novelhk Chapter 582: The Elusive Wu Feng
Chapter 582: The Elusive Wu Feng
Prince Duan's leg was broken in a strange way. Could there be some other unknown secret behind this?
At this point, she just couldn't figure it out.
Concubine Qin Sun, on the other hand, had always had her own connections in the palace, and she was still young and beautiful, and had always been favored by Emperor Lin, so she couldn't help but ask, "What is the verdict of His Majesty?"
Concubine Qin didn't need to think too much: "Your Majesty didn't say much about this. I'm afraid he just suspected it, so he just locked up Prince Xian. However, there are all kinds of gossips now, and you and Ruo'er are the only two princes who are not involved, so I came here specially..."
Zhou Chang interrupted: "Except for me and Shuo'er, is there something wrong with Brother Rong?"
Concubine Qin did not answer directly, but sighed softly: "Alas, after Prince Xian was imprisoned in the palace, he immediately produced evidence that Prince Duan had embezzled funds for the construction of the imperial mausoleum. Your Majesty was furious and must investigate it thoroughly. Then, two days ago, Prince Xian was assassinated in the palace and was injured..."
"What?" Zhou Chang interrupted again.
This news is quite explosive, but Prince Yi hasn't heard any news about it.
"It's not surprising that Your Highness doesn't know." Concubine Qin temporarily turned her gaze away from Feng Suo, "It's true that Prince Xian was assassinated. Your Majesty has already sent the imperial physician to see him, but no one has made this public. It was also Your Majesty who suppressed it. After all, family disgrace should not be made public..."
"Family disgrace should not be made public? Does Your Majesty know who did it?" Zhou Chang was still in shock.
Ever since she received the information that Prince Xian "privately manufactured weapons with the intention of rebellion", she has always regarded him as an "imaginary enemy". Who could have thought that Prince Xian, the most powerful among all the princes, would be assassinated and injured?
Concubine Qin Sun didn't mind being interrupted at all. Instead, she acted indifferent and just told Zhou Chang some gossip: "Prince Xian suspected that Prince Duan was the mastermind behind this. Prince Duan said that Prince Xian framed her out of pure will. But among the evidence found, one person seemed to be related to Prince Rong... Your Majesty is furious but can't get angry. It doesn't matter who the murderer is, but the mastermind is obviously among the princes. But there is no more definite evidence yet. So..."
"So I might become a suspect as well?" Zhou Chang took over the conversation. She really didn't understand this series of operations.
Concubine Qin Sun put on a pleasant smile again: "That's why I said that Your Highness should not come to the palace recently, and it's best not to go out too much. Your Majesty is getting older and his health is getting worse day by day. The court is urging Your Majesty to appoint a crown prince as soon as possible, and the situation is already very chaotic. Your Majesty has been unwell and upset these days. It's not worth it for him to see it or for someone with ulterior motives to say something bad, right?"
"Yes... Thank you, Queen Qin Fei, for the reminder." Zhou Chang was sincerely grateful, but what he was most concerned about was the news of Prince Xian's assassination.
After that, Zhou Chang said a few more words and hurriedly said goodbye to Concubine Qin and Feng Suo.
Concubine Qin also brought Feng Suo back to the harem.
But the skinny monkey hasn't forgotten the food in the pavilion.
Zhou Chang didn't want to go empty-handed every time, so he helped to "pack" and then walked quickly out of the palace. As soon as he reached the Donghua Gate, he saw Prince Rong and several officials heading towards the Council Hall from a distance, and he unconsciously slowed down his pace.
A group of people were walking and discussing something. Prince Rong was in high spirits and looked very high-spirited, but he didn't seem to be affected by the assassination of Prince Xian at all.
"Your Highness?" The skinny monkey asked softly when he saw Zhou Chang slowing down his pace.
"Ah, nothing, shall we go back?" Zhou Chang saw that Prince Rong didn't notice him at all, so there was no need for him to go up and say hello. It would be better to just leave the palace directly.
Just as he walked out of the palace gate, he almost bumped into someone.
The skinny monkey jumped out and blocked it with his hands: "Who is this person? How can you walk without eyes?"
The man quickly held his breath, gathered his sleeves, and bowed with his brows lowered: "Your Highness Prince Yi, I am sorry for the impoliteness."
Zhou Chang immediately recognized that it was Prince Rong’s personal bodyguard, the “living dead” Wu Feng.
Wu Feng was still dressed in black, and his face was still pale. Even though he seemed to have come in a hurry just now and should be out of breath, when he looked closely, he was still out of breath.
It seemed as if this person didn't need to breathe, let alone bask in the sun.
Zhou Chang felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at her: "Why are you so anxious? Are you going to the palace to look for Brother Prince Rong?"
Just as he asked this question, a gust of wind blew over and he smelled the scent of medicine on Wu Feng again.
Zhou Chang couldn't help but wrinkle his nose and took half a step back. The smell of the medicine he smelled this time seemed different from before, but it was difficult to describe what was different.
In short, there is something weird about Wu Feng.
"No... I am not in a hurry. I am just waiting here for His Royal Highness Prince Rong. I have no intention of going into the palace to find His Royal Highness Prince Rong." Wu Feng bowed and denied.
"No?" Zhou Chang took another step forward, wanting to get closer and confirm the strange smell he had just smelled.
Wu Feng did not move, and his feet moved even further away from Zhou Chang. "Your Highness Prince Yi, you are overthinking. I was standing here waiting for Your Highness Prince Rong to leave the palace. Your Highness came out in a hurry, and I was unable to dodge in time, so I bumped into Your Highness. Please forgive me."
Zhou Chang moved closer but couldn't smell anything. He didn't know if it was his illusion. He also remembered that he had clearly seen Wu Feng holding something in his hand out of the corner of his eye just now, but when he looked again, there was nothing in his hand.
I asked even more unhappily: "What are you doing standing here?"
"It's... it's my fault. I shouldn't be standing here." Wu Feng stepped back again to make way. His attitude was more respectful and humble than ever before, but his voice was still cold. "I'm rude. I shouldn't be blocking the way of His Royal Highness Prince Yi."
"Forget it." It was the first time that Zhou Chang saw Wu Feng so respectful, so he didn't care. He waved his sleeves and left with the skinny monkey.
The two men walked towards the carriage, one in front and one behind. Before getting on the carriage, Zhou Chang looked back, but Wu Feng had already disappeared beside Donghua Gate.
Confused again, the skinny monkey also muttered, "Strange, I saw him rushing over just now, and stuffed something into his sleeve. Now he's gone, he must have gone into the palace. Looking at his appearance, could he be doing the same as me?"
"Can't he have a token in his hand?" Zhou Chang thought that Prince Rong seldom went to the harem. If it were in the previous dynasty, Wu Feng could still go in to find Prince Rong as long as he had the warrant and a palace servant to guide him.
The skinny monkey put the packed package into the carriage and asked, "If he had a token, why didn't he admit that he went to the palace to look for Prince Rong? He was sneaky. I heard that Concubine Shun had summoned him to the palace many times."