Chapter 28

Inside the Donggong.

After receiving the news, Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, and Zhu Yunwen hurried back to the Donggong in the shortest possible time.

As soon as they returned to the palace.

They saw Lady Lü pacing restlessly inside Ciqing Hall, her face cold and grim.

Upon seeing Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, and the others.

Lady Lü immediately ran over.

"Mr. Huang, Mr. Qi, you've finally arrived."

Zhu Yunwen quickly asked:

"Mother, what has happened? Why did you summon me and the two masters in such a hurry?"

Lady Lü gave a signal to the palace maids and eunuchs around her.

All the maids and eunuchs immediately withdrew.

Only four people remained inside Ciqing Hall.

Lady Lü took a deep breath and whispered:

"Yunwen, bring the two masters here."

The master and his three disciples exchanged glances, then followed Lady Lü toward the screen in the distance.

Behind the screen stood a writing desk.

On the desk lay a thick stack of Xuan paper.

Lady Lü stepped forward, lifted away the top sheets, and slowly revealed the wrinkled paper beneath.

And on the paper was written:

"Depose Crown Prince Zhu Biao, and posthumously demote him to Prince Wu…"

When they clearly read the content of the paper.

Zhu Yunwen froze stiff in place.

Everyone knew what this paper meant!

Once this edict was issued.

Not only would Zhu Yunwen lose it.

Even Zhu Yunwen's younger brother Zhu Yunzheng would lose all claim to the throne.

For this edict deposed Zhu Biao's position as Crown Prince!

"Grandfather, Grandfather is going to depose Yunwen…"

Seeing this.

Zhu Yunwen immediately turned anxiously to Huang Zicheng beside him.

"Mr. Huang, I don't want to be Prince Yu."

"Please, Master, save me!"

Huang Zicheng's forehead was now slick with beads of sweat.

He stared intently at the paper before him.

Qi Tai looked at Lady Lü in disbelief and asked:

"Your Majesty, where did this edict come from…?"

Lady Lü took another deep breath, glanced around, then whispered:

"It was secretly delivered by the Office of State Affairs."

Lady Lü had long bribed several elderly eunuchs in Qianqing Palace.

They normally just recorded what books Old Zhu had been reading and inquired about his mood.

She never imagined that this morning, one of those old eunuchs had brought this crumpled paper to the Donggong.

Lady Lü had immediately wanted to summon Zhu Yunwen.

But it was morning court, and the young eunuchs around her dared not speak.

That was why she waited until court ended to recall Zhu Yunwen from the audience.

Lady Lü whispered:

"Word from Qianqing Palace says that yesterday, just before Mr. Huang and Yunwen went to the Imperial Prison, the Old Man himself went there too."

"After returning, he personally drafted this edict."

As soon as these words were spoken.

Even the slowest among Zhu Yunwen's trio could guess: this matter had to be tied to Su Qiao!

Huang Zicheng stared fixedly at the paper.

He gritted his teeth and whispered:

"That little brat Su Qiao—did he really use his silver tongue to turn the Son of Heaven's mind?"

Lady Lü watched Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai anxiously and said:

"You two masters, we are a widow and orphan—our lives and fortunes rest entirely in your hands. You cannot let Yunwen be deposed like this!"

Since the day Zhu Yunwen was born.

Lady Lü had poured all her heart and soul into him.

Now, over a decade has passed.

One by one, the obstacles before Zhu Yunwen had been cleared away.

Lady Lü dreamed every night of becoming Empress Dowager.

How could she bear to lose everything now, after all this?

Huang Zicheng bowed to Lady Lu and said,

"Your Majesty, rest assured. As long as the two of us are here, the order of seniority and hierarchy cannot be disrupted!"

"He is merely a treacherous sycophant who seeks attention!"

"We only need to make Your Majesty see the true face of that boy Su Qiao, and this paper will forever remain in the wastebasket."

It was not only Lady Lu.

From the very first day they entered the court to become officials,

Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai had entered Donggong to serve as companions for study.

Their futures and destinies had long been bound to Zhu Yunwen.

Every official in the court had the opportunity to switch allegiances.

Only the two of them had no opportunity at all!

As long as the new emperor who ascended was not Zhu Yunwen,

the two of them would never be given important positions!

Huang Zicheng looked firmly at Lady Lu and her son and said,

"Your Majesty, rest assured. After I leave the palace today, I will make arrangements. Within three days, I guarantee that boy Su Qiao will be ruined and his reputation destroyed!"

Qi Tai looked at Huang Zicheng with some doubt and asked,

"My lord Huang, three days? That boy Su Qiao must have poured some bewitching potion into Your Majesty's ears. He has spoken so boldly in court these past few days; if it were anyone else, he would have been dead more than once already."

"Is there truly a method to bring down this boy?"

Huang Zicheng sneered coldly and said,

"That rascal had already offended every official in the court during this morning's assembly."

"What Su Qiao lacks right now is merely a charge."

"As long as you and I can pin a capital charge upon him,"

"then when all the officials in the court join together to remonstrate to the death, even if Your Majesty wishes to protect this rascal, what can be done?!"

Qi Tai's brows furrowed slightly; he looked at Huang Zicheng with some confusion and asked,

"I do not know, my lord Huang, from what aspect you intend to strike?"

A cold sneer inevitably appeared on Huang Zicheng's face.

"Does my lord Qi know the Shen family of Gusu?"

"The Shen family?"

28, Su Qiao: Why would a human trafficker kidnap me?!

Hearing this, Qi Tai was momentarily stunned.