Xue Baochai smiled slightly. "It's mainly because my brother works in the Imperial City Department. When I was a child, I often went to the Imperial City Department to play with him. After a while, I became familiar with the people in the Imperial City Department. Then, it was natural for me to join the Imperial City Department."
Song Qingshu looked at her noncommittally. "Since Miss Xue doesn't want to answer, then don't. Why do you make up some lies?"
"Who asked you to be a high and mighty prince? Do you think I would dare to not answer your question?" Xue Baochai rolled her eyes. It was a little cute. Then, she sighed faintly. "In fact, our Xue family has only been prosperous these years. In the early years, our main identity was still royal merchants."
Song Qingshu nodded. He thought that Madam Ruan was also a royal merchant. The competition between the Ruan family and the Xue family was quite fierce in the past few years.
"Your Highness must know the situation of the Song Dynasty. No matter how much money our family makes, it is difficult to change our lowly merchant identity." Xue Baochai's tone was a little sad and self-deprecating. "Everyone in the family is working hard to change all this. It is easier said than done for a merchant family to enter the official career. We have spent a lot of money. It is good enough to get a position like the Imperial City Department. How can we be picky?"
Song Qingshu knew that she was telling the truth. There were a lot of people in the capital waiting for the Jinshi of Two Ranks to fill the vacancy. Although there were many officials in the Song Dynasty, there were very few vacancies every year. Everyone fought for them. The local positions had to be given to the Jinshi of Two Ranks first. Therefore, the Xue family could only go to places that the Jinshi were not willing to go.
Of course, this was a scene from many years ago. The Xue family had Xue Ji, and with the help of the other major families, they had risen through the ranks over the years. Now that they were involved in politics, the Xue family's status had naturally risen as well.
"You are a girl. It is too hard for you to work in such a place." Song Qingshu couldn't help thinking of Wanyan Ping of the Jin Kingdom. But with her character, she was doing well in the laundry yard.
"Everyone in the family works hard," Xue Baochai bit her lip, "I have a cousin who is far better than me in both appearance and talent. At a young age, she has to participate in the family's imperial business. She has to go out in public all day, eating and sleeping in the open. Compared to her, what is my little bit of hard work?"
Song QingShu knew that the cousin she was referring to was Xue Baoqin. Of course, she was clearly being modest when she said that her looks and talents far surpassed his. Of course, although Xue Baoqin's appearance in "Dream of the Red Chamber" was short, she did have the feeling that she was the most beautiful woman in the world. That was why he vaguely remembered her.
"I've accidentally said so many trivial things. I've made a fool of myself in front of your highness." Xue Baochai quickly woke up and her face returned to that perfect smile from before.
Song QingShu sighed. "Compared to the mask you're wearing now, I think you're cuter when you reveal your true feelings."
Xue Baochai blushed. "Your Highness is about to become the son-in-law. It is not good to casually flirt with other girls."
Song Qingshu was speechless. He knew that she had returned to her usual state. She probably wouldn't say anything of value again. He changed the topic. "Right, why didn't I see your older brother this time? I remember that his swordsmanship is very good."
Xue Baochai's expression darkened. "My older brother went on a business trip a while ago. He was seriously injured and has been in seclusion ever since."
"Business trip?" Song Qingshu inwardly sneered. Xue Yi had gone to Liao to assassinate the diplomatic mission and had almost killed Shen Bijun. In the end, he had been ambushed by Murong Jingyue with the Divine Blade Slash. Even he did not dare to underestimate the power of the Divine Blade Slash. Xue Yi had suffered a direct hit. It was already good that he had survived. If he wanted to recover to his peak, he would not be able to do so even if he went into seclusion for a long time.
The two of them chatted as they hurried along. Soon, they arrived at the place prepared by the Imperial City Department outside the palace. Song QingShu rejected it with a glance. As he had expected, the Imperial City Department had chosen a place that was relatively far from the Imperial Palace.
Xue Baochai did not seem surprised by his reaction. She quickly led him to other places.
After walking through several places, Song Qingshu said with a smile that was not a smile, "Eldest Miss Xue, you have deliberately led me in circles. You should have finished what you need to do, right?"
Xue Baochai's expression changed. She smiled unnaturally. "What is the Prince of Qi saying? I don't understand."
At this moment, an imperial bodyguard suddenly galloped over. "Reporting!"
Song Qingshu frowned. "What is it?"
"The Crown Prince was assassinated in Chongqing Palace Hall," the imperial bodyguard quickly replied.
"What!" Xue Baochai cried out in alarm. She was clearly surprised by this result.
Song Qingshu's face darkened. "Didn't we already order that without an official warrant, no one is allowed to enter or leave the Imperial Palace? Why did the Crown Prince appear in Chongqing Palace Hall?" Chongqing Palace Hall was the residence of the most respected imperial concubines in the Great Song Imperial Palace. At present, it was Consort Jia who resided there.
"This subordinate does not know the specifics," the imperial bodyguard hastily replied.
"Let's return to the palace first." Song Qingshu waved his hand, calling for his subordinates to hurry back to the Imperial Palace. Seeing this, Xue Baochai hurriedly followed.
"What is the matter with the assassins?" Song Qingshu hastily asked. In truth, he had already guessed that someone would make a move when he left the palace. However, he did not expect that the first to jump out would be the Crown Prince. Moreover, he did not expect that there would be an assassin.
After all, the safety of the Imperial Palace was now under the responsibility of him and Wang Ziteng's people. If anything happened to the Crown Prince, they would be in big trouble.
"Not long after the Crown Prince and his entourage arrived at Chongqing Palace Hall, an assassin jumped out of nowhere and injured the Crown Prince with a hidden weapon. Even the Empress Dowager was shocked," the imperial bodyguard answered.
"How is the Crown Prince?" Song Qingshu somewhat suspected that this assassin was deliberately sent by his political enemies. It was a good trick to injure himself to gain the confidence of the Crown Prince.
"The assassin's hidden weapon was poisoned. We have already invited the imperial physician. I don't know if he can save the Crown Prince," the imperial bodyguard quickly answered.
"Poisoned?" This was beyond Song Qingshu's expectations. He thought that this person was probably not one of the Crown Prince's men. Could it be someone sent by the two old foxes, Shi Miyuan and Xue Ji? Not only did they get rid of the Crown Prince, but they also took the opportunity to frame me?
"Have you caught the assassin?" Song Qingshu hastily asked. If they had a witness, the following situation would be much easier to deal with.
"The assassin's Qinggong is very good. He injured many guards. However, the Palace Marshal has sealed off the surroundings of the Imperial Palace. The assassin should not have escaped," the imperial bodyguard replied.
"It's good that he hasn't escaped." Song Qingshu's eyes lit up. As long as the assassin was still in the Imperial Palace, he would be able to find him.
"You guys follow behind. I will go first." After leaving these words to the entourage, he turned into a shadow and quickly ran in the direction of the Imperial Palace.
Xue Baochai tried to chase after him, but she stopped after just one step. She shook her head with a bitter smile.
Song Qingshu returned to the Imperial Palace. He stood in the Qing Palace Hall and used the Telepathic Soul Searching Technique. "Which scoundrel dares to cause trouble in the Imperial Palace?"
Waves of sound spread to every corner of the Imperial Palace. Even many of the officials outside the Imperial Palace heard it. Many people in the Imperial Palace had not personally seen a Great Grandmaster in action. It was only now that they were all shocked. Was this the power of a Great Grandmaster?
Song Qingshu quickly sensed that there was something strange in the back garden. His body moved and he pounced in that direction. He arrived in front of a fake mountain. A black shadow was hiding inside. Seeing someone approaching, he instinctively attacked. However, when he saw the person's appearance clearly, his movements involuntarily paused for a moment.
Song Qingshu did not hesitate. He slammed his palm against the Shanzhong point on the other's chest. However, the strange sensation from his palm shocked him and he quickly withdrew most of his strength.
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