Chapter 125: The Storm at the Inn
Since returning from Liuyun Villa, Princess Feng Ling seems like a different person.
Jiang Yuyan saw it clearly at the beginning. Feng Ling and Xie Yuan were getting along well. Why did she become so close with Xie Yi two days after she came back?
The two of them sometimes went to Yangshan Lake together, and sometimes had drinks in Huajie, and they seemed to be in love with each other.
Just when Jiang Yuyan was puzzled, a major event suddenly happened in the capital.
Dong Lingye is dead!
It was said that there was a fire at Shangxi Inn at night, and the drunken Ninth Prince was accidentally choked to death. When Dong Lingchuan was awakened by the thick smoke and fled in a panic, he found that his brother had not come out yet. When he asked someone to break into the bedroom to put out the fire, he found that Dong Lingye had already been burned black.
Jiang Yuyan was horrified. She had never expected that the young man who taught her how to play ball in the horse field would die so tragically. But when she thought about Xie Yuan's current situation, she felt that it was extremely bad.
Dong Lingchuan was already angry and demanded an explanation from Emperor Sheng Yuan, otherwise he would not blame the two countries for going to war.
Emperor Sheng Yuan had no idea that Dong Lingye would be so unlucky, so he could only issue an edict to reprimand Xie Yuan, who was in charge of the reception, and imprison him in Prince Jing's Mansion.
But the ministers of Dayu refused to give in. The one who died was the ninth prince who was the favorite of their king and queen. If Dayue did not give a proper explanation, they would die if they returned.
Emperor Sheng Yuan had no choice but to order Zheng Shaopu to investigate the matter, and promised Envoy Dayu that he would give an explanation within seven days.
Therefore, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, who had a high-risk profession, was given the task of beheading anyone who could not reasonably conclude the case within seven days.
Jiang Yuyan was so depressed that she couldn't express it. After they left Liuyun Manor, the man's teasing words seemed to still ring in her ears, but in the blink of an eye, they were separated forever...
When the carriage stopped at the gate of Shangxi Posthouse, Jiang Yuyan happened to meet Zheng Shaopu who came to investigate the case. He now had an untidy beard and seemed to be quite troubled by the case.
The two looked at each other for a moment.
Jiang Yuyan was the first to speak: "I wonder if Mr. Zheng has gained anything?"
She was just asking casually. As the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, Zheng Shaopu did not need to report to her.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Shaopu answered, "His Highness the Ninth Prince loves wine. That night, he went to Qianrifang to taste Qianrizui. Several people tried to persuade him to drink. He refused to listen and drank three jars in a row. On the way back, he was still praising the wine. Everyone in the wine shop and passers-by on the road saw His Highness the Ninth Prince drunk that day."
"Why did the fire start?"
Zheng Shaopu raised his eyes and whispered, "Many people have walked around the scene. Judging from the current signs, a rat may have knocked over the candlestick and ignited the thick felt in the house..."
Jiang Yuyan frowned and leaned close to him and whispered, "Is it really an accident?"
Zheng Shaopu turned his head and said coldly, "I don't know."
Jiang Yuyan thought, what does this have to do with Xie Yuan! These days, the responsibility of being in charge is also great!
"Where are the guards?"
"It is said that His Highness the Ninth Prince is quite skilled in martial arts and does not like too many guards around. When he came back that day, he gave the unfinished Thousand Days Drunk to several guards close to him and then closed the door and went to sleep. Those people had already been executed for dereliction of duty before I came."
Jiang Yuyan was horrified when she heard this. In ancient times, people had to worry about their heads being on duty at all times!
The two walked in together. At this time, half of the yard of Shangxi Inn had been burned black, and everyone moved to the west yard to stay temporarily.
Dayu's many guards saw that the two men were on high alert, with serious expressions and watching them closely without blinking.
There is a small courtyard at the westernmost end of the posthouse that is quite quiet, and Dong Lingchuan temporarily used it as a mourning hall.
Jiang Yuyan looked at the white banner hanging in front of the mourning hall, feeling heavy-hearted. It seemed unreal that he had died so young...
As the two stepped over the threshold, a leading guard hurriedly stopped in front of the coffin and said, "If you dare to touch the body of our Ninth Prince, watch out for your heads!"
Zheng Shaopu stood tall and looked at him, and said in a cold voice: "We are investigating this matter under the order of the emperor. If you don't let us get close, how can we investigate it?"
The leading guard shouted angrily: "Don't shirk responsibility. It's you who didn't do a good job in fire prevention in Dayue. What else do you want to investigate?"
Zheng Shaopu said: "This matter has not yet been determined!"
Seeing the tense situation, Jiang Yuyan hurriedly tried to smooth things over, "Hey, hey, we have a history with His Majesty the Ninth Prince, I just came here to see him for the last time, please give me some convenience..."
The leader blushed and refused to answer. Dong Lingchuan came in. Jiang Yuyan's eyes fell on the ends of his hair, which was an inch shorter.
Dong Lingchuan noticed her gaze and said in a sad voice: "I wanted to go in and save my ninth brother at that time, but the fire was too big..."
After a pause, he continued, "It's not that I don't want you to see it, but I'm afraid the princess will be scared if she sees it. It's because my ninth brother is really..."
The tone is difficult and seems to be heavy.
After that, he stretched out one hand and made an invitation gesture, "Master Zheng, please go ahead."
Jiang Yuyan felt nervous after hearing what he said. She stood in front of the coffin and performed a funeral ceremony, then she suppressed her feelings and sighed slowly.
Zheng Shaopu checked the man in the coffin whose face was burnt beyond recognition, and was shocked. A noble man died in such an undignified way.
But suddenly he seemed to have discovered something, his pupils shrank slightly, and he bowed without saying a word and left with Jiang Yuyan.
Jiang Yuyan opened the curtain in front of the carriage, turned around and looked at Zheng Shaopu and said, "My lord, you have been working hard these days, why don't I give you a ride..."
Zheng Shaopu's eyes, which used to be shrewd and sharp, now seemed a little cloudy. He stared at her without saying a word, and after a while he raised his leg and walked into the car.
The carriage was shaking, and the two people sat stiffly in the carriage.
"What does the princess want to ask?" Zheng Shaopu looked at Jiang Yuyan who was hesitant to speak.
"Master Zheng has discovered something, right?" Jiang Yuyan asked tentatively. She was closest to him just now, and the subtle expression on his face could not be hidden from her.
Zheng Shaopu seemed to be too nice to her, and said in a calm voice: "Perhaps the Ninth Prince's death was not an accident, but murder..."
Jiang Yuyan's eyes widened slightly and her heart beat rapidly.
Zheng Shaopu said: "I found that there was no ash in his nostrils and airways, which shows that he was burned after death. Although his skin and flesh were burned, there were no fatal knife marks. The only possibility is that he died of poisoning."
"But according to what you said, Jiudian came out of Qianrifang, and although he was drunk, he was still fine. He went into the house and fell asleep directly. During this period, he did not eat or come into contact with anyone. How did he get poisoned?"
Zheng Shaopu couldn't help but ponder, "There are some poisons in the martial arts world that will only take effect when they come into contact with alcohol, and there is a certain time of death."
"What kind of poison is it?"
Zheng Shaopu shook his head, "I just heard about it, no one has seen it."
Jiang Yuyan asked again, "What does Lord Zheng want to do?"
Zheng Shaopu was silent for a moment and said, "I want to visit the inn at night."
Jiang Yuyan frowned, "Dayu's guards are quite powerful, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to get a good deal. I'll ask Shen Yi to help you, and he's good at medicine and poison, so he might be able to tell one thing or another."
Zheng Shaopu stared at her expressionlessly, which made Jiang Yuyan feel uneasy.
"Is the princess always so enthusiastic?"
Jiang Yuyan thought to herself, "I'm not being enthusiastic, but Xie Yuan has to take responsibility for this. Besides, Dong Lingye and she are acquaintances, and seeing this tragic situation, she feels very uncomfortable..."
"It concerns my Dayue!" Jiang Yuyan said vaguely, "But sir, can you first analyze who will benefit from this matter..."
Zheng Shaopu closed his eyes, pressed his solar plexus with his knuckles, and said, "Perhaps Feng Xi wants to provoke a fight between Dayue and Dayu so that he can benefit from it..."
Jiang Yuyan waved her hands quickly: "That's impossible!"
Zheng Shaopu turned to look at her in surprise, "Why are you so sure, Princess?"
Jiang Yuyan felt bitter. She couldn't say that Queen Fengxi was her mother. Her mother had no interest in attacking other countries.
"If you ask me, it's possible that the Fourth Prince is trying to trip up Prince Jing! If this happens and Dayu refuses to give up, Your Majesty may have to give up Lingyan Lake, and who knows if he will vent his anger on Xie Yuan."
Zheng Shaopu said: "What you said is not impossible, but there is another possibility."
Jiang Yuyan looked at him steadily. Zheng Shaopu's expression was tired. "Donglingchuan is also a suspect. He killed his biggest competitor and put the blame on Dayue. He took back Lingyan Lake to ask for credit from his father. If Dayue doesn't respond, he will have a reason to send troops to my western border. Kill three birds with one stone."
"No way?" Jiang Yuyan couldn't believe it. The scene of playing polo that day was still vivid in her mind. It seemed that Dong Lingchuan and Dong Lingye had a good brotherly relationship. How could they do such a cruel thing?
Zheng Shaopu's lips curled up, "The princess underestimated men's desire for power... and overestimated the human nature of the royal family..."
Jiang Yuyan stopped talking. She had seen the nature of the royal family before. But she couldn't believe that the two would kill each other...
Zheng Shaopu did not reject Jiang Yuyan's proposal. When it was close to midnight, Shen Yi appeared at Shangxi Inn in night clothes as promised.
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