Qi Yuning frowned and said, "What does it mean that uncle is not uncle? Logically speaking, the King of Shu should also be uncle."

Wang Tao said, "I don't know what this sentence means, but General Huo's last words were indeed uncle, not uncle. After that, Prince Duan trusted me and took me in. However, not long after, Prince Duan also met with an accident. I stayed here to guard the tombs of Prince Duan and the princess, so that they can rest in peace."

Princess Duan said in agony, "Lu Ze, please stop investigating. I just want my Jie'er to grow up well and live an ordinary life. I've already lost two loved ones, I can't lose another!"

Lu Ze did not agree to Princess Duan's request and said to Qi Yuning, "Princess, please send my aunt back first."

At Chou time, the sky is extremely dark.

Qi Yuning helped Princess Duan back to the villa, looked at her painful face, and sighed softly.

Qi Yuning comforted her softly, "Princess, take good care of yourself. You are a very blessed person. You still have the young prince. You will definitely be able to avenge your hatred in the future!"

Princess Duan listened to Qi Yuning's comfort and said with tears in her eyes, "Yes, I still have Jie'er."

After Qi Yuning came out of the villa, she saw Lu Ze leaning against the door waiting for her to come out.

Lu Ze said, "We've examined Third Uncle's body. There were obvious signs of a blow to the back of his head. He must have been struck to death before falling into the water, not drowned."

Qi Yuning said, "According to what the chief eunuch said, Prince Duan was dragged into the water by a long-haired water ghost and drowned in public. How could he have died from a beating?"

Lu Ze said, "It's very simple. My third uncle must have been beaten to death and his body thrown into the lake. If the body floats up, the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice will investigate the cause of death in detail, and the murderer will not be able to escape justice.

But if everyone had watched him being dragged underwater by a water ghost and drowned, everyone would have assumed he died of drowning and would no longer investigate the cause of his death.

Qi Yuning asked again, "Since Prince Duan was already dead before entering the water, how did he stand steadily and then struggle in the water?"

Lu Ze said, "That's even simpler."

Qi Yuning raised an eyebrow and asked, "Someone is wearing the same clothes as Prince Duan and pretending to be Prince Duan?"

"Yes, and then the fake Prince Duan and the water ghost took advantage of the chaos to escape. The water in the lotus pond is connected to the clear lake next door. The murderer only needs to swim into the clear lake and get up, and everyone will be convinced that Prince Duan drowned himself."

Qi Yuning continued, "But why arrange a water ghost? Since he was pretending to be Prince Duan, why didn't Prince Duan fall into the water himself?"

Lu Ze said, "The murderer needed someone to witness the drowning. If it weren't for the water ghost, the eunuchs and guards who rushed to rescue him could have easily saved him in half a quarter of an hour, preventing him from drowning. Only a water ghost could have claimed his life, so people would believe he drowned so quickly. This murderer is a very meticulous person."

Qi Yuning looked at Lu Ze and said, "It would have been nice if you were in the Imperial Mausoleum Palace two years ago. Where were you then?"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent me to Xinzhou to handle a matter."

Lu Ze handed the ointment in his hand to Qi Yuning and said, "This incense has a calming effect on the mind. Princess, you should rest early."

Qi Yuning took it, took the ointment with her fingertips and applied it on her wrist, sniffing it gently, "Hmm."

…

Qi Yuning did not sleep well. Sometimes he could see the blurry faces of his parents, and sometimes he could see the young Princess Shan.

"Sister Yuning, why are you ignoring Sister Baozhu?"

"Sister Yuning, does this coral necklace look good?"

Qi Yuning woke up with a start and looked outside. It was still dark outside. "Lichun, what time is it?"

"Princess, it's five minutes past midnight outside."

Qi Yuning glanced at Lingling beside him, rubbed his temples and said, "Help me get up, it's time to go back to the palace."

Lichun was dressing Qi Yuning. After Lingling woke up, she walked to Qi Yuning and said, "Mom, are we going home? What about Guigui?"

"Turtle also wants to stay at his home." Qi Yuning picked up Lingling and said, "Turtle's parents will be sad if they can't find him."

Lingling asked, "How about taking Guigui's parents back with us?"

Qi Yuning shook his head and said, "But turtles prefer a wide pond."

Lingling asked, "But what if Lingling also likes Guigui?"

Qi Yuning's little head trembled in silence as she thought, "Mother loves Lingling so much that she locked Lingling in a small water tank and doesn't let her go out to play. She can only play in the small water tank. Does Lingling like this?"

Lingling shook her head and said, "I don't want to."

Qi Yuning chuckled, picked up Lingling, and went to Prince Duan's villa to say goodbye.

Princess Duan looked very unhappy, and little Zhao Jie beside her reluctantly gave the ceramic pony to Lingling.

Lingling held up the ceramic pony and said, "Thank you, little uncle. Lingling likes the little uncle now. I'll come and play with him again when the time comes."

Little Zhao Jie nodded and said, "Lingling must come!"

After getting on the carriage, Lingling kept sticking her little head out of the window until she could no longer see little Zhao Jie.

Qi Yuning did not sleep well last night. She felt drowsy as soon as she got into the carriage. She leaned on the soft pillow beside her and closed her eyes to take a nap.

Lu Ze was originally teaching Lingling to read. When he saw Qi Yuning close her eyes, he whispered to Lingling, "Daddy wants to take you out for a horseback ride. Do you want to?"

Lingling nodded repeatedly.

Lu Ze carried Lingling outside the carriage. It was windy today, but luckily Qi Yuning had brought a lot of winter clothes for Lingling. After putting the coat on Lingling, she didn't feel cold while riding the horse.

When Qi Yuning woke up, he was shocked to find Lingling was not in the carriage.

"beginning of spring!"

Lichun opened the curtain outside the car and said, "Princess."

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