Chapter 223: Experience Makes One Wiser
Chapter 223: Experience Makes One Wiser
Lu Yuan emerged from the Bright Palace, only to hear a cold voice from above, "Why didn't you directly tell the Retired Emperor who you suspect?"
Lu Yuan glanced up at the figure standing on the tree branch and smirked, "Don't you also have your suspicions? Why don't you go in and speak up?"
Chenlong, expressionless, replied, "Why should I speak without evidence?"
Lu Yuan smiled, "So, you want me to go in and tell him?"
Chenlong said, "Yes."
Lu Yuan was speechless.
This guy... he really had some nerve!
Lu Yuan asked, "Who allowed you into the palace?"
Chenlong answered truthfully, "The Prime Minister."
Lu Yuan mocked, "I thought you weren't his spy?"
Chenlong said, "I don't need to explain myself to you."
Lu Yuan said with a hint of mischief, "Sure, go ahead and report then."
Chenlong left.
Yu Zichuan appeared and watched Chenlong's departing figure, asking, "Should I kill him?"
Lu Yuan glanced at him, "You talk as if you could."
Yu Zichuan took out a poison toad bottle, "I have this."
Lu Yuan's mouth twitched, "Where did you get this?"
Yu Zichuan replied seriously, "Bao Shu gave it to me. She has plenty of them. Didn't she give you one?"
Lu Yuan's face darkened.
He turned his cold gaze towards Chenlong.
Chenlong didn't turn back but seemed to sense Lu Yuan's stare. He arrogantly raised three poison toad bottles.
Yu Zichuan furrowed his handsome brows, "Bao Shu gave him three bottles."
Lu Yuan said, "...You little brat!"
---
At the Governor's Mansion.
With the Imperial Wedding approaching, it meant that Zhou Nanyan would soon enter the palace. Meng Qianqian was busy preparing a wedding gift for her.
Suddenly, a maid reported that Miss Zhou, Miss Lin, and Miss Wang had come to visit.
Meng Qianqian quickly put away her half-finished gift, "Please come in!"
The three ladies entered the room.
Meng Qianqian hurriedly invited them to sit and offered them fresh fruits, "You must be hot. Have some fruit."
Zhou Nanyan happily took a bite, "Sister Meng, we came unannounced. I hope we didn't disturb you?"
Meng Qianqian smiled, "I'm delighted to see you."
She looked at Wang Rou's blushing face, "Sister Rou, how is your mother's health?"
Wang Rou, shy, replied, "My mother is well, just afraid of the heat."
Meng Qianqian said, "Pregnancy often makes one feel hot. I just received a bolt of silk fabric, it's very breathable and cool. Later, you can take it back and have the seamstress make some clothes for your mother."
The fabric was from Yun Xi Yao, and no one knew where she got it, but it was better than the silk fabric in the palace.
Wang Rou wanted to decline.
Zhou Nanyan held her arm, "It's a kind gesture from Sister Meng. Sister Wang, please accept it. At most, after the baby is born, let Sister Meng hold him first!"
Meng Qianqian smiled and nodded, "There's no rush. You'll have your own children soon."
Zhou Nanyan laughed, "Then, in the future, our children will be the first ones you hold!"
"Sister Yan!" Wang Rou turned into a shy mimosa.
Lin Xiaoru said, "I probably won't have children."
Zhou Nanyan curiously asked, "Why?"
Lin Xiaoru seriously replied, "I don't want to."
If any other girl said this, Zhou Nanyan would have argued, but Lin Xiaoru was different from other girls. She had her independent thoughts.
Zhou Nanyan said, "But children are so adorable."
Lin Xiaoru said, "Then I'll just hold yours, won't that be fine?"
Zhou Nanyan: Hmm... that does make some sense.
Zhou Nanyan sighed, "See, Sister Lin doesn't talk much, but every time I argue with her, I can't win."
Meng Qianqian and Wang Rou were amused by Zhou Nanyan's words.
Zhou Nanyan changed the topic, "Meng Jie, have you heard that the Chu family's case might be reopened for investigation?"
Meng Qianqian was surprised, "Really?"
"Yes!"
Zhou Nanyan nodded seriously, "My second brother just came back from Aunt Xing's house. He heard from her that there's a strong rumor outside that Chu Damingyuan's death wasn't caused by Chu Madam, but by Shen Hou, who colluded with others to frame and harm the Chu family. However, the Retired Emperor has a condition—Lu Yuan must ensure that the Imperial Wedding proceeds smoothly; otherwise, he won't reopen the case for Chu Madam."
Meng Qianqian was aware of Shen Hou's involvement, and the news had indeed spread from Lu Yuan.
What she didn't understand was, why would Lu Yuan suddenly want to reopen the case for her?
Could it be that he had discovered she was Chu Madam?
Impossible, she was sure she hadn't revealed any flaws in front of him.
Even if she had, who would believe such a bizarre story of rebirth?
Zhou Nanyan, unaware of Meng Qianqian's distraction, continued, "Aunt Xing also said that when it comes to investigating cases, Lu Yuan is no less skilled than Uncle Xing. The Jin Yi Wei of those years weren't vegetarians! However, Lu Yuan has some connections with the Twelve Guards, so to avoid any suspicion, the Supreme Court will most likely be in charge of reinvestigating the case."
Both the Supreme Court and the Capital Prefecture were under the influence of Xun Prime Minister. Minister Xing had always maintained a neutral stance, so assigning him to the investigation would not only avoid suspicion but also ensure the utmost fairness and justice in the case.
However, this meant that the Imperial Wedding might not go as smoothly as planned.
After all, the Retired Emperor's condition was to guarantee a smooth wedding. If the real culprit behind the scenes didn't want the case reinvestigated, they would find a way to disrupt the wedding.
The Retired Emperor was using the Imperial Wedding to lure the snake out of its hole.
Meng Qianqian sighed sincerely, "Experience truly makes one wiser."
In the evening, Meng Qianqian made a trip to Feng Shui Alley.
"You want me to secretly protect Miss Yao?"
Si She asked.
The three of them sat in the main hall. It was hot, and the breeze blowing through the house carried a scorching heat.
Meng Qianqian nodded, "That's right. I've thought it through. If someone wants to disrupt the wedding, the most effective way is to make the bride disappear."
Si She also wanted all those who harmed Chu Damingyuan to pay the price, and for now, their goal aligned with that of the Governor's Mansion.
"Alright, I agree."
Ji Li fanned herself with a folding fan, "Forget it, I'll go too."
Meng Qianqian said, "You can't go."
Ji Li frowned, "Why not?"
Meng Qianqian pouted, "Why don't you have a clue? I'm afraid that if he doesn't make a move, you'll jinx the bride first."
Ji Li angrily said, "You—"
Si She, having calmed down, said, "She's right. When you're with her, you really are unlucky."
Ji Li was furious, "You eat with me, live with me, and then stab me in the back like this?"
Si She, maintaining her composure, said, "If you hadn't lost my traveling funds, would I have nothing to eat or nowhere to stay?"
Ji Li: "..."
"In all these years, only Chu Madam could withstand your bad luck. Even the Great General was sometimes affected."
Si She was also puzzled. Chu Damingyuan had taken Ji Li on many campaigns, and nothing had happened to her. But strangely, whenever they returned to the camp, something would go wrong—the bed would collapse, the tent would be blown away by the wind, or the servants would forget to remove the needles from his shoe soles.
"You almost made me suspect that there were two Great Generals."
Meng Qianqian cleared her throat with a cough.
Si She thought for a moment, then asked Meng Qianqian, "When you were with him, weren't you unlucky too?"
Meng Qianqian weakly took out two silver ingots, "I just picked these up at the door. They're not gold, is that not unlucky?"
Si She: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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