A simple change in his eyes sent a chill down his spine.
Xu Zhihuai narrowed his eyes and hurriedly called Mu Xiuwan.
"Little Princess."
Mu Xiuwan blinked, feeling dazed for a moment.
Xu Zhihuai said with a smile: "Today is the tenth day of the lunar month. My little princess, go and offer incense to Guanyin Bodhisattva on your behalf."
The water in the purification bottles is changed every day, and all requires running water at noon, which is just the right time.
Mu Xiuwan slowly came back to her senses and returned to her usual quiet demeanor. She was very obedient, respectfully offered incense and worshiped Buddha, her eyebrows were lowered, and she was serious and pious.
The two of them got along every day, and they were always polite, so naturally they became somewhat close to each other.
After the winter solstice, it is the New Year.
The palace is decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, the courtyard is filled with red plum blossoms and waxy snow, and there is harmony and joy everywhere.
This joyful atmosphere dissipated Zhu Weizhen's illness. She had been ill for half a month, had lost a lot of weight, and had a pointed chin.
Xu Zhihuai and Mu Xiuwan came together to greet her.
Zhu Weizhen looked at them with a smile: "It seems I was right to leave her to you. Wan'er is reserved and introverted. It's rare that you take care of her so well."
She didn't expect that Xu Zhihuai was so good-natured. After all, the child was always nagging and very unpleasant.
Xu Zhihuai smiled gently and only praised Mu Xiuwan for being clever and sensible, without mentioning anything about her having Yin and Yang eyes.
Zhu Weizhen took advantage of the situation and said: "In that case, I am not in a hurry to take her back. You two can be company together and have a good New Year."
Xu Zhihuai secretly guessed in his heart.
The eldest princess deliberately handed Mu Xiuwan over to her. Firstly, it can test her loyalty, and secondly, it can save others from "trouble". As for whether Mu Xiuwan will get the position of Crown Princess, that is a matter for later.
Xu Zhihuai is not without ambition, but now is not the time for him to stand out.
Large snowflakes were falling outside the window, and Mu Xiuwan wanted to go see the snow again. Xu Zhihuai seemed to understand her thoughts and said softly: "We can enjoy the snow on the way back to the palace."
Mu Xiuwan nodded, with a meek look on her face.
Zhu Weizhen said lightly: "Actually, the snow scene at Xiangguo Temple is the most wonderful. After the New Year, you can take Wan'er there for a walk."
When Xu Zhihuai heard this, his eyes flickered undetectably, and he looked at Zhu Weizhen with a somewhat puzzled look: "It's good to go out of the palace to enjoy the snow, but the mountain road is difficult to travel, and the snowy weather is muddy..."
Zhu Weizhen interrupted her with a smile: "If you are thoughtful, then wait until spring before going. By then, the flowers all over the mountains and fields will be in bloom, which will be even more pleasing to the eye."
Xu Zhihuai smiled and nodded when he heard this, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was late at night, and Zhu Xuxing was still looking at the rosters and catalogs that had been confiscated from the Xie family. The thick pile was full of evidence of the Xie family's corruption.
Seeing his frown, Xu Zhihuai couldn't help but persuade him: "Your Highness, the Xie family has fallen. Your Highness has eliminated harm for the people."
"not that simple."
Zhu Xuxing sighed: "The Xie family has too many remnants and even more hidden properties. These are not all."
Xu Zhihuai asked one more question: "What are you worried about, Your Highness?"
"Nine years ago, there was a treasury theft in the Capital Money Department. Do you know?"
Xu Zhihuai shook his head: "I don't know who I am."
Zhu Xuxing's eyes were gloomy: "In this impregnable treasury, thirty thousand taels of silver were actually missing. There were a lot of people who confessed, but they couldn't get the money back. I think this unsolved case must be related to the Xie family."
Xu Zhihuai couldn't believe it and whispered: "Thirty thousand taels?"
How could such a large sum of money be stolen quietly?
Zhu Xuxing gently threw down the account book in his hand: "The thirty thousand taels of silver that disappeared nine years ago must go somewhere!"
Xu Zhihuai whispered softly: "Your Highness, let's leave this matter to the Marquis of Qingyi to investigate."
Zhu Xuxing shook his head, his eyes bright: "No, I want to find out personally."
Xu Zhihuai felt that things were not that simple and stopped talking.
The next day, Xu Zhihuai asked Aunt Nan about Xie Wuyou's current situation and asked her to inquire.
Aunt Nan was puzzled: "It's so good, why did the empress suddenly ask about her?"
"Because I want to know."
Xu Zhihuai glanced at her coldly.
Aunt Nan quickly found out and told her in detail.
Xie Wuyou spent a month or so in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment, and it was said that she suffered a lot of crimes. However, she kept a tough mouth and said that she was innocent from the beginning to the end.
According to the law, murdering the emperor's heir is a major crime against the nine clans, but relying on Xie Wuyou alone to punish the Xie family's crimes is a bit far-fetched and not very good-looking. Moreover, the imperial court had other views on the Xie family, so Xie Wuyou was simply relegated to a lowly status and became a slave.
"Where was Xie Wuyou sold to?"
"Back to the empress, she is still in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment... she will definitely be sent out after a while. With her appearance, she is probably a member of a low-class flower boat band, or she will be sent to the street for auction in the downtown area. "
Xu Zhihuai was silent for another moment and then said, "Do you have anyone you can trust outside the palace?"
Aunt Nan hesitated to speak: "I have been favored by the Marquis, but I know a few people who can do things."
Xu Zhihuai said calmly: "Okay, you go find someone to buy Xie Wuyou back and place him temporarily."
"ah?"
Nan Gu was shocked and surprised, and shook her head repeatedly: "No! Never!"
"If you can't do it, then go ask the Marquis."
Aunt Nan looked around outside the window: "My dear, why are you doing this?"
"I have to buy Xie Wuyou, I want to live."
Xu Zhihuai was not an impulsive act of kindness. She stayed with Xie Wuyou because of the theft of official banknotes mentioned by the Crown Prince.
Aunt Nan naturally did not dare to make the decision, so she had to pass the message carefully. Xu Zhihuai's "boldness" really annoyed Wei Li. He hadn't been to the palace for a long time, but today he came to see him in person, just to deliver a secret letter to the prince.
The moment Xu Zhihuai saw him in the prince's study, he pretended to be surprised and hurriedly curtsied to Zhu Suxing: "Your Highness, I seem to have come at an untimely time, so I'll take my leave first."
Zhu Xuxing smiled brightly and rubbed the letter in his hand: "Okay, let's have lunch together later."
Xu Zhihuai did not glance at Wei Li during the whole process, only catching a glimpse of his tall and tall figure from the corner of his eye.
All the way out of the palace gate, and then around to the corridor, she slowly slowed down her pace, and even found a reason to ask the accompanying palace maids to go to the nearby garden to break some fresh plum blossoms for Mu Xiuwan, leaving only Jinhua followed.
After waiting and waiting, displeased footsteps finally sounded behind him.
As soon as Xu Zhihuai turned around, she saw Wei Li walking over with a sullen face. She met his gloomy gaze and spoke first: "Master Hou, you are finally here."
This seemingly light sentence actually made the anger in Wei Li's heart inexplicably cool down.
Xu Zhihuai smiled sweetly, with bright eyebrows: "I've been waiting for Lord Marquis for a long time."
Wei Li frowned, condescendingly meeting her soft eyes: "Your Majesty, you are so brave, you dare to lead me into the palace!"
Xu Zhihuai said straightforwardly: "I have something important to discuss with Lord Marquis, but I can't get out..."
