Feng Ling returned to the Shen Residence, and unlike Xie Lin’s sleepy state, he was brimming with energy.
He was not the type to deny himself breaks. While Xie Lin had been interrogating inconsequential people, he took the time to get several rounds of sleep. Although he was sleeping, his ears, however, never rested. He made sure to listen to every part of the interrogation. He found that viewing the situation from the perspective of a bystander had in fact made things much clearer.
When he arrived, it was just in time for breakfast.
After washing his face, Feng Ling sat at the table, grabbed a bun and began to eat. Instantly, he felt much better after having something in his stomach. He then began to recount the events to Su Rong.
After hearing Feng Ling’s account, Su Rong raised her eyebrows, "The Crown Prince’s wife ordered the execution of Lipin’s family?"
"Yes, it was Lipin’s father, Uncle Kang Le, and her second uncle. We arrived too late, they both killed themselves." Feng Ling grabbed another bun, and paused as he chewed, "The ones who were onto them are dead as well. We don’t know who they were. The case still needs to be further investigated to figure out the full situation."
Su Rong pondered, "Who do you suspect?"
Feng Ling declared: "The person behind the scenes definitely isn’t Lipin."
If Lipin were ruthless enough to harm her own biological father, she wouldn’t have kept quiet in the palace all these years. The fourth prince Yan Shen is only fifteen years old now and has always been overshadowed by his three elder brothers, one of whom is the formidable Crown Prince. If Lipin were smart, she’d know that if she and her son had ambition, they would lay low, and refrain from doing anything lest they give someone an opportunity to extinguish any sparks of rebellion. It’s all too easy.
Su Rong nodded, "There’s the Imperial Pharmacy involved and also Zhao Fei, which indicates that this is a large net that can’t be cast in just a day or two. If I’m not mistaken, didn’t Zhao Fei accumulate his wealth about ten years ago?"
"Yes, Zhao Fei was a very successful businessman. In just ten years, he became a well-known tea merchant in the city." replied Feng Ling.
"No one can become successful without any help, even if they have talent. There must be someone behind Zhao Fei, it’s all too convenient. Is Zhao Fei and his father still kept inside the palace right now?" asked Su Rong.
Feng Ling nodded, "Yes."
Su Rong ordered, "Go to the Rui’an King’s Residence again and send a message to Rui’an King. Ask him to go to the palace as soon as possible to get Zhao Fei and his father out of there for investigation. There is something off about Zhao Fei."
Feng Ling immediately realized something and paused his actions, "Sister, what if I go sneak into the palace to snatch Zhao Fei out? If I go to the Rui’an King’s Residence and ask him to go into the palace, we might be too late."
Su Rong shook her head, "We need to be a step too late. Otherwise, how will we give those in the palace a chance to make their move?"
Su Rong deliberated, "Some people only know about silencing people by killing them, cutting off the clues. But they don’t realize that there will be traces as long as they make a move. Particularly the wily businessmen, they must have a backup plan to spare their own lives. Besides, the palace is the Emperor’s territory, a symbol of supreme power. If His Majesty learns that someone dared to commit a murder under his rule, what do you think will happen? Would that not cause the Emperor to fly into a great rage?"
Feng Ling understood, his eyes lighting up, "I’ll go immediately."
He quickly finished his bun, wiped his mouth with a napkin, got up, and left.
When Feng Ling arrived at Rui’an King’s Residence, and asked to see Rui’an King, the guards at the door immediately let him in.
Rui’an King was just about to go into the palace. The information he received yesterday was far too significant, and he needed to inform His Majesty about the progress of their investigation. As soon as he heard that Feng Ling had come, he ordered his servants to invite him in.
Upon seeing Rui’an King, Feng Ling greeted him ceremoniously and immediately stated his purpose of coming.
Rui’an King thanked him, "Thank you, Master Feng. I was just preparing to go into the palace. I must thank you once again for your assistance with our investigations yesterday."
If it hadn’t been for Eastern Palace and Feng Ling who stopped Ning Ze and brought him back, the case wouldn’t have been able to progress further because Ning Yao refused to confess. Rui’an King felt grateful for this.
Feng Ling gave a cheeky grin, "It’s all right, Your Highness. Just don’t find me troublesome. There’s no need to thank me, after all, who would let the case be a conspiracy against my sister. We naturally couldn’t ignore it. Ever since we were little, my sister can bear anything except for being wronged. Whoever dares to threaten her must bear the consequences."
Rui’an King thought about it and found that Feng Ling was right, wasn’t he? Yesterday, Ning Ze indeed paid a heavy price.
He chuckled and nodded, "In that case, I won’t say thank you anymore. Master Feng, if you have any news, feel free to inform me. I too wish to close this case as soon as possible."
He hoped that he could get through this difficult case unscathed. He just hoped he wouldn’t get sucked into it and devoured by others. He never had high demands.
Feng Ling laughed and said, "Sure."
Rui’an King then entered the palace and at the gate of the palace, he ran into Sheng An, the eldest Imperial Princess who was also heading into the palace.
The Grand Imperial Princess Sheng rarely entered the palace. Yet, today she was entering the palace. He greeted her, "Grand Imperial Princess!"
Sheng An did not have to leave her carriage as her carriage could drive straight in through the palace gates. She greeted Rui’an King through her carriage curtain, "Your Highness, you are going to see His Majesty? I am also going to see His Majesty, let’s go together."
Rui’an King nodded, "As you wish, Grand Imperial Princess!"
"You come up here and join me!" Sheng An beckoned.
As she was one generation older than Rui’an King, he thanked her and then climbed into Sheng An’s carriage.
Inside the carriage, Sheng An asked Rui’an King, "How is the case that His Majesty has handed over to you coming along?"
Rui’an King replied, "The case is progressing, but it is extremely tricky."
Sheng An did not probe any further, "Normally, for such major cases one after another, the Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple would fully cooperate with you. But now, the Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple are as if they exist in name only. You have to do it alone. Even the jail cells of the Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple can’t be trusted. It’s ridiculous. There was never an empire in history where the culprits dare not be held in the jails of the Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple. It’s truly unprecedented for our Daliang dynasty."
Rui An sighed, thinking to himself that only the Grand Imperial Princess dared to talk like this!
"How do you think of the Crown Prince?" Sheng An suddenly changed the topic and asked.
Rui’an King immediately replied, "The Crown Prince has an imperial demeanor, excellent character, and a righteous mentality. It’s a blessing for Daliang to have such a Crown Prince."
Sheng An laughed, "But for years, the Crown Prince has been intimidated, on guard, and suppressed. His Majesty supports the eldest Prince and the second Prince which results in the Crown Prince being overshadowed. This has led to the current murky situation in the court. What do you think about the current court situation?"
Rui’an King could only wonder, how could he view the current situation, whichever way he looked at it, it seemed a bit precarious!
Sheng An did not seem to expect him to answer, she just sighed, "Your Highness is an upright man, I hope Daliang does not repeat its past mistakes."
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