Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Baby

Not only the posthouse was dead silent, but also the secret room in General Liang's mansion.

"My dear nephew, what did you say?" Liang Li said in disbelief after a while. "Did you kill the princess?"

"Which princess?" Jiang Tao asked anxiously. "Ruan Yueyi?"

Shen Zelin shook his head: "Of course not, it's the new one, Yi En."

"Oh, the adopted daughter of King Hengfeng?" Liang Li breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand nonchalantly. "She's dead, so be it."

"That bitch smashed my military token and ate a piece!" Chen Zelin said angrily. "With the token incomplete, I can't even mobilize my troops!"

Liang Li suddenly threw the teacup: "What on earth is going on?"

"She ruined the initial wave of rumors in Beijing, and now she's raising funds. How can she be allowed to continue causing trouble?" Chen Zelin's voice trembled as he faced Liang Li's gaze. "My nephew originally wanted to kill her outright. But she's certainly quite pretty, and I'd already had my eye on her. I thought I'd seize the opportunity to take her by force, instigate her to fall in love, and become obedient. But who knew, that crazy woman..."

He closed his eyes slightly and recalled the scene of that night.

When he broke into the Renshu Temple with a team of guards, a thin and indifferent girl knelt in front of the statue, repairing the last piece of the statue's clothes.

Seeing him coming, she just asked him how he was. Her previously sickly pale face was now rosy, which was quite touching.

Shen Zelin believes that what he did was human nature.

A beauty with no power to resist, in the long and lonely night, no man should be able to restrain his sympathy for her and directly attack her.

Apart from the obstructive statue that indicated that such vile things should not be done in a place of retreat, everything was perfect and appropriate, so he had no intention of paying attention to it.

But who would have thought that even though he had promised to give her the position of Prince Ling's concubine, she was still shameless and dared to resist.

He also took advantage of his inattention and threw his military token to the ground.

The fragments were scattered everywhere, and he sent his men to look for them. In a blink of an eye, he saw that she had swallowed a piece of it, taking with her half of his "feather".

If the military token was damaged at the edge, it wouldn't be completely impossible to mobilize the troops, but she swallowed the part with the words on it.

He had to make her vomit. Even though her bones were broken so badly that only a few were left intact, she still refused to vomit or die.

He hung her on the edge of a cliff and threatened her several times, but failed to scare her into vomiting. Even when she was dying, she refused to obey him.

Anyway, she looks sick and won’t survive the night. She is just a powerless princess, so just kill her.

But when they were about to cut open the body and take out the military token, Jiang Heye arrived.

Chen Zelin never thought that someone could fight so desperately and recklessly. A whole team of guards couldn't subdue him alone.

He suffered internal injuries and lost two front teeth. Now he can barely speak and vomits blood when he uses his internal energy.

"Crazy people, a bunch of idiots who don't know what's good for them!" He said bitterly, his teeth chattering. "How dare you resist!"

Liang Li closed his eyes with a headache and asked, "Where's the body? Did the Jiang family take it away?"

"Of course not. No matter how powerful he was, he would have been outnumbered." Shen Zelin shook his head. "But my father issued an urgent decree and sent troops to surround us. My nephew didn't have time to find the military token, so he had it hastily wrapped up and thrown off the cliff."

"Did he say anything to you?" Liang Li asked again.

Shen Zelin hesitated for a moment and said, "I didn't say anything before my mother came. My father only said that this time it was too much."

Liang Li's tightly furrowed brows relaxed suddenly, and in a moment, he clapped his hands and laughed out loud: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, your Majesty is so proud, wonderful!"

Shen Zelin looked at him in confusion: "Uncle?"

"My dear nephew, remember this," Liang Li leaned over and patted his shoulder kindly. "This matter has nothing to do with you."

"Princess Yien fell off a cliff."

"...How could a healthy person fall off a cliff?" Jiang Tao couldn't stand it anymore.

"He's drunk." Liang Lihun didn't care. "When you're drunk, you can do anything."

"With Yi Yi's intelligence, if she could persuade His Majesty, maybe everything would be settled by now."

After a long silence, several people smiled knowingly.

"Hurry up and tell your confidants in Kyoto to set fire to the hill behind Renshu Temple." Liang Li thought for a moment and added, "If we don't find the body, there will be no evidence."

Shen Zelin gestured in agreement: "Uncle is wise."

-

But Wei Shutan's death was not concealed for even half a day.

The next morning, pilgrims who came to collect donations saw the bloody mess in the main hall and reported it to the government.

As for the cause of death, it was revealed by the abbot of Renshu Temple, who said that he had seen Ling Wang Chen Zelin trying to do something indecent to her that night, and after failing, he killed him.

With someone taking the lead, word spread from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, and everyone knew about it that day.

But in the evening of that day, a fire broke out unexpectedly in the back mountain of Renshu Temple, and several young abbots were killed in the flames.

The crowd was excited, and some brave enough to kneel down in front of the government office, begging for a thorough investigation and justice for Princess Yi'en.

But the next evening, a notice was posted in the government office saying that Princess Yi'en had fallen off a cliff and died after drinking.

As soon as the notice was issued, the people who had been arguing all day were silenced.

Everyone knew it was a lie. Everyone knew she was sick and weak, and rarely drank tea, let alone wine, let alone getting drunk.

The government also knew it was a lie, but they insisted it was the truth.

Some careful people noticed that the official seal was missing from the notice, so they said that the notice was invalid and begged for the truth to be made public.

But the drum of grievance was beaten day after day, and the door of the government office was never opened to the people. Only once did two impatient officials come and take the drum of grievance back to the government office.

The officials turned a deaf ear and dumb, and there was no place to redress the grievances.

It seems that all grievances have to be swallowed, and there is no room for improvement in the situation. However, the people can do nothing but lament.

No matter how benevolent and virtuous Emperor Hengshun is, he is still the emperor after all.

As his descendant, Shen Zelin has the right to trample on the lives of ordinary people at will.

On the tenth day of the fifth month, the seventh day after Wei Shutan's death, heavy rain poured down.

On the city wall that had been empty for a long time, there appeared a figure holding an oil-paper umbrella and a long bamboo tube.

"Everyone, good morning." It was a voice far different from Wei Shutan's sweet voice, light and soft, yet with an inspiring power. "I am Princess Rongchang, Shen Chuning."

"I've taken the liberty of coming here today to say a few words for the late Princess Yi'en, also known as Mengniang. I hope you will stay."

"When the Liangzhou floods hit, it was Mengniang who took the lead and donated 1,000 taels of silver. For years, she has restored antiques and portraits, working diligently for small profits, helping many people recall the past and cherish their memories."

"But Rongchang will not elaborate on how kind Mengniang is today. Therefore, this matter has nothing to do with whether she is kind or not. Rongchang will only briefly share his humble opinion on this matter itself."

"The Emperor has yet to express his stance on this matter. The official notice lacks the imperial seal, so it's by no means the final word."

"Rongchang implores those who are speaking out for justice not to give up; and implores those who think this matter has nothing to do with them to listen to Rongchang a little longer."

"Mengniang is first a citizen of Longlin, and only then a princess. Human life is of paramount importance, and the law is clear. If this matter remains unexamined, it will only chill the hearts of the common people and their loyal loyalty to the country."

"Think about it, everyone. Mengniang is a household name. If this matter remains unresolved, then if you and I were to face misfortune someday, wouldn't we dare to hope for justice and redress?"

The rain was pouring down, but the crowd's enthusiasm was like an unquenchable flame.

"Mengniang was a kind and virtuous woman who helped us countless times during her lifetime," Chen Chuning said in a gentle and firm voice. "Now, let's help her too."

-

The situation in Liangzhou has eased somewhat.

Public opinion was no longer completely in favor of the Marquis of Zhenbei and the Liang family as before, but it was still not optimistic.

Even after the imperial edict of condemnation had been issued, Liang Li and others were still inciting the people.

It is said that the Liang family has guarded the border for decades and has never allowed Beixuan to invade. As a family of loyal ministers who followed the previous emperor to expand the territory at the beginning of the founding of the country, they must have been framed and begged for redress.

They did not send any troops until the reinforcements arrived, and Shen Qingchen's side did not move either. Everyone did their job, those who needed to dredge the river dredged the river, and those who needed to rebuild the dam built the dam.

Tian Yu admitted to all the coercion he suffered from Liang Li, and a group of cavalry arrived to rescue his wife and daughter.

Thanks to the couple's dedicated help and Jiang Heye's return, Jiang Hexue and Shen Qingchen were finally no longer so busy. They could occasionally have time to dine at the same table and sleep together at night.

No one sheds tears anymore. I want to, but I can't.

The days passed like flowing water, and public opinion changed daily, but no one paid any attention. As long as we could do our best to fight the disaster, it would be good.

On the 21st of May, General Funan arrived in Liangzhou with a large army.

"Junyi?" Jiang Hexue went out of the city to greet her. Seeing the heroic girl on horseback, he was slightly startled. "Isn't she General Funan?"

"My brother and I both do. This time, I'll go first." Xie Junyi dismounted, his long whip snapping in the wind. "Eunuch, please announce the decree!"

The eunuch's voice was sharp and loud, piercing the lonely sky.

Jiang Tao, Marquis of Zhenbei, and Liang Li, General of Pingbei, were convicted of treason and were to be put to death without mercy.

Prince Ling Chen Zelin was suspected of committing an inappropriate act against Princess Yi'en and was arrested and brought back to the capital for interrogation.

Jiang Heye shouted loudly, and even Shen Qingchen couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Just as he was about to open his lips, his arm suddenly felt heavy.

"Qiong Qiong?!" He looked at the unconscious girl and lost his voice.

-

When Jiang Hexue woke up again, the sky outside the window was dark.

Her favorite soothing incense was burning in the room, with thin smoke curling up. The silk quilt was tucked in tightly, and the hot water bottle was steaming hot.

She blinked with difficulty, vaguely remembering that before she fell asleep, she and Shen Qingchen went to the city to welcome reinforcements, and heard the imperial edict of conviction brought by Xie Junyi...

Where is Shen Qingchen?

Jiang Hexue instinctively wanted to stand up, but as soon as he did, he heard the crisp sound of the golden bell, and then his hand felt heavy.

She glanced sideways and met Shen Qingchen's gaze beside the couch.

There was no mattress on the bed in the inn, so he moved a low stool and sat next to it, holding her hand with one hand and bending the other arm, which he rested under his face.

When he woke up for the first time, his long eyelashes were still wet and drooped, his eyes were still hazy, and he looked at her without blinking, and gradually came back to focus.

"Zhaohua." Jiang Hexue called softly.

Shen Qingchen moved his lips but made no sound. He held her hand tighter and rested his forehead against the back of her soft hand.

He paused for a moment, then leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers.

"It's still too hot." He finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse.

"You are too cold." Jiang Hexue also held his hand tightly, feeling the almost icy temperature, and then he grabbed it and put it against his cheek.

"The quilt is warm, come and lie down and warm yourself for a while." She said softly.

Shen Qingchen only touched her cheek lightly with his fingertips, and then his cold lips fell on the corner of her lips.

Jiang Hexue heard his hoarse and aggrieved voice.

"Baby, you scared me."