jdhmnovel Chapter 355 The Unfathomable Mind of an Emperor
Chapter 355 The Unfathomable Mind of an Emperor
Yu Wan glared back without the slightest fear.
She then feigned ignorance and gave a smile, saying, "This humble woman is foolish and does not understand what Your Highness Prince Yong means."
Prince Yong gripped the reins tightly, staring intently at Yu Wan. "You just wait!"
After uttering these words, Prince Yong abruptly swung down his riding whip.
The horse neighed, its front hooves raised high, and galloped away with Prince Yong.
Yu Wan watched Prince Yong's departing figure, and the smile on her face faded.
She sat up straight and looked at Yun Shang. "Was Huo Xuanqing not acting under his orders?"
Yun Shang looked at Shang Yuwan, his dark eyes still filled with lingering anger: "Huo Xuanqing was acting under the orders of Prince Yong."
Yu Wan was furious. "And Emperor Wenjing acted as if nothing had happened?!"
Prince Yong left the palace safely, but Huo Xuanqing did not appear, most likely because he had already been executed by the emperor.
He received news from the palace that when Emperor Wenjing summoned Huo Xuanqing, he allowed Prince Yong to stay in the imperial study. When Huo Xuanqing was about to implicate Prince Yong, Prince Yong couldn't help but interrupt him.
Emperor Wenjing could not possibly have failed to see such an obvious act.
However, Emperor Wenjing still chose to protect Prince Yong.
Even Yun Shang couldn't understand why Emperor Wenjing treated Prince Yong so specially.
"Don't be angry, don't get upset." Yun Shang raised his hand and gently patted her back. "The Emperor may protect him once or twice, but there will never be a third time."
"I'm just wondering, this time Prince Yong went directly to the Empress Dowager, why is the Emperor turning a blind eye?"
Yun Shang's gaze was deep as he looked out the car window at the darkening sky. He said softly, "The emperor's heart is unfathomable. No one can guess what he is thinking."
"I have already sent word to the Empress Dowager that she will not let this calamity go easily, since she has suffered this injustice for no reason."
The next day, news spread throughout the court that the crows that committed suicide and the Empress Dowager that fell into a coma at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet were all due to Huo Xuanqing's malicious intentions and the use of evil magic.
As for why he called Yu Wan a jinx, it was simply because he happened to have chosen her.
For a time, the women of Shengjing City felt pity for Yu Wan. For several days in a row, when Yu Wan went out, she felt that people were staring at her with the eyes of looking at a pitiful wretch.
All the blame for what happened at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, including the Empress Dowager's coma, fell on Huo Xuanqing's shoulders. As a Taoist priest who roamed the martial arts world, he could not possibly have accomplished so much by himself. Therefore, many eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were found out and all of them were silenced.
These people were not innocent; they were all Prince Yong's men.
However, even until their deaths, Emperor Wenjing did not order these people to reveal the identity of Prince Yong.
Huo Xuanqing died too quickly, leaving no one to testify. Even if some court officials suspected that Huo Xuanqing was not the only one involved, there was no evidence to prove it.
Yongshou Palace.
"Your Majesty!" The Empress Dowager rose, leaning on her gilded phoenix-headed cane, her silver hair gleaming coldly in the candlelight. "A month ago, he framed loyal officials and harmed innocent people. You said he was young and impetuous, and gave him another chance. Now he has caused trouble at my birthday banquet and even dared to poison me—"
"How long are you going to spoil him?!"
The gold dragon thread on Emperor Wenjing's black dragon robe flickered in the candlelight. He stroked the jade thumb ring on his thumb, his voice like jade immersed in a cold pool: "Mother, I have already lost one of my sons..."
"His mother has just passed away, so his personality is inevitably a bit extreme. I always thought I could help him and get him to turn over a new leaf."
The Empress Dowager trembled with rage, slamming her gilded phoenix-headed staff heavily onto the ground with a sharp crack. "Repent and reform? He has committed such a heinous act, and you still harbor illusions! You, as the Emperor, have disregarded the laws of the land and the stability of the court for your own selfish desires. How will you face our ancestors in the future?"
"I am not angry because he almost harmed me, but because he made one mistake after another!"
"The incident involving the thirty-eight corpses at Huangjue Temple caused quite a stir last time. You and Consort De turned a blind eye to protect him, causing the court to lose a pillar of the nation. I thought you would keep him in check, but I never expected him to do such a thing!"
"Your Majesty, if you continue to indulge him like this, it will eventually lead to disaster!"
Emperor Wenjing's eyes were deep and unfathomable. "Mother, please don't upset yourself."
The Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Wenjing and also felt that she could not see through him.
The Prince of Xiang is dead, but the Empress Dowager feels that Emperor Wenjing would not be so lenient towards his other sons just because one son died.
She could understand her son less and less.
Emperor Wenjing stepped forward and helped the Empress Dowager up, gently comforting her: "Mother, although I have spared him this time, I have ordered him to come to the palace to pay his respects and kowtow to you for a month. You have always been fond of Li Xuan, so let it go this time."
The Empress Dowager raised her eyes and stared intently at Emperor Wenjing, trying to find something unusual on his face.
But Emperor Wenjing's expression remained unchanged, making him completely unpredictable.
"That's enough. Once an imperial edict is issued, there's no reason to change it."
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply and closed her eyes wearily.
"Your Majesty, this is the last time. If Prince Yong offends again, and you do not punish him, I will come."
Emperor Wenjing nodded slightly, "Your son will remember."
Emperor Wenjing spent some heartfelt time with the Empress Dowager before taking his leave of Yongshou Palace.
Upon returning to the imperial study, Emperor Wenjing's face instantly darkened.
He slowly sat on the dragon throne, his eyes lowered, making it impossible for anyone to guess what he was thinking.
Liu Haifu stood to the side, holding his breath and being extremely cautious.
"Summon Prince Yong to the palace," Emperor Wenjing suddenly announced.
Liu Haifu was taken aback upon hearing this.
It's already dark. Should we summon Prince Yong to the palace now?
Despite his inner turmoil and uncertainty, Liu Haifu dared not show it on his face and simply agreed respectfully.
Before long, Prince Yong rushed in from outside the palace, his face showing a hint of unease.
On his way to the palace, he was filled with unease, unable to understand why his father had suddenly summoned him.
Didn't Father Emperor think that all of this was Huo Xuanqing's scheme?
"My son, I will meet my father."
Emperor Wenjing slowly raised his eyes and looked at Prince Yong. "Get up."
Prince Yong stood up, not daring to look Emperor Wenjing in the eye, and lowered his head, appearing submissive.
Emperor Wenjing spoke coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion: "Do you know why I summoned you to the palace this time?"
Prince Yong hurriedly replied, "Your subject does not know..."
Emperor Wenjing glanced at him, slowly stood up, and walked to the window.
Looking into the pitch-black night, his voice was cold and deep:
"The thirty-eight corpses at Huangjue Temple, the death of Su Mu, and the crow's suicide and the Empress Dowager's coma at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet..."
"Huo Xuanqing is just a Taoist priest in the martial arts world. If no one is behind him, how could he dare to be so audacious?"
"Li Xuan, you know in your heart who did these things, and I know in my heart as well."
Prince Yong's heart skipped a beat.
His eyes were filled with horror.
He knew his father couldn't possibly be completely unaware of everything, but his father had tacitly kept quiet about it. Why, then, had his father suddenly summoned him to the palace tonight to bring up these matters?