sjar Chapter 129 The Emperor Becomes Suspicious
Chapter 129 The Emperor Becomes Suspicious
News of the fire that happened to Duke Liu and the Imperial Concubine at Baima Temple quickly reached the palace.
The emperor, in his study, looked at the memorials before him.
He suddenly felt agitated, as if something was about to happen.
As soon as I looked up, I saw Eunuch Zhang hurriedly walk in from outside the study.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" Eunuch Zhang said quickly, "The White Horse Temple is on fire."
The emperor's expression changed, and he put down the memorial in his hand. "Why did the White Horse Temple suddenly catch fire? Were any people injured?"
“This…” Eunuch Zhang’s face was grim. “Today is the day the Imperial Concubine went to the White Horse Temple to pray for blessings, but unfortunately the temple was on fire.”
"What?" the emperor exclaimed.
"Has Your Majesty returned safely?"
Zhang Gonggong, calming the emperor's anxious emotions, nodded and replied, "The Imperial Concubine has already returned to the palace. I heard that it was Duke Liu who rushed in and saved her from near death."
"Duke Liu has made a great contribution."
The emperor frowned slightly.
"The Duke told me yesterday that he was unwell, and I specially granted him a day to rest. So why would he go to the White Horse Temple for no reason?"
He turned to look at Eunuch Zhang beside him, "Was it really him who saved the Empress?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Zhang nodded. "It was Duke Liu who helped the Empress out of the burning bedchamber."
After he finished speaking, he subconsciously looked at the emperor's reaction.
The emperor's expression was unreadable as he put down the memorial. "Is it really just such a coincidence?"
"Come with me to see my beloved concubine."
Inside Yongchun Palace, the Imperial Noble Consort lay languidly on her couch, her eyes slightly narrowed as she stared at her personal maid.
"Have you said everything I told you to say?"
The personal maid responded, "Your Highness, as you instructed, I told Eunuch Zhang everything."
“Even if there are a few crazy words, His Majesty will take them into consideration,” the personal maid added. “However, with so many people present, if the concubines in the harem hear it, they will inevitably gossip about it in front of His Majesty.”
The Imperial Noble Consort touched her cheek. "Why did the White Horse Temple suddenly catch fire?"
She suddenly remembered that she still felt strange when Duke Liu said there was no one there.
But she had no evidence.
"I must catch the arsonist. I absolutely cannot let anyone know my secret. Anyone who does should die."
The Imperial Noble Consort's eyes suddenly changed color.
Who wants to harm her?
As he was lost in thought, the voice of a palace maid came from outside.
Long live the Emperor!
Before the Imperial Noble Consort could react, the Emperor had already walked in from outside Yongchun Palace.
Seeing this, the Imperial Noble Consort's eyes welled up with tears as she went to greet His Majesty.
"I see you, Your Majesty."
"Get up quickly," the Emperor said, reaching out to help her up. "My beloved concubine, are you alright?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the Imperial Noble Consort replied demurely. "I am fine."
"Why did the White Horse Temple suddenly catch fire?" the emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, I know not why the fire started," the beauty said, wiping away tears with her sleeve. Her eyes shone as she looked at him. "I am, after all, an Imperial Noble Consort of Yanjing, yet someone with malicious intent set this fire, and I nearly perished in the flames."
"If it weren't for Duke Liu's great help, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to see Your Majesty."
The Imperial Noble Consort's voice was soft and sweet, and she became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, but the Emperor's brows never relaxed.
“My beloved consort, there is no need to worry,” he composed himself and looked at the Imperial Noble Consort. “I will have the Dali Temple thoroughly investigate this matter.”
"Does Your Majesty want the Court of Judicial Review to investigate?"
"The Dali Temple has plenty of methods," the emperor nodded, "I will certainly not let you suffer in vain."
The Imperial Noble Consort appeared compliant, resting her head on his chest.
If the Dali Temple really uncovers even the smallest detail, it's likely that her affair with Duke Liu will no longer be able to be kept secret.
We had to find another way and send Gu Yuan to the Dali Temple.
"If Your Majesty wishes the Court of Judicial Review to investigate, then so be it," the Imperial Noble Consort said, her eyes slightly lowered. "This concubine has no further comment."
"Hmm?" The Emperor noticed something amiss in the Imperial Noble Consort's tone and asked, "My beloved consort, what's wrong? Are you dissatisfied with my arrangements?"
“Of course not.” The Imperial Noble Consort shook her head. “His Majesty’s arrangements are certainly good.”
The emperor remained calm and spoke indifferently, "Yesterday, the Duke told me he was unwell and needed to rest for a day. How could he have gone to the White Horse Temple without any problems?"
"The Duke probably wanted to pray for his daughter, after all, she died in the Jiang family not long ago." The Imperial Noble Consort responded naturally, "She happened to see me trapped in the fire and rescued me."
"Your Majesty, today's fire was definitely premeditated and not accidental. Why not arrest everyone who went to the White Horse Temple today and interrogate them one by one?"
She couldn't be sure who did it, but she didn't want to let any suspect get away with it.
A thorough interrogation will surely uncover any flaws.
"Regarding the fire at Baima Temple, I will have the Dali Temple investigate." The Emperor glanced at the Imperial Concubine and said coldly, "There are many people going to Baima Temple every day, and it is impossible to interrogate them all."
"If we make such a big show of it, we might alert the enemy."
"Now that you have returned safely, you should rest well. I will come to see you another day." The emperor left coldly.
Seeing the emperor's cold expression, the Imperial Noble Consort feared that he had heard some insane talk.
"Yes, Your Majesty." She could only nod. "Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off."
The emperor had just reached the entrance of Yongchun Palace when he turned back to look at the Imperial Noble Consort.
The Imperial Noble Consort's expression darkened slightly as she asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
The emperor's lips curled into a smile. "Would my beloved concubine lie to me?"
"will not."
She didn't hesitate for a moment.
The emperor smiled, "I believe you."
Watching the emperor's departing figure, the Imperial Noble Consort breathed a sigh of relief and staggered half a step.
"Who exactly wants to harm me?"
A personal maidservant went over and helped the Imperial Noble Consort to her feet.
The Imperial Noble Consort was helped back to lie on the couch.
Before long, Gu Yuan entered Yongchun Palace.
"Mother, I heard you nearly perished in a fire at the White Horse Temple?" Gu Yuan asked angrily. "Who would want to harm you?"
The Imperial Noble Consort rose from the bed and looked at Gu Yuan, "What you should do now is strengthen your own forces. Your mother is fine."
“Mother,” Gu Yuan retorted, “I am worried about you. How is your health these days?”
"I heard that it was the Duke who saved you from the fire?"
The Imperial Noble Consort nodded, looking at Gu Yuan with gentle eyes, "Yuan'er, your biggest goal right now is Gu Liang. You don't need to concern yourself with anything else, including your mother."
"You must know that your mother is doing this all for your own good, so you must listen to her."
Gu Yuan couldn't say that the Imperial Noble Consort's words were wrong, but she was genuinely getting impatient with them.
Gu Yuan smiled and said, "How did Mother Consort know that I did not increase the number of troops?"
He took a sip of the tea on the table and said dismissively, "Tonight, he'll be in for a world of trouble."
“Mother,” Gu Yuan looked at the Imperial Noble Consort, “I will make my own plans. I just hope that you will not go against my wishes.”
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Noble Consort raised her eyes and looked at Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan stood up, flicked his sleeves, and looked somewhat displeased. "Your subject will take his leave now."
"Yuan'er..."