Plotting to dominate the world 032 wants excitement

  Listening to Emperor Qing's majestic voice, Yuan Xiaosheng took a deep breath and stepped inside. After exchanging greetings, he got straight to the point.

  Qing Di didn't know what kind of mentality he had, and he neither let the two exit nor ordered them to go to the side hall.

  Facing such an unexpected situation, Yuan Xiaosheng's heart was momentarily panicked, and he carefully peeked at the expressionless Emperor Qing sitting high on the throne. His mind was racing with anxiety, but he also knew that he couldn't show any panic, so he could only force himself to calm down.

  Gu Ling stepped forward with reverence: "Gu Ling, by imperial order, is investigating the Moon Clear Palace fire case. I request that the Second Prince come forth to answer some questions according to protocol. Please, Second Prince, speak truthfully and without omission."

  Yu Xiang lowered his eyes and said in a slightly hoarse voice: "But ask without harm."

  "May I ask, Your Highness the Second Prince, how is your relationship with the Grand Princess?"

  Although he had expected Gu Ling to ask such a sharp question, in front of Emperor Qing, Gu Ling's blunt inquiry still made Yuan Xia feel embarrassed and annoyed. However, due to Emperor Qing sitting on the main seat, he had to endure it and replied with his eyes downcast: "Although Xiao Wang and my sister cannot be said to have a deep sibling relationship, blood is thicker than water is an undisputed fact."

  Gu Ling raised his head and glanced at Emperor Qing, sighing softly in his heart. With the emperor as a variable, it was difficult for him to discern the thoughts and reactions of the two princes.

  "I humbly report to Your Majesty, may I be granted permission to have a private conversation with the Second Prince?"

  Qing Di narrowed his eyes and took a glance at Yuan Xia Sheng, his voice devoid of emotion, yet naturally exuding an aura of imperial majesty that made one dare not look straight at him: "Xia Er, what are your thoughts?"

  "Your Majesty, I think it's not necessary. Since Gu Ling is acting on your orders to question me, I should cooperate. The death of my elder sister and the illness of my mother due to excessive grief have caused me immense sorrow. If Gu Ling can uncover the truth behind the death of the Crown Prince, I am willing to cooperate fully and answer all questions."

  Upon hearing this, Emperor Qing's expressionless face relaxed slightly, and he said lightly: "Although Gu Ling has no official position, he is the one I personally appointed to investigate the case. You can't be perfunctory or look down on him. Take him to the imperial palace for a walk."

  "This... I obey your orders." After Yuan Xiaosheng bowed and paid his respects, he stood up and invited Gū Líng to enter: "Young Master Gu, please!"

  Gu Ling bowed his head respectfully: "Gu Ling does not dare, Second Prince, please!"

  As the two of them left, Emperor Qing's expression turned solemn, and the atmosphere in the grand hall became inexplicably tense. Shi Ze carefully raised his head to take a glance before quickly lowering it again, not daring to look anymore, but his eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if something was amiss...

  Yuansheng walked out of the grand hall, took a deep breath, and turned his head back, coincidentally meeting Gu Ling's line of sight. His face was slightly unnatural: "Little Wang..."

  "Second prince, don't worry, the emperor's dignity and majesty are not to be trifled with. Although the emperor and second prince are father and son, they are also ruler and subject. Whether as a son or as a subject, the second prince will naturally have a reverent heart towards the emperor, and can't help but feel tense and flustered. I, Gu Ling, can understand this."

  Listening to Gu Ling's words, Yuan Xiaosheng's eyes flashed with a hint of relief and the displeasure from earlier in the hall due to Gu Ling's sharp questions dissipated somewhat. He smiled and said: "Young Master Gu is so good at understanding people's intentions, I'm truly surprised, please!"

  "Second prince, please!"

  Although the cold air is biting, there is no sign of snow, the palace stretches continuously, with a majestic momentum, one after another solemn halls with red walls and golden tops, standing in a row, high and low, overlapping, showing the imperial palace's grandeur.

  Walking on the winding main road that stretches out like a seemingly endless highway, the surrounding buildings, pavilions, fake mountains and flowing water, as well as the winding corridors, all slowly appear before one's eyes.

  Gu Ling looked at the attire of the Second Prince walking in front of him, his gaze flickered slightly, also in plain white. Compared to the plain white worn by the Eldest Prince, the cloud-patterned white satin worn by the Second Prince seemed more fitting for a prince.

  "There's a rumor going around in the palace that the eldest princess and the second prince don't get along?" Gu Ling suddenly asked.

  Yuansha's footsteps paused, and he slowly turned his head, looking at Gu Ling who was smiling and gazing at him.

  Gu Ling did not move his gaze, Yuan Xiaosheng lowered his eyes: "Since Master Gu has already heard the rumors from the palace, why bother to come and ask Xiao Wang specially?"

  "Gu Ling had always believed that rumors were unreliable and only what he saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears was true."

  Yuansha was silent for a long time before speaking dejectedly: "When Xiaowang was young and ignorant, she didn't like the eldest princess very much. The reason was that the eldest princess seemed to prefer the eldest prince, but in fact, Xiaowang was closer to her as siblings."

  Gu Ling didn't make a sound, he just quietly looked at the Second Prince who was much shorter than him. Whether it was the 14-year-old Eldest Prince or the 12-year-old Second Prince, their identities had made them understand their own hearts early on. Cunning, plotting and even strategic means couldn't be judged by their age.

  Yuansheng regretfully and painfully said: "If I had known earlier... if I had known it would be like this, Xiaowang would definitely not have argued with her. The death of the eldest princess made Xiaowang..."

  Gu Ling lowered his eyes: "October 18th, the day before the birthday of the eldest prince, I don't know if the second prince still remembers if there was anything unusual on that day?"

  "What?" Yuan Xiasong was taken aback.

  Gu Ling asked again: "On October 18th, the day before the birthday of the eldest prince, do you remember if the second prince saw the eldest princess on that day?"

  Yuansha's eyebrows furrowed tightly, his mouth pursed into a thin line, and his slightly thin lips looked somewhat cold.

  "It's been two months since October 18th, and Xiao Wang can't remember if he saw Da Huang Jie that day," said Yuan Xiaosheng.

  "Has the second prince ever really seen the grand princess?" Gu Ling asked, staring at him intently.

  Yuansheng furrowed his brow and thought for a moment, shaking his head: "It seems like there isn't, yet it seems like there is. Xiao Wang hasn't closed the mansion and still lives in the palace, so running into the Empress is a common occurrence. Plus, Xiao Wang often clashes with the Empress, so even if they did meet, they wouldn't pay attention to each other."

  "After some thought, he said: 'Alright, after Xiao Wang returns, he will think carefully and ask the palace staff who were with him that day, maybe they remember.'"

  "It's fine this way."

  ……

  The night was quiet and peaceful, in the palace of Prince Huai, on the luxurious large bed, a brocade quilt half-covered it, and Prince Huai lay half-reclined on the bed.

  The intermittent coughing sound had been going on for almost an hour.

  Xiao Lizi looked at the weak Wang Ye lying on the bed with a pained expression, and advised: "Wang Ye, should I have someone summon the imperial physician?"

  "Cough... no... cough... don't." The coughing wouldn't stop, and the green veins on King Huai's forehead appeared and disappeared with each cough.

  Xiao Lizi looked at Wang Ye like that, his eyebrows were knotted into a dead knot, and he stepped forward to hand over the handkerchief. Wang Ye took it and pressed it against his lips, suppressing the violent coughs that kept surging up from his throat, turning his pale face bright red, but the coughing sounds still came out muffled from the handkerchief.

  After a long while, the coughing gradually subsided. He threw away his handkerchief and Little Li hastily took over the medicine brought by the small eunuch: "Your Highness, drink some medicine to calm down."

  The king took a glance at the black medicinal liquid, didn't say anything, and drank it all in one gulp. The little eunuch hastily presented mouthwash, which the king accepted, rinsed his mouth with, and spat into the white jade basin. Little Li handed over a new handkerchief, which the king took and gently wiped his lips before tossing it back into the basin. Little Li again handed over another new one, which the king accepted, then weakly waved his hand: "All of you withdraw."

  "Your Highness, you just took your medicine, why not rest..." Little Li's words were cut off under Prince Wang's cold gaze, and he led a group of people to put down the layered curtains before retreating.

  The bedroom returned to quiet, and the weak King Hui lay on the soft couch with his eyes closed, until a gentle yet sharp voice came from outside the curtains.

  "Slip away and pay respects to the master."

  The king opened his eyes: "Come in."

  The curtains were lifted one by one, and the person approached silently. Only when they were just a short distance from the bed did they stop in their tracks, bowing respectfully: "Master."

  The king looked at the newcomer, his lips slightly curved, and took out an object from his bosom and threw it under the newcomer's feet: "From this moment on, this token takes effect."

  The newcomer picked up the dark card from the ground, knelt silently on the ground, raised his head and respectfully said: "Yin Shadow Leader escapes and listens to orders."

  "The day after tomorrow morning, I want to know everything about the history of the Jade Concubine's maternal family and all the people and things around the Second Prince, no matter how big or small, all must be listed."

  "Yes, your humble servant obeys."

  The king retrieved the dark card, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke in a low voice: "Little runaway, is what I did right or wrong? Do you think Father Emperor will blame me?"

  Tao Tieying said: "Whatever the prince wants to do is right."

  "Hehe......cough......cough..." King Huai chuckled, but it triggered the cough that had just subsided.

  He slipped away quietly and moved forward, but then seemed to remember something and silently retreated back to his original position.

  "Go." He had been through too many days of desolate stillness, he yearned for excitement. Regardless of whether the outcome was win or lose, he would fall into hell and never be reborn, but he was willing to do so. He was unwilling to continue living such a life.

  "Yes, I will withdraw."