The Third Prince regretted his words immediately after speaking. He coughed twice and explained, "Such an important position as the Imperial Guard should have been given to Prime Minister Yan."
Empress Yan felt a tightness in her chest, unable to understand how Jiang Cheng had caught the Seventh Prince's eye and quietly obtained such an important position as the Commander of the Imperial Guard.
That's incredible.
"I will investigate this matter thoroughly."
Empress Yan couldn't get anything out of the two men, so she waved them away impatiently.
The Third Prince and his wife knelt and left.
On the way, the Third Prince suddenly turned to look at his wife: "I heard from the steward that you have gone out a few times recently, all to see the Seventh Prince's wife."
The Third Prince's wife was startled and quickly said, "Your Highness has misunderstood. I never meet the Seventh Prince's wife in private; I always do so under orders."
"really?"
"Your Highness, I have worked diligently for so many years, don't I deserve your trust?" The Third Prince's Consort feigned sadness.
The Third Prince immediately shook his head and softened his tone: "Actually, I deliberately showed my dissatisfaction in front of the Empress just now. It's better for the Imperial Guards to be in my brother's hands than in the hands of outsiders. At least we have real power now."
At the Third Prince's prompting, the Third Prince's wife immediately said, "This concubine will return to the Jiang family in a while."
"It's been quite a while since I've seen my parents-in-law. You can stay at the Jiang family's house for a few more days."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."
The couple left the palace, each with their own thoughts. The Third Prince escorted them to the Jiang family's door before leaving. The Third Prince's wife's face darkened the moment she turned around.
I'm increasingly convinced that people like this are completely unreliable.
...
The sky over Jincheng has quietly changed.
The Seventh Prince's wife is still missing. The Seventh Prince has practically dug three feet into the ground in Jincheng, but still can't find her.
Instead of finding Princess Jia Hua, they unexpectedly discovered a number of people with suspicious identities.
The investigation revealed that they were from a vassal state.
The Seventh Prince was furious: "This is outrageous!"
"Your Highness, when the vassal state withdrew its troops, this humble general found it suspicious. It turns out they were preserving their strength, like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, waiting to attack us." General Zuo now completely believed Princess Jia Hua's words. With her guidance, he secretly sent all the spies hidden around him to the mansion, then used the vassal state's name to assassinate them, killing them all and framing the vassal state.
This plan is flawless.
The Seventh Prince frowned. If the facts hadn't been right in front of him, he wouldn't have believed that there were so many people from vassal states in Jincheng, and that Huo Xi and the Second Prince had such close ties.
"Your Highness, we have news. Someone has discovered traces of the Seventh Prince's Consort in Yuncheng."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Seventh Prince immediately dispatched men to muster his troops and rushed to Yuncheng. Prime Minister Yan hurriedly rode after him, calling out, "Your Highness, wait!"
The seventh prince frowned.
Prime Minister Yan waved a letter in his hand: "Your Highness, this old minister has already sent people to the vassal state to inquire. No one from the vassal state has abducted the Seventh Prince's Consort. Moreover, the vassal state intends to show goodwill. Please think carefully and do not start a war, causing panic among the people."
"Making a scene?" The Seventh Prince scoffed. "In just a few days, we have found more than two hundred people from the vassal state who have infiltrated Jincheng. The evidence is conclusive, and the vassal state can't deny it just by uttering a denial."
"Your Highness, could it be a misunderstanding?" Prime Minister Yan said anxiously, "The war in the southern border has lasted for several years. We really cannot afford to waste resources and manpower. I beg Your Highness to be cautious."
The seventh prince's face was tense.
General Zuo curled his lip: "Prime Minister Yan is quite capable, managing to send letters even when the four city gates are blocked."
Prime Minister Yan's expression changed slightly.
"Could it be that the Yan family also has a secret passage leading to the outside of Jin City? Otherwise, I really can't understand how Your Highness could search house to house, almost turning the entire city upside down, and still not find the Seventh Prince's Consort. On the day of the fire, the city gates were sealed off immediately, so it's impossible for her to leave through the city gates." General Zuo's ambiguous words successfully made the Seventh Prince's suspicious gaze fall on Prime Minister Yan.
"General Zuo, stop making baseless accusations!" Prime Minister Yan roared in anger.
General Zuo was not afraid of Prime Minister Yan at all: "Prime Minister Yan, why don't you explain how the letter was delivered?"
"you!"
“It would take at least seven or eight days for a vassal state to travel to and from Jincheng. Prime Minister Yan’s men are quite efficient, and the vassal state is also showing respect by explaining itself to a mere prime minister in such a humble manner. Shouldn’t they be sending someone to explain to His Highness?”
A barrage of questions nearly made Prime Minister Yan vomit blood.
The Seventh Prince glanced sideways at Prime Minister Yan, waiting for an explanation.
"Your Highness, on the day the incident occurred, I sent people out of the city to the vassal state to question them. As for the letter, I naturally had a way to get it. Does Your Highness suspect me?" Prime Minister Yan looked heartbroken.
General Zuo quickly said, "Prime Minister Yan's lingering here, could it be that he's stalling for someone's time?"
Upon hearing this, the Seventh Prince raised his riding whip high and brought it down forcefully: "Giddy up!"
"Your Highness!!"
Prime Minister Yan shouted angrily from behind.
The Seventh Prince's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, making Prime Minister Yan clench his fists tightly in anger.
General Zuo, standing to the side, stared at Prime Minister Yan with a half-smile: "Prime Minister Yan, His Highness will be interrogating the Huo family father and son when he returns. Prime Minister Yan, please go easy on them and don't kill them."
Prime Minister Yan suddenly raised his head and stared intently at General Zuo, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
General Zuo was completely unafraid, a smirk playing on his lips. He instructed Jiang Cheng, who had just arrived, "Commander Jiang, His Highness has ordered that the city gates be guarded. No one is allowed to leave Jincheng under any pretext. As for the common people, they can only be allowed to pass with the approval of the Prefect of the Capital."
Jiang Cheng nodded: "Please rest assured, Your Highness."
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