Chapter 420 - Such A Decree?
"Where is Brother Nianzu?" Rong Zemin asked Jian Guozhi, who did not know. "The Court will soon start," he stated. "Love has blinded him. He should have been respectful towards our father," asserted Rong Zemin. Jian Guozhi hummed at him.
The Ministers started to come. They greeted each other and took their respective places. The Emperor came soon, and everyone bowed in front of him. The Emperor sat on the throne and told them to raise their heads. "Today, there is something I would like to announce in the Court," Han Wenji pronounced and gestured to Eunuch Jin, who handed him the scroll.
"What is it, your majesty? It seems to be an important decree," Gu Zhenya asserted.
"Yes, it is an important one," Han Wenji replied.. Suddenly, the doors of the Courtroom opened and a soldier came inside. The Ministers and the Princes turned to gaze at the soldier, who stopped in the middle of the Courtroom.
He deeply bowed in front of the Emperor. "Your Majesty, apologies for intervening in the middle of the Court. I have come with a message from the Crown Prince," the soldier replied.
"What's the message about?" Han Wenji asked.
"It is about the Second Royal Physician and a childhood friend of the Crown Prince," the soldier replied. Everyone in the Courtroom got befuddled.
"Speak," Han Wenji permitted him.
"Your Majesty, the Second Royal Physician has died while saving the Crown Prince in a mini-battle. The other childhood friend of the Crown Prince named Wan Ju also lost his life while protecting General Wang," the soldier narrated in front of everyone in the court.
Everyone was shocked to hear that. "Hu Jingguo is no more!" Jian Guozhi murmured. "But he was fine a few days back," Jian Guozhi said.
"Your highness, he jumped in between to save the Crown Prince. His body has been taken to the Capital. The Crown Prince will soon return and will do the last rites for the Second Royal Physician," the soldier asserted.
The Ministers started to whisper among each other. "This is saddening to hear that a brave man like Hu Jingguo is no longer among us. There will be two days of mourning in the Capital. Lower the Royal Flag in the tribute of Hu Jingguo," Han Wenji announced with a heavy heart. 'Such a young man sacrificed his life. He gave me life for some time. However, I could not even do anything for him,' Han Wenji thought and stood up from the throne. He forgot to take the scroll and left the Court.
Rong Zemin glanced at Jian Guozhi. "This is the first time someone sacrificed his life for the Crown Prince," he asserted
"Brother Zemin, it does not matter now. It is a grave loss for us," Jian Guozhi stated.
"Indeed, it is a grave loss. I only meant that no one ever sacrificed his life for Brother Sheng because of his nature. It is strange. And who's Wan Ju? I never knew that Brother Sheng has any friend with this name," Rong Zemin muttered.
"The Crown Prince was close with Hu Jingguo, so he did not hesitate and jumped in between," Jian Guozhi asserted. His heart sank because once he tortured Hu Jingguo brutally. But he forgave him when the next time Jian Guozhi saved him.
~~~~~
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is asking for your forgiveness by being on his knees and not eating anything. Eunuch Chung said that the Fourth Prince earlier was crying as he felt that his parents did not understand him," Eunuch Jin informed Han Wenji, who stopped walking.
"Let him do that. Do not tell me any news related to the Fourth Prince," Han Wenji stated.
"Your Majesty, even the Empress in her chamber refused to eat and is apologizing to you. This way the matter will spread in the entire Palace and then the Capital," Eunuch Jin tried making the Emperor understand.
"Send the message to the Empress that she does not need to do such things. It is between a father and his son," Han Wenji proclaimed. His mood was still ruined because of the Fourth Prince's behavior.
"Your Majesty, this is the first time the Fourth Prince made such a mistake. Please forgive him, your majesty," Eunuch Jin pleaded with the Emperor.
"Eunuch Jin, the Prince stepped out of his boundaries by not only disrespecting the position I gave him. He hurt Princess Zhu Lin, though she did not complain about that. Let him beg for forgiveness. Tell the Empress and the Consorts to dress in white for two days. Also, start the preparation for his final rites. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will return in a day or two," Han Wenji ordered Eunuch Jin and walked ahead.
Eunuch Jin bowed and first dropped the Emperor to his manor, later he went to inform the Empress.
In the Courtroom, Gu Zhenya saw the Royal Scroll on the desk of the Emperor in the court. "What is in this scroll?" He picked it and removed the string rolled around it. He opened the scroll and read the decree.
Gu Zhenya widened his eyes as he read the decree. "What? The Emperor is removing the Fourth Prince from the position of Advisor?" He mumbled and looked around. "What has happened that the Emperor wrote such a decree?" Gu Zhenya murmured.
He heard the creak of the door, so, quickly closed the scroll and tied the golden string around. He stepped down and hid behind a pillar in the courtroom.
Eunuch Jin walked inside the Courtroom. He picked the scroll. "I almost forgot to pick it up. It is good that no one saw it," he muttered and put the scroll inside his pocket. Eunuch Jin then left the Courtroom while Gu Zhenya came to the front from behind the pillar.
"I need to ask Empress Hui regarding this matter. How can she not tell me about this? If the Fourth Prince is removed then my aim to become the Prime Minister will get ruined," Gu Zhenya muttered and left the Courtroom.