Chapter 832, Human Skin Mask
After interrogating the Hu people, Xiao Yeyang immediately entered the palace.
When the emperor heard that there were two treasures, he couldn't help but sneer and said, "The one in the capital must have been left by the Wan family."
"When the Wan family was raided, it was Duke Cheng'en who personally handled it. I still remember that after the raid, the national treasury didn't receive much. At first, I thought the Jiang family had embezzled the Wan family's property. Now that I think about it, they probably didn't find anything."
As he spoke, the Emperor looked at Xiao Yeyang and said, "You said the Luo family's foresight didn't know about the Wan family's treasure?"
Xiao Yeyang: "I think you should know. Lord Cheng'en is a man of means. Since he didn't find the treasure in the Wan family, it means that the secret passage is not in the Wan family's old house."
"It's not in the Wan family, but there is indeed such a secret passage. Considering my surveillance during this period of time and the fact that Luo Qiong often returns to the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion, I believe that the secret passage should be in the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion."
The Emperor nodded and sneered, "Think back then, your grandfather, in order to please Concubine Wan, gave the Wan family many fine things. Add to that the money the Wan family collected from the people, and they must have accumulated a lot of wealth."
"Luo family."
The emperor narrowed his eyes.
The Duke of Weiguo's Mansion is one of the few nobles who came to him at the beginning of his accession to the throne. He has made great use of them over the years, but they have never mentioned the Wan family treasure for so many years. If Xiao Yechi did not come back, would they be prepared to seize this treasure?
The emperor's face turned extremely ugly when he thought about the fact that Duke Weiguo had impure intentions when he defected.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at the emperor's expression and was silent for a long while before speaking: "Your Majesty, are you going to take control of the Duke of Wei's Mansion now?"
The emperor shook his head: "Don't alert the enemy. The Duke of Wei's mansion is right there, he can't escape. Just send people to secretly monitor and explore the secret passage. The most urgent task is to find Xiao Yechi first."
Xiao Yeyang nodded in agreement and was about to leave when he suddenly heard the emperor ask.
"Did Xiao Yechi really marry a Tatar princess?"
Xiao Yeyang nodded. "During the battle in the northern border, the Tatar royal family suffered almost all casualties, and the Tatar tribes fell apart. Xiao Yechi must have wanted to recruit the Tatars for his own use, so he married the Tatar princess."
"I heard from the Hu people that Xiao Yechi has become quite influential on the grasslands. He returned to the capital to retrieve the treasure in order to expand his power."
The emperor's face was cold and gloomy. "This is a man who has forgotten his roots. We cannot let him grow stronger. This time, we must catch him."
Xiao Yeyang nodded in agreement.
The Duke of Wei's Mansion was under strict surveillance. The Jinling Guards secretly investigated several times but were unable to find the secret passage.
Things were not going well at the Jingyun Wharf either. After a few days, no unusual passenger ships entered the port, and no one transported gold, silver, or jewelry here.
Xiao Yeyang frowned, "Xiao Yechi must have noticed something strange."
Sun Changze: "We have already done what the Hu people said and have him send pigeons to Xiao Yechi every three days. How did he find out?"
Xiao Yeyang: "A man in black died earlier. It should be because he didn't return that Xiao Yechi became alert."
Sun Changze: "What should we do now?"
Xiao Yeyang was silent for a while, then took Sun Changze back to Four Seasons Villa.
"The clues from Xiao Yechi have been cut off. Now we have to find a breakthrough from Luo Qiong." Xiao Yeyang said to Daohua.
Rice Flower: "How can I help you?"
Xiao Yeyang: "We have lived in the manor for quite some time, it's time to go back."
Daohua: "Okay, I'll go tell Yuanyao."
The next morning, Xiao Yeyang brought Daohua back to Prince Ping's Mansion.
Chenyuan.
When Xiao Yechen heard that Xiao Yeyang and Daohua had returned home, his face immediately darkened, although he had been in a good mood because Prince Ping had just given him an ivory ornament.
Luo Qiong told him that his mother was worried about him before she died, and told Luo Qiong to help him win the title of prince.
A determined look appeared on Xiao Yechen's face. For the sake of his mother and his unborn son, he must inherit the title of prince.
"Husband."
Luo Qiong walked into the study wearing a loose dress: "I asked someone to stew white fungus soup and brought you a bowl."
Because her belly was getting bigger and bigger, she was worried that Xiao Yechen would find out something was wrong, so she tried to avoid him whenever possible during this period.
But now that Xiao Yeyang and his wife are back, she has to take advantage of the fact that her father is particularly partial to Xiao Yechen because of her mother's death, and find a way to alienate the relationship between her father and Pingxitang.
Thinking of the baby in Luo Qiong's belly, Xiao Yechen finally stopped frowning at her: "Just let the servants take it. You're pregnant, you should rest in your room."
Luo Qiong smiled and said, "I will listen to my husband and stay in my room well in the future."
Xiao Yechen's complexion looked much better, and he picked up the Tremella soup and started drinking it out of courtesy.
Luo Qiong was silent for a moment: "Husband, I heard that my second brother and his wife are back."
Xiao Yechen put down the bowl and looked at Luo Qiong: "What do you want to do?" It must be said that he knew Luo Qiong a little bit and knew that she would not mention Xiao Yeyang and his wife for no reason.
Luo Qiong placed her hand on her belly: "My mother just passed away, so we can't have any meat on the table."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yechen understood: "I understand, go back to your room and rest."
Luo Qiong smiled and nodded, touching her belly and said, "The child is very well behaved. If he knew that my husband cared so much about him, he would definitely be glad to be born into my belly."
Xiao Yechen's expression softened a little. He stood up and personally helped Luo Qiong back to the house.
At noon that day, Luo Qiong was having lunch when Xueling walked in with a smile: "Miss, there was fish and meat in the food at Pingxi Hall. The prince found out about this and immediately scolded the Second Master and Second Mistress severely, saying that they were disrespecting the deceased."
Luo Qiong showed a triumphant smile on his face: "What's the Second Master's reaction?"
Xueling: "The Second Master naturally retorted, saying that the princess wasn't his biological mother and he wouldn't observe mourning for her. The moment he said this, the Prince became even angrier. Even though the Second Mistress was there to smooth things over, she couldn't stop him from storming out."
After hearing this, Luo Qiong was in a good mood and ate half a bowl of rice more.
To alienate people, you don't need to do anything earth-shattering. Just put some effort into the daily trivial matters.
How much affection could his father have for Xiao Yeyang since he was not raised by his father since he was a child?
After lunch, Luo Qiong was taking a walk under the eaves and happened to meet Xiao Yechen who had just returned from outside.
Luo Qiong greeted Xiao Yechen with a smile on her face, but Xiao Yechen glanced at her indifferently and went straight to the room of his most beloved concubine.
Luo Qiong frowned at Xiao Yechen's reaction. Logically speaking, he should be happy that Xiao Yeyang and his wife had been slandered. "Go and find out what happened to the old man."
Xueling nodded and left. Soon, she returned. "Miss, Gao Fang, who was with the master, said that the master was in a good mood on the way back, but halfway, the second master stopped the master and said a few words. Then the master's face darkened and he became very unhappy."
Luo Qiong frowned, and when she thought about what Yan Yi had said before about the baby in her belly being in the wrong month, she couldn't help but feel annoyed.
Could it be that Xiao Yeyang brought up this matter with Xiao Yechen again?
In the concubine's room in the side courtyard, Xiao Yechen sat in front of the window with an expressionless face, constantly thinking about what Xiao Yeyang had just said to him.
"Xiao Yechen, instead of taking advantage of this opportunity to cause trouble, why don't you investigate how your mother died?"
"He fell down the stone steps and died. You actually believed such a far-fetched explanation."
"As a son, if you can't even find out the cause of your own mother's death, you are unworthy of being a son."
"By the way, let me tell you something. The day before your mother died, it seems she sent someone to follow Luo Qiong."
Xiao Yechen's chest heaved violently, and things that he had not thought about carefully before suddenly emerged in his mind bit by bit.
Luo Qiong went to the temple to burn incense because of a nightmare, which was a sudden decision, but why did the wife of Duke Weiguo also go there that day?
Could it be that the mother and daughter had already colluded with each other?
Also, why did my mother send someone to follow Luo Qiong?
What did she find?
At this time, the concubine came over with a teacup.
This concubine was the head maidservant beside Princess Ma. She had served Princess Ma for many years and knew her temperament and character very well.
Xiao Yechen grabbed the concubine's hand and said, "Do you know why Mother suddenly wanted to go to the temple to burn incense that day?"
The concubine hesitated for a moment and said, "Master, I heard that the princess went to the temple with us because she wanted the midwife from the Ma family to feel the grandmother's belly and confirm how many months old the baby was."
Xiao Yechen's mind exploded with a loud bang, and his eyes turned bloodshot.
The concubine was shocked when she saw this, and quickly comforted him: "Master, this is something I heard about. You have to investigate the details to find out."
Xiao Yechen slowly calmed down and then strode out of the room.
"Miss, the master has left the house. It seems he went to the Ma family."
Hearing this, Luo Qiong's eyelids twitched violently, and she immediately thought of the midwife who wanted to touch her belly that day.
Ma family, midwife
Could it be that Xiao Yechen has begun to suspect the cause of his mother's death?
Thinking of Xiao Yeyang's identity as a Jinling Guard, Luo Qiong panicked. Did he discover something and then tell Xiao Yechen?
Luo Qiong's mind was in a mess. The midwife had been killed on the spot by Brother Chi. If Xiao Yechen knew this, he would definitely become more suspicious of his mother's death.
"Go prepare the carriage. I want to leave the house."
Luo Qiong then looked at Xue Qiao and said, "You dress up as me and lie on the bed. You can't be discovered until I come back. Got it?"
Xue Qiao was startled: "What if the old man comes back?"
Luo Qiong was silent for a moment and said, "I will be back soon." Then he asked Xue Qiao to change his clothes into a maid's clothes. After Xue Ling prepared the carriage, he quickly left the house.
After receiving the report from the secret guard, Xiao Yeyang curled his lips and said, "These two are both impatient. They took action so quickly."
Duke Wei's Mansion.
When Lady Weiguo saw her daughter dressed as a maid, she was shocked: "Why are you dressed like this?"
Luo Qiong looked a little panicked: "Xiao Yechen seems to be suspicious of my mother's death."
Upon hearing this, Lady Weiguo's expression suddenly changed: "What should we do? If he really finds out, child, you're finished."
Luo Qiong forced herself to calm down: "Mother, I need your help."
Lady Weiguo: "Tell me, what can mother do to help you?"
Luo Qiong: "I want to see Brother Chi."
Lady Weiguo: "How would I know where he is?"
Luo Qiong: "I know how to find him."
The last time they met at the temple, Brother Chi said that he was being targeted, and the contact person at the Wan family's old house was withdrawn afterwards, and he himself never entered the city again. Now if she wanted to see him, she had to go out through the secret passage in the mansion, and Brother Chi had someone left at the entrance of the secret passage.
"Mother, I want to go to the ancestral hall."
"no!"
The wife of the Duke of Wei refused without a second thought, "Your grandfather and father have long made it clear that no one is allowed to approach the ancestral hall except during New Year's Eve when offering sacrifices to the ancestors."
Luo Qiong was anxious: "Mother, Xiao Yechen is now beginning to suspect that Mother is dead. I must go to Brother Chi to discuss a solution. You don't want to see me get into trouble, do you?"
The wife of the Duke of Wei tapped Luo Qiong's forehead with a helpless look on her face: "Child, if your grandfather and father knew about this, they would be the first ones to deal with you."
Luo Qiong's expression changed: "Mother, what do you mean by this?"
The wife of Duke Weiguo did not say much. After a moment's silence, she asked the maid to prepare offerings and fruits, which Luo Qiong then carried, and the two of them hurried to the ancestral hall.
In the dark, Xiao Yeyang saw with his own eyes that the wife of the Duke of Weiguo sent away the servants of the ancestral hall, and then took Luo Qiong into the Luo family ancestral hall. After a while, the wife of the Duke of Weiguo came out alone.
"The Luo family's secret passage has been found."
Xiao Yeyang thought that the Luo family was quite smart. In order to avoid suspicion and attention, they did not arrange any secret guards to guard the ancestral hall except for the cleaning servants.
This is convenient for them.
Leaving two secret guards to watch outside, Xiao Yeyang waited for the wife of Duke Weiguo to leave, then took a few secret guards into the ancestral hall. After groping for a while, he found the underground secret door.
There are many traces of transportation left in the narrow and sturdy secret passage. From these traces, it can be seen that the Wan family must have left behind a lot of treasures.
"The treasures in the secret passage would have to fill several ships, right?"
Xiao Yeyang and the others gained a better understanding of the honor and favor the Wan family had enjoyed back then.
Soon, several people caught up with Luo Qiong, and then fell far behind.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the entrance to the secret passage.
Luo Qiong knocked on the secret door three times lightly and three times heavily, and then the secret door opened from the outside.
Through the doorway, Xiao Yeyang, who was familiar with all the city gates, recognized at a glance the secret passage leading directly to the outside of Dongzhimen City!
"Bang!"
Luo Qiong walked out and the secret passage door closed again.
Xiao Yeyang took the secret guards forward to investigate, then did nothing and quickly turned around and went back.
After leaving the Luo Family Ancestral Hall, Xiao Yeyang left two secret guards to continue watching and led his men straight to Dongzhimen. They found the exit of the secret passage that day and closely monitored the teahouse guarding the entrance.
"This secret passage in the Duke of Wei's mansion is truly amazing. It actually leads directly to the city gate. It's truly a perfect escape route."
Luo Qiong returned to the palace at dusk, but Xiao Yechen had not returned yet.
When Xiao Yechen heard from Madam Ma that Wang Pozi had never returned since she was called away by Princess Ma, his heart sank and he immediately asked for the address of Wang Pozi's family.
Wang Pozi and her family lived in a village outside Beijing. When Xiao Yechen came to their door, it was already dark.
"Po Wang!"
In the farmyard, Xiao Yechen breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the servants of the Ma family pointing at a woman and calling her "Po Wang". For some reason, he felt relieved.
Then, Xiao Yechen asked "Po Wang" about what happened when Princess Ma and Luo Qiong went to the temple to burn incense.
"That day, the princess asked the old woman to feel the belly of the eldest lady in the palace. The eldest lady in the palace has a special physique. She is only two months pregnant, but she looks like she is more than four months pregnant."
"Because the princess slipped and fell down the stone stairs, I was afraid that the Ma family would blame me for not taking good care of the princess, so I didn't dare to return home."
Xiao Yechen looked at 'Wang Pozi' with a burning gaze: "My mother fell, did you see it with your own eyes?"
Mrs. Wang nodded timidly.
Xiao Yechen: "Where was Grandma at that time?"
"Grandmother Wang" said: "Grandmother is tired from walking and is sitting on the stone bench beside the stone steps to rest."
Hearing this, the coldness in Xiao Yechen's eyes gradually dissipated.
Mrs. Wang is from the Ma family and it is impossible for her to speak for Luo Qiong.
In this case, it must be Xiao Yeyang who is trying to alienate the relationship between him and Luo Qiong.
At night, when Xiao Yechen returned home, he saw Luo Qiong still waiting for him, and he felt a rare sense of guilt in his heart.
The imperial physician took his wife's pulse in front of him. He shouldn't have been provoked by Xiao Yeyang's few words to suspect his wife. Fortunately, he had investigated beforehand and did not react immediately.
Otherwise, he would have probably done what Xiao Yeyang wanted and his relationship with Luo Qiong would have become strained.
Seeing the guilt in Xiao Yechen's eyes, Luo Qiong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking of Xiao Yechen's abilities, she felt more and more that she had not misjudged him.
Out of guilt, Xiao Yechen actually stayed in Luo Qiong's room.
"Don't be nervous. You're pregnant. I won't want you. We'll just sleep together."
Luo Qiong suppressed her nausea and had to lie down beside Xiao Yechen with a smile on her face. During this time, Xiao Yechen wanted to hug her, but she always found excuses to avoid him.
If she hadn't thought about relying on Xiao Yechen to compete for the title of the royal palace, she really wanted this person to never appear in front of her again.
Luo Qiong couldn't fall asleep until dawn. Only when Xiao Yechen got out of bed did her tense body relax.
Xiao Yechen had already prepared a plan to go to Prince Ping to complain about Xiao Yeyang, but while washing up, he noticed Xue Qiao.
In the dim morning light, he felt that the maid was particularly familiar, and some beautiful scenes emerged in his mind.
Pingxi Hall.
Daohua and Xiao Yeyang were surprised to hear that Xiao Yechen had rested in Luo Qiong's room last night.
Daohua tilted her head and looked at Xiao Yeyang: "Is Xiao Yechen too stupid, or is Luo Qiong too smart?"
Xiao Yeyang: "It's Xiao Yechi who has great skills." As he said that, he called the secret guard in.
He came back too late last night and didn't ask Xiao Yechen about the matter in detail.
When Xiao Yechen heard that he had met 'Wang Pozi', Xiao Yeyang's eyes narrowed immediately: "Xiao Yechi is surrounded by many hidden talents."
Daohua quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Yeyang: "Po Wang has been killed by Xiao Yechi."
Daohua: "Who was the person Xiao Yechen met?"
Xiao Yeyang shrugged: "Who knows."
Daohua suddenly patted Xiao Yeyang's arm and said, "I see. I saw it in Master's notes. Some doctors with great medical skills can not only change their appearance, but also make human skin masks."
Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, "You know quite a lot."
Daohua tutted her words twice: "When I first saw it, I thought Master was just writing it nonsense. I didn't expect such a thing to really happen."
I’m posting both chapters together. It’s a big chapter of 5,000 words!
(End of this chapter)
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