Chapter 267

Duke Qing Palace…

“Grandfather, it seems like the crown prince has no chance of surviving!” Qing Yao stood in front of the Duke of Qing, unable to contain her excitement. The person who had destroyed her had finally died. How wonderful! The heavens knew that even in her dreams, she would have liked Prince Shang to die without a burial ground. Now, she could only watch helplessly as Prince Shang descended the Broken Soul Cliff. It was truly a pleasant sight to behold.

In fact, he should have personally spread the news of the crown prince’s accident from the start. However, he was still cautious enough to not be certain of the death of Crown Prince Shang. Moreover, none of the men around Crown Prince Shang were good people; not to mention the Left Premier or General Leng, anyone who provoked him would definitely be covered in blood. However, even after waiting for so long, there was no news of the crown prince. Even though the crown prince’s residence had disguised itself very well, he was still unable to tell that it was an illusion intentionally released by the crown prince’s residence.

Yet now, even the Minister of the Left was nowhere to be seen. This meant that the Crown Prince was indeed dead. Even though he knew that this was not the best time to gamble, the Duke of Qing knew that there were times when he had to gamble in order to achieve great things. And this time, he had to gamble! He was betting that those people would not waste any more time because the crown prince was already dead! The human heart was naturally selfish. Who would waste time thinking about someone who had nothing to do with it?

The Duke of Qing looked at his once disdainful granddaughter; he once valued his two sons the most, followed by his two direct descendants. However, the two direct descendants of his had been designed to die in the wrong, which was the death of his two most treasured sons, with their whereabouts unknown. However, only in these few days did the Duke of Qing see the potential of his granddaughter. This granddaughter of hers and that granddaughter of hers were both rare women. Would her granddaughter be able to become someone like Shang Liangge? If he could cultivate this granddaughter of his and didn’t let him down …

“Men, spread the news that the crown prince is a fool and does not know where he is. Also, spread the news that Prime Minister Zuo is in the middle of delaying the nation’s affairs!” This old man will make the rumors spread all over the capital within three days! ” The Duke of Qing ordered.

Qing Yao was overjoyed. Even if the current Qing Yao was slowly changing and following her grandfather around for a long time, even though she was still young and had already exposed her happiness after just a single order, the Duke of Qing’s face instantly turned cold.

“Don’t think that this old man doesn’t know that the rumors from last time were caused by you. Yao’er, this old man hopes that you understand!” Duke Qing caressed the top of Qing Yao’s head like a grandfather, but his eyes were as cold as ice.

Qing Yao held back her fear and wanted to retreat. She knew that her grandfather disliked people who disobeyed him the most. In fact, he even went as far as defying the Yin, but she really wished for the Crown Prince to die. Thus, she had secretly sent people to spread the news of the crown prince’s accident. However, before the news could spread, it was intercepted. No matter what she did, she couldn’t do anything about it. At that time, she already knew that the other party’s power was too great, and the servants under her command were simply unable to contend against them. Some of them even had their heads separated from their bodies when spreading the rumors.

Qing Yao had always thought that she had done this in secret, but she didn’t expect her grandfather to know about it. “Yao’er also wants to share some of my grandfather’s burden. After all, the crown prince is always causing trouble for Grandfather, so Yao’er can’t stand it!”

“You can’t see it?” Duke Qing picked up his crutch and directly hit Qing Yao on the arm with it, his voice full of vigor, “You think I can’t see through your little thoughts?” This Residence of the Duke of Guo is my place. If you want to obtain treatment different from the other direct daughters, then you should know what your position is! ”

This was the first time she had seen her grumpy grandfather like this. She had thought that her grandfather was the venerated duke, the pillar of the Duke of Guo’s estate, the pillar of support for the entire Duke of Guo’s estate. But now, Qing Yao finally knew that it wasn’t because her grandfather relied on her, but rather an old ghost who disregarded family love!

“Yao’er knows her wrongs. Yao’er doesn’t dare to do it again!” Qing Yao immediately begged for mercy. No matter how unwilling she was, she still begged for mercy like a maid. Without her grandfather’s protection, she was nothing in the Duke’s Palace, not like this. Even if her parents had passed away, because she had always followed her grandfather, no one in the mansion dared to not be respectful to her. Even the illegimate daughter s, who were concubines, did not dare to touch her.

Even the Duke of Qing was exhausted after a few kicks. After all, he had often felt that his strength was insufficient when he was his age. Waving her hand, Qing Yao endured the pain and helped the Duke of Qing sit down. She then heard the Duke of Qing say, “Go down! As long as you’re smart and can do something useful for the Duke’s Palace, you’re the eldest miss of the Duke’s Palace! ”

“Thank you Grandfather, Yao’er will definitely work hard!” After bowing, Qing Yao left the room. As soon as she left the room, she almost fell down from the pain. However, when she saw the servants standing there pretending nothing had happened, her originally pretty face became more and more distorted.

— —

The palace …

Emperor Shang sat sickly in the royal study as he read through the imperial reports, but he also knew that even though his face was haggard his body was still full of energy and vitality. This poison was very useful, and he had concealed it from many people because his illness was so severe that Emperor Shang did not stop him from watching from the shadows.

“Your majesty, it’s already late at night, you should get some rest!” Eunuch Xu carried a bowl of medicinal soup into the imperial study. He looked at Emperor Shang as he read the imperial reports and sighed. Not only had his family’s emperor not spent so many years in the imperial concubine’s chamber, not only did he not favor the newlyweds, he was also very concerned about the affairs of the Kingdom of Shang and had to deal with the Duke of Qing’s faction. He was busy and laborious.

Emperor Shang looked at the time and realized that it was getting late. He was just about to stand up when he realized he had stood up. Eunuch Xu saw him and immediately went forward to massage the Emperor’s waist.

“Old Fart, my current body is really getting worse and worse every year!” Emperor Shang took Eunuch Xu’s hand and held it for a few steps. He noticed that his waist was still in pain, but this was an old habit of his.

Eunuch Xu supported Emperor Shang for a few steps before helping him to sit down. He quickly placed the medicinal soup by his side and said, “Your majesty is joking?” The Emperor looks very young, how can he be old! ”

“Since when did you learn to flatter me!” Although Eunuch Xu was only a eunuch, he still trusted Eunuch Xu. Eunuch Xu was also a loyal servant, serving the emperor well over the years.

“This servant doesn’t dare!” Emperor Shang was kind to him, but as a slave, he had never forgotten his status.

“Let’s go and arrange for us to secretly leave the palace to check on Xin’er!” In fact, he had a faint feeling that something was not right. Even if Ye Yizhi told his daughter that he went to do some work, Ye Yizhi did not come to court, and the crown prince’s mansion had been too calm recently, this kind of peace had caused the crown prince to feel somewhat uneasy. However, he knew that if he investigated this matter, it would only cause trouble for the crown prince’s mansion for so long, but Ye Yizhi had disappeared along with Leng Yufeng, who was supposed to be at the border.

After the last cleaning, the palace had become much cleaner, and since Emperor Shang had so many subordinates in his hands, it was easy for him to quietly leave the palace, but he could not leave for too long. After all, as the emperor, everyone was paying attention to his every move.

At this time, the crown prince’s residence had yet to receive any news of the crown prince’s safety. Those who had returned to the training area did not talk about it, so the crown prince’s residence was now eerily quiet. When Emperor Shang arrived at the gates of the crown prince’s mansion, Steward Hai saw that Emperor Shang was sweating profusely.

“The Emperor …” Steward Hai also knew that he shouldn’t expose Shang Guan’s identity, so he invited him into the manor. However, they did not know how to hide it. They were already saddened by the crown prince’s accident. If the emperor knew about it, it would be terrible.

Emperor Shang nodded his head to signal for the steward to not be too courteous. He could see that his daughter was much better to these people than to his father. Even though he was upset, the emperor still understood. His daughter hadn’t grown up by his side. It was normal for her to hide her identity and not be close to him. But now that her daughter had the ability to be close to him, there was always a feeling in her heart.

“Your majesty, the crown prince is currently not in the estate. I don’t know …” Steward Hai wanted the emperor to leave, but this was the father of the crown prince of the State of Shang. How could Steward Hai dare to say such disrespectful words?

Although the Crown Prince’s accident had something to do with Madam Ye, the people in the Crown Prince’s Palace did not have any disrespectful thoughts towards Madam Ye. Besides, these days everyone had seen Madam Ye feel guilty and sick because of the pain.

After all, the last time he saw Yi Yin, although her eyes were still lifeless, but her body was still in good condition. However, the current Yi Yin looked like a person who was begging for death.

“Director Hai, you may leave!” Yi Yin waved her hand to have Steward Hai leave before bringing him to a pavilion in the garden of the crown prince’s residence to make tea for him. Although Emperor Shang was surprised, he still sat there sipping his tea.

“Your majesty, is there a difference when you see the garden of the crown prince’s mansion?” Yinyin pointed to the garden in the crown prince’s residence. Unlike the other gardens, which were filled with flowers, the waiting flowers in the crown prince’s residence were all sealed up.

Emperor Shang admired the garden in the crown prince’s mansion and felt that it was different. He smiled and said, “Our child is indeed different from the others. This garden is also unique!” No matter what, Shang Wuxin was his most beloved and only child.

Yi Yin also laughed, as if she saw that girl dressed in men’s clothes standing outside the garden with a cold expression, she sighed and said, “But these flowers are either medicine or poison, I wanted to ask Emperor Shang, when have you ever had the heart to let a woman become like this? Even in his own mansion, he was so uneasy, not even wearing a woman’s outfit? ”

Perhaps, these few days, she had been too repressed, filled with self-blame and depression. Her heart, which was originally calm like still water, had become a sensitive mother, so when she saw the culprit, Yinyin, she could not help but reprimand her.

No matter what, Shang’s identity as a heartless woman cannot be revealed. Otherwise, even he himself would not be able to protect this child, but before the emperor could make a move, Yi Yin said self-deprecatingly, “Is the emperor trying to kill me?” It was still Emperor Shang who got angry from embarrassment. He felt that everything I said was true! ”

Emperor Shang was about to make a move when he suddenly understood. Since Yiyin knew her daughter’s identity and was respected, what did this mean? Her daughter truly cared about this woman.

“We …” Emperor Shang wanted to explain something, but when he saw Yi Yin like this, he suddenly asked in alarm, “Xin’er, did something happen?” If not for his daughter’s accident, the Crown Prince’s Palace would not be in such a state, and this proud woman would not have her eyes reddened.

“This child will definitely return! I will definitely come back! ” Yi Yin suddenly shed tears. These days, she told him over and over again so he could survive. If a mother lost her child, it would be like losing her soul.

Emperor Shang wanted to look for them, but realized that he didn’t even know what was going on. Moreover, these people were hiding it from him, so there was nothing he could do. As a father, how could he be so powerless? Thinking of his daughter who had confronted him that day, Emperor Shang suddenly felt that he was not a good father.

Looking at the sorrowful Yiyin, Emperor Shang was gratified that his daughter had such a sincere elder. He took out his yellow handkerchief and handed it to Yiyin, “My daughter will not be so easily taken care of!”

Yinyin wiped away her tears. She suddenly felt complicated towards this father of Shang. Perhaps he was not a qualified father but was actually a good father.

“Hopefully, Emperor Shang will be able to stabilize the palace and not lose even a single minute of her life before unintentionally returning. Whatever belongs to her must be protected well!” Yi Yin said firmly. Such a Yi Yin was not any worse than a man.

Emperor Shang nodded, and sat for a long time before he finally left the crown prince’s mansion. However, no one could tell that in the instant he left the crown prince’s mansion, his already somewhat white hair had instantly turned much whiter. If Shang had not been in the mood to witness such a scene, perhaps she would have felt more at ease …