It’s not like he’s tired of living.
The Fourth Prince chuckled. The sound of their conversation could only be heard by the two of them.
Thus, the hidden tension between them was only understood by the two, unnoticed by others.
The Fourth Prince followed his gaze nonchalantly, without giving it much thought.
However, it did make Prince Zhan sowhat uneasy.
As the sacrificial ceremony concluded, the Emperor finally felt a sense of relief after days of concern.
Facing the submission of the people and the favor of the heavens, who wouldn’t be satisfied?
Thus, he spoke with great joy.
"Uncle Fourth Prince, tonight set a banquet at the traveling palace; make sure this affair is grand."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall comply."
Prince Zhan was long accustod to being overlooked.
As long as the Fourth Prince was present, his role as the Assistant Minister seed rely ceremonial.
The Emperor rarely looked his way, let alone entrusted him with tasks.
Lin Guifei noticed Prince Zhan’s unclear expression and took the opportunity to step forward.
"Your Majesty, why not entrust this banquet to ? I’ve managed the harem for many years and can handle this minor task with competence; this would allow Uncle Fourth Prince to rest as he has been exhausted by the journey and escort."
When the long journey was ntioned, the Fourth Prince modestly replied.
"I dare not claim so."
The Emperor stood on the steps, gazing down at everyone.
He caught the hopeful look in Lin Guifei’s eyes fully.
As if realizing sothing, he smiled and said.
"The Imperial Consort’s words are reasonable; let us not trouble Uncle. You go ahead and arrange it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Lin Guifei was not afraid of any labor at this mont.
In fact, the more of this "labor" the better for her.
Otherwise, her journey would seem pointless.
Besides traveling and attending to illness, there was nothing else.
Should the Princess Consort Yi in the palace know, she would likely laugh her off.
With full joy, she went personally to handle the arrangents for the evening banquet.
However, she did not notice Prince Zhan’s increasingly displeased expression.
After returning to the traveling palace, Prince Zhan called his personal attendant.
"Go, investigate Yan Datou’s affairs; how dare he ruin my plans! He must be tired of living!"
"Yes."
Yan Datou was the one who was supposed to "accidentally" uncover the secret spectacle during the sacrificial ceremony.
But he stared intently all day and found nothing amiss.
He wasted months of elaborate arrangents.
Revealing the secret right when the Emperor was most emotional.
It would have thoroughly humiliated the Emperor, which was bound to incite furious wrath.
The involved Xu Family, Lin Family, Dong Family, even the Fourth Prince would face heavier charges.
But now, if he were to reveal it face to face, the effect would be greatly diminished.
Let alone if ntioned later.
Enraged, his chest heaved, wishing he could have soone dragged over and torn apart imdiately!
Unfortunately, he was unaware that the person he intended to investigate had already been tied up, silenced, and thrown before the Emperor.
Beside the Emperor stood the Fourth Prince, who had exposed the matter.
"Lin Xingzhi already brought the Crystal Stone back; Your Majesty, please see, it was this object that caused the spectacle."
As the Fourth Prince spoke, he was also apprehensive.
Revealing this matter rashly was equivalent to telling the Emperor that he had been played for months.
The Emperor’s temperant was unpredictable; he might be implicated as well.
But after considering, he opted to report first.
At least it cleared their suspicion.
As for implicating Prince Zhan, it wasn’t his fault.
The Emperor’s face was calm and expressionless. If not for the twitching of his eyebrows, no one would have noticed his anger.
Dong Yuzhong quietly retreated two steps.
At tis like this, it’s better to be wise and protect oneself.
As expected, after a mont, the Emperor spoke.
"Could such a small Crystal Stone really cause a spectacle? Lin Xingzhi must be jesting."
The calmness in his words almost made people think he didn’t believe it.
But only Dong Yuzhong, who had served the Emperor for years, knew that Prince Zhan had stepped on the Emperor’s tail, and it wouldn’t just be one or two unfortunates.
After speaking, the Emperor threw the Crystal Stone near the legs of the bound person before him.
Then he ordered.
"Release his mute point."
"Yes."
As the Fourth Prince finished unsealing, the person hurriedly began to plead.
"Your Majesty, spare my life, we didn’t know, didn’t know!"
"Are you suggesting I maliciously frad you?"
The Fourth Prince glared angrily at him, as if ready to strike the next mont.
At that mont, Yan Datou felt overwheld.
Dare he really talk back?
Pitiful as he held incriminating evidence of Prince Zhan, defecting now would an death for the whole family.
He collapsed to the ground, utterly limp.
Suddenly, with unknown courage, he charged towards the pillar in the hall.
With great force, blood gushed imdiately.
Without uttering a final word, he t his tragic end.
"What bad luck!"
This was soone they caught with great difficulty.
Previously, he hadn’t shown the slightest slip.
It was only after Lin Xingzhi suggested disguising everyone present at the sacrificial ceremony, observing whom Prince Zhan watched, that Yan Datou’s identity was confird.
Unexpectedly, before he could confess, he perished against the pillar.
Truly a squander of previous efforts.
The Emperor stood with his hands clasped behind, observing it all, snorted, and said.
"Uncle Fourth Prince, how is the investigation into the Xu Family?"
"No response yet."
The spectacle was not rely to deceive him to leave the palace, prompting Lin Guifei’s freedom.
There were likely many more people implicated behind it.
Taishan was closest to Dengzhou.
If there were unrest, the Xu Family in Dengzhou would be the first to bear the brunt.
"Alright, since they used this spectacle to resurrect themselves, intending to wrong others, they should suffer the consequences."
He then directed at Dong Yuzhong.
"Go, summon Prince Zhan and Lin Guifei for . Such a spectacle would be incomplete without its main actors."
His gaze was full of coldness.
If Lin Guifei had foreseen this scene, afraid she would rather die than co.
"If His Majesty summons my presence at this mont, it must be to inquire about the evening banquet. Have you prepared everything?"
"Rest assured, Your Grace."
"That’s good."
So, she adjusted her makeup and preceded Prince Zhan to the Emperor’s chamber.
The smile on her face had barely faded when she saw blood splattered all around and a lifeless corpse lying before her.
Frightened, Lin Guifei scread.
Her scream startled Prince Zhan, who thought sothing major had happened.
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