Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Ji Yanlang returned home and told the source of the matter...
Ji Yanlang returned home and recounted the entire story to Fang Ying. Finally, after he finished relaying the message the King of Qin had intended to convey, he muttered to Fang Ying, "Could this case be related to the Zhou family? Otherwise, why would he reveal this to Princess Zhou?"
Fang Ying had been in turmoil ever since she heard that the Taoist priest had been poisoned by the jailer. Hearing this question, she didn't know how to respond and could only agree, "Yes."
Ji Yanlang didn't notice anything unusual about her. After a moment's thought, he said, "Perhaps Princess Zhou would understand."
"But I can't go out these past two days. Today, my second sister-in-law asked a doctor to come and find out that I'm pregnant..."
Ji Yanlang was a little surprised: "Really? That's great."
Fang Ying forced a smile. "Yes, everyone in the family is very happy. It's just that my second sister-in-law had trouble giving birth to Zhi, and this pregnancy hasn't been very stable either. The doctor said I can't be busy and need to rest and rest to protect the baby."
"Ah, then all the housework will fall on you alone? We have to host a banquet in a few days..." Although Si Niang learned how to be a housekeeper, she was the one who hosted the banquet this time, so there was no reason to ask her to help with the arrangements.
"My mother asked my fifth sister-in-law to help me, but she has never been in charge of anything, so I have to tell her more." Fang Ying explained.
"Fifth sister-in-law?" Ji Yanlang raised his eyebrows. "What about the third and fourth sisters-in-law? Didn't they volunteer?"
Even though Fang Ying was half-focused on what the King of Qin had said, she couldn't help but smile when she heard the words "volunteer." "Mother first asked my third and fourth sisters-in-law to come over and talk for a while. I heard they looked a little depressed when they came out. I guess Mother mentioned that my third and fourth uncles were going to be transferred away from father's command."
"That should be it. This is the only thing that can make them both rest their minds." After talking about family matters, Ji Yanlang's thoughts turned back to the King of Qin's instructions. "Why don't you go to the Zhou Mansion first while the banquet is still a few days away and there's less busy time? I'll go talk to Mother."
"What do you say? Are you telling the truth?"
Ji Yanlang shook his head: "This is a private matter of His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, it's hard to tell the truth."
"Then you can't go and tell me. Unless Sister Zhou sends someone to invite me, I really have no reason to go out."
Ji Yanlang thought about it and said, "How about you send someone to her first and ask her to send someone to invite you?"
That was what Fang Ying meant. Turning to Lichun, she asked, "Last time, I said I'd find some silk and satin scraps for Er Niang so she could learn how to make purses. Has she sent them there yet?"
"not yet."
Ji Yanlang was confused. Why did he start talking about going to Zhou's house and then turn around to mention Sister Fang Ying?
Fang Ying stood up and said to Ji Yanlang, "Please sit down first. I'll go watch them clean up."
Ji Yanlang looked at her in confusion as she brought Lichun in, and quickly came out with a small bag packed up.
"Go there in person. If Mother asks why she sent you back after delivering something, just tell her that I have something to tell Sister Chu Yin." Fang Ying explained one sentence at a time. "Give the thing to Sister Chu Yin and tell her that I miss Sister Zhou very much and have a lot to say to her, but I have a lot of things to do at home and it's not easy for me to go out without a reason. Please ask Sister Chu Yin to go back to the Zhou Mansion when you have time to pass on my message."
Lichun repeated it, confirmed that it was correct, then left with his small bag and went to Fang's house.
Ji Yanlang finally understood Fang Ying's plan and gave a thumbs up with a smile: "My lady, you are smart." He also realized at this moment that Fang Ying sent people to Zhou Mansion, which could not be concealed at all. Then Princess Zhou sent people to invite Fang Ying. Who wouldn't know that Fang Ying had revealed her intention and asked Princess Zhou to invite her?
Fang Ying glanced at him sideways: "It's you who found this job for me."
"It's me, it's me. It's all my fault." Ji Yanlang stood up and helped Fang Ying sit down. Then he stretched out his hand to massage her shoulders and neck while coaxing her, "A lot of things at home are on your shoulders, and I'm causing you trouble. I really shouldn't have done that."
Fang Ying let him hold it for a while before sighing and saying, "Actually, I wanted to get this message across as soon as possible to avoid any misunderstandings that might cause discord in their marriage."
"Well, I see that Your Highness is truly quite worried. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Your Highness has been framed—even someone as foolish as the Prince of Wei wouldn't have waited until now to silence the witness. It would have been much easier to kill him the moment he was caught."
"That's not certain. Maybe at first they didn't realize this person was their leverage, and only later, as they were investigating, did they realize they were directly involved and couldn't investigate any further."
"You don't know, if you really want to kill someone to silence them, there are ways to do it without anyone noticing. You wouldn't let the jailer who delivers food to you do it. Isn't that giving someone a handle?"
"That's right."
Ji Yanlang continued, "So, Your Highness is worried that someone might be trying to sow discord and cause trouble for their marriage."
Fang Yingxin said, "You don't know that the Taoist priest was involved in the death of Crown Prince Zhaoyi. If the King of Qin doesn't handle this case well, not to mention the marriage, even the throne may be lost."
But who could be the mastermind behind this? Prince Wei and Concubine Zhang? They couldn't possibly reach that far, killing someone in Kaifeng Prefecture to silence them, could they? Even if they did have the means, as Ji Yanlang suggested, it would have been much better to kill them sooner rather than later. If the King of Qin hadn't been so cautious and exposed this shocking crime earlier, it would have been Prince Wei who would have lost his throne.
The next day, Zhou Congshan sent someone to invite her. Fang Ying finished her household chores, said hello to Mrs. Li, and rushed to Zhou's house under the scorching sun at noon. After seeing her good friend, she told him about her conversation with Ji Yanlang and her thoughts.
"Of course it's not them, mother and son. That's Kaifeng Prefecture. If they have that ability, who else could be in charge of Kaifeng Prefecture?" Zhou Congshan sneered.
Fang Ying asked, "Did you already know that the Taoist priest died in Kaifeng Prefecture?"
"Not too early. I just got the news the evening before yesterday."
"Is it your father?"
Zhou Congshan nodded. "The Kaifeng government searched the jailer's house, interrogated his family, and went to find the gambling operation. It caused quite a stir."
Fang Ying glanced at her friend's expression and asked carefully, "What does your father think?"
"He, like your Ji Liulang, believes the King of Qin was framed." Zhou Congshan answered briefly, paused, and then continued, "I agree with you. Who can guarantee that he didn't discover the real culprit of the murder of the Eastern Palace during his investigation, and that he was actually his most respected relative, and in a panic, he acted hastily..."
"Well, the King of Qin doesn't seem to be someone who gets easily confused..."
Zhou Congshan didn't argue, only saying, "Anyway, I won't easily believe he's innocent." She sneered again, "If he hadn't been dragging his feet with no judgment or report, how could it have come to this?"
The only key witness died just like that. Fang Ying knew that her friend must be filled with grief and indignation, and would definitely vent her anger on the King of Qin, so she did not say much to persuade her, but just held her hand and comforted her silently.
"If I had known it was about this, I wouldn't have asked you to make this trip. Your father-in-law is returning to the capital to receive an award, and there's a grand banquet to be held. You've already been busy enough, and you're making a special trip in this hot weather." Zhou Congshan didn't want to talk about the King of Qin anymore. He asked Fang Ying, "The imperial physician hasn't visited yet, right?"
"Not yet. I want to go with him, but I'm busy lately and can't go out. Our second sister-in-law is pregnant, so..."
Zhou Congshan's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Your sister-in-law is pregnant? Isn't that perfect? Take the note I gave you and ask him to come and see your sister-in-law. Then you can ask him for advice in person."
"Is it appropriate?" It was originally agreed that she and Ji Yanlang would come to visit, but now she asked the imperial physician to come to see her second sister-in-law - mainly because her second sister-in-law didn't have any complicated illnesses, she just got pregnant and was doing routine pregnancy care. Would it be an overreaction to invite the imperial physician now?
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. I can even curry favor with your second sister-in-law. She should be very worried about this baby, right?"
Fang Ying nodded: "Well, I just hope I can really give birth to a nephew this time, otherwise I will become very worried."
"Your family just has so many sisters-in-law. Some people use this to compare us. Otherwise, why would it be so? My father is not much younger than your father-in-law. Your father-in-law already has many children and grandchildren, but my father's eldest son is only nine years old. So what?"
Fang Ying laughed and said, "How can you say that about your own family?" Then he said, "Things should get better in the future. My third and fourth uncles will soon be transferred out of the county lord's service. From what my wife suggested today, my third and fourth sisters-in-law will be transferred to the garrison with them."
Zhou Congshan was surprised at first, but after thinking for a while he said, "It should have been done long ago. When your father-in-law and his family were in Xiangzhou a few years ago, they should have been asked to leave. They are enjoying a peaceful life in the mansion instead of causing trouble."
Fang Ying couldn't judge what happened back then, so she just said, "Look at what it means. It's just what happened in the past few months. Once they're gone, not only will the mansion be quieter, but Second Sister-in-law will also have fewer worries, so she can give birth to this baby safely."
"Yes. But in this case, won't you have to manage the household alone until your second sister-in-law gives birth?"
"Madam asked Fifth Sister-in-law to help. I was out so late today because I wanted to help Fifth Sister-in-law get familiar with household chores first. The eldest princess and her husband were matchmaking for our fourth sister, and Fifth Sister-in-law has always been a conscientious and easygoing person, so Madam bypassed Third Sister-in-law and Fourth Sister-in-law and chose her directly."
"Your wife is really amazing." Zhou Congshan praised with a smile.
Fang Ying agreed very much and followed up with Ji Si Niang's marriage, "Yesterday, the King of Qin also tipped off Ji Liu Lang, saying that the two princesses will marry within October. This means that Si Niang will be able to get married by the end of the year."
Zhou Congshan didn't want to talk about the King of Qin. He smiled and teased his friend, "Why are you still calling him Ji Liulang? Don't you have a more intimate name for him?"
"..." Fang Ying glanced at the sun outside the window. She had been here for quite some time and could no longer chat. She shook her friend's hand and said seriously, "Your wedding to the King of Qin will definitely be before the two princesses. Tell me honestly, what are your plans? Can you reach a consensus with your father?"
The smile on Zhou Congshan's face slowly faded. "What consensus can we have? We still don't know what the King of Qin has found out. I told my father that unless I can see all the case files from the interrogation of that Taoist priest, proving that the King of Qin and his mother are innocent, I will die..."
Fang Ying covered her mouth and whispered, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Zhou Congshan's eyes turned red. He pulled her hand down and whispered, "I can't help it. If I don't say this, my father won't take it to heart."
"But you can't use this trick too often. If you use it too much, others won't take it seriously." Fang Ying persuaded softly, "I came to see you in a hurry, not just to pass on that message to the King of Qin, but also to remind you that last time we talked about someone secretly instigating a conflict between the King of Qin and the King of Wei. Think about it, if he has spies in Kaifeng and knows about the Shi case..."
Zhou Congshan shook his head. "I've thought about that, but it wouldn't make sense for him to just kill the Taoist priest and spread the news that Crown Prince Zhaoyi didn't die of illness but was poisoned. Wouldn't that cause even more chaos in the palace and cause suspicion between fathers, sons, and brothers?"
Fang Ying said, "Even if the Taoist priest is dead, this plan is still feasible. It will be more likely to trap the concubines and the princes than if the Taoist priest is alive. No one can point to the real culprit, and no one is truly innocent."
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