newbobooks Chapter 276 The Newly Appointed Princess Anping
Chapter 276 The Newly Appointed Princess Anping
The vermilion palace walls stand tall.
Chu Ruohan entered the palace, only to be told that the Emperor had something to attend to and asked her to wait outside the Imperial Study.
and so on.
A single word, however, was like a dull knife, slowly wearing down her patience.
She knew what lay behind this waiting.
The Emperor clearly intended to use Gu Junze's life as leverage to force Duan Qingye to submit.
But she had read the letter left by Princess Anyang.
Knowing that man was ambitious, she knew he wouldn't be easily coerced.
The Eldest Princess's Strategy for Defeating the Enemy...
Instead of passively defending, it's better to take the initiative.
The heavy palace doors creaked open.
A figure walked out from inside the door.
Chu Ruohan looked up and her pupils contracted slightly.
Du Ruoling.
She was dressed in a brocade palace gown, her hair styled in a high bun, adorned with pearls and jade, a stark contrast to her previous attire.
"You're not dead."
Du Ruoling's voice was flat, devoid of emotion, but her gaze was scrutinizing as it fell on Chu Ruohan's travel-worn clothes.
Chu Ruohan ignored her and looked past her at Steward Ma beside her.
Steward Ma, with his usual cautious smile, stepped forward, his voice neither loud nor soft.
“Madam Gu, this is the Princess Anping, whom His Majesty conferred the title of Princess yesterday.”
"Princess Anping offered a brilliant strategy to repel the enemy and resolve the border crisis. Her contribution is to the nation and will benefit future generations."
A good strategy to repel the enemy? Chu Ruohan was puzzled. In her eyes, Du Ruoling was a crazy woman. Wasn't she entangled with that Minister Liu?
How did she suddenly become Princess Anping?
Chu Ruohan's gaze turned cold as she looked at Ma Fuhai again.
"Eunuch Ma, does His Majesty have time to see me now?"
Ma Fuhai looked troubled and lowered his voice even further.
"Young Madam, the war at the front is critical, and His Majesty is troubled by this matter."
Chu Ruohan took a deep breath and stopped beating around the bush.
“I have a handwritten letter left by Princess Anyang.”
"The letter contained the strategy for defeating the enemy devised by the eldest princess before her death."
Ma Fuhai's smile froze instantly. "Young Madam, please come with us."
Inside the Imperial Study, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, yet it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere and anxiety that permeated the space.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his brows furrowed, with a mountain of memorials and military reports piled up in front of him.
Chu Ruohan presented the letter, bearing the marks of time, with both hands.
The Emperor took the letter, his eyes falling on the familiar handwriting, his fingers trembling slightly.
He unfolded the letter and read it word by word.
Time seems to stand still.
After an unknown amount of time, a suppressed sob broke the silence.
Large tears rolled down, landing on the bright yellow dragon robe and spreading a small dark patch.
"It was I...it was I who forced my elder sister to her death..."
Regret and pain intertwined, instantly revealing the vulnerability of this supreme ruler.
Chu Ruohan watched quietly, her heart unmoved.
Even the closest of family ties cannot withstand suspicion!
Even the tears I shed now are fake...
After the Emperor calmed down a bit, Chu Ruohan spoke, "Your Majesty, I implore you to spare Gu Junze for the sake of the Princess."
The emperor raised his bloodshot eyes and looked at her, the sadness in his eyes quickly replaced by a complex and difficult-to-determine emotion.
He was silent for a moment, then his voice regained its imperial majesty.
"I have my own considerations regarding this matter."
"You go back first."
Chu Ruohan's heart sank.
Should we go back first?
You have your own considerations?
The most ruthless imperial family.
In the end, he still couldn't let Gu Junze off easily?
He was still weighing the options, still calculating.
Chu Ruohan hesitated before leaving the imperial study. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the palace walls, dyeing half the sky red.
But the light couldn't penetrate her heart.
Steward Ma followed closely behind, looking at Chu Ruohan's straight back and sighing inwardly.
"Young Madam, please wait." Steward Ma suddenly spoke up.
Chu Ruohan stopped and turned to look at him, her eyes questioning.
Steward Ma looked around to make sure no one was watching before lowering his voice, "Young Madam, please don't worry, His Majesty..."
“There’s no need for Eunuch Ma to explain.” Chu Ruohan interrupted him, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes. “I understand His Majesty’s intentions.”
Steward Ma hesitated for a moment, then bowed slightly and said, "This old servant will escort the young mistress out of the palace."
As soon as Chu Ruohan stepped out of the palace gate, she saw Doctor Qian waiting outside.
Upon seeing her emerge, Doctor Qian hurriedly stepped forward: "Young Madam, how is she?"
Chu Ruohan shook her head: "His Majesty said he has his own reasons."
"This..." Doctor Qian frowned, he had expected this outcome.
The two walked silently toward the carriage.
Before getting into the carriage, Chu Ruohan suddenly asked, "Dr. Qian, do you know what brilliant strategy Du Ruoling offered to repel the enemy? It even managed to get the Emperor to bestow upon her the title of Princess Anping?"
Dr. Qian's expression was solemn: "I don't know the specifics, I've only heard that it's a type of firearm that can cause mass casualties."
"firearm?"
Chu Ruohan's brows furrowed even deeper, a sense of unease creeping into her heart.
Dr. Qian lowered his voice and continued.
"Furthermore, Du Ruoling reported Liu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, exposing his rampant corruption under the guise of conscription."
"His Majesty was furious and has already thrown Vice Minister Liu into prison."
Chu Ruohan's eyes flickered slightly, her doubts deepening.
Du Ruoling's actions are truly perplexing.
Didn't she already get involved with Vice Minister Liu and give up on Gu Cheng'an?
Why did they turn around and send Vice Minister Liu to prison?
Could it be that he regrets it?
Or is there some other motive behind this?
Just as I was pondering this, a familiar voice sounded from behind me.
"If you're so curious, why not just ask me?"
Chu Ruohan and Dr. Qian turned their heads at the same time.
Du Ruoling stood not far away, dressed in a brand-new princess's gown, but her face showed no smugness, instead carrying an indescribable complexity.
She was clearly waiting for Chu Ruohan here on purpose.
Chu Ruohan gestured to Doctor Qian to calm down, and then went to greet him.
The two found a relatively quiet inn nearby and asked for a private room.
After dismissing the waiters, Du Ruoling cut to the chase without any pleasantries.
Where is Gu Cheng'an?
Chu Ruohan picked up her teacup, gently blew away the foam, and didn't even lift her eyelids.
"do not know."
"Who are you trying to fool!"
Du Ruoling's voice suddenly rose, and she abruptly pulled a jade pendant from her bosom and slammed it on the table.
The jade pendant has a warm and smooth texture, and is carved with familiar patterns.
Chu Ruohan's eyes narrowed slightly.
This jade pendant was given to the conscription leader by Gu Cheng'an out of desperation to save Old Man Li.
Unexpectedly, it ended up in Du Ruoling's hands.
No wonder she was so certain.
Du Ruoling stared intently at Chu Ruohan, her tone aggressive.
“I sent people to Niutou Village to investigate.”
"The villagers said that a young woman and Gu Cheng'an pretended to be husband and wife and stayed there for several days."
"You dare say that woman wasn't you?"
Chu Ruohan put down her teacup with a soft sound, looked up to meet Du Ruoling's gaze, and curled her lips into a mocking smile.
"Haven't you already become very close with Vice Minister Liu?"
"Now that Vice Minister Liu has just been imprisoned, why are you so concerned about Gu Cheng'an?"