The second prince saw Wen Xinhou's face turning green and pale, and said quickly: "It's really no wonder Governor Xiao is responsible for this. The prince also knows about the temper of his father. Let's forget about the affairs of the government. Let's just argue about him." It can be tolerated to a certain extent, but Governor Xiao cannot take too much care of these palace matters no matter how much he is trusted, otherwise he just doesn't know what to do."
Wu Huai also said: "I see that Your Majesty's face is rosy, and he doesn't seem to be ill. He just drank some wine. I think he will be fine."
Marquis Wenxin thought about it. Emperor An was very angry when he spoke, and he did not look like he was ill.
He glanced at Xiao Yan and thought to himself that he had indeed been "unreasonable" just now. Xiao Yan was only able to be where he is today because of the Holy Family, so how could he do something that would displease His Majesty.
Moreover, His Majesty's temper has become more and more unstable in recent years, especially since the beginning of this year. He has been angry at the court several times, and many courtiers have been punished.
He Yushi, who was whipped ten times a day and knelt in front of the Royal Palace to recite the Five Classics of Confucianism, was almost losing weight, and Emperor An didn't even say a word to spare him...
Marquis Wenxin thought of the Censor He and couldn't help but glance at Xiao Yan, but in terms of ruthlessness, the one in front of him was still ruthless.
Yushi He knelt for a few days and then complained that he was sick and refused to enter the palace. But this man only sent someone to the He family once, which almost broke the lifeblood of the He family. Even if Yushi He broke his leg, Rain or shine, he was carried into the palace every day, and he lay down in front of the Imperial Palace to "endorse" his bones.
The courtiers of the aristocratic families who were originally against Xiao Yan had their faces bruised and bruised.
Xiao Yan didn't seem to notice Marquis Wenxin looking at him, so he just changed the subject: "Thank you for your help tonight, Lord Marquis. I will bear your kindness in mind."
Marquis Wenxin said quickly: "No need, I am just helping my wife."
His wife had been friends with Princess Cheng for many years. After learning about Princess Cheng and Prince Cheng, she begged him to help. He had already received favors from the Rong family back then, and saving Rong Yue was considered as repaying the favor. Xiao Disgust is just incidental.
Marquis Wenxin did not want to get involved with Xiao Yan, so he distanced himself neatly and said: "My wife is concerned about Princess Cheng's safety. Since the matter is settled, I will go back first to avoid her worries."
When Xiao Yan saw Marquis Wen Xin turn around and leave without stopping at all, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows: This week Datou said he was a military general, but he didn't expect that he was sharper than anyone else?
He suddenly missed the newly recognized "Qian Shibo".
Xiao Yan looked at Wu Huai without changing his expression: "I also want to thank Master Wu."
Wu Huai didn't dare to be Xiao Yan's thank you, and since he voted for Xiao Yan, he was naturally very knowledgeable.
"The murder case in Beijing is the duty of a lower-level official. Governor Xiao does not need to say thank you. However, as for the old concubine in Prince Cheng's Mansion, the people in Prince Cheng's Mansion all insist that it was Princess Cheng who killed the old concubine. Prince Cheng and others are afraid that they will not change their story. .”
"Even if Prince Cheng was found guilty of treason, he also found out other things. But regarding the murder of the old concubine... I'm afraid Princess Cheng can't explain it clearly."
Xiao Yan heard this and said, "Let us do an autopsy first to see if there are any other injuries on the old concubine's body."
Wu Huai hesitated: "This autopsy requires you to take off your clothes..."
The old concubine was the late emperor's concubine, a noble person in the palace, this...
Xiao Yan glanced at him: "Prince Cheng can use torture, and Xie Yin has also been deprived of the throne. Do you think His Majesty will care about a dead person?"
Wu Huai reacted after hearing this and hurriedly said: "Xiaguan is confused. I'll ask someone to arrange it when I get back."
…
Marquis Wenxin left, and Wu Huai didn't stay much. After a few words with Xiao Yan, he decided to conduct an autopsy, sent the results to Jiuyun Lane, and then left.
After they left, Xiao Yan left the Dragon Yutai. The second prince did not go with Wen Xinhou and the others, but followed Xiao Yan step by step.
Xiao Yan was not surprised. He led the people to a secluded place, and the second prince couldn't help but say, "Thanks to Governor Xiao tonight."
"I originally planned to say that what happened tonight was just a coincidence, and I used the same excuse to fool Prince Cheng to reply to my father. If Governor Xiao hadn't warned me when he entered the palace, I would have been in big trouble."
Xiao Yan was indifferent when he heard the words: "Your Majesty is not King Cheng, and Marquis Wenxin is not a close associate of His Highness."
He stretched out his hand to smooth the water stains on his sleeves and said to the second prince:
"Although I can make Wu Huai shut up, there is no guarantee that the news will not leak out to Marquis Wen Xin in the future. Besides, if His Highness wants to compete with several other princes, he cannot remain hidden from others. Properly revealing his ambitions will not only If you annoy His Majesty, your Majesty will put you above the exams for the position of the East Palace."
"If you want to compete for the throne, you must be seen to have the ability to compete for the position. Keeping a low profile will only appear incompetent. Moreover, Your Majesty does not like people who are too stupid, nor does he like those who are too smart, who are both ambitious and easy to control. Only those with a simpler and more direct temper can reassure him."
The second prince heard the fairy voice and complimented: "It is still Governor Xiao who knows what my father is thinking."
Xiao Yan shook off the water on his hand and lowered his eyes to the second prince: "After tonight, His Highness can safely and boldly contact people in the court. Even if it goes slightly over the line, Your Majesty will not be angry."
"And Marquis Wenxin, he has never been close to the prince, but he hurt you by mistake tonight, and he will definitely feel guilty for you. This is also an opportunity for you to make good friends with him. You can treat him openly in the future. Move around without fear of suspicion."
The second prince didn't hear anything wrong at all, he just thought that if he could subdue Marquis Wen Xin, he would have someone to rely on in the army in the future. He quickly said with joy: "Thank you, Governor Xiao, for the tip."
As soon as he reached the palace gate, Marquis Wenxin suddenly sneezed and felt a chill on his back.
After Xiao Yan said a few words to the second prince, he stopped and looked at the second prince who was following him step by step: "It's past midnight, His Highness should leave the palace."
The second prince hurriedly said: "Are you going to the Emperor's Palace? I'll go with you to have a look..."
"Your Highness should not put his thoughts on the wrong people."
Xiao Yan's eyes were slightly cold, but under the cover of the night, no one could notice.
"Tonight you got involved in Prince Cheng's affairs, so your methods must be seen. At court tomorrow morning, His Highness will still have to speak out about Prince Cheng's affairs. You should go back early to discuss countermeasures with the palace's staff."
Seeing the second prince frowning, he said: "I know that Your Highness is benevolent and filial, but His Majesty does not want to see you getting too close to the Empress Dowager. Your Highness, please don't use the wrong idea."
The second prince looked stunned. His father didn't want to see them getting close to the Queen Mother?
He did not doubt Xiao Yan's words. When he thought about it, although the Empress Dowager had a noble status, her father seemed to be only superficially respectful. Even her birthdays had not been held in a big way for her in the past.
In the past few years, I have only heard that the Queen Mother was hysterical and crazy, and she kept talking nonsense. Although people from the Imperial Medical Office often looked after her, my father never cared about her.
In the palace just now, when Emperor An heard that a concubine was "nuisance" to the Empress Dowager for rest, the second prince still remembered the look on his face. He originally just wanted to earn a reputation for filial piety through his status as the Empress Dowager.
But if this move would annoy his father and make him unhappy, then he would naturally not do such a stupid thing.
The second prince quickly retracted his thoughts: "I was wrong, so I will leave the palace first."
Xiao Yan said "Yes": "Your Highness, remember to walk around more with the Cui and Feng families, and also pay more attention to the head of the Li family. Now the discord between the aristocratic families is getting deeper. Once the Lu family falls, they will definitely make another move." Choose your master, Your Highness, don’t miss the opportunity.”
"Cui Lin is very wary of this governor, and only wants to use his help to deal with the Lu family. You should be more careful in front of him. Does your highness know how to tell him what happened tonight?"
The second prince quickly said seriously: "Of course I accidentally learned of Governor Xiao's plan and took the opportunity to express my goodwill to you. Governor Xiao, don't worry, I will not be stupid."
He wants the Cui family and the Feng family, but Xiao Yan wants them even more.
Compared with the internally chaotic aristocratic families in Xishan, who can enter and leave the Holy Land at any time, the powerful Xiao Yan is his biggest helper. After all, only he can make him gain the respect of those families in a short period of time, even in front of his father. Passed the clear road.
Others may not have such means.
The second prince left happily, thinking about how to make friends with Marquis Wenxin and the others and deal with the Cui family.
Xiao Yan waited quietly for him to leave, then his face turned cold. He looked at the direction where the second prince left with some disgust, and opened his thin lips lightly.
"Have someone go to Fengxi Palace and tell Queen Lu about the incident in Prince Cheng's Mansion."
Jinyun nodded: "Yes."
"Send someone to check what happened to the Lu family when Princess Cheng gave birth, and see if they can find the midwife who delivered Rongyue's baby. Also, to check if there were any other people of the right age in the Lu family when Rongyue was pregnant. She was pregnant and the child was stillborn or never fed.”
Jinyun was stunned for a moment, then shocked: "The Governor said that Xie Yin is from the Lu family..."
He was full of astonishment. He would not think that the "Lu family" mentioned by the governor was referring to someone else. However, if this was true, even if Xie Yin was only of the Lu family's blood, it would be considered a shocking news.
If this is really found out, the Lu family will have to shed their skin even if they don't die.
He quickly said: "When I leave the palace later, I will ask someone to check."
Xiao Yan walked towards the Empress Dowager's Palace. Compared with the Yulong Terrace and Fengxi Palace, it seemed much more remote and crude.
The door of the outer palace is old, and the mottled and peeling red paint on it makes people know how much the palace neglects this old man who should be the most noble person under the surface of respect.
After the palace door creaked open, Xiao Yan stepped into the palace. Compared with the staleness outside, everything in the palace was exquisitely decorated, and the burning incense to calm the spirits was better than the tributes in the palace.
When Xiao Yan walked to the next door, he saw an old man with frosty white hair lying in the back room with his eyes closed.
"Ms. Qin gave her acupuncture when she left. The Empress Dowager slept all night, but occasionally babbled." The palace attendant who followed said in a low voice.
Xiao Yan waved his hand and the man retreated.
Canglang and Jinyun also stopped outside the screen.
Xiao Yan stood in the shadow for a long time before walking to the bedside with wet steps. He bent over and squatted in front of the bed, reached out and held the old man's wrinkled and wrinkled hand on the bed, and his pale and thin fingers almost covered her. in hand.
When the candlelight flickered, the old man on the bed didn't know if he sensed something, and murmured in his sleep.
"Yuan Sheng..."
Xiao Yan's body was cold and restrained, and he gently pressed his face against the old man's hand. His sword eyes were filled with indifference as he could not see his thoughts clearly.
"Grandma, I'm here to take you out of the palace."
