boyutpedia Chapter 179 Si Nan
Chapter 179 Si Nan
A major event occurred in Yudu. More than a month ago, when the imperial son-in-law Liu Shao returned from visiting Jing, he encountered bandits ten miles outside Li'an City. The bandits ran away with the gifts from Jing's country, but the imperial son-in-law was unfortunately killed by a hail of knives.
The emperor was furious that thugs dared to ambush and kill members of the imperial family right under his nose. He ordered the Imperial City Guard and the Censorate to conduct a thorough investigation of the case. The entire city was searched, and soldiers and constables could be seen patrolling everywhere. People were in a state of panic.
Wei Yunhou Ningcuo took charge of the case and solved it in three days. The culprit was a spy from the Southern Hebei who had infiltrated Li'an. The thief leader, Mao Yi, was captured and executed by slow slicing with 3,600 cuts at the East Market on the seventh day after the death of the imperial son-in-law.
Emperor Yu's anger had not subsided, and he issued another edict to launch a southern expedition, intending to destroy the ancestral temples of the Southern Ji region.
Meanwhile, a luxurious carriage was parked by the official road ten miles outside Li'an City.
“Princess, the dead cannot be brought back to life. The spirit of the Prince Consort in heaven would not want you to be too heartbroken because of him and harm your health.”
Princess Yuanzhen, dressed in mourning clothes and with a haggard face, gently stroked the egg-sized fluorescent stone in her palm with tearful eyes. It was brought back to her by a surviving guard and was stained with Liu Shao's blood at the time.
"You said you'd treat me well for the rest of your life, but how come you broke your promise after only a few years?"
The maid Huazhi wiped away her tears. The prince consort had kept his promise, but his life was over.
The funeral arrangements for the imperial son-in-law were grand, with the crown prince personally presiding over them and giving him the utmost respect. Every prominent family in Yudu held roadside memorial services, exceeding the honors expected of an imperial son-in-law.
But mourning honors are just that—honorable honors. When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. After the coffin is sealed and the funeral rites are over, everyone goes back to their own homes. Only Yuanzhen remains trapped in the same place.
Today is the princess's birthday. Just over a month ago, Huazhi and her sisters were speculating what surprise the prince consort would prepare for the princess this year, but little did they expect it would be a tomb.
A gentle breeze rustled the grass and trees.
"who!"
The alert guard drew his long sword.
A boy dressed in black clothes, whose body was not yet fully grown, appeared and raised his hands to show that he meant no harm.
"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you disturb the princess's carriage!"
"I dare not!" The boy immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
Yuan Zhen raised his hand to stop the guards who were about to grab someone, "Raise your head."
Yuan Zhen frowned as he scrutinized the boy's slowly raised face. He felt the boy looked familiar, but couldn't recall where he had seen him before. He asked directly, "Who are you?"
"I am a servant under the Censorate, and I once accompanied you to visit the princess on behalf of the Prince Consort case."
Yuan Zhen understood; at that time, she was in a daze and had no deep impression of even the observer, let alone a follower.
What brings you here?
The young man pursed his lips and glanced at the attendants on either side, as if afraid that others would hear, but he also knew that the princess would not dismiss them and face him alone, a person of unknown origin.
After a moment of silence, he mustered his courage and said, "The verdict in this case was too hasty, and there are many questionable aspects to it."
Yuan Zhen frowned even more deeply, waiting for what was to come.
The boy swallowed hard. "Based on the weapons left at the scene, Marquis Wei Yun determined that the murderer was a spy from Nanji. But if he was a spy, hiding his identity and lying in wait should have been the top priority. Even if he were to kill someone, he wouldn't use a weapon with obvious markings. Wouldn't that be courting death?"
"That being said, Mao Yi did indeed confess."
“It’s not surprising that Sanmu confesses to anything. Before his arrest, Mao Yi went to Lianshui Lane to have an affair. After Mao Yi left, that mistress went to… Wuyi Lane…”
"Insolence!" Yuan Zhen was shocked. "Whom are you referring to? Do you know what the consequences will be?!"
"Every word I have said is true and there is absolutely no falsehood!"
Yuan Zhen took a deep breath to calm himself down. "How could a lowly constable like you know such details?"
"Cats have their ways and mice have their ways. I, having lost both my parents at a young age and roaming the streets, have my own channels for obtaining information."
"Then why didn't you report this to your superior?"
"As long as His Majesty maintains the royal face and the Inspector and Marquis Weiyun need to report back, he won't care about the cause of the Prince Consort's death. But I suspect the Princess does care."
Yuanzhen felt bitter. Her father seemed to be furious about the death of the prince consort, but he was just using it as an excuse to justify his attack. With Jingguo and Qiguo at war, Yuguo's northern and western borders would be free of worries. Years ago, when Nanji invaded the border, the Duke of Yu and his son died along with tens of thousands of border soldiers. Her father had long harbored the desire to conquer the south. Now, with the right time, place, and people, they could finally go all out to attack Nanji.
What do you want?
The young man bowed deeply once more, saying, "I am willing to die for Your Highness!"
Yuan Zhen finally looked at the young man properly and asked, "Name?"
"Your humble servant, Jin Sinan."
Yuan Zhen frowned. "Your name is a single character from a Han Chinese family. Are you of foreign blood?"
Jin Sinan said awkwardly, "Our ancestors did indeed come from the south to escape the war."
Yuan Zhen nodded knowingly. After decades of strife, their bloodlines had long since intertwined.
After calming down, Yuanzhen belatedly realized that something was wrong. Having lost both parents at a young age and wandering the streets, wasn't that what a beggar was? Even an unofficial constable was not something a helpless beggar could do.
"How did you get into the Censorate?"
Jin Sinan's eyes flickered, somewhat uneasy. "Three years ago, during a heavy snowfall in winter, I almost froze to death on the street. The Crown Prince, who was on patrol, casually took off his cloak and gave it to me, which allowed me to survive until the time for porridge to be served."
Upon seeing that I was wearing the cloak of the eldest prince, the inspector took me in as his adopted son and recommended me to the Censorate to run errands and be a hanger-on.
Yuan Zhen felt complicated upon hearing this. His elder brother was kind and benevolent, and this was indeed something he was capable of doing. At that time, his elder brother was still the crown prince, and there were many people below him who were eager to find an opportunity to flatter him.
The observer guessed that seeing Jin Sinan's good fortune, the Crown Prince might meet him in the future and, feeling it was fate, appoint him to a high position. It was an investment, since it wouldn't be a waste of anything.
However, on the other hand, this young man is indeed clever and quick-witted. Yuan Zhen looked at Jin Sinan meaningfully.
"From now on, you will be under the jurisdiction of my princess's residence."
"I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's favor; I will repay you with my life!"
The moment his forehead hit the ground, a drop of cold sweat slid down and seeped into the soil, disappearing without a trace.
Jin Sinan's back was already soaked with sweat. He had nothing, and every step forward required his full strength and a life-or-death struggle.
·
Pingshan Pass Military Camp —
"General, everything has been arranged according to your instructions."
Shen Qing nodded. "Go down."
"promise."
After Qi Shang and the others left the military tent, Shen Qing walked over to Lu Xun, who was practicing calligraphy and doing his homework.
Education must start from childhood. This world cannot be pacified in three or five years. He has already drunk the tea of apprenticeship. A teacher for a day is a father for life. Lu Xun will become one of his most trusted people. After all, he cannot do everything himself.
"The character for profit carries the radical for knife, and the character for benefit contains the radical for blood; so-called profit is nothing but a blade stained with blood."
Shen Qing held Lu Xun's small hand and turned the pen around, saying, "Xun'er, you need to see this game clearly."
Lu Xun nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.