pdf-ebookys Chapter 1621 His plans are far-reaching.
Chapter 1621 His plans are far-reaching.
If this matter blows up, it will bring up a whole host of old grievances and shake the government and the public!
Li Changde said, "This servant understands. I have already sent my most capable and reliable people to Fatu Temple under the pretext of checking the temple's land and repairing the halls, and to conduct a thorough investigation in secret."
"It will just take some time, and we must not alert them."
Nangong Xuanyu suppressed the raging anger in his heart.
He knew this matter couldn't be rushed.
The opponent is no ordinary person to have set up such a scheme in the palace and royal temple; we must be extremely cautious.
The emperor then inquired about another potential threat: "What about the Feng family?"
Li Changde respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Medical Academy has been taking meticulous care of her. It is true that Consort Feng is worried and fearful, and her pregnancy is unstable."
"The medication she was taking to prevent miscarriage contained several herbs that had conflicting properties but were difficult to detect. The effects were mild and would not be immediate, but would only gradually deplete her qi and blood, making her increasingly restless."
"In this way, the fetus will gradually weaken and eventually... cannot be saved."
"It seems as if Consort Feng herself was depressed and weak, so no one would suspect that it was due to medication."
Nangong Xuanyu asked coldly, "How long?"
Li Changde said seriously, "At the current dosage, bleeding will occur within a month at most. At that time, the imperial physician will diagnose that the mother is weak and the fetus is unstable, and there is no way to save her."
a month...
Nangong Xuanyu remained silent.
Not long after Lady Chu's "death," if Consort Feng were to also suffer a miscarriage shortly afterward, no matter how discreetly it was done, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Especially now, the imperial harem is managed by the Imperial Noble Consort. And Nian Nian is so intelligent…
It is indeed not advisable to rush things.
This matter concerns the purity of the royal bloodline and his dignity as emperor; he will not show the slightest leniency.
The illegitimate child in Consort Feng's womb must be eliminated!
He won't let any of the lewd monks in Fatu Temple get away with it!
Nangong Xuanyu said, "Make it as clean as possible."
Li Changde said, "This servant understands!"
Nangong Xuanyu looked at the memorials on the imperial desk, but had no heart to review them.
The filth of the harem was suddenly laid bare before him.
The imperial concubine selection was originally a national ritual to enrich the harem and ensure the continuation of the imperial line. However, it became a channel for others to plant pawns and obscure the royal bloodline.
This is not only a betrayal, but also a blatant provocation against imperial power!
The emperor suddenly called out, "Li Changde."
"The slave is here!"
"Tell me, Empress Dowager Gongsu has been dead for so long, what are these people she left behind going to such lengths to send two unclean women into the palace for?"
Nangong Xuanyu seemed to be asking Li Changde, or perhaps himself: "If it's just to annoy me, there are plenty of ways."
"If they want to obscure the imperial bloodline... then the people behind the Feng and Chu families must have even bigger ambitions!"
Li Changde felt a chill run down his spine and dared not respond easily.
If there is any doubt about the imperial bloodline, it will shake the very foundation of the nation!
If Consort Feng or Lady Chu were to give birth to a boy and raise him as a royal heir, what would happen in the future...?
Li Changde didn't even dare to imagine the consequences.
Nangong Xuanyu said coldly, "Keep a close eye on Fatu Temple for me, and... investigate who had close ties with Empress Dowager Gongsu back then. Especially check what unusual things happened around the time of her 'death'."
"I don't believe that an empress dowager who has been dead for so long could have such a meticulous and long-term plan. There must be someone behind her!"
Li Changde solemnly replied, "Yes!"
Nangong Xuanyu gave his final instructions: "Proceed with the Feng family as planned. The imperial physician's diagnosis and the records of medication must be flawless."
"Yes, I have taken note of it."
After bowing, Li Changde respectfully withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The killing intent in Nangong Xuanyu's eyes had not diminished.
His harem and offspring will not be allowed to be touched or schemed against by anyone!
But... he didn't want Niannian to know about these dirty things, and he didn't want to offend her ears.
Hopefully, everything is under his control and things will settle down as soon as possible.
……
Fatu Temple is located on the outskirts of Beijing, backed by green mountains and facing a clear stream.
The ancient temple, with its thousand-year history, exudes a solemn and majestic aura.
On ordinary days, the air is filled with the melodious sounds of bells and chimes, and the fragrance of incense.
Pilgrims came and went in an endless stream, including devout officials and nobles as well as members of the royal family in fine clothes.
It is a first-class pure and blessed place in the capital, and a place of worship for the royal family.
However, recently, an unusual atmosphere has been faintly emerging in the Buddhist Pure Land...
There is a secluded retreat on the back mountain called "Chengxin Pavilion".
This place is not open to the public, far from the incense smoke and noise of the main hall. Only the sound of pine trees rustling and streams flowing can be heard, making it an excellent place for quiet cultivation and enlightenment.
The owner of Chengxin Pavilion is Master Xingchen, the youngest high monk in the temple.
Although he was only in his early twenties, he held a high position and was highly respected in the temple because of his unique and profound understanding of Buddhism and his naturally extraordinary appearance.
Even the elderly abbot often sat down with him to discuss the Dao.
At this moment, Master Xingchen, dressed in a white monk's robe, sat by the window of a pavilion overlooking the stream. Before him lay an unfinished chess game, with black and white pieces scattered about, seemingly containing profound mysteries.
He held a smooth black chess piece between his fingers, but hesitated to put it down for a long time.
Outside the window was a beautiful mountain view, but a strange glint flashed in Master Xingchen's clear eyes.
Recently, people have come to the palace.
It was a common practice for the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department to jointly send personnel, ostensibly to inspect temple properties and discuss matters related to the repair of halls.
But the person who came this time, though he looked like an ordinary clerk or steward, could not hide his words and actions from Master Xingchen's eyes.
Especially the steward surnamed Tao, who was impeccable when questioned. The subtlety he displayed in observing the people, paths, and buildings in the temple was something no ordinary steward possessed.
Was he sent by the Censorate?
Or... the emperor's personal bodyguards?
Master Xingchen was not ignorant of worldly affairs.
On the contrary, because he was in a royal temple and had seen so much of the comings and goings of powerful people and the intertwining of interests, he was more insightful than many worldly people.
Nangong Xuanyu, the emperor who fought his way out of his brothers' corpses, is not someone who can be easily fooled.
Could it be... that the emperor has noticed something?
Especially recently, the rumors circulating in the palace have made Master Xingchen even more vigilant.
Chu Shuxian first suffered a miscarriage, then was banished to the cold palace, and soon after, she died of illness.
It's called an emergency, but how many emergency cases in the world are there that happen by chance?
If the emperor truly became suspicious of Fatu Temple and began to investigate...
He can't just sit here and wait to die!
Suppose the emperor already had suspicions and the investigation pointed to the Chu family, which then led to the Fatu Temple...
Fortunately, he had grand plans and was never unprepared.
Master Xingchen thought of his junior brother, Master Huichen.
Although he was the head of the monastic discipline, he was extremely greedy and had secretly committed many disgraceful acts over the years. It wouldn't be surprising if word got out that such a person had an affair with a woman.
A few days later, late at night, all was quiet.
Fatu Temple was shrouded in night.