Chapter 68 His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is going to Jueshui County
"Your Highness, wanted posters have already been issued to all prefectures and counties, but no news has been received in the past three months. I think Shi Tao did not go too far from the capital after escaping. The Ministry of Justice has been searching everywhere recently and received news that someone in Jueshui County has seen Shi Tao." said the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
Behind the large ebony desk, Xiao Mingyi rested his elbows on the desk in a casual posture, his fingertips tapping lightly, "Have you sent anyone to investigate?"
Minister Zhao's body visibly stiffened, and he gritted his teeth and said, "I have already sent four officials from the Ministry of Justice to investigate, but this morning we received news from Jueshui County that the four men have mysteriously disappeared."
"Mysteriously disappeared?" Xiao Mingyi's tone became heavier, his eyes growing colder. "I believe in the ability of the Ministry of Justice and its officials, but Minister Zhao, do you find the explanation of mysterious disappearance convincing?"
Minister Zhao lowered his head lower and lower, and immediately corrected his words: "Four bodies were found near Jueshui County this morning. They had multiple fractures on their bodies and their faces were cut into a bloody mess. It's difficult to determine their identities..."
In reality, Minister Zhao hadn't intentionally concealed the truth. The Pacification Office was powerful, and if he had reported the truth, given the Crown Prince's temperament, he would have handed the case over. The Ministry of Justice had been investigating for so long, finally finding a clue; they couldn't let anyone else take all the credit.
The air pressure in the hall is lower.
After two breaths of silence, a deep, angry voice suddenly rang out from the leader: "Xuan Feng."
"I'm here!" Xuanfeng replied.
Xiao Mingyi stood up suddenly, his eyes thick with cloud. "From now on, Shi Tao's case will be jointly handled by the Pacification Department and the Ministry of Justice. You are to return to the Pacification Department immediately and select ten Jinyiwei to accompany me to Jueshui County."
"yes!"
"Your Highness wants to go to Jueshui County in person?!" Minister Zhao panicked and hurriedly advised, "Shi Tao is very cunning and has several experts around him. For the sake of Your Highness's safety, it's better to let the Ministry of Justice and the Pacification Office go."
"If I had only cared about my own safety and allowed the thieves to plunder rampantly, Danyang County would have been lost long ago!"
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has always been calm and reserved in front of his subjects and rarely gets angry in public.
However, Shi Tao's brutal killing of officials from the Ministry of Justice and Minister Zhao's concealment of the truth have touched the bottom line of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Xuanfeng has followed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for many years and can tell at a glance that His Royal Highness is on the verge of anger.
Minister Zhao lowered his head in shame and dared not say any more words of opposition.
…
Jueshui County is located more than 60 miles west of Kyoto. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers and has fertile land. There is also a large tea field at the foot of Jingjue Temple.
The two women came down the mountain in a carriage, each with a maid, and a team of guards riding behind them.
Song Lingyi opened the car window and looked at the neatly arranged fields and the villages scattered at the foot of the mountain, feeling refreshed.
After a while, she turned around and looked at Pei Ling, her dark eyes as charming as spring water. "Sister, is there anywhere you want to go?"
Pei Ling was stunned for a moment, then thought for a moment: "The Fu River is just ahead. Why don't we park the carriage there and stroll along the river?"
Jueshui County is built along the Fushui River. When the carriage reaches the riverside where waterfalls converge, there is a large tea field not far from the riverside. Tea farmers are picking tea with bamboo baskets on their backs.
The two women were strolling along the Fu River when they heard the melodious sound of a zither. The tune was light and soothing. Song Lingyi looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall, spacious pavilion built on the riverbank. A bronze beast was cast on the top, and beneath the eaves stood four massive pillars, firmly planted in the water.
There were two young men in the pavilion.
The one wearing a snow-green brocade robe with bamboo patterns sat beside the long table, stroking the zither with both hands, with a focused expression; the other one, wearing a smoky black round-necked robe, had his back to the Fu River, and his face could not be seen clearly, but he must be listening to the music of the zither.
Song Lingyi squinted her eyes and looked towards the pavilion. The person playing the piano looked very familiar.
"The person in the pavilion seems to be your brother," she said.
The little girl next to him looked a little flustered and hummed softly, "What a coincidence, Sister Song, let's go over and say hello."
“…” Song Lingyi hesitated.
The pavilion had a truly elegant atmosphere; it would be awkward to disturb them hastily. Besides, it looked like there were more than two people inside. An old man in plain gray clothes rose from the riverbank, picking up his fishing rod. A young man in a brocade robe followed behind him. The young man, carrying a fish basket, muttered something as he entered the pavilion.
The song ends.
Pei Zhao stood up from the long desk. He was tall and straight, his profile still handsome. He chatted with the three people in the pavilion with a smile.
After a moment, as if someone reminded them, the four people in the pavilion all looked at the two women.
Pei Ling took a deep breath, took Song Lingyi's arm, and waved to the guards to stay away.
"Sister, that old man is Sima Daru, a literary giant in Dayuan. We can't be rude. Let's go over and say hello."
Song Lingyi knew nothing about the literary world of Dayuan, but after hearing Pei Ling say that, she thought he must be a highly respected person, so she followed him silently.
As she approached, she realized she recognized all four people in the pavilion, except for the great scholar Sima. The young man in the round-collared robe was Huo Wenxuan's fiancé, Pei Ruiheng, and the young man in the brocade robe was Pei Zhao's cousin, Lian He, whom she had met on the outskirts of Qingshi Town.
Pei Zhao was a little surprised: "A Ling, Miss Song, why are you here?"
"Mother and aunt went to Jingjue Temple to worship Buddha. Sister Song happened to be staying in the temple with Old Madam Lu, so we decided to go down the mountain for an outing." Pei Ling kept her eyes down.
Sima Daru, who was still fiddling with the fish basket, suddenly looked up at Song Lingyi, stroked his gray beard, and said, "This Miss Song looks unfamiliar. Is she the cousin of the Duke's mansion?"
The girl, who had thought she could quietly hide behind Pei Ling and slip away after saying hello, became nervous and replied respectfully, "My name is Song Lingyi, and I'm the cousin of the Duke's Mansion."
Sima Daru glanced at his disciple meaningfully, twirling his beard and smiling, saying, "So you are the girl who painted the 'sea pig'. I'm glad to see you in person today. You are truly extraordinary."
“…”
Song Lingyi frowned slightly.
This great scholar Sima is really good at chatting. As a literary giant, he must look down on her insignificant skills. Does the fact that her paintings left an impression on him indirectly prove that her painting skills are abstract?
Sima Daru found the girl's changing expressions quite amusing, so he said sincerely and gently, "I don't mean to mock you. I just think your paintings are interesting. Your mother also studied at the Wenlushan Academy. According to etiquette, you should call me 'Grand Master'."
Chu Ruiheng and Lian He were a little surprised. Wenlushan Academy was famous, and there were many scholars who wanted to establish a relationship with it but failed. However, Sima Daru actually took the initiative to let the girl from the Song family call him "Grand Master".
"Grand Master." Song Lingyi bowed respectfully like a scholar.
While the others were distracted, Pei Zhao pulled Pei Ling aside and whispered, "Ah Ling, tell me the truth. Why did Mother and Second Aunt go to Jingjue Temple?"
Under pressure from his brother's authority, Pei Ling had no choice but to tell the whole truth.
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