Eldest Brother Was Confined for Three Months; Second Brother Gleefully Offered a Poison Pill

Gu Moran had no choice but to take half a step forward.

The reluctance on his face was obvious to everyone.

"Your subject only knows how to read case files, not how to understand people's hearts."

"But Ye Qingyun is a proud and arrogant man who doesn't like to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy."

"Surely this kind of person wouldn't bite randomly before they die?"

The crown prince's face darkened.

"Third brother, what do you mean?"

Gu Moran turned to the Crown Prince, her expression innocent.

"Big brother, don't be mean to me."

"The words were spoken by Ye Qingyun, not something I put in his mouth."

He pointed to the case file.

"The guards heard it, Chu Tianxing heard it, and Cao Jin's men took notes."

"If you want to be fierce, you have to do it in order."

Yuan Shen's forehead tightened.

Cao Jin remained kneeling, not moving.

Gu Moran glanced at the two of them.

[ Yuan Shen: Prefect of Jingzhao, a mature and prudent official.]

[Relationship: Cooperative Neutral]

[Trust Level: 63]

[Current course of action: Preserve the integrity of the case files and ensure the Jingzhao Prefecture is not unfairly blamed]

[Potential risk: A shift in the imperial court's stance could lead to the dismantling of Prince Yi's Residence ]

[ Cao Jin: Chang'an County, stubborn and meticulous about case files.]

[Relationship: Cooperative Neutral]

[Trust Level: 68]

[Current course of action: Report the facts truthfully to protect the reputation of Chang'an County ]

[Potential risk: Negligence in guarding the prisoners could lead to arrest or prosecution]

The emperor looked at Gu Moran.

"Go on."

Gu Moran a bitter expression.

"Father, I fear that what I say next will make my elder brother even angrier."

The emperor placed the vermilion brush on the table.

"I'm telling you to speak."

Gu Moran lowered his eyes.

"If these people really conspired to frame our elder brother, then Chang'an County is doomed, the Jingzhao Prefecture is doomed, and the south of the city is doomed too."

"If they didn't collude, then Ye Qingyun did indeed bite his elder brother before he died."

The Crown Prince said coldly, "I have never harmed Ye Qingyun."

Gu Moran nodded immediately.

"So here's the trouble."

The crown prince looked at him.

What's the problem?

Gu Moran shrugged.

Ye Qingyun is convinced that you harmed him.

"Now that the dead are dead, there's no way to prove it."

"If my older brother didn't harm him, then who made him think that way?"

He paused, then delivered another blow.

"I hate Ye Qingyun, but I don't need to use his death to harm my elder brother."

"I still remember how kind my older brother was; he even gave me tiger penis last time."

After these words were spoken, the emperor remained silent.

Gu Moyuan didn't answer immediately.

He slowly withdrew his hand from his sleeve.

His gaze shifted from Gu Moran, and the images of " Chu Tianxing " and "medicinal herbs from the Second Prince's Residence " from the case file surfaced in his mind.

Gu Moran shut his mouth and obediently took half a step back.

That's enough.

The second child didn't come.

If the crown prince isn't stupid, he should think about who would rather see him get into trouble.

Gu Moyuan paused for a moment, then bowed and said, "Father, I am willing to investigate this matter thoroughly."

The emperor chuckled.

"You're investigating?"

"Checking the roster of Chang'an County isn't enough; do they also need to check the witnesses from Shun'an Lane?"

Gu Moyuan pressed his forehead to the ground.

"Your subject dares not."

The emperor looked at Yuan Shen.

"How do you say?"

Yuan Shen kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, I request that you issue an edict that this case be presided over by the Jingzhao Prefecture, with the Chang'an County assisting, and that the Ministry of Punishments send personnel to observe the proceedings."

" The Crown Prince's Residence, the Second Prince's Residence, and the Prince Yi's Residence are all prohibited from having private contact with witnesses or physical evidence."

The emperor then looked at Cao Jin.

Cao Jin's forehead was pressed against the ground, and his mouth was hard.

"Your subject is willing to bear the responsibility for the negligence in guarding the prisoners."

"I will not delete a single word from any of your testimonies."

"I fear death, but I fear even more that the case files contain errors, which will be brought up and used against me in the future."

The emperor stared at him for a long time, then chuckled.

"A tough nut to crack has been discovered in Chang'an County."

Cao Jin crouched even lower.

The emperor picked up a vermilion brush and wrote a few words next to the file.

"Crown Prince."

Gu Moyuan looked up.

"Your subject is here."

The Emperor said, "The palace will be closed for three months, and all external affairs of the Eastern Palace will be suspended."

"If your men take another step south of the city, I will break your legs first."

The crown prince's expression changed.

"Father, your son..."

The emperor put down his vermilion brush.

"You say you're innocent, I'll give you a chance."

"I closed the door to prove my innocence."

Gu Moyuan's hand, hidden in his sleeve, remained still for a long time before he finally kowtowed.

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Gu Moran stood to the side, eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought.

The crown prince secluded himself at home for three months.

There's no need for outsiders to embellish the story.

As soon as this imperial edict is issued, a piece of the gold lacquer on the Eastern Palace will be peeled off.

Ye Qingyun bit the Crown Prince before he died.

The emperor punished the crown prince by confining him to his quarters.

Ordinary people don't understand case files.

But the people will think about it.

The emperor suddenly looked at him.

"Third brother."

Gu Moran immediately bent down.

"Your subject is here."

The emperor stared at him.

What do you think of the name "Gu Mo" that Ye Qingyun mentioned before he died?

The hall fell silent.

Gu Moran up, her expression blank and a little aggrieved.

"Father, all of us brothers have the name Gu Mo in our names."

" Ye Qingyun only uttered half a sentence before he died; wasn't he trying to cause us brothers to turn against each other?"

The emperor stared at him.

Aren't you afraid he's talking about you?

"I'm scared."

Gu Moran answered decisively.

"Your Majesty scolded me last night, saying I caused trouble."

"If I run into a dead person's last words today, won't I be kneeling until dawn when I get back home?"

Chen Dehai suppressed a laugh and lowered his head.

The emperor frowned.

"Useless."

Gu Moran quickly admitted it.

"Father, please calm your anger. I will try my best to be more assertive in the future and keep them under my control."

The emperor stared at him for a long time.

"Both of you, get back home."

Gu Moran bowed.

"Your subject takes his leave."

Yuan Shen and Cao Jin were left behind to continue the discussion.

As the Crown Prince stood up, he brushed past Gu Moran.

Step out of the palace gate.

Gu Moyuan paused for half a step, then said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Third brother, you'd better not be playing tricks like this."

Gu Moran blinked.

"Fancy? Don't exaggerate, brother."

"If my father hears this, and he thinks I've become smarter, he'll always want me to come up with ideas. Won't I be exhausted?"

The prince couldn't suppress the fire in his eyes.

"You think you've gotten away with it all?"

Gu Moran leaned in half an inch closer, his tone still sounding like a joke.

When did I say I was clean?

"My reputation is already bad, and I have no interest in vying for the crown prince position. Whether it's dirty or not, as long as I don't die, it doesn't matter."

The prince tightened his sleeves, then walked past him and disappeared into the distance.

Rainwater fell on the steps outside the hall, splashing onto the edge of Gu Moran's boots.

Gao Fu escorted him to the corridor and whispered a reminder.

"Your Highness, the Eastern Palace will likely remember you today."

Gu Moran looked at the rain.

He hadn't forgotten me before.

The prince's carriage stopped outside the palace gate.

Uncle Fu came to greet them, holding an umbrella.

Your Highness?

The Crown Prince secluded himself at home for three months.

Uncle Fu's eyes flickered.

"Did His Majesty believe Ye Qingyun's dying words?"

"Father didn't believe anyone."

Gu Moran the car, his cloak bringing in a damp feeling.

Therefore, we cannot let our guard down.

Before the carriage curtain fell, a palace attendant hurried towards the Second Prince's Residence's residence from the other end of the palace road.

Uncle Fu saw it.

"Your Highness, he seems to be one of Chen Dehai's men."

Gu Moran leaned against the car wall.

"Second brother will be happy."

Inside the Second Prince's Residence.

Upon hearing the news of the Crown Prince's seclusion, Gu Mochen's face was filled with barely suppressed joy.

He quickly pushed a brocade box in front of his advisor.

The box was opened, and three pills lay on the yellow silk.

He tapped the rim of the box with his fingertip.

"After waiting for so many years, it's finally my turn to take a step forward."

"My father fears death; this is the path I will take."

The advisor stared at the brocade box, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Your Highness, the effectiveness of this elixir is uncertain."

Gu Mochen sat under the lamp.

The message that Hall of Supreme Ultimate had just sent was lying beside him.

The crown prince closed the door.

Foreign affairs related to the Eastern Palace's residence are suspended.

These words made him feel much better.

He pushed the brocade box around half a circle.

The pill rolled on the yellow silk, and the smell of sulfur and medicinal honey filled the nostrils.

"As long as it doesn't kill anyone, it's a good elixir."

"The previous batch was fine, wasn't it?"