Chapter 17: Spitting Blood. The princess is still young.
Ah Yan is usually very composed, so anything that could make her rush must be something important.
Jing Hui quickly asked, "What happened?"
"Our people spread the word that the Second Prince went to Lianyu Palace not long ago, and we don't know what he said to the Fifth Princess, but the Fifth Princess just vomited blood and fainted!"
"What!"
Jing Hui slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and strode out. "Has the imperial physician been summoned? Prepare the carriage; I'm going to the palace!"
"yes!"
Jing Hui hurriedly left the study and bumped into Lu Songyuan, who was returning from outside, as she walked across the corridor.
Lu Qingyue and Lu Zhouxue pushed Lu Songyuan together, followed by a middle-aged man wearing a turban and looking like a scholar.
Upon seeing Jing Hui, everyone bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess. May Your Highness be well."
"Um."
Jing Hui rushed out, his eyes sweeping across everyone's faces, and left without saying much.
The group remained where they were, watching her retreating figure. Lu Qingyue remarked, "It's rare to see the princess so distraught."
Lu Songyuan withdrew his gaze from Jing Hui's fluttering hair, tapped the armrest of the wheelchair with his fingertip, and said, "Push me in."
"yes."
As soon as he reached the door of the study, the two maids began to chant as if reciting scriptures.
Everyone stood there stunned, but Lu Songyuan remained calm.
"Qingyue".
"ah?"
Lu Qingyue replied, "Yes."
Lu Zhouxue pushed Lu Songyuan into the study, served them both tea, and then closed the door.
Lu Qingyue then took the two "talking parrots" at the door to the side, and the corridor finally became quiet.
Lu Songyuan pushed the tea in his hand forward, and Yuan Wei stood up slightly to take it.
After taking a sip of tea, he looked out the window and said with a smile, "This general's mansion is really quite lively."
Lu Songyuan followed his gaze and happened to see Lu Qingyue disciplining the two maids. He said calmly, "The princess is still young, it's alright for her to make a fuss."
Yuan Wei had also witnessed this little princess lashing out at ministers in the imperial study; she didn't even blink an eye at any form of torture.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Wei was stunned, thinking to himself that perhaps only His Majesty and Lu Songyuan felt this way.
Lu Songyuan didn't want to talk to him much about Jing Hui, so he asked, "You wrote in your letter this morning that you found out about the Lu family being wiped out back then?"
"yes."
Yuan Wei straightened his face, took out an old piece of yellow paper from his pocket, gently unfolded it, and placed it in front of Lu Songyuan, saying, "General, take a look."
Lu Songyuan reached out and pulled it in front of him. After seeing the contents of the document, he looked up and asked, "Transfer order?"
"yes."
Yuan Wei said, "This is the transfer order issued by Xu Tengyuan, the current Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, when he took office."
Lu Songyuan frowned.
Because he gave detailed instructions, he only received the biographical list of those important officials in the court the day before yesterday. He vaguely remembered that the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat held an important position before Emperor Jingwen, but was not favored by Emperor Jingwen.
"What does this have to do with the Lu family?"
Yuan Wei looked at his expression and explained slowly, "Xu Tengyuan is not a native of the capital; his ancestral home is in Tangman."
"Is he also a Tangman?"
Lu Songyuan raised his eyes and asked.
"yes."
Yuan Wei said, "Back then, when the Empress Dowager and His Majesty traveled north to Tangman incognito, they encountered assassins along the way. The Empress Dowager was saved by Xu Tengyuan's daughter, who is now Consort Yue in the palace."
Lu Songyuan frowned and asked, "The Second Prince's birth mother?"
"yes."
Yuan Wei said, "After Consort Yue entered the palace, His Majesty promoted Xu Tengyuan to the position of Tangman Biejia. The governor at that time was your father, Lu Ting."
Lu Songyuan pursed his lips. "And then?"
"Ten years later, His Majesty once again traveled north to Tangman to visit him. Governor Lu, for some unknown reason, dared to provoke His Majesty in public. At that time, Governor Lu's power in Tangman was so great that he could practically control everything. His Majesty was furious, but he only punished him with a half-year salary penalty."
Yuan Wei said, "Then a year later, the Lu family was wiped out."
"Are you saying that the massacre of the Lu family is related to Consort Yue?"
Lu Songyuan looked down at the transfer order.
"This old minister is merely speculating."
Yuan Wei said, "Before coming here, I asked around and found out that when Xu Tengyuan took office as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, it was only three months before the Lu family was wiped out."
March is more than enough time to destroy the evidence and cover up the truth.
Multiple coincidences are not coincidences.
It turns out it really is related to the royal family.
Lu Songyuan's eyes darkened. "Xu Tengyuan once served as a prefectural governor. Was he a military officer?"
"yes."
Yuan Wei said, "When the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat came to the capital in his early years, he often brought his son with him. When people asked about it, he said he wanted to personally teach his son martial arts."
"He has a son?"
"I have a son and a daughter."
Yuan Wei thought for a moment and said, "It's strange, everyone knows that the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat dotes on his son, but many years ago, one day, his son suddenly left the capital and disappeared without a trace."
Lu Songyuan was not interested in his family affairs. He put down the transfer order in his hand and called Lu Qingyue in with a gloomy expression.
In front of Yuan Wei, Lu Songyuan instructed Lu Qingyue to investigate the authenticity of the transfer order.
He was also instructed to find someone to go to Tangman and investigate the events of that year.
After Lu Qingyue left, Lu Songyuan looked at Yuan Wei.
"How long did it take you to investigate these things?"
"It started with the massacre of the Lu family."
More than ten years have passed.
After Yuan Wei visited the mansion last time, Lu Songyuan secretly sent someone to investigate him. He knew that everything Yuan Wei said was true, but for some reason, Lu Songyuan was unwilling to tell Yuan Wei more.
"General and Princess, have your injuries from the last attack healed?"
After finishing his business, Yuan Wei took a sip of tea and asked Lu Songyuan, "I wonder if the general got his wish when he went to the palace the other day?"
"Um."
Lu Songyuan, leaning back in his wheelchair, still said, "Emperor Jingwen allowed me to stay in the capital for a while, which is enough to investigate."
"That's good."
Yuan Wei remembered something and said, "Oh right, just now when the general mentioned martial arts, this old minister remembered that after the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat's son left the capital, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat sent his martial arts instructors to the Second Prince's residence to teach the Second Prince martial arts."
Lu Songyuan recalled the Second Prince's appearance and couldn't help but scoff, "Is that so?"
Yuan Wei smiled and said, "General, you only see that the Second Prince is fat and strong, not like a martial artist, but you don't know that he has a special skill."
Lu Songyuan casually asked, "What?"
"Shoot an arrow."
Lu Songyuan was taken aback, "Archery?"
"Yes, the Minister's son is a first-rate archery expert. Under the tutelage of his martial arts master, the Second Prince is particularly interested in archery and always hunts the most during the autumn hunt."
Yuan Wei looked at Lu Songyuan's expression and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"The gates of the Lu family were breached by a rocket shot from a hundred miles away," Lu Songyuan said in a deep voice.
His mother and his leg were both wounded by arrows.
"But what about the rumors about the Lu family being wiped out..."
Yuan Wei paused for a moment, then sat up straight. "More than ten years ago, the Minister's son was already over ten years old. This old minister will send someone to bury him in the Second Prince's residence."
"No need."
Since his return to the capital, he has received numerous offers of favors from the princes, but Lu Songyuan has yet to meet with any of them.
He said, "I'll go myself."
Yuan Wei remained silent for a moment, not responding, but simply cupping his hands in a respectful gesture.
"General, please be careful in everything you do."
The tree split open in two, and Jing returned to the palace. After entering the Lotus Jade Hall, he saw Jing Ning with blood on the corner of his mouth and still unconscious. He immediately became furious.
She wished she could skin Jing Ao alive.
Despite being stopped by Ayu and Ayan, Jing Hui suppressed her anger and sat on the couch by the window, waiting for Zhang Lin to examine her.
The imperial physicians surrounding the bed were trembling with fear as they assisted Zhang Lin, intimidated by her imperial power. The atmosphere in the room was gloomy. Just as Jing Hui was about to lose his composure, Jing Ning coughed from the bed.
The cough was weak and feeble, with a few coughs that didn't even produce a sound. Then, Jingning coughed up blood.
"Sister!"
Jing Hui quickly went over and sat behind Jing Ning, patting her chest, and asked Zhang Lin, "Why are you still vomiting blood!"
Zhang Lin, holding Jing Ning's pulse, said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. The Fifth Princess will be fine after she vomits up this bitter blood."
As soon as she finished speaking, Jing Ning slowly woke up, and Jing Hui quickly called out, "Sister, are you feeling better?"
Upon hearing Jing Hui's voice, Jing Ning grabbed her hand and held it tightly.
Jing Hui frowned and called out, "Sister?"
"Um."
Zhang Lin released Jing Ning's wrist and said, "The Fifth Princess was so angry that she coughed up blood from her chest. Now that she has vomited it out and taken a few doses of medicine, she will be much better."
His medical skills are still reliable, Jing Hui said, "Okay, thank you very much, Your Excellency."
"Your Highness is too kind. We shall take our leave now to prepare the medicine."
"Go."
After everyone left the room, Ayu and Jingning's two maids came forward to help her change clothes and wash up. During the process, Jingning never let go of Jinghui's hand.
After everything was tidied up, it was already late at night. Zhang Lin brewed the medicine, and the maids brought over the bowl. Jing Ning closed her eyes and drank it.
It was well past mealtime. After taking the medicine, the servants brought out the evening meal.
Jingning wouldn't let go, so Jinghui personally fed her. After she finished eating, Jingning finally spoke.
"Ah Zhu, why don't you stay and keep your older sister company tonight?"
Jing Hui paused for a moment while wiping her hands with the handkerchief, and without hesitation or asking why, immediately nodded in agreement.
Turning to Ayu, she said, "Go and report to the Empress Dowager."
Ah Yu turned and walked out: "Yes."
Jing thought for a moment and then added, "Send someone to the General's Mansion again to inform Lu Songyuan."
"yes."
That night, the two lay in bed under the same blanket, just like when they were children.
Jing Hui asked Jing Ning what Jing Ao had said when he came here. Jing Ning seemed reluctant to talk about it, so Jing Hui shut up and instead told her some funny stories from her childhood, which made Jing Ning giggle.
Just before bedtime, Jingning held her and patted her back, just like the Empress had used to lull Jingning to sleep when she was a child.
The elder sister's embrace was fragrant and soft, quite different from Lu Songyuan's suffocating force. Jing Hui adjusted to a comfortable position in Jing Ning's arms and hummed softly.
Why would I want to think about him? I don't want to think about him.
After that day, Jing Hui stayed with Jing Ning at Lianyu Palace for five days in a row. Although he didn't get any information out of her, he managed to help her recover quite a bit.
Over the course of five days, after spending time with Jingning at Lianyu Palace, she went to Yangxin Hall to keep the unconscious Emperor Jingwen company.
After Emperor Jingwen fell into a deep sleep, he did not wake up for five days. Jing Hui, along with Lian Zhong, presided over a grand court assembly, and saw that the princes were becoming increasingly restless.
Fortunately, there are still veteran officials in the court to suppress them, so they can't cause any trouble for the time being.
That afternoon, after Jing Hui and Jing Ning finished their lunch together, they prepared to leave the palace and return home.
She is already married, and it is a sensitive period for the court. It is inconvenient for her to act independently anymore, otherwise she will attract unwanted attention and cause trouble everywhere.
After speaking with Jingning, Jingning looked reluctant but forced a smile and nodded, saying, "Okay, be careful on the road."
Jing Hui comforted Jing Ning and said solemnly, "Sister, if you don't want to say what Jing Ao said when he came here last time, I won't ask. If Jing Ao comes again next time, I will have someone stop him at the door and will definitely not let him in to disturb you again. Just focus on recovering from your injuries."
Jingning replied, "Okay."
Jing Hui felt a sudden pang of sadness. She stayed with Jing Ning for a while longer before turning to leave.
As they left the palace, Ayu noticed the thin layer of dark circles under Jing Hui's eyes and said, "Princess, a letter just arrived from the palace saying that the carriage is waiting outside the palace gate. You've been very tired these past few days, let's go back and rest quickly."
Dealing with sensitive patients is more mentally exhausting than physically demanding.
"It's alright."
A small flame burned in Jing Hui's eyes. "Let's go to Jing Ao's palace first."
"ah?"
The palaces of the princes and princesses were located on opposite sides of the palace, with the princes' palaces on the east side and the princesses' palaces on the west side.
After passing through the Imperial Garden, and walking a short distance further, you will arrive at Jing Ao's palace.
Before even stepping into the palace gates, Jing Hui smelled a sweet, cloying fragrance.
Jing Ao loves to burn this kind of cloying fragrance.
Jing Hui wrinkled her nose, strode in, and stood in the courtyard, shouting, "Jing Ao, get out here for me, this princess!"
The palace servants dared not stop him, kneeling beside Jing Hui with their heads bowed, not daring to speak.
"They have the guts to do it, but not the guts to admit it."
Jing replied, "How long can you hide from this princess!"
"Oh, my princess, how could you possibly trouble yourself to come all this way?"
With a crowing sound like a rooster, a person ran out of the main hall; it was Xiang Lai, Jing Ao's personal eunuch.
Xianglai followed his master, his fat jiggling as he ran. He jiggled to Jing Hui, knelt down and performed a grand salute, saying, "This old servant greets Your Highness the Princess."
Jing Hui was never polite to those around Jing Ao. "Enough nonsense, tell Jing Ao to get out here for this princess."
Xianglai looked embarrassed and quickly apologized: "Your Highness, His Highness left the palace a long time ago. He's really not in the palace. If the princess doesn't believe me, feel free to search inside!"
"This princess finds him disgusting."
Jing Hui was determined not to enter Jing Ao's palace. She said disdainfully, "If he's not here, fine. But you can tell him that I, the princess, am not done with him about my sister's matter."
"Yes, yes," Xianglai replied in succession.
"snort."
Jing Hui didn't want to stay in this place for even a moment longer. As she turned to leave, she happened to run into someone from the Imperial Clothing Bureau who came to deliver newly made clothes to Jing Ao.
Jing Hui glanced at it and knew that the fabric was gold cloth from the Southern Frontier. It was quite good that the amount sent in a year could make such a set of clothes.
"stop."
Jing Hui called out to the group and said to Xiang Lai behind her, "Bring this princess a pair of scissors."
"this……"
Xianglai was in a dilemma. Jinghui turned his head and gave him a cold look, but dared not disobey. "Yes."
When the scissors were in Jing Hui's hands, she picked up the clothes on the tray and stabbed them with the scissors.
"Princess!"
Xianglai was startled and immediately knelt on the ground, pleading, "Princess, please have mercy! Oh dear, this is the only treasure you have!"
"Shut up! Shouting again will pierce your throat."
Jing Hui cut the garment into shreds, tossed the scissors onto the tray, glanced at Xiang Lai, and said, "Throw it on Jing Ao's bed."
Once outside Jing'ao Palace, Jing Hui felt much better. She raised her chin and said, "Let's go home."
"yes."
The two walked together to the palace gate, and Jing Hui saw the general's carriage from afar, and Lu Qingyue standing by the carriage.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Jing Hui nodded. "Mm."
As winter approached, the carriage was fitted with slightly thicker curtains. Lu Qingyue pulled up the curtains and invited Jing Hui to get into the carriage.
Jing Hui took two steps forward and suddenly smelled a fragrance wafting from the carriage. This fragrance was exactly the same as the cloying smell he had just smelled in Jing Ao Palace.
There was another person sitting inside the car.
Lu Qingyue stretched out his arm and said, "Princess, please get into the carriage."
Jing Hui helped him into the carriage. She glanced at Lu Songyuan, who was sitting upright in his wheelchair, and felt even more strongly that the fragrance was coming from Lu Songyuan.
Lu Songyuan remained the same as before. He said, "It's been a long time. I've come to take Your Highness home."
Jing Hui gave a soft "Mmm".
The two were not familiar with each other to begin with, and after not seeing each other for several days, they became even more estranged. After exchanging a few words and sitting for a while, Jing Hui smelled the sweet fragrance even more strongly.
She glanced at Lu Songyuan.
Lu Songyuan noticed Jing Hui's gaze and asked, "What's wrong?"
Jing Hui frowned, then suddenly leaned closer to Lu Songyuan.
Lu Songyuan immediately moved back a bit, which displeased Jing Hui. She grabbed Lu Songyuan's collar and leaned closer to him while holding onto the armrest of his wheelchair.
With her nostrils flaring, Jing Hui leaned over Lu Songyuan's collarbone and sniffed hard. After a moment, she looked up and asked.
"Lu Songyuan, where did you go just now?"
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