed a sigh of relief. There was still enough time. As long as it was dark, everything would be done in time!
Immediately ordered: "All dead soldiers obey the order!"
"exist!"
"Success or failure depends on this move. When I ascend the throne, it will be the day when you enjoy glory and wealth!"
"Be loyal and courageous, and swear allegiance to His Highness the Crown Prince to the death!"
Prince Xu raised the corners of his mouth coldly and laughed loudly.
Under the dark night sky, the candles had been extinguished in the emperor's palace, and the surroundings were completely silent. Wei Zixu gently knocked on the door, but no one responded.
The accompanying eunuch whispered: "Miss Jin clearly gave the signal, why didn't you come out to respond?"
Wei Zixu gritted his teeth and pushed open the door of the hall. It was dark inside, but he could smell the smell of blood. The closer he got, the stronger the smell. Wei Zixu's heart trembled and he thought: Jinyun City will not fall.
He killed his father by a poisonous hand, right? Without the abdication edict written by his father, wouldn’t it be unjust and unjust for him to ascend the throne?
At this time, someone lit a candle, and the palace suddenly became bright. Wei Zixu took a few steps back warily, hiding behind the dead man.
I saw many eunuchs and maids lying around in the palace, but Emperor Rong and Jinyuncheng were not seen. Only Ge Yiyan was sitting beside the dragon bed, holding a sword in his hand and raising a ghastly face.
"Your Highness, please wait."
Wei Zixu was so frightened that he screamed and hurriedly raised his sword, but he couldn't even aim at the enemy.
Ge Yiyan stood up and kicked the eunuch on the ground, and said: "Your Majesty guessed right, if you can bribe Wang Zhong, you will definitely bribe other people. However, these slaves were not tortured, and they suffered after just a few sword blows."
I can’t help it anymore, tsk tsk tsk, but it can still be regarded as atonement, and I did it before I died.”
"You have no official position. How did you get into the palace? Why are you here?"
"That's my job. Your Highness doesn't need to ask any more questions. You should be worried about yourself now and how it will end." Ge Yiyan did not take the prince seriously at all, and seemed to have anticipated the fate of the man in front of him.
As soon as he finished speaking, the guards suddenly rushed into the darkness from outside the palace and captured the dead soldiers in an instant. When Wei Zixu saw this, he trembled with fright and dropped the sword in his hand. Only then did he realize,
Jinyun City betrayed itself!
Emperor Rong, who was supposed to have taken Ecstasy and was completely limp, came from the side hall at this moment, pinched Jin Yuncheng's neck in his hands, suddenly swung her hard and threw her to the ground, and happened to stop at Wei Zixu's feet.
Jinyun Cheng, who was covered in injuries, was already dying. His slightly opened eyes looked at him helplessly, and they were also covered in blood.
"Father!" Wei Zixu plopped down and knelt on the ground: "It's all her. It was she who seduced me with her beauty. She took it upon herself to drug you and forced me to come here... to make you write.
The abdication edict, she wants to be the queen, she...she..."
"That's enough!" Emperor Rong shouted sternly: "I know very well how much you weigh. I made you the prince only because you were obedient. But I didn't expect that your wings would become stiff as soon as Mo Fei died! It's a pity that you are not enough.
You are smart, you easily believed in Jinyun City, and were used by her in the end. You are not courageous enough. If you just realized that your plan was discovered, you risked your life and died under the sword of the Imperial Guards, I would still think highly of you, but you
You are greedy for life and afraid of death, and you are full of lies, which really makes me look down on you!"
Wei Zixu crawled over and hugged Emperor Rong's legs, bursting into tears: "Father, do you want to kill your son?"
Emperor Rong kicked him away in disgust, and the imperial guards immediately stepped forward to pull the prince away.
"I have given you a chance. You have refused to change despite repeated admonitions. However, I will not kill you. You are my son after all. But you are not worthy of continuing to live in the East Palace. You can go to the Old Palace of Chu State to spend the rest of your life!"
"No, Father, I was wrong. I was confused for a moment. Please ask Father to give me a chance. I will change my mind. Even if you want to destroy me, don't let me go to that ghost place.
I won’t go!”
Emperor Rong ignored Wei Zixu's collapsed look, squatted down and pinched Jin Yuncheng's face, "The prince doesn't want to go, but Miss Jin should be willing to go, right? After all, as the princess of Chu, you have extremely strong feelings for it. Since
Since I can’t go back to Chu State, it would be a comfort to feel the glory of the past in the old palace.”
Wei Zixu stopped crying and looked at them blankly, "You...are you from Chu?"
Hearing that his identity was revealed, Jin Yuncheng's eyelids trembled violently, but he was unable to make a sound. He could only gasp in pain. Emperor Rong let go of her face, wiped the blood stains on the dragon robe, and said to her: "
What's the point of using the prince's hand to disrupt the palace? No matter who takes the throne, Chu State has no ability to fight back. What's more, who do you think you are? A princess who has been trafficked since she was a child, they have already forgotten you.
!It’s pointless for you to do this, stupid!”
Jinyuncheng suddenly felt angry in his heart, opened his eyes covered with blood, and said hoarsely: "I did what I should do, and it's worth it!" As soon as he finished speaking, he spat out blood and passed out.
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Wei Zixu knew that he was at the end of the road, his heart was as gray as death, and he was as paralyzed as mud. He looked desperately at the fire outside the palace. The imperial guards who once respected him were now pointing their swords at him, treating him as an enemy!
Wei Zixu slowly lowered his head and stopped defending.
After the prince was deposed, he was sent to the old palace overnight. The accompanying team only had two carriages and three or five palace people. They walked for half a day before reaching the woods outside the old palace. Looking at the desolate palace, Wei Zixu felt relieved from the bottom of his heart.
I felt desolate and couldn't help but shed tears again.
"Your Highness, there is no need to be sad. At least you don't have to worry about it for the rest of your life, right?" Ge Yiyan poked his head out from the side of the carriage. Wei Zixu was frightened and his eyes became even redder.
Ge Yiyan stepped on his feet and looked at Jinyun City in the carriage, pointed at her, and said to Wei Zixu: "This woman has taken advantage of His Highness, and His Highness has taken her to do so much, so why not leave it to me, I will do a good job for you."
Teach her a lesson."
Wei Zixu sneered: "Do you think I will leave it to you?"
"His Royal Highness is no longer the Crown Prince, and His Majesty hates you even more. Do you think your life will be easy in the future? Will you still eat and drink as well as before? If you have one or two maids to serve you, you are already Your Majesty.
That's merciful. But if Your Highness hands her over to me, I will definitely give you wine and meat every month, and I will never treat you unfairly!"
Wei Zixu didn't believe it at first, but when he saw so many palace people accompanying him, he had no choice but to believe it and agreed to his request.
Jinyun City was thrown off the carriage, and the team continued to move forward, gradually disappearing at the end of the forest.
Ge Yiyan bent down, poked Jin Yuncheng's face with his finger, suddenly smiled sinisterly, and said in her ear: "You betrayed uncle, don't think I don't know. Next, I will do it a hundred times, a thousand times."
I’ll ask you to repay me twice as much to comfort my uncle’s spirit in heaven!”
Jin Yuncheng's chest heaved violently. She thought about it, but she had no strength, so she could only let Ge Yiyan carry her on his shoulders and throw her into another carriage.
The prince's rebellion was not publicized. It was only said that the prince was suffering from an incurable disease. Knowing that he could not inherit the throne, he voluntarily demoted himself to the prince and lived in seclusion.
After Wei Zixu left, the position of crown prince was vacant. The ministers of the court discussed this for a long time. The candidate was nothing more than choosing between the eldest Wei Yuan and the fourth prince Wei Gu. This discussion lasted for more than half a month.
Emperor Rong was still undecided. He always felt that neither of his two sons could shoulder the responsibility of the East Palace Prince. One was too kind and had no independent opinion, and the other was scheming, just like Wei Zixu. On the other hand, although Wei Yao was the most
Although he is young, he is more suitable for the crown prince than his elder brothers. With only a few years of training, he should be able to take on important responsibilities. Even though Emperor Rong thought this, he was still dissatisfied because none of these three sons looked like him enough.
There is always a difference. On the contrary, Wei Zhen, who died early, is the most similar to him...
In the past ten years, Emperor Rong had dreamed of Wei Zhen more than once. In the dream, he could always see Wei Zhen’s face clearly, only the fire in his eyes, and the empress’s shrill cries... When he woke up from the dream, he was always covered in cold sweat.
The person seems to be right in front of you!
At the end of the month and early in the morning, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were still quarreling over the crown prince's position. Emperor Rong had no intention of dealing with them anymore. He was about to leave the court, but was stopped by someone.
"Your Majesty!" Ge Zheng walked out of the ranks of military attaches and saluted Emperor Rong, "The position of the prince has been vacant for a long time. The country cannot live without a prince for a day. Your Majesty, please choose another prince as soon as possible to stabilize the court and calm the people."
Emperor Rong was exhausted mentally and physically, and suppressed his anger and said: "I can understand what the prince said, but we can discuss the matter of re-establishing the crown prince later."
Seeing that Emperor Rong was about to leave, Prince Zheng hurriedly knelt down and said urgently: "Your Majesty! After re-establishing the crown prince, I would like to ask your Majesty to listen patiently to my words."
Emperor Rong ignored him, sneered, and was about to leave. Ge Zheng simply raised his voice and said: "Since your Majesty is unable to choose a candidate for the crown prince, I will boldly recommend someone to your Majesty. I believe your Majesty will gain something."
"Wei Yuan, or Wei Gu? Do you still need to introduce these two princes?" Emperor Rong felt that Ge Zheng was extremely abnormal today and his behavior was ridiculous.
"Your Majesty invites him to the palace and you will know the result."
Emperor Rong finally couldn't stand it anymore and roared at him: "Ge Zheng, are you still worried that I'm not upset enough? Do you have anything to say that you can't say tomorrow?"
"Your Majesty! This matter is of great importance. Please allow me to invite this person to Yongle Palace!"
There was some discussion among the ministers. Fang Chaosheng was the first to come out and knelt at the foot of the steps, "Your Majesty, since the prince has something to ask for, why not declare this person to the palace?"
Yuan Qin was also busy marching out of the queue, kneeling aside and echoing: "Please allow your majesty."
Among the ministers, those who followed Prince Zheng all agreed. Emperor Rong closed his heavy eyelids and sighed helplessly: "Come on, let him come up." After saying this, he straightened his clothes and sat back down.
A figure slowly approached outside the main hall, with his back to the light and his face could not be seen clearly. Emperor Rong supported the dragon case and raised his buttocks to identify, but he could not see clearly. Stimulated by the surprised reactions of the ministers, Emperor Rong became more and more anxious.
It wasn't until the man stopped next to Prince Zheng that he could see his face clearly.
"Xi Lou?" Emperor Rong was full of doubts and asked Ge Zheng: "The person you mentioned will make me gain something, is he the one?"
"Your Majesty, do you still remember the old things ten years ago?" The west tower stood there, with jade trees facing the wind, and his temperament was outstanding, even better than Wei Yao who stood on the other side.
Emperor Rong's face was full of astonishment. He didn't know what he was referring to, but there must be a reason why this person was so valued by Prince Zheng. Emperor Rong racked his brains for a long time but couldn't figure it out. At this time, Ge Zheng said: "Your Majesty
With so many things going on, it’s understandable that I forgot about Empress Yu and Wei Zhen. After all, it’s been ten years, but the deaths of Empress Yu and Wei Zhen still linger in my heart!”
After hearing the names Yu and Wei Zhen, Emperor Rong stood up suddenly. Only then did he realize what Xi Lou meant by the old things. Ten years later, he didn't expect that anyone would still remember them now.
He never expected to mention it in front of the civil and military officials of the court! Emperor Rong's memory immediately returned to that night ten years ago... In the Fusang Palace, he was the one who knocked over the candlestick and trapped the queen and the prince in the fire. Ten years later, today
Today, he finally remembered Wei Zhen's face!
Emperor Rong fell back on the dragon chair, looking at Xilou and Ge Zheng in horror and surprise, unable to say a word.
Ge Zheng clenched his fists in excitement. In the past ten years, he had forgotten how many times he had played out this scene in his heart. The result he imagined was that Emperor Rong regretted deeply in front of the truth. The dignity and image that an emperor should have were at this moment.
Nothing left! But as Emperor Rong continued to silence the relevant people, he realized that his Majesty would never feel the slightest regret for the wrong things he did back then. But now he finally revealed what he had hidden in his heart for ten years.
Secretly, he still had some pitiful hope in his heart, hoping that the man in front of him would wake up. Unfortunately, the result was as expected. There was nothing but fear in the emperor's eyes.
But isn't that exactly the effect he wants?
At this time, an official in the main hall asked Ge Zheng: "Does the prince think there is something fishy about the death of the queen and the prince?"
"Exactly!"
"It seems that the prince knows something," the minister looked at Xilou and asked, "I wonder what the connection is with the Crown Prince of Yan?"
"Xi Lou is also the son of Empress Yu. Although she has not been raised by her since she was a child, she is still related by blood. Does he know..." Fang Chaosheng said quietly.
"Lord Fang! The queen and the prince died in an accident back then. Do you still question my decision?" Emperor Rong's eyes moved slightly toward Fang Chaosheng, his eyes filled with coldness.
"Your Majesty," Fang Chaosheng knelt down without any fear of the emperor's majesty, "Your Majesty is a blood relative of Empress Yu. It has been ten years. Since Your Majesty has been brooding about this, I think there must be some injustice involved. Please allow Your Majesty to grant permission to Dali Temple."
Check again!”
"When talking about the selection of the crown prince, why did you suddenly mention ten years ago? I know how much you respect the queen, and I also know that Prince Zheng and the queen are deeply affectionate, but we should also take into account his identity as a prince. The retrial of old cases has never happened.
Once the investigation is re-examined, the people will definitely be suspicious of the imperial court. Where is the majesty of our royal family! How can Prince Taizheng have the face to stand here!" Emperor Rong suppressed the fear and panic in his heart, but the slight twitching at the corner of his mouth gave him away.
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"Your Majesty, don't you want to find out the truth?" Ge Zheng asked the person on the dragon throne calmly.
Emperor Rong opened his mouth tremblingly, wanting to explode, but he had to suppress his anger. What happened ten years ago was his own fault, so what could he do to find out? Ge Zheng obviously came after him!
At this time, Xilou said: "The Queen's death is really strange. Your Majesty should find out more!"
"Absurd!" Emperor Rong smashed his fist on the dragon case and said angrily: "As the heir apparent of the Yan Kingdom, you are arrogant and arrogant. How dare you utter such arrogant words here? Do you know what crime you have committed!"
Xilou shook his head helplessly and smiled, saying: "Xilou may not be qualified, but I am."
"What?"
"I am not Xi Lou. The real Xi Lou has died long ago. He was assassinated and his body is gone! But I just disguised myself as him and did what he didn't finish." After that, he tore it off.
The human skin mask was a face that no one had ever seen before. It had sharp edges and sharp eyebrows, but at the bottom of the left face, there was an extremely obvious scar, which was caused by burns.
Everyone suddenly realized that the person wearing Xilou's face in front of them was none other than Wei Zhen, who had died in the fire ten years ago. He was the prince!
"Are you really the prince?" Some officials raised doubts.
"Yes or no, let's look at this jade pendant!"
Everyone immediately focused their attention on his hand, which was a jade pendant shaped like a tiger, with a purple tassel hanging from the lower end of the jade pendant...
"It's just a jade pendant. Even if it comes from the palace, how can it prove your identity?" The minister still didn't believe it.
Changsun Wuzheng stood up and testified in time: "I remember, Sui Zichen, that the jade pendant was a trophy brought back by His Majesty from outside the customs. His Majesty also carried the jade pendant with him. His Majesty personally tied it to the jade pendant for the prince. It is the prince of course!"
After saying that, he immediately knelt down and saluted Wei Zhen, and then Fang Chaosheng, Yuan Qin, Nangong Que and others knelt down first. Ge Zheng looked back at the ministers who were still watching, and said to Emperor Rong: "The Queen has been away for ten years.
The truth has been buried for ten years! If Your Majesty can conduct a thorough investigation, I will be grateful. But if it is really difficult to trace back, I will not blame Your Majesty. After all, Wei Zhen is still alive, which can be considered as a thought for me. Your Majesty, rest assured
, Wei Zhen’s identity has been verified. I am willing to guarantee the lives of my entire family. I also ask Your Majesty to restore Wei Zhen’s identity and give an explanation to my ministers and the world!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the others who were still watching could only kneel down.
Emperor Rong looked around the courtiers in the hall. Except for the newly appointed civil servants, all of them knelt on the ground. For the first time, Emperor Rong felt the despair of being isolated and helpless.
When Zhenghe suddenly appeared, Wei Zhen had no power to fight back!
And Ge Zheng's words have made it very clear. If he does not admit Wei Zhen's identity, he will definitely produce evidence of his arson in front of everyone. Once the truth of the year is confirmed, it may be difficult for him, the emperor, to end.
Emperor Rong sat slumped on the dragon chair. The turbulent emotions overwhelmed him. After a long time, he sat upright and pondered. The whole court was quiet, everyone was waiting for his response.
Wei Zhen stared at Emperor Rong calmly. He had waited for ten years until today. At this time, he was not nervous at all. He was even enjoying the moment, watching Emperor Rong's panic, watching him being forced to death by the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty.
In a desperate situation, my heart feels very happy!
Emperor Rong looked at Wei Zhen and spoke slowly: "Are you really Wei Zhen, my crown prince?"
Wei Zhen immediately knelt down, "My son was lucky enough to survive and lived in the world for several years, but he did not dare to return to Rongguo, just because he was worried that the people who harmed his mother would do something to him! If he had not been killed in Xilou, I would have borrowed
Without his identity, I am afraid that I will not be able to recognize my uncle, let alone stand in the Yongle Palace and stand in front of my father!"
"Do you still think that there is a secret behind the Queen's death?" Emperor Rong asked tentatively.
Wei Zhen hesitated for a moment and immediately replied: "It's all up to my father!"
Ge Zheng slowly raised his head and echoed: "Your Majesty is wise and must make a decision! I dare not speak nonsense!"
Emperor Rong finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Wei Zhen has lived in the palace since he was a child. The prince naturally recognizes him. If he says so, of course he is! It's just that I often led troops on expeditions back then and had no time to spend time with Wei Zhen. We haven't seen him for a long time.
I'm really ashamed that I didn't recognize him when we met again!" He slowly stood up holding the dragon chair and announced to the ministers: "I am very happy that Wei Zhen is back. This is a blessing for Rong Guo! From now on, Rong Guo will be exempted from taxes.
One year, the whole country celebrates together!”
After ten years of expectation, Ge Zheng was so excited that he shed tears, and his whole shoulder could not help but tremble. Wei Zhen patted his uncle's shoulder thoughtfully, feeling very emotional in his heart.
After Emperor Rong said something that was against his will, he let out a long sigh. Seeing Ge Zheng and Wei Zhen getting so close, his heart was full of hatred, but he was helpless. From today on, Wei Zhen is the prince, a person who holds his own secrets.
As a prince who has no blood relationship with him, he doesn't know what will happen next, and he doesn't know how long he can sit on the throne.