diymy Chapter 1150 - 986: Guilty of 10,000 Deaths
Chapter 1150 - 986: Guilty of 10,000 Deaths
"Empress, please restrain your sorrow! The most important thing is to take care of your phoenix body now." Gu Chengyu was exchanging pleasantries with the Empress, but he was feeling a bit anxious inside.Previously, the palace was too chaotic; now he suddenly remembered that the Tianji Taoist was recommended by Xia Qing. This matter must be brought to the Crown Prince’s attention immediately, as Xia Qing harbors ill intentions, and the person needs to be apprehended at once.
With matters on his mind, he naturally felt a trace of impatience with the Empress’s probing. But since she was the Empress, how dare he show any displeasure?
"Gu Shaoqing, you are still young. If you wholeheartedly assist the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince will surely not treat you unfairly in the future."
The Empress noticed Gu Chengyu did not respond, and her face also showed a hint of impatience.
"Your words are too kind, Empress. As a minister, assisting the Emperor is indeed my duty!"
The Empress let out a cold snort, "Gu Shaoqing, let us not speak in riddles. I ask you, what exactly did the Emperor say to you at the end? Or did he give you something important?"
The Empress had been married to the Emperor for decades, and she understood the personality of the one beside her pillow very well. The Emperor was adept at leaving loose ends, often catching people off guard.
Previously, due to the Red Book Iron Certificate, the Emperor established Dundun as Crown Prince, which was actually forced by her. But Dundun was the legitimate son and should rightly be Crown Prince.
She didn’t want to know who the Emperor preferred as Crown Prince in his heart; as long as the final position of Crown Prince belonged to Dundun, that would be enough.
However, before the Emperor passed, he summoned Gu Chengyu alone; who knows if Gu Chengyu holds any evidence that might be unfavorable to her and Dundun?
She couldn’t allow herself and Dundun to be threatened by a mere minister, as this would keep her sleepless at night.
The Emperor was truly muddle-headed, valuing a fourth-rank official so much. Dundun was kind-hearted, but just didn’t win the Emperor’s favor.
The Empress felt more and more indignant, her heart full of resentment toward the Emperor.
The Empress’s sinister eyes stared at Gu Chengyu, her fierce gaze focused on him, and Gu Chengyu had already felt the pressure.
He had anticipated the Empress and the Crown Prince would inquire, as the Emperor had summoned him alone, surely to entrust something.
Finding an excuse to dodge the inquiry was not easy. Now the Central Palace and Crown Prince were dominating, could he really defy the Empress’s will?
"Empress! The Emperor summoned me alone to only express some matters of the court and order me to diligently assist the new Emperor."
Gu Chengyu’s words felt bitter in his mouth; the Emperor certainly left him with a big problem. That box was a hot potato, and he still doesn’t know what its contents are, yet he was now being troubled by the Empress and Crown Prince.
If it mentioned any major affairs, what should he do? The Emperor passed away before the new Emperor ascended the throne; being the vanguard is not something he is willing to do.
Who knows who will ultimately take the throne? The Vassal King wants to come to the Capital to mourn, and Prince Jing and Prince Gong might not be completely inactive?
Although people are watching the Third Prince who became a monk, from the current perspective, there’s no unusual activity, but who knows if he truly has a heart like still water?
If anything happens in the Capital, can the Crown Prince still remain unaffected?
No, the timing is not right, needs to wait a bit more.
"Hmph!" The Empress smacked the arm of the rose chair, her heart filled with great hatred.
"Gu Shaoqing, those who recognize the time are wise! The Emperor has passed on, why do you not surrender to the Crown Prince? What do you intend?"
The Empress’s face already showed some anger, as Gu Chengyu seemed oblivious to the blessing. The Crown Prince is about to ascend the throne as Emperor; doesn’t Gu Chengyu surrender, does he expect the Crown Prince to still use him greatly?
If today he doesn’t speak out the Emperor’s last words, then let Dundun find some fault and demote him to serve as a county magistrate in some remote, barren place.
This person thinks too highly of himself; doesn’t he think the court can’t function without Gu Chengyu?
No matter how capable he is, so what? After the new Emperor ascends the throne and holds the Enlightenment Examination for officials, can it still be difficult to find officials without talents?
Gu Chengyu could sense the malice the Empress was emitting towards him, it seemed the Empress was already very dissatisfied with him.
"Reporting to the Empress, the Emperor indeed entrusted something to the minister before he passed!" Gu Chengyu had a sudden idea and showed a difficult expression on his face.
"Oh? What exactly is it?" The Empress caught her breath, leaned forward a bit, and showed some urgency on her face.
She twisted the handkerchief in her hand; Gu Chengyu could sense her tension.
"The Emperor instructed the minister..."
Gu Chengyu paused, and when the Empress’s eyebrows arched, almost about to scold him, he finally said: "The Emperor feared the Crown Prince might bear a grudge against the Third Prince and wouldn’t wish to spare the Third Prince’s life, so he specially ordered the minister to protect the Third Prince’s life."
The Empress’s face darkened upon hearing this, and she grit her teeth, saying: "The Emperor doesn’t trust this palace and the Crown Prince? The worthless life of Liao Wu, what’s the use to this palace? He’s just a dog, keeping him doesn’t change anything, yet he deserves planning repeatedly for him?"
Seeing the Empress’s rage, Gu Chengyu let out a sigh of relief. Successfully igniting the Empress’s anger and making her lose her senses was beneficial to him.
Yet after the Emperor passed, the Empress became more arrogant than before. Is she expecting the Crown Prince to take the throne and thus becoming the Empress Dowager?
Indeed, regardless of who becomes the new Emperor, she will be the most revered person in the world. However, whether she lives long enough depends on who takes the throne.
After a while, the Empress calmed down, and then she cast a suspicious look at Gu Chengyu again.
"Only this matter did the Emperor entrust before his end?"
Gu Chengyu was startled; the Empress wasn’t so easily fooled.
"Actually, there’s another matter..."
The Crown Prince was discussing the National Mourning affairs with the Ministry of Rites and the Sacrificial Purification Bureau, when suddenly he heard a wailing from behind.
"Emperor, this old minister is late!"
He looked up to see Xia Qing and involuntarily frowned. This old scoundrel, as the Grand Secretary, since the Emperor had passed already an hour, he only showed up now.
Xia Qing walked past the officials, and once in front of the Crown Prince, he immediately knelt down.
The Crown Prince noticed his pale complexion, trembling all over, even appearing weak while kneeling, causing the Crown Prince to frown deeply.
Xia Qing looked up at the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince suddenly noticed a rope mark on Xia Qing’s neck, with a clear bruise.
"Your Highness, this old minister is guilty! Failing to live up to the trust of the Emperor and Your Highness, intending to commit suicide to atone, but was saved reluctantly by servants at home. Please allow this old minister to repent to the Emperor; afterward, whatever punishment, it is up to Your Highness to deliver."
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, initially wanting to ask Xia Qing what was happening. But he suddenly thought of Tianji Taoist, who was recommended to the father by this person.
Earlier, the palace was in chaos; he had forgotten this matter. Upon thinking this, the Crown Prince grew furious.
The officials below looked at each other; they already knew the cause of the Emperor’s death. The Emperor, having consumed the poison from Tianji Taoist for over a decade, indeed absurd.
"You indeed deserve to die ten thousand times, the Emperor died of consuming Tianji Taoist’s poison, which caused his death. Tianji Taoist was recommended by you! Speak, are you in cahoots with Tianji Taoist? Do you harbor treacherous intentions against Dayan’s Imperial Family, possibly sent by the Daxing Sect as a spy?"
The Crown Prince pointed at Xia Qing, his expression stirring, shouting angrily.