After sending away Pei Qianxue, Zong Luo went straight to the bath.
He took off his inner clothes and leaned against the edge of the bath, letting the hot water in the pool steam, wetting his white hair, and floating like seaweed.
Hot water had the effect of soothing nerves and could also appropriately relieve people’s tension.
While soaking in the water, Zong Luo slowly pondered.
Pei Qianxue came to persuade him.
Indeed, if ordinary people knew about this, the first reaction would naturally be to run far away and never come back. Although Pei Qianxue was a minister of Emperor Yuan, he was also Zong Luo’s close friend, and his emotions would naturally lean towards his friend.
Moreover, without the heartthrob halo of Yu Beizhou’s and the influence of the plot in this life, Pei Qianxue had also returned to normal. (TL: hearthrob-charms or bewithches thousands of people)
Of course, whether this heartthrob halo had run to Zong Luo was another matter, he was in no mood to think about it now.
So when he heard Zong Luo’s refusal, Pei Qianxue just sighed.
In fact, he had guessed the result a few months ago. Hearing this answer at this moment, there was only a feeling of dust settling.
Jin Yu was always like this, cool breeze and bright moon, open and upright, and would never do things like evasion or pretense. (TL: cool breeze and bright moon-Chinese idiom, means not making friends casually, but also a metaphor for being at ease and having nothing to do)
If it really was as Pei Qianxue persuaded, to leave, then it would not be him.
Although this was the case, Pei Qianxue hoped, for the first time, for Zong Luo to not insist on his principles.
Because the one who would be tortured in the end would only be himself.
“Since it has been decided, then I respect any decision of Jin Yu.”
The green-robed prime minister raised his eyes and looked directly at the prince opposite. “But if there is a place where I can help, Jin Yu just tell me.”
For three full months, Pei Qianxue was not just waiting, he also did a lot of things.
For example, a few eloquent and passionate articles, or some rhetorics that might be useful when Emperor Yuan became angry.
In short, Pei Qianxue would never only watch Emperor Yuan issue a death decree.
Zong Luo smiled reassuringly and immediately nodded.
Even though he knew in his heart that no one could help with this matter.
However, something Pei Qianxue said earlier made him care.
“Jin Yu, have you thought about how to explain this to His Majesty?”
Even if he wanted to be honest, he had to come up with evidence that he was not of Emperor Yuan’s bloodline.
Obviously, even if Zong Luo directly stated it, Emperor Yuan would most likely not believe it.
Unless it was like in his previous life, at the Witch Sacrificial Ceremony, he was accidentally exposed by the Great Witch, with ironclad evidence and there was no room for rebuttal.
Zong Luo was not unaware of Pei Qianxue’s meaning.
The latter was persuading him not to rush to speak out about this matter. After all, if the timing was wrong, it could lead to a different outcome.
In his previous life, Emperor Yuan discovered the truth at the Witch Sacrificial Ceremony, simply became very furious, took back his military power and put him under house arrest in the Third Prince’s Mansion. Even if he insisted on breaking into the palace and kneeling at the gate of the Zhang Palace to seek an explanation, Emperor Yuan did not bear to issue a death decree, but let him lead the troops to defend the border.
In extreme numbness, Zong Luo could also glimpse the fatigue and pain of Emperor Yuan at that time from the past.
The Witch Sacrificial Ceremony was only five days later, and it was just the difference between speaking first and speaking late.
But as long as this matter was buried in his heart for a day, Zong Luo would suffer for a day.
He slowly sank himself into the hot water and closed his eyes without speaking.
Soon, palace attendants brought a brand new set of clothes.
From the North to the Imperial City, it was a journey from the extremely cold snowfield to the bird’s singing and floral fragrance.
Unlike the border where it was almost snowing all year round, the Imperial City was now in the hot summer, about to start the autumn season, with a hint of coolness in the heat.
The clothes sent by the Huanyi Bureau were all long shirts suitable for this season, and there was also a white crane cloak woven from silk. If it’s cold in the morning and evening, one could put it on, and if it’s hot at noon, it could be taken off without hindering the beauty.
In the past, paying tributes with such precious fabrics a few pieces a year might not be possible, and most of them were made into Emperor Yuan’s regular clothes. But the Third Prince’s Mansion had never been cut off.
Just after dressing up, suddenly another eunuch came to report. “Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to go to the Great Witch Temple, it seems to be an urgent matter.”
Urgent matter?
Zong Luo was already like a frightened bird, and now his nerves were even more tense. “What is the urgent matter?”
“This little one doesn’t know either. It’s just that His Majesty seems to have also passed on several other princes, and didn’t specifically say, just let them all go.”
The eunuch bowed his head and said, “This little one just went to the Ninth Prince’s Palace.”
The Ninth Prince, not knowing how long he had been confined in the palace, it was almost half a year, and he was only allowed to move in the palace and the small garden in front of the palace, surroundings were still heavily guarded, and he could not take a step.
The master who was flattered by everyone in this palace, but now he had become like this, it really made people not know what to say.
Watching the eunuch’s distant figure, Zong Luo secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
Emperor Yuan had already had a dream, dreaming of him committing suicide under the Imperial City, and Pei Qianxue also was tight-lipped, unless Zong Luo spoke personally or waited for the result of the Witch Sacrificial Ceremony, there was no possibility of knowing this matter.
But as he said before, as long as this matter was suppressed in his heart for a day, he would feel guilty for an extra day. Even if it’s just a normal summon, it couldn’t help but make Zong Luo’s heart choke.
Before returning to the court, Zong Luo deliberately slowed down and rested for a day on the outskirts of the city. Today he rushed into the city in the morning. Now he has taken a bath and had lunch, and it’s just the afternoon.
When the carriage stopped next to the Great Witch Temple, Zong Luo got out of the carriage and found that the other princes had all arrived.
He was the last one to arrive. As soon as he got out of the carriage, everyone’s eyes were on his hair.
Zong Chengsi and Zong Ruichen stood together and greeted him first. “Just saw the Third Imperial brother returning to the court on Zhuque Avenue, but there were too many people, and couldn’t squeeze to the front with Xiao Ba to say hello. Imperial Brother, please don’t blame.”
