Chapter 561: The Liang Emperor's Judgment
Chapter 561: The Liang Emperor's Judgment
Gongsun Yanming went to the Starplucking Pavilion early in the morning.
He cast a divination for himself.
When the Divination Diagram appeared, he sat quietly for a long time.
"Brother!"
Gongsun Yu, drenched in sweat, rushed onto the rooftop of the Starplucking Pavilion. "Big trouble! General Hu has had his Tiger Talisman taken back by His Majesty... His military power is in jeopardy... And Prince Jin, King Rui, and King Qi have all been confined to their residences!"
Gongsun Yanming slowly raised his hand and cast another divination.
Seeing his elder brother fiddling with the copper coins, tortoise shells, and some sort of compass, Gongsun Yu grew increasingly anxious.
"Brother... Did you hear what I said? General Hu and Prince Jin..."
Gongsun Yanming said, "Wait a moment, let me finish this divination."
Gongsun Yu was beside himself with worry. "Brother, how can you be casting divinations at a time like this? Can't you do it later? The situation is dire! Your son just got married, and Prince Jin has been punished. What did he do to anger His Majesty so much?"
Logically, even if Prince Jin had truly angered His Majesty, considering Lu Qi's recent marriage, he shouldn't have been punished so severely.
"Has His Majesty forgotten or something? If this news spreads, the wavering ministers in the court will likely all side with the Crown Prince's Residence! Brother, you need to think of a way to turn the tide!"
Gongsun Yanming looked at the Divination Diagram on the table. "It's here."
Gongsun Yu's eyes lit up. "You found a solution so quickly?"
"Where is Gongsun Yanming?"
It was Little Dezi's voice.
Gongsun Yu looked bewildered.
To call his elder brother by his name, this little eunuch must be out of his mind!
Gongsun Yanming asked, "What is it?"
Little Dezi, taking on this important task for the first time, was only doing so because his godfather was unwell. He couldn't afford to make a mistake.
Stay calm, don't panic.
Little Dezi did his best to maintain a composed demeanor. "His Majesty has a decree. Gongsun Yanming, you are summoned for an audience! Lord Gongsun, please follow me."
He did it!
He didn't disappoint his godfather!
"That's not right, you..."
Gongsun Yu was completely confused. "Even Eunuch Yu wouldn't dare to be so disrespectful to my brother. What gives you the nerve, little eunuch?"
Little Dezi's heart raced, but his eyes were resolute. "I am merely delivering the imperial decree."
I am!
Finally, he could claim the identity he had longed for. Little Dezi had come a long way!
Gongsun Yanming followed Little Dezi to the Imperial Study.
Duke Jiang's blow had left Eunuch Yu quite dazed. Though he had woken up, his head was still spinning.
The Liang Emperor had dismissed him.
Another little eunuch was on duty in the Imperial Study.
The Liang Emperor sat on the dragon throne.
Several high-ranking officials stood respectfully beside him.
After being freed from the Heart-devouring Parasite, Meng Qianqian had stayed in the Imperial Study to prevent any recurrence of the poison.
Lu Yuan, Duke Jiang, and King Miao were also present.
King Miao was the only one who sat boldly in a chair.
The Liang Emperor found this self-proclaimed relative particularly irksome.
"Are you always so insolent in My presence?"
King Miao, unperturbed, replied, "You let me, you can't have forgotten that, can you?"
The Liang Emperor had more pressing matters to attend to and chose not to confront King Miao for the moment.
Prince Fu gave his second brother a sympathetic look.
Compared to his uncle, his brother-in-law seemed even more trouble-prone.
"His Majesty, Gongsun Yanming is here."
Little Dezi reported from outside.
The Liang Emperor said, "Enter."
Gongsun Yanming stepped into the Imperial Study.
The crowd of people before him made him pause.
If not for the presence of the Liang Emperor, anyone would have thought they were in the wrong place.
Gongsun Yanming, without looking around, bowed. "Your humble servant, Gongsun Yanming, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
The Liang Emperor glanced at the body.
Little Dezi, understanding the Emperor's intent, quickly moved forward and lifted the white cloth covering the deceased's head.
Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan watched Gongsun Yanming intently.
However, Gongsun Yanming looked as if he had never seen the man before, his eyes revealing only a hint of appropriate confusion, as if he did not understand why such a terrifying corpse was displayed in the Imperial Study.
Meng Qianqian murmured, "A thousand-year-old fox indeed."
Lu Yuan’s lips curved into a smile. "That’s what makes it interesting."
The Liang Emperor did not rush to ask Gongsun Yanming about the assassin. Instead, he spoke calmly, "Do you remember how you obtained your position as Imperial Tutor?"
Gongsun Yanming replied, "It was Your Majesty’s gracious reward, which I will always remember."
King Miao rolled his eyes to the sky, muttering, "You’re the one who’s blind, sealing your own fate!"
"The Emperor has not been unkind to you, has he?"
"No, without Your Majesty, I would not be where I am today."
"The Starplucking Pavilion..."
"Was also built by Your Majesty for me, allowing me to better manage the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."
"The Imperial Astronomical Bureau was given to you as well?"
Gongsun Yanming furrowed his brow.
King Miao gloated inwardly.
Old Emperor Liang, you finally realize how blind you’ve been, don’t you? Why don’t you gouge out your own eyes?
Gongsun Yanming looked at the Emperor with suspicion. "Your Majesty, you..."
The Emperor cut him off. "Do you recognize this assassin?"
Gongsun Yanming glanced at the man with composure. "No, I do not."
The Emperor then tossed the brocade box on the table to Gongsun Yanming.
Gongsun Yanming caught it with a swift motion and opened it, revealing a parasitic insect pinned to the bottom of the box with silver needles.
He said, "A Heart-devouring Parasite?"
The Emperor replied, "So you do know about it."
Gongsun Yanming explained, "My master once studied in Wushan and, during his travels through the Miao Borderlands, brought back a notebook detailing the parasitic insects of the region, including the Heart-devouring Parasite."
The Emperor’s face darkened. "So you used it to frame Me?"
Gongsun Yanming looked bewildered. "I have never framed Your Majesty, nor have I ever possessed a Heart-devouring Parasite."
"Your Majesty, I have a way to verify Master Gongsun’s words."
"Go on."
Meng Qianqian walked up to Gongsun Yanming and extended her hand. "May I borrow the corpse of the Heart-devouring Parasite, Master Gongsun?"
Gongsun Yanming stared deeply into Meng Qianqian’s eyes.
Lu Yuan coldly interjected, "Master Gongsun, you already have a wife. Don’t always think about my woman."
Gongsun Yanming handed the brocade box to Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian smiled. "The Heart-devouring Parasite is one of the three major blood parasites of the Miao Borderlands. It’s not easily killed; most are just on the brink of death. If the owner feeds it with their blood, the parasite can be revived."
Duke Jiang was stunned. "So it’s not dead!"
"Exactly", Meng Qianqian nodded and turned to Gongsun Yanming. "Master Gongsun, are you willing to feed the parasite with your blood?"
Gongsun Yanming looked coldly at Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian laughed. "Master Gongsun is worried it’s a trick? This parasite was given to you by Your Majesty. Do you not trust Your Majesty?"
The Emperor’s eyes darkened.
Meng Qianqian said, "I’ll go first."
She took out a silver needle.
Lu Yuan walked over and grabbed her wrist. "With so many men here, it’s not your turn to shed blood."
He then pricked his own fingertip with the needle, letting a drop of blood fall into the brocade box.
The parasite did not react.
Of course not.
It wasn’t his blood that had nourished it.
Next was Gongsun Yanming’s turn.
(End of Chapter)
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