Qin Wan and Yan Chi looked at each other and frowned at the same time.
That Xiu'er's hand became bloody after being tortured, why is Jin Fei's hand like this? Could it be King Jin
As soon as this thought came out, Yan Chi frowned and said, "Did you see that?"
Yan Sui was still sobbing, and said in a childish voice, "I... what I saw..."
Qin Wan couldn't bear it anymore, "Your Highness, where were you when the accident happened that day?"
Maybe it was Qin Wan who wiped his tears just now, but Yan Sui glanced at Qin Wan without feeling scared, "That night...that night I went to the palace banquet with my mother, but, mother and concubine did not arrive, and as a result... "
Saying this, Yan Sui's expression changed, but he buried his head on Yan Chi's shoulder and wept sadly, and stopped talking.
Seeing this, Qin Wan sighed, "Don't be afraid, Your Highness, it's over, it's over..."
While talking, an elderly nanny with a hand warmer in her hand suddenly ran up not far away. The nanny seemed to be looking for someone, and when she saw Yan Sui in Yan Chi's arms, she immediately moved towards her come over.
"I pay my respects to His Highness Shizi, His Highness Ninth Prince suddenly disappeared, so it's easy for servants to find."
Seeing this nanny coming, Yan Sui turned around and wanted to be hugged by her, Yan Chi then handed Yan Sui out.
"How can he be outside alone in such a cold day?"
The nanny stroked Yan Sui's back distressedly, and then said with self-reproach, "Your Highness said he wanted to come out to see the snow, and the servant girl accompanied His Highness out. After leaving Shoukang Palace, he felt that it was too cold outside, so he asked His Highness to wait outside. The servant went to get the stove, but when she came out again, she found that His Highness was gone, and the servant found it along the way to the Imperial Garden..."
Yan Sui hugged Nanny's shoulders, and it was obvious that he had great trust in Nanny, Yan Chi stared and said, "Take him back quickly, it's so cold outside, and he's crying too, don't let him catch a cold."
The nanny hurriedly blessed herself, then carried Yan Sui in her arms, and hurried to Shoukang Palace.
Yan Chi and Qin Wan walked unhurriedly, only to see that Yan Sui's little head was buried on Mammy's shoulder and never lifted up.
Qin Wan squinted her eyes, and said in a cold voice, "Your Highness Jiu lost his mother at a young age, it's really pitiful." Qin Wan couldn't help but said, "Do you think it's strange? What His Highness just said was that Concubine Jin died Sometimes your hand hurts."
After a pause, Qin Wan said again, "Also, why did everyone in the palace say that Concubine Su killed Concubine Jin?"
Hearing this, Yan Chi slowed down his pace by two minutes, "It's indeed a bit strange. When I returned to the capital, this incident had just come to an end. At first I only asked about the incident, but later I was sent to the south by urgent order, so I only I left someone to inquire about the details, and I received the news about a month later, and I found almost nothing I wanted to check. I had chatted with you about this case several times before, and I knew very little about it at the time."
Qin Wan paused, "You didn't find anything?"
Yan Chi said casually, "After King Jin was imprisoned, none of them were found, but I heard about the incident that day after I returned to Beijing. In addition, I asked someone to inquire about it, and even asked about it after I came back. Mother Chen, so I still know a little bit now."
"That day, the Empress held a palace banquet for the female family members. In addition to the concubines in the palace, there were also several wives and ladies from the Duke's Mansion and the Hou's Mansion. On the same night, the Emperor also held a banquet in the outer court. Princes and princes, how many other guests are there? The courtiers are all in line, the banquet in the outer court ended early, but the banquet in the inner garden is about to start but there is no concubine Shu."
"His Royal Highness Jiu was young and was taken to the banquet in the inner garden. Seeing that his mother and concubine hadn't come for a long time, she clamored to go back and look for it. The queen was worried, so she sent a few palace servants to take His Royal Highness Jiu to Concubine Jin's Yongning Palace. , went back to Yongning Palace, but was told that Concubine Jin had gone to Hanguang Hall and hadn’t returned for a long time, and the servants went to Hanguang Palace with Ninth Prince, and just outside Hanguang Hall, they saw Concubine Jin lying in a pool of blood, And the King of Jin was standing next to Concubine Jin's body with the dagger that stabbed Concubine Jin to death."
Qin Wan stopped completely. This was the first time that Qin Wan heard the complete story of the crime from Yan Chi. Before that, she knew that King Jin was caught in full view, but she didn't expect it to be such a person. reason.
"King Jin is standing next to Concubine Jin's body with a dagger?"
Yan Chi nodded, "That's right. At that time, the court ladies were all in chaos. His Highness the Ninth Prince burst into tears, and then attracted the forbidden army in the palace. After the queen heard the news, the palace banquet was over and the palace people rushed to Yongning Palace, and then the emperor also rushed to Yongning Palace." Come over, everyone rushed over, Concubine Jin was already cold, King Jin drank wine that night, when asked, he only said that he accidentally broke into this place when he was slightly drunk, saw Concubine Jin being stabbed, so he picked it up The dagger wanted to save Concubine Jin, but was discovered at this time."
Qin Wan raised her eyebrows, "There are no attendants in Yongning Palace? What about the maids around Concubine Jin? What do they know?"
Yan Chi immediately said, "This is also the most strange thing. At that time, Concubine Jin's attendants were all left in the main hall by Concubine Jin... Hanguang Palace is the side hall closest to the west of Yongning Palace, not Concubine Jin's bedroom. Every day, only the jewelry, calligraphy and paintings collected by Concubine Jin are kept, but that night Concubine Jin came to Hanguang Palace alone, and no one followed her before she came. Because of this, no one knew what happened that night. Although Yongning Palace has a main entrance , but the main entrance only leads directly to the main hall, while the other side halls extend in all directions, no one knows how King Jin got to the front of the Hanguang Hall, but he is holding the murder weapon in full view."
As Yan Chi said, his voice sank, "The King of Jin was imprisoned in the sky prison that night, and later died in the sky prison."
Qin Wan frowned, "According to what you said, how could Concubine Jin's finger be injured? Could it be that she was cut by a dagger while struggling?" Qin Wan subconsciously thought of this, but she didn't see it with her own eyes, so she didn't know the wound What does the injury look like, and now, let alone an autopsy or visit the scene of the crime.
Yan Chi was not an eyewitness either, and shook his head, "Of course this cannot be determined, because the case was born in the inner palace, so in fact the whole case cannot be judged by common theory. The case was later handed over to Dali Temple Minister Shen Yi, because it involved the royal family. This matter involved a favorite concubine and a prince, so the emperor ordered a quick decision."
Qin Wan knew in her heart that King Jin had been drinking that day and was found to have killed Concubine Jin. There were many rumors in the palace. The king wanted to belittle Concubine Jin so that he would not be able to kill him. In short, Concubine Jin was dead, and many blames were naturally pointed at King Jin. At that time, his father was frowning when he took the case, and it was difficult to deal with the royal scandal involved in his words. Fearing that this matter would cause disturbances, he continued to intervene and exert pressure, and finally his father's face became more and more sad.
"Concubine Jin entered the palace seven years ago. She is the youngest concubine in the entire palace. Because of her appearance and temperament, the emperor likes her. Two years later, she was named a concubine. Later, she gave birth to the Ninth Prince, and she was even more favored. Before Concubine Jin, Concubine Su was the most favored. Although Concubine Jin's appearance did not make Concubine Su fall out of favor, it took away Concubine Su's original favor. Therefore, Concubine Su and Concubine Jin had a bit of a rivalry earlier. In other words, after the case was settled, someone said that King Jin never went to the harem on weekdays, and then said that both Concubine Jin and King Jin might have been framed..."
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes, "Anyway, once Concubine Jin dies, the one who benefits is naturally Concubine Su, so there are rumors that Concubine Su killed Concubine Jin?"
Yan Chi nodded, Qin Wan smiled wryly again, "But King Jin committed suicide in fear of crime."
Yan Chi's eyes were fixed, "I always feel that it is impossible for King Jin to commit suicide in fear of crime."
"I remember you said that King Jin's temperament is indifferent, and he has no intention of being a big man."
Yan Chi nodded, "That's true, because he is not the eldest son of the imperial concubine. Even so, he is also a diligent person, but he is diligent in doing all the errands assigned by the emperor. Because of this, he is very popular in the court. In the name of virtue, and he has no support from his relatives, so even if he has no intention of becoming a prince, there are still some voices in the court to make him a prince, but he doesn't care. Another point is that his temperament is mellow and honest. It's a bit hard to twist, because of this, I always feel that he will not commit suicide in fear of crime. According to his temperament, if he really did it, he will just admit it honestly and be judged by Dali Temple. "
Qin Wan took a deep breath and didn't answer for a moment.
She doesn't know Concubine Jin or King Jin. Apart from being sure that her father will not cheat for personal gain, she has only a vague understanding of everything else. Qin Wan clearly understands that it is impossible to find out the case by relying on this. of.
"What's the matter? Thinking about Shen Yi's case again?"
When Qin Wan came back to her senses, she saw Yan Chi looking at her with concern in her eyes, and Qin Wan held her lips, "I haven't thought of that yet, the case of Concubine Jin is the cause, I was too far away from the capital, so it's probably because of Master Shen's ending , I also questioned whether Mrs. Shen was really covering up for selfishness, but now that I entered the palace, especially after hearing what His Royal Highness said just now, I immediately felt that the case of Concubine Jin seemed to be full of doubts. Why did Concubine Jin retreat when she went to Hanguang Palace that night? Others? Could it be that she has an appointment with King Jin?"
"There are such rumors in the palace." Yan Chi nodded.
Qin Wan breathed out, "So, these are all suspicious points, but because the concubine and the prince are involved in the case, whether I can tell the world has been covered up, and I am just questioning in vain."
From Yan Chi's point of view, Qin Wan originally had the heart to explore the truth of everything. Now that such obvious doubts are in front of him, even he finds it strange, let alone Qin Wan. Yan Chi understands very well, " This matter is already taboo in the palace. Although we can't make inquiries with great fanfare, if I have any news here, I will let you know. I don't know Concubine Jin, but King Jin is my elder brother whom I have known since childhood. As long as I can find out, I will definitely find out the reason."
Qin Wan's heart is slightly settled, but there is a faint worry, this case is tricky and difficult to distinguish, if Yan Chi has the heart to explore, once the emperor finds out, won't it bring trouble for him
"Investigate and investigate, but don't let the emperor know."
Seeing Qin Wan say this, Yan Chi laughed, "Now you are the one who reminded me? Don't worry, I know."
Qin Wan nodded, forcing himself to calm down.
The father's case is more complicated than any case she has seen before. One case is one case after another, and the crux of her father's wrongdoing is not known at the moment. Whether it is King Jin who was wronged or someone else Wanting to exonerate King Jin but blaming his father? Qin Wan felt that there was a lot of fog in front of her eyes, but the truth was still far away from her.
"It's windy outside, let's go back quickly."
Yan Chi said something again, Qin Wan nodded and headed towards Shoukang Palace, while walking Qin Wan looked up at Yan Chi for a moment, if it was someone else, Qin Wan would ask that person to help with the old case, but Facing Yan Chi, she just wanted to calm down and plan step by step. The ending of Xiu'er just now would definitely not be good, and she saw the cruel side of this palace again.
"I don't know if His Highness Ninth Prince will speak out."
After walking a few more steps, Qin Wan suddenly opened his mouth, and Yan Chi seemed to sigh softly, "It shouldn't be. Children who grew up in the palace are more thoughtful than others since they were young. It has been a few months since the incident happened. He I had a good time in Shoukang Palace."
Qin Wan nodded, "That's good—"
Speaking of which, Yan Chi turned his eyes to look at Qin Wan, "Are you scared?"
Qin Wan laughed when he heard the words, "I'm not His Highness the Ninth Prince."
Yan Chi said in a gentle voice, "You are pure in nature, you never thought you would be like this in the palace, not to mention how different you are from a child in my eyes? If it is possible, I don't want you to see these things. .”
Qin Wan's smile deepened. When Yan Chi said this, he actually treated her like a child, which made her face slightly hot for a while.
"Don't worry, I just haven't seen it, and it's not that I didn't think about it." Qin Wan squinted his eyes again, "Do you know why I like to read the stories in the picture books above the prison?"
Yan Chi looked at her, "Why?"
Qin Wan bent her lips, "Because these stories, although they have an absurd or horrifying appearance, in the end, they are all about humanity and human hearts. The people in the stories have their own stories, and every time they read it, people will be born." After a lot of daydreams, although I have seen little about the world in this palace, I am not ignorant of it. The more prosperous the place, the more filthy it is, the more frightening every step. Some people are greedy, some are fearful, and some are struggling. Climbing up, some people are stepped down, some are for power, some are for sincerity, everyone has a different fate." Qin Wan looked at Yan Chi, "Including you and me."
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan, "Your rhetoric made me really think you were reading Buddhist scriptures."
Qin Wan smiled and said, "Don't I have one?"
"You said just now that you were influenced by that grandmother in Jinzhou. You only found out after hearing her recite the Buddha's name, but I know that your grandmother treated you badly in the past. heart, let alone you."
Qin Wan's smile deepened by two points, "No wonder the emperor asked you to be the servant of the Ministry of Punishment."
The two of them went to Shoukang Palace while talking, and after a while, Shoukang Palace was close at hand.
The two entered the palace gate and went straight to the inner hall, only to see that the Queen Mother had finished taking the medicine and fell asleep, Yan Li was still with the Queen Mother, and His Highness Ninth Prince was also sitting beside Yan Li obediently, completely different from the little baby who had just been frightened and crying .
"It's getting late, and I have finished explaining the medicine and diet of the Empress Dowager. I should leave the palace and go back to my residence. I will enter the palace again at this time tomorrow to ask for the pulse of the Empress Dowager."
Qin Wan didn't intend to stay in the palace any longer, seeing that he had done everything he had to do, he offered to leave.
Seeing this, Yan Li stood up and said, "Ninth Miss is leaving, then Seventh Brother and I will also go, so we can see Ninth Miss for a ride." Then he looked at Yan Chi, "What did the Emperor tell Seventh Brother?"
Yan Chi handed the booklet given by the emperor to Yan Li, Yan Li opened it, and his eyes lit up, "You were allowed to stay in the Ministry of Punishment, so you don't have to go back to Shuoxi!" He waved, "Great, Seventh Brother, let's go. Today I will take you to see several gold-selling caves in the capital. Since you stay in the capital, you will have to go often in the future!"
Hearing this, Qin Wan looked at Yan Chi with black and white eyes, and Yan Chi frowned, "I've been out of shape all day, let me meet the emperor tomorrow, and ask him to give you some errands for you to do. "
Yan Chi's expression was serious, Yan Li smiled and dared not be presumptuous, "Forget it, Prince Gong's mansion doesn't worry about food or drink, so what else do I have to do?" Saying this, he said goodbye to Nanny Chen.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager had rested, Mother Chen didn't stay with a few people, and because she followed Yan Chi, she was very relieved of Qin Wan.
In this way, Qin Wan followed Yan Chi and Yan Li out of Shoukang Palace.
…
…
"His Royal Highness, there is news that His Majesty has asked His Royal Highness Chi to join the Ministry of Punishment and take the position of the left servant of the Ministry of Punishment."
He Yin, the number one counselor of the East Palace, strode in from the outside, speaking at a slightly dignified speed, Yan Che raised his eyes from the desk, and only narrowed his phoenix eyes after a while, "So, Father is not going to let He's back in Shuoxi."
He Yin nodded, "That's exactly what he meant. The Minister of the Ministry of Punishment had already intended to retire and return to his hometown. The officials guessed that the emperor wanted His Highness Chi to stay in the Ministry of Punishment. As for Shuoxi, there should be no major changes in the past two years. , and there is no need for His Royal Highness to return to Shuoxi."
Yan Che listened and nodded, but then said, "But the Shuoxi army has been in Uncle Rui's hands for a long time, guess what the father means this time, is he only wanting Yan Chi to stay in the capital, or is it because of Shuoxi's intentions?" Western Army?"
He Yin pondered for a while, "I don't dare to speculate on the holy will. The Shuoxi Army will change people sooner or later. Right now, His Highness is not the first to consider. His Highness Cheng Wang is more anxious than us. Now, the person we need to win over is It is Your Highness Chi."
Yan Che raised his chin slightly, "Yan Chi has not been involved in the court for many years. Before that, Qin Yan tried to contact Yan Chi, but Yan Chi neither refused nor expressed his position. His attitude was very ambiguous."
He Yin shook his head hurriedly, "At that time, His Highness Chi didn't know if he could go back to Shuoxi, but now it has a result, which is naturally different. Why don't His Highness start to win over from now on?"
He Yin said again, "Besides, I know that His Highness Chi and the Zhongyonghou's Mansion are also somewhat related, especially the Ninth Girl. Because of the Taichang Princess, the Ninth Girl was delayed when she came to Beijing." Your Highness's escort."
"The Ninth Girl of the Qin Mansion?" Yan Che's eyes narrowed again when Qin Wan was mentioned.
He Yin nodded, "His Royal Highness, after the first lunar month, your concubine selection will be put on the agenda. At that time, the ladies from the Duke's and Hou's families in Beijing, and the ladies from the General's family It's all possible, but we already have General Fuguo and General Zhao, so the Zhongyonghou Mansion is still a better choice for you. Since we are destined to get closer to the Qin Mansion, why not take advantage of the Nine Girls and General Zhao? His Highness Chi's relationship?"
Yan Che frowned, "The nine girls of the Qin family are not ordinary. They can be adopted by the aunt as a righteous granddaughter, and they can also win the favor of the emperor with medical skills. She has only been back to Beijing for ten days, but she is already famous in the capital... She rescued her last night." The emperor's grandmother seems to be her last resort, but she is the one who benefits in the end, this palace thinks about this, and I have some concerns."
He Yin raised his eyebrows, "But I saw that Ninth Girl from a distance last night. That Ninth Girl looks soft and quiet, not like someone who has a plan and a big picture."
Yan Che sneered when he heard the words, "A person with a soft appearance must be a person who follows the rules and has a pure temperament? Isn't there a best example in this palace?"
He Yin hurriedly said, "Then... even if the picture of the nine girls is not small, it should be the picture of His Royal Highness, right?"
Yan Che shook his head, "She is not from the Hou's mansion, and now she must know the Hou's mansion's plan for Chao Yu, if she does not know the heights of the heavens and the earth and wants to get ahead of Chao Yu, how can she be the one who will succeed? On the contrary, the palace and the Hou's mansion will be separated." A rift arose."
He Yin pursed his lips, and said, "If that's the case, let's not consider the remonstrance of the next official."
Yan Che sighed, and asked again, "The person behind the bribery spies hasn't been found yet?"
He Yin shook his head, "Not yet, the other party dared to do this. Naturally, he was born with a face. I'm afraid it will be difficult to find out this time."
Yan Che's eyes darkened, and he didn't speak for a while, He Yin didn't dare to say more when he saw this, and said, "It's already past noon, and His Royal Highness hasn't eaten yet, why don't you order someone to prepare some food for you, Would you like to use some before continuing to read the booklet?"
Yan Chi nodded casually, and He Yin gave a salute before retreating.
Yan Chi's eyes were hidden in the dim light for a moment of contemplation, and then he picked up the pen to look at the memorial in hand. Not long after, a faint sound of footsteps accompanied by a faint fragrance came in front of Yan Che, and then a delicate voice sounded stand up.
"Your Highness, it's time for you to eat."
Yan Che nodded, then walked to the couch next to the window, just as he sat down, he saw this beautiful maidservant in green clothes coming forward with a food box, and the maidservant neatly set out the food and drink , poured another glass of wine and brought it to Yan Che, Yan Che frowned, "It's sunny, why did you prepare wine?"
The servant girl hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please calm down, this is for His Highness to warm up, if His Highness doesn't like it, the servant girl will leave."
Yan Che glanced at the maidservant, only to see that the maidservant's head was hanging low, revealing her slender neck, while her neckline was loose, and because of her drooping head, a little whiteness appeared on her chest, Yan Che frowned, "Forget it, put down the wine glass, you back down!"
The voice fell, but the maidservant in Tsing Yi didn't retreat, instead she stepped forward. For a moment, the fragrance on her body became stronger, and she held the wine glass to Yan Che's side, "This servant is here to serve Your Highness for a meal, Your Highness, please—"
Yan Che was already a little upset, and was about to raise his hand to take the wine cup, but saw the maid let go, and a glass of wine was poured on his lapel. Before he could respond, the maid gave him a soft cry with both hands. Touching her chest, Yan Che frowned, got up and pushed the maidservant to the ground, "Presumptuous! Who chose you?!"
As he spoke, he raised his voice to the outside, "Come here—"
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please forgive me. This servant just wants to serve Your Highness for dinner."
The maidservant in Tsing Yi got up and begged for mercy. Outside, He Yin and Tang Fu, the manager of the East Palace, walked in together. When they saw the servant on the ground and the cup that fell on the ground, they immediately understood. He waved his hand at the door, and soon two eunuchs came in and dragged the maid out.
"Your Highness, please forgive me!"
Yan Che's angry eyes were gloomy, "In broad daylight, people actually sent people to come to this palace. How did you do it?"
Tang Fu hurriedly fell to his knees, "A few more maids have been sent to the empress these days, slave..."
Yan Che waved his hand, "Even the person sent by the empress should know the rules of the palace, not to mention, this person is so courageous, it is not known whether the empress sent it, go and check it for the palace!"
Tang Fu nodded hastily, "Yes, I will check this person's background when I go down."
Yan Che coldly glanced at Tang Fu again, looked at the wine stains on the front of his clothes, and felt extremely unlucky, so he patted his clothes and reprimanded, "Get out, get out, get out—"
Tang Fu hurriedly went out to deal with the maid, He Yin apologized and said with a smile, "Your Highness calm down, why don't you order someone to send another copy?"
Yan Che snorted coldly, "If you don't eat, I'm still in the mood?!"
Saying that, Yan Che glanced at the sky outside, seeing that it was still early, Yan Che glanced at the mess on the couch again, he was restless, he didn't want to stay here, and was about to go out, but suddenly thought of He said something like, "Go out and give an order, I have to go out of the palace."
He Yin was slightly surprised, "Where is Your Highness going?"
Yan Che raised his jaw, "Zhongyonghou's Mansion."