lcionline Chapter 316 That's why we need to go to the palace.
Chapter 316 That's why we need to go to the palace.
Gu Junze rode at full speed and finally arrived in the capital.
The atmosphere at the city gate was somber, with tight security and rigorous checks, unlike any other day.
The number of soldiers guarding the city increased several times over, and they repeatedly checked everyone entering and leaving the city gates.
Gu Junze sat upright on his horse, his black cloak fluttering in the wind, his narrow phoenix eyes slightly narrowed.
Not right.
Something is wrong.
This is by no means the scene one would expect to witness when welcoming a victorious general back to court.
"Brother, what's going on? What's this all about...?"
Gu Cheng'an reined in his horse, his face full of doubt, and muttered to himself.
Gu Junze did not answer, but simply raised his hand to signal the group to continue moving forward.
After passing a rigorous, almost obstructive, inspection, the group finally entered the city.
The once bustling and noisy streets are now eerily quiet.
Pedestrians hurried along, their faces showing either fear or curiosity, their eyes darting around.
When they saw Gu Junze's group's flag, many people's expressions changed slightly, and they quickly lowered their heads, their whispers barely audible.
"...It's him..."
“...Pingzhou…”
"...colluding with the enemy..."
"...I heard he's a bastard..."
The fragmented words, vicious and grating, were like poisoned needles piercing Gu Junze.
Gu Cheng'an was young and impetuous, and he couldn't stand this.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
He abruptly reined in his horse, glaring angrily at the whispering crowd.
"Who dares to say that again!"
The surroundings fell silent instantly, leaving only countless pairs of eyes, some filled with fear and others with schadenfreude.
"Cheng'an."
Gu Junze's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Gu Cheng'an turned his head and met his brother's unfathomable eyes. The coldness in them instantly calmed him down.
"Go back first."
Gu Junze said calmly, his tone completely unwavering, as if those malicious rumors had nothing to do with him.
He knew that getting angry at this moment was pointless and would only lead him into someone's trap.
The procession slowly resumed its advance, traversing the deathly silent streets.
As I walked along Chang'an Road, a familiar figure was already anxiously waiting by the roadside.
It's Qin Fang.
Upon seeing Gu Junze, he immediately approached him, his face showing unprecedented solemnity and anxiety.
"General!"
Qin Fang lowered his voice and quickly walked to Gu Junze's horse.
"problem occurs."
Gu Junze reined in the horse and looked at him calmly.
"explain."
Qin Fang took a deep breath and quickly recounted all the changes that had taken place in the capital in the past few days.
"After the general left the capital, rumors began to circulate in the city about you... about your background, saying that you were not of the Gu family bloodline."
“The Prince Su’s faction seized the opportunity to launch an attack, impeaching you for deceiving the emperor.”
“More importantly… Madam…”
Qin Fang's voice carried a hint of difficulty.
"Madam was falsely accused of poisoning an old man, supposedly to cover up your background and silence him."
"Now... the lady has been thrown into the Dali Temple prison!"
The air around Gu Junze seemed to freeze instantly.
Even the warhorse beneath him seemed to sense its master's anger, pawing nervously.
His hands unconsciously tightened around the reins, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Chu Ruohan...is in jail?
That seemingly delicate but actually resilient woman is now imprisoned.
A fierce killing intent surged wildly in his eyes, almost bursting out of his body.
But in just a moment, he forcibly suppressed that overwhelming rage and killing intent, which settled back into the depths of his deep eyes.
He forced himself to calm down.
The more critical the situation, the calmer you must remain.
Prince Su.
What a clever scheme!
First, they set an ambush on his way back to the capital, attempting to take his life.
After his defeat, he immediately spread rumors to ruin his reputation.
Next, they smeared Han'er and threw her into prison.
Step by step, insidious and ruthless, with a clear objective—to strip him of his wings before he returned to the capital.
They smeared his reputation, leaving him isolated and helpless, forcing him to surrender.
"I see."
Gu Junze's voice was devoid of any emotion, only a chilling coldness that penetrated to the bone.
"Go to the palace immediately."
He turned his horse around without the slightest hesitation.
Qin Fang was taken aback: "General, the situation in the palace is unclear right now, and those rumors..."
"That's why we need to go to the palace."
Gu Junze interrupted him, his gaze fixed on the majestic imperial city, his eyes cold and sharp.
"Firstly, I must report on the situation in Pingzhou; this is my duty as a subject."
"Secondly, I want to see with my own eyes the Emperor's attitude toward this matter."
"Thirdly..." he paused, his voice growing deeper, "I want to save Han'er."
Meanwhile, inside the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace.
The old woman who was appealing for justice was kneeling in the hall, trembling.
She was dressed in rags, looked dazed, and had empty eyes, as if her soul had been ripped out.
Beside her, a eunuch was giving her some pointers in a very low voice, his face bearing an undisguised threat.
"...Have you thought it through, about your little grandson..."
The woman trembled, and her already confused gaze became even more unfocused.
The emperor, seated high on the dragon throne, had a gloomy expression, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrests.
“Say it again, who instructed your husband to spread rumors, and who poisoned him?”
The emperor's voice carried imperial authority, along with a hint of barely perceptible irritation.
The woman suddenly kowtowed, her voice hoarse and carrying an eerie tone.
"Reporting to Your Majesty...it is...it is Young Madam Gu...it is Chu Ruohan!"
"It was her...it was her who gave me money so my dead husband could spread rumors...and then...then, fearing exposure, she...she poisoned him...waaaah..."
She spoke incoherently, contradicting herself and making numerous inconsistencies.
But this statement just happens to confirm the result that some people want.
The emperor frowned; he was by nature suspicious.
Gu Junze's great victory in Pingzhou, followed by a mysterious ceasefire, had already aroused his suspicions.
Now an old woman has appeared, giving conflicting accounts, but ultimately pointing to Gu Junze's wife.
All of this is too much of a coincidence.
It was a coincidence, like a carefully orchestrated scheme.
But is this game real or fake?
Just as the atmosphere in the hall was tense, a report came from outside the hall from an attendant.
"Your Majesty, the army has returned to the capital. Gu Junze requests an audience outside the palace."
A complex light flashed in the emperor's eyes, a mixture of surprise, scrutiny, and deep suspicion.
A sinister smugness flashed across Prince Su's eyes.
Just in time.
The emperor remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing something.
Finally, he said in a deep voice, "Announce."
The heavy palace doors slowly opened.
Dressed in black military attire and armor, Gu Junze walked steadily into the grand hall that symbolized the pinnacle of power.
He could clearly sense the solemn atmosphere inside the hall.
He could feel the scrutinizing and suspicious gaze from the dragon throne fixed upon him.