Chapter 83
The next day, when Luo Sanrong went to the East Palace to be on duty, he heard some palace servants whispering. After careful investigation, he found out that the assassin who broke into the East Palace that day was sent by an organization called the Red Maple Society.
It is said that this organization was established to inherit Hong Jingxiu's will and overthrow the rule of the tyrant.
Someone added quietly, "It is said that Hong Jingxiu's daughter is still alive and is acting as an insider in the palace. That's why she was able to easily enter the palace and assassinate the Crown Prince."
Luo Sanrong took a few steps back in panic. She wanted to say, "That's not the case. She's not an insider. She didn't want to kill His Highness."
But she couldn't say it, because once she said it, her identity would be exposed, so she could only leave quietly.
Of course, these rumors also reached the ears of the prime minister. He was not surprised, and it could even be said that it was expected. What he ordered Sun Xing and Xu Jiang to do was to divert the trouble. Now everyone's attention has been diverted, and they are no longer concerned about the identity of the assassin himself. Now they just need to find out the identity of Hong Luozhen.
Wang Qi, who was sent to gather information, was killed during the investigation. Fortunately, the person Wang Qi contacted before his death has been found. As long as this person is found, we can know what information Wang Qi has obtained.
Xu Jiang sighed while drinking tea: "That woman named Luo Yu is so bold that she is actually in the palace."
The others didn't say anything, but they all agreed with this idea in their hearts.
Ji Zeming was distracted. Ever since he killed Wang Qi that day, he took away the secret information about Luo Sanrong's life experience, but he didn't expect that he didn't clean up the people Wang Qi had contact with. It seemed that it was only a matter of time before his father and others found out Luo Sanrong's life experience.
Thinking of this, Ji Zeming couldn't help feeling a little anxious.
The prime minister called Ji Zeming twice, but Ji Zeming did not respond. By the time Ji Zeming reacted, everyone's attention was on him.
Ji Zeming gritted his teeth and asked again: "Father, what's wrong?"
Ji Ke gave him a warning look and said, "I want you to go and pay your respects to the Queen before she gives birth."
Ji Zeming replied, "Yes."
Ji Ke and Ji Zeming entered the palace together. Ji Ke went to the imperial study to pay his respects to His Majesty, while Ji Zeming went to Changle Palace to meet his sister as instructed by his father.
Unexpectedly, just as Ji Zeming arrived at the gate of Changle Palace, he vaguely heard a faint baby crying coming from the palace. Ji Zeming was about to go closer to listen carefully, but he saw Momo beside his sister walking out of the palace stealthily.
Ji Zeming was about to follow when Yun Yue saw him, stepped forward and blocked him with her body, and said to the inside of the palace: "Your Majesty, the young master is here."
Ji Zeming was not in a position to investigate further, so he had to go in and pay his respects to the Queen. However, he saw that the Queen looked flustered, as if she was trying to cover up something.
At this moment, Ji Zeming was about to remind his sister to pay attention to the maid beside her, but Ji Zelan said, "Why are you here?"
The words on his lips were swallowed back. Seeing his sister's pale face, Ji Zeming asked, "How are you?"
Ji Zelan gently stroked her belly and replied in a cold voice, "Not bad," and then continued with the previous question, "But how did you get to the palace?"
Ji Zeming answered truthfully, "Father wanted me to come and pay my respects to you before you give birth."
Hearing this, Ji Zelan sneered, "Greetings? You're just worried that the baby in my belly is not a boy." However, she did not say this to Ji Zeming, but just waved her hand tiredly to signal Ji Zeming to leave.
Ji Zeming looked at her pale face and exhausted expression and wanted to comfort her, but ever since his sister insisted on entering the palace to marry His Majesty, the two of them had spoken less and less. Now, there was nothing left to say to each other, so he had to bow and retreat.
Yun Yue sent Ji Zeming out of the palace and said, "Master, please don't mind. Madam, these past few years have not been easy for her either! You must be more considerate of her!"
Ji Zeming didn't say much, just nodded to show that he understood.
Yun Yue, who rushed back, looked at the young lady who had risen to a higher position with heartache. She knew best how the young lady had been through all these years.
Ji Zelan noticed someone coming back and quickly concealed his emotions. He said to Yunyue, "How's it going?"
"To answer your Majesty, Xier gave birth to a boy."
Ji Zelan breathed a sigh of relief, stroking her belly and said, "No matter what, try not to make him cry, otherwise..." Halfway through her words, she cried out "ouch", and Yunyue hurried forward. Ji Zelan looked down at her belly and murmured, "Kick it! After all, it was me who wronged you."
In the imperial study, the atmosphere was tense, and Shang Gong was standing by his side, seemingly comforting someone.
Seeing the Prime Minister coming, His Majesty asked, "Prime Minister, I heard that you killed a prisoner in front of the Crown Prince?"
Ji Ke replied calmly: "Yes."
His Majesty had not expected him to admit it directly, so he softened his tone of blame and said, "Prime Minister, how could you be so reckless? This is not like your usual style."
The Prime Minister bowed and said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I have been investigating Hong Jingxiu's case for a while now, but I have not been able to report it to Your Majesty."
Upon hearing the name Hong Jingxiu, His Majesty could no longer maintain his questioning tone. He quickly stepped down from the throne, diligently helped the Prime Minister to his feet, and eagerly asked, "Have you found out the truth?"
The Prime Minister reported everything he had learned from his investigation to His Majesty: "Hong Luo'e is Hong Jingxiu's daughter, and she is also the Red Maple Society's spy planted in the palace."
Shang Gong, who was standing by, frowned when he heard the name Hong Luozhen, but fortunately no one noticed.
Upon hearing this, His Majesty immediately ordered a thorough investigation of all girls aged eighteen or nineteen in the palace. The Prime Minister turned around and smiled disdainfully, thinking to himself, "This coward is still frightened to death by the mere mention of Hong Jingxiu's name."
At night, Shang Gong summoned Wei Dao and told him what the Prime Minister had said to His Majesty today. He concluded by saying, "Even though Hong Jingxiu is dead now, they know how much weight these three words carry."
In the pitch-black side hall, one cannot clearly see Weidao's expression, but one can tell from his tone that he is not as calm as Shang Gong.
He asked, "So, what should we do?"
Han Shouyi said: "To protect her, we can't wait any longer."
Wei Dao said in surprise: "Are you planning to kidnap her?"
Han Shouyi corrected him, "This isn't kidnapping. We're just trying to get her away from the palace. Tomorrow, we have to take her away from the palace."
After the prime minister returned home, Xu Jian and Sun Xing quickly approached him. He heard the prime minister say, "Your Majesty has ordered a thorough investigation of the palace maids." Xu Jiang replied, "A large-scale search will begin tomorrow morning. If they are truly spies planted by the Red Maple Society, there's no way there could be just one. If we eliminate them all, the palace will soon be awash in blood."
The Prime Minister said thoughtfully, "First, we must find Hong Luozhen and hold her tightly in our hands. She is very useful."
Xu Jiang and Sun Xing responded in unison: "Yes."
Ji Zeming heard all this in the corner, secretly clenched his sleeves, and then slipped away.
Ji Zeming had no choice. The only way to save Luo Sanrong now was to take her away. Unexpectedly, he met an unexpected person on the road.
Ji Zeming glanced at the sky, adjusted his mood, and said to Wei Dao: "Are you waiting for me?"
Wei Dao paused and said, "I have something to ask of you. It's about Luo Sanrong."
Ji Zeming wanted to refuse, but when he heard the words "Luo Sanrong", his body seemed to freeze and he signaled Weidao to continue.
In Wei Dao's opinion, this situation was just Ji Zeming's hesitation. Wei Dao continued, "Didn't you also disobey the Prime Minister's order and save her before?"
Ji Zeming said coldly: "What's the matter?"
Tailblade whispered, "Take her away from the palace, as far away as possible, to a place where no one can find her."
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