Chapter 30
Yu Xi?
Ling Huanchen instantly relaxed, letting him hold her. After a long pause, he spoke, "Your Majesty, why are you here? Why don't you light the lamp?"
Does this person like to stay in a pitch-black room?
"Someone who works diligently for the people, I naturally have to support him." Yu Xi buried his head in his neck, his breath pouring down on him, like a feather tickling his neck from time to time, very itchy.
"But even meals don't taste good without seeing someone." Yu Xi thought. He finally understood the feeling of waiting for someone. In the past, he spent a long time dealing with state affairs, so it was common for him to come home late. Maybe his little mermaid also felt that meals were not tasty, so she often forgot.
It turns out that I was sick because of missing someone.
Ling Huanchen found it a little funny. His king had a unique way of expressing his longing.
"I'll remember the time later."
Yu Xi hugged him tightly, not ready to let go. Even if he couldn't see Ling Huanchen normally, he knew he was waiting for him safely in Yuluan Palace. But now, Ling Huanchen had left the palace. Although he knew it was for official business and that Ling Huanchen was staying in the Ministry of Justice's archives, he felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.
"Your Majesty." Ling Huanchen gently scratched the back of his hand. "Why don't you ask me why I insisted on being elected to the Ministry of Justice?"
Yu Xi grabbed the mischievous hand and said, "I told you, Huanchen, do whatever you want. I'll take care of everything."
Since he had given Ling Huanchen his trust, he would not let him down. In fact, whatever Ling Huanchen wanted to do, whatever his goal was, he could handle it all. This would not only help Ling Huanchen, but also allow him to avoid being alone in his empty room. But he knew that this was not what Ling Huanchen wanted.
His Huanchen is talented and is not limited to accompanying the king.
Ling Huanchen smiled secretly, but the room was too dark and no one could see.
The next day, after the morning court session, he went directly to the Ministry of Justice's archives and continued to review the files from yesterday. Because Yun He was with him, even if he was so focused that he forgot to eat and sleep, he didn't have to worry about being hungry or thirsty.
He quickly skipped through the files from that year, and when it came to last year's files, Ling Huanchen deliberately slowed down.
"Master, your pastries have not been touched yet." Yun He reminded in a low voice.
Ling Huanchen suddenly looked up and found that the osmanthus cakes on the plate were indeed neatly arranged.
"Ah He is thoughtful."
After all, it was brought here specially, so he couldn't just take it back unopened. Besides, he didn't feel anything just now, but now that he was reminded, he was indeed hungry.
While Ling Huanchen was eating the second piece of osmanthus cake, he did not forget to continue reading the file.
"master."
Ling Huanchen suddenly put down the half-remaining cake and put his index finger to his lips as a gesture of silence.
Yun He opened her mouth but didn't say anything. In fact, she just wanted to remind Ling Huanchen that there was some snack residue on his lips.
Ling Huanchen was completely unaware and hurriedly flipped through a stack of files. He pulled out the one with the exposed corner, unfolded it and took a closer look. Sure enough, he saw the story of the Qi Mansion massacre.
Forty-one people, including those in the Qi family, perished overnight. The gruesome manner of the bodies betrayed the ruthlessness of the murderer. While the Qi family wasn't considered a wealthy family, they were certainly a moderately wealthy one, with considerable financial resources. Yet, the case was hastily closed, with the culprit being a random servant from nowhere.
The scapegoat soon died, and the case was dropped without even causing any commotion.
It goes without saying that this is because someone is utterly domineering and his words cannot reach the ears of the gods.
"Ah He, go call Master Du."
The surviving servants and daughters of the Qi Mansion were nowhere to be found. Without a victim, he could not legitimately re-examine the case. Originally, it was the servants of the Qi Mansion who came to beat the drum to complain about their grievances, so he needed to find a pretext to bring the case to justice.
After Du Heng came in, he first bowed. Seeing Ling Huanchen's serious expression, he didn't know what had happened and became a little worried.
"Master Du, I noticed that the case in the Qi Mansion was concluded too simply. Do you have any impression?"
Du Heng glanced at the file and recalled roughly, "I do have an impression, but at that time, the former Shangshu Lord took on the case alone and did not allow anyone else to interfere. I don't know the details. Does your Excellency want to re-examine it?"
Ling Huanchen was silent for a moment before making a final decision. He simply said, "I need you to send someone to look for him."
"Who is it?" Du Heng accidentally caught a glimpse of the corner of his mouth and immediately lowered his head. "Please tell me, sir."
Where could a servant from the Qi Mansion go with a child? He remembered that in his previous life, when the servant from the Qi Mansion came to file a complaint, he was dressed in rags, like a beggar.
"Go find the beggars wandering around the royal city, those who have been reduced to begging for the past year. Focus on old women and children. Bring anyone who meets the above requirements to me for review."
Du Heng obviously didn't understand what he was doing, but the king's order could not be disobeyed, so he had to believe it rather than not, and accepted the order respectfully and obediently.
After explaining everything to Du Heng, Ling Huanchen still felt it was not enough, so he called Yun He back.
"Master, your orders."
If he wants to overturn the verdict, he needs more clues. Not only does he need to find the victim, but he also needs to arouse public opinion before he can move forward.
"Ah He, find a few reliable people outside the palace and have them wander the streets in the dead of night, right around the Qi Mansion. Dress up in strange clothes and try to scare people if possible, singing songs or jumping around a bit. Within three days, I want to hear rumors that the Qi Mansion is haunted." Rumors are terrifying; once a rumor starts, it has a reason. In the past, some traditional ministers suppressed the news and even controlled the rumors, but now no one is colluding with them.
"Master, do you want me to find someone to pretend to be a ghost and scare people?"
Ling Huanchen smiled and continued to eat the remaining half of the osmanthus cake, "Go ahead."
Yun He nodded, "Yes!"
After arranging matters for both parties, Ling Huanchen supported his chin with one hand and stared at the files of the Qi Mansion in a trance.
In addition to witnesses and building momentum, he also needed an ally, and this person couldn't be Yu Xi. If Yu Xi took action, it would be difficult to convince the public, after all, everyone knew what his relationship with Yu Xi was.
The cool evening breeze slipped in through the half-open window. A light rain had just fallen that morning, and as the saying goes, every autumn rain brings a chill. Ling Huanchen shuddered unconsciously, then smiled and shook his head as he came to his senses.
He had been in the mortal world for too long, and even after getting used to the warmth, he actually felt cold.
Ling Huanchen stood up to close the window. Just as he reached the window, someone suddenly approached quietly from behind. Before he could turn around, a cloak had already fallen on him.
"Huanchen is such a grown-up, yet he still loves the coolness so much."
"Your Majesty?"
Ling Huanchen was surprised that Yu Xi would run here from the palace.
Seeing him in a daze, Yu Xi curled her lips, raised her hand to wipe the residue from the corner of Ling Huanchen's mouth, and joked, "You eat like a child."
Ling Huanchen realized it later. Thinking back to Yun He and Du Heng's reactions just now, he finally understood and his face turned red.
He was thrown out of the palace in disgrace.
Even if his face cannot be saved, he has to take someone with him.
So Ling Huanchen made up his mind and smiled brightly, "Why did the king come here? Is it because you missed me?"
Having his secrets exposed, Yu Xi pursed her lips, instantly losing her upper hand. He wasn't chasing her because he missed someone, nor was he tired of being alone in his empty room. He was doing it out of consideration for the courtiers; after all, Ling Huanchen was now considered his subject.
That's it.
Ling Huanchen had won back a point, and his face was even more proud. He walked back to the table and touched the teapot, "I'll ask the servants to make another pot."
However, before he could call for help, Yu Xi hugged him from behind.
"I do miss you." Yu Xi admitted generously, "It feels like a long time since I last saw you. Your shadow is all I see when I open my eyes or close them. It tortures me."
As he spoke, he turned his head and gently bit the ear of the person in his arms, "Are you satisfied with what I said?"
As the saying goes, you lift a rock and drop it on your own feet.
If he wanted to embarrass King Youcheng, the only result would be that he himself would become the boiled fish.
"Your Majesty...have you finished reviewing the memorial?"
Holding her own little mermaid, Yu Xi was in a good mood. "Well, so for the rest of the time, follow Huanchen's arrangements. If you want to continue reading the files here, I will accompany you. If you want to return to the palace, we will return immediately."
Ling Huanchen picked up a file and said, "I want to take a look at it."
Although his purpose was to overturn the case for Qi Fu, he was still the Minister of Justice. Judging from the character of the former Minister, I am afraid that other cases would also be questionable.
"Okay." Yu Xi let go of him and sat upright beside him. "I'll watch it with you."
As he spoke, he took the grindstone and began to grind it finely.
Ling Huanchen quickly covered his hand, "Your Majesty, there is no need..."
Yu Xi disagreed, "Huan Chen has ground the millstones for me, so why not?"
Ling Huanchen felt warm in his heart and let him go.
Maybe it was because there was a familiar atmosphere around him, so he felt particularly at ease. Once people feel at ease, they tend to relax and then fall asleep.
After clearing the case files, Ling Huanchen finally couldn't resist anymore and fell into a deep sleep leaning against Yu Xi.
Yu Xi wrapped the man's cloak tightly around him and carried him out the door. The guards outside were shocked to realize that the current king had just been inside. It turned out that Yu Xi had gone to the Ministry of Justice to visit someone and did not want to be discovered. Therefore, he did not let anyone in to report and quietly went through the side door.
"See..."
Yu Xi glanced over coldly, and several guards immediately shut up and lowered their heads.
Until Yu Xi carried the person onto the carriage, no one dared to make any obvious noise along the way.
Fu Changshi and the guards had been waiting outside for a long time. Yu Xi carried the person out and lifted the curtain of the carriage very consciously. Compared with those people in the Ministry of Justice who had never seen the world, he was accustomed to this scene and could remain calm.
Because Yu Xi held him so carefully, Ling Huanchen woke up the next morning.
He couldn't remember how he got back to the palace, so he asked Xiaoqi, but Xiaoqi just avoided the question.
"Master, you have a rest today, so there's no need to get up in a hurry." Xiao Qi brought up his usual blue shirt and chattered, "Master, please take care of yourself and don't get too tired."
Ling Huanchen straightened his clothes and asked casually, "What's unusual today?"
Xiao Qi held his cheek and thought for a moment, "There's a new rumor, but I don't talk about strange things, so don't be afraid, Master. There's a haunted place in the royal city!"
The author has something to say:
Small Theater
Ling Huanchen: Actually, the king is very clingy and cute.
Ministers: !!! We don’t understand the world of the King and Queen...
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Thank you "Xian", "Jiang Wu.", and "49458882" for the nutrient solution encouragement!
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