Chapter 52: Tips for fabricating a puppet?
Panic flashed in Zhou Tinglan's eyes. What should she do? She didn't want to be discovered.
"Fuchang, go over and take a look."
"yes."
Seeing Fuchang getting closer and closer to him, Zhou Tinglan's heart beat violently and his breathing seemed to stop.
What should she do? Should she fight Fuchang directly in the palace?
The moment this idea came to his mind, Zhou Tinglan killed it.
Fighting in the palace is extremely disrespectful. Fuchang is currently an attendant of Prince Duan and has a close relationship with the emperor. If she becomes enemies with him, she will be at a disadvantage.
Just when Zhou Tinglan felt the corpse was a little cold, her body suddenly felt lighter and someone put their arms around her waist and picked her up.
"Xie Zechuan..."
Zhou Tinglan looked up and saw Xie Zechuan holding her and flying into the air, climbing onto the roof of the palace next to him.
"Lan'er, stand still."
The roof was a double-eaved hip roof, common in ancient imperial palaces. The two men hid between the short eaves, pressed against the wall, and carefully observed the ground below.
"Your Highness, I've checked and there's no one there, just a wild cat hiding in the corner."
Fuchang went to the place where Zhou Tinglan had just been hiding and took a look before going back to report to Prince Duan.
Prince Duan was surprised and asked, "Wild cat, how could there be a wild cat in the palace? Are you sure you saw it right?"
Fu Chang's eyes moved slightly: "Your Highness, I am sure it is a yellow and white wild cat."
"I think the eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department have been a little careless recently. Please go to the Imperial Household Department and give them some advice on my behalf later."
"Your Highness, please help His Majesty deal with the lazy people in the palace. His Majesty will surely be very pleased and reward you."
Prince Duan was in high spirits when he heard Fu Chang's flattering words: "Excellent! You are the only one who understands me."
Zhou Tinglan looked meaningfully at Fu Chang who was standing in front of Prince Duan.
"Xie Zechuan, do you think Fuchang saw the two of us?"
She originally thought that Fuchang helped her to bring down Yao Ningde at the behest of Prince Duan, and that the person he was truly loyal to was Prince Duan, but now it seems that is just the case.
"I have the same idea as Lan'er, but why would he protect us?"
Xie Zechuan was also puzzled. It seemed that Fu Chang was hiding many secrets.
He seemed to be devoted to every master he served, but he was constantly doing small things behind the scenes.
Yao Ningde is like this, and so is Prince Duan.
"By the way, I haven't asked you yet, why are you here?" Zhou Tinglan suddenly recalled the thrilling moment just now.
"I wanted to ask how you were doing, so I sent a maid to look for you. But she told me you had left your seat, saying you were going out for some fresh air. I was worried something might have happened to you, so I came looking for you."
Xie Zechuan said with a hint of blame: "Do you know how dangerous it would be for you if Fu Chang was unwilling to protect you and I couldn't get there in time?"
Thinking of the scene he had seen not long ago, Xie Zechuan felt as if all the blood in his body was flowing backwards.
Without thinking, he quickly stepped forward and took Zhou Tinglan away.
"I...I know. I won't be so impulsive next time."
Xie Zechuan sighed and took Zhou Tinglan into his arms: "Lan'er, I'm worried about you."
Prince Duan's voice came again from not far away: "I am weak and will return to the palace to rest first. Fuchang, please keep an eye on the armory for me. We must not let anything go wrong."
Fuchang bowed and saw Prince Duan off. He looked at Prince Duan's back and turned to leave.
"Let's go down."
Xie Zechuan and Zhou Tinglan jumped down from the eaves and blocked Fu Chang.
Fu Chang smiled when he saw the two of them and said, "Miss Zhou, I didn't expect that we would meet again so soon."
"Fuchang, you are actually the follower of Prince Duan?"
Fu Chang raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Didn't Miss Zhou see everything?"
"Yes, I saw it all."
Zhou Tinglan said angrily: "Let me ask you, what exactly are you and Prince Duan plotting?"
Prince Duan mentioned the Armory, which must be related to the weapons of the capital. In ancient times, the only thing closely related to weapons was war.
The severe shortage of war weapons reserves in Beijiang City gave Zhou Tinglan great inspiration.
However, the people in Shangjing City are safe and sound, there is no trace of war, and it is also related to Prince Shangduan.
Could it be...
If it were really as she thought, the capital city would probably fall into chaos and turmoil.
Fu Chang refused, "Miss Zhou, you are just dreaming. I am now the follower of Prince Duan and there is no way I can betray him. I will tell you this."
Seeing Fuchang gritting his teeth and unwilling to speak, Zhou Tinglan was helpless.
She looked Fuchang up and down. "Since you don't want to talk, I can't force you. The injuries you received in the hall haven't fully healed yet, so take care of yourself."
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Zhou. Fuchang appreciates it."
"Take care of yourself."
There are many suspicious points about Fuchang, and he cannot be in any danger until they are solved.
Zhou Tinglan turned around and was about to leave: "Xie Zechuan, let's go."
"Wait a minute, Miss Zhou!"
Fu Chang immediately called out to Zhou Tinglan, who turned around, confused: "What else do you want?"
"I just want to give Miss Zhou a few words of advice. Shangjing City will soon be in great trouble. If Miss Zhou wants to protect herself, it is best to stay away from Shangjing City."
"Thank you for the reminder, Master Fu. I have my own considerations."
After saying that, she walked towards the main hall with Xie Zechuan without looking back.
"Xie Zechuan, did you say that Fu Chang's last reminder was what I understood?"
"This matter is of great importance and must be reported to His Majesty."
Zhou Tinglan was just about to say that His Majesty might have been prepared when a palace maid came running towards him.
"Miss Zhou, Her Royal Highness the Princess asked me to call you back."
"What's the matter?"
The maid shook her head: "How could His Highness tell this to a servant? Miss Zhou will know when she goes there."
"Okay, I need to go back too." Zhou Tinglan looked at Xie Zechuan beside him and said, "I will discuss today's matter with Princess Zhaoyang in private. Don't mention any action. Wait for my news."
Xie Zechuan nodded, and the two parted ways.
**
When Zhou Tinglan returned to the banquet with the palace maid, the banquet was almost over.
Princess Zhaoyang glanced at her and asked, "Why did you go out for so long?"
Zhou Tinglan bowed and replied, "I have something I would like to discuss privately with Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will agree."
She leaned slightly to the side and lowered her voice, "Your Highness, I just encountered something when I went outside for some fresh air. It concerns Prince Duan, so I am not in a position to make a decision, so I am here to inform Your Highness."
Princess Zhaoyang's pupils shrank slightly after hearing this: "Okay, after the banquet, you stay for a while."
"Ladies, I am deeply honored to have you all here for today's banquet. However, all good things must come to an end. Even the most joyful feasts must eventually end. The banquet is now over. Ladies, please leave the palace under the guidance of the palace maids."
Soon, the young ladies from the noble families at the banquet left the hall under the guidance of the palace maids.
Princess Zhaoyang ordered Taohong, "Taohong, go see if there are any other young ladies in the palace. I want to discuss some serious business with Miss Zhou."
Zhou Tinglan called Taohong, who was about to leave, and looked at Princess Zhaoyang: "Your Highness, could you please ask Taohua to go to the men's room next door and call General Xie over?"
Taohong looked at Princess Zhaoyang and saw her nod in agreement, then she responded and walked out of the palace.
Princess Zhaoyang then ordered the palace maids who were cleaning up the banquet hall: "All of you go down and come back later to clean up."
The palace door was closed again, and the noisy hall suddenly became quiet, with only Princess Zhaoyang and Zhou Tinglan left.
Princess Zhaoyang asked anxiously, "Miss Zhou, what exactly did you discover about my uncle?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will explain it to you in detail."
Zhou Tinglan then told Princess Zhaoyang about her encounter with Prince Duan and Fuchang while she was relaxing.
"Your Highness, who is currently in charge of the Arsenal mentioned by Prince Duan?"
Zhou Tinglan guessed that it was related to Yao Ningde, but he was now in prison, and he had no idea about the new Minister of War.
"The Arsenal is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War."
Zhou Tinglan's eyes flashed with surprise. It was indeed the Ministry of War. She then asked, "Who is the new Minister of War?"
Princess Zhaoyang thought for a moment and said, "I heard my mother mention him. It seems that the emperor's uncle recommended him to my father. He used to be a deputy minister. My father checked his resume. His family background is clean. Although his achievements are not great, he is honest and hardworking. He is acceptable."
Zhou Tinglan felt a chill in his heart when he heard Princess Zhaoyang describe the new Minister of War.
Isn’t Prince Duan really creating a puppet based on Yao Ningde’s appearance?
"Your Highness, don't you feel like you've seen this before?"
Princess Zhaoyang looked puzzled: "Why?"
"Your Highness, you should know that my father was slandered and framed by Yao Ningde. Have you also heard about Yao Ningde's behavior?"
"I understand." Princess Zhaoyang pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized something. Then she thought about it carefully and realized something horrifying: "Prince Duan wants to..."
"Yes, Prince Duan wants to gradually establish his influence in the court. As for the Arsenal, I have a bolder idea."
"Just as you say." Princess Zhaoyang took a deep breath.
"The Treasury is in charge of all the weapons in Shangjing City, including weapon forging, storage, and distribution. If the Treasury falls into the hands of Prince Duan, weapons will be in short supply. If Prince Duan rebels, how will Shangjing City cope?"
Princess Zhaoyang was furious. She suddenly stood up and shouted, "The emperor's uncle is planning a rebellion!"
"Your Highness, please calm down. This minister is just speculating right now."
"Your guess is very likely to be true."
The palace door was opened and Xie Zechuan walked in. He closed the door, saluted Princess Zhaoyang, and sat down next to Zhou Tinglan.
"What does General Xie mean?"
"Your Highness, the reason I arrived late is because I was secretly observing the new Minister of War during the banquet."
"What's happening?"
Xie Zechuan glanced at Zhou Tinglan and said, "After Fuchang separated from us, he returned to the banquet shortly afterwards."
"What?" Zhou Tinglan was surprised. According to Fu Chang's status, he was not qualified to participate in a banquet of this level.
"Could it be that he is serving as an attendant to the new Minister of War?"
Xie Zechuan agreed: "Not bad."
Princess Zhaoyang said as she walked out of the palace: "This matter should not be delayed any longer. I will go to the Imperial Study immediately to explain this matter to my father."
"Your Highness!"
Zhou Tinglan was about to stand up and stop Princess Zhaoyang. Most of the things were still unclear, and going to see the emperor directly would be too alarming.
"Why did Miss Zhou stop me?"
Zhou Tinglan advised, "Your Highness, we have no concrete evidence at the moment. Even if we go to see His Majesty now, it will be of no use."
"What should I do? I cannot stand by and watch Prince Duan succeed in his scheme."
Zhou Tinglan's eyes turned and he suggested, "How about we go find His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
There is insufficient evidence, so she can't report it to the emperor for now. Perhaps she can discuss countermeasures with the prince.
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