Xu Di asked, "Did Zhu Shen have an inside agent in the Yongning Marquis's residence at that time? Also, Zhu Shen was just an unfavored concubine confined to the back courtyard. How did you manage to make contact?"
An Muyuan sighed and said, "Actually, at that time, Zhu Shen controlled all the power in the capital. Zhu Shen is a very ambitious person. I was once taken by the old man of the Zhu family to meet Zhu Shen at a manor in the suburbs of the capital. That meeting was very unpleasant. Zhu Shen wanted me to hand over all the power in my hands to her. Zhu Shen even told my grandfather in front of me that she did not want to marry into the royal family. She wanted to use the power in the hands of the Zhu family to openly and honorably seize the country of Daliang."
Xu Di had seen Aunt Zhu before. Back then, Aunt Zhu often walked around in the small Buddhist shrine in her courtyard, leaving behind a pungent sandalwood scent.
Xu Di was surprised that, in everyone's eyes, Aunt Zhu was a person on the verge of death, but who knew that she could stir up such a big storm in the capital.
An Muyuan gave a wry smile and said, "Are you surprised? I was very surprised too. I knew I was a member of the Zhu family when I was very young. Zhu Shen was a famous socialite in the capital. Who could have known that she was the most treacherous person? After the Zhu family was in trouble, we discussed whether to rescue the only surviving member, Zhu Shen. Zhu Shen disagreed. She said that she was pregnant with the late Crown Prince's child, and even the late Emperor would have to protect her if he knew."
Seeing Xu Di staring at him, An Muyuan shook his head and said, "I only understood later that she had already planned it all along. She wanted to cling to your grandfather and then find a way to go to the Yongning Marquis's Mansion. Others may not know, but our grandfather told us that the dowry of the Grand Princess and the family fortune of your great-grandmother's family were all moved to the Yongning Marquis's Mansion by your great-grandmother. We have been eyeing your Yongning Marquis's Mansion for a long time, and all we want is the wealth of the Yongning Marquis's Mansion."
Thinking of the priceless items in the old grandmother's storeroom, and the dowry left to Chen Zhaoci by the Chen family, one has to admit that Zhu Shen was indeed a very capable person. In her previous life, she relied on her own abilities to bring ruin to the Yongning Marquis's mansion.
Xu Di asked, "Then, with whose help did Aunt Zhu exchange her child?"
An Muyuan shook his head and said, "I really don't know. Although we are siblings, we are actually competitors. The people and things left by our elders will not be known to anyone until the very last moment. Xu Di, I have told you everything I know today. I hope you will not forget our promise."
Xu Di nodded and said, "I only want to ask you these questions. As for your training bases, someone will probably come to ask you what you want to say. Think it over carefully. If you really think about it, you are also a victim. It was your ancestors who were unworthy. They wanted to get revenge, but they forced you to bear all of this. Mr. An, a person's life is not long, only a few decades. But what kind of reputation you leave behind after you die is up to you."
An Muyuan's expression was inscrutable, and it was unclear what he was thinking. Xu Di, however, walked out of the tent with his hands behind his back. After taking a few steps, his expression changed, and he turned around and rushed back into the tent. He saw a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of An Muyuan's mouth. Xu Di shouted loudly for Jia San to come over. Bai Shu heard Xu Di's shout and ran over with his medical kit tucked under his arm.
Jia San was near the camp. He hadn't heard Xu Di's conversation with An Muyuan. Xu Di was concerned about Meng Qiaochuan, whose identity had never been confirmed. Even if he wanted to send her away, it wouldn't be difficult to create a small accident to help Meng Qiaochuan escape.
Jia San rushed into the tent and saw Xu Di holding An Muyuan's head. An Muyuan's expression was very relaxed. Xu Di gritted his teeth and said, "Do you think you'll be fine just because you're dead? I won't acknowledge any of the things you said just now even if you're dead. Bai Shu, come and see what kind of poison he used."
After examining the person, Bai Zhu said, "It's a poison from the southwest. We don't have an antidote, so we can't treat it immediately. Put the person down, and I'll give them acupuncture to protect their heart."
After a pause, Bai Shu said, "Madam once said that my uncle knows how to cure this poison. What do you think, sir?"
Xu Di looked at Jia San and said, "Lord Jia San, why don't you take him back to the capital? Once we get back, my uncle can prepare the antidote."
Jia San asked worriedly, "Lord Xu, what if this person dies on the way?"
Bai Zhu, who had already administered the acupuncture, said, "My lord, my acupuncture can guarantee that this person will not damage his heart meridians all the way to the capital. However, there can be no delays on the way. As for the future, even if the poison is cured and he recovers, this person will need to take medicine for the rest of his life. If it doesn't work, he will probably be bedridden forever."
As long as the remnants of the previous dynasty can save their lives and be seen by the emperor, that's enough. Jia San had already written down the conversation between Xu Di and An Muyuan, and knew that they were descendants of the Zhu family, and even more so, that the Zhu family were descendants of the Yu family of the previous dynasty. The most urgent task was to bring the person to the capital so that the emperor could judge them in person.
Jia San didn't have time to waste, nor did he dare to go through Lüzhou. After crossing the boundary river at the cliff on the Lüzhou Wei side, he used Xu Di's leather raft to go downstream, then turned onto the mountain road to the Miao River, then through the Miao River to the Grand Canal, and finally by waterway to Tongzhou, and then into the capital.
Luzhou Guard had been setting up a camp to help people, and waves of people came to rescue people like moths to a flame. Eventually, Xu Di got annoyed and, calculating that they were almost at Tongzhou, he spread the word, and Luzhou Guard gradually quieted down.
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