Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32
Yinyou raised his hand and rubbed his eyes, looking at the enchanting woman in the picture. She had enchanting makeup, bright looks, and scattered hair, making her look completely devoid of any masculine features.
Especially the words that came out were extremely gentle.
Yinyu couldn't understand why such a person was actually a man?!
How come she is a man?!
He stared at the screen in silence, then asked System 679 in disbelief, "System, are you sure this is Mingzhu's nephew? Not Mingzhu's niece? This person doesn't look like a man at all."
At this point, he almost muttered to himself, "Look at the height, the looks, the figure, the voice—these are all things a woman should have."
Even in modern times, many cross-dressing actors use makeup, but this was in ancient times!
Was there such a makeup technique in ancient times that could be called face-changing?
System 679 listened to Yinyu's surprised words. A faint smile lingered in its childish, mechanical voice as it said to Yinyu, "That's why I said, your brother won't be able to find anyone if he tries to arrest them. With Shengwang looking like this, he wouldn't even recognize him if he walked up to him, let alone catch him."
He couldn't help but sigh as he spoke, "Mingzhu has put a lot of effort into him. Otherwise, how could such a person be valued by Mingzhu? He is Mingzhu's scapegoat."
"It's a pity that this guy is so foolish that he thinks his uncle wants him to run away."
Yinyu reacted immediately and said to System 679, "So if we wait at the city gate now, we can wait for the courtesan's carriage?"
He paused slightly at this point and speculated, "Is this Steward Xue not going to take action in the capital?"
He just finished speaking and then retorted, "It shouldn't be. If they do it in the capital, Steward Xue himself won't be able to escape. By then, he will turn his attention to the courtesan. A little investigation might reveal her true identity. Then Mingzhu will be exposed."
"That's after we leave the city."
Butler Xue urged Sheng Wang not to send him away, but to get him out of the city. Once he left the city, Sheng Wang would not survive.
It would be much easier to fabricate something from him. After a big fire, it would be difficult to find out the truth.
After getting the news he wanted, Yinzhen, who was standing at the door, curled up a bright smile on his face. He put his hands behind his back and walked quickly outside.
He said that it was impossible for Mingzhu, a man of great foresight, to be completely unprepared.
It turns out this guy was waiting here.
This guy colluded with the salt merchants behind the scenes and embezzled so much silver without telling him. Although Sheng Wang has been asked to take the blame now, who knows if he will be held responsible later.
Wouldn’t it be terrible if he became the next Sheng Wang?
Being imprisoned is fine, but if he were forced to ascend the throne, wouldn't he be exhausted to death? That would be too terrible.
He needs to have a good talk with his mother when he has time, so that he won't be sold and have to help count the money.
Thinking of this, he shuddered and walked faster.
Kangxi looked at the scene in front of him, his pupils shrank, and his eyes glanced at Mingzhu twice. Mingzhu was really a handsome man.
He is a powerful person and a kind person, so why would he do anything for money?
And even managed to eat both sides?
The tribute from the salt merchants and the funds allocated by the imperial court were all just a waste of money for him.
Thinking of this, his breathing became heavy and his eyes became cold.
Mingzhu felt Kangxi's cold eyes and was frightened. He had been with Kangxi for so many years and was very sensitive to his emotional changes.
Especially now, he clearly felt that the emperor wanted to take action against him.
This feeling made his hair stand on end and he felt uneasy.
Mingzhu was thinking in his mind, but he didn't show it on his face. He stood there with his head hung, as if he didn't notice anything. But his face, which was gradually turning pale, made his calmness disappear completely.
Yinreng took a sip of the tea, reached out to pinch a piece of dessert, and ate it in small bites. After eating two bites, he drank two sips of tea, and then looked at Yinyu twice.
Instead, the whole person seemed more calm and composed.
But he was not as calm as he seemed on the surface. Mingzhu was actually much smarter than Soetu.
In his cognition, he always thought that Mingzhu was not as smart as Soetu, and not as shrewd as Soetu, but now it seems that Soetu's shrewdness is still not as good as Mingzhu's unrequited love.
Sheng Wang, a tall and strong man, had become the most charming courtesan in a brothel, and he was so alluring, his every frown and smile revealing the gentle charm of a woman. No one would have guessed he was a man.
Just like what Shiwu said, if a person like this walked right up against his elder brother, even if he just walked right in front of him, he wouldn't have guessed that it was Sheng Wang.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh, took a sip of tea, and put the teacup on the table. He looked towards Yinyu. When he saw the Dongzhu in his chubby little hand, his eyes lit up slightly. Regardless of the low pressure between Kangxi and Mingzhu, he smiled and asked, "Fifteen, your Dongzhu is so beautiful. Can you let Second Brother see it?"
This Dongzhu is really beautiful, about the size of an egg, with a faint fluorescence all over. It’s a pity that Fifteen is playing with it like this.
When Yinyu heard Yinreng's words, he looked at him as if he were a fool, and then said in his heart with some disdain: "System, do I look stupid? He clearly wants to cheat me of the beads, would I be stupid enough to give it to him?"
How did his second brother become so obsessed with money? He even wanted the Dongzhu in his hand. If he showed it to him, would it come back?
He is not stupid, how can he put this thing in his hands?
As soon as Yinreng opened his mouth, Mingzhu, who was standing there motionless, was frightened and his heart skipped a beat. He thought someone was coming.
But after hearing Yinreng's words, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and then he said nothing more. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was still asking the Fifteenth Prince for the Dongzhu at this time, and no one knew what he was thinking.
This is a good thing, it eases the somewhat tense atmosphere a lot.
Kangxi's eyes fell on the account book in Mingzhu's hand. He reached out to pick up the teacup and took a sip of tea, then said to him, "Hand over the account book."
Since Shengwang can't run away now, it doesn't matter whether the things on the account book were done by Mingzhu or Shengwang. He naturally needs to take a look at the things on it, wait for Shengwang and the salt merchant to confront each other, and then determine the guilt of both of them.
When Mingzhu heard this, his heart suddenly relaxed. He quickly walked towards Kangxi and handed him the account book.
After hearing Yinyu's words, the 679 system's childish, mechanical voice was filled with laughter: "Host, it's not you who's stupid, it's your second brother who's a bit stupid. He got bit on the face last time, and he still hasn't learned his lesson. He wants you to review the past and teach him new things."
As he spoke, he analyzed to Yin Yu: "Host, otherwise, you can first use the Dongzhu to trick him, so that you have a reason to bite him."
This Dongzhu is very beautiful at first glance. The host only has one, and he actually wants to steal it away from her. How can such a good thing happen?
Yinyu listened to the 679 system's analysis, thought it over carefully, and felt that it was very feasible. He nodded and said to him, "Okay, if he doesn't give it to me later, I will bite him. I must teach him a lesson."
Everyone discussed how to attack Yinreng.
Yinreng raised his hand and smiled awkwardly. These two little guys were openly discussing how to set a trap for him in front of him. He felt embarrassed if he didn't trick them.
Thinking of this, he raised his hand and pinched his nose, staring at Yinyu with twinkling eyes.
Kangxi listened to the words of "One Person, One Unification". His fingers holding the account book paused slightly, and he clenched his hands into fists. He put them to his mouth and coughed lightly, then his eyes swept towards Yinreng.
The threat was very clear.
If Yinreng dared to steal Shiwu's beads and make people cry, he would beat him with a stick.
When Yinreng heard Kangxi cough, his eyes flashed and he immediately understood what he meant. He coughed lightly in response, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, then smiled at Yinyu and said, "Since Fifteen likes beads so much, Second Brother naturally can't take yours. But Second Brother has one here too, and I'll send it to Fifteen in a couple of days."
It’s a pity that he can’t cheat Fifteen. Otherwise, he would let Fifteen ask for it, and the Dongzhu would be his.
Fifteen had already bitten him, so how could he be wronged? Naturally, he had to prove the injustice.
So as long as Fifteen bites him, Dongzhu will be his.
What a pity.
Not only did the Dongzhu not get the prize, but one more was lost.
When Yinyu heard this, his eyes suddenly brightened up. He opened his hands and said to Yinreng in a baby voice, "Guoguo."
Oh, he actually wronged his second brother. He thought that he wanted to cheat him of the beads, but he didn't expect that he actually wanted to give him the beads. Since he wanted to give him the beads, he should cultivate the relationship well. Maybe after giving him the beads this time, there will be a next time.
When he thought of this, a bright smile appeared on his fair face.
When Yinreng saw his actions, he couldn't help laughing. It was true that whoever gave him milk was his mother. He just said he would give him something and he immediately became enthusiastic.
She was completely different from the way she was just now, when she was on guard against him.
This kid is so realistic.
Yinreng thought about it, and stood up and held him in his arms. He stretched out his hand and pinched his little face. He couldn't help laughing and said to him in a low voice: "Fifteen, after the New Year, my second brother will take you to see the lanterns, okay?"
He hasn't been to the Lantern Festival for many years. The last time he went, it was his father who took him there. This time he must bring people to see it.
Of course, if I bring Fifteen with me, I should still be able to leave the palace.
When Yinyou heard this, his eyes immediately brightened up. He had never left the palace since he came here. If he could go out to see the lanterns, he would be able to go out.
It’s still early for the Lantern Festival, and he’s already starting to look forward to it.
Thinking of this, he put his arms around Yinreng's neck and said in a baby voice, "Okay."
Yinreng looked at Yinyou's chubby and cute appearance, reached out and pinched his face. When he was about to say something, Kangxi flipped through the account book and coughed lightly with a warning.
Yinreng held Yinyu in his arms, looked at Kangxi silently, and said with some regret: "I feel that the emperor doesn't want us to go, forget it."
Even his royal father didn't want him to leave the palace, so it would be difficult for him to take Fifteen out with him now.
But the Lantern Festival is one of the few days in a year without a curfew, and he also wants to guess riddles and watch the lanterns.
When Yinyou saw Kangxi's expression, he immediately understood what he was thinking. He struggled to get off Yinreng, stumbled forward two steps with his short legs, and when he was about to reach Kangxi, he threw himself to the ground.
Kangxi held the account book in his hand, but his mind was all on Yinyu. When Yinyu almost fell to the ground, he hugged him in his arms and said with some anger: "You are really a worrying child."
As he spoke, he tapped Yinyu's head with his hand, looked into his expectant eyes, and said to him: "If you are obedient and don't make any mistakes, then you can go play with your second brother and the others."
When Yinyou heard this, he immediately felt relieved. He put his arms around Kangxi's neck, kissed him on the face, and couldn't help giggling.
Mingzhu stood aside, her heart beating wildly and uncontrollably. The emperor and the prince doted on the fifteenth prince so much that their doting exceeded that on other children.
Even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not enjoy such treatment back then.
Especially now that the emperor is still looking at the account books, doesn't the emperor care whether the evidence in the account books is true or false?
He was also discussing the matter of watching the lanterns with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Fifteenth Prince. This made him feel an indescribable weirdness in his heart, as if this account book was dispensable to the emperor.
When he thought of the unnecessary account book, his breathing became a little rapid. He absolutely could not let the emperor see the strangeness of this account book.
Thinking of this, he lowered his eyebrows and looked at his toes, and the expression on his face became unpredictable.
In the blink of an eye, more than half an hour passed, and Yinzhen came in from outside, dusty and exhausted. He reached out and brushed the snow off his body, and said respectfully to Kangxi, "Father, I have lived up to your expectations and finally found Master Mingzhu's nephew."
As he said this, he waved his hand and asked the guards to bring the person in.
Sheng Wang struggled to walk in, but was pushed by the guards and stumbled forward a few steps. His clothes were very messy and his makeup was a little smudged. Yin Zhen pushed him hard and he knelt directly at Mingzhu's feet. Then he said with a trembling voice and a hint of grievance, "I don't know what this gentleman wants to do. He brought me here, but what's the matter?"
After he finished speaking, he looked up at Kangxi with a charming and alluring look.
Yinyou nestled in Kangxi's arms, his whole body trembling. If he continued watching, he felt that he would laugh out loud.
Sheng Wang now looks very disheveled, completely lacking the gorgeous appearance seen in the short video before. If it was just now, he still looked pleasing to the eye, but now his actions are just eye-irritating.
Her eyes were charming, but her eye makeup was smudged, her hair was messy, and her clothes were torn to pieces. In addition, the snowflakes outside fell on her body and face. The temperature in the room was relatively high, and the snowflakes melted, making her makeup even more unsightly.
Even in this state, he winked at Kangxi. Considering that he was a man, one would have the urge to beat him up.
Kangxi looked at Sheng Wang's actions, his mouth twitching constantly. He resisted the urge to touch him, and finally suppressed the emotions surging in his heart.
He glanced coldly at Mingzhu.
Mingzhu hadn't expected Yinzhi to bring someone here in such a short time. He lowered his eyes and glanced at Shengwang lying on the ground. He stared at him in disbelief for a long time before recognizing him: "Shengwang?"
Sheng Wang was dressed like this, but he was still caught by Prince Zhi. Didn’t he realize that Prince Zhi was so capable before?
If he was so powerful before, he would not have been suppressed by the prince for so many years.
When Sheng Wang heard this, the smile on his face froze slightly. He then turned to look at Ming Zhu, raised his hand to wipe his face, and with a forced smile, he asked, "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
After she finished speaking, she raised her hand to smooth her hair, her face full of smiles, and said in a sweet voice, "I see. Are you all the people who want to see me? Everyone knows that I, Sheng Wang, am a famous courtesan in the capital."
As soon as these words came out, Yinyu looked at the makeup on Shengwang's face and couldn't help but shout to Kangxi: "Daddy, ghost!"
As soon as these words came out, Yinreng, who was sitting on the chair, couldn't help but burst out laughing, and then said to the others: "It's okay, it's okay, you guys continue."
Fifteen is such a good kid at watching a play, always telling the truth. How could he say Shengwang is a ghost? At most, he's a little scarier than a ghost.
Yinzhen kept coughing as he watched, until Kangxi glanced at him and he quickly stopped coughing.
Kangxi snorted coldly and said to Sheng Wang, "Sheng Wang, your uncle has admitted that you were the one who did it all, and he has handed over all the evidence of your collusion with the salt merchants to me."
"I've seen you before, so don't act crazy or stupid here. It won't benefit anyone!"
When he first met Sheng Wang, he was very young, only about ten years old. He was thin and small, and looked timid when he saw people.
Mingzhu said that he was abused at home and had been ill for a long time, which had drained the family's savings. Later, his father and mother had other healthy children and ignored him.
Mingzhu felt sorry for him, so she took him in and raised him by her side.
I just didn't expect Mingzhu to be raised in this way. Such a good child turned out like this.
When Sheng Wang heard Kangxi's words, he calmed down. He raised his hand and took out a handkerchief from his bosom and wiped his face. When the makeup on his face was quickly wiped clean, revealing a fair and handsome face, he kowtowed solemnly to Kangxi and said, "Your servant Sheng Wang, kowtows to the emperor."
Kangxi threw the account book in his hand towards him and asked, "Tell me, what does this have to do with you?"
Since Mingzhu was sent here, it is impossible that it has nothing to do with him.
The moment Sheng Wang saw the account book, his pupils shrank slightly, and then he said respectfully to Kangxi: "Everything written in this account book is true. It was recorded by me personally. It was also me who gave this thing to my uncle. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
After saying that, Sheng Wang raised his eyes and glanced at Mingzhu.
Mingzhu's expression suddenly changed, and he shouted at Shengwang, "What nonsense are you talking about?!"
As he spoke, he knelt on the ground and said to Kangxi, "Your Majesty, I got this account book by accident. It was not given to me by Shengwang at all. I hope Your Majesty can understand this."
There is a huge difference between what is given to you and what you get unintentionally.
Shengwang was handed over to Mingzhu with Mingzhu's participation. Even if he didn't participate, he was aware of the collusion between Shengwang and the salt merchants.
I got it by accident, I had known about it not long ago, and only after a struggle did I give it to the emperor out of loyalty to the emperor.
Kangxi looked at the two people in front of him and chuckled softly. He said to them, "This is all your family affairs. Yinzhen, bring me the evidence you got from the salt merchants."
Yinzhen had prepared this before, but he didn't let him hand it over.
Now is the time to hand it in.
Yinzhen glanced at Mingzhu, took out the account book from his arms, and handed it to Kangxi respectfully, along with a small seal.
Although Sheng Wang’s name is on the seal, there is a small sun character next to his name.
The moment Mingzhu saw the seal, her pupils shrank slightly, and then she quickly lowered her head.
Yinyu looked at the seal in Kangxi's hand. He grabbed it with his chubby little hand and looked around. After a while, he asked the 679 system in his mind, "Why does this seal look a little different to me? Can the sun on the seal and the moon on the side form a bright star?"
Upon hearing this, System 679 followed Yinyu's gaze and after a moment's observation, he exclaimed, "Wow, this is the Yin-Yang Seal."
"I saw it in the Mastermind's database a while ago. The positive and negative sides of the Yin-Yang Seal represent different meanings. The positive side means safety, and the negative side means to be careful and concealed. It's similar to modern Morse code."
"If they are put together, it means that a major change has occurred."
"Look at the moon character on the dark side. There's only a thin layer of ink on it, which means it may have been used recently. And the most recent major event must be the death of Prince Li."
Yin Yu listened to the 679 system's analysis and said to him in shock, "System, how did you become so smart? This analysis is very logical."
System 679 laughed heartily and said, "Of course, I'm also very smart."
He would never tell his host that, except for the name Prince Li which was added by him, the rest were all records in the main brain database.
Kangxi listened to the words of "One Person, One Unification" and flipped his fingers. He put the Yin-Yang seal together and threw it in front of Mingzhu. He said to him coldly: "Do you have anything else to say?!"
Mingzhu looked at the things on the ground, then at the account book that Yinzhen had taken out. She closed her eyes slightly, and lying on the ground, she said to Kangxi, "Your Majesty, I admit my guilt. Please punish me!"
At this point, it would be futile for him to say anything more.
Instead of this, it would be better for the emperor to remember our old friendship and give him a lighter sentence based on their past affection.
Shengwang knelt in front of Mingzhu without saying a word. He just looked at Yinwei quietly, and finally lowered his head and lay on the ground.
Seeing Mingzhu's confession, Kangxi said directly to Yinzhen, "Yinzhen, take Mingzhu to the Ministry of Justice and hand her over to Zhang Ying for interrogation."
Yinzhen bowed respectfully to Kangxi and said, "Yes, I will send him to the Ministry of Justice right away."
After saying that, he called the guards and took the man kneeling on the ground out.
The Mingzhu issue has been completely resolved. The salt merchants will select new people when the time comes, and they will definitely not let something like Mingzhu happen again.
As Kangxi thought about this, the expression on his face became much more relaxed.
At this moment, a young eunuch with a pale face ran in from outside. He suddenly knelt on the ground and said to Kangxi anxiously: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes have fallen into the ice hole!"
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