si-mexico Chapter 152 The Unlucky Crown Prince
Chapter 152 The Unlucky Crown Prince
"Li girl, you have great ambition, but you should think it through. Taking the imperial examination to enter officialdom may seem glamorous on the surface, but in reality, it is a hundred times more difficult and dangerous than staying at home. Once you embark on this path, there may be no turning back," Emperor Cheng said earnestly.
He had watched Shen Li grow up, and although they might not have had a deep emotional bond normally, he couldn't help but offer some advice now.
Gu Chang'an's expression was complicated. He knew all too well the complexities and darkness of officialdom. Before entering it, everyone was full of enthusiasm, but once caught up in it, one could not control oneself, and only one in ten could maintain one's original intention.
The A-Li family is known for its noble character and integrity; they would never encounter such things.
He wanted to stop her, but seeing her resolute expression, he knew that this was the path she had chosen, and he shouldn't stop her, even if he thought it was for her own good.
"This humble woman has no regrets." Shen Li banged her head on the ground. "Please grant my request, Your Majesty."
Gu Chang'an was moved. Fine, let A-Li do what she wants to do, and if she doesn't like it, she can just give up.
"Very well, then I grant your request. Considering your merits in the Northern Frontier, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and allow you to participate in this year's spring imperial examinations," Emperor Cheng said solemnly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Shen Li said clearly and firmly.
Shen Yue clenched her little fists as she watched. Her sister was so brave. In the future, she wanted to be like her sister, to fight for herself in everything and live according to her own ideas.
"Get up, do well on the exam, and don't let me down," Emperor Cheng instructed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost." Shen Li stood up and faced the gazes of the crowd with calm and fearlessness.
The only person she felt somewhat sorry for was Gu Chang'an, as she hadn't informed him beforehand about such a big matter.
I wonder if he'll blame me.
When she walked toward Gu Chang'an, she met his rather complicated gaze, and for a moment she felt a little guilty, thinking of how to explain herself.
When she got to him, she looked at his hands hanging down and hesitated for a moment. It was only because the occasion was a bit too formal that she would have definitely grabbed his hand and acted coquettishly.
I don't believe he won't soften his heart.
Just as she was thinking this, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand, the large, well-defined hand enveloping her small hand in its palm.
Shen Li looked at him in surprise. Wasn't he always the most polite and proper person? Why was he not paying attention to these things now?
Gu Chang'an pulled her to his side, his gaze sharp as he met the eyes that were staring at them.
The meaning was clear: in the future, in officialdom, his wife would be under his protection.
Shen Li, who had been so composed despite everything she had been through, could no longer maintain her composure. She tried to suppress the smile, but a hint of laughter still crept into her eyes.
She gently hooked her finger into his palm.
Gu Chang'an's cold and stern face remained unchanged, but his earlobes had already quietly turned red.
Lin Wan'er heard Shen Li's voice from inside the makeshift tent. Ignoring her sling arm, she came out to see what was happening, only to witness this scene before she could even feel happy for her.
She regretted it; why did she have to come out to see her?
It wasn't that she couldn't stand seeing Shen Li doing well, but this was just too good!
Even though they've both been given a second chance at life, the difference in their circumstances is so vast that she'll genuinely be hurt.
"General, please come back. Be careful, it will hurt your wound," her personal guard advised.
Lin Wan'er had been advised many times, but this time she listened. It wasn't that her wound hurt, but that something else was hurting.
Shen Li is a comrade-in-arms during battles, but during truce periods, she inflicts far more damage than the enemy.
Although no one mentioned the fact that three princes were injured that day, it was considered an ominous sign. So the emperor announced the end of the hunt and that they would return to the capital the next day.
Back in the tent, Shen Li still felt a little guilty and said, "I'm sorry, my husband. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would worry. I know this reason isn't fair to you, but..."
"Ah Li, what are you saying? This was your own decision to begin with. I support you whether you say it or not." Gu Chang'an turned around, took her hands, and looked into her eyes: "Don't apologize."
"How can you be so good to me?" Shen Li couldn't help but throw herself into his arms.
Gu Chang'an gently patted her back: "It looks like it went smoothly, but did you bump into anything?"
Shen Li shook her head in his arms. Only the person acting as bait would get hurt, but she wasn't accurate with her hidden weapons, so she could only let Lin Wan'er go.
"That's good." Gu Chang'an finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Husband, I didn't lay a hand on the King of Chess. What happened to him?" Shen Li asked as soon as she remembered.
She was somewhat surprised that the King of Chess had fallen off his horse.
"The Crown Prince ordered someone to poison his fodder." Gu Chang'an paused for a moment and then said, "Zhao Jing should have caught the man by now."
"Oh? He's that stupid?" Shen Li asked in surprise. "But how did my husband find out?"
"His Majesty ordered Zhao Jing to monitor the Crown Prince. Last night, Zhao Jing's men witnessed someone poisoning the prince and informed me that very night." Gu Chang'an did not finish his sentence.
But Shen Li understood that Gu Chang'an did not inform the emperor immediately after learning about the matter, but waited for serious consequences before arresting the crown prince, so as to provoke the emperor's wrath.
The crown prince is in big trouble.
As for that poor scoundrel, Yi Wang, he was not within the scope of her husband's pity.
The eunuch who committed the poisoning was quickly caught red-handed, before he could even dispose of the powder in his hand.
When the young eunuch was brought before Emperor Cheng, the emperor was indeed furious and immediately smashed things.
Although the eunuch insisted that it was not the Crown Prince who ordered it but his own personal grudge, if Emperor Cheng didn't even know this, what kind of emperor would he be?
"You unfilial son, this incompetent unfilial son!" Emperor Cheng said to Zhao Jing, "Take him away and interrogate him. He must confess who the mastermind is!"
If the charge of murdering his elder brother is established, it will silence all the civil officials, and the crown prince can be deposed.
Zhao Jing responded and dragged the man away, but Emperor Cheng's anger had not subsided. He could not tolerate such an ambitious but incompetent person becoming the crown prince!
I must get rid of Li Heng in my lifetime!
While Empress Ning's son was still unconscious and covered in blood, the search of the tents and interrogation of the servants began. After hearing the reason, she felt her vision go black again and again.
What does it mean when it rains most? This is it. Faced with irrefutable evidence from others, she was powerless to resist, and the best she could do was to push that little eunuch to take the blame.
This is hardly a good solution; it's just a last resort. Both Chief Minister Zhou and Shen Zizai are far away in the capital, and they can't help in time.
She felt uneasy; she couldn't believe things were going to happen so coincidentally, and that someone might be setting a trap for her.
Empress Ning thought for a moment, wiped away her tears, and went to Emperor Cheng's tent. She immediately said, "Your Majesty, my son's fall from his horse may not have been an accident. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."
Whether it was an accident or not, she had to remind the emperor that the crown prince was seriously injured.
"An accident? You think someone harmed him?" Emperor Cheng was already venting his anger, and upon hearing this, he said irritably, "I'd be grateful if your son didn't harm others."