Chapter 30: Mystery of the Western Regions: A treacherous official took power, abused his power, and killed the emperor indiscriminately...
Only at this moment could Emperor Tian Chong briefly enjoy the joy brought to him by this supreme status and experience a little taste of power.
It's ridiculous that the emperor does not have as much power as his wife or even concubines.
Emperor Tian Chong took Empress Xie's hand, looked at her affectionately, and smiled brightly despite her slight struggle.
Even so, what's the harm?
Xie Zhuangwan, the talented lady of the Xie family who was once famous in the capital, now has to take care of his harem and have children for him.
"Let go."
Blood dripped from between their intertwined fingers, staining the cuffs of Emperor Tian Chong red. He turned his head away, no longer paying attention to Xie Zhuangwan, his hand still tightly holding her, and looked around with a solemn face.
He didn't care what the civil and military officials were thinking. They all looked respectful. When their eyes met Song Sheng's, the all-powerful Recorder of the Chancellery still had to bow to him.
The emptiness in his heart was filled, and Emperor Tian Chong finally released his almost numb hand, not caring about the bloody hole in his hand that Xie Zhuangwan had stabbed.
The banquet lasted for nearly three hours. If he hadn't been weak from blood loss, it would have lasted another hour.
Thinking that he would have to spend another year in neglect, his expression darkened. He put his arm around the concubine on his right and went straight back to the bedroom.
Min Shian rolled his eyes at Emperor Tianchong's back, then took Xie Zhuangwan's hand and wiped it with a handkerchief. She gritted her teeth and whispered, "That old thing is really hateful!"
Min Duanxiang also came forward. He waved a red brocade bag in front of Xie Zhuangwan and said proudly, "Mother, guess what this is? If you guess correctly, I'll give it to you!"
"You little rascal, are you trying to use exquisite objects to show off again?" Min Shi'an raised his hand and slapped Min Duanxiang. Tears welled up in Min Duanxiang's eyes due to the pain, and he kept wailing and complaining to Xie Zhuangwan.
"Mother, now you have seen how my sister bullied me!"
Although Yu Linglong was engaged to Min Duanxiang, she had not yet married into the family and could not attend the palace banquet. She asked Min Duanxiang to give the brocade bag to Xie Zhuangwan.
Seeing that Xie Zhuangwan had no intention of making the decision for him, Min Duanxiang instead grabbed the hem of Min Shian's clothes, gently tugged a few times, and then said with a smile: "Royal sister, Linglong has also been prepared for you."
"These were all embroidered by her herself! The spices inside are also Linglong's most famous secret calming incense!" If Min Duanxiang had a tail at this moment, it would definitely be raised to the sky.
After the quarrel between the two, Xie Zhuangwan's unhappiness disappeared. She took the brocade bag and put it under her nose. A faint fragrance filled her nostrils, and she felt much more at peace.
"Linglong is thoughtful."
Upon seeing this, Min Shian hung the brocade bag on his waist and said with a smile, "I happened to have not slept well these past few days. Thank you Linglong for me."
"Mother, Tinglan will be returning soon. I will take my leave first."
After getting Xie Zhuangwan's consent, Min Shian followed Song Tinglan back to the Song Mansion.
"Tinglan, the mountains are high and the road is long. You must take good care of yourself and don't rush. If you feel any discomfort, ask Xiao Wangjing to stop immediately."
Min Shi'an held Song Tinglan tightly, not daring to use too much force for fear of pressing on her lower abdomen.
"Are there any doctors with expertise in this field among you?" Min Shi'an continued, "I have a few at home, why don't you take them with you?"
She kept chattering on and on, and Song Tinglan hugged her back and listened patiently. Tears kept falling from the corners of her eyes, wetting Min Shian's shoulders.
"Tinglan, don't cry, I will always miss you."
Min Shian's voice was a little choked, and he even had the idea of accompanying her to Beifeng.
"Tinglan, I will go see you when Yunyuan is born."
"Tinglan, have a safe journey."
Xiao Wangjing stood outside the house, not daring to urge anyone, but just silently observing the sky.
When Song Tinglan came out, he immediately went forward to support her. Seeing that she was in a low mood, he handed her the malt sugar he had prepared long ago and said, "Madam, would you like some?"
Song Tinglan shook her head and said nothing.
Seeing this, Xiao Wangjing put away the malt candy and slowly helped her walk towards the carriage outside the mansion.
Min Shian hid in Song Tinglan's room. She didn't dare go out to see her off, for she was afraid that she would not be able to control herself and stop Song Tinglan.
I only wish that white clouds would stretch thousands of miles, and that the bright moon would be visible in front of and behind the stream. [1]
…
Min Shian looked at the gift list in front of him with a headache. After checking it again and again, he couldn't help but ask, "What are the things you prepared for your betrothal gifts?!"
"You're not afraid of being laughed at by the whole capital!"
Min Duanxiang scratched his head, took the gift list, and asked, "Royal Sister, is there any problem?"
Min Shian kicked him and said angrily, "Are you gold? Who cares about you? Cross out the last item, 'Min Shile'!"
"What?!" Min Duanxiang yelled, took a few steps back and said cunningly, "Royal sister, don't you think this is very romantic?"
"roll!"
Min Shian promptly kicked them out of the house, saying that if the gift list was not changed, they would not be allowed to set foot in the princess's house again.
Chuntao, who had just returned from outside, bumped into the Third Prince who had been driven out of the mansion. She bowed and saluted, and when she turned around to leave, she was stopped by Min Duanxiang.
He waved at Chuntao mysteriously and said, "Chuntao, come here and take a look at this gift list. Is there anything wrong with it?"
Chun Tao frowned slightly, took a half step back, and saluted, "Your Highness, this is against etiquette. I will take my leave first."
After saying that, she ignored Min Duanxiang's shouts behind her and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Master, I went to investigate the Yuntong area and discovered that this Tuberose has close ties with the Western Regions. Most of the first people to join their organization were from the Western Regions or Yuntong."
Chun Tao returned Min Shi'an's badge and continued, "This is all I have found out so far. My master, why not ask Princess Linglong if she knows anything about tuberose?"
"I understand, please leave."
"Yes, Master."
Min Shian tapped the table irregularly with his fingertips, finding this matter very strange.
The Western Regions had been peaceful before, and the royal family members of the Western Regions were obedient to the Great Jin. Why are all the recent events suddenly related to the Western Regions?
She suddenly became uncertain about the guess in her mind. Could it be that person?
Min Shian originally thought that the man had planned and stirred up the situation for a reason.
But when the assassination took place, the man was not in the capital at the time, so how could he have such a long reach?
After much deliberation, she decided to send someone to deliver a letter to Xie Zhuangyi, ordering him to keep an eye on the man and report any abnormalities immediately.
It was not too late yet, so she took a sedan chair to the villa where Yu Linglong lived. She first drove away Min Duanxiang who was in the way, and then the two began to talk.
Yu Linglong held her chin with both hands, looked at Min Shian and asked with a smile: "Sister, what's the matter~"
"Have you ever heard of tuberose?"
"Hmm?" Yu Linglong tilted her head, and a voice escaped from her throat, full of confusion.
Min Shian was amused by her reaction. He reached out and rubbed her head, saying lovingly, "What's wrong? Linglong doesn't understand this?"
A bright smile blossomed on Yu Linglong's sweet face. She stretched out her tone and replied, "Not really!"
"It's just that this tuberose originated in the Western Regions. Later, for some unknown reason, it moved to the Yuntong area of Cangzhou."
Min Shi'an's expression froze. She thought for a moment, then asked, "Does Linglong know roughly when the tuberose was moved away?"
Yu Linglong played with her braids, her grape-like eyes rolling back and forth. She thought carefully, stuck out her tongue, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, sister. I was still young at that time and I don't remember it clearly."
"However, my mother must know. I will go to her tomorrow and come to you as soon as I get a reply!"
Yu Linglong's gaze fell to her waist, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, are you wearing the sachet I gave you?!"
Min Shian lowered his head upon hearing this, then raised his eyes and chuckled softly, "Your hands are quite skillful. My mother also likes it very much and wears it with her as well."
Her cheeks flushed, and she rubbed her fingers together, stammering, "Empress, as long as my sister likes it, I'm glad."
"Take care, sister."
After Yu Linglong sent Min Shi'an away, she ignored Min Duanxiang's questions and skipped towards Tianxian Tower. The two of them walked one in front and one behind, which was in stark contrast to when Yu Linglong first arrived in Beijing.
Min Shian went to the Song Mansion to look for Song Sheng.
Now that Song Tinglan is gone, there's no telling when this guy will trip her up again.
However, this time she had hidden the dagger Song Tinglan gave her in her sleeve, so if something unexpected happened again, she would not be completely defenseless.
"Your Highness has come at the perfect time." Song Sheng frowned and said with some distress, "Your Highness mentioned forming a clique for personal gain a few days ago."
"I have just received a memorial, which truly puts me in a difficult position. This matter is of great importance, so I have no choice but to present it to Your Majesty for your decision."
Min Shian sat down and snorted when he heard the words. The words sounded nice, but the reality was still up to this pretentious fox.
However, without concrete evidence, how could Song Sheng silence the mouths of civil and military officials, but how could he silence the gossips of the people of the world?
This is also the reason why Song Sheng did not kill her directly at that time.
Traitorous ministers were in power, abused their power, and killed the royal heirs indiscriminately.
Song Sheng cannot bear this crime.
She opened the memorial without much care. When she saw its contents clearly, Min Shian's fingertips turned white due to the force, and her face suddenly darkened.
“Snap—”
Min Shian slammed the memorial onto the desk. She used her strength to stand up and bend over, looking down at Song Sheng. Her fox-like eyes were filled with displeasure. She said word by word, "Absurd, nonsense!"
She was extremely panicked at the moment. There was no flaw in the life history of Xie Zhuangyi and Wen Liu. How could Song Sheng know that these two people were hers?
In particular, Xie Zhuangyi took the name of Xie Zhuangwan and was recommended by the Xie family for the position. The two had no contact in public, and even less contact in secret.
But this memorial even recorded the original places of Wen Liu and Xie Zhuang's translations. How did this person notice anything unusual?!
"If Your Highness disagrees with what is said in the memorial."
Song Sheng paused, chuckled, and then said word by word: "There must be a murder about to happen in the villa outside the capital."
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