Chapter 9: His Royal Highness King Xuan is indeed a wealthy man
Xie Yan clenched his fingers tightly at his sides. He had been thinking about how to answer this question all night.
The answer must be reasonable and explain why Shengsheng always avoided answering when his four brothers pressed him.
Xie Yan took a deep breath and said slowly, "That day in the palace, I accidentally discovered a secret."
"Noble Concubine Hui's personal maid is pregnant, and the child seems to be Xie Huaiye's."
Ruan Yunsheng frowned, "Is there such a thing?"
Ruan Yunbo was also very surprised. "How did you know such a secret matter? And how did you know for sure that the child was Prince Duan's?"
Xie Yan coughed lightly, "I accidentally saw that palace maid and Xie Huaiye entangled, and then the palace maid was dragged away and silenced by Concubine Hui's trusted nanny."
He looked at Ruan Yunsheng and said, "I think the princess shouldn't be kept in the dark about this matter."
Ruan Yunsheng was puzzled. "Why don't you just tell me directly in the letter? Why go through so much trouble?"
Xie Yan explained, "Because I'm not sure how the princess will react to this matter. This concerns Prince Duan's reputation. If the princess doesn't want this to get out, then the fewer people who know about it, the better."
Ruan Yunbo continued, "That's not right. After Shengsheng fell into the lake, we brothers pressed you to find out why you wanted to meet Shengsheng alone. Why didn't you tell us?"
Xie Yan coughed a few more times, "It's not honorable to talk about others behind their backs, so... it's hard for me to say."
Ruan Yunsheng didn't say whether he believed it or not, but just looked at Xie Yan with his eyes slightly narrowed.
Xie Yan was the same age as her. After he was brought back to the marquis's mansion by his father, he and she were taught by the teacher in the mansion.
My husband is old and he takes a nap in the afternoon when he feels sleepy.
She wanted to take the opportunity to sneak into the back garden to play, but Xie Yan would always complain to her husband!
She tried to bribe Xie Yan with delicious food and fun things to make him turn a blind eye, but Xie Yan, that old-fashioned man, could not be bribed at all.
Even when she asked Zhishu to help her copy the homework assigned by the teacher, Xie Yan would expose her!
But she didn't let Xie Yan have an easy time either!
She rode Xie Yan like a horse behind her teacher and brothers' backs, forced him to bark like a dog, and even forced him to call her master. Every time, this fussy little Xie Yan was humiliated until he blushed.
However, this was all before I was ten years old.
Later, when she grew older, the Marquisate could no longer accommodate her. Shengjing was a bustling city, even at night.
Her brothers were worried about her safety and didn't allow her to go out alone at night, but she couldn't help it.
As a result, every time she disguised herself and tried to sneak out at night, Xie Yan would appear at various exits of the mansion and tell her with a cold face to go back to Yuehua Courtyard to sleep.
It’s late at night, why are you sleeping?
Does he think that everyone is as selfless as he is, living like an ascetic at such a young age?
Anyway, Xie Yan had done countless things against her!
When she fell into the lake, she did think that Xie Yan had harmed her, but at that time she was about to become Xie Yan's sister-in-law. According to Xie Yan's character, he should not have killed her.
But because of his letter, she almost died at the bottom of the lake, and it was still Xie Yan's fault!
Ruan Yunbo was also skeptical of Xie Yan's words. "Five years have passed since the incident, and the palace maid has been silenced. Even if you made up a story, there will be no evidence to prove it."
Xie Yan stopped coughing and said, "I have evidence. Back then, that palace maid secretly asked the imperial physician for abortion pills. Although the imperial physician has retired, I know his whereabouts."
"If the Princess and the Third Young Master don't believe me, I can bring him back to Shengjing and you'll know the answer once you ask."
Ruan Yunsheng curled his lips, "Maybe you bribed the imperial physician in advance?"
Xie Yan did not continue to defend himself, but said in a hoarse voice: "It is indeed possible. In any case, it was my fault that the princess fell into the lake. If the princess wants to kill or chop me up today, I will do as you wish."
Ruan Yunsheng looked at him twice and said, "I will investigate this matter myself. Let me ask you again, do you have anything to do with my eldest brother's demotion?" Xie Yan said seriously, "The eldest son's demotion has nothing to do with me."
Ruan Yunbo disagreed and muttered, "Even if you did it, you wouldn't admit it."
Xie Yan said, "Actually, after the 'Sun and Moon Shining Jade Bi', the treasure bestowed upon the Marquisate by His Majesty, was lost, I have been sending people to track down the treasure, and I just happened to have some clues recently."
Ruan Yunsheng immediately asked, "Are you serious?"
Xie Yan nodded and was about to speak when a gust of cold wind suddenly blew into the front hall.
He coughed suddenly, his Adam's apple rolled under his collar, and even his shoulders trembled slightly.
When Xie Yan finally stopped coughing, Ruan Yunsheng couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with you?"
The storybook only said that Xie Yan was ill, but did not elaborate on the reason. Even the people in Shengjing only knew that King Xuan was in poor health and had been looking for Hanxiang Feiyuncao as a medicine.
Han Ying stood behind Xie Yan and listened to Ruan Yunsheng's questions. She immediately wanted to explain for her prince.
Xie Yan raised his hand slightly to stop Han Ying.
He said casually, "I caught a cold before and it never went away. This minor illness turned into a serious one, and that's how I look now."
Ruan Yunbo snorted coldly, his tone sarcastic: "Your Highness Prince Xuan is indeed a wealthy man. Even a little cold can make him suffer like this."
Xie Yan smiled bitterly and continued the previous topic: "The secret guard reported that half a month ago, someone saw the 'Sun and Moon Jade Bi' in the underground black market, but they are not sure whether it is genuine. I will let the secret guard continue to investigate."
Ruan Yunbo slapped his gold-sprinkled folding fan against his palm and said excitedly, "If we can recover the 'Sun and Moon Jade Bi', it will prove that Big Brother was framed. Then the charge of treason will be self-defeating, and Big Brother should be able to return to the capital!"
Ruan Yunsheng also looked at Xie Yan, "If you can really provide accurate clues, I can give you the Hanxiang Feiyun Grass as a reward..."
Just as he was about to say the word "reward," Ruan Yunsheng realized that the word wasn't quite right, especially in front of his third brother, so he changed his words and said, "As a reward, I'll give it to you."
Xie Yan was slightly stunned, then he was overjoyed!
It was actually because of him that Shengsheng took the Hanxiang Feiyun Grass!
Although it was just a condition of exchange, it was a great honor for him that Shengsheng cared about him at all, even if it meant using him!
Ruan Yunbo poured cold water on him, "Don't be too happy yet. If I find out you're lying, I'll feed that grass to pigs and dogs instead of giving it to you!"
Xie Yan nodded, "I understand."
Although he really wanted to stay with Shengsheng for a while longer, the matter had already been discussed and he had no reason to stay, so he could only get up and say goodbye.
After Xie Yan left, Ruan Yunbo looked at her sister, "Shengsheng, do you think what Xie Yan said is true or false?"
He also sent people to look for the "Sun and Moon Jade Bi", but found nothing.
Ruan Yunsheng said, "We really can't just believe Xie Yan's one-sided statement. We have to find a way to investigate on our own."
She had been missing for five years and suddenly returned, so this matter should be reported to the Empress Dowager in the palace.
Ruan Yunsheng ordered Zhishu to deliver her name card to the palace. Ruan Yunbo said, "Shengsheng, you go ahead and do your work. Third brother is going out for a while."
Ruan Yunsheng's eyes flickered slightly, "Third brother, are you going to look for Miss Bai?"
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