Chapter 208: 208 complaint
Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Complaint
"..." The emperor's eyes suddenly widened, and a black piece he held between his fingers slipped and smashed into the chess box. The chess pieces collided and made a crisp sound.
The emperor has been "sick" for a long time. During this period, he did not even see the elders of the cabinet. Today, it was because Chu Lingxiao asked to see him for something urgent that the emperor agreed to see him. He also wanted to hear about his investigation in the northwest. To what.
Unexpectedly, what Chu Lingxiao found out was related to Gu Jue.
The emperor's face was solemn. His first reaction was that Chu Lingxiao must have found some evidence of collusion between Gu Jue and Qin Yao in Nanyang. He said seriously: "Chu Lingxiao, please speak slowly."
How could the emperor still be in the mood to play chess? He clenched his right fists tightly and looked at him with evil eyes. Sure enough, he had known that Gu Jue had a disobedient heart!
"Your Majesty, I saw King Chen Gu Jue in the Nanyang military camp." Chu Lingxiao made another shocking statement.
What? ! The emperor was shocked and almost jumped up, his face became even more gloomy.
Didn't Gu Jue **** Wuhejialou and his party south to Nanhao? How could he go to the northwest? !
The emperor was surprised and asked again: "Are you sure you saw Gu Jue?"
"Absolutely." Chu Lingxiao nodded affirmatively.
In fact, he didn't see Gu Jue at all that day, but only heard his voice through the tent. But in front of the emperor, of course he couldn't show timidity, let alone hesitate.
Therefore, Chu Lingxiao started talking about the secret conversation between Qin Yao and Gu Jue in the main tent that day, and elaborated on their conversation, saying that they intended to conspire to take over Bingzhou, that they wanted to establish themselves as kings, and that It is necessary to connect the northwest, Bingzhou and the north to threaten the emperor and so on.
Finally, he tearfully complained about how he escaped from Nanyang with humiliation and humiliation. In order to avoid people's eyes and ears, he traveled day and night along the way, suffered a lot, and finally rushed back to the capital to report the news.
As he said that, Chu Lingxiao's eyes shone brightly, wondering if he could finally be in peace.
"Crack!"
The emperor slapped the edge of the chessboard hard with his palm. The tabletop shook and the chessboard shook as well. The black and white chess pieces placed on the chessboard were mixed together in a messy manner.
"Gu Jue really has bad intentions!" the emperor said angrily, with the veins on his forehead pulsing with anger.
He guessed that Gu Jue had ulterior motives. He said he was escorting Wuhe Jialou to Nanhao, but he secretly went to the northwest to see Qin Yao. This was simply deplorable.
Following the emperor's thunderous rage, the temperature in the palace suddenly dropped, and all the chamberlains in the palace held their breath.
Chu Lingxiao raised his eyes and quickly glanced at the emperor's face, and then said: "Your Majesty, if you don't believe it, why not go to Prince Chen's Mansion to find out. I am sure that Gu Jue is not in Prince Chen's Mansion now."
Chu Lingxiao looked loyal and righteous, and tried his best to distance himself from Gu Jue.
Chu Lingxiao had no idea that Gu Jue had gone to Nanhao, but Eunuch Ni knew about it and glanced at Chu Lingxiao with a strange expression.
The emperor narrowed his eyes and slowly turned the jade ring on his thumb with his fingers.
Chu Lingxiao, who was kneeling on the ground, secretly rejoiced: He knew that he had made a great contribution this time.
Chu Lingxiao had already thought clearly about escaping from the northwest to the capital. When the emperor knew about this, he would definitely send troops to conquer the northwest and the north. If he could take over this task, they could Yongdinghou Mansion. Rise up.
Moreover, the Yongding Hou Mansion can completely distance itself from Gu Jue. Even if the emperor liquidates the vassals of Prince Chen Mansion in the future, the Chu family will not be implicated and will even serve the country.
Just thinking about it made Chu Lingxiao's blood boil, as if he had seen the day when he would return in triumph and shine on the lintel.
"Your Majesty, Qin Yao and Gu Jue dare to be disobedient. I am willing to share your worries and go to attack you." Chu Lingxiao took the initiative to ask for orders. His back was straight and his eyes were bright. He looked impassioned and righteous. stern.
Chu Lingxiao thought the emperor would agree immediately, but unexpectedly, there was a period of silence.
The emperor stared at him expressionlessly and said nothing for a while.
The silence lasted for so long that Chu Lingxiao began to feel slightly uncomfortable.
Suddenly, the emperor asked: "Do I remember that your second daughter is Gu Jue's princess?"
Chu Lingxiao's heart skipped a beat, and he complained secretly. He wanted to say that this marriage was given by the emperor, but he bit the tip of his tongue and did not dare to say it after all.
Thunder, rain, and dew are all gifts from the king. If the emperor thinks that he has long been dissatisfied with this marriage, and thinks that he has a grudge, it will be self-defeating.
Chu Lingxiao considered his words carefully and said: "Your Majesty knows it clearly. I am sincere to the Emperor and to Da Qi. I will never be affected in any way by my daughter's husband."
"If the emperor does not believe it, I am willing to swear..."
"Excuse me." The emperor waved his hand to interrupt Chu Lingxiao. He was not a woman, and he still wanted to listen to the oaths made by men pointing to the sky and the earth.
Chu Lingxiao simply closed his mouth, lowered his head humbly, rested his forehead on the ground, and quietly waited for the emperor's verdict.
After a while, the emperor's voice came from above: "Chu Lingxiao, please go back first."
"Here, Prince Xuan comes to see you."
Chu Lingxiao raised his head again, thanked the emperor for his kindness, and then withdrew with a low eyebrow, feeling confused.
Chu Lingxiao left the palace under the guidance of a young chamberlain, his expression uncertain.
His servant was holding the horse and waiting for him. After he got on the horse, he couldn't help but look back at the palace, his face was so ugly that he almost dripped with ink.
It must be Chu Qianchen!
That's right, Chu Qianchen must have caused him trouble.
The emperor must have been afraid that he and Gu Jue would be involved because they were the son-in-law, so he refused to entrust him with important tasks.
Chu Lingxiao held the reins tightly, feeling unwilling, angry, and tired.
wrong!
He carefully recalled what the emperor had just said, and felt that there seemed to be something in the emperor's words.
This was a marriage granted by the emperor. How could he not know that his second daughter was married to King Chen, yet still ask questions knowingly.
Could it be that...the emperor was hinting that he should go to Prince Chen's Mansion to inquire about the news?
Bang bang!
Chu Lingxiao couldn't help but his heart beat faster. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was possible.
He pulled the reins again and turned the horse's direction, saying to himself that the Chu family had raised Chu Qianchen so well, and now it was time for her to repay the family.
Chu Lingxiao couldn't wait any longer and simply rode his horse directly to Prince Chen's Mansion.
So, Chu Qianchen, who was still struggling with needlework, learned the news about Chu Lingxiao's visit from Hu Hue.
Finally, Amber added: "I heard from the concierge that the Marquis seemed to have rolled in ashes."
Amber felt a little complicated. Whenever she thought of what Chu Lingxiao had done, she couldn't help but feel unfair for Chu Qianchen.
Chu Qianchen slowly finished sewing a piece of edge, and then raised his head. He slowly realized what Amber meant by his words, and his reaction was several times slower.
Amber thought Chu Qianchen wouldn't want to see Chu Lingxiao, didn't want to—
"Let him in."
As Chu Qianchen said this, he put the needle and thread in his hand into the sewing basket and carried the sewing basket to Xuanweitang.
Chu Lingxiao came very quickly, and Chu Qianchen had just sat down on the Grand Master's chair at the top when he saw him rushing into the main hall with great momentum.
For a moment, Amber almost thought that a robber had come to the door. On the other hand, she secretly sighed that the concierge's description was very appropriate. It was like the Marquis had rolled in ashes once, no, several times.
She had never seen him like this before. If she met him on the road, she might not be able to recognize him.
As soon as Chu Lingxiao came in, he preemptively asked Chu Qianchen, "Where has Gu Jue gone?"
His demeanor and tone were aggressive. He looked up and down at Chu Qianchen, and also saw the sewing basket she kept at hand.
After returning from Sanchao, Chu Lingxiao took the order and went to the northwest. This was the first time he saw Chu Qianchen after that day. He felt that this girl didn't have much talent and knowledge, so she could only be a female prostitute to win over men. Happy.
Chu Lingxiao smiled contemptuously in his heart, and his expression became a little more calm. Gu Jue was not in Beijing, so it was not easy for him to control Chu Qianchen.
Chu Qianchen replied obediently: "The emperor has ordered the prince to **** Wuhejialou back to Nanhao."
Chu Lingxiao opened his eyes slightly, and then he suddenly realized.
No wonder he had just proposed in the Yangxin Hall that the emperor could pay a private visit to Prince Chen's Mansion. The emperor and Eunuch Ni had the same expression.
No wonder Gu Jue also secretly went to the northwest without the emperor's knowledge!
Chu Lingxiao suddenly calmed down a lot because of this incident, and said arrogantly: "I have something to tell you, please let them all go out."
Chu Qianchen ordered Hu Bo and Jiang Yuan to go out.
Amber glanced at Chu Qianchen hesitantly, thinking that her princess would definitely not suffer the consequences, so she retreated as she was told.
Only the father and daughter were left in the main hall, and it was quiet except for the occasional faint chirping of birds outside the house.
Chu Lingxiao collected his thoughts and said, "The Chu family has raised you for so many years. Now that you are married, you must always remember that your surname is Chu."
"A married woman depends on her mother's family. Only if her mother's family is good can you be good."
He gave a long talk and lectured, with a dignified demeanor, thinking that his father's majesty was trying to overwhelm Chu Qianchen.
Chu Qianchen knew that Chu Lingxiao had not returned to the Hou Mansion after returning to Beijing today, so he did not know that her and Chu Qianhuang's life experience had been exposed.
However, based on her understanding of Chu Lingxiao, even if he knew that the truth had been exposed, he would still be shameless and say these words for the sake of profit.
In his opinion, since he is the father, he can do whatever he wants to his children.
Chu Qianchen stared at him unblinkingly with a pair of dark phoenix eyes, which made Chu Lingxiao frown in displeasure. He couldn't help but think of another pair of similar phoenix eyes, and felt displeased with her. Thicker.
"Father is right." Chu Qianchen said gently.
Her five words suppressed Chu Lingxiao's anger that was about to explode.
Chu Lingxiao calmed down and asked, "Did Gu Jue say anything to you before he left the capital?"
"No." Chu Qianchen shook his head, his long eyelashes trembled twice, and he looked wanderingly at the birds flying outside the window.
Chu Lingxiao kept staring at Chu Qianchen, feeling that she seemed to be hesitant to speak. She felt a little anxious and asked, "What on earth did he say to you?"
"..." Chu Qianchen shook his head again.
The fire in Chu Lingxiao's heart began to rise again. He remembered what happened on the day Sanchao returned home, and the emperor's ambiguous attitude in Yangxin Hall just now...
He wanted to get angry, but thinking about Gu Jue who was not in the capital at the moment, he endured it again and managed to soften his tone: "Sister Chen, is there anything you can't say to your father?"
"Meow?"
He was answered by the kitten's confused cry.
The little black cat appeared elusively on the window sill, tilting its head and looking at the stranger in the room, its pupils shrunk to a thin line, and its green cat eyes were bright green.
Chu Qianchen didn't look at Chu Lingxiao, only looking at Mao'er, shaking his head again, "Father, please come back." Chu Lingxiao felt as if something exploded in his head, and angrily grabbed the fruit from the fruit plate at hand. He wanted to throw an orange at Chu Qianchen, but his sense came back at the last moment and he did not throw the orange away after all.
He exerted a little force on his hand, and the sticky orange juice flowed down between his fingers...
He sat back again, put down the orange, and touched a piece of handkerchief to wipe his fingers.
He patiently comforted Chu Qianchen and said, "Sister Chen, I know it was my fault for sending you to Zhuangzi before. I did it for the Chu family, right? There is no overnight feud between father and daughter."
"Although you are a princess, you are just a concubine. Once any concubines come in in the future, all of them will have a higher status than you. How will you handle yourself?"
"Only when the Chu family is well, you will be well."
He talked incessantly, but when Chu Qianchen didn't say anything, he took the initiative to promise: "In the future, I will come forward and record you in the name of your legitimate mother, then you can also become a legitimate legitimate daughter. ”
Chu Qianchen, however, gave an unexpected answer: "Father, have you gone to the Duke's Mansion to see your mother?"
Chu Lingxiao was startled. He didn't expect that it had been almost two months, but Shen still stayed in Mu Guogong's mansion and did not return to the Marquis' mansion.
He frowned, feeling that Mr. Shen was really willful, but at the same time he was relieved.
He felt that Chu Qianchen asked this question because he was afraid that he could not persuade Shen to return to the Hou Mansion. He felt complacent and felt that he had already seen through Chu Qianchen.
In the past few months, Chu Qianchen has been neglecting Aunt Jiang and deliberately trying to please Shen and Chu Yunmu. To put it bluntly, she just wants the title of legitimate daughter.
As soon as she became powerful, she jumped up and down in her parents' family, making the Chu family uneasy. Not only did she have a shallow vision, but her character was also very angry for a small family.
Did she think that King Chen went to the wedding in person because he valued her?
Did she think that King Chen went to the Chu family and made a fuss because he valued her?
Huh, King Chen just wanted to slap the emperor in the face.
Now, she should understand that even if she marries into Prince Chen's palace, it doesn't mean that she will really fly up a branch and become a phoenix.
As a princess, she had nothing but a name. No one would take her as a concubine of a prince's family seriously.
In the past month or so, this girl has had a hard time in the palace. This is called reality teaching you how to behave!
Chu Lingxiao flipped his sleeves carelessly and raised the corners of his mouth sarcastically.
"Don't worry, leave this matter to me." Chu Lingxiao comforted Chu Qianchen.
Chu Lingxiao felt that he had almost grasped Chu Qianchen, and turned to the main topic: "I went to the northwest to thoroughly investigate the cause of King Nanyang's death, and found out something related to Prince Chen's Mansion..."
Chu Qianchen slowly peeled the orange peel, and his delicate white fingers paused for a moment.
Chu Lingxiao also paused before continuing: "This matter is very serious."
"If you do anything wrong, Gu Jue will be seized by the emperor and his family will be confiscated. If you marry Gu Jue, you will inevitably be implicated. You will have to share the same difficulties with Gu Jue. Only the Chu family can protect you."
"Now is your only chance to atone for your sins."
"If you think about it carefully, your arms can't hold your thighs!"
Chu Lingxiao spoke again, patted Chu Qianchen's shoulder, and put pressure on her again, as if "I'm doing this for your own good."
Chu Qianchen lowered her eyes and didn't speak for a while. It wasn't until the little black cat on the window sill meowed again that she hesitantly raised her head and muttered: "A few days ago, I cleaned up the study for the prince. I saw a letter at that time, and I didn’t mean to read it. The letter happened to fall on the ground. When I picked it up, I glanced at it and took it back. "
Chu Lingxiao felt as if something was scratching his heart, and he couldn't wait to know what was written in this letter.
To be honest, Chu Lingxiao was somewhat surprised that Chu Qianchen could enter and leave Gu Jue's study at will. In other words, as he had guessed, no one in the palace took her seriously, and no one thought What tricks can Chu Qianchen come up with?
Chu Lingxiao calmed down, his eyes were shining, and he asked eagerly: "What did you see?"
Chu Qianchen: "..."
Chu Lingxiao subconsciously grasped the clothes on Chu Qianchen's shoulders tighter, and then asked: "Sister Chen, think about it carefully, what is written in the letter?"
Chu Qianchen hesitated and said: "I...I didn't dare to look at it more. I just glanced at it and seemed to see that 'Bingzhou' was mentioned in the letter."
Bingzhou? ! Chu Lingxiao's eyes lit up, and he thought of the conversation he overheard in the northwest camp: "...In my opinion, we don't necessarily have to take Feng Miguo, how about we just start with Bingzhou Guards?"
This letter must be the key!
Chu Lingxiao was so excited that his blood almost boiled and he asked: "Where is that letter now? Can you get the letter?"
Chu Qianchen pursed his lips and fell silent again.
Her fingers slowly peeled off the orange veins on the orange petals, one strand at a time.
Seeing her hesitation, Chu Lingxiao could only coax her and said, "You did a good job."
"If you can get that letter, you will definitely be able to get rid of the crime. It is best to calm down this matter as soon as possible before it becomes a big deal. The emperor will definitely deal with it leniently. At that time, my father will also help the prince to plead with the emperor. of."
"Really?" Chu Qianchen raised his head and asked.
She seemed to be asking, could this "really" make up for the merit; would he "really" intercede for Gu Jue?
Chu Lingxiao didn't care what Chu Qianchen meant at all, and nodded: "Of course it's true."
Chu Qianchen peeled off a little more of the orange peel, then put the peeled orange aside, "I'll go to the prince's study to have a look."
"Go quickly. I'll wait for you here." Chu Lingxiao said hurriedly.
When Chu Qianchen left, the little black cat on the window sill jumped down briskly and followed Chu Qianchen's **** like a shadow.
Chu Lingxiao was the only one left in the main hall.
He couldn't sit still at all and walked back and forth in the room, anxious, expectant, and slightly uneasy...
He didn't know how many times he walked back and forth, and he wanted to call the maid in several times to ask if Chu Qianchen was back, but he suppressed it.
After a long time, the soft meow of a cat finally sounded outside.
Chu Lingxiao, who had his back to the door, turned his head excitedly and saw Chu Qianchen walking around the screen wall and appearing in the courtyard outside, walking towards this side unhurriedly.
There is still one person and one cat, but there is an extra letter in her hand.
Chu Lingxiao's eyes suddenly brightened up astonishingly, staring at the envelope in Chu Qianchen's hand, like a hungry beast seeing its prey.
"Is this..." He stepped forward in three steps at a time, snatched the letter from Chu Qianchen's hand, and then quickly took out the letter paper from the envelope, reading the letter as if he had swallowed it whole.
Chu Lingxiao's eyes became brighter and brighter, and his fingers trembled slightly with excitement.
With this letter, Gu Jue and Qin Yao's charges were confirmed, and the witnesses and physical evidence were conclusive!
Chu Lingxiao put away the letter and said impatiently: "I'm leaving first."
Chu Qianchen did not leave him alone, but said, "Father, grandma misses you very much."
"I'll go back later." After Chu Lingxiao said this, he strode out.
A little maid hurriedly saw off the guests.
Chu Qianchen sat down again.
Amber glanced in the direction of the door curtain uneasily and asked: "Princess, will the Marquis return to the Marquis' Mansion first?"
Amber is worried.
If the Marquis returns to the Hou Mansion now, he will naturally know that the background of the Princess has been revealed. Then the promise that the Marquis just vowed to record the Princess in the name of the First Lady will become a big deal. What a joke.
The Marquis made promises at one time and belittled the Princess at the other. He said so much both softly and hardly, but the Princess did not refute the Marquis at all. The Marquis was not a fool. If you think about it, you would know that the Princess deliberately set a trap for him.
"No." Chu Qianchen ate the orange slowly and calmly.
The little black cat jumped briskly onto Chu Qianchen's lap, and barked twice, "oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Sai Saihhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Amber looked at the cat speechlessly, thinking that it would just pretend to be good in front of its master. It just dropped another vase today!
Chu Qianchen stretched out his fingers and pushed it away, "No, you can't eat it."
The corner of her mouth curved into a smile that was not a smile. Based on her understanding of Chu Lingxiao, he was probably impatient to perform meritorious service now, and how could he have time to return to the Marquis Mansion?
Indeed, after Chu Lingxiao left the Prince Chen's Mansion, he did not return to the Yongding Marquis Mansion. Instead, he hurried back the same way and anxiously entered the palace again to the Yangxin Hall to ask for an audience with the emperor.
Although the young chamberlain was impatient, he still went in to report and sent Chu Lingxiao to guard under the eaves.
The atmosphere in the Yangxin Hall was dull.
The young chamberlain took a deep breath, straightened his clothes again, and then walked into the side hall facing his scalp.
The air inside seemed solid.
The emperor, Crown Prince Gu Nanjin and the commander of the Imperial Guard Lu Siji were all there.
The emperor sat behind the imperial desk, his chest heaving violently, his face as heavy as water.
The little chamberlain was outside and heard what was going on inside, and knew that the emperor had just lost his temper at the prince.
Gu Nanjin's face was also not pretty. There was a puddle of tea stains on his chest, broken porcelain shards on the sides of his shoes, and tea mixed with tea leaves flowing on the gold brick floor.
Today he was in the East Palace handling government affairs with several cabinet elders. Half an hour ago, the emperor suddenly sent someone to call him over in a hurry. As soon as he arrived, the emperor scolded him for not letting Gu Jue leave the capital, and threw a teacup at him.
The emperor didn't give Gu Nanjin a chance to speak at all, and started getting angry.
Gu Nanjin listened for a long time before he understood what had happened. Chu Lingxiao had returned from the northwest and said that Gu Jue and Qin Yao were planning to rebel.
In fact, Gu Nanjin did not believe that Gu Jue and Qin Yao had any intention of treason. The first priority was to find out what happened instead of convicting them based on Chu Lingxiao's few words.
Besides, if Gu Jue really wanted to rebel, it would not help if the emperor was furious here now.
Gu Nanjin had a lot to say, but he had no chance to speak at all. Several times when he opened his mouth, he only mentioned "Nine Emperors Uncle" and "Prince Qin". The emperor seemed to explode and scolded him again.
Gu Nanjin wanted to say something else. At this moment, the young chamberlain came in and said, "Your Majesty, Marquis Yongding wants to see you."
The emperor frowned, not expecting Chu Lingxiao to come back again.
Did Chu Lingxiao think of another clue?
With this idea in mind, the emperor quickly said: "Xuan."
So, the little chamberlain brought Chu Lingxiao in, and then left again.
Chu Lingxiao was a little surprised that Lu Siji was also there, but thinking that he was the emperor's confidant, he decisively took out the letter Chu Qianchen gave him and handed it over, "Your Majesty, please read this secret letter."
Eunuch Ni took the letter and presented it to the emperor with his own hands.
The emperor's pupils shrank slightly, and he looked at the letter intently, his face becoming increasingly gloomy.
(End of chapter)