Chapter 107 Prisoner I won't harm you
"Put me down," Lu Tingwan fell into his arms, unable to break free, "Cheng Xianzhi!"
"If you shout again, more people will see us." Cheng Xianzhi walked out of Jinhua Palace without paying any attention to other people's eyes. People on the palace road who saw him could only retreat.
"You, you bastard, I don't want to go back, do you hear me?" Lu Tingwan felt embarrassed and had to hide her whole face in his arms, but she didn't give in at all.
They happened to encounter the patrolling imperial guards. Xie Zhao was at the front and saw this scene from a distance. His eyes were always on the person in his arms. He only saw Lu Tingwan going in, but did not hear her curses and resistance to Cheng Xianzhi.
"Minister Cheng." The imperial guards were extremely respectful, their armor rubbing against each other as they clasped their fists, their momentum as powerful as a rainbow.
Lu Tingwan subconsciously turned her head back to follow the voice, and met Xie Zhao's gaze. She stood up slightly as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw.
"Xie Zhao." His tone and expression both seemed to be asking for help.
Xie Zhao looked at Cheng Xianzhi with an embarrassed expression, "What is this?"
"I'll take her back home to recuperate," Cheng Xianzhi said, tightening his arms slightly, warning her not to do unnecessary things. "The servants of Jinhua Palace have to serve the Queen Mother and take care of the Palace Master, so they can't be that dedicated."
"You're talking nonsense! This is clearly abuse of power for personal gain." Lu Tingwan's neck was still resting on his arm. In this position, she could see his profile. He looked good, but he was too strong and overbearing, without any mercy. Now he embarrassed her in front of so many imperial guards!
"That's it!"
Cheng Xianzhi turned a deaf ear and exuded a cold air. Xie Zhao had no choice but to make way. Cheng Xianzhi walked straight past the imperial guards, speaking casually as if to the person in his arms.
"What can the Imperial Guards do to me? Do you think Xie Zhao can help you?" There was a hint of threat in his words. "Don't forget, who does he obey?"
"Then don't forget," Lu Tingwan pulled out the jade token from under his collar, "I have a token that can command the three battalions of the Imperial Guard. Xie Zhao may not listen to you."
Cheng Xianzhi chuckled, his doting eyes clearly visible. "Yes, who gave it to you?"
Lu Tingwan was speechless. She couldn't beat him. They were almost at the palace gate. It was useless to resist. After getting on the carriage, Lu Tingwan clearly felt a strong and fiery gaze from the side looking at her. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and confirmed it. She could only turn her head away.
"You don't have to be afraid." Cheng Xianzhi played with the belt on his waist with his fingertips, his expression relaxed, his eyebrows stained with a hint of provocation, and he said with a curled lip, "I won't hurt you."
Lu Tingwan sorted out his thoughts, "Returning home to recuperate is just an excuse, right? You deliberately kept me away from Jinhua Palace because you were afraid that the assassination case would affect me and thus implicate you?"
"Empress Dowager Jiang wants to use this palace banquet to test the opinions of the aristocratic families. Concubine Rong will soon give birth," Lu Tingwan said, clutching the wound on her chest. "Empress Dowager Jiang checked the medical records of the Imperial Hospital and found that the emperor may not live for many years. If the Jiang family wants to maintain their current glory after the emperor's death, the best way is to select a woman from an aristocratic family who can give birth to a prince and inherit the throne. Obviously, the emperor knows the empress dowager's intentions, so he disrupted this banquet. Am I right?"
Cheng Xianzhi's expression was indifferent. He did not respond, nor did he deny it.
"So you knew from the beginning that this palace banquet wouldn't go smoothly, or did you and the Emperor plan this together?"
"Then in your opinion, why does the Queen Mother insist on keeping the crown prince in her hands?" Cheng Xianzhi asked instead of answering.
"If after the emperor's death, Dalan still has no crown prince who can inherit the throne, then the various factions will each support a descendant of the royal family. At that time, the power structure in the court will be reshuffled, and who will be the most threatening?" Lu Tingwan said, "Naturally, the person who holds the greatest power now will be the last one to want to give up his power."
Cheng Xianzhi smiled with relief, "You're right. So, do you think this assassination was orchestrated solely by the emperor?"
Lu Tingwan glanced sideways, finally looking him in the face. "What do you mean? Is the Queen Mother also involved?"
Cheng Xianzhi was silent.
Lu Tingwan had a nagging feeling. "Impossible! The Queen Mother wanted to use this banquet to find out the opinions of the noble families. How could she disrupt the carefully planned situation?"
"It's not the Queen Mother," Cheng Xianzhi said with a smile as the gloom in his eyes faded a little, a flash of light flashed across his eyes, "It's the Minister of the Central Secretariat!"
"Gongsun family?" Lu Tingwan couldn't believe it. He covered his heart with his hands more tightly. The shaking of the carriage still affected the wounds on his body. His relaxed brows gradually furrowed. Cheng Xianzhi lifted the curtain and asked the coachman to slow down.
Only then did Lu Tingwan feel a little more comfortable.
"Hasn't the Gongsun family always prioritized imperial power?" She observed Cheng Xianzhi's expression and speculated, "The Gongsun family has monopolized power for the monarch for many years. Could it be that they also want to become another Jiang family?"
Cheng Xianzhi knew that she had been influenced by the Empress Dowager and had some insights into the political situation in the court.
"As you said, if the imperial family members fight for the throne and cause unrest in the country, it will take years to calm down. If the new emperor is young, he must be taught by an imperial tutor before he can govern and maintain peace. In your opinion, who is the most suitable imperial tutor for the current situation?"
"The Imperial Preceptor is no different from the Regent," Lu Tingwan suddenly realized, and immediately named the person in his mind, "Gongsun Yin!"
Cheng Xian leaned forward and turned back, folding his arms and nodding.
"Isn't the Minister of the Central Secretariat also your husband?" Lu Tingwan was puzzled. "You two are also father-in-law and son-in-law. The interests of your two families are closely linked and inseparable. Why are you..."
Cheng Xianzhi understood her doubts and asked, "Do you think these insignificant connections in power are reliable?"
Yes, she knew the ending of the Lu and Jiang families very well.
"Before Queen Mother Jiang intervened in the Jiang family's politics, Gongsun Yin was the most powerful official in Dalan. The power the Jiang family holds today was only taken away bit by bit by Queen Mother Jiang, who relied on the late emperor's favor and the late emperor's desire to divide power. Gongsun Yin has retreated somewhat in recent years, letting others serve as Your Majesty's sharp sword to counter the Jiang family's power, allowing you to reap the benefits."
Converge the edge, create the edge! Who is this edge?
"It's you!" Lu Tingwan said affirmatively, not questioning.
Cheng Xianzhi said calmly, "The Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet is not just a game between the Queen Mother and the Emperor. There are also many forces secretly trying to stir up trouble. The most important thing now is that Concubine Rong can give birth to a prince."
"So, do you know why I must take you back home?"
Lu Tingwan lowered his eyes, nodded, and said nothing more.
But those eyes were examining the person in front of him. According to what he had just said, the assassination was a cover-up and a distraction, with the purpose of allowing Concubine Rong to give birth to the dragon fetus smoothly. Then the dragon heir in Concubine Rong's belly must be the prince.
Lu Tingwan figured it out, raised his head suddenly, and swallowed the words in his mouth!
She was so smart and had a good brain, so Cheng Xianzhi didn't need to explain it so clearly. He just needed to give a brief introduction. Lu Tingwan could figure out the mystery by speculating further.
Gongsun Xue knew that Cheng Xianzhi had taken Lu Tingwan back to recuperate, so she had no influence on his decision before, and now she had even less say.
Lu Tingwan was recuperating in Yansheng Hall and often saw Cheng Xianzhi. Although he didn't talk much, he could always talk to her. With Feng Xin's care, Lu Tingwan recovered quickly. She would take a walk in the yard every morning, and Feng Xin would follow her closely.
Gongsun Xue had also visited during her visit. Lu Tingwan stared at her slightly bulging belly and exchanged a few pleasantries. Cheng Xianzhi, who had just returned, also arrived at Yansheng Hall. Lu Tingwan felt that something was amiss between the two of them, but she couldn't put her finger on it. At least, based on her understanding of their relationship, it didn't seem like they should be getting along this way.
The three of them sat under the grape trellis in the courtyard. She held her chin, her almond-shaped eyes flicking from side to side as she scanned the two of them. Gongsun Xue lowered her eyes, lost in thought. Cheng Xianzhi stared off into the distance, speechless. Silence reigned, until Lu Tingwan stretched her waist, breaking the stillness.
She was tired and had to go back to rest. Seeing someone come in, Cheng Xianzhi didn't stay long and went to the study. In the main room, Lu Tingwan stared at the window for a long time, unable to make a conclusion. Could it be that the two of them had a quarrel?
Could it be because of me?
Thinking about this, she decided that Cheng Xianzhi should not be allowed to come to Yansheng Hall anymore, and instructed Feng Xin with this thought.
Feng Xin was in a dilemma. If Yanshengtang could stop Gongsun Xue, how could it stop Cheng Xianzhi?
Feng Xin felt that if something was inappropriate, he should tell him clearly, and it was inappropriate to avoid it like this.
Lu Tingwan had a headache. She had made the matter clear on the night of the palace banquet, but Cheng Xianzhi disagreed, so she had no choice.
Let her hide for one day, and everything will be fine once she recovers and returns to Jinhua Palace.
After autumn came to Kyoto, strong winds bleaked in the morning and evening, and the chill invaded. Clues were revealed in the assassination case. During the investigation by the Jinyiwei, it was learned that the owner of the opera troupe had avoided scrutiny that day by holding a token. The Jinyiwei was certainly guilty of dereliction of duty, and the token belonged to Jiang Qingsheng.
Jiang Qingsheng was arrested and imprisoned. Jiang Qingsheng admitted that he recommended the opera troupe to enter the palace and had close contacts with the troupe when he was in Weiyang Tower, but it was all due to his obsession with opera, and he often asked for advice, and there was nothing else.
As for the assassination, he was completely unaware of it.
The imperial guards did not release the man. Cheng Xianzhi took the confession from Han Jinzhang's hand, glanced at it casually, and threw it aside.
"Assassinating the emperor is such a serious crime, does Jiang Qingsheng dare to admit it?" Cheng Xianzhi said coldly, "Who knows? Maybe the target is the child in Concubine Rong's belly. Who can tell?"
"The token is indeed his, so how do you explain it?"
Han Jinzhang bowed and said, "Sir, would you like to go there in person?"
Inside the prison, Jiang Qingsheng's hair was disheveled, yet he couldn't hide his unruly air. As the prison door opened and a figure entered, Cheng Xianzhi, dressed in a formal official robe, stood in stark contrast. Jiang Qingsheng scoffed, his expression filled with disdain, challenging him provocatively: "Minister Cheng, you're in such a refined mood! It seems you haven't been able to hold your composure for so long."
Cheng Xianzhi dismissed his attendants, leaving only the two of them.
"Young Master Jiang is a man of refined taste. Neither Weiyang Tower nor the prison seems to affect your mood." Cheng Xianzhi glanced at the cell.
When Jiang Qingsheng thought about how he had snatched Gongsun Xue away, he felt incredibly happy. He said proudly, "Minister Cheng, you're joking. Of course, I can't compare to the happiness in Weiyang Tower."
"By the way, I heard that your wife also likes to listen to opera?" His eyes were full of provocation.
"She's pregnant, so it's inconvenient for her to go to the opera," Cheng Xianzhi said. "The Jiang family lost a bloodline not long ago. The second son of the Jiang family has gone insane and has stopped caring about government affairs. The eldest son of the Jiang family is the Duke's only hope. How can he be confused with an assassin?"
"Could it be that there is some mystery in this Weiyang Tower drama? Don't let this cause the Jiang family's bloodline to be cut off again." Cheng Xian hinted at something.
No wonder Gongsun Xue hasn't been in and out of Weiyang Tower often recently. It turns out that she is pregnant. Jiang Qingsheng secretly guessed whose blood in Gongsun Xue's belly belongs to. If it is his, how could Cheng Xianzhi tolerate it?
"Minister Cheng, what you said is not true. I, Jiang, have never had any connection with the assassin."
"Oh? Then what does Master Jiang have to say about the token in the troupe owner's hand?" Cheng Xianzhi twirled the tiger-head jade pendant in his hands. It was a protective jade pendant his father had obtained from a high-ranking monk when he was born. He had carried it with him for over twenty years and never lost it.
"I must have picked it up or stolen it to frame me." Jiang Qingsheng naturally couldn't say it. He had no idea where it was lost. Since the opera troupe picked it up, it was very likely lost in Weiyang Tower.
"That's fine. If Young Master Jiang doesn't want to talk, there are certainly ways to make him confess in this prison." Cheng Xianzhi's expression was chilling. "I just don't know if Young Master Jiang can endure this. The child in Gongsun Xue's belly hasn't even seen its biological father yet."
Jiang Qingsheng was stunned for a few moments, then stared at Cheng Xianzhi and laughed, his laughter filling the prison.
"Cheng Xianzhi, ah Cheng Xianzhi, if you are a person without desires, why are you so eager to climb up, and why..."
And why didn't he move an inch with the beauty in his arms? Jiang Qingsheng couldn't stand his arrogance. He didn't say anything more, just smiled a creepy smile, full of provocation and teasing. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't be able to remain so calm.
"Young Master Jiang is indeed as romantic as the rumors in Shanhaiguan say."
"You already know everything." Jiang Qingsheng wasn't afraid, but rather proud and arrogant. "Or do you simply not care? Gongsun Xue can get along with me. Ultimately, it's because Minister Cheng doesn't know how to be gentle with women."
"What a waste!" His face was so disgusting that Cheng Xianzhi didn't even bother to look at it.
"Young Master Jiang, you should think about how to explain the meaning of this token so that you can get out of this prison safely."
Jiang Qingsheng watched the departing figure and felt like he had won in his heart. He was extremely happy and his wild laughter lingered in the stone wall for a long time.
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