Chapter 94 Release Him

Chapter 94: Letting People Out

Su Zheng's undisguised admiring gaze made Luo Yunchen's heart flutter, adding a different kind of excitement to his smile.

Luo Yunchen walked up to Su Zheng, leaned down, and propped his hands on either side of Su Zheng, trapping him beneath his body.

Their eyes met, and Luo Yunchen spoke softly, his voice coaxing: "Brother, does it look good? Do you like it? Do you want to touch it?"

Su Zheng tilted his head, a smile curling at the corner of his lips: "Where should I touch?"

Luo Yunchen's eyes darkened instantly. He inhaled sharply and muttered vaguely, "You little devil!"

Then he lowered his head and fiercely kissed Su Zheng's lips.

...............

The poison inside Su Zheng had been completely removed not long ago.

..............

..............

Su Zheng looked at Luo Yunchen's captivating gaze, and the strength in his hands involuntarily relaxed, allowing Luo Yunchen to easily break free...

Half an hour later, Su Zheng lay in Luo Yunchen's arms, breathing slightly. Luo Yunchen brought a cup of water to his lips and said, "Thirsty? Have a drink to moisten your throat."

Su Zheng was indeed thirsty. He took two sips from Luo Yunchen's hand, glanced down at his disheveled clothes, and muttered, "I need a bath."

Luo Yunchen laughed: "Alright, I'll help you wash."

"Don't come. I'll wash myself."

"No! I got you dirty, so of course I have to clean you up!"

"Letting you wash would only make things worse!"

"Then we'll wash longer! If it gets dirty again, we can wash again!"

"...I'm really sunk with you!"

......

Another hour later, the two sat properly dressed at the dinner table for supper.

Luo Yunchen finally got down to business: "Brother, news from the capital says Emperor Yuanjing has fallen ill. The imperial physicians are at a loss. All they can do is try to prolong his life. He might last until after the New Year."

Su Zheng nodded: "Do I need to go back?"

"In a few more days, I'll settle things here and go back with you."

Su Zheng frowned: "Without a summons, how can you enter the capital?"

Luo Yunchen smiled: "There will naturally be a summons. This time, the Tianyuan Army will come back with us, but along the way, I'll have to ask you to stay hidden. After all, once we return to the capital, we need to secretly swap you back with the fake crown prince."

Su Zheng had almost forgotten about that. He asked, "The emperor is ill. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for the crown prince to still be at the temple praying? Doesn't he need to attend to the emperor at his bedside?"

Luo Yunchen shook his head: "The fake crown prince has long returned to the Eastern Palace and is now attending at the bedside. Don't worry, brother. The person I found looks very much like you and can mimic voices. No one will suspect."

Su Zheng wasn't too worried, but he felt Luo Yunchen had other plans. Still, he didn't ask further. If Luo Yunchen needed him to do something, he would tell him.

...

Half a month later, Luo Yunchen set off for the capital with Su Zheng.

Along the way, Su Zheng hardly left the carriage. Luo Yunchen had prepared it to be both sealed and comfortable, allowing Su Zheng to sit or lie down without feeling cold.

Inside the palace.

Seeing Emperor Yuanjing fast asleep, the fake crown prince set down the medicine bowl, tucked the emperor in, stood up, and walked to the table to pour himself a cup of water.

Xu Mo, dressed as a eunuch, stood behind the fake crown prince, slightly bowing. "Your Highness, we have obtained evidence that the emperor was poisoned. The Imperial Guards and the city garrison are awaiting your orders at any time. Everything is ready. When does Your Highness plan to act?"

The fake crown prince took a light sip of water before slowly speaking: "At the hour of Chou tonight, seize my good little brother and take him to the Censorate for interrogation. The charge: plotting to murder the emperor and the crown prince, attempting usurpation."

"And the empress?"

"Put her under house arrest first. She swapped the babies back then, causing my birth mother's death. She raised me to be useless and poisoned me, trying to replace me with her own son just like before. I'll make her taste the fruit of her own schemes."

"Yes!"

A strange noise suddenly came from the outer hall. Xu Mo's head snapped toward the direction and he shouted: "Who?!"

The fake crown prince set down his cup and hurried out with Xu Mo, chasing outside. All they saw was a group of figures hurrying away.

The fake crown prince and Xu Mo exchanged a glance. Xu Mo nodded slightly.

Empress Shen returned to her bedchamber, pacing anxiously back and forth, muttering: "He knows everything! He knows it all! Who? Who's helping him behind the scenes? No, no, this isn't the time to think about that..."

Empress Shen suddenly stopped, walked to the old nanny, pulled a hairpin from her head, and handed it to her. "Take all the people we can mobilize. Escort Wang'er out of the palace to the Shen residence. Find my father and eldest brother. Tell them the truth. Tomorrow morning, if anything unusual happens, have them lead troops to force the palace. Say the crown prince was manipulated into poisoning the emperor and holding the empress hostage, that the palace has been taken over by rebels. Tell them to storm the palace to clear the ruler's side!"

The old nanny's hands trembled as she clutched the hairpin. She looked at the empress with concern and asked, "And you, Your Majesty..."

"No matter what, I am his mother. He wouldn't dare harm me. Otherwise, the court would never accept a prince who killed his own mother."

The nanny wanted to say more, but Empress Shen pushed her: "Go! Hurry!"

The nanny gave the empress one last look, complex emotions flashing in her eyes, then quickly walked out of the hall.

When Su Wang and the old nanny fought their way out of the palace, their companions were either killed or captured. Only a few remained. Su Wang and the nanny headed straight for the Shen residence, leaving the others to hold off the pursuers.

On the fake crown prince's side, Xu Mo waved for the reporting subordinate to withdraw, then said in a low voice: "The people have been let out."

The fake crown prince nodded: "Has the master arrived?"

"He has returned to the Eastern Palace while it was chaotic. Court will be suspended tomorrow. The Shen faction will surely agitate the officials to force the palace. At that time, the prince will come from the Eastern Palace. I will follow him. You pretend to be this eunuch and stay here."

"Understood."

The next day, after the usual court hour, the palace gates remained closed. Some officials already sensed something amiss and whispered among themselves.