Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Investigation

After Daiyu took the medicine and rested, Wu Tianyue went to visit Baoyu. However, one of them was worried about why Daiyu didn't come to see him, while the other was troubled by Daiyu's attitude. They each had their own thoughts, so they chatted casually for a few words and then left.

After returning to the house, Wu Tianyue overheard the maids chatting inside and realized that apart from sending people to guard and punishing the servants in Baoyu and Fengjie'er's courtyard, the Jia family did not investigate what happened. He was a little surprised.

But this was someone else's family business, and Wu Tianyue had no right to interfere and didn't want to. But he heard Lan Ye say that everyone was privately saying that Daiyu was with Baoyu when he got into trouble, and that Grandmother Jia didn't investigate the matter in order to protect Daiyu from being criticized. Suddenly, he remembered how frightened Daiyu had been in recent days, and he became furious and ordered Lan Ye to investigate carefully.

Lan Ye followed the order and took the opportunity of the visit to ask Qingwen about the people who had contact with Baoyu in those days. Feng Jieer had not moved out yet, and the people in her courtyard were also there. After Lan Ye talked with them in detail, she found out that Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhou, who were with Jia Zheng that day, not only went to Qingxi Garden, but also went to Feng Jieer's room.

At that time, Sister Feng was not at home. Aunt Zhou wanted to leave, but Aunt Zhao refused. She went into the house under the pretext of asking for the monthly allowance and pestered Ping'er, the maid who usually helped Sister Feng with the affairs.

This matter was a bit suspicious, Lan Ye secretly took note and ordered the maids in the courtyard to find out the whereabouts of the two concubines during this period.

When Lan Ye first moved into the Grand View Garden, she asked the maids in the courtyard to build good relationships with the people in the Rongguo Mansion. Everyone was generous and approachable, and since they were not from the mansion and could not take away any benefits, they soon became friends with the maids and old women in the mansion.

The servants in the Jia family were quite idle and loved to spread messages, so it didn't take long for someone to find out the news.

"I've found out everything the young lady asked me to find out," a maid named Xiaoye said. "I'm familiar with Xiaoque, who cleans Aunt Zhao's room. I asked her today, and she said that Aunt Zhao had met a Taoist nun named Ma a while ago. Not long after they met, Aunt Zhao's trusted servant went out and found a scholar who wrote a letter to her from a street calligrapher."

"Ma Dao Po? But is she the godmother of Master Bao, who went to that mansion to preach a few days ago?"

"That's her. Xiao Que told me Ma Dao Po and Aunt Zhao had a very good relationship, and Aunt Zhao often asked her to help with offerings." Little Leaf continued, "After that day, something bad happened to Second Master Bao and Second Madam Lian. A few days later, Aunt Zhao secretly brought something back, but she burned it herself. When Xiao Que was cleaning up, she only saw unburned paper."

Aunt Zhao is illiterate, and although she has a son, Jia Huan, who is still studying, why would she secretly burn the scholar's discarded manuscripts?

Lan Ye was very suspicious of Aunt Zhao. After a moment's contemplation, she said to Xiao Ye, "I know about this matter. You don't have to worry about it anymore. Tell Xiao Que not to tell anyone else."

"Yes." Xiao Ye nodded repeatedly in response.

Lan Ye stood up and gave her some silver and some jewelry, saying, "Keep the jewelry for yourself, and give the silver to Xiao Que."

Little Leaf thanked for the reward happily and left with the gift.

"I understand." Wu Tianyue listened to Lan Ye's explanation of the whole story in the evening, and ordered his men to disguise themselves and go to Ma Dao Po's Taoist temple for a thorough investigation.

Unexpectedly, this investigation was like pulling out a radish and bringing out some mud. It was discovered that many wealthy families in Beijing used Ma Dao Po to do secret things such as cursing. There were also many deeds, silver, ornaments and jewelry in the Taoist temple.

The matter involved too many people, so the guards who were investigating did not dare to act rashly. They only secretly brought back some evidence such as deeds and tokens from previous years.

Wu Tianyue took a look and found that there were still things from Wu Wuyu's mansion. He ordered Feiyan to take people to guard the Taoist temple secretly, allowing only entry but not exit. He immediately went to find King Zhongshun.

Prince Zhongshun had just returned from the palace. Seeing his son coming to see him, he jokingly said, "No one comes to see you for no reason. Are you short of money or people again?"

"What are you talking about, father? Am I the kind of person who only comes to you to ask for things?" Wu Tianyue casually said to his father, then said seriously, "I really have something important to tell you this time."

"What's the matter?" Prince Zhongshun frowned at his seriousness and asked, "Is the Second Prince giving you trouble again?"

"This matter is related to him." Wu Tianyue pondered, "Some time ago, something happened in the Jia family. A little maid in my courtyard overheard something. I was bored and asked someone to investigate. I didn't expect to find such a big case. Not only are many nobles involved, but even people from the Second Prince's mansion are involved."

Although Prince Zhongshun didn't believe such idle talk, he didn't ask any further questions. He only asked, "What could possibly have involved so many people?"

"There's a small Taoist temple in the capital. The temple owner is called Ma Dao Po. She has some unorthodox skills. Perhaps because she has some skills but is not well-known, many wealthy families in the capital often ask her to perform secret tasks such as cursing." Wu Tianyue said, "I have sent Fei Yan and others to guard the Taoist temple strictly. However, my son does not hold any official position, so I am afraid that they will not be able to hold on for long."

As he spoke, he handed over the deeds. Prince Zhongshun looked at them one by one and said in a deep voice, "Don't get involved in this matter."

Wu Tianyue nodded in agreement and said, "Father, I still have some evidence from the recent Jia family incident that can be used. Please give it to me first, and you can handle the rest."

Prince Zhongshun glanced at him doubtfully, but this matter was of great importance. If he succeeded, even if he couldn't uproot the power of the retired emperor, he could at least use the opportunity to cut off some of his influence. He had no time to ask more questions and only said, "If it's not too serious, I'll have Fei Yan bring it to you after receiving it."

After saying that, he got up and went out, taking people to seal off and search the Taoist temple. He then hurriedly took some evidence against some people into the palace to report to the emperor.

The chief official who was left behind to clean up the mess received the order and first picked out the Jia family's things and looked at them. He found nothing sensitive. In addition, the Jia family's descendants were incompetent and posed no threat. His granddaughter was deeply loved by the princess, so there was no harm in letting her go. He readily handed the things to Fei Yan.

Fei Yan got the thing and rode back to the Grand View Garden to report to Wu Tianyue.

After reading it, Wu Tianyue couldn't help but sigh. Tanchun, such an upright person, actually had such a vicious mother. He sat there for a while, struggling, and ordered Lan Ye to meet Tanchun at Dicui Pavilion.

Lan Ye knew that it was about Tanchun's biological mother, Aunt Zhao, so she didn't dare to delay and went there in person.

Wu Tianyue looked through the evidence again and found that, in addition to Aunt Zhao, the people from the Ning and Rong mansions had spent a lot of money on Ma Dao Po. Ma Dao Po also amassed a lot of wealth in the name of the two mansions. He couldn't help but sigh in admiration. After a quick look and some thought, he only took the things related to Aunt Zhao and went to Dicui Pavilion.

Not long after, Tanchun came with her personal maid Shishu following behind Lan Ye.

"Greetings, Prince." Tanchun knelt and saluted. Seeing that Wu Tianyue didn't say anything, she glanced at the secretary and said to him, "Go over there and keep watch."

She was very good at managing people and was strict. The secretary did not dare to object. He took the order and left the pavilion, standing at the intersection with Lan Ye.

Although there were only two of them here, Wu Tianyue lowered his voice and said, "I came here today to talk to the third young lady because I have something I want to tell her in advance."

Seeing him so serious, Tanchun was very confused: "I wonder what's going on?"

"My father recently destroyed a Taoist temple that was using the excuse of praying for the rich and powerful and casting curses on them," Wu Tianyue said hesitantly. "Many things were found there, some of which are related to the nightmare that Baoyu and the other two had a few days ago."

Tanchun was puzzled as to why he was saying this to her. She frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly asked in surprise, "Sir, are you trying to say... something about my aunt?"

Wu Tianyue said nothing, but handed Aunt Zhao the deed with her fingerprints.

Tanchun took it with trembling hands and read it. It actually detailed the compensation that her younger brother Jia Huan had to pay to Ma Dao Po when he got the wealth of Rongguo Mansion in the future. She could not help but feel shocked, angry and scared. Her biological mother was so stupid and cruel. She endured it again and again, but tears still rolled down her eyes.

After meeting Daiyu, Wu Tianyue was most afraid of people crying, and Tanchun was always cheerful and had never lost her composure like this, which made Wu Tianyue a little flustered: "I know this is hard to accept, but please don't cry first."

Tanchun never expected her biological mother to do such a thing. She felt heartbroken and ashamed, and couldn't stop crying.

Wu Tianyue had a headache. Before he could say anything, Lan Ye's voice came from not far away: "Hello, Miss Lin."

Looking up, he saw Daiyu standing at the intersection, staring at the two of them, not knowing what she was thinking. When she saw him looking at her, she lowered her head and turned to leave.

"Sister, come and help me." When Wu Tianyue saw her coming, he felt that his savior had come. He didn't bother to think that the current scene looked like a secret meeting, and hurriedly chased after her.

"How can I help?" Daiyu ignored him and sneered, "With Baojie and Third Sister already here, what else do you need me for?"

Wu Tianyue was a little confused, but the situation was too tricky now, so he quickly pulled Daiyu aside to talk about it, and naturally used Prince Zhongshun as an excuse.

"Why are you checking these things?" Daiyu didn't believe that Prince Zhongshun had found out accidentally. She guessed that he was the one who did it. How could the prince let a junior spread such words?

Daiyu was a little scared. If this were to become known and spread, would he still have a good reputation? With a reputation for snooping into the private residences of nobles and being involved in such a witchcraft case, what would his future career look like? Thinking of this, she couldn't help but curse, "You're not from the Jia family, why are you worrying about this?"

Wu Tianyue originally wanted to investigate the matter because he saw that she felt guilty. At that time, he just thought it was some tricks in the harem. After he found out, he asked someone to inform the Jia family privately, but it couldn't be spread out. He didn't expect that so many people were involved now, and he felt a headache. But after hearing what she said, he felt wronged and uncomfortable, but he also knew that he was wrong, so he didn't respond for a while.

Daiyu didn't wait for his answer and went into the pavilion to comfort Tanchun.

When Tanchun's crying subsided, Daiyu took her hand and comforted her, saying, "Only the three of us know about this. The prince won't tell anyone, so don't worry, Third Sister."

"I'm an upright person. What do I have to fear?" Tanchun said coldly. "This matter cannot be concealed. Brother Bao and Sister Feng have suffered so much. How can I hide this matter just because she is my concubine? Besides, this kind of thing that endangers people's lives must be made known to the old lady."

"In that case, I'll go with you to tell the old lady." Daiyu, admiring her for her righteousness, suggested, "The princess sent someone to give me this. You were there at the time. When you find out, you must tell the old lady in person."

She was so considerate that Tanchun felt very comforted and tears welled up in her eyes.

Daiyu gently wiped her tears and said, "It's lunchtime now, and there aren't many people at the old lady's place, so it's a good time to reply to this matter."

Tanchun nodded and stood up to thank Wu Tianyue: "Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to inform me first, so that I wouldn't be embarrassed in front of others."

Wu Tianyue waved his hand and was about to speak when Daiyu glared at him and warned him, "You and the people in your courtyard don't know about this."

After saying this, he ordered Lan Ye to go to Yihong Courtyard to get the remaining things, and then go to Jia Mu's courtyard with Tanchun.

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The author has something to say: Thanks to the little angels "45572230" and "Waiting for the Flowers to Bloom" for the nutrient solution~