“Princess, there are guards outside. Please speak your mind.” Meng Zhelan said bluntly.
She knew very well that the Princess's visit was not simply out of concern for the Empress's condition; there must be other important matters to discuss.
As expected, Princess Xuanqing remained silent for a while.
He seemed to be thinking about something, and after a while he spoke, "May I ask Young Master Li to come in? I have some things I would like to ask him and hope to get his help."
Meng Zhelan was somewhat surprised to hear this. But soon, Tian Tian called Li Xi over.
Li Xi entered the room and saw Princess Xuanqing and Meng Zhelan were both there.
He bowed respectfully and then sat down.
Xuanqing took a sip of tea and began to reminisce: "Ever since my elder brother drowned in an accident when he was ten years old, my mother has been depressed and her health has been deteriorating. My father has appointed a new crown prince, but my mother has always been thinking about my elder brother. She often sheds tears silently in her room, and it breaks my heart to see her like that."
Hearing this, Li Xi thought of her mother.
One can imagine the pain of losing a loved one, especially for a mother; losing her child is undoubtedly the biggest blow.
The eldest princess sighed softly and continued, "I know Mother is heartbroken, but there's nothing I can do. I can only try to spend more time with her and let her feel some warmth. However, her health is deteriorating day by day."
Xuan Qing's eyes reddened slightly, and she gently bit her lip.
He continued in a slightly lower voice, "Then one night, when I passed by my father and mother's palace, I inadvertently heard a fierce argument coming from inside."
Driven by curiosity, I leaned closer to the window and eavesdropped, only to discover that their argument was actually about my elder brother. It turned out that over the years, their relationship had deteriorated to the point of mutual loathing.
My elder brother's accidental drowning seemed not to be a coincidence, but rather to have some hidden story. From that moment on, I was determined to find out the truth behind my elder brother's drowning.
For the past few years, I have been secretly investigating, but progress has been extremely difficult. Every clue I find is like a kite with a broken string, impossible to follow through to the end.
Sometimes I even find myself in a dead end, feeling incredibly frustrated and helpless. My elder brother was such a kind, intelligent, and outstanding person; he shouldn't have left this world so inexplicably. So no matter how great the difficulties I encounter, I will persevere…”
She knew she needed someone's help, so there was no need to hide anything anymore.
This bombshell left Li Xi and Meng Zhelan stunned. If they knew such a royal secret and it got out, it would be a capital offense!
The two looked at each other and saw the shock and worry in each other's eyes.
“Don’t worry, since I’ve spoken to you two, I must have my reasons. Young Master Li, I know you have connections to uncover some secrets that are not known to others.” Xuan Qing understood their concerns.
Li Xi took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner shock: "I wonder what Your Highness wishes me to investigate for you?"
Xuan Qing looked at Li Xi, a resolute glint in his eyes: "I want to know the true cause of my brother's death back then, and whether there was any unknown conspiracy behind it."
Meng Zhelan, who was listening from the side, was terrified and couldn't help but interject, "Princess, this matter is of great importance. Xiao Xi is just an ordinary person. I'm afraid this will be difficult to handle."
Xuan Qing waved his hand, interrupting her: "I know the leader of the Red Lotus Sect, and your Jingyuan has been investigating them. If I tell you, can you help me find out the cause of my brother's death?"
Li Xi and Meng Zhelan stared at the Princess in shock. Hearing such news from a princess of another country was undoubtedly a shock.
After a long silence between the two.
Li Xi slowly spoke, "Princess, where did you obtain this information?"
Despite her determination to eradicate the Red Lotus Cult, its leader seemed to have vanished into thin air, and even his gender could not be determined.
Xuanqing knew that without valuable information, it would be difficult to persuade the other party.
After a moment of contemplation, she decided to tell the truth: "I learned this from my father."
In fact, she possessed martial arts skills and considerable internal strength, enabling her to cleverly conceal herself and eavesdrop on private matters.
This secret originated from a chance encounter late one night when she noticed her father hurrying from the inner palace to the imperial study, which piqued her curiosity.
So she secretly followed them, but unexpectedly overheard her father and Prime Minister Liu discussing the matter.
Upon hearing this, Li Xi knew it was most likely true; it was normal for a ruler of a country to know some secrets that were not known to others.
"In that case, Princess, please tell me the information you have gathered over the past few years, and I will arrange for someone to investigate it tomorrow."
Regardless of where she learned she was from, things would be much simpler if she knew the identity of the Red Lotus Sect leader.
Seeing that he had convinced the other party, Xuanqing finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
She was actually forced to do this; if she had any other choice, she would never have easily told an outsider about her family's affairs.
However, this matter involves the Emperor and the Empress, and many of the details are complex and beyond her current ability to ascertain.
As a princess, she held a prestigious position, but this also imposed many restrictions on her. She was often bound by her princess identity and unable to freely pursue the truth.
"In that case, Princess, please tell us what information you know. Rest assured, since I have promised you, I will definitely help you investigate." Li Xi handed her a receipt from the Hidden Sect as proof of the transaction.
Xuan Qing took it, examined it carefully, and put it away with satisfaction. "In that case, I'm relieved. I look forward to news from Young Master Li."
She handed Li Xi a jade pendant and said solemnly, "I found this in my father's treasury."
Meng Zhelan took it and examined it carefully. She knew that Li Xi was not from this era, so there were many things she didn't know.
"This jade pendant is no ordinary item; it is the Dragon and Crane Jade Pendant of the previous dynasty's emperor!" Meng Zhelan lowered her voice, her expression serious.
She recalled the days when she and her father traveled around.
I once overheard a storyteller mention the origin of this jade pendant.
It is said that the last emperor of the previous dynasty was very fond of wearing a jade pendant carved with a pattern of dragons and cranes playing.
This jade pendant is so special that it is unforgettable.
Generally speaking, the jade pendants favored by emperors tend to be more solemn and majestic, but this emperor was particularly fond of such a unique design.
The storyteller also claimed that this emperor was actually a deity descended to earth, who returned to heaven after completing his mission, causing the previous dynasty to decline. Jingyuan seized the opportunity and ultimately achieved a complete victory.
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