Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 871: Chapter 24: The Test for Prince Han (Part 3)

"Alright, I will come to see you again tomorrow night." The emperor solemnly instructed Lady Liang, "Tomorrow is New Year’s, make sure you eat well, understand?"

"Understood."

After offering a few more words of advice, the emperor reluctantly left Kunde Hall.

Before leaving, the emperor instructed Gui Xing and the others to take good care of Lady Liang. If Lady Liang were to fall ill, he would not spare them lightly.

Returning to the Imperial Study, the emperor summoned Hidden Guard A.

"Inform the young one about the death of Palace Attendant Pan."

Sun Kui, who was standing by, was shocked at this order and widened his eyes in surprise.

Didn’t the emperor just promise Lady Liang not to inform Prince Han about Palace Attendant Pan’s death? Why is the emperor breaking his word now?

Hidden Guard A respectfully asked, "Your Majesty, should I report truthfully, or...?"

"Tell him the investigation results."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The emperor waved at Hidden Guard A, who immediately retreated.

After Hidden Guard A left, Sun Kui reminded the emperor, "Your Majesty, you promised Lady Liang not to inform Prince Han about Palace Attendant Pan’s death."

"If I don’t say it, you don’t say it, Xiao Xiao will not know that I told the young one."

Sun Kui: "..."

"Aren’t you afraid that Lady Liang will come to settle accounts with you if she learns about this in the future?"

"Xiao Xiao won’t find out."

"Once Prince Han learns about this, won’t he write to Lady Liang for inquiry? By then, won’t Lady Liang find out?" Sun Kui reminded the emperor again, "Lady Liang will definitely be very angry when she finds out. Your Majesty, how will you appease her then?"

"The young one won’t add salt to Xiao Xiao’s wound, so Xiao Xiao won’t know that the young one knows Palace Attendant Pan has died." The emperor spoke with unwavering certainty.

Sun Kui: The emperor seemed very reasonable in his argument.

"Your Majesty, aren’t you afraid that Prince Han will immediately rush back to the capital from Lingnan once he finds out?" With Prince Han’s current popularity, if he returns to the capital, Prince Dai and Prince Jing will surely force him to agree to some things. If he doesn’t agree, Prince Dai and the others, given their nature, will not let him return peacefully to the capital."

"If he rushes back to the capital from Lingnan immediately, then I’ve misjudged him." The emperor spoke indifferently, "I can still change my mind."

"Your Majesty, Palace Attendant Pan was very important to Prince Han, wasn’t she? If Prince Han returns for revenge because of her death, isn’t that expected?" Sun Kui said, "This shows Prince Han is loyal and devoted."

"To run back to the perilous capital from far away Lingnan for one Palace Attendant Pan is not loyalty and devotion; it’s foolishness." The emperor spoke coldly, "A ruler doesn’t need loyalty and devotion."

Sun Kui was frightened by the emperor’s harsh tone, "What Your Majesty says is correct."

The emperor walked up to Lingyun, gently caressing its little head, and spoke with profound meaning, "The death of Palace Attendant Pan is a test for him."

Sun Kui’s heart sank upon hearing this, and a hint of fear appeared in his eyes.

Could it be that Palace Attendant Pan’s death... impossible... impossible... He personally investigated, and Palace Attendant Pan indeed died by hanging.

"I hope the young one does not disappoint me."

Sun Kui thought of someone and reminded the emperor, "Your Majesty, you forgot that General He is by Prince Han’s side. Even if Prince Han wants to return to the capital, General He won’t let him, right?"

"If the young one truly wants to return to the capital, Fang Fang won’t be able to stop him." The emperor smiled with ambiguous intent, "In terms of scheming, Fang Fang isn’t as good as the young one." With the young one’s crafty mind, there aren’t many people in this world who can outsmart him.

Sun Kui asked, "Then do you think Prince Han will come back?"

"Who knows." The emperor replied, seemingly amused.

Sun Kui silently thought to himself: Prince Han, please don’t impulsively rush back to the capital.

The Dragon Guards are extremely swift in delivering letters, especially secret letters, which can be said to be delivered at urgent speeds of eight hundred miles. In just a few days, the letter was in Zhao Yao’s hands.

Zhao Yao had just returned after watching a show outside, feeling delighted. Celebrating the first New Year in Swamp Prefecture was very lively and happy. He had organized many New Year’s programs allowing the people of Swamp Prefecture to partake.

The people not only participated joyously but also received bonuses. This year’s festivities were the best New Year for the people of Swamp Prefecture.

"Your Highness, an urgent letter from the capital."

"Urgent letter?" Zhao Yao wondered, "How could there be an urgent letter during New Year’s; could something have happened?" He had a vague sense of foreboding.

"I don’t know," replied the Hidden Guard, saying, "This is an urgent letter from the Dragon Guards."

"When was it sent?"

"On the twelfth month, the twenty-ninth."

"What, the twelfth month, the twenty-ninth?" Zhao Yao looked shocked, "It reached me in just a few days? What could be so urgent?"

"Your Highness, this is equivalent to an urgent letter delivered at a speed of eight hundred miles."

Zhao Yao didn’t dare delay any further, quickly opening the letter to read. Once he finished, his expression turned grim.

The Hidden Guard was frightened by Zhao Yao’s sudden ominous aura. He dared not question what had occurred.

Holding the letter, Zhao Yao rushed to find He Lianfang in the neighboring courtyard.

"Second Uncle, what do you think?"

Having read the letter, He Lianfang understood why Zhao Yao was so angry.

"What I think doesn’t matter; what matters is what you think."

"The third consort would never commit suicide; her death was definitely murder."

"Your father sent Sun Kui to investigate, and the result was hanging. Do you think Sun Kui could be wrong?" He Lianfang perceived that the emperor deliberately sent the letter urgently to Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao furrowed his brows, his expression grim as water: "Sun Kui would naturally not be wrong, but I think the third consort must have been forced into suicide."

He Lianfang asked, "Then who do you think forced her?"

"Prince Dai or Prince Jing." Zhao Yao first suspected them, "They know the third consort is close to me, so driving the third consort to death is a warning to me, making me obediently follow their orders. And indeed, it threatens me; if I don’t cooperate with them, my mother will become another third consort."

"What do you plan to do?"