Chapter 390: Details of the Enemy Country

Chapter 390

The dim light in the main hall was like a skillful hand weaving a dense web in the shadows,

It stuck the passing time, making every moment and every instant in this place exceptionally long.

After listening to Jiang Deshun's account, Xiao Jingheng, perhaps overwhelmed with anger, had suppressed his senses and couldn't release his fury.

He sat silently on the dragon seat at the top, overlooking the vast hall, and laughed bitterly in his rage.

In his eyes, he believed that the world was under his control, and he thought that everything in the world was within his grasp.

But in the end, he had been calculated by others for so long, and he remained ignorant.

He flipped through the Qi Prince's confession, stained with blood, on the dragon case.

After a long while, he said with a weary voice, "Summon Consort Hui."

Jiang Deshun hurried to carry out the task.

Today, the sun was particularly bright, and the gentle sunlight made the walls of the imperial city shine with a golden brilliance.

But the path to the prison was muddy from the recent rain,

And with one careless step, he ended up covered in dirt.

In stark contrast to this scene was the Changle Palace in Zhao Hua.

After days of continuous spring rain in the capital, the sun finally came out today, and palace maids gathered in groups, basking in the sunlight, sweeping away the fallen flowers in the courtyard.

At that moment, Zhao Hua was holding the small and soft Fourth Prince in a side hall, gently rocking him to sleep.

The Fourth Prince was the legitimate son born to the empress, so his name was particularly important.

Prince Qi, who had enjoyed a life of luxury for years, couldn't withstand such torture. Before long, he confessed to his secret collaboration with Zhu Yin. He revealed that on the day when General Ning attacked Zhu Yin, they achieved a swift and complete victory because Zhu Yin was in the midst of internal strife. The third son of the late Emperor, Jiang Muye, sought to seize power during the chaos, and with attacks from both inside and outside, Zhu Yin's forces crumbled.

After the death of the late Emperor, Jiang Muye succeeded as the Emperor of Zhu Yin and immediately declared an unconditional surrender. However, this Jiang Muye had already planted a spy named Shang Yang by the Emperor's side seventeen years ago. And that spy, now known as Consort Hui, is the same person."

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Hua couldn't help but be astonished. But it was only a brief moment before she regained her composure.

She had long doubted the relationship between Prince Qi and Zhu Yin. The Tian Ji Bureau had been diligently investigating, and they had also discovered a connection between Prince Qi and Consort Hui.

Over the years, Consort Hui had not competed for favor openly, but she had been scheming to eliminate all the healthy imperial princes.

Her ambition was on the verge of being exposed.

As a woman who had been alone and suffering in a foreign land for seventeen years, Zhao Hua couldn't fathom what was driving her.

"I understand. Whatever crimes she has committed and whatever punishment she deserves, it is for the Emperor to decide. At this point, we can only watch from the sidelines."

Xiao Fuzi nodded in agreement and changed the subject:

"Your Majesty, these past few days, there has been a young eunuch lurking outside the palace, spying on us discreetly. I have already gathered information about him. His name is Zhao Baozhong, and he used to serve Consort Yao. After Consort Yao was banished to the cold palace, he was also transferred there and tasked with delivering meals to her twice a day."

As he finished speaking, his tone inadvertently became heavier. "He is loyal to Consort Yao."

Yun Shan became alert and said, "He used to serve Consort Yao, and he often wanders around our palace. What could he be up to?"

Xiao Fuzi replied, "Consort Yao holds a deep grudge against Empress Dowager, so I'm afraid she might be planning something malicious against you, Your Majesty. Should I gather some people and capture him?"

"Why would we capture him?"

Zhao Hua sneered, her eyes flickering as a plan quickly formed in her mind.

With a mischievous smile, she said, "Consort Yao isn't here to harm me. If I were to guess, she clearly intends to help me instead."