CHAPTER 390: CHAPTER 387: HEARTACHE

The Emperor listened to Du Zheng’s words and had to recall Song Xian’s actions again.

Du Zheng said, "If Song Jiedu intended to do this, it’s not impossible that he might be trying to evade responsibility after the incident. But... when thinking it over carefully, I’m still not sure. After all, Song Jiedu asked the Emperor to order a thorough investigation of those transporting Xiao Xingzong. If he tampered here, wouldn’t he also risk being found out?"

A person scheming behind the scenes always has some concerns.

The Emperor looked at Du Zheng, "Perhaps someone else is plotting behind the scenes."

Du Zheng responded, "The poison used before shouldn’t have gone wrong in theory. Whether the task was botched or done intentionally will only be known after the investigation."

"Take people with you and investigate," the Emperor said to Du Zheng, "You must ask about every detail clearly."

Du Zheng replied, "Such a situation has arisen, yet the Heavenly Family still trusts me."

The Emperor waved his hand, "Go!" The military envoy from the Palace Department was appointed by him, and Du Zheng made arrangements that even Li You was unaware of. Now that something has gone wrong, although he suspects many people, he isn’t suspicious of Du Zheng.

Du Zheng stood up and reminded, "Shouldn’t Song Jiedu be allowed to leave?"

The Emperor coldly said, "The case is being investigated according to his will, why is he still kneeling there?"

Du Zheng led his people away, and the Emperor sat in the grand hall, looking at the memorials on the desk. Remembering the trembling gaze of the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, he couldn’t suppress his anger.

Even if everything was done properly, when Xiao Xingzong spoke those words, how many officials were around him? Didn’t they have any doubts in their hearts?

Besides those words, what else did Xiao Xingzong reveal?

How much did Song Xian and Princess Jia’an know? Would someone bring up this old issue again in the future?

Is someone scheming behind the scenes, intentionally provoking trouble? If he finds an excuse now to punish Song Xian and the Xie Family, even if it suppresses Song Xian and the Xie Family smoothly, he would lose his majesty, giving others the chance to seize the throne...

He has ruled the country for more than ten years, yet he still feels the throne is unstable, mainly because he has no offspring, and there are two energetic brothers who are eyeing the throne.

The Emperor picked up the memorial and threw it on the ground forcefully.

...

After a bustling day, the people at the entrance of the stationery shop gradually dispersed.

The shopkeeper of the stationery shop smiled as he saw off the guests, "Please come back early tomorrow, everyone!"

"The pink wax paper will always be displayed here," the shopkeeper said, "Once the next batch arrives, you’ll be able to buy it."

"When will the next batch arrive? Before the year-end is impossible, right? Even if it arrives, you might not get it. Don’t fool us, shopkeeper."

"Indeed, why is the production of this pink wax paper so slow?"

"What do you know? That’s why this stationery is so rare, you must spend much effort to make it, but what’s rare is that it’s sold cheaply by Chen Family Village."

"Yes, it’s better to wait a few more days than to be envied by looking."

The shopkeeper saluted the crowd, "When spring arrives, many paper workshops in the Eight States will open, and more pink wax paper will be made then. Zhenzhou’s caravan suggests that the price of stationery might be cheaper."

"Will it be cheaper?"

"Oh, it’s rare to see profitable things drop in price, but it’s gratifying to see such sincerity."

The shopkeeper chuckled, "This is a long-term business, just like those thread tassels, which are selling better and cheaper."

Someone in the crowd said, "I heard the stationery was made by Princess Jia’an, is it true?"

"Is the Commandery Princess someone you can talk lightly of?"

"Why can’t we discuss? Princess Jia’an is different from others anyway. Princess Jia’an even visited my shop a few days ago to ask about this year’s grain prices."

Although everyone spoke like this, they understood in their hearts. Zhenzhou’s Chen Family Village is where Princess Jia’an grew up, and Princess Jia’an leads villagers in making thread tassels, stationery, wool felt. When Daqi fought the Pseudo King, this Princess was the one who led people to send military supplies, which indeed makes the descendants of Prince Guangyang extraordinary.

Finally, after sending off the people, the shopkeeper handed the accounts to Xie Liangchen for review, "I will calculate them again later and send them for you to see then."

Xie Liangchen skimmed through the accounts and handed them back to the shopkeeper, "This is your shop. I came for the first sale of stationery but how you sell in the future is up to you. Just sell according to the price we’ve agreed upon."

Selling Chen Family Village’s stationery, every stationery shop must sell at the same price. They cannot sell at a high price just because stationery is scarce nor intentionally undercut the price to vie for business.

"You can rest assured," the shopkeeper chuckled, "Being able to get stationery from Chen Family Village, we won’t worry about making silver coins and would never do such a thing that would make you discover our mistake, or else, in the future, you wouldn’t supply us with stationery, leaving us at a dead end."

After the shopkeeper walked away, Meng Changshu chuckled, "These days, working with you in the capital, we’ve truly learned a lot. We now know how challenging business can be, and how many principles there are. What’s rare is your long-term perspective, different from others."

Xie Liangchen said, "I’m also trying it out and still not sure if it will work this way." He aimed to prevent anyone from profiting too much, tarnishing the name of this stationery.

Miss Yan also nodded repeatedly, "Ru Chuding will regret not coming today. She’ll definitely chase me with questions tomorrow."

Meng Changshu laughed, "If she handles the herb diagram well, then we’ll tell her, if not... we’ll just keep her partially informed and tantalize her."

These were jokes, and they walked outside while chatting and laughing.

After seeing Meng Changshu and Miss Yan off, Xie Liangchen saw Chang Yue approaching.

"Commandery Princess," Chang Yue whispered, "Master had Chang An send a message, saying there’s an issue on Xiao Xingzong’s side, but told you not to worry, Master can handle it."

Xie Liangchen’s heart sank, "What happened? Where is Master?" Wasn’t it said that Xiao Xingzong was poisoned mute? Has Song Xian found out something? Or has something gone wrong elsewhere?

Xie Liangchen asked, "Where is Song Xian?"

Chang Yue knew she couldn’t hide it, "Master is kneeling at the palace gate."

Snowflakes drifted onto Xie Liangchen’s cloak, and today’s snow was exceptionally heavy, with the ground already covered. Kneeling in such weather at the palace gate...

Xie Liangchen said, "Get the horse over, let’s go take a look." Even if she couldn’t approach the palace gate, she could find Chang An and ask him clearly.

Chang Yue responded, "Don’t worry, Master has been practicing martial arts since childhood, and his body has always been strong, there won’t be any problem."

Song Xian had just returned from the battlefield not long ago. While his external injuries had healed, the internal damage hadn’t been replenished yet. If he caught a cold, he’d surely have a serious illness.

Chang Yue didn’t dare delay, and ordered for the horses to be prepared.

Xie Liangchen continued to ask, "Was there anything else besides kneeling? Did Chang An say why Master was punished?"

Chang Yue paused briefly, then honestly confessed, "He was also beaten with twenty clubs. The Palace Department spread the word that the Emperor rebuked Master for having no ministerial decorum."

"Chang An said that Master straightforwardly advised the Emperor to detain the official escorting Xiao Xingzong to the capital, to thoroughly investigate the poisoning incident with Xiao Xingzong. It might have been done intentionally."

Upon hearing Chang Yue’s words, Xie Liangchen tightened her grip on the reins, having a premonition that Song Xian was doing this to protect her.

Those twenty clubs were requested by him.

This fool.

Xie Liangchen urged her horse forward, heading straight towards the palace gate. She felt like her chest was burning with a fire, eager to see Song Xian safe and sound with her own eyes.