Chapter 247 Harmony with Mud

The death of Concubine Xian not only disrupted Li Hu’s plan, but also interrupted the plans of the Qingliu people.

The death of Duke Yansheng was so strange that the upright officials wrote a joint memorial, requesting the court to investigate the matter thoroughly. However, before they had finished signing, the news of Concubine Xian’s death came.

Everyone in the former dynasty and the harem knew that Concubine Xian was the emperor’s favorite, and no one dared to offend her at this time!
In the warm room of Yuqing Palace, Li Hu and the prince were playing black and white chess again.

The prince took a sip from the tea bowl on the table beside him, put it down, and said to Li Hu, “Do you think it’s too strange?”

Li Hu stopped the chess piece in his hand that he was about to place. The death of Concubine Xian was so strange. It was only five or six days from the time she fell ill to her death. It was even stranger than the death of Jia Yuanchun in the original novel.

The prince smiled and said, “Do you know who is behind the Wanping County Magistrate and those gentry?”

Li Hu was startled at first, then he reacted: “Your Highness, do you mean this is retribution?”

The prince laughed and said, “That’s what you said!” Then he coughed twice.

Li Hu also laughed: “I didn’t say anything.” Then he gently placed a piece.

The prince put down a piece of cloth and said, “I also find it strange, but there are strict rules for the use of medicine in the palace. The imperial physician and the eunuch must go to the pharmacy to pick up the required medicinal materials, and the prescription must be sealed with the names of the imperial physician and the eunuch. The decoction is even more strict, and the imperial physician and the eunuch must supervise together. Two doses of medicine are combined into one. After decoction, they are poured into two medicine bowls, one of which is tasted by the imperial physician and the eunuch.”

Li Hu understood that even if there was a problem, he couldn’t find it. In this Forbidden City, there were only two people who had this ability, the emperor and the emperor emeritus, and perhaps the queen. Could it be the queen?

Li Hufu took out a piece and was about to place it when he suddenly turned around and looked outside the door.

The prince was startled: “What’s wrong?”

Before he finished speaking, there was a sound of hurried footsteps, and then the banners were pushed open. A young eunuch ran in, almost tripping over the threshold, and knelt on the ground and said, “Something happened, Your Highness, go to the Yikun Palace and take a look.”

Li Hu recognized the young eunuch; he was the queen’s man.

Prince: “What’s wrong?”

The young eunuch said, “The Second Prince, the Second Prince is hysterical and says that the Empress killed the Consort Xian. He is making a fuss now!”

The prince stood up suddenly: “Let’s go to Yikun Palace!”

Li Hu hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed him out.

The eastern part of the sixteen palaces is more prestigious, the one closer to the central axis is more prestigious, and the one closer to the Palace of Heavenly Purity is more prestigious. Moreover, Yi means to assist, and the queen’s bedroom is Kunning Palace. Yikun means to assist the queen in managing the six palaces. This shows the status of the virtuous concubine in the emperor’s heart.

From afar, the outside of Yikun Palace was filled with people watching the fun.

Li Hu and Zhao Tong stopped the prince’s sedan chair.

Without waiting for the people outside to lift the curtain of the sedan chair, the prince lifted the curtain himself and climbed out of the sedan chair.

The second prince’s cries and scolding could be heard from inside the door.

The prince’s face suddenly turned pale. He raised his hand to signal Zhao Tong and others to keep quiet, then walked away quietly.

Li Hu shook his head. The Second Prince was truly out of his mind, daring to yell at the Queen in public.

Those “onlookers” did not even notice the prince and his entourage, and were still standing outside the palace gate, watching with interest.

Inside the palace gate, the second prince, dressed in mourning clothes, stopped in front of the queen and shouted excitedly.

The queen stood quietly on the snow in the courtyard, with white snow floating on her body. Beside her lay the eunuch and female official in charge of Kunning Palace. It was obvious that she had been knocked down by the second prince.

There was also a torn oilcloth snow umbrella on the ground.

Li Hu raised his eyebrows. No one tried to stop the fight. This was too abnormal!
The second prince suddenly spotted the crown prince behind the crowd and shouted, “Crown prince!”

Those who were “watching the fun” were also awakened, and turned around to see the prince kneeling down, “Your Highness!”

Zhao Tong spoke up: “What are you looking at? No rules at all?!”

Those people bowed their heads and disappeared in an instant.

The prince then slowly walked into the Yikun Palace.

Li Hu and Zhao Tong followed him in.

The second prince also strode over.

The prince stopped and stared at the second prince.

The second prince walked up to the crown prince and stood still, also looking straight at him.

There was deathly silence in Yikun Palace.

The prince spoke up: “Zhao Tong, what is the crime for insulting the queen?”

Zhao Tong was in a dilemma.

The prince’s eyes were like two cold rays cast towards him.

Zhao Tong shuddered and replied hastily, “The sixth of the ten evil sins is the sin of disrespect.”

Li Hu’s eyes flashed. Could it be that this was a trap set by the Queen and the Crown Prince for the Second Prince?

The second prince suddenly burst into laughter, shaking the entire palace.

After laughing, the second prince pointed at the crown prince and shouted, “I know that because of the emperor’s favoritism, you and your son have always regarded us as thorns in your eyes, and you wish to get rid of us as soon as possible. You think you are about to die, so you should get rid of us first, and then get rid of the third and fourth brothers.”

With a slap, the prince slapped him!
The second prince was beaten back several steps before he could stand firm. Li Hu was shocked. The second prince was considered a military commander, but he was beaten back several steps by this slap. It was obvious how angry the prince was!
The Second Prince’s eyes shone at this time, his face turned red, the veins on his stiff neck bulged, he stared at the Crown Prince fiercely, and walked towards him step by step.

Zhao Tong quickly stopped the second prince and said, “Second Prince, the virtuous concubine just…”

With a “slap”, the second prince slapped Zhao Tong in the face!

Zhao Tong rolled to the ground with blood flowing from his mouth.

There was fire in the prince’s eyes.

The second prince opened his five fingers and tried to grab the crown prince by the collar, but Li Hu slapped his hand back and then stood in front of the crown prince.

The second prince’s eyes flashed with ferocity: “Get out of here!”

Li Hu just looked at him.

“Looking for death!” The second prince shouted and punched Li Hu’s head hard.

There was a loud “bang” as the two fists collided with each other. The second prince took five steps back before he stood firm.

Li Hu just slid back a little.

The second prince was shocked and angry, and rushed towards Li Hu with his fists raised.

Li Hu raised his foot and kicked him out.

The second prince fell on the snow and rolled a long way before he got up.

Li Hu snorted coldly. He was holding back on the kick just now, otherwise he would have broken several of his ribs.

“I kill you!”

Li Hu subconsciously wanted to kick the Second Prince who rushed towards him again, but he felt someone coming outside the palace gate from the corner of his eye. He grabbed the Second Prince’s wrist with a smile on his face, but he squeezed harder with his hand.

The second prince grimaced in pain and raised his foot to kick Li Hu.

“presumptuous!”

“Father?!” The Second Prince’s feet stopped in mid-air, and then he put them down in a hurry.

Li Hu has already let go of his hand.

“emperor!”

The Queen, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and all the eunuchs and palace maids knelt down one after another.

At this time, Li Hu couldn’t stand out and knelt down behind the prince.

With a “humph”, Emperor Yongchang walked straight to the Queen and helped her up.

Queen: “Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Stop talking. Dai Quan, take this little bastard down and give him twenty lashes!”

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He answered and walked towards the second prince.

The Second Prince: “Father, my mother’s death is really strange. I beg you to order a thorough investigation.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Shut up! The Imperial Hospital has made it clear. If you dare to talk nonsense again, you will be sent to the Imperial Clan House.”

Dai Quan: “Second Prince, let’s go.”

The second prince snorted, stood up and walked out.

Emperor Yongchang’s face darkened: “Add ten more strokes.”

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He quickly chased after him.

Emperor Yongchang’s eyes fell on the prince: “Prince, get up.”

Prince: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang turned his gaze to Li Hu again: “And you”

Li Hu: “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Then he stood up.

Emperor Yongchang was so angry that his face twisted. He shouted, “Who told you to get up? Who agreed to let you enter the harem?!”

Li Hu was stunned. Is this to avenge his son?

The prince said hurriedly: “Father, Li Hu is your son.”

Emperor Yongchang raised his hand and said, “Stop talking. I will fine you one year’s salary. If you do it again, you will not be able to leave.”

Li Hu was stunned. What does this mean?

Seeing Li Hu in a daze, Emperor Yongchang got angry again: “Why don’t you leave? Are you waiting for me to treat you to a meal?”

Li Hu came back to his senses and said, “Yes.” He bowed and walked out quickly.

“Anyone who dares to tell others will be killed immediately!”

Listening to the voice behind him, Li Hu snorted. He thought it was naive to try to smooth things over. He might end up in trouble.
(End of this chapter)