kvmb Chapter 302 Her Highness!
Chapter 302 Her Highness!
The Third Prince released Xue Wanyue and pinched the space between his eyebrows.
"Alright, it's normal that you don't know. Remember, don't get involved in anything related to the Ninth Princess in the future, and don't even mention it."
Xue Wanyue obediently replied, "I, I understand."
The Third Prince looked down at her, paused for a moment, and said, "Ninth Sister is Consort Rong's daughter. Consort Rong committed suicide by self-immolation in the palace and broke with the Emperor. Over the years, no one has mentioned Ninth Sister, because Consort Rong cannot be mentioned."
Xue Wanyue asked curiously, "Does His Majesty like Consort Rong?"
The Third Prince chuckled and gently pinched her cheek: "In the palace, what's the point of liking or disliking? Staying alive is the most important thing, don't you think?"
Xue Wanyue hurriedly replied, "Yes, Your Highness, I... I've remembered everything."
“Go back. Your father might be looking for you. Remember, don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask, and don’t say what you shouldn’t say. That way you can live longer. I’ve raised you for two years, and I don’t want you to die so soon.” The Third Prince looked into her eyes.
Xue Wanyue's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her voice trembled softly, like a swaying blade of grass, making her seem pitiful: "I, I will."
The Third Prince laughed and released her.
Xue Wanyue respectfully stood up, bowed her head, and withdrew.
The moon in the palace was only half-hidden at night. Xue Wanyue raised her hand to touch her face, but did not touch the veil on her face. She was slightly stunned, and then gently exhaled.
……
The next day, someone beat the drum at the palace gate to appeal for justice, accusing Xiao Chong, the governor of Jinzhou, of delaying military operations fifteen years ago, which led to the massacre of Chenzhou. He requested His Majesty to reopen the old case of Chenzhou.
The drummer was killed on the spot by the Imperial Guards, but the incident caused a stir in the court. Countless students voiced their support and demanded that the court reopen the Chenzhou case.
The entire capital was abuzz with excitement.
Lu Yangyang had just prepared medicine for Yan Yue to take when she heard about this matter, and hurriedly had someone summon Yan Yue.
Yan Yue's eyes were dark and swollen, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept all night.
"What happened? Did His Highness do it?" Lu Yangyang asked him hurriedly.
“I received news last night that my cousin brought up the old Chenzhou case in front of His Majesty, angering him. In his rage, His Majesty placed him under house arrest in the Eastern Palace. This morning, he caused another incident of beating the drum to appeal for justice. His Majesty was furious at the morning court session. Some people suggested that the Crown Prince had ulterior motives and proposed to depose him.” Yan Yue’s voice trembled. He knew his cousin was in a dangerous situation, but he didn’t realize it had come to this.
Lu Yangyang's face turned deathly pale; she had indeed arrived.
The old case in Chenzhou...
His Highness wouldn't speak without reason; he must have prepared for a long time, but...
The Chenzhou case has been over for so many years. Unless there is solid evidence, it is absolutely impossible to reopen it. Or, in other words, if His Majesty is still alive, the Chenzhou case cannot be reopened.
Even if she didn't understand before, the matter of Li Duan's marriage alliance had already explained one thing. His Majesty never wanted Crown Prince Chongwen to return; in fact, he probably hoped even more that Crown Prince Chongwen would die in Northern Yan. The fact that Northern Yan had kept Crown Prince Chongwen alive for so many years was, in a way, a form of checks and balances.
His Highness the Crown Prince's desire to seek justice for those who died unjustly is tantamount to opposing His Majesty.
How could His Majesty tolerate him?
His Highness the Crown Prince is well aware of these things, and knows that these are untouchable taboos. He is already in a difficult situation, so why is he being so radical?
Lu Yangyang really wanted to see the Crown Prince, to ask him about the marriage and what he wanted to do, but she knew in her heart that if she went to see him now, she would only cause him trouble.
Lu Yangyang looked at Yan Yue: "I've already packed the medicine I prepared for you. You should leave immediately and get out of the capital as soon as possible."
Yan Yue looked at her, moved his lips, but said nothing.
Many things are left unsaid.
His Majesty wants to depose the Crown Prince. The house arrest is just a signal, and the Chenzhou case is just the fuse. Even His Highness the Crown Prince himself is well aware of this.
So, the reason he brought up the old case in Chenzhou at this time was because he knew he was running out of time. If he hadn't brought it up while he was still the Crown Prince, the matter would have remained buried for fifteen years and would have continued to be buried forever.
By mentioning it before the deposed crown prince, the matter would gain maximum traction. Even if the case ultimately couldn't be reopened, at the very least, the world would remember it vividly and wouldn't easily forget it. As long as it's not forgotten, it will eventually see the light of day again.
His Highness has already prepared for death.
Lu Yangyang's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She gripped the table tightly with her fingers, trying not to let the tears fall.
Yan Yue turned his face away, his voice hoarse: "I...I know I will live, I definitely will."
He must return to the southwest alive, defend it, and leave a way out for the crown prince.
He suddenly looked at Lu Yangyang: "Yangyang, your cousin is in such a hurry. I think he probably doesn't want to get married and doesn't want to drag you down with him. You should come with him too, so he won't worry."
“I know,” Lu Yangyang nodded, “but I can’t leave now. I have to wait until he can live on with me.”
She suddenly understood why the prince in her dream died during his exile.
Because His Majesty, from the moment he deposed the Crown Prince, never intended to let His Highness live.
His Highness the Crown Prince did not die of illness, but was murdered.
Her Highness.
Yan Yue pressed down on Lu Yangyang's shoulder, applying slight pressure: "I'll be waiting for you in the southwest. My cousin said he gave Changyang County to you. I'll help you clear out that area and wait for you to come."
Lu Yangyang nodded: "Okay."
Then Yan Yue didn't hesitate any longer. He took the medicine that Lu Yangyang had prepared for him and hurriedly turned to leave.
Lu Yangyang got up, walked to the door, and looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds rolled in from the sky, gradually sinking low.
Storm is coming.
……
Just as Lu Yangyang had expected, the court officials proposed it several times, but His Majesty did not agree to reopen the old case in Chenzhou.
As a result, more and more doubts arose about the case, and rumors spread like wildfire, which angered His Majesty so much that he fell ill and suspended court for several days.
Soon, various rumors detrimental to the Crown Prince began to circulate. Until the end of May, a physician from the Imperial Medical Academy suddenly committed suicide, leaving behind a suicide note. The note revealed that His Highness the Crown Prince was taking forbidden drugs, and that he had been secretly helping His Highness the Crown Prince to concoct the forbidden drug Hanshi San.
The Cold Food Powder was popular in the previous dynasty, and some people profited from it, leading to rampant corruption and widespread suffering. Moreover, long-term use of this medicine can be addictive and even cause death. Therefore, at the beginning of the establishment of the Great Zhao Dynasty, a law was enacted to strictly prohibit the Cold Food Powder, and those who violated the law would be executed.
After this incident, the number of people supporting the crown prince instantly decreased by more than half, and the criticism turned into verbal attacks against him.
In the imperial court, the voices of the deposed crown prince grew louder and louder.
Finally, on the first day of the sixth lunar month, the emperor went to court and wept. He said that he had failed to educate the crown prince properly and that he would thoroughly investigate the crown prince's use of banned drugs. He also said that in order to fulfill the late empress's last wish, the crown prince's wedding ceremony would be held as scheduled the next day.