lcionline Chapter 380 This murky court needs a thorough cleaning.
Chapter 380 This murky court needs a thorough cleaning.
Deep within the imperial city, the atmosphere in the Golden Palace was solemn.
The new emperor, Zhao Yunci, sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression aloof and cold. Even his bright yellow dragon robe could not conceal the sense of detachment that arose from his years of companionship with the ancient Buddhist lamp.
The assembled officials bowed their heads, not daring to utter a sound.
Who would have thought that the late emperor only had three sons, one of whom was a fake, and another died tragically.
In the end, the one who took this seat was none other than the third prince, who had been raised in a temple since childhood and should have entered a monastic life.
Although he had been on the throne for some time, Zhao Yunci had yet to mention filling the harem.
The empress's position is empty, and the six palaces are without a master.
Finally, an old minister, unable to contain himself any longer, stepped forward tremblingly, citing classical texts, and earnestly pleaded with His Majesty to select concubines and choose consorts for the sake of ensuring the continuation of the imperial line.
"A talent show?" Zhao Yunci's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable coldness that reverberated throughout the hall.
His cold gaze swept over the trembling officials below.
"You gentlemen are indeed concerned about my family affairs."
The room fell silent.
The young emperor on the throne appeared calm and composed, but his thoughts were actually unfathomable.
Having grown up away from the center of power, he was accustomed to the filth and scheming, and had a keen eye for the thoughts of these courtiers.
Zhao Yunci's slender fingers gently tapped the armrest of the dragon throne, producing a rhythmic, soft sound that seemed to resonate in everyone's heart.
“Since you ministers are so enthusiastic,” he paused, “then issue the decree.”
“Each official of the fifth rank or above in the capital shall recommend one eligible woman to enter the palace.”
The imperial decree caused an uproar throughout the hall.
Isn't this ridiculous? What kind of talent show is this?
Isn't this obviously asking each family to send their daughters to the palace as hostages? Or is it a test?
The officials looked at each other, each with their own thoughts.
Some were terrified, some were secretly pleased, and most were speculating about the emperor's intentions.
Zhao Yunci watched the changing expressions of the officials below, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.
He just wanted to see.
Who are truly loyal?
Who are these people who want to take this opportunity to plant spies around him?
This corrupt court needs a thorough cleaning.
His gaze fell outside the palace, piercing through layers of palace buildings, looking towards the distant horizon, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
He didn't want the throne.
But now that they've taken the seat, they can't let others tell them what to do.
A few days later, Du Ruoling used the excuse of feeling unwell and needing to buy some calming herbs.
She avoided the eyes and ears of the household and rode in an inconspicuous blue cloth sedan chair to a secluded pharmacy in the south of the city.
The pharmacy was small, dimly lit, and filled with a musty smell of herbs.
An old man with gray hair and a goatee was dozing off on the counter.
Du Ruoling gently tapped on the counter.
The old man was startled awake. He groggily raised his head and, upon seeing Du Ruoling's attire, a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes.
"Does the young lady need medicine?"
Du Ruoling did not answer directly, but instead pushed a small, heavy bag of silver over.
The old man weighed it in his hand, his eyes immediately lit up, and the wrinkles on his face spread out in a smile.
"Please tell me what you need, young lady!"
Du Ruoling lowered her voice and laid out her "difficulties" in detail, only saying that she was being pressured by her family and needed a "pregnant pulse" to solidify her position.
The old man nodded repeatedly; he had seen plenty of such sordid things.
Having received the money, he readily agreed, patting his chest to guarantee that it was flawless.
"Don't worry, young lady, this is simple." He stroked his beard, looking confident. "I'll prescribe some gentle, nourishing medicine. Tell everyone it's just to help with the pregnancy; as for the pulse diagnosis..."
He chuckled, "I have a way."
Du Ruoling felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at his greedy and lewd smile, but she also breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as you pay enough, you don't have to worry about these kinds of people not obeying you.
"Women in early pregnancy often have poor appetites, crave sour foods, and are prone to nausea." Mother Gu held a bowl of bird's nest soup, her tone gentle, but her eyes were sharp as knives. "You'd better watch out, don't give yourself away."
Du Ruoling rolled her eyes. "This princess knows."
So she started frowning frequently, clutching her chest, looking like she was about to vomit.
At the dinner table, surrounded by a feast, she only picked at a few light dishes before claiming she had no appetite.
Privately, she had her personal maid buy a lot of pickled plums and candied fruit.
She even made a special trip to the military camp twice. Gu Cheng'an has now moved out, and Du Ruoling can only find him at the military camp.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Gu Junze's study was tense and tense.
Yingyi knelt on one knee, reporting the latest progress of the investigation.
“My lord, we have searched through all the records and books in the capital and found no record that is exactly the same as the one in the painting of the Marquis of Anyang’s residence.”
Shadow One's voice was deep, "However, the people we sent to investigate Qingmo Valley recognized this pattern."
Qingmo Valley?
Gu Junze frowned slightly.
This place is truly mysterious. He sent out several groups of people, but none of them found the entrance; they only managed to find some of the edges.
The clues pointed there, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty of the investigation.
"Continue the investigation," Gu Junze said coldly. "No clue, however small, can be overlooked."
“Since those bandits came prepared, they won’t just sit and wait to die; they will definitely take action.”
He paused, then added, "Also, keep a close eye on those officials who may be connected to the county magistrate, and see if they have any unusual movements recently."
"Yes!" Ying Yi accepted the order, and his figure disappeared into the shadows like a ghost.
It was late at night, but Gu Junze was still sitting behind his desk, his brows furrowed. In front of him was the "Tiger Descending the Mountain" painting he had brought back from the study of the Marquis of Anyang's mansion, along with several rubbings of the original design.
The candlelight flickered, casting a soft shadow on his sharply defined profile.
The door was gently pushed open a crack, making a soft creaking sound.
Gu Junze looked up and saw Chu Ruohan carrying a steaming bowl of lotus seed soup as she quietly walked in.
She wore a simple nightgown, her long, black hair loosely tied up with only a jade hairpin. In the soft candlelight, her eyes held a hint of worry.
"It's so late, are you still busy?" Chu Ruohan walked to the desk, gently put down the sweet soup, and said in a soft voice, "Even an iron body can't withstand this kind of work."
Gu Junze smiled, "Han'er, why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I saw that the light in your study was still on, so I came over to check on you."
Chu Ruohan walked to his side and gently pressed his temples. "Don't overwork yourself. Things should be done one step at a time."
Gu Junze took her hand, pulled her in front of him, and then put his arm around her waist, letting her sit on his lap.
He rested his chin on her shoulder, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair, and his tense nerves relaxed slightly.
He tilted his head slightly, his warm lips brushing against her earlobe, causing her to tremble slightly.
"It's good that you're here," he murmured softly, his voice filled with dependence.