Chapter 408: Zhu Min, the Prodigal Son
Su Xinxin's gaze paused on Zhu Min's face for a moment, and she walked over with a smile on her lips:
"Has Sister Huan been naughty again? Why are you relying on your father? Come here, don't make your father angry."
Zhu Min listened to Su Xinxin's words and quickly turned around and smiled apologetically: "I'm not angry, not angry. Huan Jie'er has always been well-behaved, how could I be angry with her."
Su Xinxin lowered her eyes and pulled Sister Huan to her side: "Don't always pester your father to make trouble in the future. Your father is busy with his work and I'm afraid he doesn't have much time to accompany you. What should you do if you are too attached to him?"
"I don't have any busy work. Sister Huan and Brother Cheng were well-educated by you and never make trouble. I even enjoy being pestered by them."
Zhu Min spoke sincerely and reached out to pull Huan Jie'er back.
When those concubines were first driven away, he was angry and sad for some days. Later, after resting for a long time, he was able to calm down and look at the things around him. He gradually realized how much Su Xinxin had sacrificed for him, but now she was disappointed by him.
Although he was initially oppressed by Su Qianqian's thunderbolt, he later felt Su Xinxin's goodness from the bottom of his heart. The closer he got to her, the more he felt that she was very different from those concubines who were favored by the emperor. She acted decisively, meticulously and comprehensively, and her personality was lively and interesting.
Being closer to Su Xinxin naturally made him closer to the two children. The two children were innocent, lively and cute, well-behaved and smart. He regretted why he didn't get closer to the children earlier.
Children are the best at knowing who loves them. In the past, Sister Huan didn't dare to approach her father, but now when she can't see him for a while, she will chase Su Xinxin and ask where her father is. At this time, she snuggles in her father's arms and looks at her mother cunningly.
Su Xinxin said nothing, went over and brought Zhu Youcheng to her side and sat him in her seat.
Master Su glanced at his two daughters without saying much. The family ate hurriedly, and Su Qianqian and Su Xinxin said goodbye and returned home.
On the way, Su Qianqian lowered her eyes and thought about Su Xinxin.
Duke Xuan was about to come back, and what she and Qin Hanzhang took were medicines that could detoxify all the poisons, not the kind that could relieve the symptoms for half a month. This could be discovered with a simple check, so the relationship between them and Duke Xuan soon became an antagonistic one.
Under such circumstances, how could Duke Xuan let Su Xinxin and her son go? I’m afraid Su Xinxin will be in danger!
If it really comes to that, we can only go to the Duke's Mansion to snatch the person away. What Qin Hanzhang said is a good idea. Sneak the mother and son out and send them to the fiefdom of Wuning Marquis Mansion.
"You don't have to worry so much about your sister. Since Duke Xuan will be back in Xijing soon, the first thing he has to deal with is the murder of Lu Jing. We can just pretend to send someone to get the antidote, and we can wait for a while."
Qin Hanzhang guessed that Su Qianqian had already told Su Xinxin the truth, but in order for them and their son to leave the Duke's Mansion safely, some arrangements needed to be made.
"You are too concerned, and you are confused. Yes, Duke Xuan's mind must be there. Seeing how close Sister Huan is to her father today, I am really worried about how sad the children will be if something unexpected happens."
Su Qianqian looked up at Qin Hanzhang, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Prince Zhu is closely related to Duke Xuan's Mansion. I'm afraid he can't do whatever he wants." Qin Hanzhang said in a low voice.
Just like his relationship with the Wuning Marquisate, if that day comes, he will inevitably live and die with the Wuning Marquisate.
Su Qianqian nodded. There was really no solution to this problem.
The next day, before Qin Hanzhang could send someone to find Duke Xuan, Duke Xuan had already sent someone to deliver the antidote. It seemed that Qin Hanzhang guessed right, and Duke Xuan should not be distracted and make enemies at this time.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Duke Zhou was summoned to the palace. He did not enter the imperial study, but went into the Empress Dowager's Ci'an Palace. Duke Xu and the eldest princess, Duke Xuan, were all there. The Empress Dowager was sitting on the throne, with the Emperor and the Empress beside her.
The eldest princess' eyes were red and swollen, obviously she had been crying for a long time. Duke Xu had a frown on his face and looked sad, and when he saw Duke Zhou, anger appeared on his face.
"Zhongliu, did you know that Lu Jing was hacked to death in an inn on his way to exile?"
The emperor asked in a flat voice, with an expression that did not reveal whether he was happy or angry.
Duke of Zhou Ji Zhongliu lowered his eyes and bowed: "Your Majesty, I just received a report from my subordinates. This matter is really strange."
"What's so strange? Ji Zhongliu, even if my grandson has made a mistake, it's fine for Your Majesty to punish him. It's because he was unlucky and deserved it. But how can you take this opportunity to take revenge and kill people?"
The Queen Mother's eyes bulged out due to anger, and the wrinkles on her face became even deeper.
"I dare not. The people sent to escort Lu Jing are indeed my subordinates, but they were also Lu Min's subordinates in the past. If I gave them orders to murder Lu Jing, aren't you afraid that the news will leak out and bring disaster upon yourself?"
Ji Zhongliu knelt down and explained slowly and calmly.
"How dare you quibble! A new emperor has new ministers. Now that you are the commander of the Imperial Guards, how can those subordinates not obey you? What kind of people are the Imperial Guards? If they can protect effectively, no one can hurt Lu Jing, not to mention that..."
The Queen Mother shouted angrily, her voice choking with sobs.
"Emperor, although I have been chanting sutras and worshipping Buddha in the deep palace for many years, I have also seen the things that happen in the court. I don't want to ask about other things, but your sister is sending someone else to die young. You must give her an explanation for this matter."
The Queen Mother then turned to Emperor Gan De and forced him to issue an edict.
Duke Zhou stopped making excuses, he knew there must be something behind this matter, but at this moment he was the scapegoat. The Queen Mother put pressure on the Princess to seek justice, and unless the real murderer was found, he would definitely be punished.
"Even if the subordinates sent by Duke Zhou were ineffective in providing guarding, at most they were negligent. Duke Xuan, you said that you drank some wine that night and fell into a deep sleep. Did the imperial guards drink alcohol?"
The Queen asked gently.
"I am ashamed. I relaxed my guard that night when I saw that we were almost at the Princess' fiefdom. Before I drank, I even told the Imperial Guards to keep a good watch on Lu Jing. But when I sobered up the next day, I realized something was wrong. The Imperial Guards are not allowed to drink while on duty. This is a strict order."
Duke Xuanguo looked extremely ashamed and explained in a deep voice.
"Since the imperial guards cannot drink while on duty, what do the people on guard say?" The queen turned to Duke Zhou.
"Your Majesty, the subordinates who have returned said that everything went as usual that night. Duke Xuan played chess with Lu Jing in his room. After he came out, he asked the subordinates to watch over him, saying that Lu Jing was tired and not to be disturbed.
The next morning, there was still no movement from Lu Jing until late at night. After discussing it, the few of them pushed the door open, only to find that Lu Jing had already been hacked to death. ”
Duke Zhou recounted to the Queen what his subordinates had said.
"What nonsense! Maybe they were the ones who killed Jing'er, but they pretended not to know. Jing'er died such a tragic death!"
The Queen Mother finally burst into tears, and the eldest princess' tears fell again.
"Don't be too sad, mother. Your Majesty will investigate this matter and give the princess an explanation. Now let's bury the second young master properly and deal with the rest later."
The Queen comforted the Queen Mother with a gentle voice, bought time for Emperor Gan De, and reduced the charges against Duke Zhou.
The Queen Mother wiped away her tears, raised her head and looked at Emperor Gan De coldly: "I believe in the emperor, he will not let me down this time."
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