Chapter 73: Not the Prince Consort Wen, but the Empress Dowager
After leaving the Chu family home, Chu Yunjin sat in the carriage and remained silent for a long time.
She couldn't express how she felt.
Perhaps because she wasn't the original owner of the body, she didn't actually have any special feelings for Madam Chu, so she couldn't understand the loneliness and sense of imbalance caused by her mother's favoritism.
But the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is a high-ranking official in the court. Does he not care at all about his children's education?
The Chu siblings were at odds, and the sisters were at odds.
Although the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was not that serious, and Madam Chu was not a mistress who suppressed illegitimate sons and daughters, she spoiled her eldest son too much, to the point that Chu Mingxiu could not distinguish right from wrong and had no sense of responsibility or duty that a legitimate eldest son of a noble family should have.
Is it possible for such an eldest son to become the head of the family in the future?
Chu Yunjin frowned.
If Chu Mingxiu were a Buddhist-like incompetent fool, that would be fine, but he is narrow-minded and morally corrupt. Would he be willing to let his younger brother take over the Chu family in the future?
Chu Yunjin felt that the Chu family matter should be addressed as soon as possible.
Yan Cang asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Chu Yunjin snapped out of her reverie, lifted the curtain, and looked outside: "Yan Cang, is someone following us?"
"No." Yan Cang wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly in his embrace. "Where do you want to go?"
Chu Yunjin turned her head, hugged his face and kissed him passionately: "I haven't even said anything yet, and you've already guessed what I'm thinking? Would you say we're telepathically connected?"
Yan Cang hummed in agreement.
Chu Yunjin chuckled and nestled in his arms, laughing non-stop, completely unaffected by her good-for-nothing older brother, Chu Mingxiu.
A general like Yan Cang, who leads troops, can see through other people's thoughts with ease. If we're talking about telepathy, he and his soldiers are probably even more compatible.
However, he was willing to spoil her, and Chu Yunjin was willing to accept it.
Shouldn't loving couples be like this?
Her voice was soft, but her tone was unusually calm: "Wen Heyun was taken away by the Second Prince. The Prince Consort Wen must be extremely anxious right now, trying to find a way to save him. He has no time to focus on me. I want to take this opportunity to see that Doctor Zhang."
She should have gone to see him last night.
To uncover the truth of what happened back then, Dr. Zhang is the most crucial figure.
Chu Yunjin was quite surprised that Prince Consort Wen did not kill him to cover it up.
However, upon further reflection, Dr. Zhang was treating the Princess. If he suddenly died, it would not only arouse suspicion, but the Princess would also want to find another doctor. If Prince Consort Wen did not want his lie to be exposed, he would have to continue to bribe another person, which would only cause more trouble.
That's why Dr. Zhang has been able to live to this day.
Chu Yunjin said in a low voice, "The Eldest Princess told me something today, about the Empress Dowager. She wants you to help investigate the Empress Dowager and Consort Wen."
Yan Cang lowered his eyes: "Investigate the Empress Dowager and Prince Consort Wen?"
"Hmm." Chu Yunjin nodded. "The Eldest Princess feels that the Empress Dowager's attitude towards Consort Wen is unusual. She used to think that the Empress Dowager loved Wen because of his love for her, but now she has overturned her previous assumption. She thinks that there is something going on between the Empress Dowager and Consort Wen."
Yan Cang pondered for a moment: "Let's go see that Physician Zhang first. The truth should be revealed in most of it."
"Hmm." Chu Yunjin nodded, then asked with some curiosity, "Yan Cang, if there is no evidence, just judging from the Empress Dowager's attitude towards Consort Wen and the Eldest Princess, what do you think the truth might be?"
Yan Cang pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "When the Empress Dowager was young, she may have had some connection with the father of the Imperial Son-in-Law Wen."
origin?
Chu Yunjin's expression was subtle.
He put it quite tactfully.
Is it because they're afraid of being disrespectful to the Empress Dowager to directly admit to having an affair?
The Empress Dowager was Yan Cang's grandmother, so it's normal that Yan Cang didn't know about that generation, since it was decades later; Yan Cang wasn't even born when the Empress Dowager was young.
And after so many years, no one dared to discuss the royal family's secrets.
Chu Yunjin didn't ask any more questions; she would wait until she saw Doctor Zhang to discuss everything.
After resigning from his post at the Imperial Medical Academy, Doctor Zhang returned to his old house in Wuxing Lane, Lejie Street. The house wasn't too far from the inner city, but it was located at the very end of the lane and usually didn't attract much attention.
Yan Cang and Chu Yunjin's carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley.
The guards were waiting there. Yan Cang and Chu Yunjin walked over, with Granny Zhou and Ade following behind.
Walking to the deepest part, a simple and unassuming "Zhang Residence" comes into view. There is a tall sycamore tree outside the gate, which looks quite old.
Adele stepped forward and knocked on the door.
A short while later, a voice came from inside asking questions, and then someone opened the door from the inside.
A young man appeared before them, looking at Yan Cang and Chu Yunjin with a slightly startled expression, then asked in a flustered tone, "I... I wonder who you two are looking for?"
"Find Dr. Zhang." Chu Yunjin smiled gently. "Is he home?"
The young man's expression changed: "My grandfather... he is very old and has not treated patients for many years. Please, esteemed guests—"
"How could that be?" Chu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. "Weren't we supposed to be going to the Princess's residence just a couple of days ago?"
The young man's expression changed: "Who...who are you?"
Adele reached out and put her hand on his shoulder: "Lead the way."
The young man's face turned pale: "Grandfather!"
Yan Cang and Chu Yunjin entered the front hall, where an old man came out and asked, "Who is it—"
He had barely uttered a word when he saw Yan Cang and Chu Yunjin approaching. His expression changed, and he hurriedly knelt down, lifting his robes: "This humble subject...this humble subject pays respects to His Highness Prince Yan, pays respects to...Princess Consort Yan..."
Are these the Prince of Yan and his wife?
The young man turned to look at Yan Cang and Chu Yunjin, and knelt down with a thud.
Yan Cang silently surveyed the courtyard. Some books were drying in the courtyard, all of them medical books. The young man who opened the door earlier must be the grandson of Doctor Zhang, as the two had some similar facial features.
This courtyard is a typical three-courtyard house. It is quiet and simple, without much liveliness.
Yan Cang withdrew his gaze and sat down on a chair in the corridor: "Did Physician Zhang treat the Princess before?"
His tone was calm, yet he always inadvertently exuded an invisible pressure that instilled fear in people.
Doctor Zhang's expression changed drastically: "Your Highness...Prince Yan..."
"Since I have come to your door today, it is enough to prove that your conspiracy with Prince Consort Wen has been exposed. Hiding it will not do you any good." Yan Cang's voice was calm, but every word he spoke carried the pressure of thunder. "Your son and daughter-in-law do not live here, but it should not be difficult for me to find them."
Dr. Zhang was about seventy years old, thin and short. He looked like a frail old man, but his face was kind. Perhaps due to his years of medical practice, he had a kind of compassionate air about him, not the kind of heartless person who would do anything for profit.
Chu Yunjin walked over and helped him up from the ground: "Old man, we came here today only to investigate some matters. These matters involve the Eldest Princess and Prince Consort Wen. Even if you don't tell us the truth, the Prince of Yan has ways to find out through other means, but innocent people may lose their lives in the process..."
Doctor Zhang's face showed both pain and guilt: "This humble subject knew this day would come... This humble subject has failed the Princess..."
Chu Yunjin asked, "Did Prince Consort Wen give you benefits, or did he threaten you with the lives of his family?"
“It’s not Prince Consort Wen.” Doctor Zhang slowly shook his head, paused, and then said with difficulty, “It’s the Empress Dowager.”
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