CHAPTER 399: CHAPTER 396 TIDYING UP

Song Xian recuperated at the Xie Family residence for three days before dressing properly to go to the government office on the fourth day.

The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice were swamped due to Xiao Xingzong’s case, no one had expected that even after capturing Xiao Xingzong, convicting him would be so complicated.

Many from the Palace Department were thoroughly investigated, yet Li You remained steady as a rock. No matter how they checked, they couldn’t trace anything back to him; his role as Commander was flawless, especially since he hadn’t intervened when Song Xian was beaten, leaving nothing for others to criticize.

When the investigation of the Palace Department was almost complete, most of the case details became clear.

Du Zheng looked towards the Emperor on the throne, who looked grim and threw the memorial in his hand along with the documents presented by the Ministry of Justice onto the desk.

"This Wang Chengjian," the Emperor’s eyes were full of fury, "truly disappoints me."

The person he trusted harbored ulterior motives and even wanted to use Xiao Xingzong to scheme against him. Fortunately, he didn’t give the Wang Family more troops; otherwise, wouldn’t that have been helping Prince Lu and Prince Qi recruit manpower?

Damned Wang Chengjian, he won’t let go of the Wang Family or those behind them.

Du Zheng whispered, "It seems Wang Chengjian wanted to use Xiao Xingzong to frame Song Xian, so the Wang Family could seize the eight states. And by doing so, they also implicated the Emperor, possibly a plan to kill two birds with one stone. But this is all just my random speculations; neither Vice General Jiang nor Wang Jin confessed."

Such matters can never be admitted, and both Wei Junshi and Vice General Jiang understood this doctrine.

The Emperor said coldly, "Have someone investigate whether Wang Chengjian had secret dealings with Prince Lu or Prince Qi. Daring to do such a thing is never just for those eight states."

Du Zheng responded, understanding that some cases don’t require evidence, and now the Wang Family of Xizhou was finished. As for how to deal with the Wang Family, it depended on the Emperor’s wishes.

The Emperor stood up: "Summon the Zhaoyi Jiedu Envoy to the capital, and entrust Qinzhou to him." Currently, only the Zhaoyi Jiedu Envoy could be relied upon.

The Emperor continued, "Prince Lu and Prince Qi should be arriving in the capital soon, right?"

The New Year’s Day was approaching, and the Emperor had summoned Prince Lu and Prince Qi to the capital.

Du Zheng replied, "In the next couple of days."

The Emperor’s eyes were filled with murderous intent: "Have someone keep an eye on them, report everything they do daily, leaving no detail unseen by you."

Du Zheng said, "I dare not be negligent."

The Emperor then thought of Princess Jia’an: "What has Princess Jia’an been doing these days?"

Du Zheng reported, "The Princess is still busy with herbal diagrams and those goods from Zhenzhou, frequently visiting Vice Envoy Li’s residence at the Imperial Hospital these days."

"Monks from Jianguo Temple have been sent to the eight states one after another, and the Princess even went to bid them farewell. Some women from the capital also prepared grain and clothes for the monks to take to the North."

The Emperor heard this and asked, "What about the other matters?"

Du Zheng replied, "Song Jiedu moved out from the Xie Family, and in these days only summoned an Imperial Physician once, and it was all thanks to Princess Jia’an taking care of Song Jiedu."

The Emperor frowned: "Chen Family Village truly lacks manners."

However, if years ago, Princess Guangyang had observed gender precautions, she wouldn’t have applied medicine and treated wounds for injured soldiers, and he wouldn’t have frequently seen her.

The Emperor further thought of the figure he saw in the Book Collection Pavilion.

Du Zheng continued, "The Xie Family has been packing their belongings into boxes these days, and Princess Jia’an has also been acquiring books in the capital, some bought, some copied, seemingly preparing for the return to the North."

The Emperor pondered, recalling the medical book he once gifted Princess Guangyang. When Prince Guangyang was killed in battle, he even bought a residence intending to settle Princess Guangyang and her daughter, unaware that Princess Guangyang would follow Prince Guangyang in death.

"Send some books to Princess Jia’an," the Emperor said, "Her development of pink wax paper is a good thing for Daqi. This is my reward to her, let her continue her work, and if she does well, I will commend her further."

After speaking, the Emperor added, "She also draws herbal diagrams. This year, the ’Yellow Ochre’ sent from Fujian is vibrant, with good coloring, send her some, and also some ’vermilion’ and ’Huqing,’ which she often uses in her herbal diagrams."

When the Emperor wished to favor someone, he would speak candidly, offering the finest things.

Du Zheng said, "I will proceed immediately."

The Emperor said, "Let her learn more from her grandmother. I also hope she becomes proficient in the four arts, to not disgrace the reputation of the Prince Guangyang Mansion."

He only ever heard Princess Guangyang play the zither once, and even now, he regretted it.

...

Xie Family.

Xie Liangchen was conversing with Meng Changshu while sitting on the stove bed.

Meng Changshu said, "I go to Jinfu Temple on the first and fifteenth of every month, something known to everyone. Behind the mountain of the temple, there’s a silver fox. Every time I go, I look for it. That day, I heard from the Kun Dao at the temple that the silver fox was missing, so those I brought with me also helped Kun Dao search around."

"It turned out the silver fox fell into a trap set by hunters in the mountains and broke its leg. Luckily, someone found it and brought it back. Can you guess who returned the silver fox?"

Xie Liangchen didn’t have to guess because Chang Yue had sent people to follow Ji Yuan, knowing that Ji Yuan had been recuperating outside these days, and the farmer’s house where he was staying just happened to be beneath Jinfu Temple.

Meng Changshu said, "It was that Ji Yuan. If you hadn’t warned me beforehand, I would have met that Ji Yuan for sure. I heard Ji Yuan was recovering nearby and, having been in the house for too long, went for a walk nearby, heard the silver fox’s cries, and went to check, thus saving the silver fox."

"How can it be such a coincidence? The first encounter is a coincidence, but what about the second time? I suspect that Ji Yuan is not simple. Upon further thought, could it be that the silver fox’s leg was broken by someone instructed by Ji Yuan? The more I think about it, the more it gives me chills. After returning home, I wrote a letter to my father informing him of all the events in the capital. It seems that Ji Yuan’s uncle’s family also encountered some issues, and Commander Wang’s son was summoned to the Ministry of Justice Prison several times."

Hearing this, Xie Liangchen felt relieved, knowing that Ji Yuan couldn’t possibly be engaged with the Meng Family.

The Wang Family got into legal trouble, and with Ji Yuan having such deep scheming, Meng Su would never marry his daughter to a person like him.

While they were talking, Old Mrs. Chen entered with some pastries: "Have you been sitting for too long? Get up and move a bit, try these pastries, it’s a new skill learned by Liangchen’s second aunt and the chef."

Old Mrs. Chen had just observed in the kitchen that Mrs. Gao could only make pastries here; back in Chen Family Village, she could never let her showcase this skill, as it would consume even more oil than Miss Chen’s cooking. Having Mrs. Gao cook a few times, life would become unsustainable.

"Sister."

As Xie Liangchen was coming down from the stove bed, Chen Zigeng walked into the room: "Some government officials came outside, saying that someone from our family should go to the place where Yang Wu lives to retrieve the items left by Prince Guangyang."

Things certainly needed to be retrieved.

Xie Liangchen looked at Meng Changshu: "I will go to the Yang Family residence first, and talk with you again tomorrow."

After seeing Meng Changshu off, Xie Liangchen went to the Yang Family with Xie Shao Yuan, Chen Zigeng, and Chen Yongyi.

Entering the former Princess Jiahui Mansion, Xie Liangchen felt somewhat dazed. In the blink of an eye, she was bestowed the title of Commandery Princess, while Yang Wu awaited trial. In her previous life, she could never have imagined that her maternal grandfather was indeed Prince Guangyang.

From the inner residence, the cries of a woman were heard.

Xie Liangchen looked at the government officials: "Is there anyone else inside?"

The official said, "It’s Yang Wu. Some of Prince Guangyang’s old belongings are not in the warehouse, so they need to ask Yang Wu about their whereabouts."

As he spoke, a figure rushed out from the inner residence, and after being stopped by the officials, she simply collapsed on the ground: "Princess Jia’an, for the sake of being fellow clan members, please help me. I did it for the eight states, why is it that for the lineage of Prince Guangyang, Princess, please give me a way to live, I will be eternally grateful to you for your immense kindness."