179. Bluster and Suspicion
Jiang Xiyue walked up to Xie Wenling and asked in confusion, "Brother-in-law Xie, the Duke of Anguo seemed very strange just now. Did something happen? What happened to Lin Lingrong? Why did she suddenly run away?"
Xie Wenling's eyes quickly swept across the corridor, avoiding answering, and he only said, "It's nothing serious, just some trivial incident. Madam, this is not the place to talk. You should take the children back to the manor first."
Jiang Xiyue glanced at another room at the end of the corridor and vaguely sensed that something was wrong.
But seeing that Xie Wenling was unwilling to say more, she knew that this matter involved a lot, so she stopped asking and pulled the little dumpling and her second brother away: "Then let's go back first, be careful yourself."
The second brother frowned, feeling that the Duke of Anguo's gaze was strange, but he also knew that now was not the time to ask questions, so he just followed his mother and walked quickly towards the stairwell.
The little dumpling kept turning back, her face full of worry, until Jiang Xiyue pulled her into the stairwell, at which point she reluctantly looked away.
Once the footsteps of Jiang Xiyue and her entourage had completely disappeared, Xie Wenling stood still, his gaze fixed on the door of the room where the old prime minister was.
The door was heavy, and although you couldn't hear anything coming from inside, you could imagine the panic the person inside must be in.
Inside the room, the old prime minister, feeling uneasy under the intense gaze, paced back and forth anxiously: "Why is Xie Wenling here? The way he looked just now, he clearly sensed something..."
"And that guy surnamed Lin, he said he'd lead them away, but after exchanging a few words with Xie Wenling, he fled in a panic. I don't know what he overheard..."
He couldn't understand how Xie Wenling could have discovered their secret when he and the Duke of Anguo had chosen to discuss matters on the top floor of the restaurant, deliberately avoiding all the servants and keeping the doors and windows tightly closed.
Could it be that Duke Anguo inadvertently revealed a flaw when he went out?
Or was Xie Wenling already watching them and deliberately waiting here to ambush them?
A series of questions swirled in his mind, and the old prime minister became increasingly anxious.
Who is Xie Wenling?
That was His Majesty's favorite, meticulous and efficient.
If he sets his sights on you, it will definitely not be good for you.
The plan that I and the Duke of Anguo devised today is likely to be ruined.
He clenched his fist tightly, a fierce glint in his eyes.
He absolutely cannot lose!
Otherwise, not only would their years of hard work be wasted, but their entire family could also be implicated.
Outside, Xie Wenling stared for a while, then silently turned and went downstairs.
The old prime minister dared not go out, fearing that he might suddenly launch a surprise attack.
He held his breath and waited in the room for a long time.
There was no further sound from outside, but he remained anxious.
"No, we have to think of a solution quickly."
The old prime minister paced back and forth a few times, then walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and secretly looked down.
People were coming and going downstairs, and Xie Wenling was standing next to the carriage with his back to him.
He couldn't see his expression, but he could still feel a sense of oppression emanating from his back.
Seemingly noticing his gaze, Xie Wenling slowly turned around.
The old prime minister felt a chill and quickly lowered the curtains, his back already covered in a layer of cold sweat.
After calming himself down in the chair, he recalled how the Duke of Anguo had left in such a panic, and couldn't help but curse him under his breath as "useless."
He lost his composure at the crucial moment and was terrified by Xie Wenling's few words. If he were to actually find out anything, the consequences would be unimaginable!
The only solution now is to immediately stop the Duke of Anguo's plans, stabilize the situation, and wait until we have a clear understanding of Xie Wenling's background before making any further moves.
He then cautiously went downstairs.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly and he successfully boarded his carriage.
But the smoother things went, the more uneasy he became.
On the carriage, he couldn't even wait until they arrived at the mansion. He grabbed a pen and paper and quickly wrote a few lines on the paper.
The message was simply to instruct Duke Anguo to immediately halt all actions, observe the situation, and refrain from any rash moves.
After he finished writing, he carefully checked it to make sure nothing was missing before folding the letter, putting it in the envelope, and sealing it with sealing wax.
"Immediately deliver this letter to the Duke of Anguo's residence and personally hand it to the Duke, instructing him to act exactly as stated in the letter without fail!" The old prime minister handed the envelope to his attendant, his tone serious. "Be careful on the way, and don't let anyone discover it."
"Yes!" The servant took the envelope, carefully put it away, and quietly left.
The old prime minister finally breathed a sigh of relief and slumped into his chair.
He picked up the tea that had long since gone cold from the table, took a big gulp, and tried to calm the panic in his heart.
But the thought of Xie Wenling's unfathomable gaze made her heart pound with anxiety.
-
Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.
It is said that Xie Wenling stood in the corridor for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before slowly turning around and leaving.
He didn't chase after the Duke of Anguo, but instead whispered to the people around him, "Keep an eye on the movements of the old prime minister's residence and the Duke of Anguo's residence. Report back immediately if anything unusual happens."
The attendant immediately replied, "Yes, sir!"
Xie Wenling took a step and walked down.
He also had many informants of his own. With Wei Xiuming's help, he had the advantage of being able to act first. He knew that the old prime minister and the Duke of Anguo were working together, so he could take precautions in advance.
Therefore, when his informant reported that the old prime minister and the Duke of Anguo had both disappeared from sight, he knew that they had gone to meet in private.
Following their informant, they eventually found the restaurant.
The news that Lin Lingrong told him was actually an unexpected surprise.
However, he was also quite certain that they had discussed much more than just these things.
The marriage was merely a formality to solidify the partnership; Lin Lingrong had not heard the real plan.
But it's okay, he has a way to solve it.
The old prime minister was suspicious by nature. As long as he put pressure on him and acted as if he knew everything and was in complete control, the prime minister would never dare to make any rash moves.
He knew very well that the old prime minister must be trying to find a way to remedy the situation, and that the Duke of Anguo would temporarily restrain his actions after receiving the news.
But this is only temporary; as long as their cooperation continues, they will never give up easily.
However, he is not always able to seize the initiative.
He must get rid of these two as soon as possible.
-
Meanwhile, Duke Anguo had returned to his residence and was quite restless.
His mind was filled with the scene from the restaurant earlier, and Xie Wenling's words, "Why don't we sit down and have a cup of tea?" made him even more terrified.
He felt that Xie Wenling already knew something, but he wasn't sure, so he paced anxiously in the study.
It wasn't until the old prime minister's confidant brought in the old prime minister's letter that he felt as if he had grasped a lifeline and hurriedly opened the envelope.
After reading the letter, Duke Anguo breathed a long sigh of relief, finally putting his mind at ease.
Suspend the plan and wait and see.
—This is exactly what he wants to do right now.
He ordered his subordinates, "Pass down the order: stop everything that was arranged before, and no one is allowed to mention it again!"
-
The little boy nestled in his mother's arms, still thinking about Lin Lingrong.
Will the older sister be able to get the item successfully?
Will her father find out?
Jiang Xiyue and her second brother also had their own worries, and neither of them spoke up.
For a moment, the carriage fell silent, with only the sound of wheels rolling over the road.
The little dumpling looked at the street scene flashing past the window, but her mind was in turmoil. One moment she was thinking about Lin Lingrong's safety, and the next she was thinking about Brother Xie's serious expression and Duke Anguo's flustered look in the restaurant. She felt that something big was about to happen.
She rested her chin on her small hands, sighed melancholically, and looked out the window at the scenery.
Just then, a richly decorated carriage emerged from another road and drove alongside them; the patterns on its body looked very familiar.
The little dumpling also came over and immediately recognized it as Dou Shichen's carriage: "It's the carriage of Prince Bright Bean!"
Just as she was about to lean out of the carriage window to say hello, a gust of night wind suddenly blew by, lifting the curtain of the carriage opposite.
The little boy instinctively looked over and saw Dou Shichen sitting in the carriage, holding a pen in his hand, writing while wiping away tears.
The little dumpling was stunned.
Dou Shichen usually acts arrogant and cocky, like a proud little peacock, so why would he cry?
She leaned out the window and shouted at Dou Shichen's carriage, "Shining Bright Bean Prince! What did you do? Did someone bully you?"
Upon hearing the sound, Dou Shichen froze, quickly turning to the side and wiping his face with his sleeve.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
