After waking up, Jiang Rao lowered her head and, with the help of the light from the palace lanterns hanging in the corridor, she touched the sachet hanging around her waist. Thinking that she not only failed to make others faint, but was the one who fainted first, Jiang Rao hugged her head in annoyance.
She felt that she had slept too long, maybe... twice.
But this idea was a bit absurd and weird, and Jiang Rao was not sure about it.
The only thing I am sure of is that there is something wrong with the medicine.
Some of the medicines she had taken before made her sleepy, but not to the point where she couldn't even keep her eyelids open.
She made a snowball and put it in her hand. The coolness penetrated into her bones, and she slowly walked out of the yard.
My sprained ankle doesn't hurt as much anymore.
Every servant here knows Jiang Rao.
Jiang Rao walked along with her finger raised to her lips, making a "hush" gesture, indicating that others should not tell Rong Ting that she had woken up. Those people listened to her one by one, which made Jiang Rao vaguely uncomfortable. She felt that being in Rong Ting's mansion was no different from being at her own home.
Even the servants here listen to her more than the servants in her own home.
She walked all the way outside the study and saw the light on in the study.
Outside the study, Huai Qing was on duty.
Jiang Rao pressed her fingers on her lips and made a "hush" sound to Huai Qing.
When Huai Qing saw Jiang Rao, he was stunned for a moment, and then he pursed his lips obediently, as if they were sewn together, without saying a word.
Jiang Rao was afraid that her shadow would be cast on the study window, so she squatted and moved towards the study step by step.
In the study.
Liao Qiubai frowned, "Even if there is something wrong with the painting, it is difficult to find a calligraphy that is exactly the same as Fourth Master Jiang's. You said it is easy to imitate someone else's handwriting... Fourth Master Jiang claims to be a master, but he can only learn the form but not the rhythm. Who can he be?"
As soon as the imperial edict was issued last night, there was no further progress on the matter. At dawn, I received news that the case would still be investigated.
Once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back, so he was convinced.
Rong Ting suddenly stood up.
Liao Qiubai asked: "What's wrong?"
Rong Ting narrowed his eyes and said, "There's someone outside."
He walked quickly out the door and saw Jiang Rao squatting under the window.
Jiang Rao: “…”
This was the shortest time she had ever eavesdropped.
She had been careful enough and tiptoed, but she was still caught.
Rong Ting was helpless and rubbed his brows, "Go back and sleep for a night. I will wake you up at dawn."
Jiang Rao didn't quite believe it and shook her head. "I have something to say.
I want to tell you. ”
She used "you guys" instead of "you".
Rong Ting felt a little gloomy in his heart, but he followed her wishes and brought her into the study.
Liao Qiubai in the room heard the noise and immediately stood up from his official chair.
He thought that the person outside Rong Ting was talking about was a thief who had ears on the other side of the wall, but he didn't expect that a beautiful girl came in, and he was stunned.
He had sharp eyes and quickly recognized who Jiang Rao was, and was a little surprised.
Originally, I couldn't understand why Rong Ting wanted to interfere in the affairs of the Ning'an Marquis' Mansion, but now I finally figured it out.
Liao Qiubai narrowed his eyes and sighed that even a hero cannot resist the temptation of a beautiful woman. He did not ask why Jiang Rao was here and bowed to her politely.
Today he was fully prepared to deal with Rong Ting. The other party had all his leverage in his hands, but he knew nothing about the other party. In the past, others could not see through his thoughts in front of others, but now the situation is reversed, making him very uncomfortable.
At this moment, I suddenly relaxed a little.
Ever since this little girl came in, Rong Ting's eyes have been fixed on her, and even if he leaves, it won't be for long.
There are weaknesses.
That wouldn't be so scary.
Liao Qiubai looked at Jiang Rao with a smile, who made him realize this.
Jiang Rao returned the greeting. She did not recognize the young official who looked a bit unserious. She looked at Rong Ting. Rong Ting tilted his head and answered her confusion, "This is the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works, Liao Qiubai, Lord Liao."
Liao Qiubai watched them from the side.
The girl is good-looking, the boy is good-looking too, and when put together, the word "difference" just sounds like a perfect match.
Not to mention that they understood each other with just a glance, which seemed extremely ambiguous.
He immediately felt that he was a bit redundant, and rubbed the back of his head and said, "I have never been in the same room with a girl in the middle of the night, how about...I take my leave first?"
He has a hippie nature and his tone is not very serious.
Rong Ting hid the person behind him and said calmly, "She came to see me."
Liao Qiubai: “…”
You can't even take a joke?
I understand. I understand.
Make way for the chair. Make way for the chair.
He immediately stepped aside and vacated the officer's hat chair for Jiang Rao to sit down, but was stopped by Jiang Rao's gentle voice, "Lord Liao, there is no need to do this. I am not here to disturb you."
Her voice was tired and slightly hoarse.
The snow thrown into her neck just now made her a little more sober, but her head was still a little dizzy and she subconsciously wanted to lower her head. But the gentle cultivation in her bones would not be worn away by adversity. She had just combed her pearl hairpins and hair outside. Although it was not as exquisite as the one combed by her maid, it was still decent. When she spoke, she looked at Liao Qiubai humbly without any rudeness.
"I was wrong to eavesdrop on your conversation. But you asked if there is anyone who can learn my father's handwriting. I seem to know someone."
But she asked nervously, "You said that someone copied my father's handwriting. Is this true?"
Liao Qiubai nodded and was about to speak, but Rong Ting obviously didn't want to give him a chance to speak. Not only did he use his body to separate him and Jiang Rao, he also took a step ahead of him and nodded at Jiang Rao.
Jiang Rao was immediately a little excited. She suppressed her emotions and said, "In Guyi County, there was a scholar named Zhang who made a living by forging my father's calligraphy and paintings. He was able to learn 70% to 80% of them." Jiang Rao tried her best to recall the scene of that year. "That was four or five years ago."
Liao Qiubai's eyes became sharp. "Miss Jiang, are you saying that your father's misfortune was deliberately retaliated by that scholar?"
"I do have doubts about him." Jiang Rao admitted frankly, but she didn't condemn him outright. "But, I also don't think he is."
"What do you mean?"
Jiang Rao explained, "During the months in Guyi County, I heard people say that he learned my father's calligraphy and painting and sold paintings for a living. I was angry and felt that he had stolen my father's things."
Rong Ting remained silent and made a cup of tea for Jiang Rao. Jiang Rao took the tea and lowered his head to take a sip. "I originally wanted to seek justice and ask him to stop selling his paintings under the guise of my father, but my father wouldn't let me. Before leaving, my father bought a painting from that man under someone else's name. We have never even met him. I have forgotten his name. I only remember that there are many people with the surnames Zhang and Zhou in Guyi County. He is Zhang... Since there is no conflict, if we say that the man is taking revenge... it seems a bit wrong."
Jiang Rao didn't dare to assert that the scholar was the one who framed her father, but she vaguely felt that this matter was related to him. What they said just now that her father's painting was copied by someone made her blood flow rapidly at this moment, "But I want to check this person."
"Where is the painting now?" Liao Qiubai asked her.
"It should be changed to my study room."
"Zhang Liuyuan."
Rong Ting, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.
His narrow eyes suddenly narrowed slowly, as deep as a pool of water, "The scholar's name is Zhang Liuyuan."
As if being hit on the top of her head, Jiang Rao immediately remembered the name, "It's him."
But she looked at
Rong Ting, "How did you know?"
"His name appeared on the list of people leaving the capital." Rong Ting glanced at Liao Qiubai, "Lord Pei has also seen him. He left the city on the 19th of this month."
Liao Qiubai pulled the corner of his mouth and didn't respond.
He had seen the roster, but he couldn't remember it.
Last time, thieves broke into the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion, and the powerful and wealthy families were in a panic, which made Emperor Zhaowu pay special attention to the people entering and leaving the city. No matter what time it was or how many people entered and left the city, they had to be checked clearly by the post officials.
It was just the roster for the 15th day, and the total number of different names was over 10,000.
"When your father wrote, his strokes were often like drawing curved hooks. Although the characters 'Zhang' and 'Liu' he wrote on the register are not like your father's, the last stroke of 'Yuan' has the charm of your father's handwriting. ”
Liao Qiubai shamelessly added, "That's true," as if he remembered it too.
Rong Ting continued, "The roster within the 15th day only records that he left the city on the 19th of this month, and the reason was written as returning home to celebrate the New Year. But the day he entered the city was probably after the 15th day."
Jiang Rao's heart was pounding. Zhang Liuyuan...maybe there really was something wrong with him.
Then her father can really be saved!
But she was afraid that it was just an illusion, so she didn't dare to be happy too soon. "I... want to check his background."
"Then go check it out." Rong Ting followed her words, "You must also find the painting your father bought."
"If this person left the city on the 19th, four days ago... it was earlier than the time when the Censorate received the impeachment." Liao Qiubai said, "It may not be this person, but it is indeed strange."
Four days ago...
She really slept an entire day longer!
Jiang Rao stared at Rong Ting blankly. After a while, that blank expression turned into an angry frown.
Rong Ting knew what happened as soon as she glanced at him. He was annoyed for a moment, and his tone softened, "It's my fault."
He lowered his eyes, panicking and at a loss, "Your foot injury hasn't healed yet, sleeping for a whole day will actually help your recovery, but I acted on my own without consulting you, I was wrong."
She looks even more pitiful than a woman with tears in her eyes.
She is like a flower that has been hit by frost. She cares about others but gets hurt herself.
Liao Qiubai stared with wide eyes.
Why did you suddenly start to admit your mistakes?
Did he suddenly become deaf? What did they communicate with their eyes?
“You…you…”
Jiang Rao also stared with wide eyes.
She wasn't even angry yet, so he admitted his mistake in front of Liao Qiubai?
She would never argue with him in front of others, let alone at this critical juncture, but she was just a little angry inwardly.
But his admission of fault came faster than her anger.
It's like a Kongming lantern that deflated before it was blown up and will never rise up with the wind again.
Jiang Rao had no way to deal with him and kept saying "you" twice. Only then did she notice Rong Ting's clothes.
The same dark red and black colors as in her dream.
The person who knelt in the snow in the palace all night...
Her heart ached, and she finally avoided the topic and got back to the point, "Go check on Zhang Liuyuan."
“Okay.” Rong Ting responded.
Be obedient in everything. Liao Qiubai clicked his tongue behind him.
When Rong Ting walked out of the study, Liao Qiubai followed him.
Jiang Rao also limped after him.
The shadows of the three people were reflected on the bluestone steps.
Rong Ting ordered Huai Qing, "Take the fourth girl back to Beishen Courtyard."
"I want to check it out too. You guys go ahead and I'll go home and look for the painting." Jiang Rao interrupted in dissatisfaction when she heard that Rong Ting wanted her to stay in Bei Shenyuan.
Rong Ting always obeyed her, but this time he made an exception, "No."
"No, it's impossible." Jiang Rao was a little anxious.
Rong Ting glanced at her ankle.
Jiang Rao understood it at a glance.
She choked, retracted her feet, lowered her head, and said sullenly, "I... won't go out."
She had sprained her ankle, felt tired and exhausted, and had no martial arts skills. If she went out in the middle of the night, she would only cause trouble for others to take care of her.
"Go to sleep peacefully." Rong Ting lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "I'll be back soon."
Then he stood up and walked out of the yard one after another with Liao Qiubai.
Liao Qiubai followed behind Rong Ting and said, "There is indeed something fishy about Zhang Liuyuan, but if it turns out that he is not the one, what is His Highness the Ninth Prince going to do?"
Rong Ting paused for a moment.
Then break his hand first so that he can no longer write.
And cut off his tongue, so that he could no longer speak.
As a result, no one listened to his complaint and no one knew what his handwriting looked like.
The calligraphy and painting that Mr. Jiang Si bought that year was the evidence that could allow him to take the blame.
Even if the painting from four or five years ago is not 100% similar to the original, time passes... people change, and their painting and writing skills also change. As long as the painting at that time is somewhat similar to the original, we can say that person is him.
Anyway, his father only wanted face, and those people who were watching the fun said they wanted to see justice, but they just wanted something to talk about when they were bored.
After all, a person who steals other people's reputation for personal gain is not clean at all and does not deserve sympathy.
The moonlight is like a thread, slowly pouring down, sprinkling on the little
A layer of cold frost formed on the shoulders of the year, looking cold and desolate.
The extremely cruel thoughts did not make his red-lipped and fair face look the slightest bit ugly. Even though there was an evil spirit living in his heart and he had no mercy on any living being, his face was still as charming as the moonlight.
"Then check his relatives and friends." He responded casually to Liao Qiubai.
When he was about to step out of the yard, he looked back thoughtfully, and saw that his little girl did not go back to sleep obediently, but was standing in the corridor, watching him leave.
He stopped helplessly, opened his mouth and said something.
But no sound was made.
On such a windy night, even if he spoke, his voice would be drowned out by the cold wind.
But Jiang Rao knew what he was talking about.
"don’t worry."
She kept watching him until he disappeared behind the wall.
After realizing that he was not the same person in her dream, she was no longer afraid, but she often felt pity for him.
After taking care of him became a habit, I subconsciously forgot how ruthless and cunning this man would become in the future.
Even though his temperament has been tamed, he still has his abilities.
But... when she thought about the medicine he fed her that made her miss a whole day in vain, Jiang Rao felt a little depressed.
If he had not entered the palace to see Emperor Zhaowu, then when she woke up now, wouldn't she have to face the imperial edict to execute all nine generations of her clan?
She was blown by the wind in the yard for a long time, but still felt unsatisfied. After returning to the house, she looked at the quilt on the couch and couldn't help but curl up her hands and hit it twice.
She couldn't bear to vent her anger on him, so she had to vent it on his quilt.
There was a dent on the quilt caused by her little fist.
Jiang Rao lowered her head and looked at the extra wrinkles on the quilt. After looking at them for a long time, she stretched out her fingers and smoothed them out one by one.
She felt a little tired, so she bent down and buried her face in it.
The quilt smelled exactly like him. Holding the quilt...
It was like hugging him.
Jiang Rao was startled by the sudden thought in her mind, and her face turned red as if she was burned, and she quickly moved away from the quilt.
Some who had difficulty breathing took a deep breath.
Although it was the bed and quilt that she had slept on for a day and a night, she didn't dare touch it again and walked around the room.
Now, I can’t sleep anymore.
…
Although the imperial edict was issued a little late, the Ning'an Marquis's mansion was still surrounded by soldiers and the people inside could not get out. When Rong Ting's carriage stopped outside Wuyi Lane, Liao Qiubai showed these people the search warrant issued by Emperor Zhaowu, and they made way to let them pass.
I walked into the study and saw the antiques on the table.
There were paintings and calligraphy on the shelf and on the floor. The paintings that were priceless in the studio were randomly placed here. Liao Qiubai sighed, "No wonder the thief broke into the study instead of the storehouse last time."
"Looking for paintings." Rong Ting didn't even turn around to look at him.
He was still sitting in a wheelchair outside. The search warrant given to Rong Ting by Emperor Zhaowu allowed him to mobilize two hundred guards. Rong Ting mobilized more than twenty people, turned the study upside down, and finally found the painting.
In the painting, Jiang Xingzhou's name was painted over, and the three words "Zhang Liuyuan" were written next to it.
Liao Qiubai came over to take a look, "It's about 70% similar. It was like this five or six years ago..."
Then by today, I might be able to learn to be more like it.
"He didn't go far four days ago. He's near Jinling. He may not return home. Find someone who knows him and ask him if there's anywhere he wants to go." Rong Ting closed the painting and threw the token to Liao Qiubai, "Take people to chase him."
A great opportunity was given to him. Liao Qiubai's blood was boiling and he tightly grasped the token, "Okay!"
He checked the list of each city gate and rode non-stop all the way north in pursuit.
When they found Zhang Liuyuan in an inn, they encountered the assassin who was trying to assassinate Zhang Liuyuan.
There was a silver snake on the corner of the assassin's clothes. Liao Qiubai rescued Zhang Liuyuan, tied him up and brought him back, and told Rong Ting the news.
Rong Ting looked at Zhang Liuyuan and ordered the servants, "Bring the fourth young lady here."
After Jiang Rao came over, Rong Ting pointed at Zhang Liuyuan who was tied to the wall and said calmly, "This is the person who framed your father."
When Zhang Liuyuan heard Rong Ting's words, he immediately wanted to get up, "Sir, framing the Fourth Master has nothing to do with me. I just took the money to do the job. I never thought of framing the Fourth Master!"
Liao Qiubai frowned and asked, "Is it really just for money?"
Zhang Liuyuan gritted his teeth.
His calligraphy and painting styles are similar to Jiang Xingzhou's. When he was young, his family was poor. People told him several times that his handwriting was like Jiang Xingzhou's, which gave him evil thoughts. After tasting the sweetness, he has been imitating Jiang Xingzhou's style in writing and painting.
The more he learned and the more money he earned, the more dissatisfied he became.
Why are their calligraphy and paintings the same? Jiang Xingzhou is on a high pedestal, while he is a shameful rat in the gutter, secretly relying on Jiang Xingzhou's reputation to survive.
He was fed up with not having a single painting with his name on it.
"If Jiang Xingzhou dies, you will be the master of Dazhao's painting."
This is what the person who came to see him said.
He couldn't resist the temptation.
But he didn't expect that the person who asked him to do something actually wanted to kill him to silence him!
He looked at Jiang Rao.
Among the few people, Jiang Rao looked the softest and the most kindhearted. She was not as difficult to deal with as the two officials. Zhang Liuyuan rolled his eyes and begged for mercy from Jiang Rao. "Miss, please forgive me. I have old people and young children to support. I have no choice!"
Jiang Rao listened to the begging for mercy, took a deep breath, and suddenly said to Rong Ting and Liao Qiubai: "Turn around."
After they turned around, she lifted her skirt and kicked Zhang Liuyuan several times with her uninjured foot, completely losing the demeanor of a lady from a noble family.
Rong Ting smiled softly.
Liao Qiubai looked at him strangely, "What are you laughing at?"
Rong Ting listened to the noise behind him and knew what was happening. Not only did he not stop but he pretended as if nothing had happened and indulged in it. The smile accumulated in the corners of his eyes and could not be hidden at all.
"cute."
Liao Qiubai suspected that there was something wrong with his ears. What kind of love could there be for a girl who would hit people?
Jiang Rao was panting, and only stopped kicking when she was tired. She looked down at Zhang Liuyuan and asked, "Who ordered you to do that?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
