The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 598 - 598 Empress Dowager Takes Action (Part 3) - Double

Chapter 598: Empress Dowager Takes Action (Part 3) – Double Update Chapter 598: Empress Dowager Takes Action (Part 3) – Double Update Gu Changqing only had to hide behind a few passages to ensure that no one could find him!

Cunning, too cunning!

However, Tang Yueshan couldn’t figure out why Gu Changqing did this.

If he had escaped to kill Tang Ming, it would have made sense, but strangely enough, he didn’t, and instead, other assassins went.

So, what was he hiding inside for? To play hide and seek?

Gu Changqing calmly replied, “I was afraid that the fire would be too big and burn me to death, so I hid in a safe place.”

Tang Yueshan: “…”

No matter how weak Tang Yueshan thought this reason was, it did not change the fact that Gu Changqing did not escape from the Military Camp.

Tang Yueshan was seething with rage, but had nowhere to vent.

He gritted his teeth and said coldly, “Hmph! Even if you didn’t escape this time, what difference does it make? In three days, you will still be executed!”

In Gu Jiao’s dream, Tang Yueshan spared Gu Changqing because Gu Chengfeng took the blame.

But now, without Gu Chengfeng taking the blame, Gu Changqing still faced execution in three days.

Originally, Gu Chengfeng and Gu Jiao thought that by catching the real murderer of Tang Ming, they could find out who impersonated Feishuang and reveal the truth about Gu Changqing’s jailbreak.

Who would have thought that the other party would be so cunning, not showing up in person but having Lord Tang do the dirty work.

They even wanted to warn Tang Yueshan, hey, your big brother is not only planning to kill that bastard, but he is also conspiring with others to harm you.

But on what grounds should they say it?

As Gu Changqing’s siblings, or as the assassins that have already been “punished” by the Empress Dowager?

Neither would be convincing to Tang Yueshan.

This matter must be relayed by someone Tang Yueshan fully trusts.

And Tang Yueshan was quite suspicious. The fact that he even suspected Lady Tang of killing Tang Ming was enough to prove this.

The next day, Eunuch Qin came to the Marshal Residence.

“The Empress Dowager summons Lord Tang, please accompany me to the palace immediately,” he said.

Tang Yueshan followed Eunuch Qin into the palace.

Being an outsider, he was not allowed into the Imperial Harem, and Empress Dowager Zhuang met him in a side hall of the Jinluan Hall.

Empress Dowager Zhuang sat on the tais, on a lauan wood chair, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold phoenixes, looking calm and exuding an intimidating aura.

Tang Yueshan knelt down, made a gesture of respect and said, “Your servant greets the Empress Dowager, may the Empress Dowager live for a thousand, thousand years!”

“Rise,” said the Empress Dowager.

“Thank you, Empress Dowager.” Tang Yueshan stood up without glancing sideways.

“Grant a seat.” The Empress Dowager instructed Eunuch Qin.

Eunuch Qin, along with a junior eunuch, moved a state seat to the center of the Grand Hall, right in front of the Empress Dowager.

Even though the aura of being face-to-face with the Empress Dowager was a bit eerie, it was also an honor, and Tang Yueshan took comfort in it.

In an imposing tone, Empress Dowager Zhuang said, “You are the cornerstone of my court. I trust you and won’t beat around the bush. I called you here today because of Captain Gu’s matter.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Yueshan’s expression faltered.

The issue with Gu Changqing had created a huge stir, and it was likely that the palace was aware. He just didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to intervene.

Empress Dowager Zhuang signaled Eunuch Qin.

Understanding, Eunuch Qin walked over carrying a tray. On the tray was a carved dagger. “Lord Tang, please have a look,” he said.

Tang Yueshan took the dagger and examined it. There was nothing special about the sheath, but when he unsheathed it, he saw a character engraved where the handle and blade met: ‘Qing’.

He vaguely guessed whose dagger this was, but he didn’t understand why it was in the Empress Dowager’s possession. He frowned, “This is…”

With a calm face, the Empress Dowager said, “It was found on the bodies of the two assassins who were dealt with last night.”

Tang Yueshan said, “Were they Gu Changqing’s men? I knew it was them!”

The Empress Dowager coldly responded, “After leading armies for so many years, you can’t even see such a crude attempt to frame others. If they really were Gu Changqing’s men, would they use his belongings to commit the crime?”

Tang Yueshan was taken aback.

If Gu Changqing had gone to assassinate someone himself, he might have inadvertently left his belongings at the scene. But if someone else had his belongings, wouldn’t it be a frame-up?

Empress Dowager Zhuang continued, “Stop looking. I’ve already confirmed with the people from the Marquis Residence. This is indeed Captain Gu’s dagger. Also, I heard that the punishment room in the military camp had a flood last night, nearly drowning Captain Gu.”

Tang Yueshan placed the dagger back on the tray, and Eunuch Qin took the tray and retreated to the side.

Tang Yueshan responded, “That’s true, but he hid in the terracotta warrior formation and was unscathed.”