"I don't know! Back then..."

Xie Siheng recounted what happened on the day of the accident from beginning to end.

"I don't know why Marquis Xuanping did this that day. I was puzzled. After returning to the capital, I wanted to tell the emperor directly, but then I discovered that my mother's life experience was different, so I didn't explain it clearly at the first time."

Emperor Mingde's expression remained unchanged. "Then why are you willing to speak now?"

"Because I have secretly investigated for a long time and found no evidence, the only people I can trust now are Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

Xie Siheng looked at the floor with a calm tone, and Emperor Mingde's heart suddenly felt a ripple.

After all, he had watched the child grow up and had even personally raised him for a period of time.

No matter what the adults do, the child is always innocent, and what happened back then... really shouldn't be blamed on him.

"According to Nanny Lai, Xie Yuanyang and your mother are both orphans from the previous dynasty, and they are half-siblings with the same father."

Upon hearing this, Xie Siheng's face turned pale instantly, and breathing became a little difficult. He suddenly raised his head and looked at Emperor Mingde: "Madam Lai, do you have any evidence for what you said?!"

Emperor Mingde looked at his shocked and disbelieving expression and felt relieved.

After confirming that he was also unaware of the situation, a feeling of pity suddenly rose in her heart: "She overheard it, there is no evidence."

Xie Siheng couldn't believe it. If the two were siblings, then he... then he...

Emperor Mingde sighed and said, "Get up."

Xie Siheng knelt on the ground like a sculpture, his whole body stiff and unable to move.

Emperor Mingde personally leaned over and helped him up. "I intend to hand this matter over to you. After all, you are one of the parties involved. No matter what means you use, you must thoroughly investigate the plans and deeds of Xie Yuanyang and Huiji!"

Xie Siheng suppressed the turmoil in his heart and replied in a deep voice: "I will definitely live up to your trust!"

He walked out of the Yangxin Palace with unsteady steps, staring blankly at the dark sky outside, feeling that the thick darkness seemed to be dragging him into a deeper hell.

Chuan Qiong behind him seemed to be saying something. He only saw Chuan Qiong's mouth opening and closing, but could not hear any sound.

Chuan Qiong looked at him like this and patted him suspiciously: "Sir! We should go back."

"Back? Back to where?"

Xie Siheng's voice sounded like a wandering soul. Chuan Qiong looked at him, who was clearly not feeling well, and said cautiously, "Go back to the Criminal Investigation Department! Our people have already gone down to Silent Hill, but some of them seem to have escaped. Should we destroy that place?"

Xie Siheng nodded, but suddenly his eyes changed and his tone became ruthless: "Take the remaining people from the Criminal Investigation Department and go to the Xuanping Marquis' Mansion!"

"Hmm! Ah?"

After Chuan Qiong agreed, he realized that the Xuanping Marquis Mansion, isn’t that the master’s own home?

——

The weather was gloomy the next day, and when Ji Changying woke up, she couldn't even tell whether it was evening or morning.

Yanyun walked in with a cold wind and quickly closed the door: "Princess, it looks like it's going to snow outside."

"What time is it now?"

Ji Changying looked at the room, which was still pitch black, and felt a little confused.

"It's already noon."

Yanyun lit a few more charcoal braziers and placed them in place, and the room instantly became warm.

Yanyun called a few maids outside to help her wash up and have dinner. Then Ji Changying said something to Hu and took Yanyun to the inn.

As the year draws to a close, the streets of the capital become more lively.

More and more people set up stalls on the streets, and the streets were bustling with people. Whether it was a tavern or a roadside stall, there was a constant stream of people eating.

After Ji Changying arrived at the inn and gave her name, Luo Chengwu quickly came over to welcome them in.

"My princess, you're truly forgetful. Last time, you said you'd come to our inn to give an explanation, but it's been several days since! Thank goodness you came today. If you hadn't come earlier, we would have had to come to your house one last time to ask."

When Luo Chengwu said this, his eyes looked a little dim.

Ji Changying looked at him in surprise. She was used to the fact that this man always spoke in a harsh way. But, what did it mean when you showed this expression after saying such harsh words?

"What do you mean, General Luo? Are you leaving?"

Seeing the servants coming and going and moving things in the inn, Ji Changying had some guesses in his mind.

Luo Chengwu nodded. "That's right, we're going back! It's pointless to stay here anyway. I thought you had such a rich food supply in Dali! Turns out it's all just empty talk! I'll kill that damn Taoist priest when I get back!"

When Luo Chengwu said this, he gritted his teeth.

"What does this have to do with the Taoist priest?"

Luo Chengwu glanced at her and told her what had happened.

Anyway, they, Northern Yan, had already lost face in front of Emperor Dali before, so it didn't matter.

Ji Changying was a little shocked after hearing this.

A Taoist priest can also predict potatoes and sweet potatoes when telling fortunes?

She doesn't believe it.

"Perhaps this Taoist priest has seen those two items himself? Why don't you just ask him for them? Why travel all the way to Dali to buy them?"

"Of course we've thought about this, but no matter how much we coerced, bribed, threatened, or intimidated him, the Taoist priest simply said that the item wasn't in his hands, but in the hands of someone destined by heaven. We can't force it, or we'll be punished by heaven. If we continued to ask, he simply wouldn't say anything."

Luo Chengwu gritted his teeth at the thought: "He's just relying on His Majesty's trust, but he's actually using Qiao as an excuse. Let's see what he has to say when he returns this time!"

After this experience with Huiji, Ji Changying subconsciously developed a certain aversion to Taoist priests and monks.

He keeps talking nonsense all day long, saying some specious things and stirring up trouble.

"I knew that the princess was difficult to invite, that's why I come to her house every day to make an appointment. Otherwise, I might have missed her." Gong Yehong teased with a smile when he saw Ji Changying.

Ji Changying smiled awkwardly: "I was indeed feeling unwell a few days ago, which delayed my visit to the Crown Prince. That night..."

Gong Yehong raised his hand to stop her: "The reason I asked to see the princess is not to ask for an explanation about what happened that night."

Ji Changying was puzzled, "What is that..."

Gongye Hong clapped his hands, and the servants outside came in holding a few pots of flowers.

"I brought a lot of rare flowers with me when I came to Dali this time, but I didn't expect the environment here to be unsuitable for their growth. Now they are all becoming listless and lifeless. Several of the rare ones I intended to leave for the Empress are almost dying."

"Since the princess is knowledgeable and has a great talent for flower gardening, I wanted to ask her if I could save it. If she is willing, I intend to leave all these to her as a farewell gift."

Ever since seeing the pot of golden branches and jade leaves, Gongye Hong has become a villain in his heart.

One feels that Wuyouzi's words have never been wrong before, so maybe something went wrong here.

Another person thought that Wuyouzi was a liar and it was ridiculous to believe him. It would be better to return home early to find a solution than to waste time in Dali.