"Dad," Shangguan Wanning saw Lutong standing behind her father, lowering her head nervously, seeming to be at a loss.
She took her father's arm and walked into the room, pouring him a cup of tea. "Dad, why are you still awake so late?"
Shangguan Yue didn't say anything, his eyes were fixed on the medicines on the table.
Shangguan Wan Ning was startled. She was in such a hurry that she forgot to hide the medicine. While packing, she pretended to be calm and said, "I couldn't sleep at night, so I took out the medical book that my master left for me and flipped through it. These medicines are for experiments."
"Yeah?"
Shangguan Yue's expression was somewhat serious. He glanced at Shangguan Wanning indifferently and finally moved to the bedside.
Shangguan Wanning's heartbeat quickened due to her guilty conscience.
"Dad, what's wrong with you?"
"come out."
Shangguan Yue's scolding made Mu Jingrui, who was hiding behind the bed curtains, feel his scalp tingling.
He hesitated slightly and walked out slowly.
Shangguan Wanning showed a desperate expression, lowered her head and subconsciously took a few steps back.
"You two... it's the middle of the night, a man and a woman alone, how can you be so rude?"
Shangguan Yue's scolding made Shangguan Wan Ning feel ashamed. "Dad, I'm sorry...I know I was wrong."
Shangguan Wanning knelt down and didn't raise her head to meet her father's gaze.
Mu Jingrui felt guilty for his reckless behavior and bowed to Shangguan Yue. "I came uninvited in the middle of the night. It has nothing to do with Ning'er. Don't blame her. If you want to beat me or scold me, I will take it."
"Humph, do you think I dare not hit you? You are the Minister of War, a second-rank official of the imperial court. You broke into an unmarried woman's boudoir late at night. According to the laws of our dynasty, you can be imprisoned and sentenced to death."
Leg punishment?
Shangguan Wanning's face suddenly changed.
"father……"
"Shut up." Shangguan Yue shouted angrily, stopping Shangguan Wanning from saying the next word.
Mu Jingrui is mature despite his young age. Even in the court, he can maneuver among so many old foxes with ease.
But when facing Shangguan Yue at this moment, he actually felt a little scared.
After all, he was in the wrong in this matter, and he could fully understand Shangguan Yue's feelings as a father.
If any man dares to break into his daughter's bedroom in the future... he will definitely slap that brat to death.
"As long as it can calm my uncle down, I will accept any punishment. But please don't blame Ning'er."
Shangguan Yue looked at Mu Jingrui and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
At least, at this time, Mu Jingrui did not shirk his responsibility and completely protected Shangguan Wanning.
"Dad, Jing Rui was injured, and it was inconvenient for him to find other doctors, so he came to me. There is nothing wrong between him and me. You have to believe me."
Shangguan Wanning tugged at her father's clothes, tears glistening in her eyes.
Shangguan Yue looked at Mu Jingrui, then looked at the medicine on the table, and helped his daughter.
He sat down silently, looking at the two young men standing side by side in front of him. After taking a sip of tea, he said softly, "Ning'er, go in and change your clothes. Jingrui, please sit down and tell me, what's going on?"
Shangguan Wanning turned and walked towards the screen. Mu Jingrui didn't dare to sit down, so he stood up and told her the whole story.
The more Shangguan Yue listened, the more troubles he became.
He knew that Mu Jingrui was the prince's best friend and that their interests were actually tied together.
"So what are you going to do?"
Mu Jingrui hesitated for a moment and said, "There are almost no clues left in these murders in the capital. I don't have any direct evidence to prove that the murderer is Ling Yuwen. So, I want to go to the Southeast Prefecture."
"The Ling family father and son have been in Southeast Province for so many years, there must be other things going on. Even if we can't convict them in this matter and clear the prince of suspicion, at least we have to weaken the power of the Ling family to keep the prince safe."
For a long time, Xiao Yujue and Xiao Zhenting both wanted to win Shangguan Yue over to their camp, but Shangguan Yue just refused to express his opinion.
But Mu Jingrui felt that Shangguan Yue should be more inclined towards the prince. Moreover, under the current situation, there was no possibility for the Shangguan family and Xiao Zhenting to cooperate.
"Who are you going to send to Southeast Province?"
"I want to go by myself."
This is also a helpless move.
After Xiao Yujue got into trouble, those who originally supported him began to distance themselves from him or ignore him intentionally or unintentionally in order to protect themselves or preserve their strength.
Apart from himself, Mu Jingrui couldn't think of anyone else who would do his best to investigate.
"You?" Shangguan Yue shook his head. "As the Minister of War, you cannot leave the capital without special circumstances. Even if you want to leave, you need the emperor's approval. You can't find a reasonable reason at all."
Mu Jingrui had thought of this a long time ago.
"I understand. So, I want to resign."
"No." Shangguan Yue objected directly, and gave Mu Jingrui a meaningful look. "If you resign, it means that the leadership of the Shenjiying will fall into the hands of others. This is a right that many people dream of."
"Aren't you afraid that the Shenjiying will fall into Ling Ruiying's hands? Moreover, His Royal Highness is in a situation where he could be in danger at any time. He needs someone loyal and capable to protect him."
How could Mu Jingrui not understand it?
It would be best if he could personally investigate the truth and protect the prince.
But, he is just a flesh and blood body after all, and he doesn't have the ability to clone himself.
"Dad, I'm going."
Shangguan Wanning changed her clothes and walked out slowly, repeating, "I'm going to the Southeast Prefecture to investigate the past of the Ling family father and son."
"no."
"no."
Shangguan Yue and Mu Jingrui said in unison, they looked at each other and frowned.
"How can you, a girl, show your face in public? Besides, the journey to the Southeast Prefecture is long. What if something happens?"
Shangguan Yue waved his hand to express his disapproval.
"I don't agree either. Ning'er, you are still young and inexperienced. Southeast Prefecture is far away from the capital. There are many things...your father and I are beyond our reach."
"Don't worry. I can find someone to protect me, isn't that enough?" Shangguan Wanning's eyes moved, flashing with a bright light.
A flash of inspiration suddenly appeared in Mu Jingrui's mind.
"Huo Gang?"
"That's right. Brother Huo is a skilled martial artist and a thoughtful person. Most importantly, I think he knows more about those cases than we thought. With him by our side, we can get twice the result with half the effort."
Mu Jingrui and Shangguan Yue were still undecided. Neither of them felt comfortable leaving Shangguan Wan Ning to the protection of someone they barely knew.
What's more, it's so far away.
"Dad, just trust me this time. I will definitely get things done. Now is an extraordinary period, and there are very few people who are willing to work hard for His Royal Highness. You and Jing Rui cannot leave the capital, and I am the only one. Even if I don't show up for a few months and declare to the public that I am bedridden, it won't attract attention."
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