There is a lot to say
Fang Duo, lying on the couch, had trembling eyelashes and closed his eyes, with a line of tears streaming down from the corners of his eyes.
Seeing that her son had responded for the first time in many days, Fang's mother excitedly stepped forward and called out, "My son, are you awake..." Before she could finish her words, she was choked by sobs and could only cry.
Sun Zili's heart was filled with both joy and sorrow, his eyes red as he spoke, "Brother Fang, do you know how many people have been worried about you these days, unable to sleep or eat, and living in fear? Not to mention your father and mother, even Minister Wen has inquired about your situation several times. This time, I came to visit you at his request. When he spoke of Brother Fang, his eyes were solemn and he sighed endlessly. He held my hand and said that he must untie the knot in your heart and persuade you to go back... Brother Fang, you don't know that seeing you so depressed, the grief in our hearts is no less than yours..."
He couldn't help but sigh sadly, then lowered his head and pondered, "Back then, you entered the Ministry of Justice and I entered the Dali Temple. The scene of us drinking and chatting happily together, sharing our lofty ambitions, is still vivid in my mind. Since you and I entered the court together, we have solved countless major cases together. There are many colleagues in the Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice is also full of talents and wise men. But when it comes to tacit understanding, no one can compare to Brother Fang and me! For Shangshu Yu Wen and the Dali Temple, they don't want to be without you and me, their right-hand men. Now, how can I watch you sink into such depression because of a mere ill-fated relationship!"
Fang Duo suddenly opened his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks and dripping onto the quilt, soaking the area in front of him. His weak body struggled to sit up, but because he had not eaten for many days, he had no strength and fell down again. However, he was not discouraged. The arms that supported his body shook violently, and he finally sat down and leaned on the table.
Fang's mother could no longer contain the emotions that had been pent up for many days, and she fell on him and cried, "Duo'er, you're finally awake!"
Fang Duo's breath was weak, but the corners of his mouth were twitching desperately. He felt so ashamed that tears kept flowing down his face. He held his grandson Zili's hand and trembled, "I am not talented enough. I have disappointed Zili and the Minister. I was stupid and lost my mind. I went astray... Fortunately, Zili pulled me back in time, so that I didn't fall into the abyss and was doomed. I... I don't deserve to be considered a close friend by Zili!"
Sun Zili placed his other hand on Fang Duo's, holding it tightly, and said sincerely: "If Brother Fang is not worthy, no one in the world can be worthy!"
After Minister Fang cheered himself up, he recovered in a few days and returned to the Ministry of Justice to report. He had been suffering from a mental illness, and as long as he changed his mind, he would be able to recover.
After this ordeal, Minister Fang's horizons became broader, and he had a more insightful view of people and affairs. He felt that all his life experiences had become a help in the process of investigating cases. He frequently made great achievements and was awarded honors. With his achievements in hand, promotion was just around the corner. It was truly a blessing in disguise that he failed in love but succeeded in officialdom.
As for Shen Qingci, when Minister Fang's marriage proposal was rejected, he left the house in a depressed and distraught state. This was seen by a group of onlookers, and the story was exaggerated and spread. For a time, everyone said that Shen Qingci was truly a talented woman of unparalleled talent, and that even a talented and handsome man like Minister Fang could not marry her. It was probably only the emperor who could win the eye of Miss Shen.
Sun Zili said, "A girl who seduced and then abandoned my brothers is just a hypocritical person, but she is just a freak with no moral integrity. Hearing Zhong Yujing mention this girl, he couldn't help but show contempt.
"I have also heard about what happened at the banquet in the palace last month. What kind of person is the wise king? How could he take such a corrupt person seriously? He is really wise." Sun Zili said angrily.
Zhong Yujing understood and continued, "Just now, I saw Miss Chen and a man in the Tibetan Pavilion, looking intimate. The man's behavior seemed that of a man from the martial arts world. It seems that Miss Chen has a wide range of social contacts and likes to make friends with talents and heroes."
Sun Zili sneered, "She treats Fang Duo like this, and she will do the same to other men. I wonder how many men she has charmed with this trick. As for her so-called talented words..." He snorted coldly and said, "But I heard that Prime Minister Shen has many hangers-on at home. Prime Minister Shen loves talents, and all of his hangers-on are multi-talented, including geniuses in poetry, calligraphy and painting. Shen Qingci has a painting of peonies on a moonlit night that is famous in Lin County. It is said that it was painted by a hanger-on of the Shen Mansion. Shen Qingci bought it from the hanger-on for a high price, but in fact he paid hush money, and then put his own name on it and hung it in the gallery, driving up the price and becoming famous ever since."
Zhong Yujing listened with great interest and secretly sighed that this Miss Shen really did not resemble her grandfather at all.
Sun Zili continued, "From this, it's clear how much of her fame is real and how little is fake. My friends at the Poetry Society Gallery once told me that Shen Qingci has close ties with their owner. During festivals, she would always send gifts to the Poetry Society Gallery, and all the employees would share in the profits. The reputation of Shen's extraordinary talent spread from these places, so the connection between them is self-evident."
Zhong Yujing sighed sincerely, "Miss Shen is indeed a remarkable woman who is good at dancing with long sleeves and skilled in strategy."
Today's trip was really fruitful. It was like solving a strange case, and my heart was clear.
After saying goodbye to Sun Zili at the end of the street, Zhong Yujing turned to a newly opened shop to buy some fine sweets for her uncle. The owner of this shop was surnamed Tang. He made excellent cakes and sweets, and the shop was packed with customers as soon as it opened.
If her uncle hadn't sent her on this trip, she wouldn't have been able to obtain this information.
Shangguan Yichen dozed off in the carriage. The carriage wobbled to a stop, and the guards outside whispered, "General, we've arrived at the palace."
He opened his sleepy eyes, stood up, and lifted the curtain. The coachman brought a stone bench, and he was about to get off the carriage...
There was a slight chill behind his ears, and something whizzed towards him from the darkness. He was very alert, and when he saw it out of the corner of his eye, he tilted his head slightly. The coolness passed by his temples and was firmly grasped in his hand.
The guard's face changed drastically and he shouted, "General, be careful!" Five people rushed over like unsheathed swords, blocking him in front of them, swords drawn against their chests, and looking around vigilantly in the darkness, but nothing unusual happened.
Seeing that the other party hadn't made another move, Shangguan Yichen picked up the short arrow he had grabbed. There was a hole at the end of the arrow, and a piece of paper was stuck inside. He carefully opened it and saw that it read: "If you want to know the cause of King Yao's death, come to Yinfenglin to see me immediately." The name on it startled him suddenly. He quickly hid the note in his sleeve and said solemnly: "Nothing, I'm going home."
Late at night, Shangguan Yichen took off his official robe and changed into dark casual clothes. Seeing that the concubine had gone to bed and all the servants in the mansion had returned to their rooms, there was silence all around. He turned over and flew out of the courtyard wall.
He found Benlei's stable in the backyard. Benlei was very human-like. As soon as he approached, he climbed up, raised his front legs, and jumped out, but he did not make a sound to alarm the horses in other stables, let alone people.
Shangguan Yichen reached out and stroked Benlei's hair, then rested his head against Benlei's head. After a moment of silence, he untied the rope for Jinglei.
A man and a horse were galloping in the moonlit night. The wind was blowing coldly and the moon was shrouded in clouds, making it dim and unclear.
Seeing the mountains and trees growing in number ahead, Shangguan Yichen said to Benlei, "We've arrived at Yinfeng Forest. Benlei, come with me to meet this person!"
Ben Lei let out a long roar and quickened his pace.
Although the name Yinfenglin sounds elegant, it is not a place for literati and poets to chant about the wind and the moon. The terrain in the forest is complex and changeable. If you break in, you can easily get lost and cannot get out. Therefore, it has become the first choice of resting place for many people who are determined to die. It is also an excellent place for people in the martial arts world to kill and dispose of corpses to avoid trouble. As a result, the forest is lifeless, with only the whimpering and wailing sounds when the mountain wind blows through the woods, like the cries of the dead, so it is called Yinfenglin.
Ben Lei stopped in an open area. Shangguan Yichen dismounted and looked around. The shadows of the branches were cast on the ground by the moonlight, forming strange patterns. The depths of the jungle were like an endless abyss with no end in sight. There was only dead silence and no one in sight.
"Who is playing tricks here and making me underestimate him? Why don't you show yourself to me immediately!" Shangguan Yichen said angrily.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound in the woods behind him. Shangguan Yichen turned around abruptly and saw a figure slowly walking out of the darkness...
The figure moved to the moonlight, took off the mask on his face, raised his head, and looked at Shangguan Yichen...
"It's you!" Shangguan Yichen was shocked.
"Is the prince finally willing to come and see me?" Shen Qingci looked at Shangguan Yichen with her usual innocent eyes, but her face looked ghostly and terrifying under the moonlight.
Shangguan Yichen suddenly sneered, "You went to all this trouble just to see me?"
"If not, how long would Your Highness continue to avoid me?" Shen Qingci spoke charmingly and gently, gazing at Shangguan Yichen.
Shangguan Yihong said disdainfully, "We have never met before. There is no need for us to meet." He looked at her coldly and said, "Now that I am here, tell me what is in the letter! Don't waste any more time!"
"What's in the letter?" Shen Qingci asked in confusion.
"You are putting on airs and trying to be mysterious. I don't have time to deal with you." He took a step forward and grabbed Shen Qingci's neck.
Shen Qingci couldn't breathe. While struggling, she grabbed Shangguan Yichen with both hands and scratched his face. Shangguan Yichen had no intention of hurting her. He thought that she was a weak woman and could not do such a thing as killing the prince. He did this just to force her to tell the truth, so he let go of her hands and pushed her away.
Shen Qingci lost her balance, her breathing became irregular, and she was too frightened. She staggered and finally fell to the ground. After she regained her composure, she covered her neck and said, "I really don't know what a letter is. I only asked someone to help me lure the prince here. I have no other intentions."
After saying this, he began to sob.
Shangguan Yichen was a few steps away from her, with his hands behind his back, looking down at her, trying to find out whether her words were true or false. Suddenly, he felt dizzy, the world turned upside down, and his vision became blurred. He used his sword to support himself on the ground, trying to hold on so that he would not fall, but he saw that Shen Qingci had already stood up, with a sinister face and a smile like a devil from hell.
"What... did you do?" Shangguan Yichen forced out these words and fell heavily to the ground. In the last moment before he lost consciousness, he felt Ben Lei biting and pulling his clothes hard.
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