Chapter 397: Trap (Fourth Update)

The guard did not dare to look up at Rong Jiu, only continuing to speak rapidly

"The Third Prince entered the palace and seemed to have a slight dispute with Her Majesty the Empress, but we did not dare to intrude and remained waiting outside. Shortly after the Third Prince left, Her Majesty the Empress..."

Emperor Jiawen looked toward Rong Jiu with an icy gaze.

Rong Jiu had gone to see the Empress today and had found the Ink Pearl; it would be quite normal to say there was a conflict with her.

But... how could the Empress suddenly seek death like this?

Could it—really—be related to Rong Jiu?

Rong Jiu’s heart sank.

Emperor Jiawen had indeed begun to suspect him!

The words of that guard just now were far too suggestive!

He was clearly doing it on purpose!

Rong Jiu said in a heavy voice

"Imperial Father, your son can swear that this matter has nothing to do with me! Besides me, there was another person who went to the Empress's palace today!"

Emperor Jiawen immediately asked, "Who!?"

Rong Jiu took a deep breath

"Situ Xingchen!"

A flash of surprise crossed Emperor Jiawen's eyes.

Situ Xingchen?

What was she doing there?

Emperor Jiawen immediately looked at the guard: "Did Situ Xingchen go to the Empress's palace today?"

The guard shook his head

"She did not."

His expression was sincere, looking as though he wasn't lying in the slightest.

The sense of unease in Rong Jiu's heart grew stronger.

He raised his voice, his tone becoming much more severe as he barked at the guard, "Do you know that deceiving the Emperor is a capital offense!"

The guard seemed startled, shrinking back slightly

"This lowly official would not dare deceive Your Majesty! Everything I said just now is the absolute truth!"

Rong Jiu felt a suffocating tightness in his chest.

When he entered the Empress's palace, he had not asked if anyone else had visited.

And while he was in the palace at the time, he had not been able to discover Situ Xingchen in time.

Now that the Empress was dead, it was obvious that Situ Xingchen must have already left!

If this guard—no, if that entire group of guards—all maintained a unified story, then he would be unable to produce any evidence to prove that Situ Xingchen had ever been there!

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him

"Imperial Father, you can send people to investigate the palace entry and exit records! Situ Xingchen must have come to the palace today!"

Emperor Jiawen looked toward Eunuch Min

"Send people to investigate immediately!"

"Yes!"

After speaking, Emperor Jiawen took a deep breath

"Immediately place the Empress's sleeping quarters under martial law. No one is allowed near except for me! Furthermore, suppress the news! If this matter leaks out..."

He did not finish his sentence, but the threat in his eyes was crystal clear.

Having spoken, Emperor Jiawen turned around, intending to continue toward the Imperial Mausoleum.

After only two steps, his figure swayed, and he nearly fell.

Eunuch Min was quick to support him, unable to help but say

"Your Majesty, perhaps it would be better to rest in the palace for a moment! Your current health—"

Emperor Jiawen shook his head, gritting his teeth as he walked forward.

What kind of place was the Imperial Mausoleum?

It was the resting place of all the ancestors of the Yao Chen Kingdom!

If some irreversible trouble truly occurred there, he feared he would become a sinner for all eternity!

For so many years, there had never been any abnormality at the Imperial Mausoleum, so the appearance of those warning fireworks just now had left him exceptionally terrified.

The death of the Empress was also a major matter, especially with so many mysteries left unsolved.

But that could not be compared to the Imperial Mausoleum.

Rong Jiu took two steps forward and said

"Imperial Father, why don't your son accompany you?"

Emperor Jiawen refused without even looking back.

"No need! Go back and stay put for now. Set aside your current affairs; once I return, there will be an arrangement!"

"Imperial Father—"

Rong Jiu wanted to argue his case further, but Emperor Jiawen clearly had no intention of listening.

Eunuch Min gave Rong Jiu a meaningful look, signaling him not to anger His Majesty further at this time.

Helpless, Rong Jiu could only stop in his tracks and watch helplessly as Emperor Jiawen's figure disappeared before his eyes.

Faintly, he could still hear the conversation between Emperor Jiawen and Eunuch Min.

"Have you notified Elder Ye?"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. Elder Ye has received the news and should be heading to the Imperial Mausoleum by now. With Elder Ye there, you need not worry too much..."

The voices gradually faded until they could no longer be heard.

The hand inside Rong Jiu's sleeve slowly clenched into a fist as he turned to look at the guard.

A murderous intent, thick with the scent of blood, enveloped the guard!

"Third Prince... Third Prince, please calm your anger!"

The guard clearly realized the danger and immediately knelt, kowtowing to beg for mercy.

"Calm my anger?"

A mocking curve curled the corner of Rong Jiu's mouth.

"You have framed this Prince to such an extent, and you still dare to tell me to calm my anger? Speak! Who told you to say this!"

The guard refused to admit it: "Third Prince, this lowly official did not lie, nor did I frame you! You have truly misunderstood!"

"Misunderstood? Then Situ Xingchen going to the Empress's palace today was also a misunderstanding?"

Seeing that the aura surrounding Rong Jiu was becoming increasingly terrifying, the guard guiltily averted his gaze, before speaking in an extremely low voice

"Third Prince, this lowly official has already said it several times. Today, besides you, no one else entered Her Majesty the Empress's palace. Why won't you believe it? His Majesty has already ordered a thorough investigation. If you refuse to believe it, you can go and ask personally to see if anyone inside or outside the palace saw Princess Changqing enter the palace today. Won't everything be clear then?"

Hearing these words, Rong Jiu suddenly realized!

No!

Since she dared to deny it so publicly and even proactively suggested an investigation, she must have made ample preparations!

Or perhaps, the other party had dug a pit and was simply waiting for him to jump in!

A deep sense of loathing and hatred rose in Rong Jiu's heart.

To think that Situ Xingchen's schemes and methods were so terrifying!

Perhaps even the Empress's death was related to her!

Rong Jiu had originally wanted to go to the Empress's palace to see the situation for himself, but since Emperor Jiawen had ordered him to return, he naturally could do nothing.

He leaned down, grabbed the guard by the collar, and said word by word

"I will remember today's debt!"

***

Prince Li's Manor.

After shaking off Jian Fengchi, Rong Xiu intended to rush to the Imperial Mausoleum immediately!

Yu Mo followed closely behind. Seeing that he intended to leave just like this, he finally could not help but ask

"Master, are you... going just like this?"

Rong Xiu paused.

If something happened at the Imperial Mausoleum, many people would certainly head there.

Especially Emperor Jiawen.

If they saw the Prince of Li, who should have been resting peacefully in his manor, appearing at the Imperial Mausoleum, he wondered what their reaction would be.

Rong Xiu closed his eyes.

He was too anxious, to the point that he had forgotten such a simple matter.

The thought that Yue'er was at the Imperial Mausoleum made his heart feel as if it were suspended in mid-air, filled with anxiety and torment, making him want to run there instantly.

He looked back at Yu Mo

"Go and notify Yan Ge; he will know what to do."

"Yes! But... Master, on your end—"

"This Prince knows what he is doing."

"...Understood!"

(End of Chapter)