Chapter 99 All Parties
Cen Yan refused to see him, so Li Zhuo had no choice but to go see Li Yang first.
"The prefect is not in the prefectural government, but in the Prince of Dingxi's residence."
"The governor was also detained at the Prince of Dingxi's residence, accused of colluding with mountain bandits."
Is there anything unusual at the prefectural government office?
On the way, Li Zhuo slapped his folding fan against his palm and reviewed the current situation again, asking his advisors questions.
Staff member: "Nothing unusual. The prefect said he was injured by bandits on the road and is recuperating at the Prince of Dingxi's residence."
Li Zhuo didn't believe this.
Moreover... if one were to maintain a private army, how could the governor possibly keep it a secret from the prefect?
Only if they were in the same boat could they possibly use the salt fields and hilltops to conceal their private army.
"Did anyone see the prefect during that time?"
The advisor looked troubled. “There’s no way to plant spies in the Prince’s mansion. But we did see the Prefect’s eldest son coming and going outside. He was only accompanied by servants and there were no guards. It seemed like he could come and go on his own.”
Li Zhuo pursed his lips, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"Never mind, I'll go see my silly younger brother first."
Having received the notification, Li Zhuo brought an old ginseng as a gift and entered the residence where Li Yang was temporarily staying.
They were received by Mr. Hu, a retainer of Li Yang.
After exchanging a few words, Li Zhuo frowned. "Why does it sound to me like they're saying it's inconvenient for us to meet?"
The gentleman spoke respectfully: "The prince has been poisoned and is weak. If the third prince insists on seeing you, I'm afraid he will pass on his illness, which would be bad for you."
Li Zhuo: "It's alright. Brothers should take care of each other. How can I worry about my sixth brother's illness and not visit him? If this gets back to Father Emperor, he will scold me for not caring for my younger brother."
The gentleman's smile was merely a polite gesture.
Li Zhuo insisted, and since he was the emperor's elder brother, he eventually met with Li Yang.
Unexpectedly, he had actually been poisoned. Looking at Li Yang lying in bed with a pale face, Li Zhuo was stunned and somewhat incredulous.
After chatting for a few minutes through the gauze curtain, Li Yang asked about the situation on the mountain. He replied that they were tied up with hoods on their heads and he had never seen them.
When asked if anyone seemed amiss, Li Yang recounted the bandits' rudeness and explained her ordeal of being kidnapped.
Li Zhuo: "..."
The conversation drifted off from the cell where he was being held to his drinking water, and Li Zhuo tried several times to bring the topic back on track, but to no avail.
But he vaguely understood that Li Yang hadn't paid attention to what he wanted to ask.
Li Zhuo was secretly worried. If Li Yang could not serve as a witness to prove that those on the mountain were not just bandits but had other identities, then the final outcome would depend on the results of Cen Yan's investigation.
Li Yang: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I was rescued by the Prince, and the Prince will certainly not let any strange things go unnoticed."
Li Zhuo: "..."
It seemed like he was talking to a brick wall.
After a moment's thought, Li Zhuo brought up again: "Your Majesty, I heard that Eighth Brother performed the ancestral sacrifice on behalf of Father. The process went smoothly and he did a great job. Father was very happy."
Li Yang said weakly, "We cannot stay by Father's side, but Eighth Brother can make Father happy, which is to fulfill our filial duty on our behalf."
"..."
Li Zhuo: "My eighth brother's mother's family had many sons who had served in coastal areas, so they were very familiar with the officialdom in the Huai River region."
Li Yang suddenly said, "Third Brother, I want to ask you a question."
Li Zhuo: "Go ahead."
Li Yang: "Your Majesty is taking the salt field matter very seriously, which is completely different from your previous disaster relief efforts. But what did you secretly know before you went there?"
"..."
Li Zhuo's lips twitched. "How could that be?"
Li Yang suddenly burst into coughing. The eunuch serving him immediately entered the room, patted his back, and fed him cough syrup. After all that was done, Li Yang had already closed his eyes listlessly. The eunuch then politely asked Li Zhuo to leave. Seeing that Li Yang didn't speak, Li Zhuo figured he wouldn't get anything out of him, so he left after saying a few polite words.
Mr. Hu went inside after everyone left.
"Your Highness, why are you doing this?"
Li Yang, however, abandoned his usual gentle demeanor and said, "Kidnapping a prince is a serious matter. I estimate that Father will send Eunuch Feng to investigate..."
She paused, then her voice became very soft, "My father has always felt guilty towards me."
"At times like these, if we get things done and then encounter some misfortune, it would be better if Eunuch Feng would put in a good word for us so that we can make plans after returning to the capital."
Mr. Hu: "That Eighth Prince..."
Li Yang: "I don't think the prince will let him go. Let's wait and see."
"Too."
After a few words, Li Yang was really tired, and Mr. Hu left.
*
"The statements are all here."
"The prefect agreed, saying that the three fingers he lost were the work of bandits, and that his petition to resign and return to his hometown to retire has been written and is here."
"The bandit leader and his two henchmen are now under control."
"They revealed the governor's trusted subordinates and the number of troops loyal to the governor."
"Several of the merchants' leaders are also being held at the mansion. They gave their statements yesterday and have already signed and affixed their fingerprints."
The evidence was laid out one by one, and Cen Yan reviewed it all before instructing Liu Qi to put it away safely.
Liu Qi hesitated: "Shouldn't we report it?"
"Not for now. If anyone asks, just say it's under trial."
"By the way, what day is it today?"
After Liu Qi reported the date, Cen Yan thought for a moment and then asked, "Is the auspicious day calculated by the Imperial Observatory about to arrive?"
"Tomorrow will be it."
"Tomorrow..."
For some unknown reason, Cen Yan smiled faintly, "It's fine."
"The people from the palace will probably set off two days later, and it will take them five or six days to reach Hangzhou."
Liu Qi: "I wonder who will be coming this time."
Cen Yan: "It must be Eunuch Feng."
"It is unbelievable that the Crown Prince and the Prince were kidnapped by bandits. Regardless of which one it is for, a high-ranking eunuch is needed."
Of course, that's not the key point.
The situation in Hangzhou is strange. In his early years, Emperor Shengwu fought in various places and gathered a mountain stronghold with a thousand or two people. The people on the stronghold were called bandits. The stronghold had gathered tens of thousands of people. Anyone who had led troops could see that there must be something more to it than met the eye. Emperor Shengwu probably had his own questions about what kind of people they were.
Since there are suspicions, it is natural to investigate thoroughly.
Cen Yan will not fail to report these things.
However, I need to choose a good time to report it.
Liu Qi: "By the way, the Third Prince has come several times in the past few days and has sent people to inquire about things. He seems to be in a great hurry."
Cen Yan remained expressionless. "It's normal for him to be anxious; there's no need to pay attention to it."
Liu Qi: "Then what about the messages he sent..."
"What?"
Liu Qi: "There are quite a few. They say the number of bandits is incorrect; since the governor is colluding with bandits, then the bandits' territory needs to be thoroughly investigated. If the governor is also privately selling weapons or something, that's no small matter..."
Cen Yan laughed upon hearing this.
After laughing, his eyes turned cold again. "Ignore him, just ignore him."
This was a clear indication that he was about to tell him, as if afraid he wouldn't realize they were private soldiers.
It was very thoughtful, but unfortunately, the timing wasn't right.
Want to use him to get rid of Lao Ba? Dream on.
"What are you doing, Qingqing?"
Cen Yan suddenly asked a question.
This has been happening frequently lately; they ask me several times a day.
Aside from having to find someone to confirm things at the beginning, Liu Qi has gotten used to having servants report to him about the main courtyard every hour, mainly about Zhuang Dongqing's situation, so that he can relay it to Cen Yan.
Liu Qi: "I took a stroll in the garden this morning, led by servants, but they didn't let me go to the place where people were imprisoned."
"Afterwards, she went to see the young master. She should still be with him now, or they went to the small kitchen together, waiting for Uncle Zhu to make snacks for An'an."
Zhuang Dongqing has been feeling better recently, and the dishes have become more flavorful.
He went to check on the kitchen, and it suited his personality.
After glancing at the official documents, Cen Yan felt bored. He finished what he was doing, put down his pen, and said, "I'm going back now."
Liu Qi knew that this was a trip to find Zhuang Dongqing, so he didn't say much, only saying, "I'll handle the rest. I'll bring you the rest if there are any problems."
"Can."
Cen Yan is gone.
Liu Qi pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling that Cen Yan had been keeping an exceptionally close eye on the young master lately, and wondered if this kind of situation would ever end.
After thinking for a while, Liu Qi shook his head again.
It will probably be at least a while before I get there.
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