Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 142 Hope
For some reason, after leaving the capital, her memory of the plot became increasingly hazy. She could recall many things one moment, but completely forget them the next, as if they had never happened.

This is also when a sentence suddenly flashed through my mind, which seems to be the final fate of the King of Binyang?

but……

She felt like something was off. In a daze, she remembered the old emperor saying something like this before he died.

"In my life, I have done right by heaven and earth, and I have done right by you unfilial sons. The only one I have wronged is my poor Chaosheng. My son..."

If the Prince of Binyang was truly unforgivable, why would the old emperor feel sorry for him before his death? Even when the old emperor's own son committed a crime, he didn't feel guilty before his death. Why would he feel sorry for an adopted son who had already been executed?

unless……

Unless the Prince of Binyang is innocent!
Looking at the pitiful brother and sister before him, Jiu Que couldn't bring himself to say that the Prince of Binyang was innocent. Unless something went wrong.

Suddenly I remembered something.

"Jin Sui, ever since the Prince of Binyang's temperament changed drastically and he demanded that the salt fields produce large quantities of salt, has anyone seen the Prince of Binyang?"

Hu Jinhui shook her head blankly. She was an extremely intelligent child, and she keenly sensed something from Jiu Que's words, her expression changing drastically.

"Speaking of which, for three whole years, the Prince of Binyang has rarely appeared in public. The few times he did appear were when His Majesty bestowed birthday gifts upon him, forcing him to come out to express his gratitude. However, the Prince of Binyang had suffered too many hidden injuries while fighting on the battlefield, and his body was not very strong, making him look rather emaciated. Of course, we have been confined in the salt fields, so even if these messages were to reach us, they might not all be true."

The reason why news could get in from the salt fields was mainly due to their special location. The entire city of Yancheng was almost entirely built around the salt fields. The salt produced here was generally transported via two routes: one by land and one by water.

Throughout history, countless people have been able to live without elixirs, but not without salt. Thus, two prosperous trade routes arose around the transportation of salt. Even with the strictest regulations at the salt fields, rumors inevitably leaked in. But by the time the news reached the salt fields, it had often become distorted.

Hearing this, Jiu Que stroked his chin, feeling that something was amiss. Something didn't seem right.

"Senior, do you think there's a problem with this?"

"what?"

Cui Zhufeng looked back somewhat blankly, then nodded.

“I’ve met that sickly King of Binyang. Although he’s not the smartest, he’s not stupid enough to be this foolish. He once fought a battle against the strongest Northern Barbarian, Hei Moro, to save the people of a village, and as a result, he lost two fingers on his left hand. A man like that wouldn’t exploit the people under his rule for a few taels of silver.”

"So you've met the Prince of Binyang before? Hmm, if we meet again, will you recognize him?"

"can."

Cui Zhufeng may not have any other special skills, but she can still recognize people she's met once before. However, she doesn't understand why Jiu Que is asking this.
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Jiu Que nodded. "Very good. Since Senior remembers what the Prince of Binyang looks like, then when we see him again, we can confirm whether he is truly the Prince of Binyang."

"Is Your Excellency doubting that the current Prince of Binyang is not the real person?"

Jiu Que didn't shy away from the siblings; after all, surviving such torture and cleansing, and even finding an opportunity to escape, was no ordinary feat. Jiu Que had witnessed their abilities firsthand, and might even need their help.

Hu Jinhui bit her lip and solemnly stated.

"My lord, please let me help you. If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask. Though I am not talented, my father's last wish was for the salt workers in this salt field to be able to go home. He hoped they wouldn't have to live in fear anymore. It's just a job; those who want to do it can continue, and those who don't can go home. This is the freedom that people should have. To be honest, my father greatly admired and loved the Prince of Binyang. If the person who harmed him is indeed the Prince of Binyang, then I will naturally avenge my father. If not, then this culprit cannot go unpunished, can he?"

"you……"

Jiu Que initially wanted to refuse, after all, the child was too young, and had suffered so much recently, making her body quite fragile. But when she met her eyes, Jiu Que sighed. This child had endured so much hardship all these years, and probably only had the desire to avenge her father left. If even that were taken away, the child probably wouldn't be able to survive.

So she nodded.

"What we need to do now is not to alert them. Since the Prince of Binyang is selling the extra salt produced each month privately, there must be someone in charge. Will someone come over, or will someone from here go to the Prince's residence to oversee this?"

Hu Jinhui thought about it carefully, then shook her head regretfully.

“The Prince of Binyang’s mansion does come to collect smuggled salt every month, but you’ve come at the wrong time, sir. The steward came just the other day and took away all the excess salt. The earliest he’ll come again is around this time next month.”

"That's it..."

It seems they'll have to go to the Prince of Binyang's Mansion. But Hu Jinhui…

"Don't worry, sir, I know what's important. I'll stay at the saltworks to avoid that foreman resorting to desperate measures. But I have a personal request: could you please take my younger brother with you? He's already escaped, and if he comes back, that Yan fellow won't let him off. He really will kill the child!"

Jiu Que nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Of course, it will only trouble you for a few days, but don't worry, I will have someone secretly protect you. As for the child, I will make it seem as if he has been attacked by wild beasts in the mountains, and take him to a safe place first. Don't worry, regardless of whether this matter is resolved or not, I will get you all out of here. Trust me!"

Hu Jinhui relaxed completely. Her biggest wish now was for her younger brother to leave. Since even Sister Wang Mo said this man was a rare good person, why not boldly trust him this once?
Moreover, this man held her hand so sincerely, his eyes, expression, and movements revealing no trace of falsehood. If it were truly an act, his acting skills were simply too superb.

"Don't worry, sir. I'll be waiting for you, and for everyone in Yancheng. I'll secretly tell them the news. To be honest, we've been waiting for this day for a long time."

To survive long in darkness, one must always hold onto a glimmer of hope. The female imperial envoy from the capital, whom they had never met before, was that hope in the hearts of these poor salt workers.

(End of this chapter)