Read Novel Full Chapter 740 - 362: What a Pity_2
Chapter 740: Chapter 362: What a Pity_2
"The governor of Yangzhou is not a concern, but Yangzhou is under the emperor’s control, not a place where we can act recklessly." Duke Zhen, He Zeng, did not wish to deal with Prince Chu directly in Yangzhou to avoid unnecessary complications. "Once we make a move in Yangzhou, it will only anger the emperor."
"Then we can only wait for Prince Chu to return to the capital and make a move on his way back." The Princely Heir of Duke Zhen’s Mansion thought of how Prince Chu had decoys set up on his way to Peng City before, making it impossible to find his real whereabouts. He feared that on the way back to the capital, Prince Chu would use this tactic again. "Father, we must find a way to gather information about Prince Chu. Otherwise, if he repeats his old trick, we will not be able to locate his real person, making it difficult to eliminate him before he returns to the capital."
"I have already sent people to Yangzhou to gather information about Prince Chu." Although they could not kill Prince Chu in Yangzhou, secretly tracking his whereabouts was permissible.
"I didn’t expect Prince Chu..." The words of the Princely Heir of Duke Zhen’s Mansion were unfinished, but the meaning was clear. "By the way, over at Prince Jing’s side... Jinling has been turned into a mess by Prince Jing, and Li Jue is missing."
Mentioning the situation in Jinling, a trace of anger flashed across Duke Zhen’s heart.
"A bunch of useless people." Several households joined forces but still couldn’t deal with one Song Family.
"Father, for what we’ve done in Jinling, Prince Jing likely knows everything."
"Wait for him to return to the capital, and kill him on the way." Duke Zhen said about killing Prince Jing without a blink of an eye or any change in tone.
The Princely Heir of Duke Zhen’s Mansion thoughtfully said, "Calculating the days, it’s about time for Prince Jing to set off back to the capital."
The Prince Jing, whom Duke Zhen and his son were concerned about, had already written to the emperor, pleading to stay in Jinling to continue presiding over the next government and county exams.
The emperor had just received the letter from Prince Jing. After reading the content, the emperor let out a light laugh, "Old Seven has indeed become clever."
Sun Kui brought a freshly brewed cup of tea and served it before the emperor.
"Your Majesty, what has Prince Jing done to make you so pleased?"
"Old Seven went to Jinling to host the imperial examinations and managed it well, not disappointing me." The emperor picked up the tea, gracefully sipping a few times, "He wrote to me, wanting me to allow him to be in charge of the upcoming government and county exams in Jinling."
"This shows that Prince Jing wants to continue to share your burdens."
Holding the tea lid, the emperor gently rubbed the rim of the cup and said with a half-smile, "He wants to stay in Jinling to continue overseeing the examinations, partly to win over the scholars of Jinling, and partly to stay alive."
"Stay alive?" Sun Kui was startled by these words, "Your Majesty, does someone wish to harm Prince Jing?"
"His own uncle, Duke Zhen."
Sun Kui was so shocked that he almost cried out, but fortunately, he closed his mouth in time.
"Duke Zhen wants to kill Prince Jing?"
The emperor set down the tea he was holding, raised his eyes to look at Sun Kui, and asked, "How is the Empress’s health?"
"The medicine has been secretly replaced, Her Majesty the Empress’s body is not in great distress, just occasionally experiencing dizziness and vertigo," Sun Kui reported truthfully.
"Don’t let the Empress be in a constant stupor; let her faint every few days." The emperor’s fingers lightly tapped the imperial desk, pondering, "Issue an edict for the Empress to take care of her health."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Right, let Noble Princess Consort Rong and Noble Princess Consort Ying assist the Empress in managing the harem."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Kui thought to himself, having two noble princess consorts assist in managing the harem was more uncomfortable for the Empress than killing her. The Empress valued her position as Empress and the power to manage the harem the most.
"When do you think the Empress will realize that her illness is due to a poisonous hand from Duke Zhen?"
"Well... I don’t know," Sun Kui said, internally reasoning that while the Empress is supposed to be smart, she often behaves foolishly. But then, sometimes she is rather smart. "Your Majesty, would you consider revealing a bit of information to Her Majesty the Empress?"
"Now is not the right time. If she finds out on her own, that’s another matter," the emperor said, "If she doesn’t realize it, do not alert her for the time being."
"Yes." Sun Kui muttered internally, Your Majesty, do you want Her Majesty the Empress to notice or not?
Seeing the emperor still needed to review the memorials, Sun Kui quietly retreated. Just as he exited the Imperial Study, the emperor spoke to the empty study room: "Where is Old Four now?"
At this moment, a shadow appeared silently in the Imperial Study.
"Prince Chu has reached Gui Ling and will arrive in the capital in about half a month."
"It seems Old Four’s journey back to the capital is going smoothly."