The Wan family, who lived next door to the mansion, had a fairly good relationship with it. Although they were related, they were not that close.
Prince Shun is now unrivaled in the court, so it is not so difficult to understand why the neighboring Wan family sent their legitimate daughter to Prince Shun's mansion as a concubine.
Diandian has grown to full size, with fluffy hair and a strong physique. Even when lying there quietly, he looks quite big.
When Wan Jinlan was pulling the dog's ears, Ma Xing, who was outside inquiring about the news, came back.
"Miss, Zhang Jia was poisoned and died this morning. The poison was strychnine."
Wan Jinlan asked, "Have Tiezhu and the others been keeping an eye on Xinghua Lane these past few days?"
Ma Xing shook his head. "They left the day before yesterday. I asked around, and one little girl said a well-dressed, wealthy woman came out of Zhang Jiayuan before daybreak."
"It's still dark, how does she know that the woman is dressed so respectably and richly?"
Ma Xing said, "The little girl was wearing patched old clothes and would go to the well at the end of the alley to fetch water before dawn. She said that although the woman was wrapped up tightly, when she turned around, her hood was blown off by the morning breeze, revealing the beautiful pearl hairpins and red stones on her head, which sparkled brightly."
Wan Jinlan nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Go to the Chen family and find Chen Congbai. Tell him that I found a pearl hairpin in Xinghua Lane and ask him if it was dropped by the master or a servant of the Chen family."
Ma Xing reacted quickly, "Miss, what you mean is, could it be related to Madam Chen?"
Wan Jinlan shook his head. "I'm just guessing. Go ahead."
If Anyang hadn't done it, the Imperial Concubine wouldn't have bothered to deal with an orphan. Since they had nothing to do with it, Chen Congbai couldn't possibly be turned from a perpetrator into a victim. He was the one who had lied and deceived them first, so what right did he have to question them?
The reason why Zhang Jia could not enter the Chen family was because Mrs. Chen strongly opposed it. When she investigated Chen Congbai, she heard that Chen's mother had threatened to commit suicide.
What if Chen Congbai had the opportunity to marry the princess, but lost this chance because of Zhang Jia, and even lost his position, and offended the imperial concubine in the palace, would Chen's mother hate Zhang Jia for ruining her son's future?
Besides, she just said that she picked up a pearl hairpin in Xinghua Lane and didn't say anything else. Even if it was not what she guessed, Chen Congbai had no reason to bother her again.
Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion.
After Ma Xing left, Chen Congbai sat for a while, as if he had figured something out. His expression changed and he strode towards his mother's yard.
Mrs. Chen was drinking bird's nest when she saw her son storm in. She put down her cup and said unhappily, "You look as if I, as a mother, owe you a blood debt."
Chen Congbai stared at his mother with his dark eyes. "A pearl hairpin fell in Xinghua Lane. I wonder if the one you wore when you went out this morning is still there?"
Mrs. Chen subconsciously touched her head, but as soon as she touched her temples, she reacted.
Madam Chen stood up, her face tense as she sneered, "Are you here to question me? Questioning your biological mother over a woman who's not worthy of being in public?"
There was nothing Chen Congbai didn't understand. He clenched his fists and his chest heaved violently.
"Why did you want to kill her?" Chen Congbai's eyes were filled with bloodshot and veins bulged on his forehead.
Mrs. Chen slammed the table in anger, "I'm your mother, and you talk to me like that!"
"Without that bitch, you would be able to marry the princess. If it weren't for her, the Ningyuan Marquis's family would still be able to continue. Your father is only good at business, and you only make me angry! The Chen family in the capital is about to decline. As the only son, shouldn't you take on the responsibility of the family?"
"If your father and you weren't both incompetent, why would I have to worry so much every day?"
"She deserves to die!" Mrs. Chen spoke angrily, and when she mentioned Zhang Jia, she wished she could devour her.
Seeing her son on the verge of exploding, Madam Chen didn't back down at all. She was full of vigor and said, "It's useless for you to hate me. I just told her that she was the one who prevented you from marrying a noble lady and that she was a burden to you. She ended it on her own."
"She's quite sensible, I guess."
Chen Congbai listened to his mother's light words and looked at her smug expression, but he couldn't vent the anger suppressed in his chest.
He turned around and left the Chen family, and never set foot in the Chen family again.
The third prince of Beirong became a prisoner of war of Wei. Beirong sent a letter stating that they were willing to exchange the third prince for 5,000 high-quality war horses.
The court officials all felt that the third prince could be exchanged for more.
Until Prince Su sent a secret letter, stating that while the Northern Rong seemed united under the rule of the Northern Rong Khan, internal strife was fierce. With the exception of the two major tribes that supported the Third Prince, the remaining tribes were unwilling to see him return to the Northern Rong. They also believed that since they had been taken prisoner, they should die outside and not bring shame to the Northern Rong.
The emperor knew that the barbarians in the north were fierce and aggressive, but he never thought that the reality was far more intense than he thought.
If his son was captured, his other sons would have to pretend to be brothers even if they thought that the son would never come back and would rather die outside.
After the emperor and his ministers discussed in the imperial study, they added another 3,000 high-quality war horses.
The two countries exchanged views, and by the time they had reached an agreement, the autumn hunt had arrived.
The emperor has granted special permission this time, allowing princes, princesses and concubines with children to go.
Kuriyama Palace is located at the foot of Kuriyama Mountain, with a vast grassland and woodland in front of it. Behind it are mountains, and a winding river meanders through the steep mountains.
Wan Jinlan, wearing a neat riding suit and deerskin boots, climbed to the middle of the mountain with Princess Anyang.
Most of the Lishan Mountains are steep, so they naturally climbed the shortest and less steep mountain. There is a road built on the mountain, and there is a pavilion where they rest.
Sitting halfway up the mountain, the view is naturally wider than at the foot of the mountain. Opposite is a red-leaf forest, which looks like a burning flame in the sunlight, and is extremely eye-catching among the lush greenery.
"I didn't expect that the princess and Miss Wan also went up the mountain."
The two turned around and saw Wang Minghui and Wan Qiuyu. Wan Jinlan raised the corners of his eyes slightly.
The queen and the concubine go hiking together?
Wang Minghui and Wan Qiuyu were also very tired and sat down on the bench where two people sat.
"Wan, my legs hurt, please rub them for me."
As Wang Minghui spoke, she lifted her leg and placed it directly on Wan Qiuyu's leg.
Wan Qiuyu stood up and refused, "The princess has her own maids, why bother me?"
It's not like they're in the mansion, so she doesn't need to swallow her anger in front of the prince. If Wang Minghui still wants to torment her, she's dreaming.
In front of Wan Jinlan, Wan Qiuyu didn't want to humble herself.
Wang Minghui's expression remained unchanged as she smiled softly, "What are you saying, Concubine? I'm doing this for your own good. You've been in the palace for a few months, but you're still not pregnant. The doctor said you need to not only take care of your body, but also get more exercise to stay healthy. I'm doing this for your own good, but you're so ungrateful."
Wan Qiuyu's expression was naturally not very good. This bitch Wang Minghui just wanted to embarrass her in front of the Wan family.
"If I hadn't fallen into the water and caught a cold at Prince Guangling's mansion, I wouldn't have had such difficulty conceiving."
Wang Minghui failed again and slapped Wan Qiuyu in the face. She really couldn't help it.
It was clearly her who was plotted against in the beginning, but now this bitch dares to bring it up again in a pretentious manner.
"Put away your aggrieved look. The prince is not here, who are you trying to show off to?"
Wang Minghui is now very confident. Since she entered the mansion, the prince has stayed in Wan's room only a few times.
The relationship between the imperial concubine and the Wan family and the prince is now tense. Isn’t it her father who she will have to rely on in the future?
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