An Important Object
How could all the officials who went to investigate the missing disaster relief funds in Yufu County die on their way back to the capital?
They said they died of illness!
They also said they died of exhaustion!
There were many different opinions, but it was clear that something was amiss.
Jing Rong pondered for a moment and began to ponder.
He asked Lu Jiang, "Did those officials find anything?"
Lu Jiang replied, "I'm not sure. After those officials were killed, they all said they died of illness or exhaustion on the way back, so the imperial court did not pay much attention to their cause of death. However, this subordinate believes that those officials must have found something related to the disaster relief funds, so they planned to return to the capital to report it. After the murderer found out, they killed them to silence them."
Jing Rong nodded.
Agreed!
He thought for a moment and said in a low voice, "The matter of the disaster relief funds this time is indeed tricky."
"Your Highness does not need to go to Yufu. The Emperor has not given the order."
"This may be … a difficult choice, but it is also the beginning of a tough battle between Jing Yi and me."
Although his tone was firm, there was also a hint of helplessness.
If Qi Zhen Emperor had to choose between himself and Jing Yi, there could only be two possible outcomes.
First, if he could not find anything, he would have to stay in Yufu County and be exiled forever.
Second, if he could find the culprit, but the case was so complicated that the prince who stayed in the capital would definitely be conferred the title of Crown Prince by the time he found out the truth.
The fight for the throne could then be cleverly avoided.
This truly showed Qi Zhen Emperor's scheming.
It was said that the son schemed against the father, but in the imperial family, it was always the father who schemed against the son!
The next day.
Jing Rong went to deal with the trivial matters after the Crown Prince's burial early in the morning.
The so-called trivial matters were to clean up the mess left by the Crown Prince.
For example —
A pile of mess left by the East Palace.
The writing of documents that he had taken over when he was alive.
He was in charge of the silver spent on the city's construction and repairs.
… …
Although this mess was not a big deal, when piled up one by one, it was really troublesome.
It made one's head hurt.
Fortunately, Jing Rong was quite efficient and finished dealing with it in a day.
When he returned to his residence, he was about to change his clothes and rush to Bamboo Creek Garden.
However, when he placed his hand on his waist and touched it, his expression immediately changed.
At this moment, in the General's Mansion.
Ji Wanxin sat in the pavilion, draped in a light blue cloak. She rested one hand on the stone table, her cheek propped up in her hand. She held an ordinary-looking bead in her other hand, twirling it between her slender fingers. The bead glowed with a faint blue hue as the light shone from the side of her face.
Although it was inconspicuous, it was very bright!
And wasn't this bead the same one that Ji Yunshu wore on her silver hairpin?
Ji Wanxin stared intently at the bead. Her sickly and warm eyes were dark and gloomy.
She tilted her head and propped herself up. The maidservant beside her wanted to help her up, but she pushed her away and even scolded her.
"You don't have to regard me as someone who is about to die."
"Miss?"
"I'm fine." Then, he coughed a few times.
The little girl could only stand a little further away!
Ji Wanxin walked to the side of the pond outside the pavilion. The orange-red light from the horizon fell on her pale face, giving her the comfort of a little woman.
But her tightly clenched teeth betrayed her delicate face.
She was clearly ruthless!
She twirled the bead on her fingertip, then stretched it towards the lotus pond.
At this moment, if she loosened her fingers, the bead would fall into the pond.
Just as she was about to let go, someone suddenly ran over.
The manservant gasped for breath. "Second Miss, Prince … Prince Rong is here. He said he's looking for you."
'Ah!'
Ji Wanxin instinctively pulled her hand back, clutching the bead tightly in her delicate palm.
She couldn't figure out what was going on. Her expression sank as she asked the manservant, "Where is he?"
"He's at the door."
'He's not coming in!'
"Mm."
Ji Wanxin turned around and ordered a maidservant to bring an exquisite brocade box. She wiped the bead that she was about to throw into the pond and put it back into the box.
Then, she went to the door.
Jing Rong didn't come looking for her with great fanfare, so he didn't disturb Ji Li and Ji Huan.
He stood outside the General's Mansion with his back facing the main door. He stood on the stone steps with his sleeves fluttering in the cold wind. He was dressed in an embroidered robe. He stood upright, exuding a man's extraordinary and unique attractiveness.
Ji Wanxin took small steps to stand behind him, lowering her eyes and bending her knees.
She bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Jing Rong turned around and looked at her coldly. "Second Miss Ji doesn't need to be so courteous."
She kept her eyes lowered, looking at Jing Rong with her willowy eyebrows.
Jing Rong directly asked, "Did you pick up the item that I dropped?"
"Item?" She slightly raised her eyes and met Jing Rong's gaze. Her small lips parted slightly. "Your Highness came to ask if I found your item?"
"Mm."
"Is that item very important to you?" She asked.
Jing Rong's expression didn't change. "Yes, it's very important to me."
He was certain!
'That item belongs to my future wife. It's a token of love.'
Ji Wanxin felt as if a thick layer of mercury had been poured into her heart, suffocating her and causing her heart to tighten.
However, she was able to conceal her emotions well.
She smiled and took out the brocade box from her sleeve. She held it in her palm and handed it over to Jing Rong.
"The item that's very important to Your Highness is inside."
Jing Rong took the box and opened it.
The translucent bead was indeed inside. It was wiped clean and placed on a handkerchief.
The ordinary bead was placed in an exquisite and expensive brocade box.
It gave off the feeling of an immortal's abode.
Ji Wanxin said, "This bead probably fell from Your Highness's body and coincidentally got caught on my dress. I thought it belonged to Your Highness, so I carefully put it in the box. If Your Highness didn't come, I would have sent someone to deliver it."
Jing Rong put away the item and said, "Many thanks, Second Miss Ji."
"This originally belonged to Your Highness. It's only right that I return it to you."
Her voice was soft, like a flower petal in spring.
It slowly drifted towards Jing Rong's ear.
However, Jing Rong was like a cold stone. This gentle, flowing water could not penetrate him at all.
He only said, "It's cold outside. You should go inside. This Prince will also take his leave."
"Wang-"
Before Ji Wanxin could finish her sentence, Jing Rong waved his sleeves and left.
Ji Wanxin chased after him for two steps before she finally stopped. She watched helplessly as Jing Rong boarded the carriage and left.
As the carriage moved further and further away, her vision became more and more blurry. She didn't know if it was because of the wind or because of the tears in her eyes.
She tightly pursed her lips and felt a little sad.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
