Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 625 - 622: The Matter is Settled_1

Chapter 625: Chapter 622: The Matter is Settled_1

Zhong Shaozhong’s voice came from within the Court of Judicial Review walls, making Bi Heng’s eyes turn red outside, and the imperial guards tense up.

"Imperial Guards!" Bi Heng drew his sword and roared, "The Crown Prince has plotted rebellion, designed to harm the Emperor, causing His Majesty to fall from his horse! As imperial guards, we must swear to protect His Majesty and the Empress with our lives! Those who dare to follow me into the palace to protect His Majesty... proceed to the Imperial City immediately! Those who protect His Majesty with merit shall be rewarded with gold and titles!"

After shouting loudly, Bi Heng leaped onto a horse and set off first.

The imperial guards, holding flaming torches high, were all excited and followed Bi Heng at full speed, galloping all the way.

"Bi Heng! Stop!" The head of the Imperial Guards pushed through the soldiers gathered in front of the Court of Judicial Review, shouting at Bi Heng. But he only saw that most of the guards had followed Bi Heng, which made him furious. "Go! Stop them! If anyone dares to trespass the Imperial City, they will be executed for treason without exception!"

Inside the Court of Judicial Review, Zhong Shaozhong, who had been escorted back to the Ming Hall, had a faint smile on his lips as he looked at Lu Jin. The matter was settled.

He had already arranged everything for the Zhong family. Three days ago, he began to have loyal servants use the secret passage in the mansion to take the Zhong family’s members out of Dadu City.

If this succeeded, he would bring the entire Zhong family back to enjoy endless wealth and honor. If it failed, it would only cost him his life.

The glory of the Manchu and the wealth of his descendants were far more important than his single life.

Who was Zhong Shaozhong? Could he not know that the Crown Prince had people watching him?

He had long since arranged for the imperial guards to guard the Imperial City. When the Crown Prince heard that Bi Heng was leading the guards to the Imperial City to "protect the Emperor," and then heard about the uproar Bi Heng caused at the Court of Judicial Review, how could he not guess... that Bi Heng was ostensibly protecting the Emperor but secretly forcing a coup?

Once the Crown Prince heard that the imperial guards at the Imperial City were confronting the guards led by Bi Heng, wouldn’t he rush into the palace first?

As long as the Crown Prince stepped into the palace gates, no matter which gate outside Wude Gate he entered from, King Xin, who had quietly entered the palace, would be the first to receive the news. He would then have the guards within the Imperial City shoot the Crown Prince, accusing him of leading troops into the palace for rebellion.

At that time, King Xin would claim to the outside world... that the Crown Prince had resorted to unscrupulous means to usurp the throne, killing the Emperor and Eldest Princess in the palace, but Bi Heng and King Xin led troops to protect too late.

With the deaths of the Emperor and Crown Prince, King Liang was too weak to take on great responsibilities, and the other princes were still too young. They would then support King Xin to ascend the throne.

Even if they couldn’t immediately support King Xin’s ascension, they could put a young prince on the throne, remove the mother, and let the Empress take charge of the government behind a curtain. In this way, political power would still be in the Empress’s hands, allowing King Xin to first be reinstated as a king for his meritorious protection.

At worst, after one or two years, they could claim that the young Emperor lacked fortune and divine right and died unexpectedly... making it only natural for King Xin to ascend the throne.

Everything was part of Zhong Shaozhong’s plan.

Lu Jin’s subordinate escorted Zhong Shaozhong into the Ming Hall and clasped his fists towards Lu Jin: "Sir..."

The flickering candlelight inside the Ming Hall reflected on Lu Jin’s composed features, his eyes so deep that one could not see the bottom of them.

"No need for interrogation, lock him up in the dungeon!" Lu Jin’s voice, reflected in the room filled with yellow light, was extremely cold, "Quickly report to the Crown Prince and Master Tan."

"I thought Minister Lu would ask me about last night’s matter at the brothel," Zhong Shaozhong laughed.

At this point, Lu Jin was no longer in a hurry. He slowly sat down in the main hall: "It seems that the one who led the disturbance last night at the brothel... was Mister Bi. Minister Zhong came to this Court of Judicial Review with Master Fan, waiting for this moment to convince the imperial guards that the Crown Prince intended to harm the Emperor for ascension."

Zhong Shaozhong stood calmly in the center of the hall: "So, Minister Lu does not believe the Crown Prince harmed His Majesty... intending to ascend the throne early? After all... with His Majesty’s demise, the Crown Prince stands to gain the most."

"But the Crown Prince, he was not the kind of person to commit such treason and patricide." Lu Jin said, waving his hand to dismiss everyone else.

Seeing Lu Jin dismiss the others, Zhong Shaozhong knew he had something to ask him.

"Was it your intention to be captured at the brothel yesterday?" Lu Jin asked.

Zhong Shaozhong knew that Lu Jin was always composed and able, keeping his talents concealed, rarely showing his sharp edge.

"Just a mistake! Who could have expected that a pretext of drinking at the brothel... would lead to being taken to the Court of Judicial Review? But now the attack on the Imperial City by the guards is inevitable. The people in the Imperial City have yet to react, but... the guards are already prepared!"

Until the last moment, Zhong Shaozhong would never tell the truth to others. He smiled: "Minister Lu, if you abandon the dark and join the light, release me, and go to protect the Emperor. When His Majesty awakens... I will certainly credit you for your achievements to His Majesty!"

Zhong Shaozhong’s gaze swept around the main hall of the Court of Judicial Review, smiling: "Minister Lu has held the position of Minister of Judicial Review for many years. This meritorious service could further your career!"

Lu Jin’s eyes were calm as water, not stirred by Zhong Shaozhong’s words at all. He only said: "Minister Zhong has always been cautious, liking to have a backup plan. To talk so much with me now, I suppose... apart from the plan to have guards attack the city, you have another trick up your sleeve."

"Minister Lu overestimates me." Zhong Shaozhong smiled, "Today I am already trapped here; what backup plan could I have? But Minister Lu, the Crown Prince designing to harm His Majesty will surely die when His Majesty awakens. Why follow the Crown Prince, harming your own career and the entire Lu family?"

"Minister Zhong’s words are too heavy. I am merely doing my duty. Before His Majesty fell into a coma, he entrusted the governance to Master Tan. I naturally... follow Master Tan’s orders!" Lu Jin unhurriedly replied to Zhong Shaozhong, "But Minister Zhong, have you considered that under the pretext of saving the Emperor, with guards attacking the city, when you and the Crown Prince are both hurt, there might be someone ready to take advantage as a mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?"

Zhong Shaozhong’s hand tightened behind his back, then he slowly relaxed and smiled: "Minister Lu, do you mean... the twenty thousand soldiers in the Anping Camp outside the city? Unfortunately... I have already sent news that all the commanders of the Anping Camp have been detained in the Court of Judicial Review to those twenty thousand soldiers! And at this moment, the city wall of Dadu City has been taken over by my people, the commanders of the Anping Camp can’t get out. Minister Lu, you say... who can command the troops? Send Princess of Zhen?"

"Unfortunately..." Zhong Shaozhong chuckled, "the soldiers of the Anping Camp all know it was Princess of Zhen who captured Fu Ruoxi and brought him back to Dadu. Last night’s fire at the Court of Judicial Review, with Fu’s life or death uncertain now, the commanders of the Anping Camp were captured. Do you think the soldiers of the Anping Camp would blame? Will they still listen to Princess of Zhen’s orders?"