The emperor felt a headache every time he read these memorials.
He casually flipped the memorials back and forth, his words unclear, "I see they're still too idle. They're always busy with the war, ignoring everything else, and just focusing on my family affairs!"
Although it was a family matter as well as a state affair, the emperor couldn't stand their urging.
"He didn't mention a single thing about the people's memorials, but wrote a lot about the restoration of the crown prince..."
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and said: "There are still too many officials in the court."
Fuping paused fanning himself and couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for the ministers.
…
Life seemed to be back on track. Everyone was doing their job and busy dealing with the mess. Among the crowd, Jiang Zhiyu and Xiao Lingyu, two lazy people, stood out.
Yes, Jiang Kangan is no longer an idler without an official position. The emperor has appointed him as the Privy Councilor, in charge of the affairs of the court, assisting the emperor and managing military affairs.
Jiang Kangan walked hurriedly through the front yard and looked at the two people lying on the lounge chairs by the pool with two fishing rods beside them. He felt very unbalanced.
Of course, his imbalance was only directed at Xiao Lingyu.
"Your Highness," Jiang Kang'an said with a forced smile, "Although you are no longer the Crown Prince, as a prince, frequenting the residences of your close ministers might arouse suspicion."
This is of course a euphemism.
Hearing the gritted teeth in his tone, Xiao Lingyu raised her eyelids.
He had no doubt that if he were alone now, Jiang Kangan's words would be even more sharp.
So he replied with a forced smile, "Don't worry about this matter, Jiang Shumi. I have the emperor's order. He told me to rest well and not to worry about anything else."
Jiang Kangan: “…”
He knew Xiao Lingyu's identity and his current condition, and the emperor was pleased to see him.
Jiang Kangan let out a light sigh.
He was about to speak when he saw a servant jogging over with an anxious look on his face. He looked around before whispering in Jiang Kang'an's ear.
Jiang Kangan's face visibly darkened.
Without caring about anything, he got up and walked away, and the servant hurriedly followed him.
Xiao Lingyu looked at his back thoughtfully.
He just saw Jiang Kang'an glance at Jiang Zhiyu. Could it be that the news reported by the servant just now was related to Jiang Zhiyu?
After leaving the mansion and getting on the carriage, Jiang Kang'an asked the servant to follow him in: "Tell me in detail."
"My lord, the few Southern Gu practitioners the young lady brought back are now imprisoned in the Imperial Prison. Two of them confessed during torture that they were instructed by the young lady to put a Gu on the emperor in the future!"
Jiang Kangan took a deep breath: "Has Xing Maozhi told His Majesty? What's His Majesty's expression?"
"As usual."
Jiang Kang'an's fingers loosened slightly. "Don't we have Xiao Yanli's letter? Haven't those people's crimes been determined?"
The servant shook his head. "Xiao Yanli's letter only mentioned Great Elder Nan Gu. The other two people were not mentioned at all."
Jiang Kangan clenched his hands slightly.
Although his mind told him that the emperor would not believe it, there was always a slightly beating string in Jiang Kang'an's mind reminding him, what if?
There was no conversation along the way, and the carriage soon arrived outside the palace. Jiang Kang'an entered the palace alone and walked to the imperial study with ease.
The emperor was looking at something and Xing Maozhi was standing beside him.
Jiang Kang'an stepped in and saluted: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you, Your Majesty."
"Kang An is here," the emperor raised his head. "Is everything done?"
With the evidence left by Xiao Yanli, it would be much easier to find out his remnants. Jiang Kang'an nodded slightly and handed the list to the emperor for review.
The emperor took it but did not open it immediately. Instead, he put it aside and looked at Jiang Kangan: "I just heard something."
Jiang Kangan showed a puzzled expression at the right time.
"Xing Maozhi, talk to him."
Xing Maozhi clasped his fists and stepped out, repeating what Jiang Kangan had just heard in the carriage.
Jiang Kang'an's expression changed from confusion to shock: "Your Majesty, you know Zhiyu, she..."
Before he could finish his words, the emperor raised his hand to interrupt: "Alright, stop pretending. I naturally believe in Zhiyu, otherwise I wouldn't have kept her informed until now."
After being pointed out by the emperor, Jiang Kangan smiled shyly: "Then what Your Majesty means is..."
"You and Xing Maozhi should go and test the waters of those two to see if they framed me on their own or if someone else was behind it. If it's the latter..."
There was murderous intent in the emperor's eyes.
But after just a few days of peace, someone comes to stir up trouble?
Jiang Kangan saluted: "Yes."
…
Inside the imperial prison, Yougu and Youli were hung by iron chains, covered in blood, with disheveled hair and dirty faces.
The jailer beside them gave them some water from time to time.
"The main concern is that these two people are dead. If they die, there will be no evidence." Xing Maozhi explained.
Hearing the noise, the jailer came forward and said, "Sir."
"Did they say anything else?"
The jailer shook his head: "No, no matter what you ask, it's the same thing."
It was so horrific that the jailers didn't dare to repeat it.
Jiang Kang'an looked at the two of them with cold eyes. Yougu and Youli also felt his gaze and struggled to raise their heads.
"You two, explain again."
You Gu spat out a mouthful of blood and foam with a "Pah!" "What else do you want to confess? I told you before, it was Jiang Zhiyu who brought the two of us here to cast a curse on Emperor Tianqi!"
Xing Maozhi glanced at Jiang Kangan's face cautiously.
Jiang Kang'an's stern profile flickered in the candlelight. He said in a flat voice, "Why you two?"
You Gu frowned slightly: "How should we know? We are just soldiers in the front line, and we were forced from Nan Gu to Tianqi, and Jiang Zhiyu even threatened our lives!"
You Li looked at Jiang Kangan calmly.
They didn't know this person, but judging by Xing Maozhi's attitude towards him, this person must have a lot of say. As long as they could convince him...
You Li coughed twice to attract Jiang Kang'an's attention. When Jiang Kang'an looked over, he said weakly, "Sir, what we two brothers said is true. We were threatened by her!"
Jiang Kangan raised his hand to interrupt his crying: "Since she threatened you, why can you say it now?"
"Your Excellency, when we were in her hands before, she threatened our lives, and we could only flatter her. But now that we are here, even if she is more capable, she would not dare to attack us here! That is why we dare to confess her crimes."
Don’t you dare...?
Xing Maozhi touched the tip of his nose.
Why doesn't he think so?
Jiang Kangan carefully observed the expressions of the two people. They paused in their voices, as if they were thinking. When he looked at them, his eyes would unconsciously drop...
After a pause, Jiang Kangan said, "I understand."
Xing Maozhi looked at him sideways, what did he know?
Yugu Yuli also tilted his head slightly.
Do you believe it?
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