Su Yao's expression also changed.
Gu Moran pressed his throbbing temples.
Ye Qingyun is dead.
Before dying, he bit the crown prince and spat out the words "Gu Mo".
Goodness!
He spat out a mouthful of blood, which landed on all three princes.
Gu Mochen didn't rush to distance himself; instead, he sent someone to the pill shop.
This approach isn't hard to guess.
Sending new pills as a sign of filial piety, hoping to win over the emperor's favor.
As long as the Emperor is happy, who cares if there's mud on the soles of his shoes?
Gu Moran pressed his fingertips against the case file.
"Second brother is trying to be a filial son."
Uncle Fu glanced at him.
"The Second Prince has waited far too long for this opportunity."
Shen Ling'er frowned.
"But all the pills on the market have problems."
Gu Moran looked at her.
"Your grandfather said long ago that the elixir was poisonous, did Father Emperor hear him?"
Shen Ling'er choked, the tip of her pen poking a dot of ink on the paper.
He only listens to what sounds good.
The room fell silent.
The smell of lamp oil mixed with the smell of medicine lingered in my throat, making me feel uncomfortable.
Shen Ling'er blew on the medical report and handed it to Uncle Fu.
"Ask that question."
"Don't mention me, and don't let Chu Tianxing anything reckless."
Uncle Fu took the paper and put it into his sleeve.
"Don't worry, Madam Shen."
He left, but soon returned.
The door was pushed too hard.
The rain vapor swirled into the room, causing the light to flicker twice.
Uncle Fu didn't look well.
"Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to the palace."
"Attending the hearing of the Shun'an Lane case."
The lid of the medicine box in Shen Ling'er's hand snapped shut.
"They came so quickly."
Su Yao got up and walked to the clothes rack to get her cloak.
"Your father has something to ask you."
Gu Moran stood up, her shoulders and back still a little sore.
"Don't worry, Father probably sees my intelligence and wants me to assist in solving the case."
Su Yao handed him the cloak.
"What time is it? Stop being so sarcastic."
Shen Ling'er took a small paper packet from the medicine box and stuffed it into his sleeve.
"It's invigorating; keep it in your mouth."
Gu Moran glanced down at it.
"My wife really loves me."
Shen Ling'er glared at him.
"Don't be silly. I'm afraid you're confused and might say something inappropriate in the palace."
She added another sentence.
"You're mentally ill, and your mouth is diseased too. Stop stabbing people in front of the Emperor."
Su Yao straightened his belt, her fingertips resting on the jade buckle.
The jade clasp was cool to the touch. She pressed it to make sure it was secure before letting go.
"If Father asks about the name Gu Mo, don't rush to admit it, but don't rush to deny it either. Don't worry, I'll take care of things in the manor."
Gu Moran looked down at her.
"Then what should I do?"
Su Yao looked at him.
"Playing dumb."
Shen Ling'er answered very quickly.
He knows this well.
Gu Moran smiled.
The tightness in my chest eased slightly.
Uncle Fu called out from outside.
"Your Highness, the carriage is ready."
Rain began to fall again in front of the palace gates.
The stone steps were wet and slippery when you stepped on them.
Lanterns hang under the eaves of the Hall of Supreme Ultimate.
The firelight reflected in the water, making one's eyes sting.
Gao Fu was waiting at the door. When he saw Gu Moran coming over, he first glanced into the hall.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is in a bad mood."
Gu Moran pulled his cloak tighter and glanced at Gao Fu.
[ Gao Fu: Elderly, healthy, and cautious.]
[Relationship: Acquaintance in the palace]
[Friendship Level: 88]
[Current Tendency: Concerned about the host]
[Potential risks: None]
Gu Moran lowered his voice.
"When is Father in a good mood?"
Gao Fu's lips twitched.
"Keep your voice down, the Crown Prince has arrived."
Gu Moran stopped in her tracks.
Where is my second brother?
Gao Fu shook his head.
"Not yet reported."
Gu Moran smiled.
My second brother hid pretty well this time.
As the palace doors opened, the scent of sandalwood mixed with the aroma of cinnabar wafted out.
It's heavier than last time.
The emperor sat behind his desk.
An urgent report from Shun'an Lane was spread out on the table.
Yuan Shen and Cao Jin knelt in the hall.
Crown Prince Gu Moyuan stood on the left, his clothes neat and tidy, but his expression was not good.
Gu Moran forward and bowed.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
The emperor did not allow him to rise.
Gu Moran kept his head down and glanced at it out of the corner of his eye.
[Emperor Great Yan: The effects of the elixir are intensifying, suspicion is rising, and the headache has not subsided.]
[Relationship: Nominal close relative]
[Family Bond Value: 61]
[Hidden expectation: To see if the Third Prince is truly stupid, or just hiding his true abilities]
[Potential Risk: The continued use of the elixir may exacerbate suspicion; the murder and the struggle for succession could trigger misplaced anger]
Gu Moran with his hands hanging down, not moving.
If the emperor didn't tell him to get up, he would obediently kneel.
If you rush to stand up now, you're likely to get scolded.
The hall remained quiet for a while.
The emperor spoke.
"Have you heard about the case?"
Gu Moran lowered his head.
"Your subject has heard."
What do you think?
The crown prince's eye twitched slightly.
Neither Yuan Shen nor Cao Jin looked up.
Gu Moran was a beat slow, raising his hand to scratch his head.
"Whatever Father Emperor instructs me to see, I will see."
The emperor raised his eyes.
Gu Moran the patching very carefully.
"You can watch standing up or kneeling down. It's Father Emperor's decision."
The emperor stared at him for a moment.
Stop trying to outsmart me.
"Your subject dares not."
The emperor raised his hand.
Gu Moran then stood up and stood to the side with his hands at his sides.
His gaze swept over the crown prince.
[ Gu Moyuan: The Eastern Palace Prince, his anger suppressed by propriety.]
[Relationship: Nominally brothers, but actually rivals]
[Hospitality Value: 91]
[Current action tendency: Using Ye Qingyun's last words, "Gu Mo," to direct the fire towards Prince Yi's Residence ]
[Key threats: Eastern Palace Prince's legitimacy, the foundation of court officials, and manipulation of public opinion]
Gu Moran pressed the medicine packet with his fingers hidden in his sleeve.
The prince wanted to bring the fire over.
You can't block it head-on.
A direct confrontation is like brothers biting each other.
My father loves watching this, but he also hates it the most.
Let the case files speak for themselves.
The emperor tossed the urgent report to Chen Dehai.
"Read."
Chen Dehai unfolded the urgent report and read it aloud, word by word.
Ye Qingyun stormed into the emergency shelter with a knife.
Chu Tianxing treated him with acupuncture.
On his deathbed, Ye Qingyun accused the Crown Prince of harming him, Chu Tianxing an accomplice.
He then uttered the two characters "Gu Mo," leaving the rest unfinished.
After reading it, Chen Dehai returned to the emperor's side.
No one in the hall interrupted.
The emperor looked at the crown prince.
"You say."
Gu Moyuan stepped forward, lifted his robe, and knelt down.
"Father, I have never met Ye Qingyun, nor have I ever instructed Chu Tianxing harm anyone."
" The Eastern Palace requested the roster of Chang'an County yesterday because Prince Yi had previously sponsored the martial arts school."
"Your Majesty was worried that the prince was secretly gathering people to practice martial arts, so I ordered someone to investigate."
The emperor asked, "Why wasn't a report submitted before the investigation?"
Gu Moyuan straightened his back.
"Your Majesty, I fear the evidence is insufficient and may disturb your hearing."
The emperor opened another urgent report.
"So you should send someone from the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace to Chang'an County first."
Gu Moyuan paused for a moment.
"Your subject was reckless."
The emperor glanced at the case file and gave a cold laugh.
"The people praise your benevolence, yet you do not stop them."
"The government is setting up a martial arts training camp; you should send someone to retrieve the register."
" Ye Qingyun bit you before he died, and you said you'd never seen him."
The prince looked up.
"Father, someone has set a trap for me."
The emperor asked, "Who would harm you?"
Gu Moyuan glanced at Gu Moran.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly tensed.
A curse word popped into Gu Moran's head.
What are you looking at me for?
The people from the Eastern Palace's Palace went to retrieve the roster; it wasn't like I held a knife to your throat and forced you to do it.
The emperor also looked at Gu Moran.
"Third brother, what do you say?"
Gu Moran raised his hand and scratched the tip of his nose.
"Your subject dares not say."
The emperor's gaze swept over.
"I'm telling you to speak."