Chapter 297 Slander

Chapter 297: Slander

Xue Han failed to see the Crown Prince and immediately went to Xue Quan for help.

Xue Quan pondered for a long while: "His Majesty has decreed that no one may visit the Crown Prince, and no one can defy the imperial will. Here's an idea—there is a eunuch in the Eastern Palace who still listens to me. If you have anything to say to the Crown Prince, entrust it to him to pass along. Remember, do not reveal your handwriting, and only write what is absolutely necessary..."

The Crown Prince was not allowed to leave the Eastern Palace, and external officials were forbidden to visit, but the palace staff of the Eastern Palace could still come and go freely.

"Thank you, Father."

Xue Quan sighed deeply: "What is there to thank? We're all in the same boat."

Xue Han paused briefly.

Though the idea was similar, weren't they supposed to be on the side of righteousness...

Before long, the Crown Prince received a wax pill from a eunuch.

He crushed the pill open, revealing a rolled-up note inside. After reading it, the Crown Prince clenched the note tightly, his face showing not shock but disbelief.

He had only angered his father and been temporarily confined—why would he receive such an absurd secret message?

Yet this message was from Xue Han.

Ever since he was saved by Xue Han during the autumn hunt that year, the Crown Prince had harbored gratitude and gradually increased their interactions. As they grew closer, trust and admiration deepened.

Xue Han would not casually send such a secret note.

The Crown Prince sat in silence for a long time, then brought the note close to the candle flame, watching it burn to ashes with his own eyes.

The Crown Prince's house arrest brought new changes to the court.

At first, the ministers naturally assumed that everything would return to how it was before Emperor Jingping fell ill, but that was not the case.

Although Emperor Jingping felt he had fully recovered, his mind had turned to the pursuit of immortality. With no Crown Prince to oversee state affairs and his own unwillingness to handle governance, he appointed several ministers to deliberate on political matters together, among them Prince Fu.

Having arranged this, Emperor Jingping ordered Master Miaoqing to reside in the palace for easy summoning.

Some outspoken ministers advised Emperor Jingping to focus on state affairs and not indulge in the pursuit of immortality. The emperor flew into a rage and immediately dismissed the advising official from his post. Those who pleaded for the official were demoted or punished, and gradually no one dared to speak up.

By the Green Lotus Lake, Qiu Heng asked about the situation in the palace.

"His Majesty hardly attends to state affairs now; he spends all day with Master Miaoqing discussing the way of immortality. My adoptive father usually accompanies them and is occasionally rewarded with a spirit pill..."

Hearing this from Xue Han, Qiu Heng grew worried: "If Eunuch Xue listens to this every day, might he come to believe it over time?"

As the saying goes, "what is constantly seen and heard becomes ingrained."

Xue Han's expression turned odd: "That won't happen. Every time we meet, my adoptive father laments that we're all in the same boat."

Qiu Heng: "..."

"My adoptive father secretly told me that His Majesty suddenly felt unwell and that Master Miaoqing will hold a prayer ceremony for His Majesty's benefit."

Qiu Heng's expression shifted slightly: "Master Miaoqing is likely to use this prayer ceremony to stir up trouble."

Every day, Xue Quan relayed to Xue Han the interactions between Emperor Jingping and Master Miaoqing. This time, there was a clear difference.

In the palace, within the Hall of Eternal Life.

Master Miaoqing paced while chanting scriptures when suddenly his body swayed and a trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Emperor Jingping, who was observing the ritual, was greatly alarmed: "True Man, what has happened?"

Ling Yun, assisting in the ceremony, also changed countenance: "Master—"

Master Miaoqing steadied himself. He did not immediately respond to Emperor Jingping's question but instead closed his eyes and calculated with his fingers for a moment before slowly opening them.

"Your Majesty has been startled," Master Miaoqing said, bowing with clasped hands.

Emperor Jingping's face turned pale: "True Man, why are you spitting blood?"

Master Miaoqing's expression grew serious: "While chanting scriptures and praying for Your Majesty's blessing, I suffered a backlash."

"Backlash? Why would there be a backlash? Is someone using sorcery against me?"

Master Miaoqing's eyes flickered, as if hesitating to speak.

"True Man, if you know something, speak freely."

"I fear that Your Majesty may be troubled and affect your health—"

Emperor Jingping gave a cold laugh: "Not rooting out the one who schemes against me will trouble me even more. True Man, I saw you counting on your fingers and making calculations. Speak whatever you have divined, no need to hold back."

Master Miaoqing lowered his head slightly: "During the ritual just now, I sensed a miasma of evil obstruction. My spiritual awareness traced it and found the source of that evil resentment—"

Emperor Jingping held his breath, his body taut like a drawn bow.

Master Miaoqing spoke slowly, word by word: "That source of evil resentment comes from the Eastern Palace."

Boom—It felt to Emperor Jingping as if the giant firecracker that had charged at the Joyous Tower during the Lantern Festival hadn't exploded halfway, but inside his own body, leaving him dizzy and burning internally.

Emperor Jingping stared blankly at Master Miaoqing's mouth opening and closing. He seemed not to hear what was said, yet it madly drilled into his ears.

Evil resentment... the Eastern Palace...

That unfilial son, that unfilial son!

Emperor Jingping gritted his teeth and strode out.

Xue Quan, stunned senseless, hurriedly followed: "Your Majesty."

How could you believe such idiotic words! Indeed, taking those pills has addled your mind!

Emperor Jingping paused briefly: "Xue Quan, quickly summon Palace Commander Zhu Qiang to lead the troops and surround the Eastern Palace!"

"Your Majesty, isn't this—isn't this too severe—" Xue Quan could hardly believe his ears.

Directly deploying the Palace Command guards to surround the Eastern Palace?

If something truly evil were found in the Eastern Palace, given His Majesty's fury, would he kill the Crown Prince on the spot?

Xue Quan wanted to suggest that palace eunuchs could search first, or call the Imperial City Bureau—both were their own people. But before he could speak, Emperor Jingping kicked him.

"What are you standing there for? I always thought you clever and attentive—why are you suddenly so dull?"

Xue Quan's heart tightened. He dared not say another word and hurried to deliver the verbal order.

Soon, the Eastern Palace was surrounded by imperial guards.

Emperor Jingping strode inside and saw the crown prince kneeling to greet him.

"Your son pays respects to Your Majesty." The crown prince, his face pale, looked up at Emperor Jingping standing not far away.

Bright sunlight streamed into the courtyard, yet that grim face seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

Emperor Jingping did not respond, but instead looked at Master Miaoqing.

"Master, can you locate the exact source?"

"I shall try my best."

Master Miaoqing muttered incantations, under his breath, his fingers moving rapidly. When he stopped, his gaze fixed in one direction: "In the inner garden of the Eastern Palace, trees hold ghostly energy, buried in dark soil..."

Emperor Jingping walked toward the inner garden of the Eastern Palace. The sight that met his eyes was a riot of flowers and beautiful scenery.

"Trees hold ghostly energy—" He repeated Master Miaoqing's words, then habitually asked Xue Quan, "Xue Quan, what do you think?"

Xue Quan resisted the urge to roll his eyes and had to respond: "Trees hold ghostly energy... Huh, maybe it's referring to the osmanthus tree?"

As soon as he said it, he saw Emperor Jingping's eyes light up, and even Master Miaoqing shot him an approving look. Xue Quan felt like slapping himself.

Why couldn't his clever brain be just a bit denser?

Emperor Jingping's gaze fell on an osmanthus tree with a canopy-like crown in the northeast corner.

He still remembered it was a red osmanthus, planted by order of the late empress when the crown prince moved into the Eastern Palace at the age of ten.

The late empress had even taken him along to water it.

Now, the late empress's face had long since faded from memory, and only this rather graceful and heartwarming old incident sprang unbidden to Emperor Jingping's mind.

He merely recalled it, and then Emperor Jingping pointed at the osmanthus tree, saying sternly, "Dig it up carefully!"