Chapter 324 Imperial Physician Wang Appears

Chapter 324: Imperial Physician Wang Appears

Many officials exchanged glances, wondering the same thing: Was the date chosen for the late emperor's burial truly auspicious?

The Imperial Observatory truly deserves to die!

The new emperor sat upright in the hall, stated briefly: "Prince Fu and Yang Zhen staged a rebellion and will be punished according to the law upon returning to the capital."

As for the so-called forged imperial edict of the late emperor, the new emperor did not mention it.

Even if it was indeed a fake, as long as such a thing appeared, it could invite suspicion. With a complete victory in hand, there was no need to get into that mess.

All officials said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise."

"Everyone, leave. Rest for half a day, then we depart."

"Your officials take their leave."

Unlike the officials who dispersed one by one, Palace Commander Zhu Qiang came to report: "Your Majesty, the entire Prince Fu's residence has been secured."

After commanding the Imperial Guards to eliminate Yang Zhen's loyalists, Zhu Qiang personally led men to the official residence where Prince Fu's household was quartered, apprehending Prince Fu's third son and all others.

"You have worked hard, Commander Zhu," said the new emperor, rubbing his brow wearily. "Yan Rong, go personally and instruct them to treat Princess Consort Fu and Princess Rongning with courtesy."

"Yes."

Zhu Qiang and Yan Rong both withdrew, leaving only Xue Han.

The new emperor raised his hand and patted Xue Han on the shoulder, said with feeling: "Xue Han, you've worked hard too. I couldn't have made it this far without your help."

At this moment, his state of mind was like a light boat having passed through myriad mountains, making him appreciate the man before him even more.

"You flatter me, Your Majesty. It is all my duty to fulfill."

The new emperor smiled: "There's duty, and then there's duty—they can be worlds apart. I remember it all."

He was still young, and Xue Han was young too; he hoped this pair of sovereign and minister could work together for a long, long time.

Though he had ordered a half-day rest, few could sleep.

Princess Kang nudged Prince Kang's arm: "Your Highness, are you asleep?"

Prince Kang opened his eyes, his face dark: "Can you stop nudging? This is the eighth time!"

Princess Kang sat up: "Your Highness, with such a huge event going on, how can you sleep?"

Prince Kang said with a grimace: "You've already asked that three times."

Princess Kang's gaze went blank, murmuring: "During the day, I was even talking to Princess Consort Fu. How did Prince Fu's household end up as prisoners before the night is even over..."

Prince Kang closed his eyes: "That's because Prince Fu was ambitious and sought his own destruction. I'm not looking for trouble; what are you afraid of?"

Princess Kang parted her lips, thinking to herself that Yun'er had been caught up earlier in the Evil Taoist scandal. Wasn't she just feeling lingering fear? But if she said that out loud, it would only make the prince care even less about Yun'er losing his heir title. So she didn't bring it up.

"Your Highness, there's another thing I find quite strange." Princess Kang nudged Prince Kang again.

Prince Kang gritted his teeth: "What now?"

"It's about A Heng."

"What's wrong with A Heng?"

Princess Kang paused, unconsciously lowering her voice: "That year during the autumn hunt, A Heng stayed with us, and that night a great fire broke out at the crown prince's residence, nearly causing disaster! This time, A Heng stayed with us again, and there was a great fire near the mausoleum area, plus Prince Fu's rebellion... Don't you think this is a bit uncanny?"

Prince Kang quickly emphasized: "It's not the mausoleum area. The new emperor said the fire was outside the mausoleum area."

After all, they shared the same ancestors. If the historian recorded a fire at the imperial mausoleum, they would all lose face in the eyes of future generations.

"That's not the point. It's A Heng!"

Prince Kang cast a sidelong glance at Princess Kang: "Whether A Heng is uncanny or not, as long as the commandery is fine, that's all that matters. Princess, let me remind you: A Heng is different now. Treat her with respect."

"That goes without saying, Your Highness."

Princess Kang thought it over and saw reason. As long as A Heng didn't harm the commandery, it was fine. With her mind at ease, she fell asleep without even noticing.

After daybreak, the procession departed back to the capital, but it had changed a lot compared to when they left.

The once-promising Deputy Palace Commander Yang Zhen was now a corpse, placed in a thin coffin packed with lime, to be taken back to the capital for disposal.

According to the laws of Great Xia, even if a person died for the crime of rebellion, there were still penalties for the corpse.

Except for Princess Consort Fu and Commandery Princess Rongning, everyone from Prince Fu's household was placed in prison carts.

As for officials who had close dealings with Prince Fu and Yang Zhen, they were initially left alone, with only secret agents keeping an eye on them. They would be interrogated carefully upon returning to the capital.

Several such officials, knowing they were doomed, fainted on the way under immense psychological pressure.

The new emperor was in a much lighter mood than when he came. Being young, seeing the familiar towering city gates, he felt no fatigue—only the relief that everything had settled.

From this point on, he had truly secured the dragon throne.

In the great hall, all officials and nobility were present. Prince Fu and his men were tied up hand and foot, kneeling on the cold gold bricks.

In just a few days, Prince Fu's hair had turned completely white, disheveled and scattered. He was motionless, as if his soul had left him.

"Prince Fu, you conspired with the rebel Zhu Youwei, deceived the late emperor, monopolized court affairs, and rebelled... Do you admit your crimes?"

When the new emperor mentioned Zhu Xiang, who had been executed by slow slicing, the officials shuddered in lingering fear.

On the day of Zhu Xiang's execution, they had all been required by the new emperor to watch. It was utterly horrifying, giving them nightmares for at least a year.

Prince Fu said nothing.

The new emperor sneered coldly: "So Uncle dares to act but not to admit it?"

Prince Fu's eyelids twitched. He raised his eyes to meet the new emperor's gaze, his numb expression shifted—the resolve of someone who knew there was no chance to turn things around: "The victor is king, the loser a bandit. There's nothing to say."

His voice was hoarse and piercing, like gravel scraping against stone.

"And that evil Taoist Miaoqing? Was he your man?" Though it sounded like a question, the new emperor's tone was sure.

Prince Fu lowered his eyes and did not answer.

The new emperor glanced at Xue Han and called out: "Summon Xue Quan."

Xue Quan had been held in the inner prison and was waiting outside the hall. He was quickly brought inside.

Criminal Minister Xue Quan kowtows before Your Majesty.

Xue Quan, tell us again how you recommended the evil Taoist Miaoqing?

Yes... Xue Quan lowered his head. The evil Taoist Miaoqing was widely renowned in the capital. The late Emperor heard of him and asked me about him. I was deceived by the Taoist's reputation and just repeated what others said... When the evil Taoist wished to present a miraculous elixir to the late Emperor, I asked Imperial Physician Wang to examine it, and after checking, Imperial Physician Wang said the elixir was harmless...

As Xue Quan spoke, the civil and military officials standing on either side of the hall murmured among themselves.

Xue Quan had already given this account when Prime Minister Zhu was punished, but it was ultimately one-sided.

The new Emperor let the officials whisper among themselves, his expression calm. "Xue Han, go bring that person in."

Yes.

Xue Han stepped back, and before long, he returned with someone.

Officials near the palace gate exclaimed, "Imperial Physician Wang!"

It really is Imperial Physician Wang! He is still alive!

Prince Fu, who had shown little reaction, suddenly turned his head, wide-eyed, staring at the approaching figure.

The person walked past him and paused without thinking.

Prince Fu would never mistake that face—it was indeed Imperial Physician Wang!

Criminal Minister Wang Ying kowtows before Your Majesty.

Xue Quan was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears. "Imperial Physician Wang, you have ruined me!"

At last, this moment has arrived!