Chapter 64 Li Huaiyan is missing
Xiao Yuan's eyes darkened, and he ordered, "Go to the government office and check the files to see if there are any local residents in the capital. Call them over and ask them."
Ling Chenyi's eyes lit up, "Yeah, look at me, I was so busy watching the fun that I neglected it."
After saying that, he turned and walked to the door of the study, whispered a few instructions, and someone immediately went to do it.
——
"I worked so hard for several days, but it was all in vain."
Mrs. Shen muttered with some complaints and sighed.
She glanced at her husband and children who were sitting quietly drinking tea, and her brows furrowed even more tightly. Why was she the only one who was upset? Aren’t they anxious at all?
"My dear, what do you think we should do about this?"
She felt depressed. It was such a nice banquet, but why did the Fourth Prince suddenly interfere?
Shen Wen put down his teacup, glanced at his son and daughter, and said, "It is also the scholar's blessing to be defeated by the Fourth Prince and compete with him."
It wouldn't be shameful if the news got out, after all, he lost to the proud son of Daliang.
"Dad is right." Shen Changhe replied calmly, "He is lucky to have the opportunity to compete with the Fourth Prince. He will be well-known in the capital in the future."
With the title of the Fourth Prince, Zhang Yeyang might be able to get some benefits.
Mrs. Shen sneered with amusement, “You two, father and son, are really good at comforting yourselves.”
Shen Wen smiled, and his dark and sad old eyes met Shen Changhe's. Both father and son were worried.
However, in front of Madam Shen and Shen Anan, the two of them concealed it as quickly as possible and returned to normal.
"Madam, you just need to take care of He'er's marriage and An'an's betrothal gift. Your husband will take care of everything else."
After hearing this, Mrs. Shen had no choice but to nod her head, "Okay, then I will go to Xiangjue Temple again tomorrow to set a date. I will feel relieved if they find a home early."
Shen Wen nodded, and at the end he gave another instruction, "Try to get engaged earlier."
Madam Shen frowned, "My daughter is still young, why are you so anxious? Are you afraid that someone will snatch her away?"
If her daughter didn't really want to, she would never agree to arrange a marriage for her now.
"Mom, I'm afraid that everyone in the court is keeping an eye on our Shen family now. It's better for my sister to settle down as soon as possible so that she can feel at ease." Shen Changhe also spoke in agreement.
Mrs. Shen sighed heavily, somewhat reluctantly, “Okay, I get it.”
For the first time, she was somewhat displeased with her husband and eldest son's extraordinary official positions and abilities. Otherwise, the Shen family would not have been walking on thin ice and living in fear.
Shen Wen thought for a while and said, "An An, when we come back from Xiangjue Temple, ask that young master to stay at your house for a few days and tell others that he has become my disciple."
Before Shen Anan could speak, Madam Shen began to question, “He is a scholar, and you are a warrior. Can others believe what you said?”
Shen Wen raised his eyebrows. "Although I am a military officer, I have been working in the court for decades. I am more than qualified to teach a rookie. What right do outsiders have to comment on this?"
"Besides, although we have checked his family background, we are not familiar with this person. We should take a closer look before making a decision."
Innocence can be pretended. After years of being immersed in officialdom, Shen Wen knows very well how scheming those poor students can be in order to get ahead.
"Yes, my daughter will send someone to inform him when we return from Xiangjue Temple."
The family of four happily talked about other things until they had dinner and then went back home.
Winter mornings are particularly cold, but the adults from various families attend the morning court in front of the palace regardless of rain or shine.
"Master." Qing'an hurried to Xiao Yuan and whispered, "Mrs. Shen took Miss Shen to Xiangjue Temple again."
Xiao Yuan raised his eyes and glanced at Shen Wen who was not far away. His brows were cold and he said "hmm" lightly.
He didn't say anything else.
Qing'an looked up at his master, and after making sure that he had no other instructions, he quietly stood behind him.
Even he guessed what Madam Shen intended to do by going to Xiangjue Temple this time, but the master just hummed and did nothing?
The palace gate opened, and the court officials filed in. Xiao Yuan walked forward a few steps, frowned, glanced back, and asked Yibian Qing'an, "Where is Li Huaiyan? Why haven't I seen him these days?"
"Maybe... a new girl came to some brothel, and Master Li is so happy that he doesn't want to leave anymore?"
It’s not that such things have never happened before; on the contrary, they happen all the time.
Xiao Yuan frowned and said, "Take him to the Prince's Palace."
"yes."
Today's court meeting ended very quickly. All the previous cases were resolved. Now that all the departments have reported to the court, it was just a simple process.
At the palace gate, Xiao Yuan, who was about to leave, was suddenly stopped by someone from behind.
He turned back, his cold eyes darkened again, "Second brother."
The second prince was accompanied by an old minister who bowed to Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Ze smiled and said, "Fourth brother has made such a great sacrifice and has put in so much effort. Second brother thought he could drink in your wedding wine, but he didn't expect that there has been no movement yet."
"Fourth brother, please don't make wedding clothes for others."
Xiao Yuan's thin lips curled up in a cold arc, "Then don't bother me, second brother. If you have the time, you should first pacify the Second Prince's mansion and the backyard."
Xiao Ze looked a little ugly.
His imperial consort had only one daughter, and she became pregnant afterwards. In order to consolidate his power, he took in many women from official families. With so many women, there was bound to be trouble, and the noise gave him a headache. But the forces behind them were so intertwined that he could not do anything and could only coax them.
After a long time, he became very troubled.
Xiao Yuan calmly withdrew his gaze and glanced at the old minister beside him, "Duke Li has been following my second brother closely these days. Could it be that he also wants to send his daughter to the Second Prince's mansion to get close to him?"
"No, no, old minister..." Duke Li lowered his head and cold sweat dripped down his face.
He has always been a fence-sitter. When the gods fight, don't involve a little devil like him.
After all, the Duke's Mansion today is not what it used to be. It has no real power and is just hanging on by a title.
"Your Highness, you are joking. I am not very knowledgeable and I don't have that blessing."
Even if she gets in, she'll just be a concubine, not the prince's wife. How can that be considered as trying to curry favor with a rich and powerful person?
Xiao Yuan twitched his lips, "Duke Li is quite self-aware. If he had a better ability to judge people, the Duke's Mansion wouldn't have fallen into such a state."
Duke Li smiled, "The Fourth Prince is right."
Xiao Ze's eyelids twitched violently. He glared at Duke Li coldly, then followed him and knelt down before Xiao Yuan.
Duke Li was not very successful in official circles, but he was very good at reading people's expressions. When he received Xiao Ze's gaze, he immediately straightened his back, but cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Xiao Yuan was too lazy to argue with them any more, so he walked out of the palace gate.
Duke Li bent his waist again, "Second Prince..."
"I haven't seen your son around the fourth brother recently. Where is he?" Xiao Ze asked indifferently.
"Oh, that rebellious son is really ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. I have locked him up at home. Don't worry, Second Prince. I will never let him get involved in these matters again."
Xiao Ze tilted his head to glance at him, smiled and said nothing.
Li Huaiyan has been following Xiao Yuan for quite some time. If this old man really had the final say, he would have already warned Li Huaiyan to keep out of trouble.
I'm afraid that if Xiao Yuan calls him away and says a few words to him, he will immediately turn against us.
He stopped in front of the carriage and said meaningfully, "Duke, please don't forget how that person died. If my fourth brother were to rule the nine states in the future, I'm afraid Duke Li's Mansion wouldn't even be able to be a grasshopper anymore."
Duke Li trembled, his head almost shrank into his collar, his face was as pale as paper, "I will never forget, Second Prince, rest assured."
Xiao Ze patted his shoulder, smiled with satisfaction, turned around and got on the carriage.
After the carriage left, Duke Li slowly raised his bent back and stared in the direction of the palace gate for a long time without moving.
"Master, it's time to go back. If it's too late, the Duke's wife might be unhappy again."
The servant whispered a reminder.
Duke Li's waist seemed to bend a lot more. He responded in a low voice and quickly got into the carriage.
——
After returning to the Fourth Prince's Mansion, Xiao Yuan went directly to the study and asked, "Have you found Li Huaiyan?"
Qing An shook his head, frowning, "I searched every brothel and wine shop, but couldn't find him."
"Master, do you think it could be..."
This kind of thing has happened before.
The Duke Li's Mansion is run by the Duke's wife, Zhang. Although Master Li is the son of the Duke's Mansion, he is just an unwelcome son of a concubine. Before he met his mistress, his life was extremely difficult.
If the person cannot be found, it is very likely that he is being held captive at home by Zhang.
"But the master has already warned Duke Li and Zhang, and they have been living in peace for the past few years. Why did it suddenly become like this?"
Xiao Yuan frowned tightly and didn't speak for a while.
He thought of Duke Li who had been servile to Xiao Ze in front of the palace today.
Zhang's maternal family was relatively prosperous, therefore, Duke Li was not in charge of the family at all. The Duke's Mansion was able to survive to this day thanks to Zhang's maternal family, so it was considered to be independent.
"Go check what happened in Duke Li's mansion recently and what connection Xiao Ze has with it."
It is very likely that Xiao Ze had caught Duke Li with some evidence, otherwise he would not dare to do anything to Li Huaiyan even if he had the courage.
"No need." A cold and serious voice suddenly came from outside the study.
Not long after, Ling Chenyi pushed the door open and walked in, his gentle and handsome face now covered with frost.
"Prince Ling." Qing'an bowed.
Ling Chenyi nodded, sat down opposite Xiao Yuan, and handed over a stack of things in his hand.
Xiao Yuan frowned and looked at it for a few times, his eyes instantly becoming extremely sharp.
Ling Chenyi said calmly, "I just happened to learn yesterday that among the people who assassinated my mother at Xiangjue Temple that day, there was also the Zhang family."
The death of Concubine Shu was closely related to the Second Prince and his mother. They guessed that some ministers were involved, but they never expected it to be the Zhang family.
"Assassinating the princess of the dynasty is a capital crime. If they were not desperate and afraid that we would pursue the death of the Concubine Shu, they would definitely not take such a big risk."
It is precisely because of this that the reason why the Zhang family is so desperate is because they feel guilty.
The Zhang family has long stood on the same side as the second prince Xiao Ze, and the Li Guogong Mansion has long been controlled by the Zhang family and has become a puppet of the Zhang family. The two prosper and suffer together.
The study fell into a brief silence. Xiao Yuan slammed his fist on the desk, his handsome face extremely gloomy.
"This matter has finally made some progress. You must stay calm and not get angry." Ling Chenyi reminded in a low voice.
"Yeah." After a long time, Xiao Yuan calmed down and responded softly.
His right hand was red, but he felt no pain, only numbness in his heart.
"Duke Li's mansion is now in your hands. No matter what, you must bring Li Huaiyan out."
"Don't worry." Ling Chenyi assured seriously.
The three of them have known each other for several years and have supported each other through thick and thin. It is simply a dream for the Zhang family and Xiao Ze to use Li Huaiyan to restrain them at the critical moment.
Ling Chenyi's eyes flashed, and he sneered, "There is a good opportunity right now."
Xiao Yuan raised his eyes to look at him, and Ling Chenyi explained calmly, "The Second Prince took the youngest daughter of the Minister of Personnel as his concubine two months ago, and I heard that she is pregnant now."
The lack of offspring has always been a concern for Xiao Ze, and exchanging that woman for Li Huaiyan is the perfect choice.
"Ministry of Personnel?" Xiao Yuan frowned, "Wang Ganzhi's daughter?"
"Exactly." Ling Chenyi was a little surprised, "You know her?"
Xiao Yuan shook his head. "I don't know him. You can do whatever you want. But Wang Ganzhi is not a good person. You should be careful."
"Don't worry." After finishing his business, Ling Chenyi leaned back in the rocking chair, his eyes fixed on Xiao Yuan, "I think after we come back from burning incense today, Miss Shen's marriage should be settled. Do you have a plan in mind?"
Xiao Yuan's expressionless face paused for a moment. Although there was no change, there were turbulent waves in his eyes.
"After these two busy days."
Ling Chenyi raised his eyebrows, "Everything waits for people, but this one doesn't."
He leaned forward, half leaning on the desk, half jokingly, "Aren't you afraid that by the time you're done, everything will be settled, and there's no going back."
Xiao Yuan slowly closed his five fingers and remained silent for a while.
Ling Chenyi smiled, "I see you are not busy, but you clearly don't know how to start. You are afraid that Miss Shen's temper will make you an enemy, right?"
Xiao Yuan still didn't speak.
"How about this? I'll help you. Although I can't completely eradicate the problem, I can still help you get some time off."
After a while, Xiao Yuan nodded inconspicuously, and at the end he reminded, "Be careful."
"rest assured."
After Ling Chenyi left, Xiao Yuan finally raised his eyes, staring blankly at a certain spot in the study.
After a while, he called Qingfeng in and asked, "How long does it take to get from Jiangnan to the capital?"
"If I ride a horse..."
"Woman, please hurry up," Xiao Yuan interrupted him and asked, "How long will it take?"
Qingfeng was stunned for a moment, but still answered seriously, "If ordinary people are traveling, it will take at least a month if they don't rely on a carriage. If they take a carriage, it will probably take about half a month."
Half moon.
Xiao Yuan narrowed his dark eyes slightly. Half a month was too long and he was afraid that he could not wait that long. He waved his hand, and Qingfeng's eyelids twitched. He approached with a puzzled look on his face.
Xiao Yuan whispered a few words, and Qingfeng's eyes widened, then slowly recovered, and he immediately responded, "Master, rest assured, I will make sure that the Zhang sisters arrive in the capital within ten days."
"Yeah." Qingfeng stepped back, and Xiao Yuan picked up the letter on the table and opened it.
It was handed back by Jiangnan, saying that after her husband passed away, Zhang Yeyang's elder sister brought her younger sister to Beijing alone.
It was considered a great help to him when he was extremely busy. Xiao Yuan curled the corners of his mouth, and the letter turned into ashes in his hands.
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