Zhou Jing'an held her hand and comforted her softly.
"I know. I checked it out right then and there. The farmer was killed in the fire, and so was the kitchen steward who had a dispute with him."
How could he not know that there was something fishy going on?
"However, the Marquis of Pingyang is of high status and followed the late emperor on the battlefield, making great contributions to the cause. It's not something that can be investigated just because someone wants to."
Zhou Jing soothed her hand and said gently, "Your Majesty knows that this matter is not that simple, but there are too many things involved, so we cannot make a hasty judgment."
He never mentioned it to Jiang Ling because he was afraid that she would be angry and anxious.
He has been busy with this matter these days, but Pingyang Hou is not a weakling, nor is he someone who can be manipulated by others. He has to be cautious in all his actions and think over and over again before taking any action.
Therefore, in these days, there has been no direct clue pointing to the involvement of the Chang family and people from the previous dynasty.
Jiang Ling lowered her eyebrows and sighed softly, "It's really frustrating that I know they are up to something but can't investigate openly."
Zhou Jing'an felt a surge of guilt in his heart. "Ling'er, don't worry. If you did it, there must be traces. I will get to the bottom of it."
Jiang Ling nodded, and seeing his guilty look, she comforted him, "Don't worry, be careful."
Then he frowned again, "Since the Chang family is suspected, is the poetry gathering in a few days related to them?"
Zhou Jing'an replied, "After hearing what you said that day, I sent someone to investigate, but I didn't hear that anyone from the Chang family was going to the poetry gathering."
The Chang family has two sons, both of whom are married.
For a banquet like this, invitations should definitely be sent to the Chang family.
Jiang Ling frowned, "Almost everyone in the capital went, why aren't they going?"
Some forgotten details suddenly flashed through her mind, suddenly coming to her mind and making her startle.
"No." She suddenly held Zhou Jing'an's hand tightly.
"It's not that I didn't go, but I had other plans that I couldn't postpone, so I didn't go to the Xiyuan Yaji."
Jiang Ling was once again secretly annoyed at her own negligence.
Her mind had been very idle these days, and she had never thought that the Chang family might be involved with those people from the previous dynasty. While looking at the plot clues provided by the system, she was busy paying attention to the details of the Xiyuan Yaji. She carefully noted who was present and didn't pay attention to who didn't go.
Seeing her nervous and serious expression, Zhou Jingan couldn't help but ask, "Ling'er, do you know anything?"
Jiang Ling nodded and hurriedly told him, "On the day of the Xiyuan Gathering, the eldest lady of the Chang family, her younger sister, held a full-moon banquet for her child. The banquet was scheduled long ago, so the eldest son of the Chang family brought his wife to the full-moon banquet."
"And the Chang family's second son fell off his horse while practicing swordplay a while ago and injured his leg. His wife wanted to stay at home to take care of him, so she didn't go either."
Jiang Ling lowered her eyes and thought carefully.
The book only mentioned this sentence. In addition to the Chang family, there were two other families who did not attend the poetry meeting due to other matters. No other details were mentioned.
She suddenly looked up and asked, "When did the Chang family's second son injure his leg?"
Zhou Jing soothed her back and gently reassured her not to worry.
He himself had people keeping an eye on the Chang family, so he was naturally aware of these things.
"The Chang family's second son, Chang Han, was injured on May 3rd. He fell off his horse at the city's stables."
Jiang Ling murmured: "May 3rd, May 3rd..."
Her expression froze. "That was the third day after the Spring Appreciation Banquet."
Zhou Jing'an had thought of this since she asked Chang Han.
And he thought of another point.
He looked at Jiang Ling and said slowly: "Chang Hao, the eldest son of the Chang family, his wife's sister married into the Wang family, and the Wang family's mansion..."
Jiang Ling looked at him and her breathing became lighter.
"Where?"
Zhou Jing'an's eyes were sharp, "It's right next to the south of the Qiguogong Mansion's Xiyuan, separated by a wall."
-
Jiang Ling felt a chill running up his spine, and his scalp went numb for a moment.
Her hands unconsciously clenched, her voice trembling, "Is it the Chang family? Are they working with those people to assassinate the emperor?"
Zhou Jing'an moved closer, took her into his arms, and gently comforted her: "Ling'er, don't be nervous."
He wrapped her hand tightly around him, feeling the coldness of her fingers and couldn't help but frown.
"And..." Jiang Ling suddenly thought of something else.
fire.
Fire starter.
Set fire in the corner.
All these tiny details put together made her think of another fire.
She raised her eyes to look at Zhou Jing'an, "Duke Qi's mansion almost burned down the ancestral hall once. Someone used a fire starter to set the fire, but Qi Tianyang caught them on the spot and prevented them from succeeding."
It's no wonder she thinks too much. These things are so complicated and confusing that not even the smallest detail can be overlooked.
Her heart was pounding, and the closer she got to the truth, the more frightened she became.
"Was it also the Chang family's doing? This poetry gathering was also held in the Xiyuan Garden of the Duke of Qi's Mansion. Is this a coincidence or..."
Zhou Jing'an was slightly stunned. Besides being amazed at Jiang Ling's alertness and intelligence, he was also worried about her emotions.
When he found out the cause of the fire at Chang's farm, he immediately thought of the fire at Duke Qi's mansion that never started.
The person Qi Tianyang captured personally was a man in black who had sneaked in disguised as a servant. After being sent to the yamen by Qi Tianyang, he died suddenly before he could be interrogated.
He was killed by a single blow, stabbed straight in the throat.
This matter ends here and no further clues can be found.
And now that similar things are happening again, it is indeed suspicious.
In addition, Jiang Ling mentioned that the Wang family was going to hold a full moon banquet, which seemed to have invisibly strung these subtle details together.
"Ling'er, I'll check these things, don't think about it for now."
He held her trembling hand, worry in his eyes.
Jiang Ling also knew that her emotions were somewhat out of control, so she forced herself to take a few deep breaths and gradually calmed down.
"Let's go back home and rest for a while." Zhou Jing'an told Ye Song to go back home and raised his hand to gently smooth away her frown.
Jiang Ling sighed lightly, "Okay, let's go back first."
Zhou Jing'an held her in his arms and soothed her gently. Jiang Ling leaned in his arms, listening to his strong heartbeat with her right ear. Her tense body and emotions gradually relaxed.
The carriage started moving and slowly drove towards the Zhou family, away from the crowd, slowly turned around Ronghua Street and disappeared.
Chang Shu, who had just disappeared, quietly walked out from the corner of the alley, staring coldly at the direction where the Zhou family's carriage disappeared.
The original indifference in her dark eyes was swept away, leaving only jealousy and unwillingness that was about to overflow, and the soft silk handkerchief in her hand was also clenched tightly by her, her fingertips turned white due to the force, and it was almost torn apart.
"Jiang Ling..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com