Chapter 426 Taking Action (Two Updates)
Prince Ning suddenly reached out, grabbed the Crown Princess by the neck, and slammed her against a tree: "You better explain yourself!"
The Crown Princess seemed to know that he wouldn't actually strangle her near the Golden Palace, so she wasn't very afraid and sneered, "What are you saying? Are you saying you didn't kill Xiao Heng, or that Xiao Heng didn't return to the capital alive?"
After saying that, she removed his hand from her neck. "Chunying, let's go!"
Chunying glanced at the two of them guiltily, then followed the Crown Princess away with small, quick steps.
Prince Ning leaned against a large tree with one hand, his eyes icy cold.
"Pray for flight."
He called out.
The trusted aide, Qi Fei, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Master!"
Prince Ning lowered his hand from the tree, glanced coolly in the direction of the Golden Palace, and said with a slight part of his thin lips, "Go and investigate who has entered or left the Golden Palace in the past half hour."
"yes!"
Qi Fei acted swiftly, contacting their informants in the court and finding out the list of names required by Prince Ning with almost no effort.
On the carriage, Qi Fei reported the names to Prince Ning one by one.
"...Grand Secretary Kong, Minister of War Xu, Minister of Works Zhao, Chief Minister Yuan, Chancellor Huo... Compiler Xiao."
Prince Ning paused, his hand still touching the jade thumb ring on his thumb: "Who is Chief Minister Huo with?"
Qi Fei said, "Xiao Xiuzhuan of the Hanlin Academy, the top scholar of this year's imperial examination, I think his name is... Xiao Liulang."
Prince Ning pondered for a moment: "Is it that person who looks like the young marquis?"
Qi Fei nodded: "Yes, it's him!"
Xiao Liulang's appearance was no secret in the imperial court. The common people might not have heard of him, but people like the Crown Prince of Ning had certainly heard of him.
Born in the countryside, he overcame numerous obstacles and was admitted to the Imperial Academy with outstanding results. In his first imperial examination, he topped the list and became the new champion.
Some say that his achievements were due to his relationship with Marquis Xuanping. Marquis Xuanping lost his beloved son and happened to meet someone who looked so much like his son, so he couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
No one doubted that he was Xiao Heng, because Xiao Heng was already dead.
This is something everyone firmly believes.
As for Xiao Liulang, Prince Ning actually knew more than ordinary people. For example, the Empress Dowager was not recuperating in the palace, but had been living among the common people. During that time, she was rescued by Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao.
Whether Xiao Liulang rose to prominence through his own hard work or through the favor of His Majesty or Empress Dowager is not important.
If he wasn't the real Xiao Heng, Prince Ning wouldn't care about him.
Xiao Heng is dead, so no matter how much Xiao Liulang resembles him, he can never be Xiao Heng.
But if Xiao Heng didn't die, then only Xiao Liulang could be Xiao Heng!
"Master, there are a few more to come. Would you like to hear them?" Qi Fei asked.
“No need.” Prince Ning stroked the jade thumb ring on his thumb. “Investigate the relationship between Chief Minister Huo and Xiao Liulang.”
He couldn't determine whether Wen Linlang's words were true or not, and he couldn't just listen to her side of the story.
It's not difficult to find this out.
Before returning to the Imperial Academy, it was relatively easy for the old Chancellor to conceal his whereabouts, but now that he has entered the court as an official, he is more visible to the public and has left behind more clues.
In addition, since everyone at the Imperial Academy believed that the old Chancellor associated with Xiao Liulang because he resembled his deceased beloved disciple, no one suspected anything, so there was no need to go to great lengths to conceal it.
In just two days, Qi Fei found out that the old chief priest lived next door to Xiao Liulang.
“He calls the old Grand Master of Ceremonies ‘Grandpa’,” Qi Fei said.
Prince Ning frowned.
If he remembered correctly, Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao called the Empress Dowager "aunt".
The Empress Dowager and Grand Master Huo...
Prince Ning frowned in annoyance: "Continue!"
"Yes," Qi Fei said. "Xiao Liulang's family moved to Bishui Hutong first, and then Huo Jijiu moved there."
Prince Ning asked, "Was it before or after Chancellor Huo returned to the Imperial Academy?"
Qi Fei said, "Before."
A bold guess suddenly rose in Prince Ning's mind.
After Xiao Heng perished in the fire, Huo Xian was heartbroken and resigned from his post, leaving the capital.
Prince Ning had assumed that Huo Xian had returned to the capital because His Majesty had invited him to serve again, but now it seemed that this might not be the case.
He returned to the Imperial Academy, that place of heartbreak, because of Xiao Liulang.
How could he have the heart to go to the place where his beloved student was burned to death every day?
Just look at Princess Xinyang; she still doesn't dare to return to the princess's residence, isn't it because she's afraid of being reminded of painful memories?
The Prince of Ning overlooked this detail because he firmly believed that Xiao Heng was dead, and he would no longer doubt anything related to Xiao Heng.
Looking back now, it really was full of flaws.
If Xiao Heng were still alive, Huo Jijiu's behavior and reaction would all be understandable.
Prince Ning stroked the jade thumb ring, his eyes deep: "Xiao Heng, young Imperial Priest, young Marquis!"
...
Hanlin Academy.
"Rokuro, Rokuro, Rokuro!"
Xiao Liulang was suddenly awakened from his dream. He opened his eyes and looked up to see Ning Zhiyuan standing in front of his desk with a look of astonishment on his face, his hand poking his shoulder still in his hand.
"Are you alright?" Ning Zhiyuan looked at him strangely. "You're covered in sweat. Are you feeling unwell? Didn't you get enough rest last night?"
Xiao Liulang mumbled a reply: "I went to bed late."
Ning Zhiyuan suddenly realized: "No wonder, I was wondering why you hadn't come out for so long. Don't do this next time, or you'll be in big trouble if Scholar Han catches you."
Xiao Liulang didn't doze off during his shifts; he only slept on the table for a while when it was time to leave.
He never expected that he would dream of a huge fire on New Year's Eve.
He hadn't dreamed of that fire in a long time and thought he was almost forgetting it, but the fire and despair in his dream were so vivid that they were suffocating.
"Did you come to see me because you need something?" Xiao Liulang asked.
"Can't I come to see you if there's nothing wrong?" Ning Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "If I really have something to do, there's a drinking party tonight, wanna come?"
"I'm not going," Xiao Liulang refused without even thinking.
Ning Zhiyuan clicked his tongue and said, "Hey, you kid! I'm doing this for your own good. Lord Han is going too, it's a respectable place. Don't you want to get the position of tutor? You have to build a good relationship with Doctor Han."
"I'm not going," Xiao Liulang refused as before.
"Fine, fine, I won't go then. You're so young, how come you're more afraid of your wife than I am?" Ning Zhiyuan muttered a couple of times and went to the banquet alone.
In the clinic on the other side, Gu Jiao also had a dream.
She hadn't dreamed in a long time, and unsurprisingly, she dreamed of Xiao Liulang again this time.
Xiao Liulang finished his shift and came out of the Hanlin Academy. As snow began to fall heavily.
Xiao Liulang went to the shop that sold dried plum and bought a few raw dried plum and vegetable cakes. He packed them in a food box and took them home, but on the way, he was chased by a group of assassins.
Xiao Liulang was not a martial artist and could not defeat the assassin in a fight. However, he managed to shake off the assassin with his excellent intelligence. Unfortunately, he tripped and fell during his escape, knocking himself unconscious and injuring his hand.
Because the best time for treatment was missed, his right hand was already useless by the time he was taken to the clinic.
Gu Jiao was quite calm after waking up: "As expected of my husband, the enemy can never hurt you, but you are just so unlucky."
A snowy day.
That should be too early.
It's only August now.
However, she remembered what the assassins looked like; each of their knives had an insignia, like some kind of martial arts organization.
Gu Jiao was certain that Xiao Liulang had not offended anyone in the martial arts world, so there was only one possibility—hiring someone to kill him.
Gu Jiao decided to go find Gu Chengfeng and ask which Jianghu organization that badge belonged to, so that she could keep an eye on them and see who would try to murder Xiao Liulang a few months later.
...
After leaving the Hanlin Academy, Xiao Liulang went to a nearby bakery.
"I'd like a few dried plum vegetable pancakes, but give me the raw ones." They'll get soggy if I take them home hot, and they won't have that crispy texture anymore.
"Alright! Only six left, how many do you want?"
Give them all to me.
The shopkeeper wrapped the dough in bamboo leaves and put it into Xiao Liulang's food box.
Xiao Liulang paid the money and carried the food box home.
When he was halfway there, Xiao Liulang vaguely sensed that someone was following him. He paused and looked back at the street behind him.
The constant flow of people seemed normal, but the feeling of being watched was even more pronounced.
Xiao Liulang went into the same clothing shop as last time.
He came out after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Several furtive figures followed silently, and as he passed through a secluded alley, they suddenly rushed forward and pulled him to the ground!
"What are you doing!"
He yelled!
The group looked closely and frowned.
The man with the cane, dressed in the official robes of the Hanlin Academy, was not the one they were tailing at all!
That guy managed to escape unscathed!
"You—" one of the assassins shouted angrily, drawing his sword.
Another person stopped him: "Don't cause any more trouble!"
The sudden death of someone here startled the officials, making it even more difficult for them to take action.
Xiao Liulang gave the waiter some silver and asked him to impersonate him before going out. He then changed into a set of clothes from the shop and went out through the back door.
He can walk without a cane now, but he walks with a limp and it's not as convenient as when he had a cane. He accidentally tripped and fell while passing a rouge shop.
His right hand slammed into the crooked edge of the shop steps, hissing and drawing a long gash, from which blood flowed everywhere.
Ignoring his injuries and pain, he quickly got up and continued walking.
"Brother-in-law?"
A girl of about fifteen years old, dressed in pink, chased out of the rouge shop. Her clothes were not fancy, but she was very pretty and charming.
Xiao Liulang seemed not to hear the word "brother-in-law" and continued to drag his feet forward.
Yao Xin lifted her skirt and took small steps to catch up with him. Just as she was about to leave the alley, she circled around to block his way: "Brother-in-law, it really is you! Do you remember me? I've been to Biyue Hutong. I'm Xin'er!"
Yao Xin is the daughter of Yao's brother. Strictly speaking, she should call Xiao Liulang her cousin-in-law, but she omitted the word "cousin".
Xiao Liulang frowned slightly, clearly indicating that he had no intention of paying attention to her regardless of whether he remembered her or not.
Yao Xin seemed oblivious to Xiao Liulang's aloofness. Her gaze swept over him and she noticed his bleeding hand. Her face paled as she exclaimed, "Brother-in-law! What happened to your hand! Are you injured? Where did you get hurt?"
Xiao Liulang didn't even glance at her, and strode forward.
Yao Xin panicked and, as if possessed, reached out to grab him.
Xiao Liulang dodged and fell again!
Yao Xin: "..."
Yao Xin knelt down guiltily: "I'm so sorry! Brother-in-law, I didn't mean to! I didn't mean to push you! Were you scared? Your hand..."
With that fall, Xiao Liulang's hand slid to the ground, causing him to bleed even more.
Yao Xin quickly reached out to help him: "Let me take you to the clinic!"
"No need," Xiao Liulang said calmly. "Don't touch me."
Yao Xin's hand froze in mid-air.
Being rejected is always embarrassing; most people would have turned away in shame, but Yao Xin did not.
She suppressed all her embarrassment and shame, squeezed the handkerchief in her hand, lowered her head, tucked a strand of hair that had fallen down her temple behind her ear, and said softly, "You, you are so badly injured, at least let me bandage you up."
This is the shy and timid look of a young girl.
When a woman tries to seduce or get close to a man, the man either truly understands or pretends not to.
Xiao Liulang had originally felt only unfamiliarity and distance towards Yao Xin, but now, his eyes held a hint of coldness.
He looked at her coldly: "Want to be my concubine?"
Yao Xin never expected that this man would suddenly say such a thing.
She was completely stunned.
Xiao Liulang sat on the cold floor, looking at her with a cold smile: "What? Did I say something wrong? You don't like me? You don't want to get into my bed?"
Yao Xin's face turned completely red, it was hard to tell whether it was from embarrassment or shame.
From the first moment she saw him, her heart was captivated.
She thought she could forget it once she went back, but she couldn't stop thinking about that incomparably handsome face.
He was also the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial examination and a minister highly regarded by His Majesty!
Even if it meant becoming his concubine... she would be happy to do it!
But... but what he said was rather embarrassing and a bit disrespectful to her.
This is the real Xiao Liulang.
He was neither a gentleman nor a kind classmate; he wasn't even a good person. He was simply a ruthless villain with an extremely dark heart, no compassion, no chivalry, and no gentlemanly conduct.
He simply suppressed his own evil and gave Gu Jiao the Xiao Liulang she wanted to see.
She liked him studying, so he went to study.
She wanted him to have friends, so he went and made a few.
She was happy that he was a good official, so that on the surface he would be a fair and honest government official.
What is respect?
He doesn't understand.
Yao Xin doesn't deserve it!
The words about climbing into bed made Yao Xin feel a sense of humiliation she had never experienced before.
With slightly red eyes, she said, "I... I genuinely admire my brother-in-law. Even if he has no feelings for me, there's no need to humiliate me like this!"
"Really?" Xiao Liulang laughed coldly. He pointed to the other end of the alley. "Over there, someone is chasing me. Go and lure them away. They might kill you, or they might not. It all depends on your luck. Do you dare to go?"
Yao Xin's face turned pale.
Xiao Liulang chuckled and stood up, using his unstained hand to support himself against the wall.
Yao Xin hurriedly said, "It's not that I'm afraid! It's just that it would be useless for me to go. I can't hold them off, and I'll only expose my brother-in-law!"
Xiao Liulang tossed her a nail: "Pick it up."
Yao Xin, not understanding why, picked it up as instructed.
Xiao Liulang coldly said, "Swallow it."
"Ah!" Yao Xin was so frightened that she threw the nail in her hand away, and it hit the bloody water on the ground.
Xiao Liulang scoffed, "Truly."
Yao Xin retorted, unwilling to accept defeat, "Did my cousin also swallow a nail for you?"
“She didn’t.” Xiao Liulang looked at the bustling street. “I can’t bear to. If anyone has to swallow something, it’s me swallowing it for her.”
madman!
This man is insane!
Jiaojiao: I heard you're a treacherous official?
Xiao Meiren: (⊙o⊙)…No, I'm clearly a good official! I heard you're the Martial Arts Master?
Jiaojiao: o(╯□╰)o No, I'm clearly a lady!
Those who commented earlier about drugging someone and trying to get into their bed, what were they thinking? Is Liu Lang the kind of male lead who gives others a chance?
(End of this chapter)
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