bestfiction Chapter 257 February 2, Dragon's Head
Chapter 257 February 2, Dragon's Head
Recently, a children's rhyme suddenly began circulating among the people of Beijing, causing widespread panic.
"On the second day of the second month, the dragon hides its head, and the matter of Zhang Xian has been buried for a long time. The truth will come out and the throne will be changed."
The children's voices, though innocent and childlike, were sung in every street and alley, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up waves of excitement.
In the teahouse, the storyteller was recounting strange tales with great eloquence, but the audience below the stage were all whispering and discussing this nursery rhyme that had inexplicably come to mind.
"Do you think the Crown Prince Zhangxian mentioned in this nursery rhyme is the same Crown Prince who was deposed back then?"
"That's right, so many years have passed, why bring this up again all of a sudden."
Everyone chimed in with their own words, their expressions filled with confusion.
The appearance of this nursery rhyme was like a dark cloud, casting a tense and somber atmosphere over the entire capital.
Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Study in the palace.
Pei Yuanling was reviewing memorials when he heard the eunuch report about the folk rhymes. His pen stopped abruptly, and his face darkened instantly.
"Go, investigate thoroughly for me! Who spread this nursery rhyme, and who is behind it all!" Pei Yuanling roared angrily.
As an emperor, he would never allow anyone to cause trouble under his nose.
Who on earth is so audacious as to spread such rumors in the capital that could shake the very foundations of the nation!
Kneeling on the ground, Gu Li knew the seriousness of the matter and dared not slack off in the slightest. He hurriedly replied, "Yes, sir," and then disappeared into the shadows like a black shadow.
Many years have passed since the massacre of Crown Prince Zhangxian's family. Apart from some elderly people in the capital, who else can clearly remember what happened that day?
Emperor Gaozu showed no mercy, resulting in the execution of the entire Crown Prince's family, with blood flowing through the streets.
Pei Yuanling's memory of this matter is not clear. He was only four or five years old at the time and was just an unfavored prince.
When the late emperor was on the throne, he had no access to these matters. But after he ascended the throne and came into contact with these secrets, he became increasingly terrified.
Now that Zhang Xian's old party has made a comeback, he has no choice but to pay close attention.
Back then, the entire Crown Prince's family was executed, but the young grandson, who was about the same age as him, disappeared without a trace. Why did he suddenly appear at this time?
Could it be that all of this was just a premeditated conspiracy, and Chu Qingyin's disappearance was also part of their plan?
Thinking of this, Pei Yuanling's expression became even more solemn.
Yinyin, oh Yinyin, you must not disappoint me.
He was, after all, an emperor; he could deduce a great deal from the slightest clues.
"Chen Zhongliang! Go and bring Xianglan from Feixue Palace."
Chen Zhongliang accepted the order and, without the slightest delay, hurriedly led several capable subordinates to Feixue Palace.
***
When Xianglan was brought to the Imperial Study, her legs went weak, and she knelt down with a thud, her whole body trembling like a leaf.
She had no idea why she had been brought before the emperor.
Pei Yuanling looked down at her, his voice deep and demanding, "Where has your master gone?"
The voice seemed to carry boundless majesty, echoing throughout the empty imperial study.
Xianglan turned deathly pale with fright, her voice trembling as she cried, "Your Majesty, the Empress has passed away..."
Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanling was so angry that he laughed, his laughter full of sarcasm: "Dead? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child, so easily fooled?"
Having said that, he strode forward, reached out, and grabbed Xianglan's neck like a vise, his grip tightening: "I'll give you one more chance. Tell me, where did Consort Liang go?"
Xianglan was in so much pain that she was covered in cold sweat, but she still cried and repeated, "Your Majesty, the Empress has really passed away. Please, Your Majesty, don't ask anymore..."
Pei Yuanling pinched Xianglan's chin, forcing her to raise her head, and said slowly and deliberately, as if squeezing the words out from between her teeth: "You really are loyal. Don't you know that your master has long since changed her soul and is not the young lady you have served since childhood?"
A flicker of panic crossed Xianglan's eyes, but in an instant, she cried out in utter distress, "Your Majesty, this servant truly does not know. I have served the Empress since childhood, how could my soul have been replaced..."
Her body twitched slightly under Pei Yuanling's control, and her breath grew weaker and weaker.
Seeing that Xianglan's pupils had shrunk and she was about to breathe her last, Pei Yuanling released her hand and looked at her as if she were a worthless object, saying coldly, "Out of consideration for your service, I will spare your life for now."
Xianglan fell to the ground, panting heavily, and her complexion gradually improved.
However, Pei Yuanling's next words were like a sharp blade, instantly plunging her into an icy abyss—
"Chen Zhongliang, tie her up and hang her on the city wall."
Pei Yuanling scoffed coldly, "I'd like to see if your master will come to the rescue of such a loyal servant."
Chen Zhongliang immediately replied, "This servant obeys the decree."
Soon, several guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers, grabbed Xianglan from the ground like a chick, and dragged her outside.
"Your Majesty, spare my life!"
Xianglan struggled desperately, kicking and screaming, her cries echoing in the empty palace: "Your Majesty is really gone, why are you doing this to yourself..."
But her pleas were ignored by Pei Yuanling, like a stone sinking into the sea.
Along the way, all her shoes and socks fell off, leaving bloodstains on the neat gold bricks of the palace, a shocking sight.
This matter quickly spread throughout the court and among the public, truly causing a great stir.
When Lu Zhiheng learned that Xianglan had been hung on the city wall, he couldn't help but frown.
He knew that the maid was Chu Qingyin's personal maid and that they had a close relationship. If he didn't save her, Chu Qingyin would feel extremely guilty if she found out later.
But this was clearly a trap set by Pei Yuanling, waiting for them to fall into it.
"She's just a palace maid; Your Highness must not ruin important matters for her sake."
Seeing Lu Zhiheng's hesitant expression, Shen Ran quickly advised him.
Fearing that their master would suffer a greater loss for a small matter, they insisted on going to save the palace maid.
Lu Zhiheng quickly considered the matter and made a decision: "Let Qiao Gongquan go to the palace to plead for mercy. He said that the palace maid was originally Qiao Qingyin's personal maid, and now that Qiao Qingyin is dead, he does not want to see his daughter's maid suffer a bad end."
He knew perfectly well that Pei Yuanling's actions must have been due to sensing something amiss.
It seems they need to speed things up.
After hearing his instructions, Shen Ran's expression grew even more grim, and he said with great concern, "Master, Qiao Gongquan is, after all, the Minister of the Six Ministries. Asking him to plead with His Majesty for the sake of a palace maid might arouse suspicion."
What if things go wrong and turn out even worse?
Lu Zhiheng frowned deeply; at this critical juncture, there was no room for the slightest mistake.
After a long silence, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll go save them myself."
These words immediately startled Shen Ran, whose expression changed drastically, his face filled with disbelief.
But he couldn't go against his master's wishes, so he could only pray in his heart that everything would go smoothly.