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Qin Sang thought that Prince Ning'an had a very sharp eye and was quite a character.
She readily answered with an "Mm".
Prince Ning'an gave her a deep look, then suddenly coughed with a low laugh, and slowly walked towards the flower bed next to the courtyard.
The pond was filled with unidentified wildflowers, blooming in a riot of colors, their brilliance shining even in the dim candlelight, a stark contrast to the solemn and sorrowful atmosphere of the Prime Minister's residence.
He reached out and plucked the most brilliant flower, saying, "Things in this world aren't always black and white. Merit is rewarded and wrongdoing is punished... Even if the Emperor wants to record merit for the Prime Minister, he has to consider the opinion of our Crown Prince. The Prime Minister isn't just a person; he's a title. If he dies, it won't be as simple as just dying."
The flowers were thrown into the flower bed and submerged among the weeds, causing them to sway wildly.
Qin Sang understood something: "You mean, this was done by the Crown Prince? They want to fabricate charges against the Prime Minister... against the Prime Minister's lineage?"
Factional strife is about eliminating the root of the problem.
Prince Ning'an did not answer.
Qin Sang looked into the distance of the courtyard, where there seemed to be figures and flickering candlelight. Without looking closely, the figures seemed like ghosts and monsters, their sinister forms making one feel dirty.
Well, that's just how it is, there's nothing to lament about.
She quickly composed herself and focused on dealing with the impending changes. If even the Emperor was powerless, the most important thing was for the Prime Minister's family to protect themselves as soon as possible.
Thinking of the once arrogant Second Young Master Xie, who had lost his brilliance and become an ordinary person, she felt a pang of sympathy.
"You don't need to worry too much. Now that I've gotten myself into this mess, no matter what happens to the Prime Minister's residence, I will ensure your safety," said Prince Ning'an, seeing her dejected expression.
"Then can you guarantee the safety of the entire Prime Minister's residence?"
Prince Ning'an: "One should not be too greedy."
Qin Sang sneered and walked past him.
Prince Ning'an's involvement in this murky situation was indeed a strategic move, but by doing so, he also gained real recognition of the Right Chancellor's faction. He raised a new banner in the factional struggle, yet he refused to seek justice for the deceased.
A tiger that has hidden its claws and fangs has finally waited for its chance to devour blood. It will step over the corpses of others, stand on the hill, and raise its own royal banner.
Then he recalled his chance encounter with Bai Yiqing at Yanyun Tower that day. So, it was indeed the young master Bai who was working for Prince Ning'an. And the real boss behind the gold mine in Quzhou Prefecture was indeed Prince Ning'an.
Qin Sang sighed inwardly, "This prince isn't a good person either!"
She didn't go to Ninghui Hall, but went to a side courtyard just across the alley from Ninghui Hall.
Inside, a mourning hall was being set up. Some people were erecting poles, while others were pulling up tarpaulins. The eldest and second masters of the Xie family, along with their wives, were all kneeling before an exquisite black coffin, weeping bitterly.
The body of that man, born into poverty yet exceptionally gifted, who worked tirelessly his entire life to rise to the highest ranks of officialdom, is now laid to rest here.
The servants were pulling a cart full of large blocks of ice and carrying them inside.
As she stepped inside, a sudden blast of cold air made her sneeze.
Everyone looked up, staring at her with displeasure.
Qin Sang had no choice but to lower her head and find a place to kneel.
After all, she was personally brought back by the Prime Minister, so she should keep vigil.
After taking a quick look around, Xie Sui'an and Xie Jingze were not there; perhaps they had gone to the crime scene to assist with the investigation.
Qin Sang also wanted to go, but she knew that those people would definitely not let a weak woman like her get involved.
As she was pondering this, she looked up and saw Wang Huiwen looking at her with an ambiguous expression. Then she gave a sad smile and lowered her head to wipe away her tears.
Looking around, she saw that everyone else was giving her strange looks.
Xie Wu was more direct. He got up, walked to Qin Sang's side, put down the prayer mat, knelt down again, and whispered, "Was Grandpa's death really related to a letter you handed over?"
***
As dawn broke and the darkness was finally dispelled, the body of Ninghuitang was taken away, but the scene remained intact.
The temporary courtroom was set up in the council chamber next to Minghui Hall. This was where Xie Zhongxu and his staff discussed matters. It was quite spacious and had a row of armchairs for discussion.
Prince Ning'an sat at the head of the table, while several high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the central government sat below him. They all had pale faces and looked exhausted, but they forced themselves to be energetic.
Xie Sui'an and Xie Jingze stood not far behind Prince Ning, dressed in white mourning clothes, listening with their heads bowed.
The man kneeling below was a servant who tended the lamps and candles in Minghui Hall; he was recounting what he had seen and heard the previous night.
"The Prime Minister had his dinner in this council hall. He's been very busy lately; once he enters Minghui Hall, he doesn't leave until late at night, handling official business."
"Who brought the dinner?" Pei Ying asked. He sat down at a desk next to the group of gentlemen, diligently handling the case and taking notes.
The servant replied, "It was delivered by Aunt Jiang. When the Prime Minister is busy, she would bring dinner to Minghui Hall so that he could dine with her. After he finished eating, she would have someone take it away."
Pei Ying nodded: "And then, who else came to Minghui Hall?"
"Fourth Master and Second Young Master, they both came."
"When did you arrive? Who came first and who came last?" Pei Ying asked as she wrote. "And how long did each of you stay after you arrived?"
The servant said, "Fourth Master arrived first, spoke for a while, and left in less than a quarter of an hour. Second Young Master arrived later and stayed for about half an hour."
Prince Ning'an leaned back in his chair, elbows on the armrests, head propped up. Xie Jingze glanced quickly at Xie Sui'an, whose gaze was unfocused, seemingly lost in thought.
Pei Ying continued, "You're just a lamp-lighting servant, aren't you only here at night? How do you remember so clearly?"
The servant replied, "Sir, it was my turn to be on duty from yesterday afternoon to evening. In addition to lighting the lamps, I was also responsible for being ready to be summoned at any time, so I stayed in the courtyard the whole time."
Pei Ying's eyes sharpened: "Before Prime Minister Xie's accident, did you notice anything unusual? For example, were the birdsong and insect chirps abnormal, or were there any strange noises?"
The servant thought for a moment and shook his head: "No."
Pei Ying: "So before Prime Minister Xie's accident, only his two sons came to visit, and there was nothing unusual about it, is that right?"
The servant trembled slightly upon hearing this, but still forced himself to answer, "Yes."
The officials above stirred slightly. Pei Ying frowned: "Do you know that if anything you said is even slightly untrue, and if it is later verified by others, you will be punished?"
The servant bowed deeply and said, "Every word I have spoken is true; I dare not deceive you."
Pei Ying said, "Alright, you can go now. Next one."
They had to screen everyone one by one, from the procurement of food supplies for the household, to the maids who tended the fire, the preparation of tea sets and tableware, and the servants who served tea... It was quite a huge undertaking.
Xie Sui'an listened attentively, but kept recalling the scene from before: the seemingly sickly Prince Ning'an holding Qin Sang's hand, calm, composed, and self-satisfied... He felt a ball of air swelling in his heart, making his chest feel stuffy and panicked. However, when he thought about his current situation, he felt a chill run down his spine.
He closed his eyes and sighed. At the brink of life and death, he was still thinking about matters of love and affection. He felt he shouldn't have done that and he was letting down his grandfather's hard work.
He needs to salvage something, so he listens carefully to any clues. If he can find something, great; if not, at least he can avoid being framed.
After listening to all the servants' reports, he was frowning when he saw Prince Ning'an suddenly stand up.
My gaze followed his back until he reached the front door. He stood under the porch and stretched out his hand—it was raining.
The rain, which had been falling all night, began to fall drop by drop, landing on the bluestone slabs in the courtyard, where it quickly seeped in and disappeared.
Prince Ning'an said meaningfully, "A storm is brewing."
Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall who had been listless and exhausted suddenly snapped out of their daze.
Xie Sui'an was also startled.
Before coming here, Xie Jingze said that his grandfather had received a joint impeachment from many officials in the court the day before, accusing him of embezzling disaster relief funds from Suzhou, illegally opening a gold mine, harming loyal officials, and nepotism in his appointment of officials.
Although he didn't know his grandfather's actions in the officialdom, he didn't believe his grandfather would embezzle, and the idea of him opening a gold mine was even more absurd. His monthly salary had never increased, and his mother kept nagging about how the household expenses were high and how difficult it was to run the household. Where would such a large sum of embezzled money come from?
These things were all fabricated by someone to frame others and list out crimes.
It was as if a hole had been torn open in the sky, and the Milky Way was leaking, pouring water down and creating a misty spray that seeped into the house.
"Your Highness," the guard reminded Prince Ning'an, who was still standing under the eaves, "your clothes are wet."
Prince Ning'an remained standing there, but suddenly said, "The clouds gather and disperse beyond our control; the strong winds bring them down to earth, where they do not meet a good end."
****
On the other side, as the heavy rain began to fall, the mourning hall was filled with weeping, a powerful and deafening sound that was even louder than the downpour outside.
The rain fell from dawn until afternoon, and apart from the people in the house, not a single outsider came to offer their condolences.
As everyone gradually understood, their hearts cooled down along with the air.
This was a silent standoff within the imperial court, and everyone began to feel anxious and uneasy.
After Qin Sang's reminder, Wang Huiwen left to instruct her trusted servants to pack up their valuables. The farmland and real estate couldn't be dealt with in such a short time, but fortunately, some gold and silver she had bought could still be packed and hidden away.
If something unexpected really happens, this money will be a lifesaver.
Xie Wu, his eyes swollen from crying, asked Qin Sang, "Will our house be raided?"
Qin Sang recalled Ning An Wang's words. Although he could not guarantee that he could save the house, he was willing to tie himself and the Prime Minister's Mansion to the same rope, so he would definitely not let the Xie family be convicted and have their property confiscated.
She shook her head: "But the days ahead may not be easy. You should prepare in advance."
Xie Wu, his eyes glistening with tears, asked, "What preparations are we making?"
"..." Qin Sang's voice was gentle and calm, "People leave and things cool down. There's been no news from the front for a long time, so the outcome won't be good. We all need to be prepared to suffer some hardships."
"It's all your fault! You jinx, you brought bad luck into our family!" Qin Sang had just finished speaking when she was interrupted by a sharp and angry voice. Qin Sang looked in the direction of the voice and, sure enough, it was the proud and arrogant Miss Xie Lin.
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