Chapter 34 He Lang
After some discussion, Sima Jun ordered Xie Xiao to be sent back to the Marquis of Changyang's mansion.
Watching the carriage leave, Chu Yue's expression was somewhat complicated.
"Today is truly bizarre." He glanced behind him, making sure Sun Wei was not there before lowering his voice and saying, "This concubine seems to have real abilities."
Sima Jun glanced at him.
"Do you also believe in supernatural things in this world?" he said.
"I didn't believe it before, but now I do." Chu Yue touched his chin, looking longingly, "This concubine is only seventeen years old? She is indeed as beautiful as a flower..."
"I have never recognized her as my concubine." Sima Jun interrupted coldly.
Chu Yue looked at him and smiled.
"You're still so stubborn. Once you've made up your mind, you won't change it." He patted Sima Jun on the shoulder and said, "Have you ever considered that if this concubine is a fraud, you'll be in trouble."
"oh?"
"Was the assassin your servant? Was the assassination committed in your residence?" Chu Yue asked. "No matter how you look at it, you're not insulated from this matter. Yet, Changxuan believes you had nothing to do with it. Why? It's because the Concubine stepped forward to save him and even accurately predicted the past events. So, it wasn't you who convinced him, it was the Concubine. Think carefully about this."
"I'll think about it myself." Sima Jun brushed his hand away and said seriously, "Few people know about what happened today. Zhuo Jing, I'm afraid there's a spy in your house."
Chu Yue sighed and said, "It's like the tree wants to be still but the wind doesn't stop. I know."
——
Sima Jun ordered everyone not to mention the Tangyuan incident.
But the news still got out.
Not long after Xie Xiao and Chu Yue left, Deng Lian came to report that He Lang had not been found.
"He Lang appeared at the palace this morning, but has been missing since then," Deng Lian said. "I've made inquiries, and the assassin wasn't originally a servant at the palace. He Lang brought him to Tang Garden a few days ago. Tang Garden's personnel, like those at the palace, have always been managed by He Lang's household steward. He made the arrangements, and everyone assumed he was legitimate, so no one suspected him."
"I think he ran away." Sima Jun said, "Instruct everyone to stop searching the mansion and investigate around his home."
Deng Lian agreed.
Sima Jun looked at Cao Song, the palace attendant, and said, "I remember that He Lang has some relationship with the late king's concubine He Ji."
"That's right," Cao Song replied. "He is He Ji's elder brother. I have interrogated He Ji and those around He Lang, and they say that He Lang is a serious gambler. Over the years, thanks to He Ji, he was favored by the late king and was in charge of the palace's purchases, making a lot of money. But he squandered all this money on the casino and even ran up huge debts, often having people knock on his door. But just a few days ago, he suddenly paid off all his gambling debts."
Sima Jun pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, let's investigate his creditors thoroughly. Also, He Ji was given to my father by the governor of Poyang, so let's investigate that as well."
Cao Song agreed and said, "There is one more matter that I need your guidance on. He Ji has been crying and wants to see you."
"No." Sima Jun said, "She is now a close confidant of the suspect. She cannot leave the residence until everything is investigated."
"yes."
Everyone left, and only Sima Jun and Sun Wei were left in the hall.
"Madam, won't you tell me in detail what happened today?" he said.
Sun Wei looked at him and said, "Your Highness already knows everything about today, from beginning to end. Is there anything else I need to elaborate on?"
"I remember last night, Madam said she wanted to go to Xianglu Temple with He Ji?"
"Exactly."
"He Ji said, it was you who mentioned that you wanted to go to Tang Garden?"
Sun Wei knew Sima Jun was not someone to be trifled with. He must have already interrogated He Ji. And since He Ji had started making a scene, she must have known about He Lang's affairs.
"That's right." Sun Wei said, "To be honest, Your Highness, I had that divination done at Xianglu Temple. I learned that there was an assassination attempt at Tangyuan today, so I found an excuse and asked He Ji to take me to Tangyuan to investigate."
Sima Jun smiled faintly.
"So, Madam's divination was incredibly thoughtful. She knew there was an assassination plot at Tang Garden, that I was meeting General Xie, and that General Xie saw a white rainbow before leaving." He said, "I suppose Madam invited He Ji to Xianglu Temple today because she knew she would be able to take you to Tang Garden?"
Sun Wei's gaze settled.
"Of course I couldn't have predicted this." She decided not to argue with Sima Jun. With a look of sudden enlightenment on her face, she sighed, "I guess this is all destined. I've been praying to the late king in front of the Buddha these days. He must know about this and is protecting the prince."
After saying this, she simply closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and solemnly chanted "Infinite Life and Blessings."
Sima Jun turned his head and rolled his eyes imperceptibly.
——
When I came out of the hall, it was already dusk.
Sun Wei looked at the sky and went to the Buddhist temple.
"It's so late, Princess, are you still going to copy scriptures?" Aju asked.
"There's nothing to do back at Wufeng Courtyard, so copying scriptures is the best way to calm your mind." Sun Wei said, "Go tell the kitchen that I'll have a vegetarian dinner, and send it to the Buddhist hall."
A'ru responded, looked around, and said, "Princess, did He Lang really run away?"
Sun Wei glanced at her and said, "Why do you ask?"
"I have a feeling he might still be in the palace," A'ru said. "Although the prince said there's no need to investigate further, when I left the palace just now, there were still plenty of guards outside. This palace is like an iron barrel."
"With such a big incident happening, it's reasonable to have tighter security." Sun Wei said.
Aju said no more.
In the Buddhist hall, the maidservant He Ji had assigned to serve was offering incense. Seeing Sun Wei arrive, she quickly bowed and began grinding ink and spreading paper for her. Sun Wei, in turn, lit incense before the Buddha, bowed, and then sat down at the table.
A'ru went to the kitchen to serve the meal, leaving only Sun Wei and the two maids in the Buddhist hall.
This Buddhist hall is the most secluded place in the entire palace.
Sun Wei liked this place. In her previous life, when she had nothing else to do, she also loved to come to the Buddhist temple to copy scriptures. It wasn't out of devotion to the Buddha, but copying scriptures allowed her to calm down and think more clearly.
It was getting dark outside, and the evening breeze was bringing a slight chill. The candlelight on the desk flickered.
Sun Wei stopped writing and was about to ask the maid to bring a gauze lampshade when she suddenly noticed a figure on the ground.
She was startled and was about to stand up when a dagger was pressed against her neck.
"If you dare to move, I will kill you!" A man's vicious voice came from behind.
Sun Wei remained motionless, his mind racing with thoughts.
"He Lang?" she asked after a moment.
The man paused. Sun Wei knew she had guessed correctly. In the palace, the only person who would dare to hold a knife against her was He Lang, who had no other options but to resort to desperate measures.
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