The Real Young Master Was Sold as a Slave, The Obsessive Crown Prince's Forced Love - Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Confession

Some people had initially speculated whether the Crown Prince had orchestrated the assassination.

After all, the Crown Prince and the Emperor had always been at odds.

But now…

The Crown Prince suffered an assassination, and his closest guard was wounded this badly. The Crown Prince himself was probably in grave danger…

Although the Emperor knew the truth in his heart, he still put on a show of genuine shock, “What?”

Following the shock, he immediately ordered, “Have the Xishan Grand Camp take troops into the mountains! Spare no effort to save the Crown Prince!”

After issuing the order, he summoned the Imperial Physicians to take Ba Liang for treatment.

Then came the public interrogation of the few surviving assassins.

Under torture, it didn’t take long for someone to break, “It, it was Gu, Gu, Gu Zhen who bribed us.”

Gu Zhen?

“Wasn’t Gu Zhen with His Highness Prince Yu last night…”

A sudden surge of murmuring began.

“I heard he was going to marry Song Shian of the Earl of Anping’s residence?”

“I also heard that he has a very good relationship with Song Shian of the Earl of Anping’s residence, and he frequently visits the Earl of Anping’s residence.”

“Could it be that Song Shian died, and the Earl of Anping harbored a grudge? But wasn’t Song Shian beaten to death by the Crown Prince? Why would he assassinate the Emperor?”

The low, fragmented discussions layered and drilled into the Emperor’s ears.

On the Emperor’s livid face, the old and bloated skin trembled uncontrollably from the anger in his heart.

His hands were clenched tightly into fists.

Prince Yu’s words from last night lingered in his ear.

Prince Yu was originally going to capture Song Yu, but some unexpected event occurred, and Gu Zhen was taken instead. Yet, Prince Heshun brought the confessing eunuchs, claiming those two eunuchs were the ones who carried Gu Zhen…

Gu Zhen…

Prince Heshun…

The Earl of Anping…

Did the Earl of Anping truly follow his command to assassinate Qi Wang? Or was there involvement from Gu Zhen and Prince Heshun? What kind of collusion is between them?

The Emperor slightly narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth, ordering, “Bring Gu Zhen to me!”

The once joyous hunting feast was now a desolate scene due to the assassination.

The Commander of the Xishan Grand Camp, Wei Dequan, arrived late. As he entered, he knelt, “Your Majesty, this official is guilty! I deserve ten thousand deaths! I have already sent my deputy with three thousand men into the forest to rescue His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Kneeling on the ground and trembling, he was on the verge of fainting from fear.

Oh my!

The Emperor was assassinated!

The Crown Prince was assassinated!

And he!

The Commander responsible for the security of the entire palace, just ran off to catch a wild boar that strayed into the palace.

The fighting here was already over when he finally got the news!

God!

My head is on the chopping block!

The Emperor sat there with a dark expression, looking down at Wei Dequan kneeling in the hall, “Allowing unauthorized personnel to infiltrate the palace grounds, you are indeed deserving of ten thousand deaths! The position of Commander…”

Before the Emperor could finish, in his trembling state, Wei Dequan immediately recognized the assassin slumped on the ground.

His face was filled with surprise. He looked up and pointed, attempting to defend himself, “Your Majesty, this, this person was brought by the Earl of Anping. They said he was a retainer.”

Not unauthorized personnel.

It has nothing to do with me!

The Emperor’s already furious face suddenly became contorted with murderous rage!

Someone from the Earl of Anping’s residence!

As he spoke, Gu Zhen was brought forward.

Having been beaten yesterday, his injuries were still fresh. He limped as he walked. Just as he reached the hall, before he could stand steady, a eunuch behind him shoved him hard, sending him directly to his knees.

“Do you recognize these people?” the Emperor asked in a low, heavy voice.

Gu Zhen glanced at the people slumped on the ground beside him and shook his head, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this student does not recognize them.”

“A fine ‘I don’t recognize them’! Beat him for me! Beat him until he tells the truth!”

The Emperor didn’t waste any more words.

The eunuchs nearby pinned Gu Zhen face down on the ground and swung the planks.

The planks rained down on his body, instantly knocking Gu Zhen senseless.

No.

Why!

Although he misled and incited the Earl of Anping to assassinate Qi Wang yesterday, logically, the Earl of Anping should also be a corpse by now.

No one should know that he incited the Earl of Anping.

Moreover!

Didn’t the Emperor order the Earl of Anping to assassinate the Crown Prince?

Why is he being beaten?

Is this just for show?

But the planks are clearly hitting him to kill him!

Is he going to be sacrificed to feign giving the Crown Prince justice?

Gu Zhen’s heart pounded with fear. He cried out for mercy. The reputation of the top student of the Imperial College was completely ruined, compounded by being ridden by Prince Yu yesterday and publicly beaten today.

“Brother Emperor! Brother Emperor, show mercy!”

Just as Gu Zhen was on the verge of being beaten to death, Prince Heshun rushed in from outside anxiously.

He immediately fell to his knees with a thud.

Old tears streamed down his face.

He repeatedly kowtowed.

“Brother Emperor, calm your anger! Brother Emperor, please don’t hit him anymore! This Gu Zhen… is, is your brother’s son.”

Boom!

The whole hall was in an uproar!

Damn!

This is more than just an uproar!

Everyone was screaming ‘Holy cow’ inwardly.

In the Emperor’s heart, anger was accompanied by a cold sneer, only two words: As expected.

Thus, Prince Heshun’s sudden rush-in last night made sense.

He was afraid that Qi Wang would lose his temper and actually beat Gu Zhen to death.

With a sinister gaze filled with killing intent, the Emperor looked at Prince Heshun, “Oh? How is it that I didn’t know you had such a grown son?”

Prince Heshun was drenched in cold sweat. Kneeling there, he hastily wiped his face. He smiled bitterly, “His mother was a low-status servant in your brother’s residence. Back then…”

Prince Heshun looked at the Emperor with difficulty.

“Do you still remember, Brother Emperor, that back then, Mother Empress disliked that servant for distracting your brother and making him unmotivated, and forcibly sold her away?”

The Emperor vaguely remembered the incident from over a decade ago. Prince Heshun had caused a huge scene with the Empress Dowager over a concubine and had even refused to enter the palace to pay his respects for several months.

Prince Heshun sighed, “He is the son she bore, born in Qinghe County.

“Your brother was unaware until recently. It was only when he passed the exams for the Imperial College that your brother accidentally saw him on the street once and thought he looked very much like that servant. After questioning him a few times, it was confirmed.

“I hadn’t had the chance to formally acknowledge him yet.

“I beg Brother Emperor for clemency. Spare him, please stop the beating. Your brother has no other descendants. He is my only son. Brother Emperor, please show mercy.”

Prince Heshun cried, kowtowing and pleading.

The Emperor looked at him expressionlessly, “Yesterday, you brought eunuchs to take the blame…”

Prince Heshun immediately said, “I bribed those eunuchs to take the blame, Brother Emperor, please understand! Your brother truly had no other choice! Fearing the Crown Prince would beat him to death, and since he is my only son, your brother risked deceiving you.

“I did not intentionally try to trick you, Brother Emperor. I was just desperately worried.”

The Emperor let out a meaningful cold sneer, “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

Prince Heshun wiped the cold sweat and tears from his face, “At the time, he didn’t even know he was your brother’s child. Your brother only felt guilty towards them, mother and son, and didn’t know how to speak up.

“Had his life not been in danger today, your brother would not have spoken out like this.

“I beg you, Brother Emperor!”

“Do you know what mistake he has made? He bribed assassins to attempt to murder me,” the Emperor roared angrily, “And you ask me to spare him? If you acknowledge him, then your Prince Heshun’s residence, your entire family, will be exterminated.”