Chapter 677: Retreat to Advance (1)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Just as Song Jingchen had guessed, after the emperor had nightmares for a few days, he thought of Song Li in the Cold Palace.
Fortunately, Eunuch Li’s “slander” made him give up on the idea of bringing Song Li out of the Cold Palace.
The emperor got someone to set up a Buddhist hall in Yangxin Hall and secretly invited the masters of the Hidden Spirit Temple to the palace to recite sutras for a day. However, not only did this situation not improve, but it also became more serious as time passed.
From the initial unconscious killing to relying on blood to calm the anger in his heart every day.
Every day, bloody corpses would be carried out of the Yangxin Hall. In the past, the eunuchs would fight to the death to show their faces in front of their masters. Now, their expressions would change whenever the Yangxin Hall was mentioned.
Finally, after almost flogging a few ministers to death in the morning court, the emperor realized that something was wrong with him. However, most of the time, he could not control the hostility in his heart.
In order to prevent the reputation of being cruel from spreading, the emperor directly stopped court sessions and only got someone to send the memorials every day.
There was no need to worry about attracting the emperor’s attention. The civil and military officials heaved a sigh of relief.
However, everyone quickly realized that it was not as if there was no need to attend the morning court assembly. If the memorial was not written well, it would still cause a fatal disaster.
The ministers were helpless, but in order to save their lives, they began to report the good news without mentioning the bad news. They only wrote flattering words on the memorials.
However, some major or controversial matters had to be decided by one person. In the end, the old ministers discussed in private and decided to choose a representative to report the matter that needed the emperor to make a decision.
However, even Grand Tutor Zhou had been beaten half to death. Who would
Someone muttered, “Your Majesty wouldn’t kill his son too, right?” These words reminded some people present.
It was true that this represented danger, but wasn’t it also an opportunity?
First, he could block the danger of facing the emperor for everyone. It was a good opportunity to win people’s hearts.
If he was bolder, he could even use this to overthrow the emperor.
With such a good opportunity, the officials of Lord Rui’s faction, led by Count Xuan Ping, could not sit still anymore. They all pushed Shangguan Heng out.
As long as it wasn’t themselves, no one had any objections. But where was Lord Rui?
Only then did Count Xuan Ping realize that more than half a month had passed since the assassin entered Rui Manor and Shangguan Heng ran to the emperor to apply for leave. After such a long time, Shangguan Heng had never appeared in front of anyone.
It was his fault for being so frightened by the emperor these days.
As soon as he left the official’s office, Count Xuan Ping went straight to Rui Manor.
“Uncle, His Highness is still recuperating. He’s not seeing guests.” Fu Gui carefully led him into the main hall and instructed someone to serve tea.
Count Xuan Ping frowned and said unhappily, “That’s what you said when I came half a month ago.”
Fu Gui smiled awkwardly and said, “His Highness was injured a little seriously this time. He hasn’t recovered yet.”
When he said this, he felt a little guilty. Not to mention that His Highness had only suffered superficial wounds, even if he had been stabbed and had good medicine to recuperate, it was impossible for him not to see anyone after such a long time.
Count Xuan Ping was not stupid. He did not want to waste his breath on him.
He stood up from his chair and walked towards Shangguan Heng’s courtyard.
Fu Gui quickly chased after him and wanted to stop him. “Sir, His Highness said that he won’t see guests.”
“Get lost. Do I need your permission to see my grandson?” Count Xuan Ping shouted.
“I wouldn’t dare. It’s really because of His Highness’s instructions.”
“Then let him tell me himself.” The more he stopped him, the more Count Xuan Ping felt that something was wrong. He pushed him away and strode into the main courtyard.
“Count.” Fu Gui was about to cry. He couldn’t really get someone to chase Count Xuan Ping out, right? The person in front of him was the lord’s elder.
There were a few servants guarding the door of the main room. Count Xuan Ping glanced at them and pushed open the door, ignoring everyone’s obstruction. Coincidentally, he met Yuan Bao’s anxious gaze.
Looking at the clothes Yuan Bao was wearing, Count Xuan Ping felt his head buzz. He gritted his teeth and said angrily, “Where did your lord go?” Yuan Bao and Fu Gui knelt down with a thud and stammered.
They also wanted to know. He had clearly said that he would come back after taking a walk, but it had been more than half a month.
Just as Count Xuan Ping was so angry that he wanted to kill someone, an idea flashed across Fu Gui’s mind. “By the way, His Highness left a letter behind.”
It had to be said that Shangguan Heng knew his grandfather too well.. Why did he only leave him a letter? Didn’t he expect that he would be the first to look for him and discover that he was not around?
