"Impossible." Lu Anyuan denied the claim without a second thought. What kind of place is the Northern Territory? If the only place in Daxia still facing military trouble is the Northern Territory, then it must be the Northern Territory. And since Xu Yixing hated his father so much, if he wanted to escape, he would naturally go to a place where he couldn't be found. Why would he go back to Miaozhou?
"She's just trying to confuse people, but we have to investigate. Send someone to follow along the Eight Gates and then check that creek or butterfly. We can't miss any. Focus on the banks and pawnshops within the country. She didn't bring much with her when she left, so she couldn't have brought cash. She must have gone to a bank to exchange it."
"Yes. Your coronation ceremony is almost here. The Minister of Rites has just reported that the princes have all received the news and are on their way. If the coronation ceremony is not attended by the Empress..."
Lu Anyuan's eyes were filled with deep sorrow. He used to think that being in this position and having Yixing by his side would be a beautiful thing in life, but now...
He glanced at Qin Li standing in the hall, and then he consciously withdrew. Although he knew about the disappearance of the princess, it was better to keep such things to himself. The less he knew, the better.
"Go find a woman of similar build to hers, disguise her, and then, after the ceremony, tell everyone that the queen is ill. Don't let anyone know anything."
"Yes." Ah Da accepted the order and left. Now this was the only way.
The funeral of the late emperor took a full month to conclude. Soon the new emperor ascended the throne and issued a general amnesty. The princes returned to their fiefdoms helplessly. Even if they had thousands of doubts, they could no longer speak of them.
By May, the weather had become completely warmer. The ascension of the new emperor to the throne in Beijing naturally brought a fresh atmosphere. Many former officials were reinstated. However, there was only one person who calmly refused when the emperor wanted to appoint him to the Ministry of Personnel.
Chen Yue sat in the study of the Imperial College, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan. Beside him was the eunuch who came to announce the imperial edict. He was sweating profusely, not because of the heat, but because of anxiety.
"Sir Shen, the Emperor has appointed you to the Ministry of Personnel as its Vice Minister. This is an exceptional promotion. What a great favor! Why are you..."
Chen Yue still looked thin, but his face was less stubborn and more calm and open. "Thank you, Your Majesty. However, I have been in the Imperial College for a long time and I feel that this is the root of official corruption in the Great Xia Dynasty. I will take root here and teach these students how to be good officials!"
"This..." The eunuch was so anxious that he almost cried. He was happy to go to other people's houses to announce the emperor's will and could even get some rewards. But why did he come here and not only was he scolded, but the other party also disobeyed the emperor's order? If he went back, would the emperor forgive him?
Chen Yue saw the helpless look on Li Shi's face and chuckled, "Go back and tell him so. The emperor will understand."
There was no other way, so the eunuch could only return to the palace with a drooping face. As the strong man left, a man came out from the innermost bookshelf and bowed to Chen Yue: "Your Excellency has great ambitions. I admire you."
Chen Yue looked at him rather unhappily: "Mr. Chao, how long do you intend to stay here with me?" Chen Yue was also preoccupied with the lawsuit. One day, a person suddenly appeared next to the rockery in his back garden. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Chao Jianyi!
Lord Shen was immediately enraged. The imperial court had been looking for Chao Jianyi for over a month, and he was just worried about finding him. How could he have come to his house? He was about to call for help when he suddenly felt a pain in his chest. It was his old illness that had come back. He was so grateful to Chao Jianyi for saving his life, and because of him, he had taken root in his house.
In the past, Chen Yue would never have had any sympathy for the wanted criminals of the court, but perhaps because he had stayed in the Imperial College for a long time, his temperament had changed a little, or perhaps it was because he had tasted the ruthlessness of the palace struggles in the past. He was stripped of his official position just because he said a few words to the second prince. Now he heard that Chao Jianyi was being hunted down because he failed to treat the late emperor's illness well, and he became more and more confused.
He actually felt a little sympathy for Chao Jianyi, and was grateful to him, so he hid him at home. He even brought him with him to the Imperial College every day, and no one discovered him.
"Young man, do you know that you are a wanted criminal? If that eunuch recognizes you, both you and I will die!"
"I know, I know. Isn't this hiding?"
Chen Yue rolled his eyes at him and said, "What crime did you commit? Why are you wanted? And how did you get to my house?"
Chao Jianyi smiled slightly, patted his butt, and turned back to the bookshelf, ignoring Chen Yue. Chen Yue was helpless. These days, no matter how much he asked, the child just wouldn't say anything. He really had no choice.
"I've inquired. The Dragon Boat Festival is just a few days away. The emperor will hold a sacrifice outside the city by the Wei River. I'll take you out of the city then, and you can leave."
"Thank you, Lord Shen," Chao Jianyi agreed casually. Ever since he was kidnapped that day, he'd been hiding for a while with the man in black. Then, one day, the man suddenly said he was leaving, leaving him to fend for himself. He then knocked him unconscious, and when he woke up, he saw Lord Shen, with a dark face.
In reality, ever since Chao Jianyi accepted the mission to poison the emperor, he had long since let go of life and death. He was merely repaying the favor he had shown that person, and now, whether he lived or died, he didn't care. Since Chen Yue was afraid that he would implicate him, there was nothing more to say, he could just leave.
Chen Yue really did what he said. On the Dragon Boat Festival, he hollowed out the space under the seat of his sedan chair and hid Chao Jianyi inside. He successfully brought Chao Jianyi out of the capital and then found another opportunity to let him go. His life and death were entirely up to him.
The bright yellow dragon flag was flying in front. The emperor had finished the sacrifice and it was time to return to the capital. However, Lu Anyuan, wearing a yellow robe, had his eyes closed, waiting for the report from outside.
A man stepped into the carriage and said, "Master, Chao Jianyi has been released. I can see clearly that it is him."
"Hmph." Lu Anyuan suddenly opened his eyes. He had been looking for him for two months, and he actually found him hiding with Shen Yue. If he didn't know Shen Yue very well, he would have thought that Shen Yue had sent him to poison the late emperor in order to avenge his past.
"Find someone to follow him. I want to know where he went."
Ah Da was surprised: "You don't think Chao Jianyi is Miss Xu's man, do you?" How is this possible? Chao Jianyi is the person most likely to have done something to the late emperor. This... Madam wants to kill the late emperor?
"How is it impossible?"
"But, among all the relationships we've found, Chao Jianyi shouldn't be familiar with Miss Xu."
"I've checked carefully. Yi...she left after the medicine from the palace was delivered that day. And the medicine was sent by the Imperial Hospital. How can this not arouse suspicion?"
"But that medicine was given by the Queen Mother. It's given every day. What's so strange about that?"
"Just do as you're told. No need to ask any more questions."
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