Chapter 7 The Queen’s Decision
"No wonder, no wonder you pulled out Lady Ji as a shield in the beginning and concluded that she was the murderer, and now you persuade me not to check the maids around the imperial concubine." Xie Huaichu was still confused, "But why? This is not because the officials want Dali Temple to take over The case is about the official’s favorite concubine, why don’t we find out the truth?”
Xue Zhong smiled and shook his head: "You are so upright that you are a bit silly. No wonder, you were born in the Xie family, which has a deep family background, and you are cared for by your parents, relatives and friends. You have never seen anything dirty even when you are old enough to be crowned."< br>
He stood up, approached Xie Huaichu and whispered: "Don't blame me for not reminding you. This case is not really for you to find out who is the murderer. In fact, it is just a step down for the officials. If you really want to find out the murderer, pull out the carrot belt If it’s covered in mud, the whole harem might be bathed in blood!”
"But that is Concubine Shu. The official family and Concubine Shu have a deep friendship..."
Xue Zhong smiled: "Friendship? Can friendship be water to drink or food to eat? If everyone is gone, what kind of friendship is there? Didn't you see that as soon as the queen mentioned that it was related to the reputation of the official family, the official family immediately put that Friendship is forgotten? ”
Xie Huaichu suddenly felt powerless. It turned out that the dedication of a low-ranking official like him was nothing to the superiors. It turns out that what the superiors value is not what is right or wrong, but what matters is gains and losses.
Seeing Xie Huaichu's shocked look, Xue Zhong said: "That's it. If you really want to investigate, I can't stop you. I'm just reminding you to stop in moderation and not to overdo it!"
Xie Huaichu responded and handed the evidence he compiled to Xue Zhong. Xue Zhong originally disagreed with him to continue the investigation and wanted to close the case directly. But looking at Xie Huaichu's serious and persistent look, he suddenly remembered that when he was young, he also had the youthful spirit of asking for the truth, so he agreed to Xie Huaichu's continued investigation, but asked him to report the follow-up details to him.
Xie Huaichu told Ji Yutang his conversation with Xue Zhong and Xue Zhong's advice. Ji Yutang was shocked: "Xue Zhong is not a fool?"
Xie Huaichu nodded: "He actually understands everything in his heart! It was only after listening to his words that I determined that he had been pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger."
While talking, Xie Huaichu handed the ointment, cotton cloth and other items to Ji Yutang and helped her re-bandage the wound.
"Then I know why he insisted that I was the murderer, because he felt that the case of the imperial concubine was involved in the harem struggle, and it was probably related to the empress, the concubine and other high-ranking concubines, so he simply made me a murderer. The scapegoat took care of this." Ji Yutang was angry.
Xie Huaichu also felt that this was done unfairly. He really didn't like Xue Zhong, but because of Xue Zhong's status, he could only tolerate it or even praise him. Even if Xue Zhong said something that seemed to be from the bottom of his heart today, Xie Huaichu did not change his view of Xue Zhong and did not agree with each other.
And Xie Huaichu had another idea. He thought about why Xue Zhong said these "confidential" words to him. After thinking of Xue Zhong's uncle Zhao Huaibang, Xie Huaichu understood that Xue Zhong wanted to win over the Xie family! His father Xie Zhen is about to take over as the Minister of Household Affairs, and Zhao Huaibang's archrival Wang Xuan has been trying to contact his father recently. If Wang Xuan gets his father's support, Zhao Huaibang's position as prime minister will be in jeopardy!
Ji Yutang listened to Xie Huaichu's analysis and nodded in agreement: "You're right, this man is like an onion, peeling off layer after layer. Now he takes the initiative to show you this layer. Who knows what's going on behind the scenes? What does it look like? You should still be wary of him in the future.”
Xie Huaichu agreed, but he was a little hesitant: "Xue Zhong has a lot of thoughts, but he is right about one thing. I am just too stupid. I know clearly that there are various forces involved in this case, but I still want to find out the truth. .”
At the beginning, it was a young man with a clear breeze and a bright moon, but now he is a man who has gone through hardships and is half dead.
Ji Yutang comforted him: "How can this be called stupid? Is it wrong to find out the truth for the dead? That's what you should do! The world is like this, full of intrigues and uncertainties, and many people follow interests. . But if there isn’t someone as innocent, confident, and determined as you. If so, then this world is really terrible, okay?" She smiled again, her eyes sparkling: "Speaking of which, I am very lucky to have met you. Mr. If it were anyone else, they would have long ago not cared about my life or death.”
Xie Huaichu sneered: "Yes, yes, I am kind and soft-hearted, that's why you used the secret to control me and didn't kill you." After that, he waved his fist and lowered his hand feebly.
"Hey, don't be like this. I am helpless. Please forgive me, sir. I will help you find out your life experience in the future. I will go wherever you point me." Ji Yutang clasped his hands and begged, disrupting Xie Huaichu's peaceful life. , she is really guilty.
When Xie Huai first saw her pitiful appearance, he found it funny and felt a little better. Knowing the truth is a blessing and a curse. Perhaps it is also beneficial for him to know his life experience in advance.
"Okay, now that everything is ready, it's time to catch the real murderer and let you out." Xie Huaichu was confident.
In the Ciyuan Hall, Queen Wang Qin is sitting in front of the dressing table with her eyes closed and concentrating. Behind her, the hairdresser Zhang Sixu is carefully combing her hair.
When Leng Xiang came in with a plate of sweet-scented osmanthus cake, Zhang Sizhui had already arranged Wang Qin's updo and was choosing hair accessories.
"Just put on a phoenix hairpin." Wang Qin ordered, then looked at Leng Xiang in the mirror and asked, "Have you heard everything?"
Lengxiang put down the sweet-scented osmanthus cake and took over the work from Zhang Sishi. She waved her hand, and Zhang Sishi and the maids took notice and left.
"Let's find out clearly." Leng Xiang picked up a delicate phoenix hairpin and placed it on Wang Qin's temple. "The boy from the Xie family has been raised to such a degree that it's hard to explain! Although Xie Zhen's one is a side branch, the background is there. After all, he comes from a big family. , but he only taught his children benevolence, justice, propriety and wisdom, and did not care about scheming, so he raised his legitimate son to be so innocent. It would be fine if he came from a noble family. The Xie family is a noble family. What future can he have for raising such an innocent child? "
With a "pop" sound, Wang Qin slammed the dressing table, causing a box of pearls to jump wildly. She closed her eyes, and there was anger that could not be hidden in her eyebrows: "When I saw that child last night, I could tell at a glance that although he had a cool demeanor, he had no authority. Xie Zhen is really a good person. Father! Does he want to raise this child to be a waste?”
Leng Xiang comforted Wang Qin: "Your Majesty, please calm down. This is already the case. There's nothing you can do if you get angry again. Fortunately, there is still room for recovery. Let's guide you secretly."
Wang Qin was still full of anger: "Shameless thing Xie Zhen! Since I agreed to raise this child, why did I treat him like this? I thought he was still thinking about the old relationship, but I didn't expect that he was deliberately retaliating against me! Leng Xiang , he is taking revenge on me for exchanging his and that bitch’s child!”
Leng Xiang hurriedly poured a glass of mead for Wang Qin to drink, and said seriously: "Mother, please don't get angry again. Wasn't it Xie Zhen who proposed the exchange of children in the first place? After all, it was his child, so why would he want to take revenge on you? What? I think it’s because Xie Zhen is useless. You see, it took him all these years to get to the position of minister. Doesn't this mean that his abilities are limited? Moreover, his wife was born in a businessman and was so short-sighted that she didn't know how to raise children, so she raised the child now. This look.”
After listening to Leng Xiang's consolation, Wang Qin barely suppressed his anger and said, "Okay, if Xie Zhen can't raise a child, I'll raise it!"
Leng Xiang didn't answer anymore, because she didn't agree in her heart. She is now the queen and the mother of the country, and her every move is in the eyes of others. Since you chose to enter the palace in the first place, you should cut off everything. But it's not surprising that she was worried. After all, she had gone through many dangers to give birth to this child. In addition, she had been in the palace for many years and had nothing to do. She thought about this child day and night. How could she give up so easily?
(End of chapter)