Eagle-eyed and wolf-watching

Chapter 1698 Catching the Traitor!
September 2nd, Yi Jing

In the Imperial Garden of the Royal Palace, a seven or eight-year-old girl, guarded by several maids and servants, was playing with a two-year-old boy. The girl was holding a small red flower to entice the boy, who was still learning to walk, and kept reaching out for the flower.

"Sister...I want...I want!"

"Jingyan, what do you want?"

Two-year-old Jingyan couldn't speak very clearly yet, so he didn't know how to answer his older sister Kexin's question. He simply reached for the flowers while saying:
"I want it! I want it! Sister!"

"Jingyan, these are flowers. Tell your sister I want flowers!"

Two-year-old Jingyan ignored her older sister and instead reached out even more eagerly to snatch the flowers!

Kexin pouted, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied. Jingyan didn't pronounce the word "flower" as she had taught him, but after hesitating, she still handed the little red flower to her younger brother.

Jingyan's previously anxious face immediately broke into a smile after he took the little red flower. He smelled the flower, looked at it, and then suddenly tore off the petals and threw them on the ground. Then, he curiously put the flower's stamen into his mouth.

Just as the flower stamen was about to go into her mouth, Kexin quickly snatched it away and said:
"Jingyan, you can't eat this!"

Jingyan, who hadn't gotten any flower stamens, couldn't understand his sister's kindness. He thought she was stealing his treat and immediately burst into tears. The sound was so loud that anyone who didn't know better would think the child had suffered some terrible injustice…
Faced with her younger brother's wailing, eight-year-old Kexin was at a loss for what to do and could only try her best to comfort him:
"Jingyan, don't cry! You can't eat this. Your sister didn't take it from you!"

Ignoring his sister's explanation, little Jingyan continued to wail. Seeing this, the nanny and maidservants rushed over to comfort him. Enticed by the nanny's small rattle drum, Jingyan's crying gradually subsided.

But at that moment, footsteps grew closer and closer, and then a ten-year-old girl led several maids and servants over.

"I was wondering whose child was crying so loudly, and it turns out it was you and your brother!"

Kexin, who had been relieved that Jingyan had stopped crying, immediately frowned when she saw the person in front of her and turned to leave with her younger brother.

Seeing that Kexin was ignoring her, Ye Xingtong persisted:

"Kexin, you have no manners! You didn't even greet your third sister when you saw her!"

What do you want to do?!

"Nothing, I just saw you and wanted to chat!"

"I have nothing to talk to you about!"

"Kexin, you're not still holding a grudge, are you? I told you I didn't do it on purpose. My mother took that novel, and there was nothing I could do. How about I compensate you with money?"

"I'll give you five silver dollars! Granny Liu said five silver dollars can buy ten novels outside the palace!"

As Ye Xingtong spoke, she tried to find silver coins for Kexin, but Kexin refused to comply, saying:

"Pah! I don't want your filthy money. My mother said your mother does some heartless things to earn money. I don't want your silver coins, I just want my novel. Give me back my novel!"

Ye Xingtong, who had originally intended to lose money, became anxious upon hearing Kexin's words and said:
"Kexin, how can you say that! When has my mother ever done anything heartless for money?"

"Explain yourself clearly! It was clearly your mother who did it!"

Just as Kexin and Xingtong were arguing, a dragonfly suddenly flew over. Neither Xingtong nor Kexin paid any attention to it, but Jingyan's attention was completely drawn to the dragonfly. Just then, Xingtong, who was focused on arguing, let go of her brother's hand, and Jingyan followed his instincts and curiously walked towards the dragonfly.

At this moment, Xing Tong's attention was entirely focused on her third sister in front of her, and she didn't notice at all that her younger brother had gone to chase the dragonfly. She said angrily:
"Your mother had your second uncle, Bai Changjiu, arrest all the owners of Jinxianglou in order to take over the business. And you still say your mother has a conscience?"

Hearing Kexin say this, Ye Xingtong was also a little angry. Although she didn't know if it was true or false, she instinctively denied it in order to protect her mother.
"Kexin, you're talking nonsense! My mother would never do such a thing!"

"Hmph! What can't I do! Your mother is heartless. I don't want your money, just give me back my novel, and I'll never lend you my novel again!"

Hearing Kexin say that, Xingtong didn't know what to say. She wanted to refute it, but she didn't know how. Just as she was getting more and more frustrated, a dragonfly suddenly flew over. Annoyed, she immediately waved her hand to try to swat the dragonfly away.

However, no one expected that Xing Tong, who intended to swat the dragonfly, would accidentally land her hand on Jing Yan, who was following the dragonfly. Although it was only the back of her hand that hit Jing Yan, and not with much force, the slap caused Jing Yan to transform into a crybaby once again, sitting down on the ground and wailing loudly…

Jingyan's cries immediately silenced the two arguing sisters, and Kexin's maids and servants rushed forward to check on Jingyan's condition.

Faced with this unexpected situation, the two sisters looked at each other blankly, but Kexin quickly reacted and rebuked:

"Third sister, why did you hit my brother?"

"I didn't hit Jingyan, he just suddenly rushed out!"

"You're lying! You did hit Jingyan!" Kexin said, pointing at Xingtong.

"I didn't hit him!"

"There are so many of us watching!"

"I told you I didn't hit him! Jingyan rushed out on his own, don't point your finger at me!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xing Tong angrily slapped away Ke Xin's hand that was pointing at her. Ke Xin, seeing that her younger brother had been hit by Xing Tong and that Xing Tong was about to hit her as well, was even more furious and said:
"You bastard! You hit Jingyan and now you want to hit me!"

"Who's going to hit you? I'm just stopping you from pointing your finger at me!"

"I'm going to tell my father, and he'll punish you properly!"

"Go ahead and sue him! Your father is in Hebei and Henan now, go ahead and do it!"

Seeing that the two sisters were about to come to blows, the nannies and maids on both sides immediately separated them. Although they were separated, the two girls continued to argue and refuse to give in. One said, "You're heartless for hitting people," while the other said, "I didn't hit anyone; you're just being unreasonable..."
Seeing the two sides arguing fiercely, Ye Xingtong's maids and nannies took a step back and, after much persuasion, led Ye Xingtong back. Once Ye Xingtong was gone, Ke Xin's maids and nannies also led her and Jingyan and his sister back. Half an hour later, Granny Huang came to An Miaoyi's side and reported the argument between Ke Xin and Xingtong to her.

An Miaoyi, who was reading a memorial, didn't initially pay much attention after hearing the details, but after thinking about it carefully, she felt that the matter seemed somewhat interesting and immediately asked:
"Consort Murong, what are Consort Bai's thoughts?"

"Your Majesty, it seems neither side has any particular intentions!"

An Miaoyi nodded slightly and then gave the instructions:

"Give them half a day. If there's still no news after half a day, call them to come find me!"

"Yes!"

After Granny Huang left as ordered, An Miaoyi called Qiqige over and asked:
"Has Granny Huang been acting strangely lately?"

"Nothing unusual has happened; we've simply been reporting Your Majesty's movements on time!"

Upon hearing Qiqige's words, An Miaoyi's phoenix eyes immediately turned cold. Seeing this, Qiqige also inquired:

"If Your Majesty finds her in the way, I'll have Wang Xiankun escort her away, and I guarantee it will be done without a sound!"

Upon hearing this, An Miaoyi waved her hand and said:
"Even if we get rid of her, the Imperial Guards won't let it go. They'll definitely plant someone else around me. If it's not this Granny Huang, then it will be Granny Li, Granny Wang, Granny Zhang..."

"And I suspect she's not the only spy among my inner guards!"

Qiqige was somewhat surprised to hear this and said:
"Your Majesty, do you mean that the Imperial Guards have planted other people around you?"

"I have a feeling that His Majesty always likes to have double insurance. Would he feel at ease if he only had one person keeping an eye on me?"

After thinking about it, Qiqige also felt that An Miaoyi's words made sense, and then she spoke up:
"Then what do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"Based on my understanding of His Majesty, he doesn't like to put all his eggs in one basket and prefers checks and balances. So, the people watching me are probably from the Inner Guard and the Attendant Department. Granny Huang is probably from the Inner Guard, so the person who hasn't surfaced yet is most likely related to the Attendant Department!"

"Your Majesty, I understand what you mean. I'll send someone to keep an eye on Ye Cheng right away!"

"No, don't commission Ye Cheng!"

Upon hearing this, Qiqige seemed somewhat surprised, and then looked at An Miaoyi with some confusion.

Under Qiqige's gaze, An Miaoyi hesitated for a few seconds before asking:
"Qiqige, what do you think of Zhang Yufeng?"

"Zhang Yufeng? He's quick-witted, capable, and His Majesty's trusted and beloved general!"

After saying that, Qiqige seemed to realize something, hesitated for a moment, and then asked:
"Your Majesty, do you think His Majesty will send Zhang Yufeng to keep an eye on you?"

When faced with Qiqige's question, An Miaoyi did not answer directly but instead asked in return:
What do you think, Qiqige?

Qiqige thought for a moment and said:
"Your Majesty, I think Ye Cheng is more likely to succeed. He controls most of the resources of the Attendant Department. Zhang Yufeng has been rumored to be aiming for the position of Deputy Director, but he has never actually become one. In fact, his position in the Attendant Department is somewhat awkward..."

"What does that mean?"

"I heard that Ye Cheng was jealous of Zhang Yufeng's favor with the Emperor. Before, when His Majesty was in Yijing, Ye Cheng didn't dare to act too presumptuously. But after His Majesty's inspection, Ye Cheng stopped hiding it. I heard that he tried to frame Zhang Yufeng a few days ago, but Zhang Yufeng didn't fall for it. Ye Cheng got angry and humiliated and then directly ostracized Zhang Yufeng!"

"Ye Cheng made up an excuse and had Peng Qi from the Attendant Department take over Zhang Yufeng's work. After sitting in the Attendant Department for a few days, Zhang Yufeng went home to recuperate."

Hearing Qiqige say that, An Miaoyi's eyes also sparkled with beauty.

Although she had long been aware of the rift between Ye Cheng and Zhang Yufeng, she never expected that the two had become so irreconcilable enemies. It seems that even Ye Cheng has become bolder since Ye Mingsheng left.

After a moment's thought, An Miaoyi immediately gave the order:

"Arrange for two capable men to keep an eye on Zhang Yufeng and see who he associates with. If there's an opportunity, let Hong Bo go into his house to investigate. Hong Bo always talks about how amazing his lightness skill is, so this is a good chance to test it out!"

Although Qiqige didn't quite understand why An Miaoyi valued Zhang Yufeng, who had been marginalized in the Attendant Department, so much, she could only obey since An Miaoyi had given the order.

"Yes! I'll arrange it right away..."

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Just as An Miaoyi was thinking about how to expose the mole planted by Ye Mingsheng, Ye Mingsheng and his group were walking on the road from Zhuoxian to Raoan.

"Father, how much longer until we reach Zhao'an?"

Upon hearing his son's question, Ye Mingsheng answered without hesitation:
"We probably won't make it today. There should be a post station ahead. Let's rest there for the night and set off early tomorrow morning. We should be able to reach Rao'an by noon tomorrow!"

"Father, what is Rao'an Prefecture like?"

Jingren's question made Ye Mingsheng think. He hadn't been to Rao'an many times, only about three times. Twice he had just passed through without a thorough investigation, and only once had he stayed in Rao'an Prefecture for two nights. So, to be honest, Rao'an Prefecture hadn't left a deep impression on Ye Mingsheng. Therefore, when faced with Jingren's question, Ye Mingsheng gave a somewhat perfunctory answer:
"It's almost identical to Zhuoxian!"

"Dad, I read in the newspaper that Rao'an's donkey meat sandwiches are delicious, especially Wang Ji's sandwiches. The newspaper said that Wang Ji's sandwiches have opened two branches in Yijing, and the commentator Zhang Zongze even went to these two branches to review them!"

"Zhang Zongze said that Wang Ji's baked buns have a crispy outer shell, and the donkey meat is stewed with dozens of Chinese herbs and spices, making it fragrant, tender, and flavorful. It's a perfect match with the baked buns!"

"In addition, the braised meat at Wangji Huoshao is also very delicious. I heard that their store in Yijing can sell 500 Huoshao a day and 200 jin of braised meat. Business is booming!"

"But I heard that although the donkey meat sandwiches at Yijing's shop are quite good, they're not as good as the ones at their original shop in Rao'an. Dad, let's try those donkey meat sandwiches when we go to Rao'an this time. I've never had them before..."