jdhmnovel Chapter 176 Death is imminent
Chapter 176 Death is imminent
royal palace.
After the Imperial Noble Consort was brought back to the palace by the Emperor, she was placed under house arrest in the Hidden Moon Palace.
She inhaled a lot of smoke in the fire, and her voice was a little hoarse.
The Hidden Moon Palace is unusually cold tonight.
The Imperial Noble Consort trembled slightly, her eyes reddening as she sat on the ground.
Thinking of what Duke Liu had said before his death, she couldn't help but feel afraid.
But she dared not show it too obviously, so she could only pretend not to know. But the emperor seemed to have become smarter this time and knew something.
Looking back on everything I've done, I realize that everything I did was for Yuan'er's good.
Now, her child is unconscious, and her lover has died in front of her.
She murmured to herself, "Is this really karma?"
Suddenly her eyes changed, remembering that although Gu Yuan had not yet woken up, the physician was still in the Prince Jing's mansion.
"No, I must tell His Majesty about Jiang Zhi's scheme against Yuan'er."
"It was all her doing, and she's the one who harmed me."
But she was talking to herself, and no one responded.
When the emperor and his entourage returned to the palace, Pei Shangdao seemed to be deep in thought during the meeting.
Knowing that the Imperial Noble Consort had gone to the Hidden Moon Palace, he took the opportunity to secretly go there as well.
As soon as they arrived at the entrance of Yinyue Palace, they heard the voice of the Imperial Noble Consort.
"It's Jiang Zhi, it's all her fault!"
"It was all her doing! I demand to see His Majesty! I demand to see His Majesty!"
The Hidden Moon Palace was locked. Pei Shangdao gestured to the palace maid to unlock it. "I have come on His Majesty's orders to inform the Imperial Noble Consort of important matters. Please unlock it."
The palace maids couldn't stop him, so they unlocked the door for him.
Hearing the noise, the Imperial Noble Consort turned around and saw Pei Shangdao, her expression surprised. "It's you?"
"Are you one of Jiang Zhi's people?"
Pei Shangdao slowly stepped forward, "What exactly is your connection to the late Empress's death?"
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled bitterly, "The late Empress?"
"The late Empress deserved to die; what does it have to do with me?"
"She was disloyal to His Majesty; she deserves to die."
"Then the child in her womb also deserves to die?" he said coldly.
"A child?" The Imperial Noble Consort found it even more ridiculous. "What good is it if an unfaithful child lives?"
Their eyes met suddenly, and she sensed a hidden meaning in his words.
"What do you mean?"
Why are you asking these questions?
Pei Shangdao smiled, "This humble subject has only come to inquire about Your Majesty's well-being and has no other intentions. Your Majesty should not presume to understand."
"Oh, by the way," he added, "His Highness Prince Jing has woken up. Is Her Majesty happy?"
The Imperial Noble Consort's eyes lit up. "Yuan'er is awake?"
Is he still alive? Has the doctor in his room left? Or is he still watching over him?
Pei Shangdao followed her gaze and asked, "Why is Your Majesty so agitated?"
At this point, the Imperial Noble Consort spoke out.
“That physician was a member of Jiang Zhi’s faction, no, it was Gu Liang. The two of them were plotting to harm me and Yuan’er. They were the ones who did it all.”
"The Prince of Liang? The Princess of Liang?" He clearly didn't believe it. "What connection do they have with the Princess? It's the Princess's affair with the Duke that's common knowledge."
The Imperial Noble Consort clenched her fists tightly. "I...I didn't!"
"If Your Majesty says no, this humble subject cannot make the decision. However, I will certainly report what Your Majesty has said to His Majesty truthfully and put in a good word for you."
The Imperial Noble Consort looked at Pei Shangdao with a very grateful expression.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject will take his leave now."
The next day, in the Imperial Study.
When Gu Yuan entered the imperial study, he saw that the emperor looked melancholy.
He said angrily, "Father, someone must have plotted against us today. I beg you to investigate thoroughly."
"My mother was plotted against and nearly perished in a fire, while I remained unconscious until I awoke when my mother was being plotted against. It was all a scheme."
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Scheme? I witnessed all of this with my own eyes. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would still be kept in the dark.”
"On the day the White Horse Temple caught fire, I had already become a laughing stock in Yanjing. Now you say it was someone else's scheme, which is utterly ridiculous!"
The emperor was furious, which frightened Gu Yuan so much that she immediately knelt down.
"Father, please let me explain."
"Why did Father Emperor happen to go to the outskirts of the city to offer sacrifices yesterday? And why did a fire suddenly break out?"
"Why did I wake up last night? Is all of this just a coincidence? Someone must be plotting against the Empress Dowager and against me."
"I hope Father Emperor will investigate this matter thoroughly."
The emperor suddenly sneered: "Why is it a coincidence? Yesterday was the anniversary of the late empress's death. You even forgot the anniversary of the late empress's death, so what right do you have to plead for your mother?"
"Your mother, Consort Baima Temple, caught fire. So many people in Yanjing saw her come out of the temple disheveled, and I still don't believe it."
"It's just a coincidence that I saw it today; it's only because someone wanted to remind me."
"Go back now, you don't need to see your mother anymore!"
The emperor uttered these words, flicked his sleeves, and left the imperial study.
As the emperor walked away, Gu Yuan hurriedly got up, intending to follow him, but was stopped by Eunuch Wang.
"Your Highness Prince Jing, please return."
"Your Majesty is very troubled right now. Please don't add fuel to the fire. This matter also concerns the reputation of Great Yan. Your Highness should know how to protect yourself."
After finishing his sentence, Eunuch Wang turned and left.
Gu Yuan's face darkened.
Now that His Majesty has not pursued the matter, he should only think of himself. If he is still thinking about the Imperial Noble Consort, who is beyond saving, he will probably have no way out.
But he was still worried because he didn't get to see the Imperial Noble Consort.
However, he also learned from the palace staff that the Imperial Noble Consort had been talking to herself ever since she came out of the fire.
After he returned to Prince Jing's residence, his advisor cleared up the matter for him, saying, "Your Highness Prince Jing, you probably already know who was behind today's events."
"How could these two things be such a coincidence?"
Gu Yuan nodded silently. He took a deep breath and said coldly, "It was my carelessness after all."
"Gu Liang, Jiang Zhi, you two..."
"If we can't get Gu Liang dead now, things will really get out of control."
Gu Yuan looked up at the strategist.
"If we don't find a solution, I'll be killed by them sooner or later in this situation."
The strategist sighed and said, "Although the current situation seems like a dead end, I do have a solution."
"What method?" Gu Yuan asked.
The strategist smiled and said, "His Highness the King of Liang and the Princess will soon lead their troops to the Northern Di. Why don't you go and find the new emperor of the Northern Di first?"
“The King of Liang has a grudge against the new emperor of the Northern Di, and he is going to lead troops to attack again. As long as Your Highness shows sincerity again, the new emperor of the Northern Di will believe in Your Highness.”
As soon as the strategist finished speaking, Gu Yuan suddenly understood, "You're right."
He ordered the guards beside him, "Quickly, prepare a fast horse for me immediately, the fastest one of its kind."
"I must see Wei Zhuo as quickly as possible! I cannot afford to lose again this time!"
The guard nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
In the middle of the night, Gu Yuan left the Prince Jing's mansion, mounted his horse, and immediately rode towards the outskirts of the city.