Chapter 72: Crisis resolved, evidence obtained
The gate to Prince Duan's mansion creaked open, and Xiao Jin, riding a dark steed in front, followed by Yun Zhi in a carriage, hurried back to the mansion, exhausted. Shen Qingyue, who had been waiting at the door, immediately came forward. Her moon-white dress made her look delicate and charming, her eyes slightly red, and her tone full of concern: "Prince, why did you come back so suddenly? Are you worried about something at the mansion?"
Xiao Jin dismounted and glanced at her. Remembering Yun Zhi's previous words, his doubts deepened. He said calmly, "Something unusual has happened in the mansion, so I naturally had to come back to check it out. Qingyue, what on earth has happened in the mansion these past few days?"
Shen Qingyue's heart tightened, but she still smiled gently. "It's nothing serious. I just found a scoundrel sneaking in last night. I've already had people search, but they haven't found him yet. I didn't dare send a detailed message because I was afraid that the prince would worry." As she spoke, she glanced at the carriage and saw Yun Zhi being helped down by the guards. Her arm was bandaged and her forehead was bruised. A hint of imperceptible pride flashed in her eyes - good fall! It would be better if this bitch was thrown to death!
Yun Zhi pretended not to see her eyes, held the guard's hand, and said weakly to Xiao Jin: "Your Highness, I'm fine, you should deal with the affairs of the mansion first." She deliberately acted sensible, which could better contrast with Shen Qingyue's "excessive worry".
Xiao Jin nodded and ordered the guards behind him, "Immediately lead a comprehensive search of the palace, especially the study and the backyard. Make sure to find the scoundrel who sneaked in!"
The guards responded in unison and immediately dispersed. Shen Qingyue panicked—Xiao Jin had personally ordered a search. If Xie Heng was still hiding in the mansion, he would be found sooner or later! She hurriedly said, "Your Highness, I've already had people search the mansion several times. Could it be that this scoundrel has already escaped? Don't let the guards' work be in vain."
"Whether he ran away or not, we'll know after we search him." Xiao Jin said firmly. Without looking at her again, he turned around and helped Yun Zhi walk towards the main hall. "Zhi'er, you're seriously injured. Go to the side hall to rest first. Let the imperial physician change your dressing."
Yun Zhi obeyed obediently and was helped away by the maid. As she passed the woodshed, she quietly raised her eyes and saw Uncle Fu carrying a wooden basin and walking towards the cellar. Her heart immediately settled down - Uncle Fu was going to act according to plan.
At this moment, in the firewood cellar, Xie Heng was clutching a secret letter wrapped in oil paper, his ear pressed against the cellar door, listening to the noises outside. The footsteps of the guards grew closer, then gradually receded, clearly distracted by Xiao Jin's orders.
"Thank you, Imperial Physician! Quick!" The cellar door was suddenly pushed open, and Uncle Fu lowered his voice, "The prince has returned. The guards have gone to search the front yard and the study. I have distracted the guards in the woodshed. Come with me!"
Xie Heng immediately climbed out of the cellar, his body still covered in mud, but he didn't bother to clean it up. He followed Uncle Fu to the back door of the woodshed. As soon as he reached the corner, he heard footsteps - two guards were coming this way!
"Hide quickly!" Uncle Fu pulled Xie Heng and hid in the storage room next to them. The room was filled with broken tables and chairs, which were just enough to cover the two of them.
The guards' footsteps stopped outside the utility room. One of them said, "I thought I saw a figure just now. Was it that villain?"
Another said, "Never mind. The prince ordered us to focus on searching the study. There are so many things here, where is there room to hide someone? Let's go to the study!"
As the footsteps faded away, Xie Heng and Uncle Fu breathed a sigh of relief. Uncle Fu pulled out a bamboo tube from his pocket and handed it to Xie Heng: "Put the evidence inside. I've already made an appointment with Liu Zhong's men to meet under the willow tree at the back door. He'll be disguised as a farmer delivering vegetables. Take this opportunity to give him the bamboo tube!"
Xie Heng nodded, stuffed the secret letter wrapped in oil paper into the bamboo tube, and held it tightly in his hand. While the guards were gathered in the front yard and the study, the two of them quietly walked towards the back door, avoiding the patrols along the way.
As expected, there were fewer guards at the back door, with only one guard on duty. Uncle Fu walked over with a basket full of vegetables and said to the guard with a smile, "Young man, these are the vegetables the kitchen needs. I'll bring them in."
The guard glanced at the basket and thought nothing of it: "Go in, and come out quickly."
Uncle Fu took the opportunity to wink at Xie Heng, who was hiding behind a tree. Xie Heng immediately went around to the willow tree, where a farmer in coarse clothes was standing. It was Ali, an old subordinate of Liu Zhong!
"Thank you, Doctor!" Ali lowered his voice, took the bamboo tube handed to him by Xie Heng, and quickly hid it at the bottom of the vegetable basket. "Miss Yun has already confirmed it. Don't worry, I will send the evidence safely to Uncle Liu!"
Xie Heng nodded, and just as he was about to say something else, he heard Shen Qingyue's voice coming from the back door: "Stop! That farmer, where are you from? Haven't the vegetables been delivered to the mansion a long time ago?"
Xie Heng and Ali's expressions suddenly changed! Why is Shen Qingyue here?
Ali immediately calmed down and bowed, "Ms. Shen, I'm a farmer from the outskirts of the city. The kitchen manager said the vegetables this morning weren't fresh, so he asked me to bring another basket."
Shen Qingyue's eyes swept across the basket, her eyes sharp: "Really? Open it and let me see!"
Ali's heart tightened, and he quietly placed his hand on the vegetable basket. Just as he was trying to think of a solution, he heard the guards shouting from the front yard: "Your Highness! We found a suspicious footprint in the study. It looks like it was left by a scoundrel!"
Shen Qingyue's face changed. What she was most worried about was that something might go wrong in the study. She immediately said to the guard, "Hurry! Go to the study!" After that, she no longer had the heart to check Ali and hurried to the front yard.
Ali breathed a sigh of relief, gave Xie Heng a look that said "don't worry", picked up the vegetable basket, walked out of the back door quickly, and disappeared into the alley.
Xie Heng looked at his back, his heart finally at ease. He turned around and followed Uncle Fu, went back to the woodshed, and hid in the cellar again - he had to wait until the storm was completely over before finding a way to leave the palace.
In the study in the front yard, Xiao Jin stared at the footprints on the ground, his brow furrowed. The chief guard bowed and reported, "Your Highness, these footprints are new. They extend from the window to the bookshelf. It looks like someone tried to sneak into the secret room. Fortunately, the door of the secret room was not opened."
Shen Qingyue stood aside, secretly thankful for what she had done. Fortunately, she had someone wipe the marks on the secret room's doorway beforehand, otherwise Xiao Jin would have discovered the clue. She quickly said, "Your Highness, it seems that the villain was heading for the study. Fortunately, we strengthened the guards in advance and prevented him from succeeding."
Xiao Jin didn't say anything. He glanced at the bookshelf and suddenly asked, "Qingyue, have you been into the study since I left?"
Shen Qingyue panicked and shook her head quickly: "No, how dare I enter the prince's study?"
"Really?" Xiao Jin's eyes were filled with scrutiny. "But I heard that a few days ago you had someone inquire about the study and wanted to help me sort out the documents."
Shen Qingyue's face turned pale instantly, and she quickly explained: "Your Highness, I'm just worried that the paperwork will be messy when you come back, so I want to help you share the burden. I don't mean anything else..."
"That's enough." Xiao Jin interrupted her, his tone carrying a barely perceptible coldness. "The study is my private place. From now on, no one is allowed to approach without my permission, including you."
Shen Qingyue looked at Xiao Jin's cold eyes, her heart filled with shock and anger—it must have been that bitch Yun Zhi! She had badmouthed her in front of the prince! She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, but she could only forcefully nod, "Yes, I understand."
Yun Zhi, hiding in the side hall, learned from the maid's report that Ali had safely left with the evidence, and she felt completely at ease. She looked at the bandage wrapped around her arm, the wound still aching slightly, but she felt that the pain was worth it - the evidence was finally in her hands. Next, she just had to wait for the perfect opportunity at the Queen's birthday banquet to expose the crimes of the Shen family and Shen Qingyue to the public!
"Miss, the imperial physician is here." The maid reminded softly.
Yun Zhi nodded, gathered her composure, and put on a gentle, submissive front again. She knew that before the birthday banquet, she needed to continue playing the role of "docile substitute," letting Xiao Jin and Shen Qingyue down their guard so she could deliver a fatal blow on the final stage.
At this moment, in the alley behind the palace, Ali, carrying a basket of vegetables, hurried to a secluded courtyard and handed a bamboo tube to the waiting Liu Zhong. Liu Zhong opened the tube, took out the secret letter, and after carefully examining it, a solemn and excited expression crossed his face. "Great! This evidence is enough to bring down the Shen family! Quick, collect the evidence and send it to the old subordinates in the suburbs of Beijing. On the day of the birthday banquet, bring it to the palace in person!"
"Yes!" Ali took the secret letter, carefully wrapped it in oil paper, hid it in his arms, turned around and disappeared into the alley.
Liu Zhong stood in the courtyard, looking towards the direction of the palace with a firm gaze - General Yun, your grievances will soon be cleared! The crimes of the Shen family will soon be exposed to the world!
The crisis surrounding the "evidence" has finally been resolved, but a greater storm is quietly brewing on the stage of the Queen's birthday banquet. Everyone is waiting for that day to come, some are eager, some are terrified, and some are determined. The final outcome will finally be revealed at that grand palace banquet.
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