Chapter 72 Why could I forgive Wei Qin? Why did I...

Late at night, two commanders of the Twelve Guards walked out of the East Palace, side by side under the moonlight.

One person couldn't help but mutter, "His Highness the Crown Prince is still not decisive enough. If he doesn't seize the opportunity to force the emperor to abdicate while he's imprisoned, when will he?!"

Another commander surnamed Yan, unlike his colleagues who were in a hurry, said slowly, "Your Highness wants His Majesty to take the initiative to abdicate and yield the throne to a worthy successor, so as to win a good reputation. Besides, there are still some generals who hold military power who have not yet expressed their opinions, such as Cui Wei of the Shenji Battalion."

"Don't count on Cui Wei. It's good enough that he hasn't joined forces with the Jiang and Guo families to challenge the Crown Prince. The political situation in the court is constantly changing. If we don't seize the opportunity to ascend the throne, we'll miss our chance. The Crown Prince's indecisiveness will harm us. He's not as decisive as the Princess. That's her beloved and protective brother. She betrayed her without hesitation."

Commander Yan scoffed, not refuting his colleague, but he absolutely disagreed. How could His Majesty, so cold-hearted and ungrateful, truly cherish and love his own sister? It was merely an act for others.

If he forces his wife to her death and then fails to "protect" his younger sister, wouldn't he truly become a tyrant?

After parting ways with his colleagues' carriages at the fork in the road, Commander Yan returned to his residence alone. On the way, he heard a melodious whistle. He lifted the curtain and his eyes brushed past the young man standing on the wall under the moonlight.

The young man with a scar on his cheekbone raised his chin, pulled back his slingshot, and fired a crumpled piece of paper into the car window.

"You little brat."

Commander Yan laughed and cursed, then heavily pulled down the curtain.

Inside the Eastern Palace's sleeping quarters, the eldest princess was still devising strategies.

"If Your Highness cannot bring yourself to do it, why not send a few beautiful women to serve His Majesty? His Majesty's health is deteriorating day by day, and he is almost exhausted. If he indulges in lust, his vital energy will be drained even faster."

Looking at his aunt, who seemed to be afraid that things might get complicated, Wei Xichen couldn't help but ask, "Father has treated you well, Aunt. Are you not grateful for his kindness?"

"Affection?" The princess held up her bright red nail polish. "These hands of mine have stained His Majesty's hands with countless drops of blood."

Royal family members have no kinship; they are only useful for exploitation.

The eldest princess admired her beautifully manicured nails, wondering how many times these hands would have to shed blood for the crown prince in the future to prove their worth.

When she returned to her palace, she found that her trusted confidant, whom she had sent to Yangzhou, had already returned.

"Your Highness, the Wei family has disappeared without a trace."

Before the eldest princess could even sit down, she suddenly stood up.

As early as when she noticed the emperor's poor health and decided to assist the crown prince in seizing power, she secretly sent people to Yangzhou to control Wei Qin's relatives in case of emergency.

Wei Qin was Jiang's son-in-law, and indirectly held Jiang's life in his hands.

A family of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people could have been easily manipulated, yet they had already disappeared.

Did Wei Qin anticipate that someone would try to coerce his family?

Why is Wei Qin always one step ahead?

"Has the scout sent to Jinyang returned with any news?"

"not yet."

A few days later, the eldest princess threw a stack of confessions in the face of Grand Secretary Zhou Yujin in the Eastern Palace.

"How did you, the former Minister of Personnel, investigate the backgrounds of officials appointed by the imperial court?"

Zhou Yujin picked up the papers from the ground, and clicked his tongue as he flipped through them.

Wei Qin is not the biological son of the daughter of the horse farm owner and the vinegar merchant!

Wei Qin's "biological father" was constantly on the run due to gambling debts, moving frequently and only having brief acquaintances with his neighbors. The Princess sent a large number of spies to Jinyang, and following the clues from the Ministry of Personnel's resume, they traced back the clues and found the several households of Wei Qin's "biological father" who lived nearby during the year he took Wei Qin in.

The idea of ​​forging a pair of biological parents is suspicious enough.

After his initial shock, Zhou Yujin quickly walked up to Wei Xichen and said, "Wei Qin concealed his true identity, which is despicable. Your Highness can send someone to arrest him and torture him severely."

The arrest of the suspect should have been handed over to the Ministry of Justice, but unfortunately, the Minister of Justice was Wei Qin's father-in-law.

The princess, who originally intended to use Wei Qin as a hostage, suddenly became somewhat excited after uncovering this secret.

Even Jiang Song, that thousand-year-old fox, has his miscalculations. How would he react if he knew that his carefully chosen son-in-law had concealed his true identity?

She was somewhat looking forward to it.

The arrest should have been carried out by the Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but Jiang Song sidelined him.

"Leave the arrest to the Dali Temple."

Apart from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, it is inappropriate for other government offices to detain officials of the third rank.

Sitting by the window, Wei Xichen gently stroked the small tabby cat in his hands, his profile shrouded in a snowy mist.

"Hand it over to the Directorate of Ceremonial."

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is the head of the twenty-four departments in the inner court, and the newly appointed Grand Eunuch in charge of the seal is from the Eastern Palace.

**

In the afternoon, a large number of guards poured into the Ministry of Personnel. The Grand Eunuch in charge of the seal came in person, whispered a few words to the Minister of Personnel, patted the old minister on the shoulder, and signaled him not to interfere.

Wei Qin's official residence was completely surrounded by guards.

"I am acting on the Crown Prince's orders to request that Vice Minister Wei go to the Directorate of Ceremonial. I hope that Vice Minister Wei will cooperate."

The matter was sudden. Wei Qin raised an eyebrow and put down the official document in his hand. "What matter requires my cooperation?"

"I cannot disclose that information."

The fact that the Grand Eunuch personally took charge was no small matter. Wei Qin slowly rose, as always, unhurried and unhurried.

"I cannot leave work as usual today. Please trouble the manager to inform my wife."

“Of course.” The head eunuch was quite polite, gesturing, “Please, Vice Minister Wei.”

When Jiang Yinyue received the message from the official of the Directorate of Ceremonial, she had already received an invitation from the Crown Prince's Palace.

Wei Qin was suddenly arrested without warning. Neither the palace guards nor the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs revealed the reason. Jiang Yinyue was stunned for a while, but forced herself to calm down.

With his father and brothers not around, he had to rely entirely on his own resourcefulness. The most urgent task was to inform Grand Tutor Cui and the old physician about this matter.

The only person I can trust is Hong Mei.

"Sister Hongmei, please do me a favor."

Without the slightest hesitation, Hong Mei hung her sword at her waist, the long tassel swaying with her steps.

A small sedan chair crossed the dismounting stone and directly escorted Jiang Yinyue and two female guards from the Jiang family into the East Palace.

Upon re-entering the Eastern Palace, everything had changed.

"Apart from Madam Jiang, all other unauthorized personnel should wait outside."

Jiang Yinyue's face turned cold, but then she heard a sharp voice.

"Any order from His Highness is valid."

The three of them, master and servants, looked at Fu Zhongcai, who was running towards them.

"Madam Jiang, this way please."

Jiang Yinyue walked ahead of the two female guards, alongside Fu Zhongcai. "I have always respected Steward Fu. Could Steward Fu please reveal something?"

Fu Zhongcai said with a pained expression, "Madam Jiang, you should ask His Highness directly."

As Jiang Yinyue stepped into the main hall of the sleeping quarters, the familiar scent of pears wafted towards her.

As Wei Xichen got up, the little tabby cat, who had been comfortably nestled in the man's arms, slid down from his clothes and landed on all fours, meowing incessantly.

The spoiled little tabby cat is the most temperamental person in the Eastern Palace.

"Take a seat."

“No need,” Jiang Yinyue said, standing at the door. “Please, Your Highness, get straight to the point.”

Upon seeing an old friend once again at the Eastern Palace, Wei Xichen, feeling as if a lifetime had passed, still had a chair brought over and placed in front of his chaise longue.

The casual arrangement is like entertaining old friends.

But the woman at the door didn't seem to understand.

The Crown Prince, who had not been able to invite anyone to sit down, took his seat alone, his tone somewhat indifferent, "Wei Qin's ancestral home is Jinyang?"

"Um......"

Was Nian Nian also deceived?

Jiang Yinyue was taken aback and did not react immediately. She slowly turned her head and asked, "What do you mean?"

Wei Xichen took out a stack of papers, placed them on the chair in front of him, and tapped the chair surface with his fingers, indicating that she should find the answer herself.

Jiang Yinyue suppressed her discomfort and entered the familiar yet unfamiliar bedroom. She picked up the paper and flipped through it, her fingertips turning whiter with each crunch.

But what surprised her was not Wei Qin's false background, but that the Crown Prince had discovered this secret.

"How could this be...?"

Unable to find a solution, she feigned confusion, as if she couldn't believe she had been deceived by her husband.

Wei Xichen looked up at her, watching her delicate face change color at just the right moment. "I will investigate and find out the reason why he concealed his background."

"This is a family matter."

"Household chores?"

Jiang Yinyue lowered her hand holding the paper and said decisively, "He concealed his background but did not do anything to harm the country. At most, he harmed the interests of a subject."

Wei Xichen chuckled softly. Was she making excuses for her man?

Making trouble unreasonably.

"Just because Wei Qin is your husband doesn't mean you can't distinguish right from wrong."

Wei Xichen felt a sense of loss. Back then, he had been used and retaliated against by Wei Qin, and they had never spoken again. Now, he was being deceived by Wei Qin, so why was he suddenly protecting him?

He admitted he was wrong, but Wei Qin was not?

Unable to express his inner feelings, Wei Xichen chuckled, "Don't worry, I will get to the bottom of this, and I won't rule out forcing a confession."

Jiang Yinyue pursed her lips and gave him a cold look, "Your Highness, it's good that you don't involve personal grudges!"

"Jiang Yinyue, you're facing the same insincerity, and now you can accept it calmly four years later? Aren't you always known for your clear-cut love and hate?"

“He trusts me, and that alone makes him far more sincere than His Highness.”

"If someone deceives you, how can they trust you?"

"meeting!"

The young crown prince was clearly furious; his face turned pale, and his gentle demeanor was ignited by anger. If he had not restrained himself, his anger might have spread like wildfire.

"Then let's make a bet. If you win, I won't torture him."

Jiang Yinyue stole a glance at the man's hand resting on his knee; the veins on the back of his hand were bulging, as if he was suppressing a hidden anger.

"What are we betting on?"

"Bring the wine."

Fu Zhongcai, who was waiting outside the door, wiped his forehead. Despite the cold weather, he was drenched in sweat, but dared not disobey. He ordered someone to bring him a pot of wine.

Wei Xichen shook the wine pot and handed it to Jiang Yinyue, saying, "Come with me to the Directorate of Ceremonial and persuade Wei Qin to drink this wine."

"Who knows if it's poisonous!"

Wei Xichen was incredibly patient with her, taking a jade cup, pouring wine, and downing it in one gulp. "Are you relieved now?"

If Wei Qin was suspicious and wanted to protect himself, he would not easily drink the wine from the Eastern Palace, even if his bedmate guaranteed that the wine was not poisoned.

"Have two more cups."

"......"

Jiang Yinyue, who had been given a wine flask, crossed her arms and followed behind Wei Xichen, glaring at the man in front of her every few steps.

Stepping into the dungeon of the Directorate of Ceremonial, the damp chill made Jiang Yinyue shiver.

The strange noises assaulted my eardrums.

These are all imprisoned palace servants; after a long time, some have gone mad, others have become mentally unstable.

Wei Xichen, who was walking in front, quietly slowed down to match Jiang Yinyue's pace so that the distance between them wouldn't be too great.

She is not very brave and is afraid of things that suddenly appear in the dark.

Upon arriving at a prison cell, the Grand Eunuch, who was personally carrying a lantern for His Highness the Crown Prince, coughed and said, "Minister Wei, a distinguished guest has come to visit you in prison."

With his hands bound, Wei Qin's relaxed brows suddenly furrowed when he saw the pretty woman behind Wei Xichen.

"Your Highness, please ask whatever you wish to ask. There is no need to make things difficult for my wife."

Wei Xichen wanted to laugh at himself. Was he witnessing a loving couple? It was ironic, though, that one was deceiving the other about his identity, while the other was willingly being deceived.

"Go in." Wei Xichen took two steps back, and although he should have been relaxed, he felt a tightness in his chest.

As the lock clicked open, Jiang Yinyue stepped into the cell. Before she could even speak, Wei Qin pulled her towards him with her hands bound together.

The man bent down and carefully examined his wife to see if she was alright.

Wei Xichen had never seen Wei Qin look at him with such a sickeningly sweet gaze.

Jiang Yinyue remembered the bet. She picked up the wine pot and whispered, "Drink, wine."

The two short words, spoken slowly and deliberately, carried a hidden meaning.

Wei Xichen watched as Wei Qin took the wine pot without a single question or hesitation, tilting his head back to gulp down the wine.

The liquor trickled down his lips, wetting his neck and clothes.

Wei Xichen asked with a smile, "Aren't you afraid it might be poisonous?"

Wei Qin held the empty wine jar between his index fingers and glanced out of the cell. "My wife wouldn't have urged me to drink it if she wasn't absolutely certain."

"What if she has no other choice?"

"Your Highness still doesn't understand her. She would rather be shattered to pieces than harm the lives of those around her."

He believed her, without a doubt.

The assassination attempt, a result of a series of unfortunate events, flashed before Wei Xichen's eyes. His distrust had pushed her too far, too far away.