When Duanmu Nan ca to diagnose Long Yue’s pulse, he specifically cautioned her not to overthink things. Excessive worry could be taxing and was harmful to both the child and her.
It is easy to say, yet hard to do. A Shao is her brother-in-law, and Long Yue now had few relatives, only those on her grandfather’s side. How could she ignore their matters?
The next day, Long Yue summoned Cao Xiao.
"Wang Zheng indulged himself, inviting friends over for amusent, and even devised a treasure hunt. Unexpectedly, they dug up two female corpses in his garden..."
These were the specifics; earlier, Cao Xiao rely ntioned the matter vaguely without going into detail.
Long Yue rubbed her brow, curiously asking, "There are two female corpses in his ho. Has the ti of their death been determined?"
"Yes, it has been determined that one died three months ago, and the other four months ago."
Long Yue was surprised. Four months, such a long ti?
Thus, this matter seems unrelated to the previous rebellion? The corpses must have been buried at that ti; it’s unlikely they were specially exhud from so burial mounds. That would be too grueso.
"That’s strange. The corpses are from four months ago. Wasn’t anyone suspicious when the bodies were being hidden in their backyard then?"
Indeed, it’s perplexing. Such substantial dirt work couldn’t have gone unnoticed by the residents inside. It suggests there might be a traitor within the Prince Mansion.
Cao Xiao was taken aback by Long Yue’s inquiry, "You know, I hadn’t considered that. Burying the corpses unnoticed requires either insider assistance or stealth."
Whenever or wherever, digging up the ground is crucial, and unlikely to be overlooked.
Long Yue said, "I think this is an internal affair of the Prince Mansion. You should discuss it with them and thoroughly interrogate the servants. If necessary, employ special ans."
Cao Xiao nodded, "Haha, Little Yue’er, you’re right. I’ll just go talk to Le’er about it later."
As Cao Xiao spoke, he suddenly thought of sothing and asked, "Yue’er, I heard A Mu went to see the Emperor. What did the Emperor say?"
The Emperor’s attitude was significant; he needed clear answers.
Long Yue’s expression grew dismal: "The Emperor told my husband to stay out of it. He ntioned already sending Zhao ngran to investigate."
Cao Xiao, though sowhat naive politically, understood the Emperor’s move was to protect Li Qingmu. He realized he was imposing on the couple and felt rather embarrassed.
"I’ve already done what I could regarding this matter. Le’er probably won’t be angry with , right?"
After a mont of lancholy, Cao Xiao realized a crucial point.
Long Yue laughed: "You see, Le’er is not unreasonable. You’ve already done your best in this matter; she won’t bla you. Besides, Prefect Zhao isn’t a fool. As long as Wang Zheng is innocent, he is sure to get justice."
Cao Xiao had a sowhat childlike temperant, and Long Yue comforted him for a while before he recovered from his depression.
Long Yue and Li Qingmu originally intended to further inquire into the matter, but shortly after, Qi Yun issued an imperial decree confining them again, under the guise of recuperation and pregnancy care. For the sake of protecting them, the Emperor was truly diligent.
...
Across the vast northern grasslands, a carriage proceeded slowly, surrounded by a troop of cavalry responsible for guarding the woman inside. They encountered several short-sighted mountain bandits along the way who attempted to hijack them, only to end up thoroughly beaten.
Suddenly, a black line gradually appeared ahead, coming closer.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an army.
Leading the army was another carriage, surrounded as it approached.
The two carriages collided, and from the first erged a young girl, less than twenty years old. She respectfully greeted the opposite carriage: "Nianxi greets the Princess, may you live forever!"
The curtain of the carriage did not move, but from inside ca a captivating voice: "Returned? Was the journey safe?"
"Thanks to the Princess’s blessings, all went well."
There was a montary silence inside, then the voice grew very soft: "Did you see him?"
Nianxi paused, then nodded: "I saw him."
"Is he doing well? Has he suffered any grievances?"
Her voice carried a hint of urgency, sothing never seen in this Daliang Princess, who was always calm and aloof.
Yet this urgent emotion was fleeting, quickly returning to tranquility.
Nianxi nodded lightly: "There were so difficulties, but he overca them all. He’s doing fine now."
"He wouldn’t co back with you?"
"Yes, I asked him twice—the first ti him, the second, his wife."
"Wife?" The voice inside the carriage paused montarily and then laughed coldly, "Indeed, he is his father’s child—just as sentintal. Little do they know, an Emperor must not have feelings; otherwise, they’ll be swayed and affect judgnt!"
Nianxi pondered for a mont and said, "Princess, I am unsure if I should speak these words."
"Speak!"
"What us won desire most in this life is nothing more than a man who truly loves us. I... actually envy his wife."
"You envy her?"
"I do."
Silence fell once more, as if the speaker had never uttered a word.
After a while, a voice erged: "And you, do you like him?"
Upon hearing this, Princess Nianxi’s face instantly turned pale.
She hurriedly knelt, bowing: "Princess, please don’t tease . Your son is extraordinary, and Nianxi can only admire and look from afar, never daring to entertain any inappropriate thoughts..."
"No, you must have them! You should have them! You are more outstanding than anyone, and only the finest man is worthy of you! Before, when you ntioned him, I saw a gleam in your eyes, so you may deceive others, but not yourself—you like him!"
Princess Nianxi kept her head low, silent.
Inside, soone chuckled softly: "Do you think I’m joking? You don’t realize every word I said ca from the heart. I truly want to match you, for you are a perfect pair!"
Nianxi’s body trembled slightly, as if a certain tender spot inside was touched. She suddenly raised her head, looking towards the opposite carriage: "Princess, he’s unlikely to return! And besides, he won’t fall for —his wife is already pregnant!"
Inside the carriage, the Daliang Princess’s peerless face trembled violently, and a fierce glint flashed in her eyes!
Years ago, due to an accident, a practice mishap caused her mory loss, leading to an encounter with Qi Yun, and eventually giving birth to that child.
The child was adorable, though newly born and wrinkled. She could see already that he would be a stunningly handso man in the future.
Yet, she did not like this child!
Her roots lay in Daliang. She longed to achieve great ambitions, lead Daliang warriors to conquer Dazhou, and overrun Capital City to make Dazhou’s vast lands part of Daliang!
But fate made a fool of her—she ended up as Dazhou’s Imperial Concubine!
Ha-ha, laughable, truly laughable!
Thus, when she regained her mory for a mont, seeing the child in her arms and recalling those years, she felt an urge to strangle the child to death.
Yet she couldn’t harden her heart, ultimately handing the child to a guard, instructing him to take the child away and raise him sowhere in the countryside.
So many years have passed, she’s almost forgotten this child. Unexpectedly, he grew to a remarkable degree!
To her, this could now be useful.
So she sent Nianxi to Dazhou to bring him back.
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