Child of the Empress (Part Four)
Gu HuaiJiang leaned over to help Princess DanYang up. The thick scent of the girl’s perfume caused him to furrow his brow, as there was a certain odor mixed in with it. In an instant, he stopped thinking about it.
He looked around the hall, “What Princess DanYang said is not false. His Majesty did indeed convey this message to this marquis. It happened last winter. His Majesty said this in the imperial garden. At that time, Eunuch Gao was also present.”
Eunuch Gao was the palace servant whom Emperor Ning trusted the most. Everyone turned their heads and saw him walk into the hall and bow in salute, “Responding to my lords, what Princess DanYang and Lord Marquis Gu said is true. This servant personally heard it.”
The situation had truly become messy. The person whom His Majesty was likely to appoint as crown prince had assassinated His Majesty. They could not have the one who had assassinated His Majesty become the new ruler, right?
Absurd, this was truly absurd!
The eldest prince could not hold it in and wanted to step forward, but Yin Shuo gave him a look and stepped forward himself, “Could this prime minister say something?”
Princess DanYang saw him step close and subconsciously took a step back. Fortunately, Gu ShuBai was behind her and gave her a hand to keep her from falling over.
With this step back, Gu ShuBai remembered something.
He had sent elite troops to the prime minister’s manor to get Princess DanYang, thinking that she, as the second prince’s younger sister, would be the one most anxious to clear the second prince’s name.
Who knew that she would look as she did now, thin and sickly. It seemed that her life in the prime minister’s manor was quite bad.
What shocked him the most was that Princess DanYang seemed to be afraid of Yin Shuo in the same way that mice were scared of cats.
He still recalled the scene of Princess DanYang humiliating Yin Shuo at ChunHe Garden. At that time, she had been so domineering and proud. She was the princess born of Eastern Ling’s empress, so why would she be afraid of Yin Shuo?
Gu HuaiJiang said: “Prime Minister, please speak.”
Yin Shuo bowed, “Princess DanYang is this prime minister’s wife, and this prime minister trusts her words and, naturally, trusts Lord Marquis Gu’s words. It’s just that, as Lord Marquis Gu said, His Majesty said that to you last winter. Did His Majesty bring it up after that?”
Gu HuaiJiang paused for a moment, “His Majesty never brought it up again. At that time, he fell severely ill. After waking up, he distanced himself from His Highness the eldest prince and His Highness the second prince. My lords should remember this.”
The officials nodded pensively. This was indeed the case.
After that, Emperor Ning alienated the two princes, conferred the title of Princess ZhenJiang, and generously rewarded Gu HuaiJiang. They remembered just how much favor he showed Marquis Gu’s Manor.
Yin Shuo smiled, “Indeed. Naturally, His Majesty did not bring up the matter of appointing a crown prince, nor did he leave any will or instructions. That means that he no longer wanted to appoint the second prince as crown prince. Since the cabinet and Lord Marquis Gu do not have any instructions from His Majesty, we can only select a worthy candidate from His Majesty’s princes. The eldest prince is the eldest son. When there is no child born of the empress, the eldest has the greatest claim; moreover, the eldest prince is also the prince with the most worthy among the princes. I believe that it would be best to quickly have the eldest prince ascend the throne. As the new ruler, he will then lead the funeral for the previous ruler.”
Gu ShuBai said: “And if there is a child of the empress?”
Naturally, Emperor Ning had a child by his empress. The second prince was said child born of the empress. The late empress passed away, Emperor Ning did not elevate anyone from the imperial harem to the position of empress. It was clear how highly he viewed her position.
If not for the assassination, the second prince would have been more likely to have become the new ruler.
Unfortunately…
Yin Shuo looked up at him, “His Majesty’s son by the empress assassinated his father and ruler. It’s the same as not having a son born of the empress, no?”
Princess DanYang suddenly screamed at him, “Nonsense, second imperial brother did not assassinate his father and ruler. This was clearly a scheme cooked up by you and the eldest prince!”
“Smack!”
Yin Shuo slapped her across the face. Everyone was shocked, as they all looked at him in disbelief.
He actually dared to hit a daughter of the imperial family?
Princess DanYang covered her face, as blood seeped from the corners of her mouth. Yin Shuo watched this with a cold expression, “Forgive this official for my rudeness toward princess. Since princess married into the prime minister’s manor, Yin Shuo has the responsibility of instructing princess. At present, the court is in a chaotic state, and the officials are busy discussing matters. It is not the time for princess to come and mess around. Guards, quickly escort princess back to the prime minister’s manor!”
Yin Shuo’s attendants had been waiting outside the hall for quite some time. Hearing the order, they immediately entered to drag Princess out, while Princess DanYang struggled and screamed, “Yin Shuo! If you want revenge, come at this princess. How could you be so treasonous and aid an evildoer!”
Her shouting quickly stopped as if her mouth had been covered up.
The officials looked at each other. His Majesty had just passed away, yet Yin Shuo already dared to treat Princess DanYang like this. It could be seen just how fearless he was.
She repeatedly said that it was the eldest prince who colluded with Yin Shuo to kill His Majesty and frame the second prince. Could it be that Yin Shuo was so afraid that she would continue speaking that he had her dragged out?
Gu ShuBai looked toward the entrance to the hall. Before Princess DanYang was dragged out, she had looked at him.
The look in her eyes no longer had any of the admiration of the past. Now, her eyes were filled with fear and helplessness. It looked like she was crying, but even more than that, it looked like she was asking for help.
It was as if she was asking that he absolutely provide the second prince with justice.
He turned back to face Yin Shuo, “If the second prince is proven to have been framed in the assassination of his father and ruler, His Majesty would still have a child born of the empress. At that time, it would be best to choose the person who is worthy. Based on what I know, the second prince has not pleaded guilty. As such, before the truth behind who assassinated His Majesty is uncovered, a new ruler cannot be chosen.”
Gu HuaiJiang smiled and looked around at everyone, “What ShuBai said is also what this marquis feels. Ministers of the cabinet, Lord Ji, and lord prime minister, what do you think?”
Senior cabinet minister Chen was the first to speak: “I agree! The most pressing matter at hand is investigating the truth behind His Majesty’s assassination. The enthronement of a new ruler can be postponed!”
The other cabinet ministers blindly followed senior cabinet minister Chen, agreeing to investigate Emperor Ning’s assassination first. Ji DaoGong laughed, “This old one, as a subject, naturally will go with the cabinet’s arrangements.”
Once again, he had indirectly expressed his support of the cabinet. It was as if there was a mountain pressing down on Yin Shuo’s shoulders, as he was completely unable to raise his head.
His smile was extremely forced, “Naturally, I also wish to go along with the cabinet’s arrangements.”
Child of the Empress (Part Four)
Gu HuaiJiang leaned over to help Princess DanYang up. The thick scent of the girl’s perfume caused him to furrow his brow, as there was a certain odor mixed in with it. In an instant, he stopped thinking about it.
He looked around the hall, “What Princess DanYang said is not false. His Majesty did indeed convey this message to this marquis. It happened last winter. His Majesty said this in the imperial garden. At that time, Eunuch Gao was also present.”
Eunuch Gao was the palace servant whom Emperor Ning trusted the most. Everyone turned their heads and saw him walk into the hall and bow in salute, “Responding to my lords, what Princess DanYang and Lord Marquis Gu said is true. This servant personally heard it.”
The situation had truly become messy. The person whom His Majesty was likely to appoint as crown prince had assassinated His Majesty. They could not have the one who had assassinated His Majesty become the new ruler, right?
Absurd, this was truly absurd!
The eldest prince could not hold it in and wanted to step forward, but Yin Shuo gave him a look and stepped forward himself, “Could this prime minister say something?”
Princess DanYang saw him step close and subconsciously took a step back. Fortunately, Gu ShuBai was behind her and gave her a hand to keep her from falling over.
With this step back, Gu ShuBai remembered something.
He had sent elite troops to the prime minister’s manor to get Princess DanYang, thinking that she, as the second prince’s younger sister, would be the one most anxious to clear the second prince’s name.
Who knew that she would look as she did now, thin and sickly. It seemed that her life in the prime minister’s manor was quite bad.
What shocked him the most was that Princess DanYang seemed to be afraid of Yin Shuo in the same way that mice were scared of cats.
He still recalled the scene of Princess DanYang humiliating Yin Shuo at ChunHe Garden. At that time, she had been so domineering and proud. She was the princess born of Eastern Ling’s empress, so why would she be afraid of Yin Shuo?
Gu HuaiJiang said: “Prime Minister, please speak.”
Yin Shuo bowed, “Princess DanYang is this prime minister’s wife, and this prime minister trusts her words and, naturally, trusts Lord Marquis Gu’s words. It’s just that, as Lord Marquis Gu said, His Majesty said that to you last winter. Did His Majesty bring it up after that?”
Gu HuaiJiang paused for a moment, “His Majesty never brought it up again. At that time, he fell severely ill. After waking up, he distanced himself from His Highness the eldest prince and His Highness the second prince. My lords should remember this.”
The officials nodded pensively. This was indeed the case.
After that, Emperor Ning alienated the two princes, conferred the title of Princess ZhenJiang, and generously rewarded Gu HuaiJiang. They remembered just how much favor he showed Marquis Gu’s Manor.
Yin Shuo smiled, “Indeed. Naturally, His Majesty did not bring up the matter of appointing a crown prince, nor did he leave any will or instructions. That means that he no longer wanted to appoint the second prince as crown prince. Since the cabinet and Lord Marquis Gu do not have any instructions from His Majesty, we can only select a worthy candidate from His Majesty’s princes. The eldest prince is the eldest son. When there is no child born of the empress, the eldest has the greatest claim; moreover, the eldest prince is also the prince with the most worthy among the princes. I believe that it would be best to quickly have the eldest prince ascend the throne. As the new ruler, he will then lead the funeral for the previous ruler.”
Gu ShuBai said: “And if there is a child of the empress?”
Naturally, Emperor Ning had a child by his empress. The second prince was said child born of the empress. The late empress passed away, Emperor Ning did not elevate anyone from the imperial harem to the position of empress. It was clear how highly he viewed her position.
If not for the assassination, the second prince would have been more likely to have become the new ruler.
Unfortunately…
Yin Shuo looked up at him, “His Majesty’s son by the empress assassinated his father and ruler. It’s the same as not having a son born of the empress, no?”
Princess DanYang suddenly screamed at him, “Nonsense, second imperial brother did not assassinate his father and ruler. This was clearly a scheme cooked up by you and the eldest prince!”
“Smack!”
Yin Shuo slapped her across the face. Everyone was shocked, as they all looked at him in disbelief.
He actually dared to hit a daughter of the imperial family?
Princess DanYang covered her face, as blood seeped from the corners of her mouth. Yin Shuo watched this with a cold expression, “Forgive this official for my rudeness toward princess. Since princess married into the prime minister’s manor, Yin Shuo has the responsibility of instructing princess. At present, the court is in a chaotic state, and the officials are busy discussing matters. It is not the time for princess to come and mess around. Guards, quickly escort princess back to the prime minister’s manor!”
Yin Shuo’s attendants had been waiting outside the hall for quite some time. Hearing the order, they immediately entered to drag Princess out, while Princess DanYang struggled and screamed, “Yin Shuo! If you want revenge, come at this princess. How could you be so treasonous and aid an evildoer!”
Her shouting quickly stopped as if her mouth had been covered up.
The officials looked at each other. His Majesty had just passed away, yet Yin Shuo already dared to treat Princess DanYang like this. It could be seen just how fearless he was.
She repeatedly said that it was the eldest prince who colluded with Yin Shuo to kill His Majesty and frame the second prince. Could it be that Yin Shuo was so afraid that she would continue speaking that he had her dragged out?
Gu ShuBai looked toward the entrance to the hall. Before Princess DanYang was dragged out, she had looked at him.
The look in her eyes no longer had any of the admiration of the past. Now, her eyes were filled with fear and helplessness. It looked like she was crying, but even more than that, it looked like she was asking for help.
It was as if she was asking that he absolutely provide the second prince with justice.
He turned back to face Yin Shuo, “If the second prince is proven to have been framed in the assassination of his father and ruler, His Majesty would still have a child born of the empress. At that time, it would be best to choose the person who is worthy. Based on what I know, the second prince has not pleaded guilty. As such, before the truth behind who assassinated His Majesty is uncovered, a new ruler cannot be chosen.”
Gu HuaiJiang smiled and looked around at everyone, “What ShuBai said is also what this marquis feels. Ministers of the cabinet, Lord Ji, and lord prime minister, what do you think?”
Senior cabinet minister Chen was the first to speak: “I agree! The most pressing matter at hand is investigating the truth behind His Majesty’s assassination. The enthronement of a new ruler can be postponed!”
The other cabinet ministers blindly followed senior cabinet minister Chen, agreeing to investigate Emperor Ning’s assassination first. Ji DaoGong laughed, “This old one, as a subject, naturally will go with the cabinet’s arrangements.”
Once again, he had indirectly expressed his support of the cabinet. It was as if there was a mountain pressing down on Yin Shuo’s shoulders, as he was completely unable to raise his head.
His smile was extremely forced, “Naturally, I also wish to go along with the cabinet’s arrangements.”
