OBS Chapter 1663 The Fourth Prince is His Majesty's bloodline, without a doubt.
Chapter 1663 The Fourth Prince is His Majesty's bloodline, without a doubt.
The command flag fell.
Five riders simultaneously lashed their whips hard across the horses' rumps!
"Hiss! His ...
The horse, in pain, raised its head and neighed, then suddenly galloped off in five different directions!
The leather strap snapped taut instantly!
Xingchen's body was suddenly torn apart by a tremendous force under the gaze of countless eyes, some filled with fear, some with fervor, and some with pain!
Blood gushed out on the execution ground!
Time seemed to stand still for a moment...
Immediately, many people cheered loudly: "Bravo!"
"Die well!"
"Traitor! This is what happens to you!"
"..."
Many people clapped until their hands were red, jumped up and down in cheers, and their faces were beaming with joy.
A few believers who were pinned to the ground witnessed this scene and were struck dumb.
After a moment of stunned silence, they let out desperate cries, then collapsed and were roughly dragged away by the soldiers.
The Buddhist disciple, once revered by countless people and regarded as a spiritual anchor, was thus executed by being torn apart by five horses on charges of treason!
royal palace.
Nangong Xuanyu stood on a high point in the palace, gazing at the direction of the execution ground with an expressionless face.
Li Changde stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the lewd monk has been brought to justice."
The emperor hummed in acknowledgment, and after a long pause, slowly asked, "Has there been any response from the person who went to investigate the Imperial Noble Consort's past before she entered the palace?"
Li Changde respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, we have received your orders to thoroughly investigate the people who visited the Imperial Noble Consort before she entered the palace, and we have reported back in batches."
"Before entering the palace, the Empress lived a secluded life. Apart from attending necessary festivals and banquets, she usually stayed at home or visited close female relatives."
"All investigations have revealed no connection whatsoever between the Imperial Noble Consort and the lecherous monk Xingchen. Old friends and elders in the household can all testify to this."
"What that lewd monk said is indeed nonsense and malicious slander. The Fourth Prince is His Majesty's bloodline, without a doubt!"
Although Nangong Xuanyu never truly believed Xingchen's vicious accusations, suspicion is an emperor's nature.
Hearing the detailed and conclusive report with his own ears, Nangong Xuanyu finally felt a slight sense of relief.
He knew it.
His mind was pure and innocent, intelligent and insightful, and he was completely devoted to him. How could he have any connection with that wicked and lewd monk?
Ah Xu was the prince on whom he placed high hopes, and naturally, his blood flowed in his veins!
He didn't love the wrong person.
Nangong Xuanyu said with relief, "I understand."
However, the emperor's gaze remained deep and unfathomable.
With Xingchen executed, the Feng and Chu families were also wiped out. But within the deep confines of the palace, with its many palaces, who could guarantee that there wouldn't be a third or fourth woman bewitched and manipulated by that lecherous monk?
Xingchen possessed exceptional looks and eloquence, and with the aura of a high-ranking monk, he was adept at manipulating people's hearts. He especially understood the thoughts and feelings of women confined to their chambers, thoughts they couldn't share with outsiders.
The Feng and Chu families are examples.
But Nangong Xuanyu knew that continuing the interrogation would yield nothing; Xingchen would only make baseless accusations.
Moreover, that lecherous monk enjoys immense prestige both in court and among the common people, and is actually a prince. If this drags on, who knows how many more troubles might arise?
Therefore, Nangong Xuanyu swiftly and decisively executed him to quell the turmoil as quickly as possible.
But this does not mean that the emperor trusted the women in the harem.
Nangong Xuanyu's trust has always been scarce.
Especially when it comes to offspring and the purity and loyalty of the concubines in the harem, he would rather investigate three thousand innocent people than tolerate even the slightest potential problem!
The emperor reiterated his order: "Although Xingchen has been executed, his followers may not have been completely eliminated. The inner palace needs to be even more thoroughly cleansed."
"I order you to continue your covert investigation to find out if there are any other women in the palace who have had affairs with the lecherous monk!"
"especially……"
At this point, Nangong Xuanyu paused slightly, a cold glint appearing in his eyes: "Look at the reactions of the various palaces after Xingchen's execution. Has anyone behaved abnormally, shown a sorrowful expression, or expressed regret and indignation in private conversations?"
Li Changde's heart skipped a beat: "This servant understands!"
Your Majesty suspects that there are still women in the harem who have had affairs with Xingchen, or who still harbor feelings for him.
This investigation is fraught with danger. Even the slightest sadness over Xingchen's death is an offense against His Majesty!
Nangong Xuanyu instructed, "This matter must be carried out in secret, and the other palaces must not be disturbed, lest the news leak out."
Li Changde replied, "Yes! This servant will arrange everything flawlessly."
He was already quickly calculating in his mind who would be in charge of this matter and how to arrange things.
……
Chuxiu Palace.
Consort Kang dismissed everyone, leaving only Caiju in the inner room.
She sat on a soft couch by the window, wearing a plain white nightgown, her black hair disheveled and draped over her shoulders.
That gentle and demure face was now completely bloodless, her eyes were horribly swollen and red, and her tears had long since dried up.
No one knows how grief-stricken she is at this moment...
"Impossible... Absolutely impossible..."
Consort Kang said in grief, "How could someone like Master Xingchen, as pure as the breeze and the bright moon, be a traitor? How could he plot a rebellion?!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, why are you so heartless..."
"Torn apart by five horses... His Majesty actually tore him apart by five horses!"
When Consort Kang first heard the news, she felt dizzy and disoriented.
After that, every time she closed her eyes, a horrific, bloody scene would appear before her... It was driving her crazy!
Caiju knelt before the soft couch, her complexion not much better than Consort Kang's, her face full of anxiety, and she advised, "Your Highness, please keep your voice down... walls have ears!"
"Please, stop talking..."
Consort Kang clutched her chest, grieving, and said, "Caiju, my heart... feels like it's being cut by a dull knife!"
"I'm in so much pain... I hate it so much!"
As she said this, she raised her hand and pounded her chest hard.
Caiju was terrified, tears streaming down her face: "Your Majesty, you can't do this!"
"Even if you don't think of yourself, you should think of the Fifth Prince! You absolutely mustn't say such things!"
"If anyone sees you like this, and even a tiny bit gets out... our entire Chuxiu Palace will be finished!"
Consort Kang was in tears.
The fifth prince was born prematurely and was weak. It was predicted that he would not live past the age of twenty, and he was her only support in the deep palace.
"Happy New Year..."
"But I... but I myself am barely able to survive..."
Seeing that Consort Kang's mood seemed to be softening, Caiju quickly seized the opportunity, wiping away the tears on her face with a handkerchief while whispering, "Your Highness, please listen to my advice. Master Xingchen's matter... is already an ironclad case, His Majesty's decision, and no one can change it."
"The person is gone. No matter how sad you are or how much you don't believe it, you can only keep it to yourself!"
"Even if you don't care about anything else, you have to grit your teeth and persevere for the sake of the Fifth Prince!"
"If you fall, who can the Fifth Prince rely on in this cannibalistic palace?"
Consort Kang asked in anguish, "How can I endure this?"
"My heart is bleeding..."
"I can't close my eyes. If I do, the bloody image of Master Xingchen will appear in my mind..."