Scheming Through The Heavens 037 Threats And Bribes

  It's been a long time since the winter began, and finally, there's a fine day. Yu Cuizhu has brought all the bedding and clothes from inside the house to the courtyard, washing what needs to be washed and drying what needs to be dried. From time to time, she glances back at the princess sitting under the eaves of the house, basking in the sun and intently reading a book.

  Yu Wuyou carefully read through the complete materials sent by Prince Huai, and when she flipped to the last page, she slowly closed the booklet in her hand, calmly closing her eyes to rest.

  The Yuqing Palace fire case, she had already figured it out in her mind, now all that's left is the final step, to gather evidence.

  Gu Ling's hands and feet were faster than she had anticipated, and the direction of the investigation was also getting closer to the truth. With just three more days, he would surely crack the case.

  Although they had never met before, this person's intelligence and talent did not disappoint her expectations.

  Even if she was the first to reveal the truth, it would not have any impact on Gu Ling, but rather make his reputation even greater. She revealed the truth to Prince Hui, and Prince Hui would inevitably pass the truth on to Gu Ling in secret, adding another layer of complexity, only that Gu Ling's heart would surely not be at ease by then.

  Thinking of the hidden truth behind this arson case, Yuan Wuyou's eyes were slightly dazed, and he was indeed an unfeeling emperor!

  In the fifth year, Yuan Mengzhen was sent out of the palace to temporarily live with the Shi family because she offended her previous life, Liu Yinghua killed a chicken to scare the monkey and establish her authority. To talk about it, the cause of Yuan Mengzhen's death is somewhat related to this identity, but of course, the tragedy that occurred has nothing to do with her.

  When it comes to the Shi family, she can't help but admire the dark power in Prince Huai's hands. It's amazing that even such a dusty past as the Shi family's was quickly investigated in just a short period of time. No wonder Wu Hao Tian never gave up on investigating the existence of this dark power...

  "Princess, Xiaohua's father has brought breakfast."

  Yu Wu You returned to her senses, looking at Xiao Huazi walking towards her, then narrowing her eyes to gaze at the vibrant sky above, a faint smile playing on her lips. She wondered how much difference there was between the world outside the palace walls and the one she had imagined?

  ……

  Early in the morning, when the gatekeeper of Liao's mansion opened the main gate, he saw a dark wooden box placed at the entrance with a note on it that read: "Gu Ling personally opened".

  The gatekeeper looked around left and right but didn't see anyone, so he hastily picked up the wooden box on the ground and rushed in to report.

  Upon hearing the report from the gatekeeper, Liao's housekeeper personally led him to the courtyard where Gu Ling resided.

  Listening to the butler's explanation, Gu Ling's gaze fell on the wooden box on his desk. With just one glance, he felt a secret disappointment in his heart. The wooden box was too ordinary, and the handwriting on the note was also mediocre, obviously the person who sent the box didn't want him to know who it was.

  He deliberately arranged it this way, so even if he wanted to investigate, he wouldn't be able to find anything.

  After letting the butler and others retreat, Gu Ling opened the wooden box. After seeing the things inside the box clearly, Gu Ling's eyes slightly condensed.

  He picked up the booklet from the box, opened it to the first page and took a look before closing it immediately. He was surprised in his heart - who could have sent this to him?

  Is he helping him? Or is there another purpose?

  ……

  In a secluded corner of the inner palace, the atmosphere was somewhat frozen. Xu Ren's face was expressionless as he stared at Xiaohua, and for a long time, he didn't make a sound.

  Compared with He Xu Ren's expressionless face, Xiao Hua Zi was relaxed and at ease, without any signs of tension or panic.

  Looking at Xiao Huāzi like this, if it weren't for the wrong time, place and situation, Xǔ Rén would have been amazed. For the past few days, he had been racking his brains thinking about who Xiao Huāzi was risking his life for.

  He also specially inquired about all the people who were confined in the Cold Palace, and after thinking about it, he felt that this person was probably Concubine Gu, because only Concubine Gu had this possibility.

  Gu Empress was a concubine of the previous emperor and had once been highly honored, although she was eventually banished to the Cold Palace by the previous emperor. However, she still had Prince Huai as her support.

  The previous emperor had a child in his old age, and Emperor Huairen was the youngest son. Since he was born, he has been favored by the previous emperor. Even after Empress Dowager Gu was demoted to the Cold Palace, he was still able to be enfeoffed as a king and have a separate residence. Moreover, the previous emperor made an exception and ordered that he could meet with Empress Dowager Gu once a year. These two points are enough to show the previous emperor's favoritism towards him.

  Although since the current emperor ascended to the throne, Prince Huai has been living in seclusion and rarely asks about worldly affairs, having no power or influence on court, his status is still there.

  Xiao Huazi was sold by Imperial Concubine Gu and Crown Prince Hui's mother-son duo, he could understand it and wasn't surprised, however - following Crown Prince Hui would be useless!

  Although he held a noble position as king, his body was weak and frail, and he suffered from tuberculosis. Following such a master was truly too risky.

  "Xiao Huazi, we are from the same hometown, so I didn't hear what you just said." Xu Ren stared at Xiao Huazi and said slowly.

  Xiao Huazi was not surprised to hear Xu Ren's refusal, still smiling easily and freely, even his tone was easy and free, but the words he said made Xu Ren change his face on the spot.

  "Xu Ren, are you treating me like a three-year-old?"

  "Xiao Huazi, what do you mean?" Xu Ren's face turned gloomy.

  Xiao Huazhi glanced around the secluded surroundings: "You are smarter than me, and you understood earlier than me how to survive in the palace while also rising up."

  Xu Ren looked around, he had been to the Imperial Palace before, more familiar with the Imperial Palace than Xiaohua, now is the busiest time in the Imperial Palace, and here is the most secluded corner, far away from the Imperial Palace, even if he shouted loudly, probably no one would hear.

  Xian Reng suddenly came to his senses and looked around, Xiao Huazi smiled slightly, but the smile was extremely cold: "Xu Ren, you know that you only have two paths to take, one is to follow my orders, and the other is... death!"

  Xu Ren cautiously looked around, making sure no one else was watching, before he slightly calmed down. He coldly stared at Xiaohua, his eyes turning sinister: "You think you can kill someone and get away with it?" He and Xiaohua had entered the palace in the same year, but Xiaohua was a year older and much thinner than him. Perhaps he should strike first? But what if there were others hiding in the shadows, waiting to avenge Xiaohua's death? If he killed Xiaohua, he would still be doomed.

  Xiao Huazi didn't overlook the fierce glint that flashed in Xu Ren's eyes, and shook his head at him: "In close combat, I'm certainly no match for you. However, Xu Ren, we've been in the palace for five years, it's not just you who knows how to survive in the palace, I've also learned."

  "What does it mean?"

  "We've been close enough, haven't you noticed that I've poisoned you?" Xiaohua looked at him very sincerely, with some apology and helplessness in her eyes.

  Xu Ren's face changed color in surprise, but he immediately regained his composure and coldly said: "Do you think I would believe that?" But in his mind, he was frantically recalling every time Xiao Huazi came to see him, wondering what had poisoned him.

  Xiao Huazi didn't rush either, but just stared at him coldly.

  "You... Xiaohua, you're too despicable." From the day Xiaohua was brought before him by the imperial guards, he knew that Xiaohua had been using him. But by then it was already too late to regret it. These past few days, Xiaohua seemed as if nothing was wrong, but in his heart, he was anxious and uneasy.

  But this unease in Xiaohua's heart today brought him to the secluded place of Neiwangong, and he knew that the day he had been waiting for was finally here.

  "Maybe I owe you an apology, but Xi Ren, I also want to live." Xiaohua's eyes seemed to glaze over as if she had thought of something.

  Xu Ren gritted his teeth in anger: "You want to live, but you want me to die? Xiao Huazi, I really underestimated you."

  Xiao Huazi approached him, he wasn't on guard, but his timing affected his vigilance.

  Lady Liang was demoted to Guiren, the seventh imperial son was sent to Dan Fei for foster care, and the fourth princess was banned... He saw the prosperity and wealth of Gongzheng, and suffered from the exclusion of high and low. In addition, Xiaohua Zi was on duty in the cold palace, and he had no conflict of interest with him, so he reluctantly became friends with this fellow countryman.

  Who would have thought, he was clever for a lifetime, but foolish for a moment.

  "How could it be that I'm pushing you to death? Xi Ren, this is the chance for you to get back up again. Liang Gui will never have another chance to get back up." Xiaohua's words were truly heartfelt.

  "Pshaw, opportunity? Following your master is no better than following a good-for-nothing. Even if I can't rise to the top, at least it's better than dying without a whole body; enjoying wealth and glory requires being alive first."

  Xiao Huazi's face turned cold: "You don't even know who my master is, how would you know that my master is not as good as your current master?" In his heart, his master should be the most noble and honorable one, revered by all under heaven. Comparing Lord Ren to the princess was an insult to the princess.

  Xu Ren sneered repeatedly: "Little flower, you are really too naive. Do you think you can deceive me?" Does he also underestimate him?

  "You can't possibly know."

  Xu Ren snorted coldly: "Except for Concubine Guo, who else in that deserted and cold palace where you reside has a chance to turn things around?"

  Xiao Huazi's heartstrings that had been tightly wound suddenly relaxed, and his face turned cold: "Xu Ren, I'm not asking for your opinion, I'm ordering you to follow my instructions, of course..."

  Not putting Xu Ren's anger in his eyes, Xiaohuazi lightly looked him up and down before speaking coldly: "You can also go and report me, but you have to think it through clearly. If I die, you will definitely not escape either. I am willing to die for my master, but as for you, do you have the courage to face death?"

  Xu Ren's two fists had been clenched for a long time, crackling with rage. In his heart, he couldn't wait to chop Xiaohua into a thousand pieces, but he forced himself to endure it.

  Xiaohua said something right, he didn't have the courage to die, he wanted to live a good life.

  So although he was very suspicious of Xiaohua's poisoning, he didn't dare to gamble, because if he were Xiaohua, he would also unscrupulously achieve his goal.

  Xiao Huazi would rather die than give in, but he couldn't, so he could only endure his threats and bribes.