Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 669: Chapter 326 Massacre_3

"With you saying that, I can be at ease." Mr. Meng believed that although Zhao Yao was appointed by the emperor as the successor, Zhao Yao’s elder brothers were like wolves and tigers. How could Zhao Yao, a prince without maternal support and weak in power, compete against his brothers? "I won’t last much longer; once I’m gone, bury me immediately. Don’t set up a mourning hall, don’t hang white banners, and don’t announce my death."

Zheng Xilin understood the meaning behind Mr. Meng’s instructions, "Do you think your passing can be kept a secret?"

"As long as it can be concealed, it should be." Mr. Meng’s energy gradually waned, and his once rosy complexion turned gray and sallow, "When dawn breaks, have the Tenth Highness leave this place of trouble, Jinling."

"Alright."

The light in Mr. Meng’s eyes dimmed, and he began to speak with labored breath: "Little Lin, help the Emperor resolve the matters in Jinling promptly. We can’t let those people harm the common folk any longer..."

Zheng Xilin, eyes brimming with tears, choked up, "Alright, I will resolve these matters as soon as possible."

"The imperial examination..." Mr. Meng’s voice grew weaker, "When it succeeds, remember to tell me..."

"Okay, then I will tell you in detail."

Mr. Meng looked at Zheng Xilin, using his last ounce of strength to say to him: "I’m... gone... take care..." After speaking, he closed his eyes.

"Mr. Meng..."

Zhao Yao, standing outside the door, heard the cries of grief from Zheng Xilin, and his heart sank heavily. He hurriedly rushed into Mr. Meng’s room, saw Mr. Meng with his eyes tightly closed and no rise and fall of his chest, and knew that he had passed away.

"Mr. Meng!"

Although they had long known that Mr. Meng would be leaving, when he truly departed, Zhao Yao and Zheng Xilin were still filled with grief.

Zheng Xilin did not remain long in the sorrow of losing Mr. Meng, quickly busying himself with Zhao Yao in preparing the funeral arrangements.

Before Mr. Meng passed, he instructed the housekeeper to help him wash and change clothes, not requiring Zheng Xilin and the others to help him.

His coffin had long been prepared, made of premium pear blossom wood.

After Mr. Meng’s remains were placed in the coffin, it was sealed. There was no mourning hall set up, nor was the coffin displayed for others to pay their respects.

Zheng Xilin had Song Jicai and three others carry Mr. Meng’s coffin to the pre-selected burial site and buried it.

They worked until dawn, and only then were all the funeral affairs for Mr. Meng completed.

Zheng Xilin, weary and sorrowful, said, "Pack up and leave Jinling, heading to Yangzhou."

Song Jicai exclaimed, "So urgently?" They were both exhausted and hungry, in need of rest.

"Leave right now." Zheng Xilin knew Zhao Yao and the others were tired, but they had to leave immediately, "You can rest on the boat."

"Uncle, we are leaving, what about you?" Zhao Yao asked, "Will you leave immediately or stay in Jinling?"

"I have some matters to deal with. Once they’re done, I will leave," Zheng Xilin assured, knowing Zhao Yao’s concerns, "I will be fine. After some time, I will head to Yangzhou to find you."

"Alright, then I’ll wait for you in Yangzhou."

Zheng Xilin urged, "Quickly pack up and leave."

Zhao Yao obediently said, "We will leave right away."

Returning to Mr. Meng’s house, Zhao Yao and his companions packed their luggage and bid farewell to Zheng Xilin, descending the mountain towards the dock.

"Boss, are we really leaving now?"

Chu Huan asked, "Boss, Uncle is urging us to leave Jinling immediately. Is something about to happen in Jinling?"

"Boss, what is going to happen in Jinling?"

"Boss, is it really okay for us to leave like this?"

"We will not leave yet," Zhao Yao said to Song Jicai and the others, "We will first stay in Jinling City for a few days to see what happens next." He didn’t want to get involved in the matters concerning the Crown Prince and Prince Dai, but if something were to happen, he couldn’t remain uninformed. "I have a feeling of an impending storm."

"Boss, isn’t that dangerous?" Chu Huan quickly reacted with concern on his face, "If Jinling is dangerous, Boss, you can’t stay."

"As long as we don’t get involved, that’s fine." Just as Zhao Yao finished speaking, his right eye twitched, and a sudden ominous feeling surged within him. "We have to see what happens next in Jinling, and whether this will affect Yangzhou." Yangzhou is just above Jinling; if something significant happens in Jinling, Yangzhou will inevitably be affected.

Zhang He glanced at the worried Chu Huan, elbowed him, and said, "With the Boss around, even if there is danger, everything will be fine."

Shen Sen put an arm around Chu Huan’s shoulder, smiling as he said, "Even if there’s danger, I believe the few of us can handle it."

Song Jicai curiously asked, "Boss, should we stay at an inn in Jinling when we go down the mountain?"

"No inns. Our maternal grandparents’ house has a residence in Jinling City." Zhao Yao initially planned to stay at the inn designated by Prince Wei, but considering that they might have things to do, it would then be inconvenient. "I have already arranged it, we can stay there directly now."

"Then let’s hurry over."

After arriving at the Liang family’s residence in Jinling, Zhao Yao and his companions busied themselves with washing up and eating.

Having worked through most of the night, they were exhausted. After breakfast, they went to rest. When they woke from their sleep, they discovered that all of Jinling City had learned of Mr. Meng’s passing.

The entire city mourned Mr. Meng, and every household hung white banners.

While Jinling City was steeped in grief over the loss of the great scholar Mr. Meng, across the way in Runzhou Prefecture, a storm was about to break.

After confirming that Mr. Meng had been laid to rest, those in Jinling and Suzhou decided to act that very night.

Runzhou Prefecture lies above Jinling, its position significantly influencing Jinling. The Crown Prince and Prince Dai’s people had long sought to control Runzhou Prefecture’s grain transport and salt, but because of Mr. Meng, they had not dared make a move.

Now that Mr. Meng had passed, the Crown Prince and Prince Dai’s men need not worry about him and could seize control of Runzhou Prefecture’s grain transport and salt.

That night, a shocking massacre occurred on the Run River.