Inside the prison!

Gao Bingze had been locked up for less than two hours.

Several bailiffs dragged him out from the cell and chained him with iron shackles to a wooden stake.

Before he could fully open his eyes, a basin of cold water was splashed over him.

He immediately became alert!

Gao Bingze struggled with his body, shouting loudly: “I want to see Minister Liang.”

“See Minister Liang?” The bailiff smiled, holding a red-hot iron block in his hand: “Young Master Gao, you secretly switched the Crown Princess candidate list, committing a grave crime. Her Ladyship has ordered you beaten to death with clubs.”

“What?”

Regarding the matter of him sleeping with Ji Muqing for one night, Consort Xiao didn’t mention it at all, but instead pinned on him the crime of switching the Crown Princess candidate list.

Hadn’t they already punished everyone in the Hanlin Academy with half a year’s salary deduction and stopped pursuing the matter?

Unexpectedly, Consort Xiao was settling accounts after autumn, waiting for him here.

“I want to see His Majesty. I’m innocent.”

“You can only see the King of Hell.”

Ah—

The bailiff branded him with the red-hot iron block, white smoke rising densely.

Gao Bingze was in such pain he broke out in a full sweat. Being just a scholar, how could he endure such torture? He nearly fainted.

Meanwhile, two other bailiffs had already raised their clubs, striking down on him repeatedly.

The pain was heart-rending and lung-splitting.

He was not reconciled!

He shouted loudly: “Why?”

The sound of clubbing accompanied Gao Bingze’s miserable screams of pain.

Until now, he still didn’t know what he had done wrong, whom he had provoked, who was framing him from behind.

Liang Zongzheng, who had been hiding outside the torture room all along, wore a face that revealed no emotion whatsoever.

Only after Gao Bingze’s voice gradually weakened did he emerge, having the two bailiffs wielding clubs stop.

Gao Bingze’s entire body hung completely by the iron chains, his body covered with bloody wounds one after another, flesh torn open.

His head drooped, his hair disheveled!

He hazily saw a pair of shoes appear before him. Mustering all his strength to lift his head, he looked at Liang Zongzheng before him.

Opening and closing his mouth, after a long while he finally asked: “Why?”

Liang Zongzheng’s face remained expressionless. He drew a piece of paper from his sleeve, unfolded it for Gao Bingze to see, saying: “As long as you sign it, this official guarantees your family, old and young, will be safe and sound.”

It turned out to be a confession!

Making Gao Bingze admit to switching the Crown Princess selection list.

Who would have known that Gao Bingze would give a bleak smile, blood flowing from his mouth, drawing weak breaths.

He asked again: “Why?”

“Bingze, you’ve been in the Hanlin Academy for a year now. During this year, you’ve indeed helped this official greatly. This time, you must die, because only if you die can you remain silent forever. This official has wronged you. After death, if you have grievances, feel free to come find this official.”

Liang Zongzheng’s tone was flat. After speaking these words, he grasped Gao Bingze’s hand, dipped his thumb in some blood, and pressed it onto the confession.

Then he handed it to the bailiff beside him: “Present it to His Majesty. Say that Young Master Gao, knowing he committed a monstrous crime, took his own life.”

“Yes!” The bailiff responded.

Gao Bingze had no strength at all to struggle, nor any strength to speak. He could only watch helplessly as he endured all of this.

Before Liang Zongzheng left, he said: “Rest assured, your family, old and young—this official will order people to take good care of them, ensuring they never lack for food and drink for the rest of their lives. You can go in peace.”

The sound of clubbing came again from the cell.

One strike after another!

Until—

Gao Bingze was beaten to death before it stopped!

And this storm that had rolled through the palace seemed to have calmed down.

As if it had never happened…

Also on that day, a message spread from Chuxiu Palace, saying that the legitimate daughter of the Ji family had fallen ill and could not see people. It was also rumored that this illness was contagious.

The rumors spread and became more and more exaggerated!

In the end, it was still Consort Xiao’s methods. Anyway, as long as Ji Muqing didn’t participate in the Crown Princess selection, that was fine.

This matter naturally gave His Majesty a headache. The internally designated Crown Princess had suddenly fallen ill, disrupting all arrangements. Without the original internal designation, then—

Who would become Crown Princess?

In this emergency, His Majesty naturally summoned Liang Zongzheng.

Emperor Qizhen sat behind the dragon desk, troubled: “The selection is tomorrow. How did such a thing happen? What illness did she contract?”

Liang Zongzheng bowed: “Miss Ji’s face is red and swollen, and her feet are also swollen. After the imperial physicians examined her, they said it was an infectious condition that might be contagious. She needs to recuperate slowly, so she was sent out of the palace back to the General’s Manor.”

Emperor Qizhen sighed!

Supporting his head for quite a while before saying: “Then in Liang Zongzheng’s opinion, what should be done about the Crown Princess matter?”

“Miss Ji’s illness isn’t actually incurable. If we could postpone the Crown Princess selection…”

Before he finished speaking, Emperor Qizhen interrupted him.

“Impossible! Everything has already been decided. The selection date absolutely cannot be changed!” His attitude was extremely firm. Pressing his hand on the desk, he sternly asked Liang Zongzheng: “In your opinion, who else would be suitable as a Crown Princess candidate?”

Liang Zongzheng had long known His Majesty would ask this. Pretending to be troubled for a long while, he said: “Among the many beautiful ladies, there are daughters of prominent military families. Selecting one is certainly possible, but in terms of family background, naturally none can compare to that Miss Ji. This subject does have one person to recommend, but I’m concerned…”

“Speak!”

“Princess Huiwen!” Liang Zongzheng said.

Emperor Qizhen’s eyes focused: “Huiwen? Why her?”

“In this subject’s humble opinion, Princess Huiwen is from the late Empress’s maternal family. When the Empress was alive, several civil and military officials from the Kong family held positions of some standing in court. But after the Empress passed, the Kong family appeared to have fallen. Kong Qu, who was originally the vanguard of the Lin army, voluntarily transferred away from the capital to the distant northwestern city of Yi. While it seemed he was being distanced and avoiding power, in Yi City he secured his position and became lord of the city. More importantly, Yi City is the fortress through which the Huyi Kingdom enters our pass. To attack a country, first attack the city—Yi City is the key. There’s also Kong Shengyi. This person is the late Empress’s cousin. Although he resigned from office and returned home early, in Han Province he commands an elite force of troops. If Princess Huiwen becomes Crown Princess, the Yi Province fortress and Han Province troops would naturally come into our possession. Apart from that Miss Ji, compared to the other beautiful ladies, Princess Huiwen is the second-best choice!”

Every sentence was sincere!

Actually, Liang Zongzheng’s words were not without merit!

The Kong family had indeed fallen. The former civil and military officials had all left the capital, seemingly stripped of power at the center. But precisely because of this, they had planted landmines in all directions!

Once something happened in the capital, the Kong family scattered around the capital would occupy advantageous terrain.

But because the Kong family was really too low-key, if Liang Zongzheng hadn’t brought it up today, Emperor Qizhen would never have realized how terrifying that hidden force was.

His heart was like a bubbling hot spring, surging repeatedly.

After pondering for a moment, he lightly nodded, waving his hand: “You may withdraw first. We will think it over carefully.”

Liang Zongzheng observed Emperor Qizhen’s expression before bowing and leaving…

Just after emerging from Fuyang Hall, Liang Zongzheng dispatched someone to report to Zhangzhi Hall.

Everything had been said to His Majesty according to Consort Xiao’s instructions—