Ci Jinzhi

"My son has met his father." Prince Qing suppressed his excitement and anxiety and saluted. When he realized that several important officials in the palace were there, looking at him with strange eyes, his heart immediately tightened.

Could it be a bad thing?

Then, King Qing noticed Minister Pei kneeling on the ground.

Minister Pei put his forehead to the ground, trembling all over, and did not look up because of the arrival of King Qing.

Such a embarrassed posture made Prince Qing's heart quickly sink to the bottom.

You must know that Pei Shilang is a third-grade official. If he hadn't offended his father, how could he be like this?

But when it comes to what big mistake Minister Pei would make, Prince Qing almost couldn't help but think of Dingbei, and his face turned pale.

Emperor Xingyuan didn't speak since King Qing came in. His sharp eyes fell on King Qing's face. When he noticed the change in his expression, Wubo's expression darkened.

"Prince Qing, do you know Taiping Town?"

When King Qing heard Emperor Xingyuan calling him his title, his heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly said, "I don't know."

"I don't know?"

The emperor's calm and somewhat dull voice came from above. Prince Qing's heart was raised and he nervously changed his words: "It sounds familiar, but I can't remember it for a moment. What town is it from?"

Emperor Xingyuan glanced at the eunuch Sun Yan and said, "Show that piece of paper to King Qing."

Sun Yan held the pleadings and came to King Qing.

Prince Qing read it carefully and knelt down: "Father, this paper is full of nonsense, it is pure slander! As a prince, how could my son massacre a whole town of people for a little money? My son is unjust..."

Emperor Xingyuan did not soften his expression because of Prince Qing's cry of injustice: "A little girl from a small town went to the capital to stop a sedan chair and cry out for injustice, just to wrong you?"

Prince Qing raised his head and was so anxious that tears came out: "My son is really unjust. Father, maybe some people saw something happened to Gu Changbo and wanted to use this to drag his son down and cause this farce——"

"Shut up!" It's okay that King Qing didn't mention Gu Changbo, but when he mentioned Gu Changbo, Emperor Xingyuan came up angrily.

These days, he couldn't sleep at night, suffering every day, waiting for news about Mr. Songling, waiting for the possibility that he and the Queen would have a living son.For this reason, even if he wanted to destroy Gu Changbo's family, he could only endure it and not have an attack.

He has several sons, and behind each son there is a huge family.He also has many ministers, outstanding ones, mediocre ones, noble ones, and those who work hard. Each of them has his own position and ideas.Once the existence of the legitimate prince is revealed, who knows what kind of disturbance will be caused?
He couldn't take any chances until he found the child.

"It is reported that the envoy of Jinlin Guards, He Qingxiao, has entered the palace."

Not long after Emperor Xingyuan spoke, He Qingxiao hurried over.

"My minister has seen His Majesty."

"Go to Shuntian Mansion and bring a woman named Zhu into the palace. Sun Yan——"

"The servant is here."

"You will also go together to send word that Shuntian Prefecture Yin has entered the palace."

The two of them agreed in unison and rushed to Shuntian Mansion without any delay.

At this time, Shuntian Prefecture Yin was pacing back and forth in the room anxiously.

What happened when Yushi He came to the palace to report?Why haven’t the people sent to Prince Qing’s Mansion returned yet?

Zhu Xiaoyue was placed in a side room by him and was watched over by others.

"Sir, Eunuch Sun from the palace and Lord He, the envoy of Jinlin Guard Town, are here."

Upon hearing the report from his subordinates, Shuntian Prefecture Yin quickly walked out and raised his hands to He Qingxiao and Sun Yan: "Master He, Eunuch Sun."

Sun Yan cleared his throat and said, "This is an oral decree that Lord Tian will come to the palace to pay homage."

He Qingxiao asked: "Is Miss Zhu here? Today it is uploaded that she has entered the palace to meet the saint."

"Here, there." Shuntian Fu Yin personally led the two of them to the annex.Zhu Xiaoyue was sitting in the corner. When he saw He Qingxiao and others coming in, he stood up quickly, looking nervous.

He Qingxiao took a deep look at Zhu Xiaoyue.

This is Miss Zhu mentioned by Miss Kou.

"Is it Miss Zhu?"

Zhu Xiaoyue knelt down and said, "That's right, a folk girl."

After confirming their identities, the group rushed to the imperial city.Zhu Xiaoyue was a commoner's daughter, and she was allowed to enter the palace only after undergoing strict inspections.

In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Xingyuan said nothing, and the atmosphere was very gloomy until Zhu Xiaoyue was brought in.

"Public girl Zhu Xiaoyue, I have met Your Majesty." Zhu Xiaoyue knelt down and buried her head deeply.

"Look up." A voice with no hint of joy or anger came from above.

Zhu Xiaoyue pressed her hands on the ground. The cold gold bricks reflected her pale face and made her nervous.

How could she not be nervous? What she wanted to see was the Emperor!

But she can't be nervous, she wants to avenge the tragic deaths of her parents and fellow villagers!

The horrific corpses, the desperate screams, the difficulties and obstacles along the way... Too many images flashed through Zhu Xiaoyue's mind, and she finally mustered up the courage to raise her head.

She didn't dare to look directly at Tianyan. Although she raised her head, her eyes were downcast.

Emperor Xingyuan took a clear look at the girl kneeling on the ground.

After a brief silence, Emperor Xingyuan spoke: "Are you Miss Zhu who sued King Qing and the left minister of Hube?"

"It's a civilian girl who is suing King Qing and the Minister of Household Affairs Zuo." Although Zhu Xiaoyue couldn't control her trembling voice, her speech was clear.

"Tell me carefully."

"The father of the civilian girl is a squire from Taiping Town..." When it came to talking about it, Zhu Xiaoyue forgot to be nervous.

From the hardship faced by the villagers who lacked food and clothing after the earthquake, to how Yuan Yuan went to the county to collect relief supplies, but the official who promised to report it to the superiors died inexplicably...

Zhu Xiaoyue stared at Prince Qing with a pair of bloodshot eyes: "My father suspected that the disaster relief imperial envoy colluded with local officials to embezzle relief funds, and risked his life to stop Prince Qing from driving. Prince Qing promised my father that he would send someone to investigate, and asked my father to go back to the town and wait. Who would have thought that what we were waiting for two days later was not life-saving supplies, but cold butcher knives."

A line of tears slowly trickled down and slid across the corner of her lips. Zhu Xiaoyue bit her lips hard and tasted the smell of blood.

This pain is not as painful as the heartache.

"You are the prince, this summer belongs to your family, and the folks in Taiping Town are all your subjects. Why do you do this, why?" Zhu Xiaoyue shouted a question that made her extremely painful.

During the few days she stayed at Miss Kou's house, the tight strings relaxed and she finally had time to think.But the more she thought about it, the more painful it became. She would even think that if she had not studied like the girls in the town, maybe she would not think about these things, or could read more books to make her think clearly.

The girl's hoarse questioning echoed in the hall.

Emperor Xingyuan opened his mouth, but found that his chest felt like a stone. He calmed down and said, "I will send people to Dingbei to investigate. If what you say is true, I will give you an explanation."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!" Zhu Xiaoyue put her forehead to the ground and cried silently.

Emperor Xingyuan glanced at everyone, and just as he was about to speak, he saw He Qingxiao standing up.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Say."

He Qingxiao lowered his eyes slightly: "Two days ago, the Jinlin Guard arrested a suspicious young man. After interrogation, he claimed to be the son of the chief secretary of Beiquan County..."