Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 542 -542: Difficult to be a Hostage (37)

Chapter 542 -542: Difficult to be a Hostage (37)

“Your Highness, something has happened.”

Chen Fei entered shouting, and was immediately greeted by an inkstone flying towards him, accompanied by splattering ink.

Chen Fei dodged in alarm, and although he avoided the inkstone, ink still splashed all over him.

Chen Fei: “…”

Lian Qiong put down his brush and looked at Chen Fei with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: “If you don’t tell me something significant today, you’ll see how I’ll deal with you.”

There was a skewed stroke on the rice paper in front of Lian Qiong.

Clearly, it was caused by the tremor in his hand when Chen Fei came in.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has had an incident.”

Lian Qiong raised an eyebrow, his tone devoid of any of a son’s concern for his father: “What could have happened to him?”

Chen Fei said, “News has come from the palace that he suddenly fell into a coma, the specifics are still unknown…”

Ever since the incident with the Empress, the Emperor of Jin’s health had been deteriorating.

He was ill every three days and gravely sick every five.

The Imperial Physicians were always on edge, attending to him daily.

Today, during the early court session, the Emperor of Jin hadn’t woken up. The eunuchs in service called for him for a long time with no response, so they summoned the Imperial Physicians, who found that the Emperor had already lapsed into a coma.

Lian Qiong sat down gracefully: “How is the investigation into the matter of the provisions proceeding?”

Chen Fei: “It has been confirmed that it was orchestrated by the people on the side of the Second Prince. They must have noticed Your Majesty’s guilt over the Xiao Clan’s affairs and feared that you would seize the opportunity to ascend…”

Lian Qiong hooked up the corner of his lips: “So this matter is very likely to have been man-made?”

Chen Fei dared not speak recklessly: “Your Highness, will you be entering the palace?”

The room fell silent for a moment.

“Of course I will. Why wouldn’t I?”

–

Chuzheng also received the news.

The news was delivered by Xiao Shanzi.

“Coma?”

“Yes, the cause of the coma is still unclear,” Xiao Shanzi replied cautiously. “But His Majesty’s health has been poor lately; he has been taking medicine.”

Chuzheng pondered thoughtfully.

The Emperor of Jin falling into a coma at this time was no good omen.

The Emperor’s condition could not be kept secret, and the officials, both civil and military, were in a state of panic.

Of course, it was uncertain how many were genuinely worried.

Everyone had to keep up appearances at the very least, not to be caught off guard and to feign urgency.

Then the question arose…

With the Emperor temporarily unable to handle state affairs, who would manage the court?

The position of Crown Prince was vacant, and each Prince had his own faction supporting him. It seemed inappropriate for any of them to take charge.

Chuzheng felt that there was more to it than met the eye.

As expected.

Within three days, the Emperor passed away.

The last person the Emperor saw was the Second Prince.

The Second Prince emerged with the Imperial Decree, announcing to the ministers that the Emperor had named him as his successor.

This statement naturally faced skepticism from the other Princes.

How could the Emperor, who was deep in a coma, regain consciousness at the very last moment just to see the Second Prince?

The usually hostile Princes united in setting their sights on the Second Prince.

The situation almost spiraled out of control.

Just as everyone was preparing with swords drawn, the Third Prince arrived leisurely with his attendants.

“Our Imperial Father has just passed away. Are you all going to fight for the throne here to the death?” Lian Qiong’s smiling voice cut through the chaos, and the place fell silent at once.

“Third Royal Brother, you weren’t here attending to our father in his final moments, and now you show up…” one of the Princes nearby remarked sarcastically.

Lian Qiong’s smile lingered: “I had little affection for our father. What good would pretending do here?”

His words were perhaps too blunt.

But it was indeed the truth.

Everyone knew that the Third Prince and His Majesty were not on good terms.

If he had really pretended to be the dutiful son, that would have been suspicious.

“So, what did you come here for, Third Imperial Brother?” the Second Prince, holding the Imperial Decree, frowned as he stared at Lian Qiong.

Since his recent return, Lian Qiong had become the Prince most favorably positioned to compete for the throne.

How could he not be wary?

“Of course, it’s for the throne,” Lian Qiong remained undisguised.

“Father has already passed the throne to me…”

“Really?” Lian Qiong’s smile was somewhat sinister.

“Of course, the Imperial Decree is right here!”

“Imperial Decrees can also be forged.” A crisp and indifferent voice rose from behind.

The crowd parted, and a woman with a cold expression walked in slowly with a Little Eunuch following her.

The ink-colored skirt of her dress swayed with her movement, like a blooming ink lotus.

Chen Fei, standing beside Lian Qiong, stepped back a few paces to make room.

The woman stood beside Lian Qiong facing so many people, showing no signs of stage fright or nervousness, she exuded only calmness and detachment.

Under the dim light, the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, an indescribably perfect match.

“My Lady, why have you come?” Lian Qiong’s appellation let everyone know who she was.

“You… are…”

After marrying Lian Qiong, Chuzheng had hardly ever gone out.

The first reason was that Lian Qiong didn’t want Chuzheng to meet these messy people.

The second reason was that Chuzheng didn’t want to go out.

Therefore, most people probably didn’t know what the woman Lian Qiong married actually looked like.

“Wei Country’s Hostage!!” The Second Prince raised his voice by several degrees.

He could not be mistaken.

This face.

Was the face of that Hostage from Wei Country.

After the battle between Jin and Wei, the Hostage from Wei Country had gone missing…

Now, how did she become a woman? And why was she standing with the Third Prince?

“Who I am is not important,” Chuzheng said. “Today is not about inquiring who I am.”

“…”

The crowd exchanged puzzled looks.

“Hmph, I don’t care if you are Wei Country’s Hostage or not, what does today’s affair have to do with you, do you have any right to speak here?” The Second Prince’s face was cold and hard.

“Whether I have the right is not for you to decide.”

“What…”

The Second Prince had not finished his sentence when he saw the Imperial Guards appear in the palace, quickly surrounding them.

Chuzheng turned her head to ask Lian Qiong, “Your Highness, what is the punishment for forging an Imperial Decree?”

Lian Qiong did not know that Chuzheng would come

Breaking into a slight smile from his shock, he slowly curled his lips, “Death penalty.”

The Second Prince’s heart thumped wildly, barely managing to remain composed.

The Imperial Decree he held was indeed fake.

“You count as nothing, you have…”

“Ah!” The Second Prince’s knees went weak, and he kneeled before everyone.

Those around the Second Prince clumsily tried to help him up, as his face turned an ashen hue.

“There’s no need to kneel if you are aware of your mistake.” Chuzheng’s serious and earnest expression tightened as she wrapped her sleeves around her arms.

Second Prince: “…”

He kneel?

Just now, he didn’t know what happened; his knees had just suddenly turned soft.

He hadn’t even had the chance to react!!

“Bring the man up.” Chuzheng didn’t wait for the Second Prince to continue acting; in such a moment, waiting for him to proceed with his act would only lead to an unpredictable development.

Of course, she had to follow her own rhythm.

Xiao Shanzi immediately went to fetch the man.

“Isn’t this… Imperial Doctor Zhou?”

“How come he’s been tied up?”

The over fifty-year-old Imperial Doctor Zhou, having been tied up tight, seemed to have suffered quite a bit, and looked quite pitiful.

Xiao Shanzi removed what had been stuffed into Imperial Doctor Zhou’s mouth.

Imperial Doctor Zhou immediately cried out with a hoarse voice full of accusation, “Second Prince, you promised to send me back to my hometown, why put me in a deadly situation?!”

Upon seeing Imperial Doctor Zhou’s expression, the Second Prince felt something was wrong.