Chapter 412 Collusion between Officials and Bandits
The Su family has kept the news of Su Yue'e's assassination a secret.
However, those in the central government who needed to know still found out.
The officials in the court glanced at Wei Ziming, seemingly casually.
Wei Ziming's eyes were gloomy.
After court, Cui Ying went to the Prince of Zhenbei's residence first.
Qin Jinzhi was still fiddling with the Luban lock.
Cui Ying said excitedly, "This Wei Ziming is too audacious. He actually sent someone to assassinate Su Yue'e. Isn't he afraid of angering His Majesty and the Empress? It was your people who saved Su Yue'e, wasn't it?"
She didn't ask a question, but affirmed it.
Qin Jinzhi never does anything without being sure of success.
Now that she's pushing the Su family forward, she naturally won't abandon them.
Qin Jinzhi's eyes never left the Luban lock.
"The murderer was not Wei Ziming."
Cui Ying looked puzzled. "Someone committed the crime in Wei Ziming's name? But Su Yue'e didn't have any enemies before yesterday. As you know, the young ladies in the capital are confined to their homes by formalities and it's not easy for them to go out. Besides Wei Ziming, where did she get such a big enemy?"
Qin Jinzhi was having a great time playing with it.
"Su Yue'e's appointment as the Director of the Water Department to build ships is indeed a threat to Wei Ziming."
But now the Emperor's grandfather and grandmother are no longer in the same situation as before, when they were constrained by powerful families.
Wei Ziming only dared to use tricks to get his grandfather to let him leave the capital.
He's not stupid; making things so obvious is no different than him standing in the street shouting, "I'm the murderer!"
Cui Ying then picked up the pastry that Fei Yan was holding as she passed by and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Who could have done that?"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "What was the purpose of building ships after Su Yue'e took office?"
While eating pastries, Cui Ying said, "To wipe out the river bandits."
Qin Jinzhi remained silent, but Cui Ying slowly stopped chewing her pastry.
"So, Su Yue'e has a lot of enemies."
Cui Ying's eyes turned cold.
"Most of the river bandits in the Huainan area were connected with Wei Ziming, but Wei Ziming was not the only official who colluded with the river bandits."
There have always been rumors that officials and bandits colluded to rob ordinary people and deceive the imperial court.
The imperial court allocates a large amount of silver every year to suppress river bandits, so it seems the rumors are true.
Su Yue'e wasn't targeting Wei Ziming's interests, but rather the interests of all officials who colluded with the river bandits.
Qin Jinzhi nodded. "That's right. So with a big shot like Wei Ziming backing them up, they naturally dare to make a move. After all, who in the capital doesn't think that Wei Ziming wants to kill Su Yue'e?"
Cui Ying raised an eyebrow at Qin Jinzhi, "The Su family didn't report it to the authorities and even tried to block the news, but it still spread throughout the capital. Are you letting them take action against Su Yue'e?"
Qin Jinzhi looked at her and said, "How can you catch fish without bait? But some people don't want to follow the rules and throw stones into the water to muddy it up in an attempt to catch fish in troubled waters. But once the water is muddy, who can tell whether it's bait or piranhas?"
Cui Ying thought for a moment and then suddenly laughed, "You want Wei Ziming to protect Su Yue'e?"
Qin Jinzhi's hands moved continuously.
"Now everyone in the capital thinks that it was Wei Ziming who committed the crime. He has been planning for many years, how could he let such a thing ruin his promising future?"
So regardless of whether it was him or not, he wouldn't let Su Yue'e get into trouble.
If Su Yue'e gets into trouble, it means that he has broken ties with his grandfather and grandmother.
Those wolves who provoke the alpha wolf in a pack always end up dead in the wilderness, devoured by lurking spies.
Cui Ying nodded, then turned to look at her, "When do you go to court?"
Qin Jinzhi inserted the last wooden stick.
"Soon."
The carriage of the Prince of Zhenbei slowly made its way towards the Prince's residence.
Suddenly, the carriage was stopped in a secluded spot.
The coachman shouted, "Who goes there, daring to stop the carriage of the Prince of Zhenbei's residence?"
The person blocking the way stepped forward in small steps and said in a high-pitched voice, "This servant greets Princess Pingyang. His Highness the Crown Prince wishes to see the Princess."
Inside the carriage was Xiao Saijin, returning home after school.
"not see."
Upon hearing this, the coachman immediately said, "The princess said she won't see you, so get out of the way immediately!"
With that, he whipped his horse into the air.
The little eunuch quickly hid to the side.
Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, he stamped his foot.
He would have dared to stop anyone else.
However, given the princess's high status, he dared not act recklessly.
He had no choice but to return to the Eastern Palace to report back.
The prince was not surprised to see that there was no one behind the little eunuch.
He sat down at his desk. "After all these years, my aunt still doesn't want to see me."
Xiao Can, who was standing to the side, gestured for everyone to leave.
He walked to the Crown Prince's side, pondered for a moment, and said, "Father, I have something to ask you to tell me the truth."
The crown prince looked at his son, who, although not raised by his side, resembled him very much.
"Are you asking me why I can't tolerate Qin Jinzhi?"
Xiao Can shook his head, then looked into the Crown Prince's eyes and asked hesitantly, "Father, is Jinzhi's father's death related to you?"
The crown prince paused upon hearing his words, then looked at Xiao Can's face.
A smile gradually appeared on her lips. "Can'er, you've grown up."
Xiao Can's heart skipped a beat.
Speculation, and hearing his father admit it with his own ears.
He even doubted his own ears.
"Father, why? You and Jinzhi's father..."
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes slightly, as if recalling something. "I grew up with Qin Ziyi. Why would I kill Qin Ziyi? Of course, it's because he deserved to die! He was destined to be an emperor, and what was I? Everyone favored him. All the uncles who followed Father in conquering the world treated Qin Ziyi like their own son, giving him everything in terms of martial arts and connections. What were they planning to do? What were they trying to do? Did they want to push him to the throne themselves?"
Looking at the Crown Prince's hateful face, Xiao Can finally understood why his father was so eager to deal with Jinzhi.
If Jinzhi knew the truth, she would not let her father off the hook.
He even killed his own brother for that position, and he won't allow any mistakes to happen before he gets there.
Xiao Can tentatively asked, "What is the antidote for the poison that Jin Zhi was afflicted with?"
The prince's smile widened. "That orchid grass is indeed in my hands. She should have died nineteen years ago."
Xiao Can instantly understood why his mother had said that Jinzhi couldn't find the antidote.
The Crown Prince looked at Xiao Can and said, “Can’er, I have been planning for you for so many years. Qin Jinzhi must die. If she doesn’t die, you can’t defeat her. You need to know that once Qin Jinzhi goes all out, she will overthrow your position. There are too many children in the royal family to count. Do you understand what I mean, Can’er?”
Xiao Can was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand, Father."
Suddenly, the prince cleaved open the door with a single palm strike.
Xiao Piao collapsed to the ground.
She looked at the Crown Prince with disbelief.
She then ran away in a panic, lifting her skirt.
Xiao Can quickly said, "I'll go after them right away."
The Crown Prince said, "It's good for her to know. She and Qin Jinzhi are not on the same side."
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