Meixiang was still unaware of what had happened when she was bound hand and foot by the soldiers and escorted back to the Ji residence.
"I'm innocent!"
She knelt before Ji Huaichuan and cried out.
"This servant was merely out shopping; how could I possibly plot against Lord Jin?"
“I will find out exactly what you did.” Ji Huaichuan looked down at her, his gaze icy. “Drag her away.”
"This servant belongs to the General's Mansion; you cannot dispose of her as you please!"
Mei Xiang was indignant.
"This servant is not satisfied! This servant demands to see Madam Jiang, this servant demands to see Master..."
She just wanted to make a big fuss.
Even if Jiang Wan doesn't protect her, as long as the news gets back to the General's Mansion, Madam Yuan will hear about it and know that the plan has failed.
She dared not mention the matriarch of the family, only hoping that Luhetang would find out the news and send someone to rescue her.
“Gag her.”
Ji Huaichuan Road.
"Lock her in the woodshed, and forbid anyone to see her!"
Meixiang couldn't believe it.
Everyone says that Ji Huaichuan and Jiang Wan, these two cousins, have a very good relationship, so why would he treat Jiang Wan's maid like this?
She was dragged away, struggling desperately.
In the chaos, Meixiang saw someone behind Ji Huaichuan.
The man, dressed in black, with red lips and white teeth, looked at me with a mocking expression.
...It looks strangely familiar.
Meixiang shuddered.
Xiuyu, it really is Xiuyu!
She suddenly realized that Xiuyu, who had been keeping a close eye on her all the time, had suddenly disappeared from her side today.
Damn it, she should have noticed something was wrong sooner!
He had now reverted to his male attire and stood in front of Ji Huaichuan with his arms crossed, the two appearing to be quite familiar with each other.
Wait a minute, it was the patrol battalion that saved Physician Jin in the alley today.
The leader of the patrol battalion was Ji Huaichuan.
Xiangmingju is located in a remote area, and the area around Qingshi Lane is even more chaotic. The soldiers are too lazy to care about it, and they rarely see the patrol battalion coming near. Why is it that today, a group of soldiers suddenly appeared?
Meixiang's face turned pale.
What a coincidence!
Unless it was all part of their plan, and she'd fallen into a trap...
She tried to say something, but the old woman next to her covered her mouth and dragged her forcefully into the woodshed.
At this moment, Imperial Physician Jin was kneeling before Emperor Jingyuan, recounting his ordeal that day.
He clutched the wound on his neck and said angrily, "That thug was lawless. He showed no fear whatsoever when I mentioned His Majesty. If the patrol battalion hadn't happened to be passing by, I wouldn't be here to see His Majesty!"
Emperor Jingyuan's face was gloomy.
"Was this truly the work of the Yuan family?"
“Ms. Yuan is a first-rank imperial consort and the widow of General Song. How dare this old minister slander her so casually?”
Physician Jin coughed a few times in excitement.
"Although the assassin in black escaped, the maid named Meixiang is still here. It was she who led this old minister into the alley today!"
"The Imperial Guards witnessed her meeting privately with Yuan's nanny. If Your Majesty does not believe this, you can send someone to investigate whether this maid is one of Yuan's people!"
He spoke with such conviction that, coupled with Emperor Jingyuan's already growing suspicion of the Yuan family, he was already quite convinced.
At this moment, he and Physician Jin were thinking the same thing.
Using secret techniques to manipulate the Vice Minister of Justice and openly assassinating the imperial physician—was this heinous act committed by Yuan alone, or did it involve the entire General's Mansion?
When Song Ziyu handed over the tiger tally a while ago, his loyalty seemed genuine.
Although Song Ziyu was foolish, he was, after all, General Song's grandson.
Emperor Jingyuan never doubted that the Song family would actually rebel.
He did not doubt that Physician Jin was lying, but the Song family was a mainstay of the military forces of the Great Yong Dynasty, so he had to treat them with caution.
One wrong move could sway morale and shake the foundations of the nation.
"I will carefully consider how to handle this matter." Emperor Jingyuan comforted Imperial Physician Jin, "You have suffered, my dear minister. Go back and rest well. Do not publicize today's events."
Imperial Physician Jin rose shakily.
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing..."
He dared not utter the treasonous words from the man in black, such as "he won't live past the Mid-Autumn Festival," and could only offer a reminder.
"According to what that man in black said, they have gathered a group of people in the capital with the intention of harming Your Majesty. It seems that they will take action around the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"I hope Your Majesty will strengthen the palace's defenses and take good care of yourself."
Emperor Jingyuan snorted angrily and overturned the table in front of him.
"Absurd! Do they dare to storm the palace and stage a public rebellion?"
His face immediately turned extremely ugly.
"I'll be waiting right here. Let's see who dares to be so bold!"
If it really was a member of the Song family who committed treason and assassination, then there's no need to keep this Chengping General's Mansion any longer!
Even ten times the favor of General Song could not offset the heinous crime of treason.
In the General's Mansion, in the Deer and Crane Hall.
The elder's wife knelt before the Buddhist hall, closing her eyes and fiddling with the prayer beads.
All day long, there was still no news from Meixiang.
It wasn't until evening that Granny Wu pushed open the door and rushed in, bringing a reply from Xiangmingju.
"The shopkeeper said they waited all day but didn't see Meixiang come in."
The elder lady suddenly turned around.
He lost his grip, the string of beads snapped, and the sandalwood prayer beads scattered all over the ground.
She murmured, "How could this be?"
"This old servant doesn't know either."
Granny Wu stamped her foot.
"In the evening, this old servant even took a stroll around the Ji residence, but didn't even catch a glimpse of Meixiang. However, I did hear... I heard..."
The matriarch looked anxious and urged, "What did you hear?"
"I heard that Physician Jin suddenly fell ill on the street today and has moved out of the Ji residence to recuperate at home."
Seeing that she looked unwell, Granny Wu comforted her.
"Don't worry, Physician Jin is getting old. Perhaps he suddenly fell ill on the way to Xiangmingju, which is why our plans were delayed."
The matriarch frowned and pondered for a long time.
"That's possible."
“Yes, if there are any other circumstances, Meixiang will write to us on her own,” said Granny Wu. “Let’s wait patiently. If we still don’t hear from Meixiang, I will send our spies from the Ji family to look for her.”
"That's all we can do," the matriarch sighed.
Granny Wu then asked, "Should we remove the decorations at Xiangmingju for now?"
The matriarch shook her head.
That was something she had specially prepared for Jiang Wan.
Anyone who discovers that secret place will assume that the person who secretly learned the Miao ethnic minority's secret techniques is Jiang Wan.
It would be such a shame to give up like this.
"Wait a little longer," said the matriarch.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, once Jiang Wan has relaxed, she will still have a chance.
“Starting tomorrow, stop letting Jiang Wan go to buy pastries. Have Xiangmingju keep a low profile.”
Jiang Wan was always vigilant; if she were to discover something amiss, it would be a great loss.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Song Ziyu was taking Hanshi San (a traditional Chinese medicine) every day, and everything was progressing according to her plan.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the Song family made a great contribution.
It's not too late for her to deal with Jiang Wan later.
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