Jiuxi

Chapter 688 [Looking South]

Prince Changshan's Mansion.

The situation in the city was tense during this period, and the palace was naturally not spared, because there were rumors that the death of the prince might be related to Qing Yugong, which was a serious crime that would lead to the confiscation of property and extermination of the entire family. It was difficult for the people in the palace to remain aloof.

As the crown prince, Qing Yu Zhongwang shoulders the important task of stabilizing the people's hearts. Not only does he calm the people in the mansion, he also maintains close contact with all the forces of the Qing Yu family.

But he was still worried, especially since Qing Yugong was going to the palace to attend court today. He was afraid that the girl would act capriciously, so after finishing the things at hand, he hurried to the back house.

Jinyuan, this is where Qing Yu Huaijin lives.

Qing Yuzhongwang walked straight inside, seeming to be oblivious to the greetings from the maids.

When he arrived at the warm East Warm Pavilion, the scene inside stunned Qing Yuzhong.

A young woman was sitting in front of the window. She was wearing an ancient smoke-patterned Bixia Luo gown, a brocade cloak on the outside, her hair was tied up in a casual bun, and she wore a red gold hairpin with no flowers on it. She had an embroidered cotton skirt in the color of Concubine Yang tied around her waist.

Her outfit has nothing to do with the traditional costumes of the Jinglian tribe. It makes her look more like a quiet girl living in the water town of Southern Qi.

The reason why Qing Yu Zhongwang was stunned was not this, but that Qing Yu Huaijin was actually embroidering.

He couldn't help coughing twice.

Qing Yu Huaijin raised his head slightly, his expression like a delicate flower reflecting in water, and asked, "Brother, is your throat uncomfortable?"

"Huai Jin, what are you doing..."

Qing Yuzhongwang wanted to say something but stopped himself.

At this moment he even had the illusion that the person sitting in front of the window was not his sister, as if a different person had emerged inside him.

Qing Yu Huaijin was not an introverted person since she was a child, otherwise she would not have been able to get close to those princes. In addition, she later practiced martial arts, and in her early years she often taught the children of powerful and wealthy people in Dadu a lesson. She gave people the impression of being a princess with a noble demeanor. No matter what, it was impossible to imagine that she would be involved in something like embroidery.

Qing Yu Huaijin placed the embroidery frame in the basket on the table and said leisurely, "I'm embroidering, brother, can't you see it?"

"Of course I know you are embroidering."

Qing Yuzhongwang smiled helplessly, walked over to sit next to her, and said with emotion: "But this is indeed beyond my expectation. I thought you would rush out with armor and a sword."

Qing Yu Huaijin couldn't help laughing and asked, "Why are you going out there? Are you going to the palace to cause trouble for your father?"

This is indeed something you could do before.

Qing Yuzhongwang only dared to mutter this in his heart, and smiled and said: "Of course not, it's just that I haven't seen you embroider before, so I'm a little surprised."

Qing Yu Huaijin said frankly: "I have suffered a lot in the south in the past few years. Although my father has never scolded me, I know that this is because my temper is too impatient. I need to temper myself before I can change. Whether it is embroidery or calligraphy, it is a way for me to temper my temper and let me think about some things calmly."

Qing Yuzhong suddenly realized that his sister was indeed different from before. He couldn't help but say with shame: "I haven't paid enough attention to her recently."

"Brother has to take care of things, how can he stay with me every day like before?"

Qing Yu Huai Jin smiled and continued, "In fact, the rumors in the city during this period have also made me worried. Even if Your Majesty does not believe them easily, there is no guarantee that rumors will be true. But I believe that my father will handle it properly. Even if I am in a mess, I can't act recklessly. It's better to embroider in my room and cultivate my character. In short, don't cause trouble to my father and brother. This is what I should do now."

Qing Yuzhongwang almost stood up in awe.

His sister has always been a true spoiled daughter of heaven, with the emperor's unconditional love and the care of her father and brothers. In terms of pampering, no one can compare to her.

Hearing her such sensible words at this moment, Qing Yuzhongwang couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

At this moment, a maid said respectfully outside the door: "Your Highness, the prince has returned home."

The brother and sister hurriedly stood up and when they reached the front hall, they saw Qing Yugong sitting there with a calm expression and a man kneeling in the hall.

They were not unfamiliar with this person, but were extremely familiar with him because they had seen him often since childhood.

Qing Yuyingye, the Chief Secretary of the Prince's Mansion, is Qing Yugong's confidant no matter from which angle.

What was a little strange was that Qing Yuyingye was pale and his body was shaking slightly at the moment.

The brother and sister stepped forward and saluted Qing Yu respectfully. Qing Yu Huaijin turned around and glanced at Qing Yu Yingye who was kneeling on the ground, and asked curiously, "What happened?"

Qing Yugong picked up the teacup and took a sip, then slowly said, "Today, His Majesty announced to all officials the cause of death of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. It is suspected that he was poisoned. This poison is strange and weird. It can pass the layers of inspection in the palace and gradually kill His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The imperial doctors racked their brains but could not find the composition of the poison, let alone prepare an antidote. After Tian Jue's investigation, this poison should have been mixed in the fine wine called Queshan Red, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was poisoned after drinking it."

Qing Yuzhong frowned and said, "How can there be such a strange poison in the world?"

Qing Yu Huaijin's heart moved and he lowered his head subconsciously.

She recalled the file she had read before, which recorded the experience of that man, which seemed to be somewhat similar to the circumstances of the prince's death from poisoning this time.

Qing Yugong said: "There are many strange things in the world. This is not a very strange thing. His Majesty was furious about this matter and ordered me to imprison myself in the palace. I am not allowed to leave the palace until the truth about the prince's death is revealed." Qing Yu Huaijin suddenly raised his head, and his eyes like autumn moon flashed with cold anger.

Qing Yu Zhongwang said solemnly: "Your Majesty, why are you like this? The Crown Prince's death has nothing to do with my father!"

Qing Yugong said calmly, "Your Majesty thinks that I am familiar with this poison, and he suspects that I poisoned His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. But it cannot be said that Your Majesty is attacking without reason, this matter is indeed related to me. Lu Chen of the Southern Qi Dynasty fell ill a few years ago, and his superficial symptoms were similar to the Crown Prince's current condition. I asked Yingye to collect information about Lu Chen and compile it into a volume, which contains this record. When Your Majesty learned about this from Yingye, he naturally suspected that I poisoned His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

His tone was very calm, but the brother and sister were already looking at the man kneeling on the ground, their eyes as cold as ice.

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die! But I really didn't mean to betray you. The other day, His Majesty sent secret guards to bring me into the palace and interrogate me repeatedly. I was afraid of the majesty of God and dared not to tell you. Please spare my life, Your Majesty!"

Qing Yu kowtowed like crazy in the wild.

However, there was no anger on Qing Yugong's face, just a faint smile.

"If you hadn't informed on him, how would His Majesty have known about Lu Chen of Southern Qi? And how could he have foreseen it and asked you about it? And you still dare to quibble, you are worse than a beast!"

Qing Yuzhongwang was furious and kicked Qing Yuyingye to the ground.

Qing Yuyingye endured the severe pain, struggled to kneel down, and dared not speak anymore, but just kowtowed and begged for mercy.

But then a cold light flashed.

"Huai Jin."

Qing Yugong spoke out in time, and Qing Yuzhongwang also tried to stop him. At this time, they saw Qing Yu Huaijin taking out a dagger from somewhere, his eyes as cold as a sword.

"Father!"

Qing Yu Huaijin stared at the man kneeling on the ground and said coldly, "There's no need to talk to this kind of traitor who sells out his master for fame and fortune. Just kill him!"

"It's not necessarily selling out for fame."

Qing Yugong shook his head, looked at Qing Yuyingye, and said meaningfully: "He was originally your Majesty's man, but he was just doing things by your Majesty's orders. If you kill him, how can I explain to your Majesty? Moreover, I am now imprisoned in the mansion, and I am suspected of murdering His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The whole court is watching my every move. If Qing Yuyingye dies in the mansion, doesn't it mean that I am guilty?"

Qing Yu Huaijin took a deep breath, slowly stepped aside, and put away the dagger.

Qing Yuyingye had a complicated expression at this moment. He was no longer panicked like before. He lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I am sorry for you."

Qing Yugong said calmly: "I have no intention of exploring your secrets. Considering that you have served me for more than ten years, I will not take your life."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Qing Yuyingye had always wanted to die, otherwise he would not have followed Qing Yugong all the way back to the Prince's Mansion.

He just didn't expect that Qing Yugong would be so magnanimous.

After bowing, Qing Yuyingye stood up and walked out.

Qing Yu Huaijin kept staring at his back until he disappeared from his sight.

Qing Yugong said to Qing Yuzhongwang: "Although His Majesty does not allow me to leave the palace, he has not sent troops to surround the palace, nor has he restricted your freedom. Go out for a walk these few days to reassure those people. Don't act impulsively, so as not to cause unmanageable trouble."

"Yes, Father."

Qing Yuzhongwang bowed and agreed.

At this time, Qing Yugong finally showed some fatigue, and slowly said: "Huai Jin, His Majesty is emotional for the time being because of the grief of losing his son. This is human nature. You don't have to think too much about it. When the truth of the prince's death is found out in the future, His Majesty will clear my name. Your brother has always been cautious and steady. I am not worried about him, but I am worried that you will get stuck in a dead end. Do you understand?"

Qing Yu Huaijin's lips moved, but he could only lower his head and said, "Yes, father, you must be tired after being in court for most of the day, please take a rest."

Qing Yugong looked at her with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Okay."

After a while, Qing Yu Huaijin returned to Jinyuan, dismissed all the maids and servants, and sat alone in front of the window.

"Father, why do you trust the man in the palace so much? Can't you see that this is just the first step for him to take advantage of the situation? It may not take too long before he takes action against the military power you control. When he eliminates all the power of the Qingyu family, will you still be able to resist?"

Qing Yu Huaijin murmured to herself, her intuition told her that things were not that simple, but it was true that the emperor was angry and her father was imprisoned in the palace. If the day really came when they fell out, how would Qing Yu protect herself?
She stood up and walked out the door, stood on the porch, took a breath of the cool air, and looked up towards the distant south.

Someone once told her that a way out would be prepared for the Qingyu family.

The words are still in my ears.

I just don't know...how much of this is true or false.

Qing Yu Huaijin clenched his hands, feeling lost.

(End of this chapter)