The next morning.
Lin Qinghe woke up as usual, threw off the covers, and called out, "Zhu Hong, come in."
With a creak, the door opened, and the person who entered was not Zhu Hong, but a stranger Lin Qinghe had never seen before.
Lin Qinghe frowned, "Who are you? Where is Zhu Hong?"
The palace maid bowed, "This servant's name is Ying Chun. The Crown Prince ordered me to serve sister Qinghe."
"The Crown Prince ordered you to serve me?" Lin Qinghe looked confused, "Then where is Zhu Hong? Where did she go?"
"This... this servant does not know. This servant only knows that I was ordered by the Crown Prince to serve sister Qinghe." Ying Chun handed over a damp face towel, "Sister Qinghe, please use this."
Lin Qinghe took the face towel and absently wiped her face.
Why would You Rong have another palace maid serve her? Where was Zhu Hong sent?
Lin Qinghe found it strange and decided to go find You Rong to ask for an explanation.
Lin Qinghe put down the face towel and got up to walk towards the door. Ying Chun saw this and asked, "Sister Qinghe, where are you going?"
"To see the Crown Prince."
Ying Chun said, "Sister Qinghe, the Crown Prince went out early this morning and is not in the Eastern Palace."
Lin Qinghe stopped, "The Crown Prince went out? Where did he go?"
"This servant does not know."
Lin Qinghe's brows furrowed tightly. Although she had countless doubts, You Rong was not in the Eastern Palace, so she couldn't ask. She had no choice but to give up, thinking she would ask clearly once You Rong returned to the Eastern Palace.
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Spring View Pavilion.
Wang Gongyang lifted the curtain of the carriage and said respectfully, "Your Highness, we have arrived."
You Rong, with a stern and serious expression, alighted from the carriage and walked directly to a private room upstairs. As soon as he entered, Prime Minister Xu cupped his hands and saluted, "Your humble servant greets Your Highness."
"Prime Minister Xu, no need for such formality. Please sit and speak."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
You Rong did not beat around the bush and asked directly, "Prime Minister Xu sent someone to the Eastern Palace saying he had important matters to see me about. What is it?"
Prime Minister Xu replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, this humble servant did not disappoint. I have found Chen Yu, who retired from the Imperial Medical Bureau, in Jinzhou."
You Rong's heart tightened, "You really found Chen Yu? Where is he? Bring him to see me immediately!"
Prime Minister Xu said, "I have brought Chen Yu. He is being guarded in the adjacent private room. Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will send for Chen Yu to be brought to you now."
You Rong eagerly replied, "Good! Bring Chen Yu to see me immediately!"
Prime Minister Xu gave a look to the guard behind him. The guard understood and turned to leave. In just a moment, he brought in a white-haired man, forced him to kneel on the ground, and cupped his hands, "Your Highness, Prime Minister, Chen Yu has been brought here."
Chen Yu, kneeling on the ground, flinched when he heard the Crown Prince's name. He looked up at You Rong in terror and stammered, "C-Crown Prince... This commoner, this commoner truly knows nothing. I beg the Crown Prince to spare my life!"
You Rong's face was stern. He stared closely at Chen Yu. "Chen Yu! I haven't even spoken yet, and you're already shouting that you know nothing? What is it that you know nothing about?"
"This commoner, this commoner..."
Seeing Chen Yu's hesitation and unwillingness to tell the truth, You Rong's face darkened, and he said sternly, "Chen Yu! Speak! The Empress's condition worsened suddenly in just three months. Did you, at the instigation of Consort Duan, tamper with her medicine!"
Chen Yu's face turned pale with fright, and he trembled uncontrollably. "Your Highness, you are mistaken! This commoner truly does not know what you are talking about! This commoner is innocent, I beg Your Highness to spare my life!"
Chen Yu still refused to confess honestly. Prime Minister Xu gave the guard a look. The guard drew his long sword and placed it at Chen Yu's throat, saying menacingly, "If you don't tell the truth now! Don't blame the Crown Prince for being ruthless and taking your life!"
The sword blade cut through Chen Yu's neck, and blood seeped out. Chen Yu cried out in terror, "Your Highness, this commoner will speak! I will tell you everything! I beg you to spare my life, please spare my life..."
The guard withdrew his sword, and You Rong said in a low voice, "Speak quickly!"
Chen Yu cried, "Your Highness, this commoner did, indeed... indeed tamper with the Empress's medicine. But this commoner was acting under the Emperor's orders. Otherwise, even if given ten times the courage of a bear, I would not dare to tamper with the medicine!"
Hearing this, You Rong's heart clenched, and he said angrily, "How dare you talk nonsense! Do you believe I will kill you immediately!"
"Every word this commoner speaks is true, not a single word is false!" Chen Yu explained anxiously, "At first, Consort Duan did find me and asked me to substitute Jinling Grass for a medicine in the Empress's prescription when dispensing medicine. Although this Jinling Grass is not very toxic, if taken continuously for several months, it would cause the five internal organs to fail, leading to a critical condition. This commoner was extremely frightened, so I reported this matter to the Emperor, and then, then..."
You Rong sharply asked, "Then what? Speak!"
Chen Yu's voice trembled with fear as he said, "Reporting to Your Highness, the Emperor, he... he... he told this commoner not to make a sound and to do as Consort Duan said. He also said that as long as the Empress was alive, the Gu family's influence in court could not be removed. The Gu family possessed military power and would eventually rebel. This commoner's actions were to serve the country and share the Emperor's worries. Upon completion, the Emperor would reward this commoner with ten thousand taels of gold, help this commoner disappear without a trace, and allow this commoner to live out his days in peace. Otherwise, he would bestow a cup of poisoned wine upon this commoner..."
Chen Yu's voice grew quieter as he spoke, and finally, he wept and kowtowed repeatedly, "Your Highness, I beg you to spare my life. Disobeying the imperial decree is a capital offense. This commoner had no choice, Your Highness... *sob sob*..."
You Rong's face was ashen. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking. He gritted his teeth and asked word by word, "What you just said, is it all true?"
Chen Yu cried, "Every word this commoner has spoken is true, not a single word is false!"
You Rong pursed his bloodless lips.
He had imagined who would harm his mother, but he had never expected that the person who caused his mother's death would be the current Emperor, his own father!
The killing intent radiating from You Rong was terrifying. He slammed his palm down, and the table let out a thunderous roar, shattering into pieces of wood.
Prime Minister Xu and the others said fearfully, "Your Highness, please calm your anger!"
You Rong's face was grim as he said coldly, "Drag Chen Yu out and lock him up properly!"
The guard cupped his hands and saluted, "Yes, Your Highness."
Chen Yu was dragged out by the guards, crying. Prime Minister Xu hesitated for a moment and asked nervously, "Your Highness, what are your plans next?"
A trace of ruthlessness flashed in You Rong's deep eyes, and he said coldly, "He said the Gu family possessed military power and would eventually rebel! Then I shall fulfill his wish!"
Prime Minister Xu's heart trembled, "Your Highness means..."
You Rong said coldly, "I will lead a rebellion!"