The Palace of Clear Ripples 044

  "The humble official did not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations and has now investigated the case of the fire at the Moon Palace." Gu Ling loudly announced, holding up the memorial.

  He gave a slight nod, glanced at the small eunuch beside him and signaled with his eyes. The small eunuch quickly ran down to take the memorial from Gu Ling's hand and handed it over to him.

  Holding the thin memorial in his arms, Shi Zhi felt it weighed as much as a thousand catties.

  The emperor looked at the memorial in Shi Zhi's hand, his eyes flashing slightly, but he still took it over, slowly opening it, his face growing increasingly dark and terrifying.

  He slammed it shut with force, his hand clutching the memorial was pale from exertion, and his face was terrifyingly gloomy.

  The grand hall was silent as a crow, even breathing seemed to have stopped.

  A long time...

  Emperor Cheng looked at Gu Ling, who was kneeling in the hall, with an expressionless face. His voice made it impossible to discern his emotions: "Since Minister Gu dares to come to the early court to see me, does this mean that you already have evidence for this matter?"

  "I humbly report to Your Majesty, I still need Your Majesty's permission to obtain the evidence."

  The emperor's face was cold and stern: "Speak."

  Gu Ling raised his head and said calmly: "Your humble servant requests that Your Majesty grant permission for your humble servant and the three gentlemen to proceed immediately to Liuqing Palace to conduct a search, where evidence will naturally be found."

  As soon as Gu Ling said this, the sound of gasps filled the air, and everyone wished they were deaf at that moment, it was better than the suffocating feeling of being on edge.

  Qing Di's eyes flashed: "Do you know that Liu Qing Palace is the bedroom of the Second Prince?"

  Gu Ling's eyes were very sincere: "I know, Your Majesty."

  "What if you can't find any evidence?" Emperor Qing asked with an expressionless face.

  "Your humble servant... guarantees with his life."

  The emperor gazed at Gu Ling in silence, the entire hall of officials was as quiet as a cicada in winter, no one dared to make any sound, if possible, they would even want to hold their breath.

  After a brief silence, Emperor Qing looked up at the three investigating officials who were kowtowing behind Gu Ling, their heads almost buried in the ground: "What do you three think?"

  Zhao Tongling and Yu Daren exchanged a glance, and finally Yu Daren replied in a trembling tone: "I... I think that Gu Ling's actions are quite inappropriate."

  "The end will be the same as what you, sir, have seen." Zhao Renming followed closely on horseback.

  The Emperor looked at Lord Liao who had not spoken up: "What does Lord Liao think?"

  Liao Daoren's body trembled slightly, he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth: "I beg to report to Your Majesty, I think that although Gu Gongzi's move is a bit inappropriate, it is not entirely impossible. Since Gu Gongzi has been ordered by Your Majesty to investigate the case of the fire at the Moon Palace, he must naturally want to investigate all suspicious circumstances thoroughly. If Gu Gongzi says that the evidence is in the Liuqing Palace, I think that as long as we let him go and take a look, the truth will naturally be revealed. Or if Gu Gongzi cannot find any evidence, Your Majesty can still punish Gu Gongzi for his disrespect later."

  It was another brief silence before Emperor Xian spoke indifferently: "Shi Ji."

  "I'm here."

  "You will accompany the three adults and Young Master Gu to Luqing Palace for a visit."

  His heart skipped a beat, but he respectfully said: "Your humble servant obeys your orders."

  ……

  Clang, Yu Fei's heart skipped a beat, the teacup in her hand fell to the ground, and looking at the spilled tea stains, it was clearly tea stains but seemed like blood.

  "Your Highness, it's not good! Your Highness, it's not good..." Jixiang rushed in anxiously, looking at Yu Fei who was sitting there silently staring at a tea stain on the ground. She knelt down beside her and choked back tears, saying: "Your Highness, it's not good... Shi Gonggong is leading Gu Ling and three other officials to the Liuqing Palace."

  Yu Fei's body went limp and she fell straight back, Jixiang rushed forward in terror to support her, choking out: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

  Yu Fei's entire body was icy cold, her teeth chattering, and her face had not a hint of color. It wasn't until after a long while that she slowly spoke: "Jixiang, help me with my hair." No matter how formidable a person may be, they can never outdo fate; Liu Shi was like this, and so was she.

  Ji Xiang's lips trembled, wanting to say something but ultimately saying nothing. He supported Yu Fei as she sat down in front of the dresser and, holding back tears, personally helped her with her hair.

  Looking at herself in the copper mirror, Yu Fei smiled slightly: "People say that a man's heart is like iron, but in my opinion, the emperor's heart is made of ice."

  Lucky secretly wiped away tears.

  "When I heard the rumors in the palace, I actually already knew that the situation had gone too far. But I was not willing to give up. Whether I struggled or not, it would be the same outcome - death. So I could only hold on to hope and struggle one last time, hoping that the Emperor would show mercy. But I forgot, a man with a heart as cold as ice for thousands of years, how could he possibly care about showing compassion? Otherwise, Liu Yinhua wouldn't have ended up dead five years ago."

  Hong Ying stood at the entrance, watching as Ji Gonggong personally helped Yu Fei with her hair. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment, and she retreated to one side, suddenly feeling lost. What was the point of her existence?

  ……

  Yu Zhu and Yu Cui exchanged a glance, both looking somewhat uneasily at the princess standing under the eaves. The princess had been standing there since early morning, staring blankly into the sky.

  When he saw with his own eyes the first golden light breaking through the clouds and rising up from the horizon, Yuan Wuyou smiled.

  "Today is another sunny day, Yu Zhu, take out the bedding of this palace and sun it again." Yuan Wuyou said with her eyes narrowed, looking at the rising sun, without turning her head.

  "Yes, Princess." Yu Zhu replied respectfully.

  At the same time, Liu Qinggong's eunuch was suspiciously watching a group of people coming towards them. When he saw that it was actually Shi Gonggong walking in front, his heart skipped a beat and he quickly knelt down to pay his respects.

  He raised his head to look at the palace plaque in front of him, and this scene seemed familiar. He didn't know why, but suddenly he thought of that clear morning five years ago. It was also a cold winter day, almost the same time, the only difference was that it was icy and snowy then, while today it was sunny with a vast sky.

  He coldly waved his hand and the Imperial Guard immediately surrounded the Liuqing Palace.

  The eunuch on duty at the Liqing Palace turned pale as ash when he saw the Imperial Guard surrounding the palace, his whole body trembling with fear.

  "Mr. Gu, please!" Shi Ji turned his head and gestured to Gu Ling.

  Gu Ling nodded and walked in first, followed by the three investigating officials, and finally Liao Qingyun.

  Shi Zhi took a glance at Liao Qingyun, who was personally carrying a wooden box on his back, and slightly narrowed his eyes: "Who is this?"

  Liao Qingyun bowed slightly and said: "I am Liao Qingyun, a forensic expert from the Ministry of Justice."

  Shi Ze's eyes flickered slightly: "Liao Daren's young master?"

  "Present, I have seen the Emperor." Liao Qingyun bowed slightly before stepping into the Liuqing Palace.

  When the imperial guards rushed into the inner palace of Liucheng, the second prince was having breakfast. Seeing the imperial guards rushing in, he shook his hand and the chopsticks in his hand fell to the ground.

  "...... Gu Ling? Is it you?"

  Looking at Gu Ling who came after him, he panicked and shouted out loud.

  "Gu Ling has seen the Second Imperial Prince."

  The second prince suppressed the fear in his heart and shouted: "Gu Ling, this is Xiao Wang's bedroom, you have a big nerve."

  Gu Ling bowed his head and clasped his hands: "Second Prince, I have offended you." After finishing speaking, he turned around and directly used the golden token to give an order: "Search."

  "Gu Ling, you dare..." The Second Prince trembled as he pointed at Gu Ling.

  "The Second Prince, Gu Gongzi said that the case of the fire at the Moon Palace has been settled, but the evidence is in the Liuqing Palace. The Emperor ordered a search, and the Second Prince doesn't need to say more." Shi Ji walked in with an expressionless face.

  Looking at Shizhi, the second prince's face turned deathly pale and he sat back in his chair. His eyes tried to pretend to be calm, but if one looked closely, it wasn't hard to see that his hands and feet were trembling.

  Gu Ling's gaze moved away from the Second Prince, and he nodded slightly towards Liao Qingyun. Liao Qingyun walked quietly, sizing up every corner of the grand hall before moving inch by inch, finally entering a side chamber.

  As soon as he entered the side hall, his eyes became sharp and didn't miss any subtle details. He was investigating here, while several people waiting in the main hall for the results of the imperial guard's search all had solemn expressions, only Gu Ling appeared calm and composed.

  Shi Ze's gaze swept silently and motionlessly over the crowd, finally coming to rest on the Second Prince.

  He almost saw through the Second Prince at a glance and knew that Gu Ling dared to bet his life, and he won.

  In a hurry, an imperial guard rushed into the inner hall, looking flustered and stuttering: "Report to Grand Secretary, discovered...discovered..." He couldn't get the rest of the words out.

  Shi Ji looked at the Second Prince, and the Second Prince's face was ashen.

  Liao Daren took a glance at Gu Ling and asked urgently, "Where was it discovered?" Could it be true that the body of the Grand Princess was hidden in the cold cellar as the note said?

  Digression

  The second watch has arrived...