Chapter 31: Disunity between the Emperor and His Subjects
Gu Mengzhen returned to Disheng Palace and immediately summoned Zhong Jian.
Zhong Jian bowed respectfully as usual.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish you the best of health."
Gu Mengzhen, however, did not agree to leave. He dismissed his attendants and asked quietly.
"Twenty-two years ago, when the late emperor and the late queen met with an accident, where were you?"
Zhong Jian was confused by the question.
"Your Majesty, I was ordered by the late emperor to go north to pacify the people. It took me two months to return."
"I didn't even make it to the final farewell of the late emperor and empress."
"At that time, the late emperor's oral instructions were given to me personally by the emperor."
Gu Mengzhen's eyes turned cold.
"I did convey the late emperor's instructions."
"But I don't know whether Lord Zhong has done as he was told."
Zhong Jian was very worried.
"The people of the north are all witnesses."
"It's just that time has passed, and I don't know how many people still remember it."
"Your Majesty is wise and can send someone to investigate."
"I am loyal to you, and heaven and earth can bear witness to that!"
Gu Mengzhen was full of doubts.
"Zhong Aiqing has been in the government for many years."
"It's not difficult to forge travel records."
"What's more, it was during the war and the situation was very chaotic."
"Is not it?"
Zhong Jian's heart was hanging in the air, as if in the cold winter wind, and he felt so stiff that he was walking on thin ice that was indescribable.
"I am innocent."
"Appeasing the people is the most important thing. How dare I neglect it?"
"I have pondered over this matter, but I really do not understand the deep meaning of Your Majesty. Please explain it to me clearly!"
Gu Mengzhen's face was gloomy, without a trace of warmth.
He reached into his bosom, carefully and tenderly took out the silk handkerchief painted by Lin Ran, and showed it to Zhong Jian.
"Do you still remember this silk handkerchief?"
Zhong Jian raised his eyes cautiously and recognized the handkerchief after a quick glance.
"I am old and forgetful, Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Gu Mengzhen has the look of an eagle and a wolf, which is frightening.
"If you say so, you have recognized it."
"White apricot blossoms are her favorite."
"For decades, both I and you have never forgotten this dream."
"I still remember that day when I was drunk, you accidentally heard that I had been in love with the late queen for many years."
"That year, you and I were still full of vigor and vitality."
"Tell me frankly that the day she got married was the most painful time in your life."
"That is why I married your elder sister, Zhong Su-ra,"
"And we will form an alliance with you, and we will rise and fall together."
"More than 20 years ago, you gave me advice, saying that we could use the Xingliang Dynasty to get rid of the late emperor and even the entire Yan clan."
"Once it is accomplished, I can enjoy the country and live with Hua'er."
"You and I planned for months, considered the details, and made sure everything went smoothly."
"I thought that we were both in this world, but I never thought that we would be so hard to guard against."
Zhong Jian immediately expressed his opinion.
"I have never had any second thoughts in assisting the Emperor."
"I beg Your Majesty not to doubt!"
Gu Mengzhen smiled coldly.
"You have indeed never had two minds."
"Because you have never been loyal to me."
"But... use me!"
"You used me to clear all obstacles, and then disguised yourself as a man in black, hoping to reap the benefits with one arrow."
"So you pretended to be bad at archery just to seize power and usurp the throne after the success!"
"My dear Lord Zhong, you are really good at scheming!"
Zhong Jian's heartbeat was in a mess for a moment.
"I am innocent."
"I know nothing about the men in black and have never heard of them."
"I am really not good at archery!"
"Over the years, anyone who is familiar with me, whether family members or friends, has witnessed this. Your Majesty, please take a closer look!"
Gu Mengzhen's face was green and his eyes were angry, towering like a mountain.
"Your arrows never miss their targets because it was said by Concubine Chun."
"Is this what you call witnessing?"
Zhong Jian was shocked.
"This is absolutely impossible."
"Empress Chun is simple-minded. In my humble opinion, she must have been framed by someone and told a lie."
"correct."
"It's King Dijin."
"Prince Di Jin recommended Concubine Chun with the intention of alienating the emperor and his subjects!"
Gu Mengzhen was furious.
"That night, King Di Jin was just born and was still in swaddling clothes!"
"How does he remember what happened back then?"
"How do you use this matter to cause these incidents?"
"Do you still want to falsely accuse the man in black of being arranged by King Dijin?"
"You are so arrogant and unreasonable!"
"How dare you say such a ridiculous thing? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?!"
"How ridiculous! I have been searching for the man in black for many years, but I never suspected you."
Zhong Jian kowtowed repeatedly.
"I am not a man in black."
"There is no arrow or bowstring, and I am trying to seize power and usurp the throne."
"Your Majesty has no evidence, and you are suspicious of me based on a few careless remarks made by Concubine Chun."
"I am truly wronged!"
Gu Mengzhen pointed at the handkerchief.
"This is the proof."
"When Hua'er died, she was holding this silk handkerchief in her hand."
"Among those present at the time, the late emperor and Hua'er have already passed away. It is impossible for the tens of thousands of secret guards under my command to be interested in this silk handkerchief."
"If there are any more, there will only be me, Prince Dijin and the man in black left."
Zhong Jian tried hard to refute.
"Even if the man in black is a humble official, Your Majesty cannot assert that the handkerchief must have been taken by the man in black."
"Among the tens of thousands of hidden guards, there may be people who admire the late queen."
"The late queen had a fairy-like appearance and a heart as delicate and transparent as a fairy. She was a model for the whole nation and had a kind heart. She was also able to support her husband and raise her children, and was diligent and frugal."
“It’s perfect.”
"Many men in the world have admirers and worshippers."
"How can the emperor's tens of thousands of secret guards be an exception?"
Gu Mengzhen came over with a ferocious look on his face, howling.
"Since that night, all the people in the nine clans of tens of thousands of hidden guards have been dealt with by me, without leaving a single one alive."
"I have had people search every corner of the house, but have not found any trace of the silk handkerchief."
Zhong Jian was terrified.
"Tens of thousands of hidden guards, who grew up with the emperor."
"The Emperor killed everyone just to find the handkerchief?"
Gu Mengzhen smiled faintly.
"Of course it's not just for the silk handkerchief."
"What happened that night was a conspiracy to rebel. How could I... leave behind anyone who knew about it?"
Zhong Jian was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, speechless for a moment.
The golden dragon soaring in the clouds, above Gu Mengzhen's solemn and glorious dragon robe, is vividly depicting its mighty power and thunder, and its claws are as sharp as the surging sword lights and shadows in Gu Mengzhen's eyes.
"That night, I held Yan Yu in my arms and hid far away."
"Because he couldn't die in Hua'er's eyes."
"People say that a person who has just closed his eyes still has his five senses intact and can be aware of the surrounding situation."
"Unfortunately, it backfired."
"Fang Renshu, brought a group of people here at an inopportune time, read out the imperial edict in public, and used the excuse of rescuing Yan Yu!"
"I am in a dilemma and can only become sworn brothers with him and confer the title of King Dijin..."
"Then, I led a group of ministers back to the scene to accommodate the late emperor and Hua'er, but I discovered that Hua'er's silk handkerchief was missing."
Gu Mengzhen stared at Zhong Jian closely.
"you say,"
"If it wasn't the man in black who took the handkerchief, who else could it be?"
"Could it be the newly born King Dijin?"
"and,"
"Concubine Chun said that you gave her this silk handkerchief as a gift."
"The testimony of my own daughter is very convincing."
"Lord Zhong, do you have any objections?"