The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 123

Chapter 123 Have Their Own Thoughts

Looking at the palace maids kneeling all over the room, as well as the Imperial doctor that he had announced, the Emperor raised his hand and pressed down on his eyebrows, his complexion turning ashen.

Thousands and thousands of calculations had yet to arrive at such a conclusion.

“Your Majesty, do you think we should have someone ring the bell to announce our mourning?” Zhang Shichang carefully supported the Emperor as he sent out the eunuchs and palace maids.

Although the Crown Prince was banned, he was not deposed. He was still the Eastern Palace’s Crown Prince. The Crown Prince died suddenly. According to the rules, he should ring the bell to report his funeral. Then, the Ministry of Rites would take care of the funeral. However, the Emperor did not say anything.

The Emperor turned around and stared coldly at Zhang Shichang.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant made a mistake.” Zhang Shichang hurriedly knelt on the ground.

If news of the Crown Prince’s sudden death were to spread out, it would be no different from throwing a stone into the seemingly calm deep pond in the capital. No one would have expected that this would set off a shocking wave. As soon as the news of the Crown Prince’s death spread, only Chu Xi was left among the most powerful princes in the capital. However, the news of the Crown Prince’s death had to be sent!

“Little Chang Zi, do you know what to do now?” The Emperor walked to the couch and sat down. He looked down at Zhang Shichang and said.

Zhang Shichang had been with the emperor since he was young, so he naturally understood what this emperor was worried about.

“This servant has sent people to the various palaces to report their mourning, saying that the Crown Prince died of a sudden heart disease. As for the people who knew about this Zhang Shichang stood up and wiped his neck.

The Emperor closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened his eyes again. His cold voice sounded, “Do as you say. Remember, do it cleanly.”

“Yes.” Zhang Shichang answered and bowed to leave.

“Do you think the Crown Prince’s sudden toxicity was caused by him?” The Emperor suddenly looked at Zhang Shichang and said.

Zhang Shichang raised his eyes to look at the Emperor, then quickly lowered his head and said carefully, “The Emperor is talking about His Highness the Swallow King?”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes and raised his eyebrows. “Who do you think I’m talking about?”

“Your Majesty, if it was really His Highness King Yan who did this, then … I’m sure he already knows about you, Your Majesty …”

Zhang Shichang did not continue, but the Emperor understood.

If it was really Chu Xizhi’s doing, then he must have known that he had poisoned the Crown Prince slowly before he could make use of it. He had already heavily guarded the Eastern Palace. He never thought that he would find an opportunity to make a move. He really underestimated him …

“Do you think he knows something?” The Emperor’s eyes narrowed as his cold gaze slowly swept across Zhang Shichang’s face.

Zhang Shichang was stunned, “This, this servant doesn’t know …”

The Emperor raised his hand and pinched the jade ring on his thumb. The faint green light on the ring made his face gloomy like water. “We can’t go on like this anymore.”

Hearing this, a layer of cold sweat broke out on Zhang Shichang’s back.

It seemed that the Emperor could no longer hold King Yan, so he was going to attack him. However, King Yan was the strongest in the dynasty. No prince could contend against him. His Highness Prince Shenwang was far away in the northwest. Now that the Crown Prince had fallen, the officials would probably recommend King Yan to the Eastern Palace.

“Your Majesty, do you want to recall His Highness Prince Shenwang back to the capital?” Zhang Shichang raised his eyes and carefully looked at the Emperor’s expression.

“You’re confused. Right now, the northwest is still unstable. The Northern Desert is eyeing covetously. How can Yanzhi come back at this time?” The Emperor shouted in a low voice.

“Yes, this servant is stupid.” Zhang Shichang hurriedly crouched on the ground and said.

The Emperor knitted his eyebrows and stood up. “Several ministers came to plead for mercy for him in a short time yesterday. If I don’t suppress him, I’m afraid that he will be in charge of the capital without waiting for Yanzhi’s return.”

“How could that be? The Imperial Army of the Yan Cloud Guards are all in His Majesty’s hands. Even if His Highness King Yan really has such thoughts, he probably wouldn’t dare to act rashly!”

“Humph!” The Emperor sneered a few times and stared at Zhang Shichang with his sharp eyes. “I dare not act rashly. How did the Crown Prince die?”

Zhang Shichang’s sharp gaze left Zhang Shichang in a daze. His face turned pale and he hurriedly said, “Your Majesty is right, this servant made a mistake. Since Your Majesty is planning to do this, do you want to kill the Crown Prince this time …”

“You’re really foolish to say that you’re foolish!” The Emperor glanced coldly at Zhang Shichang.

“Your Majesty, this … this servant has spoken wrongly again.” Zhang Shichang raised his head and looked at the Emperor in horror.

“What method do you have to blame him for this? Do you have any evidence?”

“This … Your Majesty, if you were to say who would dare to oppose it?”

The Emperor pursed his lips and looked at Zhang Shichang with an extremely ugly expression, “Stupid! Let alone the fact that he just became the Prince, didn’t you see those old fellows who knelt begging for mercy with him in front of Chong’an Hall? Do you think I need to worry about him just because of a few words? Besides, if we really continue investigating …”

“Yes, yes, yes! This servant is confused! This servant is confused!” Zhang Shichang hurriedly raised his hand and drew his bow, slapping his face again and again.

“Alright, alright! Hurry up and get down.” The Emperor shook his hand in annoyance.

“Yes, yes.” Zhang Shichang hurriedly kowtowed and carefully retreated.

Just as the time passed, the news of the Crown Prince’s demise quickly spread throughout the capital, and layers of white curtains hung in the Eastern Palace. Chu Xizhi, who had knelt in the Chongde Palace for an entire night, and several adults finally returned to their respective mansions. However, Lord Zhou of the Ministry of Rites did not have such a good life. He hurried out of the palace and went to the Ministry of Rites to preside over the funeral of the Crown Prince.

When Chu Xizhi returned to Prince Yan’s Mansion, the sky was already bright.

Xiao Xiwei, who had already sent people to inquire about the news, had already waited at the entrance of the mansion. When she saw Chu Xizhi’s carriage, she hurriedly greeted him, “Xizhi, are you alright?” Just as she said this, tears began to fall down her cheeks.

“I’m fine, I’m really fine! Didn’t I ask Mu Zhi to give you a message? Does this brat take my words as a deaf ear?” Chu Xizhi hurriedly raised his hand to wipe away the tears on Xiao Xiwei’s face.

Xiao Xiwei grabbed Chu Xizhi’s hand that was wiping her tears and looked down at his knee. “Is your leg alright? Doctor … Doctor, quickly, let him take a look.”

Chu Xizhi laughed and helped Xiao Xiwei up. “Madam, I’m really fine. Look.” Chu Xizhi said as he kicked twice.

Xiao Xiwei let out a sigh of relief. “No matter what, let the doctor show you some medicine later.”

“Madam, as you wish.” Chu Xizhi took two steps back and gave Xiao Xiwei a big bow with a smile.

“Stop messing around. There are so many people watching.” Xiao Xi lightly reached out and patted Chu Xizhi’s shoulder.

Chu Xi smiled and pulled Xiao Xiwei’s hand as he walked towards the palace. “You don’t know, Lord Xu and Elder Zhang are in trouble. This morning, a few eunuchs carried them into the carriage. They probably won’t be able to come out for half a month.”

“You also said that if they didn’t help you, why would they kneel with you? It’s fine if you’re not grateful. You’re still teasing them like this.” Xiao Xiwei couldn’t help but fold Chu Xi’s eyes.

“Yes, yes, yes, or is Madam right?” Chu Xizhi hurriedly suppressed his laughter and apologized to Xiao Xiwei.

Xiao Xiwei rolled her eyes at him ironically. She turned around and instructed Hong Yu, “Hong Yu, prepare some gifts for these lords’ mansions later.”

“Yes.” Hong Yu Fu replied.

“To be able to marry this virtuous wife is a great honor for my husband.” Chu Xizhi smiled and said.

“Alright, stop flattering me.” After entering the room, Xiao Xiwei poured himself a cup of tea and coldly glanced at Chu Xi. “Now that the Crown Prince has died, the Emperor must have suspected you. I’m afraid that he will attack you once the funeral is over.”

“This isn’t hard to guess.” Chu Xizhi picked up the tea that Xiao Xiwei had poured out and lowered his head to take a sip.

“Although I know your intentions, aren’t you afraid that the Emperor will really blame you for the Crown Prince’s death?” Xiao Xiwei knitted his eyebrows and looked at Chu Xizhi with worry in his eyes.

“Do you think that’s possible? He personally poisoned the Crown Prince …” Chu Xizhi’s slender finger slowly stroked the rim of the cup, and the corner of his lips gradually hooked into a trace of mocking coldness.

“Xi Zhi, I always feel a little uneasy.” Xiao Xi slightly reached out to cover Chu Xi’s hand, and the space between his eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Although Xizhi was now His Highness’ personal King Yan, and more than half of the officials in the court supported him, the imperial guards of the capital, Yan Yunwei, were all in the Emperor’s hands. If the Emperor was really angry, the Emperor would really plant a crime of conspiracy against Chu Xizhi and order the imperial guards to capture him, even if the officials opposed it, it would be useless. Although her brother held the hundred thousand troops of Wu City in his hand, Wu City was too far away from the capital. If the Emperor suddenly gave the order, even if his brother wanted to rush over, he would probably be too late. Xizhi’s plan was too risky.

“Don’t worry, he won’t touch me so easily.” “Don’t forget that Chu Yanzhi is still in the northwest.”

The northwest was not too far from Wu City. If he really wanted to touch him, it would definitely implicate Marquis Mansion. At that time, Xiao Xiyang, who held the army of 100,000 Wu City, would not have time to return to the capital to save him. However, it would still be very easy for him to rush to the northwest to make things difficult for Chu Yanzhi.

“Even so, Your Majesty, I’m afraid he won’t let you off so easily.”

With the Crown Prince’s death, there were no other princes in the capital that could contend against Chu Xizhi. However, once the Crown Prince was buried, all the officials would definitely come together to invite the Emperor to establish the Crown Prince. Furthermore, the Emperor would definitely not allow such a thing to happen.

“I heard that the victims on Su Yang’s side were violent and moved, but they were suppressed.” Chu Xizhi turned to look at Xiao Xiwei and said.

“Su Yang.” Xiao Xi frowned slightly.

If she was right, Madam Li’s elder brother, Li Qingfeng, had only rushed back from Su Yang to say that the calamity had been resolved. It was also because he had advanced to an official position.

“The drought has indeed been solved, but the problem of food and shelter for the victims has not been solved! That little bit of money is not enough to plug the teeth of those people. Can you expect them to take it all out to help the victims?” Chu Xizhi sneered.

“You mean …”

“Rather than letting him think of a way to deal with me, it’s better to go to Su Yang.” Chu Xizhi looked into Xiao Xiwei’s eyes and said word by word.

“You should know that the Emperor will not help you raise money in this situation.” Xiao Xiwei frowned and said, “Unless …”

Unless her uncle helps.

In the past, Chu Yanzhi had secretly raised troops, and in the calamity years, he had opened his warehouse to help the people and earned a good reputation. All of this was because his uncle was secretly helping him, but in the end, he …

“Wei’er.” Chu Xizhi seemed to have remembered something as well. He hurriedly reached out and tightly held Xiao Xiwei’s hand. He nervously said, “I’m different from him. I didn’t marry you because of this. You should know that.”

Xiao Xiwei raised his eyes to look at Chu Xizhi and suddenly smiled. He held his fingertips and said, “I know, why are you so nervous?”

“I’m just afraid of you …”

“Then you should know that from the moment I married you, I didn’t suspect anything of you anymore.” Xiao Xiwei smiled at Chu Xizhi.

Not everyone was like Chu Yanzhi.

Now, the man beside her, regardless of whether it was in her previous life or today, was deeply concerned about her. She believed that even if everyone in the world betrayed her, he would not.

“Your Highness, Princess, the Qin Palace has come down.” Zi Yan suddenly walked in and whispered.

Chu Muzhi?

Xiao Xi frowned slightly. Didn’t he just leave for a while? Why did he come back so soon?