Chapter 19: Suspicion shrouded "How could Linglong be related to the Five Stones Powder?!...
Min Shi'an had no interest in the rotten wood, but Yu Linglong was unexpectedly smart and often coaxed her with sweet words to make her happy.
However, after just a few days of study, Yu Linglong's poems have already taken shape as a masterpiece, and the text is quite spiritual.
"Nowadays, the people of the Western Regions have all learned Chinese, but I am even luckier. I was personally taught by the legitimate princess of the Great Jin Dynasty. This is a blessing that many people can only envy!"
Yu Linglong played with the pigtails on her chest, ran over skipping and jumping, and flattered him generously with a series of nice words, never repeating herself.
Min Shian couldn't help laughing. She took a sip of tea, rubbed Yu Linglong's head, and sighed, "If only Shi Le had one-tenth of your intelligence, that would be great."
Chun Tao hurried over from outside and leaned over to whisper in Min Shi'an's ear, "Master, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel has personally brought people to arrest His Highness Linglong."
Min Shian's expression remained unchanged as he asked calmly, "Have you read the document?"
Chun Tao nodded and replied in a barely audible voice, "I've read it. It was written by the Minister of State."
"Then please."
Min Shian's face darkened. After spending the past few days together, she could tell that Min Shile had feelings for Yu Linglong. But if this matter was really related to Yu Linglong...
"Royal sister, what's going on?" Min Shile blinked, tilted his head to glance at Chuntao's receding figure, then turned back and asked, "What happened?"
Min Shian didn't answer. His dark eyes stared straight at Yu Linglong and he asked in a deep voice, "Do you know about the Five Stones Powder?"
"Five Stones Powder?" Yu Linglong nodded naturally, thinking that Min Shi'an was testing her. She responded fluently, "This substance was very popular a few years ago. It's addictive and extremely harmful to the body. I know that."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Minister of State arrived with a group of people. Everyone greeted them loudly, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Third Prince and His Royal Highness the Princess."
"Your Excellency, there is no need to be so polite."
Min Shile and Yu Linglong looked at the newcomer with confusion on their faces, but when they saw that Min Shian did not look angry, they did not ask any questions.
The Minister of State gave a look, and two men headed towards Yu Linglong. Before they attacked, they whispered, "Excuse me."
After saying that, he took Yu Linglong hostage and brought her before the Minister of the Capital.
Yu Linglong looked at the situation before her, and combined with Min Shi'an's questions just now, she instantly knew why she was arrested. She did not struggle, but looked up at the Minister of the Capital and said calmly, "Why is this happening, sir?"
"The Western Regions have long been under the tutelage of the Great Jin, and I am considered a guest of honor. What have I done to deserve such treatment from you, my Lord?"
Upon hearing this, the Minister of the Imperial Household brought the document to Yu Linglong and said, "This is written by the Minister of the Imperial Household himself. I will handle it impartially. Your Highness, please accompany me."
Min Shile finally reacted at this moment. Regardless of Min Shian's attempts to stop him, he shouted, "Absurd! Linglong has been with me all day long. What could she have done to alarm the Minister of State?!"
After saying that, he strode to Yu Linglong's side, his eyes red as he pried the officer's hand that was holding Yu Linglong down, and shouted angrily, "Let her go!"
However, he was so weak that he couldn't even tie a chicken. The officer's hand was like an iron clamp, and he couldn't move at all.
Upon seeing this, the Minister of State handed him the document and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Third Prince, this is written by the Minister of State. Please take a look."
Min Shile snatched the document and, after reading its contents, his body trembled and his eyes turned red. He said, "How could Linglong be related to the Five Stones Powder?! This is complete nonsense!"
The Minister of State pursed his lips, looked at Min Shian who was sitting in the pavilion, and said, "Your Highness."
"Min Duanxiang, come back."
Min Shian leaned against the table with one hand against his brow, and said lazily, "Don't make me say it again."
Min Shile stubbornly stood beside Yu Linglong, ignoring everything and standing still like a stone.
"Shi Le, don't worry. It must be a misunderstanding. The Minister of the Court and the Governor are very observant. Don't worry." Seeing this, Yu Linglong hurriedly whispered to comfort him, fearing that he would do something stupid.
Min Shile then reluctantly left, looking back every few steps, and returned to stand beside Min Shian, staring at Yu Linglong with a worried look on his face.
"Your Highnesses, I'll take my leave." The Minister of Public Security bowed and left with Yu Linglong and the other entourage.
After the person left, Min Shile asked in a trembling voice, full of confusion: "Royal sister, what does Song Sheng mean by this? Linglong clearly has never done this!"
Min Shi'an waved his hand and replied, "Ever since you two came to the mansion to study, Song Yanxuan has been investigating Yu Linglong. I'm afraid he has solid evidence now."
Without waiting for Min Shile's reply, she continued without question, "Song Yanxuan would never do anything rash about the Five Stones Powder. If it's indeed related to Yu Linglong, then you should just give up on it."
Then she drove Min Shile back to the Third Prince's Mansion and ordered him not to go out today and to study hard in the mansion.
Min Shile clenched his fists and left angrily, but he could do nothing. He was used to being free and uninstructed, and was truly unlearned. He knew nothing about the affairs of the court and was not as knowledgeable as his royal sister.
At the critical moment, he can only be slaughtered like a fish in the pond, and he can't even protect his loved ones.
After he left, Min Shian immediately went to the Song Mansion. Yu Linglong was temporarily detained at the capital's office. Song Sheng should not be busy at the moment, but he might not have time to see her tomorrow.
"What did you find out?" Min Shi'an didn't waste any words and went straight to the point. "Yu Linglong is still in the princess's residence. Your Excellency took her away from my residence without informing me in advance. Isn't that inappropriate?"
Song Sheng briefly looked up from the pile of documents to glance at Min Shian, then quickly said while reviewing the documents: "This happened suddenly, and I did not think carefully enough. Your Highness, please forgive me."
"My subordinate Song Chen discovered in Yuntong that a small amount of Five Stones Powder was mixed into the spices shipped from the Western Regions to Cangzhou, and that the caravan belonged to Concubine Yu Linglong."
After Song Sheng finished speaking, he stopped talking and concentrated on reviewing the documents.
Yu Linglong is a legitimate princess. Although the existence of the royal family in the Western Regions is just a decoration to the outside world, the people there still respect the royal family members.
The princess of the Western Regions should not have to worry about money, so why would she get involved in business affairs?
She lowered her eyes, immersed in her own thoughts, and did not notice that Song Sheng had stopped writing and looked at her for a long time.
"Years ago, a family of incense makers in the Western Regions offended the princess and their entire family was exiled. Their spice business was then taken over by the princess. Since it was profitable, the princess reluctantly sent someone to run it until now."
Song Sheng coughed lightly a few times and continued, "The King and Princess of the Western Regions are already on their way to the capital and will arrive soon."
Perhaps because he has been busy recently, his face looks a little pale and he has become thinner.
Min Shian nodded in understanding and said, "I am relieved that you are doing your job, sir. Please take a good rest. I will be leaving first."
"Farewell, Your Highness."
As soon as she returned to the mansion, Chun Tao came to greet her and said, "Master, the Minister of Rites is waiting in the main hall."
Min Shi'an immediately quickened his pace and asked, "When did he arrive?"
"Just now."
The scenery in Yu Guangzhong's eyes became blurry shadows. Min Shian walked quickly and soon arrived at the main hall.
She spoke first, waving her hand and saying, "No need to be so polite. How about Cangzhou?"
"The spices transported by that caravan did contain Five Stones Powder, but the princess of the Western Regions didn't seem to be aware of the situation. There might be something hidden behind it."
Xie Zhuangyi bowed and first told Min Shian the key information. Then, after Min Shian sat down, he slowly told him what happened during the trip to Cangzhou.
At first, he worked as a handyman in the caravan, doing only manual labor and not touching the goods. However, the only way from the Western Regions to Yuntong was through a canyon. The canyon was dark and narrow, and he had to go through a dark and narrow tunnel that was a hundred steps long.[1]
Xie Zhuangyi took advantage of this opportunity to fish in troubled waters and shrank closer to the cargo. The cargo was surrounded by experts who were closely guarding it, so he didn't dare to get too close.
But his sense of smell was naturally more sensitive than that of others, which was why he came here in person. He still smelled a hint of fishy odor in the strong fragrance, which irritated his nasal cavity.
He followed the caravan back and forth several times, and each time he could smell the faint, unique scent of Five Stones Powder in the canyon tunnel.
Later, there was chaos in the Western Regions and the caravan was detained. He then learned that Song Sheng had something against the king and the princess. He had to give up the idea of getting evidence, sneaked out and observed from afar the team escorting the king and the princess one day, and then rode back to the capital at full speed.
Min Shian frowned after hearing this and asked, "How long will the caravan be in the tunnel?"
"A quarter of an hour." Xie Zhuangyi, who had memorized the route, replied without hesitation, "It's only a hundred steps, but it's pitch black inside. Torches wouldn't help. It's also narrow, congested, and full of gravel, so the team has to be extremely careful."
“That’s why I had the opportunity to get close.”
Min Shian nodded and said, "You've worked hard these days. You should go back home and rest soon."
After Xie Zhuangyi left, she closed her eyes and thought for a long time. If this was not done by the Princess of the Western Regions, then the problem could only have occurred in the tunnel. Although there were experts guarding it, there were too many things that could happen.
She was more inclined to believe that someone had framed her, and that this move would not benefit the Western Regions at all.
Yu Linglong is in Shangjing City. Her movements are completely transparent and she has no time to commit the crime. She is temporarily detained pending trial only because she is related to the suspect.
Although Min Shian was not worried that Song Sheng would make things difficult for Yu Linglong, she still went to visit the official for Min Shile.
I think Song Sheng had given instructions in advance, so her visit went extremely smoothly and was not obstructed.
As soon as he stepped into the prison, Min Shian felt a biting cold. The air around him was sticky and damp. The further he went in, the worse the smell became. The stench of decay was mixed with the smell of mold, and sometimes he could even smell the disgusting smell of blood.
Most of the prisoners in the prison looked at Min Shian and his group with empty eyes, without much reaction, as they were already used to it.
Only a few crazy people stretched out their hands and shook the iron gate violently, making the shackles on their hands rattling. They kept making strange noises, which echoed in the empty prison, mixed together, and were extremely eerie.
Min Shian was carrying a lunch box, still looking calm, strolling leisurely in the garden.
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