Chapter 126 We Are Still Young
The room where the bodies were kept was chilly. A man saw Xue Han and hurriedly greeted him, "Sir."
The man was Xue Han's subordinate and was quite experienced in autopsies.
"How is it?" Xue Han strode over, lifted the blue cloth covering the corpse, and took a look.
"Reporting to your Excellency, the deceased's throat was clean, with no ash or other contaminants. In my humble opinion, the death was not due to burning, but rather pre-existing conditions..."
Xue Han listened to his subordinate's explanation and nodded slightly.
This aligns with his judgment.
Because patrols around the Crown Prince's residence had been increased, they were able to reach the area as soon as the fire broke out. The fire spread upwards, trapping the Crown Prince in the high-rise building, while the eunuchs guarding the building had ample opportunity to escape.
Therefore, it appears that someone killed the eunuch guarding the building and set it on fire.
Xue Han left the area where the bodies were kept and called Hu Si over: "Have you gathered enough information about the eunuchs guarding the building?"
"Sir, here." Hu Si handed over the booklet.
Xue Han looked through it and went to see Xue Quan.
"Is something wrong, Han'er?"
"Upon investigation, it was found that the eunuch guarding the building had already died before the fire."
Xue Quan's expression changed: "So this fire wasn't an accident?"
Xue Han nodded affirmatively.
"Any other clues?"
"I had my men investigate the deceased. This eunuch originally served in the palace, but was transferred here after this temporary palace was built, and has been responsible for guarding the Zhaixing Tower ever since..."
"You left the capital many years ago and have no relatives or friends here. It doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with that."
"yes."
Xue Quan raised an eyebrow: "The palace servants and laborers here are on duty during the day and will not stay at the Crown Prince's residence after their shift, so they should not have a chance to make a move."
Not only the Crown Prince's residence, but also Emperor Jingping's residence, was the same. Once they moved in, they used the same places they were used to on a daily basis, and people from the imperial palace were not allowed to approach them.
"Until there is no progress, the cause of death of the eunuch should not be reported to His Majesty, lest it cause him trouble."
"Father--"
Xue Quan glanced at Xue Han, his face showing displeasure: "What, has your father lost control of the Imperial City Guard?"
"That's not what I meant."
"The fire at the Crown Prince's residence has already caused widespread panic. If people find out that it was not an accident, wouldn't things fall apart?"
"But what about the emperor now—"
Xue Quanquan's expression darkened slightly: "A subject should share the emperor's burdens, not add to them. Besides the fact that the cause of death of this eunuch is questionable, a fire has destroyed all traces. If we want to investigate further, we'll have to thoroughly investigate everyone around the Crown Prince. Han'er, let me ask you, can the Imperial City Guard handle such a commotion? Would His Highness the Crown Prince be happy to see this? What if in the end nothing is found?"
Xue Quan asked three questions in a row, but Xue Han remained silent.
"Han'er, often the more you do, the more mistakes you make. Don't let what should be a merit turn into a fault. You are my only son, and I would never harm you."
"I understand."
"Go."
Xue Han walked out, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.
He had anticipated this outcome; it was the choice his adoptive father would make.
"Lord Xue."
Xue Han cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince approached, his expression kind: "Why does Lord Xue look so troubled?"
Xue Han glanced at the Crown Prince, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.
The Crown Prince walked beside Xue Han and said gently, "I have seen your dedication, Lord Xue. There is no need to put too much pressure on yourself."
Xue Han hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "The eunuch guarding the Star-Picking Tower did not die in the fire..."
The crown prince paused, his gaze towards Xue Han now carrying a deeper meaning.
Xue Han didn't need to reveal such inside information to him. And the fact that the fire wasn't an accident meant it was aimed at him.
Who would want his life?
That's hard to say. Although he knew it was impossible, history shows that there have been instances of emperors wanting their sons dead. This wasn't to say he doubted his father, but rather because Xue Han's words to him were so precious.
"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Xue," the Crown Prince said solemnly.
The person who harmed him is likely right beside him, making it difficult for either the Imperial City Guard or other government offices to conduct a large-scale investigation. But for him, the most important thing is to be on guard from now on.
His younger brothers either died young or were still very young. He thought his position as crown prince was secure, but it turned out that it wasn't.
This is probably what he gained from surviving a life-or-death fire.
The crown prince glanced at the upright young man, a smile playing on his lips.
He is still young, and Xue Han is also young.
In the past, Xue Han was simply Xue Quan's adopted son and Xue Quan's eyes and ears outside the palace. But he had high hopes for the future.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince." A female voice rang out.
The Crown Prince looked over and asked with a smile, "Sixth Miss Qiu has come to the palace again to visit Consort Qiu?"
"yes."
"Then go ahead."
Qiu Heng stood to one side with her head down, waiting for the Crown Prince to pass by. When her eyes met Xue Han's, she smiled at him.
Xue Han couldn't help but smile.
The eunuch who had been keeping an eye on Qiu Heng saw this scene and looked up at the sky speechlessly.
This Qiu Liu girl, there's really nothing to say about her.
He felt that she had feelings for the Crown Prince, and that she was even flirting with Xue Han, the Imperial Envoy. He couldn't stand this kind of behavior.
But to be fair, this girl actually saved his life.
This eunuch was Liu Qi. He had offended the Crown Prince by gossiping about Qiu Heng, so when the Crown Prince went to the Star-Picking Tower, the eunuch serving him was replaced by another person. That eunuch fell to his death while trying to escape from the fire.
Liu Qi glanced at Qiu Heng with a complicated expression before leaving with the Crown Prince.
"Sixth Miss is here." Zheng Yu greeted her warmly.
Although they were both eunuchs, their feelings towards Qiu Heng were completely different.
Upon seeing Qiu Meiren, Qiu Heng bowed and said, "Sister."
Qiu Meiren pulled Qiu Heng up: "I thought Sixth Sister wasn't coming today."
Such a major event as a fire at the Crown Prince's residence naturally spread throughout the inner palace.
"Thinking that my sister might not have slept well last night, I didn't come over this morning."
Qiu Heng had already made it a legitimate reason to visit Consort Qiu in the palace every day, and she certainly wouldn't pass up such an opportunity to go out openly and legitimately.
She still wanted to ask Xue Han about the fire at Zhaixing Tower.
After completing the formality of meeting Qiu Meiren, Qiu Heng left the palace and saw Xue Han.
Qiu Heng walked up to him and asked directly, "Lord Xue, did you find anything about the fire last night?"
"It was man-made..." Xue Han was able to rescue the Crown Prince in time thanks to Qiu Heng's reminder, and he didn't intend to hide it from her.
"So, someone wants the Crown Prince dead." Qiu Heng murmured, fiddling with the tassels at her waist.
It turns out that the fire described in the book was not an accident, nor was the prince's death an accident.
Who could be plotting to murder the crown prince?
"Lord Xue won't give up the investigation, will he?"
"No, but there's no guarantee of a result." Xue Han's eyes were filled with lush vegetation and a vast sky. "This fire has dampened His Majesty's spirits, and he'll probably be returning to the capital soon."
"After being away for so long, it's good to go back."
This autumn hunt ended without incident, and we accomplished what we were supposed to do.
"Lord Xue, when I return to the capital, I would like to ask you to help me find someone."
Who is it?
“A Taoist priest taught me how to make incense pendants.”
She had asked Brother Ling to find the teacher, but unfortunately, he couldn't. When it comes to finding people, the Imperial City Guard might be a better option.
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