After learning that Huo Wuyou was fine, Jiang Xu went to see Xue Zhiyi the next day.
Although he blamed Xue Zhiyi for concealing the matter, he also understood that since it was a secret act, the emperor must have instructed that the matter must be strictly guarded, and Awan could not disobey.
It was said to be a few days, but Huo Wuyou didn't come back for more than ten days. It was almost the end of the year, and I didn't know if Huo Wuyou would be able to go home this year.
Fortunately, although she was unfamiliar with the Lin'an Marquis' Mansion, she was the eldest here and no one cared about her. Instead, she had to take care of Huo Wuyou's younger brother Huo Wuhui on his behalf, so that he wouldn't make trouble when Huo Wuyou was away for a few days.
But Huo Wuyou asked Jiang Xu to inform Xue Zhiyi of the progress of the case.
It was said that An Zhaoyi refused to confess, but the palace maids who served An Zhaoyi closely confessed that they were both spies planted in the palace by Prince Sheng. Based on the confessions of the palace maids, they followed the clues and arrested many of Prince Sheng's men.
The emperor now means that there is no need to take Prince Sheng back to Huajing. He has ordered him to be executed on the spot. The imperial edict will surely reach Yuzhou before the New Year.
Huo Wuyou must be satisfied with this result.
Previously, the emperor had never been able to bring himself to kill Prince Sheng. Even though there was solid evidence that Prince Sheng was collaborating with the enemy, the emperor would not feel sorry because it was soldiers and civilians who died. Only now, when Prince Sheng himself committed the crime of treason, would the emperor be willing to cruelly sentence him to death.
With the death of Prince Cheng, the Huo family’s revenge was finally achieved.
…
Three days before New Year's Eve, it snowed in Huajing.
Xue Zhiyi was wearing a cloak and sitting in the backyard of the Lin'an Marquis's Mansion, making tea.
This garden is planted with peach trees. It is not the flowering season yet, and everything is bare as far as the eye can see. Only a few pine trees and plum blossoms in the distance still have some color.
Jiang Xu came to visit again, and this time, the news he brought to Xue Zhiyi made her feel shocked.
"After the imperial decree of death arrived in Yuzhou, Prince Cheng was enraged and killed the messenger, leading the Yuzhou army in mutiny."
"What's the situation now?" Xue Zhiyi raised his hand and poured a cup of tea for Jiang Xu.
Jiang Xu said, "Without the Tiger Tally's command, and having been driven back to Yuzhou after repeated punishments from His Majesty, he's long lost the support of the people. While there are generals in the army who joined him in the mutiny, there are also many who fear His Majesty's wrath will rage against the Yuzhou army and want to capture Prince Cheng and surrender. In short, under attack from both inside and outside, even if he controls the Yuzhou army, Prince Cheng is no more than a trapped beast."
After a moment's silence, Jiang Xu added, "News arrived last night. A few days ago, Prince Cheng cursed Your Majesty and then committed suicide by drawing his sword."
Xue Zhiyi was stunned: "Prince Cheng is dead?"
Lowering his voice, Jiang Xu nodded. "After His Majesty learned this, he was silent for a long time, then suddenly burst into tears. He said that Prince Cheng's mother had been unfavored and of low status before, and that he had neglected him a lot because of this. Now he felt that he had not loved him enough and had driven him to death."
After hearing this, Xue Zhiyi just took a sip of tea and did not comment. He just felt that the emperor seemed to have been brainwashed by the Seven Days of Grief Removal, and he suddenly began to miss the dead. But if Prince Sheng suddenly came back to life, he would probably remember the incident of stealing the tiger talisman again, and be so scared that he would kill Prince Sheng again.
Jiang Xu slowly turned the teacup with his fingers and said, "The Empress Dowager was also present at the time. When she heard what the Emperor said, her face immediately fell."
After all, for the Queen Mother, it was Prince Cheng who killed her daughter, son-in-law and grandson. She naturally felt uncomfortable listening to the Emperor's regret.
However, now that things have come to this, the matter is considered over, and Huo Wuyou should be back soon.
Just as I was thinking about it, I heard a voice suddenly: "Zhi Yi!"
Jiang Xu, who was already discussing the emperor and the empress dowager, shuddered when he heard the voice.
The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw Shen Qingtang walking towards them. The unmarried girl was dressed as charmingly as ever. Just walking towards them like this, she was already eye-catching and beautiful in the vast snow scene.
"Lord Jiang is here too. Why do you look so unhappy?" She greeted him and sat down next to Xue Zhiyi.
Jiang Xu, still frightened, retracted his gaze and said, "Nothing, I just didn't expect Miss Shen to visit so suddenly."
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang raised his chin slightly: "It's not sudden. I've been going to the Marquis' Mansion all the time these days. Zhiyi said that if I come to visit, I don't need to inform you and I can come and go at any time."
During this period, Shen Qingtang was worried that Xue Zhiyi was bored at home alone, so he always came to find her, either to chat with her or to take her shopping or listen to music.
"What were you talking about just now?" Shen Qingtang asked.
"We were just talking about the case of Prince Cheng's rebellion." Xue Zhiyi did not hide it, after all, Shen Qingwei was also involved.
Speaking of this, Shen Qingtang lowered his voice and said, "Qingwei has been busy with this matter these past few days. He was the one who presided over the trial of Concubine An. He was only allowed to return home this morning by His Majesty. After he came back, he also talked to me about this case."
Hearing this, Xue Zhiyi gave Qiuyun a look, and Qiuyun understood and asked the other servants to leave.
Shen Qingtang whispered, "Qingwei said that for so many days, Concubine An refused to admit that she was ordered by Prince Cheng. Even though Prince Cheng's other spies had confessed, she still denied it. Until last night, when the news of Prince Cheng's death was reported back to Huajing..."
At this point, she paused and sighed deeply, "An Zhaoyi was stunned for a long time before she burst into tears and laughter at the top of her lungs. It wasn't until dawn that she began to mutter to herself."
"What did she say?" Xue Zhiyi asked.
"She said she was an orphan with no choice. She had been sold several times since she was just old enough to remember. She'd been a slave since she was little. When she was eleven or twelve, she contracted smallpox and was thrown into the woods outside Beijing by her former master, wrapped in a straw mat. Prince Cheng, who was assigned to guard Yuzhou, happened to pass by and took her with him. Otherwise, she would have died long ago. From that moment on, she resolved to repay Prince Cheng with her own life one day."
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