Xie Jingyan stopped his horse in front of the gate of the Ling Prince's Mansion.

He dismounted, and Yinshuang helped Chenwan down from the carriage first, then helped the wet nurse down.

Just as they were about to enter the manor, the sound of horses' hooves approached, along with a familiar voice calling out, "Brother Jingyan..."

It was Tang Ze's voice.

Xie Jingyan turned to the side and saw Tang Ze riding over.

Xie Jingyan asked, "Did you need something from me?"

Tang Ze said, "It's a small matter, but after much hesitation, I still feel I should tell you..."

He dismounted, called Xie Jingyan aside, and told him everything Du Cheng'an had told him.

Tang Ze hesitated for a while about this, after all, it wasn't a big deal for the eldest prince to see a carriage carrying silk on the street.

But on the very day the plague broke out, the day before the plague-infected silk was sent to the Ling Prince's residence, coupled with Consort Chen's reversal of the verdict, Xie Jingyan was able to compete for the position of Crown Prince. No, many ministers felt that the position of Crown Prince was no longer a possibility for the eldest prince.

There are few princes in this world who don't want to sit in that position, especially the eldest prince who has been fighting to the death with the Prince of Jin for years. He finally outlasted the Prince of Jin and had victory in his grasp, but then an opponent even more powerful than the Prince of Jin appeared. The eldest prince is certainly not willing to accept this.

Furthermore, the silk was delivered to the Ling Prince's residence under the guise of being from the palace. Tang Ze heard everything Xiao Xizi told Xie Jingyan. Too many coincidences would no longer be coincidences.

Even Du Cheng'an hesitated about whether to tell Xie Jingyan, let alone Tang Ze.

This matter cannot serve as evidence, but it can provide a direction for the investigation. Perhaps Xie Jingyan would already be suspicious of the eldest prince without him even having to bring it up.

Indeed, Xie Jingyan had suspected the eldest prince, but he wouldn't say anything without any evidence.

Hearing Tang Ze say this, Xie Jingyan's eyes were as cold as frost.

Tang Zelai told Xie Jingyan about this, then took his leave as he still had to patrol the city.

Seeing Xie Jingyan's pale face, Shen Wan wanted to ask, but held back. When they returned to Moyuxuan, Shen Wan couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Xie Jingyan did not hide anything from Shen Wan and told her what Tang Ze had told him.

Shen Wan was immediately furious.

A prince of such high status wouldn't stop for a few bolts of silk; he must have seen the silk and had an idea.

She retorted angrily, "You saved the Crown Prince's life. I don't expect him to be grateful, but he can't repay kindness with enmity, can he?!"

Xie Jingyan gave a mocking smile, "For that position, even brothers would turn against each other, let alone me and the eldest prince."

Fratricide is a prime example of the conflict between King Cheng and the Emperor.

Shen Wan was speechless. What she wanted to know was, "Was the Empress Dowager also involved in this matter?"

Xie Jingyan thought for a moment and said, "The Empress Dowager probably wouldn't dare."

Because of Prince Cheng, the Emperor and Empress Dowager have already drifted apart. For the Empress Dowager to take such ruthless measures against the eldest prince in order to help him compete for the position of crown prince, it would be fine if it could be kept secret. But if the Emperor finds out, there will be no possibility of reconciliation between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager is unlikely to hurt the Emperor so deeply for the sake of the eldest prince.

However, Xie Jingyan did not dare to speak too definitively. He would not easily doubt a person, nor would he easily dismiss his suspicions about a person.

He hadn't forgotten what Xie Jingyin had said when he tried to sow discord between him and the eldest prince. To this day, he still didn't know what was written on the note Xie Jingyin had sent the eldest prince to see him.

If his mother's death was related to Empress Wei and Duke Mao, it's hard to guarantee that the Empress Dowager wouldn't take action against him to protect the eldest prince and the Duke Mao's mansion.

Xie Jingyan walked towards the window, where Chen Feng appeared. "What are your orders, Master?"

Xie Jingyan gave a few instructions, and Chen Feng went to carry them out.

In the evening, Xie Jingyan accompanied Shen Wan on a walk in the garden. Just as they reached the entrance of Moyuxuan, Chen Feng came over and said, "Master, the person you requested has been sent by Eunuch Yuan."

"Bring it over."

Shen Wan returned to her room, drank a cup of tea, and then a sack full of people was delivered.

When the sack was untied, Shen Wan saw a terrified palace maid with her hands and feet tightly bound and her mouth stuffed with strips of cloth, only able to make muffled sounds. Even so, Shen Wan recognized her as a palace maid from the Empress Dowager's side.

Xie Jingyan wouldn't randomly arrest people close to the Empress Dowager. This palace maid must be the one who was ordered to leave the palace that day to deliver something to Princess Huyang.

Chen Feng ripped the gag out of the palace maid's mouth. As soon as she could speak, she shouted, "I am the Empress Dowager's woman! If the Empress Dowager finds out you arrested me, she will not let you off easily!"

Threatening them? This palace maid is quite naive. Shen Wan couldn't bear to dampen her spirits. "Do you think the Empress Dowager will find out?"

One sentence was enough to turn the palace maid's face pale.

The palace maid was truly terrified. "Why are you arresting me? I don't know anything!"

We haven't even asked yet, and we already know nothing.

Shen Wan asked, "Was it the Empress Dowager or the First Prince who ordered you to steal the clothing workshop's token?"

The palace maid was stunned at first, then her pale face turned even paler.

The palace maid said, "This servant...this servant does not know..."

Shen Wan laughed, "Did someone in the garment workshop see you stealing the token? Do we need to call them over for a confrontation?"

The palace maid's face grew paler and paler, but she refused to admit that she had stolen the token.

Xie Jingyan had no patience and said directly, "Drag her away and beat her until she confesses."

Chen Feng reached out and lifted the palace maid up like a chick.

The palace maid was dragged out, and as she was leaving, she tripped on the threshold and lost one of her shoes.

The palace maid had just been dragged out when a frantic, terrified voice rang out, "I confess, I confess..."

How Chen Feng dragged the palace maid away, and how he dragged her back.

The palace maid was thrown to the ground. Enduring the pain in her knees and elbows, she said, "Yes, it was the Crown Prince's men who sent me to get the clothing workshop's token. The Empress Dowager knew nothing about it..."

He really is the eldest prince!

Although he already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on, the palace maid's confession was solid evidence, and there was no possibility of wrongly accusing the eldest prince.

Xie Jingyan's eyes were icy cold.

Chen Feng asked, "Master, what should we do with this palace maid?"

"Lock him in the woodshed first."

The palace maid was gagged and dragged away.

Yinshuang was still indignant and asked Chenwan, "With the palace maid's confession, can we convict the eldest prince?"

"If only it were that easy," Shen Wan said to Xie Jingyan. "It was the Crown Prince's men who had the palace maids steal the token. Even if this gets to Father Emperor, nine times out of ten it will be the servants who take the blame, and the Crown Prince will only be accused of failing to manage his subordinates properly."

She had seen this kind of thing many times before.

The eldest prince wanted to kill Xie Jingyan, kill her, and kill their child. After a thorough investigation, all that could be done was to convict the eldest prince of lax management of his subordinates. Shen Wan was unwilling to accept this.

They kindly saved the eldest prince, but the eldest prince treated them like this. Shen Wan couldn't swallow this insult.

So many people in the outer courtyard have been killed by the First Prince!

If she doesn't avenge them and let them rest in peace, Shen Wan is afraid they'll come looking for her in the middle of the night.

Seeing that Shen Wan was angry, Xie Jingyan said, "I will not give him the opportunity to have someone take the blame."

"I will give him a gift tomorrow."