The Hidden Mastermind 049
Who hasn't manipulated some people in the imperial harem until now?
Although Mei Fei was clear in her mind, when she saw the eunuchs from the Imperial Hospital and the personal attendants of the Crown Prince, including Song and Xiao Hai, appear on stage, she couldn't help but change color. She really hadn't expected that Yu Fei would play such a long game, if it weren't for the fact that she had reached the end of her rope, she wouldn't have revealed these pawns.
Mei Fei thought of this level and her heart skipped a beat. Yu Fei... was clearly burning the jade along with the common stone!
Those who are afraid of being horizontal are not afraid of death, those who wear shoes are afraid of bare feet. Mei Fei tried her best to appear calm on the surface, but in fact, she was really panicked. Facing an opponent who wanted to drag herself down together, what could she use to resist?
And she, like Yu Fei, has followed the Emperor for so many years, and is well aware of how cold and ruthless his heart can be.
The Crown Prince never thought that Xiao Haizi would betray him, or perhaps he didn't betray him, but rather he was never his person to begin with. In this palace, who is human and who is a ghost, can anyone tell the difference?
Gu Ling looked at the two people kneeling in the hall, one was the eunuch of the Taiyi Hospital and the other was a personal attendant of the Crown Prince. These two people jointly accused the Crown Prince, which indeed put the Crown Prince at a disadvantage on the surface. However, he was not handling an ordinary case, as this case involved the palace, and many people and things could not be judged by common sense.
Listening to the two people's stuttering and disjointed statements...
Everyone frowned, according to the two of them, the eldest prince and princess had an incestuous relationship that caused the pearl fetus to become dark and stillborn. The princess was so frightened that she asked Song's nanny to give her medicine to induce labor, which led to a massive hemorrhage and eventually death. It wasn't until then that Yu Fei realized the truth. In order to protect the princess's reputation, she decided to hide the princess in the cold cellar and threatened the eldest prince to come up with a way to cover up the matter. However, unexpectedly, the eldest prince ruthlessly planned the fire at the Moon Clear Palace, burning 15 people alive...
Gu Ling narrowed his eyes, sneering inwardly. Did Yu Fei really think everyone was a fool who could be manipulated at will? As for whether the Grand Princess had actually died from a miscarriage and hemorrhage, it would be clear once Qing Yun examined her. At this moment, he believed Qing Yun was already investigating.
As long as the cause of death of the eldest princess is investigated, no matter how Yu Fei and the second prince argue, they will not be able to turn black and white upside down. Ask, why can the eldest prince who has been out of the palace and sealed the house plan the fire in the Moon Palace? Rather than saying that this is accusing the eldest prince, it would be better to say that this is pointing at Consort Mei.
Only
He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Yu Fei and the Second Prince, wondering whether this frame-up of Mei Fei and the Crown Prince was Yu Fei's desperate struggle before death or... if there was someone behind the scenes manipulating things.
If it's Yu Fei struggling on her deathbed, wanting to go out with a bang, although it's a bit lamentable, it can also be understood as her mentality. But if it's someone behind the scenes manipulating things?
Gu Ling thought of this, and his pupils slightly contracted together. Could it be that the person behind was really Hua Wang? Using the death of the eldest princess to disturb the harem, triggering several princes to turn against each other?
The Seventh Prince lived in seclusion in the suburbs of Beijing, far from the Imperial Palace, and because he was expelled from court by the previous emperor, he had long lost his power both in the palace and in court, unless he lay dormant for fifteen years, secretly cultivating his own influence.
The King of Huai was young and deeply loved by the previous emperor, and the residence of the King of Huai was also located in the inner city near the imperial palace. Moreover, those who took care of the King of Huai were all arranged by the previous emperor himself... But is this possible?
To be able to make a move under the emperor's eyelids requires how much power or how deep a strategy?
Can his frail and weak brother-in-law really do it?
Gu Ling stared blankly at the hall below, and Liao Da Ren lightly cleared his throat to remind him: "Young Master Gu?"
Gu Ling suddenly woke up and said slowly: "Song's testimony can only prove that the Grand Princess was pregnant with a dark fetus, but it cannot prove that the person who caused the Grand Princess to have a dark fetus is the Crown Prince. With only one servant's testimony by the Crown Prince's side, it is too weak and insufficient as evidence. Yu Fei Niangniang, do you have any other evidence?"
Yu Fei coldly smiled: "The testimony of the most trusted attendant by the side of the eldest prince, yet you say that it is too weak and insufficient as evidence? I originally thought that you were not afraid of power and would not curry favor with those in power, but instead you risked your life to beg the Emperor to hand over justice for me and my son to you. I didn't expect you to disappoint me like this."
Gu Ling, regarding Yu Fei's words, was not annoyed, but calmly said: "It is precisely because of the two words 'justice' that this official must be practical and cautious..." Before he could finish speaking, a eunuch hastily ran into the hall, whispered something in Shi Gonggong's ear, and saw Shi Gonggong's expression change. His eyes gleamed fiercely as he looked at Yu Fei and the Second Prince, then raised his head to say to Gu Ling: "Gu sir, I'm afraid we won't be able to investigate anything today. Everyone please follow me into the palace."
The dazed look in Gu Ling's eyes flashed by, but his heart was inexplicably moved. If he guessed correctly, did the person behind the scenes really intend to take advantage of the opportunity to get rid of both the Crown Prince and the Second Prince?
So whether there is evidence in this case is not important, at this critical juncture, to kill someone does not require a knife, unanimous words, accumulation of false accusations, rumors can be intimidating, able to turn right and wrong upside down, putting people to death!
To kill someone is just a matter of nodding one's head, but this person in the dark can kill without shedding blood. Can it really be the doing of Prince Huai?
As expected by Gu Ling, while he was presiding over the trial at the Da Li Temple, news of the Crown Prince and Princess's rebellion, murder, and arson at the Yue Qing Palace spread quietly throughout the capital. Despite Emperor Qing's authority, how could the rumors be contained when so many people were talking?
Rumors can kill, and even if the truth comes to light, the eldest prince's reputation will likely be ruined among the people after this incident, which is probably more painful for a prince than death itself.
……
On the golden throne, Emperor Qing sat alone on the dragon chair, his eyes fixed on the nine-jeweled steps. He had fought his way up these nine-jeweled steps and onto this chair, cutting through thorns and killing to carve out a bloody path. To sit stably here, to grasp tightly what he had obtained, he would sacrifice everything, not allowing anyone to covet the position he had finally achieved after overcoming countless hardships and dangers.
"The lowly servant greets Your Majesty." Shi Ji hastily bowed and scurried into the grand hall.
The emperor leaned forward in his dragon throne, his hands clasped together, and a faint smile played on his lips: "Shi Ji, I originally thought that after the Liu family's affair, I would have some peaceful days. Now it seems that there are still many people in this world who are not afraid to die."
He tightened his heart and lowered his head, not daring to respond.
"The means of this person who is secretly manipulating things has made me look at him with new eyes, but he seems to still be underestimating me, and the two princes are not enough to move me."
Sweat dripped down his back, his heart tightened in waves. Upon hearing the Emperor's words, he completely understood that the master had been suspecting someone was secretly manipulating things all along, which was why he allowed the plan to unfold and agreed to let Concubine Yu publicly preside over this case. Or perhaps from the moment the master summoned Gu Ling to the capital, Gu Ling had already become a pawn in the master's game of chess. But... would sacrificing two princes be too heavy a price to pay?
"Your Majesty... is this the one who has been secretly manipulating things?" He didn't look down on Prince Huai, but rather, with Prince Huai's frail and weak body, how could he have the energy to secretly manipulate?
The Emperor sneered coldly: "I'm not in a hurry, as long as he makes a move, I'll eventually find out who he is?" It seems that the previous emperor was indeed very dissatisfied with him, and even buried such a hidden nail in this throne for him. Only his father seemed to have forgotten.
At that time he could defeat all his opponents, now still can, no matter who the person is?
Shi Ze let out a soft sigh in his heart. Perhaps the master had lost his way long ago and could only move forward, cutting through thorns to reach the end.
"Are those rumors worth taking seriously?"
The Emperor waved his hand: "No need, pass on the imperial decree, all relevant personnel in this case will be handed over to the Dalit Temple by Gu Ling for custody."
Shi Ze lowered his head: "Yes"
The emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his throne, a faint smile playing on his lips that sent shivers down one's spine. "Let it be known, if Gu Ling cannot crack this case within three days, at noon on the third day, he will meet his end." He wanted to see just how far this matter would go. Would the person behind the scenes turn out to be his own frail and weak tenth brother?
"Yes, your humble servant obeys."
The two princesses and the two princes have exchanged their lives for peace, but this storm is destined to come.
But who is this mysterious person? Is it the frail and weak King Hui? The seventh king who was expelled from the imperial court? Or... the third king who was demoted and escaped with his life from the capital city?
