lcionline Chapter 341 Gu Junze, if you dare bring troops into the palace, seize them all!
Chapter 341 Gu Junze, if you dare bring troops into the palace, seize them all!
Meanwhile, a strange rumor was already circulating in the streets and alleys of the capital.
"Have you heard? The current Prince Su isn't the real one; someone's impersonating him!" an old woman selling vegetables whispered to a customer beside her.
"Nonsense! How dare you spread such rumors?" The woman buying vegetables looked around warily and quickly interrupted.
However, such whispers spread rapidly through the city like wildfire.
“My cousin’s neighbor is a guard in the palace. He said it himself: the real Prince Su is long gone!”
"I heard that the imposter was actually—"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, if this gets to the ears of the authorities, you could be beheaded!"
Inside the teahouse, a group of scholars sat together, discussing in hushed tones.
"Today is the day Prince Su is to be named Crown Prince. This rumor is too coincidental."
"Yes, it must have been done on purpose. I wonder what their intentions are."
"That's not how it works. If that were true, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!"
A middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe listened quietly to the discussion and took a sip of tea.
"There's no smoke without fire. Who can really say what's going on in the palace?"
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Gu Chengyan heard these rumors on his way to the Taiji Hall, and his face immediately turned ashen.
"How dare you! Spreading rumors and confusing the public, disrupting the order of our court!" he shouted, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.
The head guard beside him immediately bowed his head: "Your Highness, please calm down. I will send someone to investigate immediately!"
Gu Chengyan sneered and decided to fight violence with violence.
"Immediately send troops into the city. Anyone spreading such rumors must be arrested! We will deal with them after today's investiture ceremony!"
"Yes!"
Gu Chengyan's gaze was sinister, and he sneered inwardly.
Gu Junze, is this your last resort? Spreading rumors and stirring up public sentiment?
It's too late! With such limited abilities, you think you can stop him from becoming the crown prince?
Gu Chengyan looked towards the Taiji Hall, where lanterns and decorations were already hung, awaiting today's grand ceremony.
He smiled dismissively and strode forward.
Gu Junze, you're desperate, is this all you've got?
Inside the Taiji Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified, yet undercurrents were swirling.
The civil and military officials, dressed in their court robes, stood in neat rows, their outward appearance calm and composed, yet their eyes, though meeting, were filled with inquiry and unease.
Consort Jing died suddenly, the General's wife was imprisoned but escaped, and the General's mansion was besieged.
In addition, the sudden rumors circulating today have made the officials, who have a keen sense of smell, feel that something unusual is going on.
As the eunuch announced, Gu Chengyan, dressed in the Crown Prince's court robes, slowly stepped into the main hall, surrounded by a crowd.
With a perfectly measured smile on his face, he walked with a steady gait, his gaze sweeping over the officials below as he accepted their kneeling obeisance.
Congratulations, Your Highness!
A deafening roar of congratulations echoed throughout the hall.
Gu Chengyan nodded slightly, enjoying the moment when everyone was watching. Deep in his eyes was an undisguised sense of pride and the fervor of impending success.
The investiture ceremony proceeded smoothly, with the imperial edict being read and the imperial seal being bestowed...
Everything seemed so natural, as if those rumors were nothing more than insignificant interludes.
Just as the master of ceremonies was about to announce the completion of the ceremony.
"Your Majesty is here!"
Everyone was stunned, staring in disbelief in the direction from which the sound came.
Supported by several eunuchs, the emperor walked out slowly, his face pale but his mind clear.
Chu Ruohan and Gu Chengan followed behind him, their expressions solemn.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" All the officials knelt down in unison, their voices booming.
Gu Chengyan froze on the spot, his face turning deathly pale. How could the Emperor possibly be here?
It's clearly already...
Chu Ruohan is really capable. His men searched the city and its outskirts all night, but they never expected that she was hiding in the palace.
And Gu Cheng'an insisted on standing against him...
Gu Chengyan suppressed his anger and quickly knelt down: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
The emperor's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at Gu Chengyan.
"No gift."
The officials rose to their feet, their eyes filled with doubt and surprise. Wasn't the emperor seriously ill and bedridden?
Why did it suddenly appear?
"Today, the emperor is establishing a crown prince. This is a momentous occasion for the nation, and I must be present in person." The emperor slowly walked toward the dragon throne, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone present.
Gu Chengyan was inwardly turbulent, but remained outwardly calm, and respectfully said, "Thank you, Father Emperor. I am deeply honored."
After the emperor was seated, he looked at Chu Ruohan and asked, "Madam General, do you have something to say?"
Chu Ruohan stepped forward and addressed the officials in a loud voice: "My lords, today I will expose a shocking conspiracy!"
She pointed at Gu Chengyan: "This Prince Su in front of us is not the real Prince Su, but an imposter!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall erupted in an uproar.
Gu Chengyan stepped forward with a cold smile: "Chu Ruohan, what do you mean by this? You trespassed into the palace, plotted to harm Consort Jing, and now you're spreading rumors to mislead the public. What are you trying to achieve?"
“The real Prince Su is long gone. The one standing here now is Gu Chengyan in disguise!” Chu Ruohan declared emphatically.
Gu Chengyan retorted loudly, "Absurd! Chu Ruohan, as the wife of a meritorious official, why are you spreading such absurd rumors?"
He turned to the emperor: "Father, Chu Ruohan's actions are clearly intended to disrupt the court and obstruct the Crown Prince's investiture ceremony!"
"Your Majesty, I suspect that she and her husband, Gu Junze, have ulterior motives!"
The emperor remained silent, simply observing everything.
Seeing this, Gu Chengyan's confidence increased greatly; the emperor had already been bewitched and lost his mind.
I trust him completely now...
"Father, I have grown up under your care since childhood. Do you not recognize your own son?"
Chu Ruohan sneered: "If he is really Prince Su, he probably won't be afraid of being verified."
"In front of our ancestors, let's do a blood test now to set the record straight!"
Gu Chengyan's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Ridiculous! Blood-drop kinship testing is nothing but a folk tale, completely baseless! Chu Ruohan, don't even think about deceiving everyone with such a clumsy method!"
He turned to the assembled ministers: "Your Excellencies are wise enough to see that Chu Ruohan's actions are utterly absurd!"
Just as the debate raged inside the hall, a series of orderly footsteps suddenly came from outside.
The palace doors swung open, and Gu Junze, dressed in military uniform, strode in.
Behind him was a squad of elite guards from the manor.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Gu Junze knelt on one knee, his voice booming.
The officials were once again in an uproar. Wasn't Gu Junze supposed to be besieged in his residence by the Imperial Guards? How could he be here?
Gu Chengyan's face turned ashen, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes: "Gu Junze, do you dare bring troops into the palace?"
Gu Junze sneered: "What, Gu Chengyan, are you surprised to see this general?"
Gu Chengyan trembled, but quickly regained his composure.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I am Prince Su, Zhao Yunheng! This is a grave disrespect to me!"