Hua Zhi felt a little depressed. She was really deceived. She actually relied on this former leader quite a lot, thinking that if something really happened, there would be someone who could calm the situation. But now...
"Old man, rest and recover. I'll take care of the outside affairs. If I can't make up my mind, I'll come back and ask you for advice."
"You did a great job." Gu Yelin put away the expression that seemed like he was ready to laugh at others at any time, and rarely smiled sincerely. He heard all the arrangements she had made outside just now. Before facing the enemy, he knew to stabilize his position first. Although his offensiveness was not good enough, he was good at defending.
Hua Zhiqiang smiled, bowed, and went back to the next room.
"Yingchun, go back and tell Fourth Aunt to stop all purchases and close the door tightly, so that no one can enter or leave. Then go and tell the managers at the shop that if there is any change in the capital, don't worry about the money in the shop and go to the dining hall immediately."
"yes."
Just at this moment, Fu Dong came over with food. Hua Zhi was speechless. She had forgotten that the person in charge of the vegetarian restaurant was still here. But now she was asked to take charge of the situation...
"Sister Yingchun, there is no need for you to make this trip. I will go there right away."
Hua Zhi pursed her lips. How much courage would it take for such a timid maid who could even cry at thunder to say such words? She wanted to keep her by her side, but if she kept her, how could she feel at ease letting Yingchun run back and forth outside like this.
How did she force the maids around her into this state
Holding Fu Dong's shoulders, Hua Zhi said in a hoarse voice: "Don't be afraid, if the sky falls, Miss will hold you up."
"You are so tired, I will support you." Fu Dong held the young lady's hand and shook her head obediently, "I have become braver, I am not afraid."
"…Okay." Hua Zhi turned around and said, "Go and get busy. Be careful about your own safety."
"yes."
It took Hua Zhi a long time to calm down. It was the first time she ate something made by Fudong and she had no idea how tasty it was.
When Chen Qing came back, the rain got heavier. Even wearing rain gear didn't help much. He was afraid that the cold air on his body would pass on to the girl, so he didn't dare to get close. He didn't move forward more than five steps away. "I contacted someone from the Fourth Prince's Mansion. He told me something. When the Xu family sent New Year gifts to the Fourth Prince's Mansion a few years ago, he accidentally heard the Fourth Prince and Xu Ting say that they should look for the person in a distant place, no more than eight years old. Because he couldn't find any connection between this matter and the matter in the capital, he didn't report it. He only told me about it today when I asked him."
"Xu Ting is Concubine Xu's brother?"
"yes."
Hua Zhi's mind raced. "We found out that Xu Ting had been away from home for the past few months, and every time he came back, he would go to the palace to give gifts to Concubine Xu. We couldn't find out what he gave. The Fourth Prince once told Xu Ting that he wanted to look for a child farther away. Eight years old must refer to a child. What would he do with a child under eight years old? To train him as a death warrior? Or to send him to the palace? But why would he send a child to the palace? If Haoyue was faking her pregnancy, or if it was to prepare for the birth of a daughter, then he should have looked for a newborn child."
Chen Qing was also puzzled. "He once searched the Fourth Prince's study room, but didn't find anything suspicious. I'm afraid we won't be able to find any evidence from the Fourth Prince."
With a mother like Concubine Xu, the Fourth Prince would not be foolish enough to leave behind letters or something like that to be used as evidence, especially in such a big matter. She was going in the wrong direction from the beginning.
We still have to enter the Ruyue Palace and check the emperor's daily records to see if they can be matched with the days when Haoyue was pregnant. It is impossible for the emperor to indulge in revelry day and night given his physical condition. This is a breakthrough. The other way is to start with the people in the Ruyue Palace. If someone can prove that the two have had an affair and provide evidence, then the two will never be able to turn over.
But, it's difficult.
First of all, they couldn't enter the palace.
"Did you get any response when you handed over the sign?"
Chen Qing shook his head. The reason why he came back at this time was that he had been waiting, but he never waited.
It is unknown whether this sign has been handed to the emperor. Hua Zhi looked down at her hands and said, "Let all officials know the news, and then keep a close eye on the Fourth Prince."
"yes."
There were bursts of spring thunder, and the news that there were remnants of the Chao Li clan in the palace was like a thunderclap over the heads of the officials in the court. They did not care what thunder it was, and they rushed out of their respective yamen or homes, asking to see the emperor. The Central Camp guarding the capital was even more nervous, ready to rescue the emperor at any time.
Several princes arrived one after another, but after an hour, there was no movement in the palace.
In the side hall where they were waiting for the imperial edict, all the civil and military officials looked at each other. Duke Anguo and Zhu Bowen looked at each other and walked towards Duke Dingguo, who had a serious expression.
Although they are both dukes, unlike the Lu family, Duke Ding is of orthodox royal blood and holds a high position. Although he usually does not take care of things, he is the chief of the royal family and is always treated with courtesy by the emperor.
The situation in the palace is complicated, and they can only act if they get the support of Zong Zheng.
Many thoughts flashed through his mind in a flash, and Duke Anguo cupped his hands and said, "Duke Dingguo, can I have a word with you?"
Duke Ding opened his slightly closed eyes, said nothing, but took the initiative to walk to an empty corner. It can be seen that he was quite upset at this moment. Duke Lu was delighted and hurriedly followed him.
The others followed suit with their eyes, either overtly or covertly.
Duke Anguo lowered his voice and said, "Duke Dingguo, how true do you think this is?"
Duke Dingguo glanced at him, but asked another question, "Why hasn't the prince returned yet?"
"Why does Duke Dingguo think that I know where the Crown Prince is?"
"When will he come back?"
The two of them confronted each other for a long time, and in the end, it was Duke An who spoke first because he had something to ask for. "I really don't know when he will be back, but I learned from Miss Hua that he went to Yanzhou, where the Chaoli tribe has a silver storage site. I wonder what else Duke Dingguo wants to know."
Duke Dingguo closed his eyes and sighed secretly. This means that at this point, the prince might still be fighting with the Chaoli tribe. The emperor is confused! If a person has such ambition, how could he not get married until now, how could he scratch his face, and how could he wear the mask of the leader of the Seven Stars? According to convention, once this mask is put on, he can only be a faceless person forever. If the emperor hadn't forced him like that, how many people would know that the leader of the Seven Stars was the prince!
Just like the previous leader, he had suspected for decades that he was his younger brother, but had not been able to confirm it so far.
Duke Anguo lowered his eyes and stopped asking questions. They didn't want to offend the emperor, nor did they covet that position. But as the prince's maternal grandfather, he felt very upset!
Before the emperor did this, did he ever think about what would happen if the Seventh Constellation was no longer under the leadership of the prince, and the court was no longer under the control of the prince? He really wanted to risk his life to ask in person, for whose country was his grandson working so hard!
"I understand." Duke Dingguo shook his sleeves lightly, walked to the front of the palace, lifted up his skirt and knelt down, "Your Majesty, I, the Chief of the Imperial Clan, Gu Yecheng, respectfully request that the Emperor come forward to calm the anxious hearts of the ministers."
Duke Anguo quickly walked up to him and knelt down, "Your Majesty."
All the ministers knelt down, "Your Majesty."
Several princes also knelt down, "Please come in, Father."