Upon entering the palace again, Tao Qingyun smiled and asked her, "..."
Inside the Dali Temple, Xu Lin was about to finish his shift and go home. Recently, the Emperor had appointed him to handle an old case that had been left unresolved for many years. These days, he had been leaving early and returning late, and his colleagues all felt that this was because the Emperor valued him and that he would surely rise to prominence and be promoted again in the future.
Xu Lin ignored the rumors, but that day, Zhang Zheng, the clerk, and Gao Xing, the Right Vice Minister, invited him to a banquet at Shuiyun Tower. Everyone in the Dali Temple knew that Gao Xing was extremely stingy; he would always freeload at banquets hosted by his colleagues and never reciprocate. Xu Lin repeatedly declined, feeling quite surprised.
Gao Xing lowered his voice and said, "Aren't there two strange things that happened in the capital today? We would like to have a chat with you, sir, while we are drunk."
They were all people who worked together regularly, and after spending so much time together, they no longer felt like strangers. Xu Lin couldn't help but tease, "What strange thing could possibly warrant you spending money to treat us? You haven't even received your salary for this month yet." He looked at Gao Xing and the other man with a smile, "I won't be going. Just remember not to go on credit!"
Xu Lin spoke as he walked out of the government office.
Upon seeing this, Gao Xing and Zhang Zheng quickly stepped forward to grab him from the left and right, and whispered, "Oh dear, isn't this the Marquis of Jingning! He just returned to the capital and encountered this unfortunate assassination attempt." He cleared his throat, "Also, today, the Vice Minister of Revenue, Lord Zhou, held a banquet at his residence to appreciate paintings, but unexpectedly, something went wrong. Someone offered to exchange a painting by the old Duke of Dingguo for it."
Gao Xing and Zhang Zheng had worked under Xu Lin for many years, and the three were very close friends. They also knew a little about the matter of Xu Lin hiring a matchmaker to propose marriage to the Zhu family back then.
However, when the case of treason came to light, her beloved, who was now a member of the Qin family, cut off her hair and entered a nunnery to become a nun.
Xu Lin stopped abruptly: "What painting?"
Zhang Zheng whispered, "The Four Swordsmen."
Xu Lin felt a buzzing in his head and almost lost his balance. The two men quickly supported him from either side.
Once he had calmed down, he bowed to the two men and said, "Thank you both. I will treat you to drinks another day." With that, he strode away.
Gao Xing and Zhang Zheng called him repeatedly, but Xu Lin didn't turn around and hurriedly disappeared into the long street.
Zhang Zheng stamped his foot and said, "Hey! Tell me, is this right or wrong?"
Gao Xing smiled and said, "This is all we can do to help him."
The two gradually disappeared into the night. Gao Xing said softly, "Not only for him, but also for the Duke of Dingguo back then."
Hearing this, Zhang Zheng quickly looked at both sides of the street. Seeing that there weren't many pedestrians in the market, he lowered his voice and echoed, "Yes, how could such a good person be gone?"
Gao Xing walked slowly forward with his hands behind his back, sighing, "Life is unpredictable."
Inside the East Palace.
The subordinate minister A Xiao reported to Crown Prince Jiang Yuanjun in detail about the assassination attempt on the Marquis of Jingning and the Empress's nephew at Woxue Pavilion.
"Eighth Sister and Zhenhui are here too? Are they injured?" Jiang Yuanjun asked in surprise, then fell silent for a moment: "Why did they go to Woxue Pavilion at this time?"
Ah Xiao said, "The princess was stabbed in the leg, and Her Majesty has summoned the imperial physician to treat her. As for Miss Luo, she seems to be seriously injured. Young Master Tao said that he was originally going out for drinks with Marquis Jingning when he saw Cai Yuan sneaking into the Woxue Pavilion, so he wanted to go and take a look."
“Cai Yuan…” He pondered for a long time, then slowly walked to the desk, to the porcelain jar under the window, and looked at the many scrolls inside.
The most dangerous place is often the safest place.
After a moment, he said in a low voice, "So they were attacked after they went to Woxue Pavilion?"
Ah Xiao nodded: "According to Young Master Tao, that group of assassins came to seek revenge against the Chu family."
"How are the people you sent out doing?"
Ah Xiao continued, "The owner of Wo Xue Ge hasn't hired any new people for a long time. Our people only managed to sneak in one as a handyman. But according to his report, there are no lame people in the theater, ranging from fifty years old to around twenty."
Jiang Yuanjun suddenly smiled faintly: "It's the fire Gao Jian mentioned. That man has managed to escape unscathed." He then asked, "Has the master of the hall shown any unusual behavior?"
Ah Xiao reported on the matter, including how the theater had been bought by a tea merchant years ago.
"Don't alert them yet. Let our men wait in the shadows," Jiang Yuanjun said after a long pause, his brows furrowed slightly. Then he stroked one of the scrolls, thinking to himself: Seventh Sister, please wait a little longer.
Inside the Luo residence.
After Qin Weixi returned to his residence, Song Zijin also returned from Jingyun Temple. Hearing the news in the city that Marquis Jingning and the Luo family's daughter had been assassinated, he rushed back to his residence.
Upon hearing Qin Weixi recount her encounter with Mu Tong, Song Zijin merely smiled and said they had once again brushed past each other. She then knelt and begged for forgiveness, admitting that she had made a promise but failed to protect her.
Qin Weixi asked Feng Hua to help her up: "There is something I need to trouble Zijin to investigate."
Song Zijin stepped forward.
"Prince Jing."
Song Zijin asked, "Prince Jing? Has the young lady discovered something?"
Qin Weixi shook his head.
During this time, Chu Yening visited her at the Luo residence once, seemingly preoccupied with important matters. She had taken the medicine prescribed by Physician Dong that day and was sleeping soundly. Chu Yening did not allow Pu Niang to wake her, but instead whispered with Xiao He for a long while before leaving the residence.
Then Xiaohe grinned at her and said, "Miss, the Marquis cares about you!"
The Jiang siblings entrusted Ah Xiao to bring many precious medicinal herbs from the palace. Zhao Shuhan, along with Ping An and Tao Qingyun, arrived at the Luo residence one after the other, each carrying a box of food.
Tao Qingyun saw Dong Langzhong's young apprentice and, with a stern face, openly and subtly "scolded" Chu Yening. Upon learning that the events of that day were actually related to Pei Qingzhi's insistence, she angrily "cursed" him as well.
He recounted what had happened that day, and Qin Weixi listened calmly. She then recalled the matter she had instructed Zijin to investigate and told it to Tao Qingyun as well.
After listening, Tao Qingyun pondered for a while and said, "I can't say for sure about this. I will discuss it with A-Ling and Old Wood when they have time."
Qin Weixi was silent for a moment: "Third Brother, was there anything unusual before you were assassinated at Woxue Pavilion that day?"
Tao Qingyun: "It's nothing." He thought for a moment, "I originally wanted to go see Zhoufeng, but later I went out for drinks with that guy and ran into Cai Yuan acting suspiciously outside Woxue Pavilion. He seemed to be looking for someone. What's wrong?"
Qin Weixi said, "It's nothing, maybe I'm overthinking it."
"Seventh Sister, that person from that day looked somewhat familiar to me?" He stared into Qin Weixi's eyes.
Qin Weixi's eyes crinkled at the sight: "You've kept everything from Third Brother, haven't you?"
Tao Qingyun immediately became restless: "Tell me quickly, is it him?"
"It's Mu Tong." Her smile vanished, replaced by barely suppressed joy in Qin Weixi's eyes: "You saw him too? He's still alive!"
Tao Qingyun smiled and asked her, "Don't you think that guy who came in was a bit unusual?"
"Chu Yening?" She blinked. Before Tao Qingyun even mentioned a name, she knew who he was asking about.
Tao Qingyun chuckled.
Qin Weixi said, "Haven't he always been like this?"
Tao Qingyun raised an eyebrow and glanced at the veranda on the first floor. He said, "When I came, I saw Fenghua dozing downstairs, and Pu Niang didn't seem very energetic either. Little Seventh Sister, have you been sleeping poorly lately?" He gradually became serious as he finished speaking.
Qin Weixi looked at his feigned maturity and smiled: "No, it's just that there have been more stray cats on the beams at night these days, or they've climbed up the old tree in the yard. Fenghua and Pu Niang have been watching for several nights but haven't seen a single stray cat."
Tao Qingyun was stunned for a moment, then clicked her tongue twice, walked to the window, narrowed her eyes, and muttered, "To me, it looks more like an old fox in the skin of a wildcat!"
"Third Brother, what are you saying?" Qin Weixi didn't hear a word.
Tao Qingyun turned around and gave her a mischievous smile, then pretended to be surprised and said, "I didn't say anything! Little Seventh Sister, could it be that your ears are broken too?" As she spoke, she reached out to grab her ear and examine it.
Que She had brought the medicinal meals personally prepared by Doctor Dong several times. One day, she bumped into Tao Qingyun in front of the Luo residence. Que She was about to bow when Tao Qingyun didn't even look at her and strode away with her nose in the air.
Qin Weixi stayed quietly in the mansion for more than half a month. The knife wound from that day had begun to scab over and fall off, leaving a scar that was neither deep nor shallow. During this time, Mu Tong never appeared again, and Luo Yuan and Song Zijin were unable to find any trace of him.
That noon, Xiaohe handed Fenghua a box of what she claimed was a scar-removing medicine specially made by her master. Qin Weixi, seeing that she had been at the Luo residence for several days and had recovered, had Pu Niang make some Jiangnan desserts for her to take back, and then saw Xiaohe off gracefully. As soon as Xiaohe left and stepped out of the mansion gate, she brushed past Qingpai, the head maid of Kunning Palace.
Qingpai glanced back at Xiaohe's retreating figure, saying that the news of that day had spread rapidly through the palace, and the Empress had nearly fainted. Hearing that Xiaohe was unharmed and that the princess's leg had recently improved, her anxieties finally subsided. Today, she had come to the Luo residence because the affairs of the court had settled, allowing His Majesty to escape his busy schedule and wish to have a simple home-cooked meal with the children in Kunning.
Qin Weixi looked at Qingpai with a smile. She remembered that when she first entered the palace, she had met Empress Tao, and she had said something similar that day. However, since the incident involving Gao Jian and the Marquis of Wuding, the current emperor had been unwell.
Yesterday, her brother, returning home from his duty, mentioned Zhou Quan, the Vice Minister of Revenue. At that time, Luo Ling had just been summoned by the Emperor and was about to leave when she met Zhou Quan under the corridor outside the palace gate. The two nodded and greeted each other. Zhou Quan smiled amiably, but then Chen Guiyi behind him said to Zhou Quan, "Everything has come together at once. His Majesty is currently reviewing memorials. We'll trouble you to wait a little longer, Lord Zhou."
My brother said that in the past ten years, the current emperor has never ignored Lord Zhou like this.
Zhou Quan stood smiling under the eaves. From midday when the sun was high in the sky to sunset, flocks of birds flew overhead one after another. Only then did the emperor put down his pen and stop reading, remembering him.
She clenched one hand into a fist, pressed it to her lips, and coughed lightly twice.
Qingpai looked at her with concern and asked, "Is the young lady still not fully recovered?"
Qin Weixi waved her hand: "When I was young, His Majesty and the Empress treated me very well. If it weren't for the busy affairs of the court, I should have gone to see His Majesty as soon as I returned to the capital."
After this incident, Feng Hua desperately wanted to accompany her to the palace, but remembering her promise before returning to the capital, she hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. Just as her grandfather had said years ago, what was the point of going to the imperial family, which was as deep as the sea? She wanted to keep Pu Niang with Feng Hua, but this time Pu Niang insisted on going to the palace with her. However, Qin Weixi said that it was a family banquet, and her brother would definitely be there, so she didn't need to worry.
Qin Weixi met Jiang Yuanfu outside Kunning Palace. Jiang Yuanfu did not look well, probably because she had just recovered from a serious illness. She had leg problems and had been injured that day. Recently, she had been supported by palace maids when entering and leaving the inner palace.
Looking at Jiang Yuanfu's slender back, she called out, "Sixth Sister."
Jiang Yuanfu turned around and saw that it was her. She forced a smile on her pale face: "Eighth sister, you've come."
Qin Weixi nodded and handed the palm-sized camphor wood box to Zi Shu beside her, saying, "Are you feeling better? This is a brocade that Her Majesty sent a few days ago. I'm not particular about food and clothing now, and summer is almost here, so I'll take it to make you a pair of knee pads."
Jiang Yuanfu pursed her lips, her smile a little brighter than Fang Cai's: "Thank you."
Inside the Kunning Palace, Emperor Kang Le was playing chess with Chu Ye Ning, while Tao Qing Yun stood to the side, watching the game with a folding fan in her hand. Jiang Yuan Jun and Luo Ling sat quietly drinking tea to one side. The game was evenly matched, with Chu Ye Ning holding a black piece, his face calm and composed. Emperor Kang Le, however, looked somewhat solemn.
The aroma of delicious food wafted from the table. Just as Chu Yening was about to capture one of his pieces, Emperor Kang Le suddenly pushed the chessboard aside and laughed, "If this game of chess continues today, it will be dark by the time we get to eat. Children, come and eat!" He took his seat first, followed by Empress Tao, and then the so-called "children" of the elders. After paying their respects, they all took their seats.
Emperor Kang Le stared at her intently for a while before joking with Empress Tao: "I almost didn't recognize you, but looking at you so closely, I thought I was seeing young Yun Chuan. Hmm, these eyes don't quite look alike. If you ask me what's similar, A Ning, come and take a look. Speaking of which, Yun Chuan looks most like me." He said to Empress Tao beside him.
Qin Weixi smiled calmly, her eyes expressionless.
Before she was eight, the Emperor she knew was kind and gentle, treating his father and brothers with respect and affection, and always showing them, the younger generation, love. He was also healthy and energetic. But after he turned eight, when he was eighteen, many years later, the Emperor she saw had transformed overnight into a weathered old man with graying temples, looking much older than her father from the Luo family.
Unlike the late emperor she had seen in her childhood, he always exuded an imposing aura, even on that late spring afternoon when he was already very old.
Standing in this vast world, for a moment she felt an intense urge to abandon everything and run back to the Qin family's old house to see what her father looked like now, whether he was like her best friend who had shared life and death with her, with graying temples, or whether he had a house full of children and grandchildren, happy children and a harmonious marriage, and was still as full of vitality as he was back then.
But the Qin family has lost everything.
Empress Tao smiled and said, "In my humble opinion, she resembles Qiao Zheng; her every move is similar. And there are other similarities..."
Jiang Yuanjun, who was standing to one side, suddenly said, "He looks like his elder brother."
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