After Lin Zheqi became aware of his true identity, I dispatched someone to bring Madam Duanmu and her son over. Coincidentally, they encountered his principal wife conspiring with bandits to harm them, which allowed us to rescue them in time. In the latter part of January, the person investigating Madam Duanmu’s background also returned with his report, but the mastermind behind the massacre at the Duanmu family wasn’t uncovered."
The Duanmu family?
"They’re a Royal Merchant family, on par with the Nangong family, and like them, they’re solely loyal to the occupant of the throne and never engage in the struggles for succession. Whoever orchestrated the massacre at the Duanmu family was likely after their wealth."
Long Xuanmo’s sword-like eyebrows knitted slightly, "Take your time with the investigation, there’s no rush. Sooner or later, the truth will come to light."
"That is the only option we have now," Yang Mengchen nodded in agreement.
He Junyuan approached them with an invitation in his hand: "Prince, princess, Minister Lin has sent an invitation, expressing a wish to visit the Prince and princess this afternoon."
Just as they had been discussing Lin Zheqi, he sent an invitation over. Long Xuanmo and Yang Mengchen exchanged a glance, a look that only the two of them understood.
At Wei Hour (around 2 pm), Lin Zheqi, accompanied by Le Shui, arrived at the Prince Mansion: "Your humble official pays his respects to the Prince and princess."
Long Xuanmo gestured with his hand for Lin Zheqi to dispense with the formalities.
Sitting down on a chair to the side, Lin Zheqi looked at Yang Mengchen with barely concealed concern: "I have come uninvited, and I ask for forgiveness from the Prince and princess. I wish to inquire, is Grand Prince in good health?"
Although he saw his father every day and his spirits seemed good, he was still extremely worried, especially since his father had faced dangers several times and had already lost his wife and child; he could not afford to lose the father he had been separated from for over twenty years. Otherwise, he truly couldn’t bear it.
"Rest assured, the Imperial Uncle is very robust. I dare not guarantee that he will live to be a hundred years old, but reaching the age of sixtieth is certainly no problem," Yang Mengchen replied, using the ancient term for reaching the age of sixty.
Lin Zheqi let out a long sigh of relief, glanced at Sister Jin and the others, and then looked back at Yang Mengchen.
Yang Mengchen waved her hand, prompting Sister Jin and the others to leave the living room. Le Shui also stepped back and closed the hall door, standing guard outside.
"Did the princess know my true identity all along?" Lin Zheqi asked frankly.
Yang Mengchen shook her head, then nodded: "That year when the Imperial Uncle suddenly fainted and remained unconscious, the Imperial Physicians were at a loss. Wende escorted the Imperial Uncle to the Yang family to seek my medical help. I heard about the Imperial Uncle’s situation from Wende and had an intuition that Long Yilin’s misfortune was suspicious. So, I sent someone to secretly investigate, and after many twists and turns, the investigation led to you;
Before my grand wedding with Wende, I accidentally saw you on the street, which further confirmed my suspicions. Aside from your eyes and aura, your appearance only bears a slight resemblance to the Imperial Uncle, no wonder the emperor and the Imperial Uncle never suspected anything when they saw you."
"I am in awe of the depth of the princess’s thoughts," he exclaimed.
Lin Zheqi’s visit this time was not without the intention of probing, yet to his surprise, the princess was indeed aware and had even discovered him years earlier without revealing anything. He felt he was no match for her subtlety.
Long Xuanmo’s expression darkened slightly. How Ah Jiu was doing was none of outsiders’ concern, not even if it was his own cousin.
Gently taking hold of Long Xuanmo’s hand, Yang Mengchen blinked at him, then turned to look at Lin Zheqi: "This matter is of great importance. If I hadn’t been cautious, it could have easily led to a huge calamity, for both you and those behind you have grand ambitions. The only way was for you to notice something was amiss, and then slowly uncover the truth. That was the safest plan."
"What the princess says is true," Lin Zheqi nodded. "But how could the princess be sure that I would have doubts and then seek out the truth?"
Yang Mengchen quietly looked at Lin Zheqi. Her eyes were deep as the sea, her lips tinged with a faint smile.
"I have my people by your side!" Lin Zheqi realized in an instant.
The only ones close to him were Butler Lin, Sister Lin, Le Xing, Le Shui, and Feng Yibai. It could not be any of them, so who could it be?
Yang Mengchen replied to Lin Zheqi’s puzzlement with a smile: "I have investigated those around you, Butler Lin, Sister Lin, and Le Xing, Le Shui, as well as Feng Yibai who have followed you for many years, none could flawlessly replace them;
And as for Le Ya, Le Fei, and other people in the house, their loyalty is not to you, so you would not easily trust them;
Only Zhang Run, though you saved him over a decade ago and had little contact with him, you trust him immensely, even entrusting him with managing your hidden forces. It was relatively easier for my person to replace him. Still, in order not to raise any suspicions, my person spent a long time shadowing Zhang Run, covertly mimicking him;
Don’t worry, my person didn’t kill Zhang Run but instead took him to a safe place. Now that things are out in the open, I will withdraw my person later and send Zhang Run back."
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