Chapter 859 What is the purpose of the man in black setting up this scheme?

Jiang Fenghua's eyes were cold. "Who exactly are you? You're the one who spread the rumors about the Queen of Yinchuan, aren't you? I do remember that. Your usual trick is to set up traps. You set up the trap of the Fourth Prince and the Prince of Kang's rebellion, and now you're setting a trap for me. But you should feel ashamed, because the traps you set up are not clever at all."

The man in black said calmly, "Besides being vicious, Empress Jiang is also extremely sharp-tongued."

He added, "However, I won't hold it against Empress Jiang, because you've lost a part of your memory. Once you remember everything, you'll understand how important the Ice Phoenix Mark is to the Ancient Kingdom of Yinchuan, and how much Ashina Xue of the Ancient Kingdom of Yinchuan wants you to go back."

Jiang Fenghua is now certain that these rumors are indeed aimed at her, but she can't figure out what their purpose is.

However, she understood one thing: the man in black was none other than the very mysterious eldest prince of the Northern Xiao Kingdom, Xiao Shang, also known as Xiao Chuanyun.

He suddenly threw something to Jiang Fenghua. Xiao Yu tried to catch it, but the object landed steadily in Jiang Fenghua's palm.

He said, "This is a token of the ancient Yinchuan Kingdom. It is called the Ice Phoenix Seal. Only the descendants of the ancient Yinchuan Kingdom can open the Ice Phoenix Seal. You can try."

Jiang Fenghua stared at the phoenix-shaped jade seal in her hand. "Where did you get this thing? You've put on quite a show, and the story you've made is quite convincing. It's just a pity that my surname is Jiang, and I am a daughter of the Jiang family, not a descendant of some Lady Ashie."

The man in black persisted, "Whether it is or not, Your Majesty can find out by trying."

Jiang Fenghua witnessed another strange scene. Wherever the man in black went, it seemed as if the place was frozen. A faint white mist would remain in the air, like a frost trail. However, after he left, the frost would disappear.

Jiang Fenghua wasn't fooled into the illusion Xiao Shang created back then, and she couldn't now either. She finally confirmed his identity. It turned out that the eldest prince of Beixiao Kingdom had already arrived in Shengjing. He openly traveled around the Great Zhou Dynasty, setting up schemes, all to make her believe that she was a descendant of the ancient Yinchuan Kingdom.

She firmly believed that no one gets up early without a reason, and only the drive for profit could motivate him to pull off such a grand scheme. As for why he approached her, she had a guess; it might be related to her memories from her past life.

He didn't know what Su Qingqing and Xie Ling'er had told him, which was why he had come to him.

Just as the man in black disappeared into the night sky, he suddenly said, "Minister Xiao, I never thought that your surname is the same as that of the royal family of the Northern Xiao Kingdom. Is there some kind of connection between you and the Northern Xiao Kingdom? You and your father entered the Great Zhou court... If Empress Jiang wants to know the mystery of her origins, she should go to the West Tower of the city alone in three days."

Xiao Yu's expression changed drastically, and the veins on his fingers gripping the sword even bulged. What did he mean? The Xiao family was from Quanzhou. His mother had passed away long ago, and he was raised by his father, who was just an ordinary scholar.

Xiao Yu frowned. Bei Xiao's predecessor was originally from the Central Plains, and Xiao was a common surname. This man in black was really digging traps for them everywhere!

Only after the man in black left did Xiao Yu bow to Jiang Fenghua and say, "I really don't know what he meant. In my memory, I have always lived in Quanzhou with my father. The Xiao family's ancestral home is also Quanzhou. There is absolutely no way we could have any relationship with the royal family of Beixiao Kingdom."

Jiang Fenghua said, "I have no doubts about Minister Xiao, and I believe that Minister Xiao has absolutely no disloyalty to the Great Zhou."

In her previous life, where did Xiao Yu go after rescuing her corpse? Could it be the Northern Xiao Kingdom? So, was Xiao Yu involved in the Northern Xiao Kingdom's later destruction of the Great Zhou Dynasty?

She knew she shouldn't doubt Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu then said, "He said that Your Majesty would keep the appointment in three days. I am worried that he might be lying. Your Majesty should return to the palace as soon as possible and tell the Emperor the identity of the man in black."

Jiang Fenghua thought that Xie Shang should be with Song Qing at this time, so she said, "I will find an opportunity to talk to the Emperor."

Holding the Ice Phoenix Jade Seal in her hand, she couldn't even tell if it was real or fake; she only felt that the object in her hand was exquisitely crafted.

Xiao Yu said, "I don't actually believe what he said about the ancient kingdom of Yinchuan and the mark between the Empress's eyebrows, but..."

Jiang Fenghua stared at Xiao Yu and said in a deep voice, "I will not believe a single word he says. I want to see what kind of scam he is planning."

She's lived two lives, how could she possibly believe these things? The eldest prince of Beixiao Kingdom is clearly targeting her on purpose, and it's even possible that he came for her rebirth.

Xiao Yu had known for a long time that Jiang Fenghua knew martial arts, because he once accidentally stumbled upon her practicing swordsmanship with Brother Jin Yan, and at that time, he was completely mesmerized.

It was also around that time that she learned that Miss Jiang had never intended to marry an ordinary person.

Seeing him in a daze, Jiang Fenghua praised, "I didn't expect Minister Xiao's swordsmanship to be so amazing."

Xiao Yu's cheeks flushed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. "Your Majesty's skills are truly remarkable. I never expected that Your Majesty, a woman, would be so skilled."

She's also very good at studying and quite intelligent. Could it be that Miss Jiang is really a descendant of the Queen of the Ancient Kingdom of Yinchuan, with noble royal blood in her veins?

At this moment, Lin Yu and Helan Jue ran out of the study at the same time, "Is Your Majesty alright!"

Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "It's nothing."

Jiang Fenghua walked back into the room and asked Madam Helan, "Does Madam Helan know this person?"

Lady Helan's eyes darted around, and she stammered, "I...I don't know her."

Jiang Fenghua grabbed her by the neck. "So, on that day at the Li residence, you pretended to be crazy to ask me for your daughter, but it was actually this man in black who instructed you to do it? And at the entrance of Jishan Hall, when you went to make a scene, that was also instructed by him."

She wasn't angry that the man in black could instruct Madam Helan, but rather that anyone could frame her.

Marquis Changping had no idea that his wife had made such a scene. He said, "Madam, what happened? How do you know any men in black? Explain this to Her Majesty the Empress!"

Lady Helan could no longer hide the truth. She knelt before Jiang Fenghua and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please spare me! I didn't mean it. I was misled by bad people. I know I was wrong. If Your Majesty wants to punish me, I will do so willingly. I only beg Your Majesty to spare Yanran."

Jiang Fenghua knew that killing an ignorant woman would dirty her hands, and besides, she was indeed being used by someone with ulterior motives. She released Lady Helan's neck and said, "Think carefully about what else you haven't told me."

Lady Helan paused, "And Consort Su also came to me for help, and I gave her some silver..."

Jiang Fenghua finally understood that, apart from Zhang Yurou, Su Qingqing had connections with many noblewomen in Shengjing City.

She didn't contact the ministers directly, but rather their families. That was clever of her; no wonder she could move freely in the heavily guarded city of Shengjing.