coobybook Chapter 533 The Palace Imprisons Loyal Officials
Chapter 533 The Palace Imprisons Loyal Officials
Qin Zhongshan's expression hardened, and he immediately said to the steward, "Quickly, send someone to check the alley and find the people to meet Master Shi!"
"Yes!"
The butler responded and left.
Qin Zhongshan looked at the account books and secret letter in his hand and took a deep breath: "What a Third Prince! What a Prince of Rongyang! How dare he be so audacious as to plot against the Crown Prince and overthrow the court!"
He turned to Shi Wanxia, his tone heavy: "Lord Shi, rest assured, I will never let their conspiracy succeed. However..."
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside, and then the steward rushed in in a panic: "My lord! Something terrible has happened! Someone from the palace has come and says that His Majesty summons you to the palace immediately!"
Qin Zhongshan and Shi Wanxia exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
At this moment, His Majesty suddenly summoned Qin Zhongshan to the palace. Was it a coincidence, or...?
Shi Wanxia's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition welled up in her mind.
She looked at Qin Zhongshan, her voice trembling slightly: "Lord Qin, could it be the Third Prince and his group..."
Qin Zhongshan frowned, pondered for a moment, and said in a deep voice, "No matter what happens, I have to go."
"Lord Shi, please rest in the manor for now. We'll talk again when I return from the palace."
He turned to leave, but Shi Wanxia grabbed his sleeve: "Lord Qin, be careful! Since the Third Prince and his men dared to make a move, they must have already made preparations. There might be a trap in the palace!"
Qin Zhongshan patted her hand, his eyes resolute: "I have served as an official all my life, always upright and honest. Why would I be afraid of their schemes and tricks? His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the country; he must not be harmed."
After saying this, he straightened his official robes and strode out of the study.
Shi Wanxia stood there, her heart pounding with anxiety. What was the situation in the palace right now?
Why did His Majesty suddenly summon Qin Zhongshan to the palace?
And what about Choi Gu? How is he? And what about Choi Ji-ho? Is he in danger too?
A series of questions swirled in her mind, making her restless.
Just then, the steward rushed in, his face pale: "Sir, everyone outside... everyone in the alley outside is dead. Our men have only found..."
"We found the bodies of General Cui's subordinates, and... and the token of the Third Prince's personal guards."
Shi Wanxia swayed and almost fell.
Cui Jiu is dead...
How could this be? How could Cui Jiu...?
She closed her eyes, but tears still streamed down her face.
Cui Jiu had followed Cui Zhihao for many years. He was honest and kind, and whenever she and Cui Zhihao encountered danger, he was always the first to rush to their aid.
But now, he has lost his life trying to protect himself.
How could she believe it?
What worries her even more is that the Third Prince's personal guard token was there. Could it be used by someone to turn around and accuse the Cui family of colluding with outsiders and having ulterior motives?
As night deepened, the wind in the capital grew stronger, causing the lanterns in the Qin residence to sway precariously, as if they might go out at any moment.
Shi Wanxia stood by the window, gazing in the direction of the palace, her heart filled with unease.
Will Lord Qin return safely? Will my brother, the Crown Prince, be able to avoid this crisis?
Will she and Choi Ji-ho be able to survive this ordeal?
No one knows the answer.
Only that solitary lamp still flickered in the night, illuminating her worried face and the capital city about to be engulfed in turmoil.
Shi Wanxia couldn't believe that Cui Jiu was dead. She hurriedly wiped away her tears and went to find Cui Jiu. Cui Jiu's martial arts skills were not low, so how could he have met with such an accident?
She couldn't believe it. Shi Wanxia brushed aside the Qin family steward who was blocking her way and stumbled out.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanzhou, far away in the Eastern Palace, was unaware that a deadly conspiracy targeting him was quietly approaching, waiting for the fatal blow on the Mid-Autumn Festival night.
The wheels of the imperial carriage rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a dull "creak" sound, much like Qin Zhongshan's heartbeat at that moment.
The old servant Qin Zhong sat beside the coachman, his back ramrod straight, clutching a short knife tightly in his hand, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
He had followed Qin Zhongshan for decades, from youth to old age, but this was the first time he had ever seen his master being urgently summoned to the palace late at night. The solemn expression on his face made him feel uneasy.
"master,"
Qin Zhong lowered his voice, his Adam's apple bobbing, "The palace summoned you at this time, could it be... that the Third Prince's side has done something?"
Qin Zhongshan sat in the carriage, his fingertips tracing the edges of the stack of account books hidden in his sleeve. The rough texture of the paper calmed him down a little.
He opened his eyes, his gaze weary yet still sharp: "What is meant to be will be, and what is meant to be will be."
"If the Third Prince wants to control everything, he'll have to see if His Majesty is really senile."
Despite saying that, he knew in his heart that His Majesty was getting old and was most wary of princes forming factions.
The Third Prince has grasped this point precisely, which is why he dares to act so recklessly. If His Majesty were blinded by greed, he might not be able to leave this palace today.
The imperial carriage arrived at the palace gate quickly. The imperial guards, seeing that it was Qin Zhongshan's carriage, did not dare to stop it, but their eyes held a strange look.
When Qin Zhongshan got out of the carriage, he glanced at the imperial guards and noticed two unfamiliar faces. The tokens on their waists were faintly engraved with the words "Jin Yu"—the name of the Third Prince.
His heart skipped a beat. It seemed that the Third Prince had made preparations long ago, even placing his own people at the palace gates.
Qin Zhong wanted to follow them in, but was stopped by the Imperial Guards: "His Majesty has only summoned Lord Qin to the palace; no unauthorized persons are allowed to enter."
"I am no ordinary person! I am Lord Qin's personal servant!"
Qin Zhong panicked and rushed forward, but was pushed back several steps by the Imperial Guards.
"presumptuous!"
The imperial guard shouted sternly, his hand resting on the sword at his waist.
Qin Zhongshan raised his hand to stop Qin Zhong and said in a deep voice, "Alright, you wait here, I'll be right back."
"master!"
Qin Zhong's eyes reddened, and he wanted to say something, but Qin Zhongshan stopped him with a look.
Qin Zhongshan straightened his official robes and strode into the palace gate.
The palace lanterns on both sides of the palace road cast his shadow long and short, and the wind blowing through the palace walls made a whistling sound, like the whispers of ghosts.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the candlelight was bright. Shen Yuxi sat on the dragon throne, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.
The Third Prince, Shen Jinyu, stood to the side, a faint smile playing on his lips, his eyes full of calculation.
"Your subject Qin Zhongshan pays his respects to Your Majesty." Qin Zhongshan knelt and bowed, his voice steady.
"Get up."
Shen Yuxi's voice was hoarse, tinged with impatience, "I summoned you to the palace late at night because I have something to ask you."
Qin Zhongshan stood up, his eyes lowered, and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."
"Someone has secretly reported that you are colluding with the Crown Prince's faction, hiding evidence, and intending to frame the prince and undermine the foundation of the country. Is this true?"
His Majesty's gaze pierced him like a sharp sword, filled with scrutiny and suspicion.