The peerless and dark princess

How could everyone present here, who were all shrewd people, not notice Mu Heng's expression, but they were all maintaining this superficial affection. Even the matchmaker felt a chill and was scared. This was the first time she had seen such a scene in all her years as a matchmaker. But even though she felt scared, she had to do her best. None of these people were people that a commoner like her could afford to offend. She should not have been greedy for their money. If this matter was not handled properly, she would be beheaded.

After Crown Prince Chen Yunjie discovered that Meng Yujiao and Sun Tao were plotting to murder the other princes, he suppressed Chen Yunfeng and ordered the eunuchs who served Emperor Chen Yan to replace the usual medicine for recuperation and directly give medicine to his father, Emperor Chen Yan. In his view, this was to suppress him and make room for Chen Yunfeng.

Zuo Ci had never thought that the Crown Prince could be so cruel, but at least as the crown prince, his brain was better than Chen Yunfeng. Besides Muruhan, Chen Yunfeng had other things in his mind. If it weren't for Meng Yujiao's plan, this unambitious and stupid Second Prince would have gone to hell long ago.

On this day, Emperor Chen Yan was not seen at the morning court. Zuo Ci and the Crown Prince Chen Yunjie who was present understood that he was "sick" and the weather in the capital was likely to change.

"Zuo Qi, tell Leng Xue and Leng Qing to get ready. The situation in the capital is about to change."

"Yes, son."

After Zuo Qi left, Zuo Ci pondered in his study. Although Southern Xinjiang seemed to be controlled by Chen Yunjie and Chen Yunbin, its foundation lay with the people of the Prince of Yan's Mansion. If Chu Lianyao and Chu Lixiu, father and son, showed up, they would surely be able to resolve the situation. Yes, Third Prince Chen Yunbin had learned that his father was ill that night, so he had resorted to stirring up trouble with the Western Rong. The secret letter was intercepted by Zuo Ci's men, but he allowed it to be sent to the Western Rong. He also wanted to use Chen Yunbin to get Crown Prince Chen Yunjie to Southern Xinjiang. Chen Yunbin wanted the Crown Prince to die at the hands of the Western Rong. Even if he couldn't die on the battlefield, he had people in Southern Xinjiang who could kill him. He would have Chen Yunfeng accused of plotting treason and murdering the Crown Prince, and so he could legitimately appear before the Emperor. Then, he would be the only one who could secure the crown prince, or the throne. The Crown Prince, on the other hand, was looking for a reason to go to Southern Xinjiang and bring troops back to the capital to confront Chen Yunfeng. Even though Chen Yunbin had sensed some of this, he didn't take him seriously.

Zuo Ci naturally had to let Crown Prince Chen Yunjie go to Southern Xinjiang, otherwise how would those people in the Prince of Yan's Mansion in Southern Xinjiang and the people he had planted return to Beijing? Naturally, the beast Chen Yunbin would regard it as a thank you gift for the Crown Prince for bringing people back from Southern Xinjiang.

Based on these, Zuo Ci did not destroy the secret letter immediately, but allowed Falcon to send the secret letter to Western Rong. The people in Southern Xinjiang had been arranged before Chu Lianyao returned to Beijing, so the people would not suffer.

"I'm just sick, and they're all eyeing the throne right under my butt?!"

Emperor Chen Yan was lying on the dragon bed, furious. The eunuchs waiting on the side knelt on the ground without saying a word. No matter how angry the emperor was, he was still his son. How could they, the servants, have any say in his words? They could only listen.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister sent a memorial to you, saying that the Western Rong are invading. Who are you afraid of going to the Southern Frontier?"

"Well, could it be that only Chu Lianyao and his son from Prince Yan's Mansion are capable of such a great task? What about the others?"

Chen Yan knew full well that Southern Xinjiang had always been unified by the Prince of Yan's Mansion, and almost all officials and civilians in Southern Xinjiang were convinced of it. When Chu Lianyao returned, he had managed to obtain the military order, but the people he sent there probably only managed to stabilize the situation. He needed someone who could control the situation. Thinking about it, it was only the prince. However, the second son, Chen Yunfeng, already had the Meng family and some guards in the capital. At this stage, the third son seemed to be showing some signs of success. As for the crown prince...he was the one. After all, he had been the crown prince for several years and it was time for him to gain some experience. Otherwise, how could he hand over the throne of Dali to him?

"Have someone draft an imperial decree, ordering Crown Prince Chen Yunjie and Deng Yue to go to Southern Xinjiang to quell the war."

Once the imperial edict was issued, Meng Yujiao, Chen Yunbin, Zuo Ci and the others all got what they wanted. However, they didn't know that Chen Yan also sent people to his fiefdom to summon Yue King Chen Yu back to the capital.

"Someone, give this letter to Zhao Yuliang. I believe he knows what to do."

Crown Prince Chen Yunjie hadn't expected someone to bring him a pillow just when he was dozing off. Whose man was this Prime Minister? Regardless, this was a timely relief. Now that he had vacated the capital, his good second and third brothers, as well as Meng Yujiao, finally had a chance.

After receiving the imperial edict, the Crown Prince decided to pin the blame for his father's drugging on Meng Yujiao and Sun Tao. This was the perfect time. He eagerly anticipated his father's expression when he 'knew' it was his wife who was colluding with the Imperial Hospital. But the Crown Prince also knew he wouldn't see it. He wanted to use this incident to make Meng Yujiao and Chen Yunfeng rebel. Then he and Deng Yue would return to the capital with the Southern Xinjiang troops...

"Sir, Chen Yunjie has already gone to Southern Xinjiang. What about Chen Yunbin?"

"If Meng Yujiao doesn't take action now, then Chen Yunbin will."

"If they don't want to do anything, then let them all do it. Didn't your father receive the news that the prince asked him to do it? You can add fuel to the fire."

"He's not my father!"

Zhao Yanqing left immediately after saying this, which was extremely rude, but this was how Zhao Yanqing played with Zuo Ci before he defected to him. If he had to say who he feared the most, it would be Leng Xue. If Leng Xue were here, he would definitely not dare to be so disrespectful.

The Crown Prince and Chen Yunbin were both planning to take advantage of the situation, but they didn't know that there were two tigers, Zuo Ci and King Chen Yu of Yue, who were watching them closely from behind.

Emperor Chen Yan recalled Chen Yu at this time simply because the late emperor had originally intended to pass the throne to him, but he was unwilling to devote himself solely to Chu Wanran, the daughter of Prince of Yan, Chu Tianxiong. At the time, Chen Yan had his eye on the throne, but lacked the support of his court officials. So he schemed against Prince of Yue, Chen Yu, hoping to allow Chu Wanran to have an intimate relationship with Chen Yu. Unexpectedly, this benefited Mu Heng, and so Chu Wanran, the daughter of the Prince of Yan, was hastily married to Mu Heng. He knew this, but could not reveal it. Prince of Yue, Chen Yu, found out, but by then he had already been designated as the crown prince, and the late emperor was already terminally ill. The late emperor directly ordered Chen Yu to receive an imperial decree that he could not return to the capital after his burial unless Emperor Chen Yan recalled him, leaving Chen Yan with a decree that he could not be recalled without a whim unless it endangered the entire country.

Before leaving, Chen Yu met and talked with Chen Yan once, and then Chen Yu never came back.

Emperor Chen Yan remembered that conversation.

"Royal brother, I don't blame you for wanting the throne, but you shouldn't have schemed against me and Wanran. You caused her to lose her virginity and forced Mu Heng to marry him. You knew full well that I had no interest in the throne and only wanted to live with her. I was planning to convince father to issue an order to pass the throne to you as the crown prince. Once you ascend the throne, Wanran and I will leave the capital and live like an ordinary couple... In this life, as father said, unless the country is in danger and I am summoned back to the capital, you and I will never see each other again. Don't send anyone to my fiefdom, Minzhou. If I see anyone, I will kill them. Royal brother, you know I can do it..."