Chapter 85 Chapter 85 The prisoners under strict guard in Kaifeng Prefecture,...
After two days of deliberation, Ji Yanlang finally decided to go to the King of Qin. He simply couldn't listen to his father and let the matter go. Furthermore, he had fought alongside the King of Qin many times, from Jiaozhi to the conquest of Northern Han and then on to Youzhou. Although he had no personal relationship with him in the capital to avoid suspicion, Ji Yanlang still admired the King of Qin's character and broad-mindedness. He believed that the King of Qin, like him, would not refrain from doing what was necessary because of concerns.
But it is not easy to see the King of Qin now. Many swindlers in Bianjing City have been arrested by Kaifeng Prefecture. Even if there are some who have escaped, they must be hiding and dare not move. Ji Yanlang wanted to do the same thing as last time and ask for an audience by reporting the swindlers, but he had no reason to do so.
Since we can't go to Kaifeng Prefecture, we can only wait for the King of Qin to come out.
Ji Yanlang took some time out to visit the Fang family. He learned from his father-in-law Fang Chengxun that the reinforcement of the river embankment in the capital was nearing completion and that the King of Qin might personally go to the embankment to inspect and accept it. So every day when he came out of the cavalry camp, he would first go around the section of the river embankment under construction. He did this for five days in a row and finally met the King of Qin's guards.
He hurried over to greet him and asked why the guard was there. The guard turned around and looked behind him not far away, then whispered, "His Highness is inspecting the riverbank incognito and ordered us not to follow too closely."
"I see. Your Highness must have worked hard in this hot weather. Your brothers have also suffered." Ji Yanlang said.
The guard was also familiar with Ji Yanlang, and knew that his prince had a fondness for Ji Liulang, who had had quite an adventure. He smiled and said, "It's my duty, so I dare not say I'm tired." He then asked Commander Ji why he came to the riverbank in such hot weather.
Ji Yanlang made up an excuse and asked, "How long will your Highness finish his inspection? It's a rare opportunity to meet you here, so I should at least go and greet you."
The guard looked in the same direction again and mused, "It's hard to say. It might be very late." He then politely declined, "Your Highness doesn't care about empty formalities. How about next time? I will definitely report Commander Ji's intentions to Your Highness..."
"Your Highness needs to drink some water and rest. I will go alone and won't alert anyone." Ji Yanlang knew the guards' concerns and took over the conversation.
The guard was still a little embarrassed and asked Ji Yanlang to step aside to speak. He lowered his voice and said, "Commander Ji, you may not know that recently, Your Highness..." He paused and changed the subject, "Recently, there have been some troubles in Kaifeng Prefecture, and Your Highness is in a bad mood..."
What happened in Kaifeng Prefecture that could possibly put His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin in such a bad mood? Ji Yanlang hesitated for a moment. The Prince of Qin was busy with work, and his suggestions would have been inappropriate. Furthermore, when the Prince of Qin was upset, forget it. He should find another opportunity.
"I see. I was rash. I just thought it had been a while since I last met His Highness... Then, please inform His Highness for me, and I won't bother you anymore."
Ji Yanlang said goodbye to his guards and left reluctantly. Unexpectedly, not long after he left the river bank, he was caught up by a trusted attendant of the King of Qin, who invited him to a chat in a nearby pavilion selling herbal tea.
"Your Highness spotted someone from afar who looked like Commander Ji and sent me over to investigate. Unexpectedly, you left just as I was halfway there," the attendant explained with a smile as he led the way. "I thought you had something urgent to do, but when I asked Guard Li, I learned you were simply afraid to disturb Your Highness."
"Yes, I heard that Your Highness might be inspecting until very late, and I'm worried that it will delay Your Highness's important work." Ji Yanlang followed his words.
"Commander Ji, please relax. His Highness is looking for someone close and sympathetic to talk to."
After a few words, they saw the pavilion. Ji Yanlang saw the King of Qin sitting inside and walked in quickly. He was about to pay his respects, but the King of Qin stood up first and stopped him. He said with a smile, "It's so hot, and you'll sweat if you move. Forget about those empty formalities. Sit down."
Seeing that he was in disguise and there was only one servant serving him in the tea stall, and there were passers-by stopping for a rest and drinking tea nearby, Ji Yanlang did not insist and sat down below the King of Qin.
The attendant poured tea for Ji Yanlang, and the King of Qin asked, "Sixth Prince, are you in a hurry to go home? I heard that your cousin's family has decided to go to your house on the 20th to propose marriage? Congratulations, from now on we will be formal relatives."
Ji Yanlang smiled and said, "I'm happy for you," then added, "Originally, I..."
When the King of Qin heard him call himself this, he immediately shook his head slightly, indicating that there was someone nearby and there was no need to do so.
Ji Yanlang changed his tone and said, "This morning, my family mentioned a banquet. I wanted to go and give you the invitation myself, but you are very busy, and my father was afraid it would be inconvenient for you, so he didn't let me go. He said that I might be able to see you in the next two days, and then I will invite you to come in person."
"You are too polite, my dear." The King of Qin paused and sighed softly, "I am indeed busy with trivial matters. I am afraid I will not be able to go and congratulate you in person that day."
Ji Yanlang knew that it would be inconvenient for the King of Qin to attend the banquet at his house unless there was an imperial order. He said this just to show his sincerity. He nodded and said that he would report to his father.
The King of Qin added, "My two younger sisters' weddings will be scheduled for next month at the latest, and I don't expect them to be delayed beyond October."
His two younger sisters were naturally the eldest princess and the second princess. The wedding date of Ji Si Niang and Liu Si Lang would have to wait until the wedding of Liu Er Lang and the second princess was set first before it could be decided. When the King of Qin told Ji Yanlang this, he was telling him that the marriage between the Ji and Liu families should be possible by the end of the year.
Ji Si Niang was already sixteen years old, and Liu Si Lang was not young either. Both families hoped to get married within this year, so Ji Yanlang smiled and thanked him, and congratulated the King of Qin: "It seems that I can drink your wedding wine in September."
He is older than the two princesses and is already engaged, so his wedding date must be before that of the two princesses.
The King of Qin smiled in agreement, took a sip of tea, but sighed softly, revealing a hint of worry.
Ji Yanlang recalled what Guard Li had just said and jokingly asked, "Why are you sighing when we're talking about happy events? Are you reluctant to part with the good wine?"
The King of Qin laughed and said, "Don't worry, there will be plenty of good wine. But," he looked Ji Yanlang up and down, "whose guest will you be when the time comes?"
"Of course I'm on your side! You said we are formal relatives." Ji Yanlang said as a matter of course.
"But your wife is not..." The King of Qin paused, seeming to be at a loss for words.
Ji Yanlang understood what he meant and said with a smile: "It's their own opinion. They are close friends, and we also have a friendship that will live and die together..."
"Well said. It's settled then. You will come with me to pick up the bride."
The two chatted and laughed while drinking a few cups of tea. Feeling their sweat had subsided, the King of Qin asked Ji Yanlang to go out with him and take a walk under the shade of the trees on the embankment.
Ji Yanlang felt the opportunity was too good to miss, so he made a decisive move and said, "Your Highness, there's something I can't tell anyone except you..." Without waiting for the King of Qin to reply, he spoke his mind in a flurry, concluding, "I know the people of Youzhou support the Hu people, and your Majesty will not like to hear that, but everyone saw what happened when the two armies faced each other that day..."
The King of Qin raised his hand, signaling him not to speak any more. Ji Yanlang said anxiously: "Your Highness, only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you fight a hundred battles without danger..."
"I understand." The King of Qin reached out and gently pressed his shoulder. "I've thought about what you said before, but since the last defeat, the emperor doesn't like to hear about it, so no one mentions it..."
"Didn't we win this time? Can't we take advantage of this festive occasion to bring it up?"
The King of Qin asked, "Have you told your father about this?"
Ji Yanlang was somewhat disheartened: "I mentioned it before, but he told me not to say anything, saying that the government would make its own decisions."
"Yes, the emperor has experienced many battles and has made his own wise judgments. What you and I can think of, the emperor can naturally think of as well. It just takes waiting for the right time and the right person to bring it up..."
Ji Yanlang interrupted: "Do you think Uncle Zhou is suitable?"
The King of Qin looked at him and said, "So this is why you came to me."
Ji Yanlang laughed innocently twice: "I am not worried that Your Highness will not be able to speak..."
"It's really hard for me to speak." The King of Qin sighed slightly, and a look of worry appeared on his face again. "I am just like a clay Buddha crossing a river, unable to save myself..."
Ji Yanlang was shocked: "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"
The King of Qin did not answer. He took a few more steps forward and then said, "The last time you came to Kaifeng Prefecture, we talked about the Taoist who made medicinal gold. Do you remember?"
"I remember. But what important case is this thief involved in that has troubled Your Highness?" Ji Yanlang took half a step back and asked speculatively.
The King of Qin stopped and looked at him. Ji Yanlang did not dodge. He looked at the King of Qin for a moment and asked in surprise, "Really?"
"Well, he's dead." King Qin's voice was very soft, but his eyes were fixed on Ji Yanlang, wanting to see how he would react.
Ji Yanlang was very surprised: "Dead? How did he die?" The prisoner who was under strict guard in Kaifeng Prefecture died before the case was concluded, and the King of Qin had this attitude. Could he have been killed by someone?
Seeing that he didn't seem to know anything, the King of Qin withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward. "Someone put arsenic in the food."
Ji Yanlang felt a chill in his heart when he heard this, and he followed up and asked, "Have you caught the murderer?"
"The Taoist priest was caught before he died - the murderer was the jailer who brought him food. He owed gambling debts and was forced into a desperate situation, but he couldn't tell who the creditor was. He changed his confession when questioned again." The King of Qin frowned and spoke in a low voice, showing that he was depressed and angry.
"Have you confessed your gambling debts?"
"I hired someone, but the place is empty and the owner doesn't know anything."
This was too strange, as if it was a trap that had been set long ago - the prisoner died at the hands of the jailer in Kaifeng Prefecture, and the mastermind behind the death could not be found, so the King of Qin became a suspect. Because no matter how you think about it, even if the jailer owed gambling debts, he would not have no other choice but to kill the prisoner who was responsible for delivering food to him - when something happened to the prisoner, the first person to be investigated would definitely be him, which was tantamount to committing suicide.
Not to mention that the jailer changed his confession. According to the laws of this dynasty, if a prisoner changes his confession, he will be retried by another person. If he changes his confession more than three times, he will be transferred to the same level yamen for another trial. By then, he may turn around and say that he was instructed by the King of Qin.
"No wonder Your Highness is worried." Ji Yanlang couldn't help but frown. "I just don't have anything to do recently. How about Your Highness tell me about that place and I'll take a few people to keep an eye on it?"
He didn't ask what other important cases the Taoist was involved in, but he volunteered to help. The King of Qin's brows relaxed slightly and said gently, "Your family is having a wedding, and you say it's okay. I have arranged for people to keep an eye on it day and night, but everyone has escaped, so I guess it's useless to keep an eye on it."
He then explained, "I have no hidden agenda in telling you this. I'm just pouring out what's pent up in my heart."
"I am ignorant. I knew Your Highness was busy with official duties, but I still brought my foolish opinions to you..."
The King of Qin waved his hand. "You are loyal to the emperor and patriotic. If that's considered immature, then what is sensible? It's just that the timing is not right. I really am... Alas."
"Your Highness, don't worry. Although this matter is difficult, the Taoist priest is already a criminal. If he dies, it's his death. Your Highness will not be implicated in any way..."
"You don't know..." The King of Qin stopped and hesitated to speak.
Ji Yanlang stopped and did not ask any further questions, waiting for the King of Qin to decide whether to speak or not.
"Never mind. I only have one favor to ask of you. This case will likely be made public soon. I'd like to ask your wife to take some time to go to the Zhou residence and pass on a message to my cousin from the Zhou family. Just say," the King of Qin looked directly into Ji Yanlang's eyes, "I, Yuan Ke, have a clear conscience."
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The author has something to say: Isn't it too late to wish everyone a happy New Year today? I wish everyone good health and happiness in the Year of the Tiger. Happy holiday reading!
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2022-01-20 22:32:48 and 2022-02-03 19:44:23~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: 10 bottles of black beans; 3 bottles of yam;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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