allonlinenovel Chapter 606 Arranging the Wedding
Chapter 606 Arranging the Wedding
After returning home, Duan Xu went to the palace and told the emperor about his doubts.
"Your Majesty, the matter of Lord Zheng is too suspicious. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to examine Lord Zheng's body."
After hearing his words, the emperor did not grant his request. Instead, he said earnestly, "Duan Xu, you have never disappointed me. It's just the death of an official. There's no need to make such a fuss. Go back and handle other important cases."
"By the way, how's the investigation into Jiang Fu's case going?"
Duan Xu cupped his hands and said, "There's still no progress."
The emperor frowned, rubbing his temples in exasperation. "Jiang Fu came to see me after the morning court session today, still demanding the murderer of his son. Instead of wasting your time making a scene, why don't you hurry up and catch the murderer so Jiang Fu will stop bothering me?"
"Let's go back!"
Faced with the emperor's order to expel him, Duan Xu had no choice but to leave.
*
On the way back to the manor, Duan Xu let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back in the carriage with his eyes closed.
After attending the banquet at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, Zheng Zixu suddenly died upon returning home. He simply couldn't believe that Su Heng wasn't behind it.
Considering recent events, Duan Xu already had a direction in mind on how to do certain things.
He died as soon as he began investigating Zheng Zixu.
This matter may have been orchestrated by Su Heng again.
The fact that the Zheng family refused to allow an autopsy indicates that there must be something wrong with the body; it's quite obvious.
Su Heng killed people to silence them, likely because of the Xuzhou case seven years ago.
At this point, Duan Xu was absolutely certain that the Xuzhou grain draft from seven years ago must have been related to Su Heng and Zheng Zixu.
The emperor's attitude is now very clear: preventing the investigation is a deliberate attempt to protect Su Heng and end the matter with Zheng Zixu.
Thinking of this, Duan Xu couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
Was the killing of Zheng Zixu Su Heng's own idea, or was it authorized by the emperor?
A second-rank official of the imperial court was killed in his own residence. Who will be next? Will the emperor continue to ignore it?
Now, He Mazi and the evidence he provided are a hot potato for Duan Xu.
Remembering Su Lingyue's words, Duan Xu breathed a long sigh of relief. Things will work themselves out; let's take it one step at a time.
but.
Before his death, Zheng Zixu specifically called his wife and children into the house to give them instructions, so he must have said something to them.
Perhaps they have other evidence.
*
When Li Huaizhi returned, he heard the news that Zheng Zixu had already been laid to rest.
"Bang!" The white porcelain teacup crashed heavily to the ground, shattering into countless pieces.
"How can he treat human life so lightly! That was an official of the imperial court, and he killed him just like that!" Li Huai was so angry that he was almost trembling all over, and the hatred in his eyes seemed to be about to kill Su Heng at any moment.
Duan Xu stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and pressed him back into his seat.
"You know that matter involves a wide range of people, and most importantly, His Majesty doesn't allow any investigation. Don't you understand where His Majesty got the inside information?"
After Duan Xu's words of enlightenment, Li Huaizhi instantly understood: His Majesty knew what Su Heng had done. Not only did he know, but he also indulged him.
At this moment, the Confucian classics that Li Huaizhi was reading were battling with his own thoughts.
Aren't diligence in governing and caring for the people, and punishing the wicked and eliminating evil, the most basic requirements for rulers and officials? Why did the emperor not only fail to abide by these requirements, but even aided and abetted the wicked?
If it were seven years ago, when blood flowed like a river, he would still make excuses for the emperor, saying that those people acted improperly and were instigated by treacherous officials.
But at this moment, everything overturned his understanding, and the majestic image of the emperor in his heart collapsed instantly.
Seeing Li Huaizhi's deeply devastated expression, Duan Xu patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, "Things in this world are not always black and white; there are many things that cannot be defined. Since you are in the position of a law enforcer, you must accept everything you see."
"Go back and get some rest. There's plenty of time. The other hand won't be indifferent. Maybe we'll get a pleasant surprise later."
Upon being reminded, Li Huaizhi recalled the mysterious person He Mazi had mentioned.
Maybe if we wait a little longer, we might actually get something.
*
With Xiao Changshi's wedding date fast approaching, the entire palace and the Crown Prince's residence are bustling with activity, especially the Empress, who is in charge of everything from wedding arrangements to the decorations of the wedding attire.
The Empress glanced at the time outside and asked Granny Cui, "What time is it? Why hasn't the Crown Prince arrived yet?"
Granny Cui said, "It's almost 9 o'clock. Perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince is delayed by something."
After saying that, he instructed a eunuch in the room, "Go and ask if His Highness the Crown Prince is still in the Hall of Diligent Governance."
The eunuch received the order and immediately went out.
The Empress continued checking the gift list.
The last time Shi'er got married, it should have been Yue'er who married her. She was the Crown Princess whom she carefully nurtured and cultivated. If it weren't for Xue Man and her daughter, there wouldn't have been so many changes.
This time, without that foolish mother and daughter causing trouble, the Crown Prince's wedding must be perfect, until I become Empress Dowager and bring Yue'er back to my side.
"Welcome Your Royal Highness!"
Hearing the voices of the palace maids, the Empress raised her eyelids and saw Xiao Changshi rushing over in the sun.
When Granny Cui saw the beads of sweat on Xiao Changshi's forehead, she hurriedly stepped forward to take a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. "Oh, my Crown Prince, why don't you come over from the corridor? Why do you have to stand in the sun and get all sweaty?"
"I was worried that Your Majesty was getting impatient," Xiao Changshi said, bowing deeply to the Empress. "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Seeing Xiao Changshi's hurried and unsteady manner, the Empress frowned slightly.
However, he was also very filial, and considering his upcoming wedding, the Empress ultimately did not say anything harsh.
"Shi'er, your wedding is in three days. Have you gone to the He family and the Shen family to inquire if there are any omissions?"
Xiao Changshi was taken aback, then said, "I heard that Mother sent Eunuch He to add to the dowry, so I didn't ask about it. The He family has a large number of people, so I don't need to worry about it. As for the Shen family, I heard that General Shen has already sent people to handle the wedding, so I naturally don't need to worry about it."
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into an inexplicable silence. Xiao Changshi looked up and saw that the Empress had already put down the gift list and was looking at him with a cold and stern gaze.
Xiao Changshi couldn't stand such looks, so he quickly lowered his head and admitted his mistake, "Mother, I was wrong. I will go to both families as soon as I leave the palace and make sure the wedding goes smoothly."
After he finished speaking, Xiao Changshi looked up again to see the Empress's reaction, only to find that her expression had not improved but had become even more gloomy.
What happened to your neck?
As the Empress questioned him, Cui Mama glanced over and saw the marks on Xiao Changshi's neck. At her age, she naturally understood what had happened at a glance.
Xiao Changshi trembled, quickly raising his hand to cover his face, his eyes darting around in panic, but he dared not look the Empress in the eye. "Mother, I, I..."
In the end, nothing was explained.
The Empress asked in a deep voice, "Is it Su Nanxing?"
Xiao Changshi lowered his head and remained silent.
The Empress's reprimanding voice rang out in the hall, "I have already warned you that the marriage between the He family and the Shen family must not go wrong under any circumstances, why didn't you listen! Su Nanxing has ulterior motives, I have already told you to stay away from her, but you didn't listen."
The Empress was particularly prone to anger when Su Nanxing was mentioned.
If it weren't for her, the Crown Prince's two concubines' children wouldn't have been lost.
This vicious woman, after being divorced, took advantage of her return home to pack her things to give her two concubines abortion pills, causing them to lose their two four-month-old babies.
If it weren't for her brother protecting her, she would already be dead.
"You are not allowed to see her again, do you understand?"
The Empress's voice, brooking no argument, commanded and intimidated Xiao Changshi, forcing him to swallow his words and nod instead.
After reprimanding her, the Empress's voice softened a bit. "Alright, here is the wedding gift list. Take it back and have the steward check it again. There can't be a single mistake."
"Yes."
Xiao Changshi took the gift list from Granny Cui and said, "Your subject takes his leave."
After a long while, the Empress sighed in the hall: "How come he can't do anything right? He's not as obedient and sensible as Yue'er at all."
While pressing the Empress's head down, Granny Cui smiled and comforted her, "How can men and women be treated the same? The pressure the Crown Prince bears is beyond what ordinary men can imagine. He is usually reprimanded by His Majesty, so Your Majesty should be kinder to him as well."
After the massage, the Queen's head felt much better.
She nodded, looking tired, and said, "The wedding is a big event, so I have to be a little strict with him. Once the wedding is over and things are settled, I will no longer be so strict."
*
After leaving the palace, Xiao Changshi did not return to the Crown Prince's residence. Instead, he carefully turned into an alley, knocked on a small door in the alley, and quickly slipped inside.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, a pair of soft, boneless arms wrapped around her.
"Your Highness is back! What brings you to the palace?"
Seeing the gift list in Xiao Changshi's hand, the woman snatched it away unhappily. "I said I woke up and couldn't see His Highness. So His Highness went to busy himself with the wedding! Humph, if that's the case, why did His Highness come back to me?"
Xiao Changshi took the gift list from her hand, pulled the woman into his arms, and the two walked into the house together.
"Chu Yin, you still dare to talk! The Empress Dowager saw the mark you left on my neck and gave me a good scolding."
This woman was Chu Yin, a subordinate of Huyan Ping, the Xiongnu King of Linchuan. She was also the one who had brought Xiao Yu to this point, though Xiao Changshi was unaware of it.
Chu Yin climbed onto Xiao Changshi's neck and asked, "Your Highness, what about the matter of making me a concubine? Have you said anything?"
Xiao Changshi looked at Chu Yin with guilt in his eyes, "The Empress Dowager is angry, so... But don't worry, after the wedding, I will find a way to bring you into the Crown Prince's residence."
Chu Yin extended a finger stained with henna and pressed it against Xiao Changshi's lips, her smile alluring and captivating. "I don't believe Your Highness. If Your Highness wants me to believe you, then let me enter the manor as a maid, and I will believe you."
While Xiao Changshi couldn't make the decision to take a concubine, he could still make decisions with the addition of a maidservant.
He readily agreed, "Alright, pack your things and come with me to the manor tomorrow. On our wedding day, you will serve me and the Crown Princess!"
"Your Highness is so naughty! I'll punish you first!" The woman giggled as she and Xiao Changshi entered the room and rolled around together again.