HCB Chapter 142: Choose a wise leader?
Chapter 142: Choose a wise leader?
Many things happened in the capital during these eleven days.
Chen Shi'an was rewarded for his meritorious service in disaster relief, and His Majesty promoted him several levels to become the Chief Censor. He resigned from his post in Qingzhou and officially took up a post in the capital. I heard that he was also allocated a house.
As for the post station case, His Majesty had ordered Gu Shicheng to conduct a thorough investigation, which also caused Second Prince Gu Yanli great concern. If the evidence pointed to him and was handed over to His Majesty, everything would be too disadvantageous for him. His father, the emperor, was decisive when necessary and would not tolerate the persecution of loyal ministers. If he crossed his father's line, he was afraid that the position of crown prince would pass him by.
The two arrows Helan Xuenuo had dropped at the post station had made Gu Shicheng a thorn in his side. He was determined to kill him, and no matter how many secret guards and assassins he sent, they were unable to harm Gu Shicheng.
On the day of the beginning of winter, Gu Shicheng actually came to his door in person and gave him a copy of the post station's closing statement: the murderer was an assassin from a foreign country, and the remaining criminals who were captured had all confessed their crimes and were executed by hanging.
The Second Prince held the closing statement, his heart filled with doubts. If it was Gu Shicheng who had confronted him that day at the post station, why was he being acquitted today? He asked, "What does this mean, cousin?"
Gu Shicheng scraped the tea with the lid of the teacup and smiled, "That night at the post station, I was ordered to secretly protect Chen Shian. I really didn't know who the visitor was, but I had a mission to fulfill, and I had to protect him well."
The second prince suddenly smiled, his brows relaxed, and all the worries of the past few days were swept away. He dismissed the irrelevant people in the hall and ordered the withdrawal of the layers of secret guards who were ambushing in the mansion.
It turned out that he had guessed wrong. Gu Shicheng hadn't deliberately gone against him! Then he was still useful.
The Second Prince suddenly stood up and bowed to Gu Shicheng. "Cousin, I've made this clear to you today. After the Crown Prince's death, Father has been hesitant to appoint a successor. That person in the palace is eyeing him covetously. And I know Third Brother Xingzhi very well. He's easily influenced. If he were to control the government in the future, I'm afraid Donglai Kingdom would fall apart! I don't care much about the position of Crown Prince. I'm worried that Donglai Kingdom's century-old foundation will be destroyed!"
Seeing the Second Prince Gu Yanli speaking so righteously and sternly, Gu Shicheng's lips curled up into a smile, but his eyes were gloomy and terrifying. The assassinations and hunts arranged by Gu Yanli these days were not painful but made him feel irritated. In his eyes, Gu Yanli was also stupid. He raised one eyebrow, smoothed it with his hand, and said slowly, "This king also has this idea. Since I have to choose between the two of you, this king will definitely choose a wise leader. After all, Donglai Kingdom is the foundation that the emperor's uncle has protected all his life. He loves the people like his own children, can distinguish loyalty from treachery, and knows how to use people. This king admires him very much! Chen Shi'an has now been promoted to the position of Chief Censor. It is also because His Majesty has taken a fancy to his integrity. His Majesty has entrusted his safety to this king. This king must protect people! These days, the king can no longer divide his attention to protect others. I only hope that there will be no more trouble in the court!"
"My cousin is right." The Second Prince smiled, but his heart wasn't quite as pleased. Was Gu Shicheng actually teaching him a lesson? He was reminding him that Chen Shi'an couldn't be touched, and that he should behave himself. Gu Shicheng's power was now too great, and with Meng Nan's backing, his assassinations had repeatedly failed. Since Gu Shicheng had given him a favor, he would give him one too! However, when he ascended the throne and became emperor, he wouldn't indulge him anymore.
Gu Shicheng suddenly laughed out loud, and patted the Second Prince with a look of satisfaction. His expression turned serious again, and he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is old, and that day will eventually come. From now on, Donglai Kingdom will need a wise ruler to govern. You are smarter than Xingzhi, and I believe in you! I will also assist you well in the future!" His eyes were meaningful, and his voice became deeper. "I act in the same way as Your Majesty does. I cannot bear to see loyal ministers being persecuted, and I cannot bear to see corrupt officials in the court. I believe you, Yanli, feel the same way, right?"
The Second Prince forced a smile and replied guiltily, "Yes... yes."
Gu Shicheng smiled again, his eyes unfathomable. "Since we all think alike, I believe we will have a pleasant cooperation in the future! I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
"Goodbye, cousin." The second prince looked quite humble. He had always been able to endure. What was wrong with enduring for a while in exchange for great achievements in the future?
After Gu Shicheng left, a guard appeared beside the Second Prince. He stared at the direction Gu Shicheng had gone, and asked with murderous intent in his eyes, "Your Highness, do you still want to arrange the assassination?"
"No need! I will still rely on this cousin in the future!"
The guard asked again, "Can Prince Ding'an really be trusted?"
The Second Prince's expression grew solemn, his eyes gleaming with sinister intent. He smiled, "Of course I won't trust him, but I need to use him now! When I'm done with him, I'll pull out his fangs!" He remembered something and turned his head to ask the guard, "How's the concubine in the palace?"
The guard shook his head, "I haven't sent anyone to follow you recently."
A stern look flashed in the Second Prince's eyes. "Keep sending people to watch her. Wait until she leaves the palace and send someone to report." He dared not cooperate with such a powerful person. Before cooperating, he had to pull out one of his fangs. Princess Mengnan was that fang! As long as Princess Mengnan died, Gu Shicheng would become the culprit. Mengnan would definitely hold him accountable. Only then would he be truly worthy of cooperating with him.
He began to look forward to the day he ascended the throne. What a lively scene it would be, with everyone kneeling in the court to congratulate him? He would be wearing the dragon robe, holding the seal, holding everyone's lifeline. Everyone would obey his orders and speak to him cautiously. How comfortable would that be!
On that day, he will no longer try to please anyone, and he will definitely clear away those who stand in his way!
After the winter solstice, Helan Xuenuo received a generous gift, a phoenix blood jade bracelet, which is priceless and there is probably only one in the entire Donglai Kingdom. According to legend, the phoenix blood jade bracelet has been lost for a long time and was worn by emperors and empresses in ancient times. It is very rare to find.
The visitor did not say which mansion the gift came from, but only said it was a gift for Helan Xuonuo at the beginning of winter.
Helan could only think of Yuanxu. She smiled and put on the phoenix blood jade bracelet. She thought that Yuanxu had not seen her for so many days and was avoiding her. He was hesitant in his heart.
But now, this phoenix blood jade bracelet made her heart fluctuate, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise, and she couldn't restrain the smile on her face.
The only thing she was curious about was why the Phoenix Blood Jade Bracelet and Golden Crow Tea were not sent together?
Perhaps the bracelet had just been delivered to her today? Thinking this way, she realized that this must be the case, and without further doubt, she stared at the Phoenix Blood Bracelet on her hand, laughing foolishly.
Only when someone came to report the news did she stop smiling.
The news that Qi Didi had left the palace reached Helan Xuenuo, and the spy she sent to keep an eye on her finally got some feedback.
Helan smiled and said, "The snake is coming out of its hole again."
Xiao Zhu said angrily, "Then I'll hit her hard on the vital spot this time so that she can no longer move."
It is consistent with Helan's guess.
Qi Didi went towards the Prime Minister's Residence as soon as she left the house, and bumped into Huang Weiming. The two hit it off immediately. Huang Weiming had noticed on the night of August Festival that she didn't like Helan, and he didn't like her either. The two of them were quite compatible, so he took the initiative to greet her.
Qi Didi did not meet him by chance, but came to find him on purpose. The two of them went to the private room of the tavern.
The private room was filled with Qi Didi's tearful accusations. She looked so pitiful and spoke so softly that even Huang Weiming could not help being moved. He began to feel sorry for her, pitiful that she was tricked by Helan into marrying into the palace, and even more pitiful that Helan had seduced her husband time and time again.
For a moment, I felt that we were in the same boat.