Chapter 138 You two, are you very familiar with each other?
"Help me go out and find out as much information as possible about Lord Shen, the more detailed the better." Jiang Zhi forced herself to calm down.
They encountered bandits, and their fate was uncertain.
How could Shen Ci'an, a mere scholar, survive in such a harsh environment without any guards by his side?
It's all her fault.
If she hadn't wanted to marry him, he wouldn't have been targeted by Xiao Xuanyou, wouldn't have been sent to Sizhou for disaster relief, and wouldn't have gotten into trouble.
Could Xiao Xuanyou really be involved in this matter?
Jiang Zhi's gaze turned cold.
She sent Dark Moon to deliver a message to Xiao Xuanyou, saying that she wanted to meet with him to discuss something.
This was the first time Jiang Zhi had taken the initiative to meet him.
Although Xiao Xuanyou knew that she was definitely thinking of Shen Ci'an, the fact that she thought of him first when something happened showed that she definitely cared about him.
That evening, Xiao Xuanyou, still disguised, came to Jiang Zhi's courtyard.
Jiang Zhi didn't waste any more words with him. After Qingxing finished serving him tea and left, she went straight to the point and asked him, "Was Lord Shen's incident orchestrated by His Highness the Crown Prince?"
“I was just about to tell you this,” Xiao Xuanyou said, his brows furrowed. “I have never sent anyone to target him.”
Given the urgency of the disaster, how could he possibly disregard the victims for his own selfish desires?
He wanted to explain further, but Jiang Zhi nodded solemnly, "Okay, I believe you."
She knew that although Xiao Xuanyou was a strong-willed person, he wasn't so heartless as to be this depraved.
Xiao Xuanyou was somewhat surprised, "You really believe it?"
He thought that Jiang Zhi had invited him here to interrogate him.
Jiang Zhi nodded. "I don't know much. Could Your Highness please tell me the details?"
Even if Shen Ci'an is dead, shouldn't he still have a body?
"A report from Sizhou states that while Lord Shen was supervising the distribution of disaster relief grain by the government, some bandits deliberately instigated a riot, causing looting. Some people took advantage of the chaos to assassinate, resulting in heavy casualties among the Imperial Guards. Lord Shen was also struck by a sword and fell into the river, whereabouts unknown. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing."
Jiang Zhi said coldly, "There must be something fishy about this."
"That's right. His Majesty was furious and ordered Lu Yuan to hand over his current affairs and head south to Sizhou in two days to investigate the matter. He also issued a strict order: he must see Lu Yuan alive or dead."
Jiang Zhi's heart skipped a beat.
She simply couldn't believe that Shen Ci'an was dead.
But the facts are clear: Sizhou is already in chaos, so how can Shen Ci'an remain safe and sound?
Seeing the worried look on Jiang Zhi's face, Xiao Xuanyou felt quite uncomfortable.
If something were to happen to me one day, would Chanyi worry about me like this?
"It was not my intention that Lord Shen met with this misfortune. If he has truly perished in Sizhou, I beg you, Princess, to accept my condolences." He said calmly.
Jiang Zhi merely gave him a cold glance, having already made up her mind.
"There are other important matters that I have invited Your Highness here today."
Xiao Xuanyou raised an eyebrow, not expecting that Jiang Zhi had come to see him not just because of Shen Ci'an.
Could it be that she also...
Just as Xiao Xuanyou had this thought, he heard unfamiliar footsteps coming from the doorway.
It wasn't her maid and two bodyguards.
Xiao Xuanyou immediately became alert, and instantly flashed to the door, pushed it open, and a hand was already gripping the throat of the person who came in.
What are you up to, sneaking around outside like that?
He demanded in a deep voice, but upon seeing his face, he immediately paused and withdrew his hand. "Xie Qi? What are you doing here?"
Xie Qi's face was still somewhat pale, his chest was wrapped in gauze, and he smelled strongly of medicine. He looked very weak.
Upon seeing Xiao Xuanyou, he merely curled the corners of his lips and said, "Your Highness, this humble subject has been waiting for you for a long time."
Xiao Xuanyou looked him up and down, and visibly breathed a sigh of relief. "You brat, you disappeared after entering the capital. I sent my secret guards to look for you, but they were nowhere to be found. I never expected to find you here."
"Does Your Highness have any news about my two personal guards?" he asked weakly.
Wei Yu and Wei Shu had followed him since childhood, and their actions in drawing away the pursuers for him this time truly worried him.
“They were both injured, but thankfully my men found them,” Xiao Xuanyou said. “Don’t worry, I have sent imperial physicians to treat them properly, they will be fine.”
"That's good." Xie Qi's tense nerves relaxed.
Xiao Xuanyou looked at him and guessed that he must have stayed in Jiang Zhi's residence for quite some time.
So he cast a suspicious glance at Jiang Zhi inside the room and Xie Qi outside, "You two, are you very familiar with each other?"
Seeing that Xiao Xuanyou was about to suspect something again, Jiang Zhi explained, "It was General Xie who was being chased and seriously injured, and I happened to save him."
"Yes, Your Highness, there is no need to worry. Princess Qinghe is a trustworthy person." Xie Qi thought that Xiao Xuanyou was afraid that Jiang Zhi would reveal his secret return to the capital. "I was saved by the princess this time, and I asked her to find an opportunity to inform you."
Xie Qi's injuries had not yet healed, and after speaking, he coughed a few times, his lips becoming even paler.
"Come in and let's talk." Xiao Xuanyou ushered Xie Qi into the house and closed the door.
Turning around, she saw Xie Qi had already naturally taken the cups and saucers from Jiang Zhi's table and poured himself a cup of tea.
Xiao Xuanyou narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, "It seems that you and Princess Qinghe have known each other for a long time?"
Just as Xie Qi was about to speak, Jiang Zhi interrupted, "General Xie was ordered by the Crown Prince to send the imperial physician to treat my grandmother's illness. He also came to the mansion several times to deliver gifts of thanks. I have met General Xie a few times."
Although Xie Qi didn't know why Jiang Zhi said that, His Highness the Crown Prince wasn't an outsider.
But she nodded without refuting, "Princess Qinghe is right."
Xiao Xuanyou then sat down, his expression softening slightly. "So that's how it is. That Princess Qinghe is indeed trustworthy."
"Please sit down, Xie Qi. Tell me what happened along the way."
Xie Qi then told him about his suspicion that the general guarding the northern border was colluding with the Northern Di.
"Your Majesty, I have also brought back evidence, which I will present to you in person."
"How are your injuries?" Xiao Xuanyou asked again.
Xie Qi glanced at Jiang Zhi, "I must also thank Princess Qinghe and her maid for their meticulous care. I am no longer in danger of losing my life. After resting for two more days, I will be able to enter the palace to meet the Emperor."
Although Xiao Xuanyou did not want Xie Qi to stay at Jiang Zhi’s residence, he was seriously injured, and rashly changing places would only arouse the vigilance of the person behind the scenes. If he encountered another assassination attempt, Xie Qi would not be so lucky.
So he said, "Then you should rest and recover well at the Qinghe County Princess's residence. If you need anything, just tell me and I will secretly send someone to deliver it."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The Princess of Qinghe's residence has everything you need."
Just then, Qingxing knocked on the door, "Young Miss, it's time for Young Master Xie to take his medicine."
Jiang Zhi went out and brought in the medicine bowl. Xie Qi didn't even look at it and drank it all in one gulp.
She glanced at the candied fruit Jiang Zhi handed her and couldn't help but chuckle. "I already said I don't need it. Why would I need to eat this?"
Despite saying that, he didn't refuse Jiang Zhi and took it, popping it into his mouth.
Xiao Xuanyou, standing beside him, became even more suspicious.
The level of familiarity between the two is definitely not as simple as having met a few times.
But now is not the time to question him. We should wait until he has recovered from his injuries and reported back to the Emperor.
He walked out of the courtyard and to the gate of the mansion, then stopped and summoned Ruying and Anyue to appear and ask them questions.
"Tell me, how did your master save Xie Qi that day?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
