Chapter 266 It’s great that you’re still alive
The rain was falling heavily, and the bean-sized raindrops made it impossible to open one's eyes. However, many people gathered in front of the Zhaoning Palace to watch the fun, and the sound of people chatting was mixed with the sound of rain.
"Isn't Prince Zhaoning the most favored by the emperor? Who dares to enter the palace?"
"Didn't you see? Those were the Emperor's personal guards, sent from the palace."
"Speaking of Prince Zhaoning, he's the most favored person in front of the emperor. Not only are he given gold and silver, but he even kills and sets fires without punishment. How come he suddenly..."
Densely packed oil-paper umbrellas stand in the rain, creating a blur of colors of varying shades.
Jiang Fei mingled with the crowd, holding her green cloth umbrella low, covering most of her face. She only looked at the door that had been forcibly broken open through the gap in the umbrella's edge. The whispers of the people around her drifted over with the sound of rain.
Emperor Zhaowen has always been indulgent towards Pei Jing. Now the emperor has made up his mind to search even his mansion. What exactly happened in the palace?
She didn't dare to think too much, she just felt that there was a danger hidden behind the broken door that she couldn't see.
"Miss, let's go quickly." Wen Zhu beside her lowered his voice, his tone filled with panic, "There are so many people here, what if we are recognized..."
Jiang Fei nodded, without looking any further, and followed Wen Zhu into the crowd.
Turning into an alley, Wen Zhu said with fear as he walked, "Luckily, the young lady realized something was wrong early and let us evacuate first. If she had been a step later, I'm afraid we would have been trapped in the mansion by now."
Jiang Fei continued walking, her voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the sound of rain. "If I stay in the mansion and someone discovers my fake death, the Emperor will suspect Pei Jing was behind this whole thing, and that will only harm him. If I stay outside, even if someone catches me, it will only be me who'll be implicated, not him."
"Don't worry, young lady," Wen Zhu pressed the knife hidden under his cloak, "Even if I risk my life, I will not let you get caught."
The two turned into a quiet alley, at the entrance of which stood an inconspicuous blue cloth carriage.
Jiang Fei was about to get into the car when Wen Zhu suddenly swerved to the side and blocked her way, shouting, "Who is it? Come out!"
Jiang Fei's heart tightened and she turned around to look.
In the rain at the end of the alley, a green figure was walking slowly towards them holding an umbrella.
The rain was heavy, and as he walked, water droplets from the umbrella's edge splashed onto the hem of his clothes, turning the refreshing light blue into indigo, hanging heavily.
Wen Zhu reacted almost instantly.
Amid the noisy sound of rain, the subtle sound of metal friction could be clearly heard, like a taut string, filled with vigilance and murderous intent.
Jiang Fei suddenly raised her hand and pressed Wen Zhu's wrist, then looked at the figure and said, "Wei Mingzhen."
The other person lifted the umbrella slightly, and the rain slid down the edge of the umbrella, revealing Wei Mingzhen's face.
Under the high nose bridge, his thin lips were tightly pursed, his brows were slightly furrowed, and his eyes reflected the gloom of the rain, making his expression more complicated and difficult to discern than usual.
Wen Zhu still stared at him intently, his hand gripping the knife even tighter, his fingertips pressing against the cold handle. He would attack immediately if the other party made the slightest movement.
Wei Mingzhen stopped three meters away, his eyes fixed on Jiang Fei, his voice muffled by the sound of rain: "So you're really not dead."
Jiang Fei met his gaze, her tone calm and unwavering: "Are you going to report me?"
Wei Mingzhen did not answer immediately, but pursed his lips even tighter, and his jawline was stretched into a cold and hard straight line.
The only sound in the alley was the sound of rain, and the air seemed to have frozen into ice.
Wen Zhu's breathing was extremely light, her fingertips turned white from exertion, and she stared intently at his every subtle movement.
After a moment, Wei Mingzhen slowly shook his head and uttered two words: "No."
Jiang Fei was slightly startled, "Why?"
"It's true that Wei Ciying wanted to kill you," he raised his eyes to look at her, "You were lucky to escape, not because she showed mercy. There's no need for me to do anything more for her."
His voice fell on the damp air, carrying an almost indifferent fairness, but it made Wen Zhu's tense nerves relax a little.
Jiang Fei's heart moved slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips, "I really didn't make a mistake about him."
After saying this, she turned around and was about to step onto the carriage step.
Wen Zhu grabbed her wrist, his eyes fixed on Wei Mingzhen, "Miss, what if he..."
"Nothing will happen." Jiang Fei interrupted her, her eyes passing over the green figure, "He is still the same upright and honest Wei Mingzhen. I won't make a mistake."
Wen Zhu hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth, let go of his hand, and helped Jiang Fei into the carriage.
Jiang Fei had just stepped onto the shaft of the cart when Wei Mingzhen's voice suddenly came from behind her. It was very soft, but it penetrated the sound of the rain and fell clearly into Jiang Fei's ears.
"I'm glad you're still alive."
…
By evening, the rain had subsided, and the imperial guards who had been sent out to search the palace returned to the palace one after another. Several princes were called to Emperor Zhaowen's study.
The two princes were found to have something on them and were kneeling in a corner. The others had different expressions on their faces and no one dared to speak.
"Hasn't the people from Zhaoning Palace returned yet?"
Meng Yuande quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I'm already waiting outside the palace."
"Let him in."
The commander of the imperial guards, Chen Tiejiang, strode inside. Rainwater dripped down his armor, leaving a small wet mark on the golden brick. "Your Highness."
"Tell me," Emperor Zhaowen asked, "How was the search of Prince Zhaoning's mansion?"
Chen Tiejiang said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I have been ordered to search the Zhaoning Palace, but I have not found anything related to the murder of the prince. However..."
He paused, "But we did find someone in the mansion."
Pei Jing's face suddenly changed, his eyes fixed on the leader of the personal guards, his heart almost in his throat.
The other princes also looked sideways, and even the two crying princes temporarily stopped talking and listened carefully.
If it was just an ordinary thing like keeping a concubine, the leader of the personal guards would definitely not single it out, after all, everyone has romantic debts.
Emperor Zhaowen frowned, "Oh? Who is it?"
"The man we found is named Jiang Linyuan. According to investigation, he is the young master of the Sword Forging Pavilion, the largest sect in the martial arts world."
Pei Jing's tense body relaxed instantly, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
It seems that she really noticed something was wrong and moved away in advance.
Emperor Zhaowen's gaze lingered briefly on Pei Jing's face. "Why is this man in your house?"
Pei Jing said, "I met this man by chance on my way back to the capital last year. He was being hunted at the time, so I saved him and brought him to the capital. It's been over half a year now."
Emperor Zhaowen did not comment and turned to ask Chen Tiejiang, "Is there anything else?"
Chen Tiejiang hesitated for a moment, then quickly glanced at Pei Jing. "I have found another suspicious item, but since I don't understand it, I'm presenting it to His Majesty for review."
"Show it in."
A personal guard came in holding a tray covered with a black cloth, so the inside could not be seen.
Pei Jing was originally leaning in the chair and glanced at it casually at first, but when the guards lifted the black cloth and revealed a palm-sized rosewood box inside, his pupils suddenly shrank and he sat up straight.
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