Proud Feather

Chapter 72 List
The next day, Jiang Shijun went to the palace gate to ask for an audience.

The eunuch led him to the Bowen Pavilion and said with a smile, "Master Jiang, you have arrived at an unfortunate time. The princess just went to the East Palace and wanted to ask you to come along. She even asked us if you had arrived."

Jiang Shijun's heart tightened: "Why did the princess go to the East Palace?"

"I don't know, and I don't dare to ask," the eunuch said. "I only know that the Crown Princess sent her there."

Crown Princess! Zhu Shan must have found out the result!
Jiang Shijun felt regretful. Why hadn't he come earlier to tell the princess the news? He didn't know if Fang Wu was trustworthy, but Zhu Shan was certainly suspicious in his eyes.

When the Crown Prince passed away, Zhu Shan closed the door and refused to see anyone. What was he waiting for? The Crown Princess was in grief, and the young grandson was in danger. As the Crown Prince's number one advisor, he didn't even stay by their side.

When the princess revealed the cause of the prince's death, he still did not take part in it, which immediately made the staff of the Eastern Palace dissatisfied.

——The more I think about it, the more strange it seems. I must not let the princess have too much contact with him!
"How long has the princess been gone? Can we catch up now?"

The eunuch hesitated for a moment and said, "It's hard to say. I have a cup of tea. Lord Jiang, the princess will be back soon. You can see her in a while. Why make an extra trip?"

Jiang Shijun shook his head and insisted, "Thank you, eunuch, for taking me to the Eastern Palace. Since the princess is willing to take me, she must have her own intentions."

The eunuch thought about it and changed direction: "Please come this way, sir."

The Bowen Pavilion was not close to the Eastern Palace. Jiang Shijun was quite large, and soon he was sweating all over. However, he did not dare to complain of being tired. Instead, he walked faster and faster, leaving the eunuch behind. "Jiang, Master Jiang, wait for me..."

How could Jiang Shijun dare to stop? As the crown prince's most trusted confidant, Zhu Shan was already suspected of poisoning. What if... No, he had to stop him!

After hurrying to the East Palace, he asked, and the aunt who came to receive him smiled and said, "Mr. Jiang is a little late. The princess and the crown princess have gone on horseback."

He hurriedly asked, "I heard that Master Zhu is here. Where is he now? We have to wait anyway. It would be nice if I could join him."

The head aunt replied, "I'm sorry to disappoint Mr. Jiang. Mr. Zhu has gone with us."

Jiang Shijun immediately said, "Please lend me someone to lead the way. I have something important to discuss with the princess."

The head aunt replied, "It's in the Taiji Palace training grounds. I'll just..."

"Master Jiang!" The eunuch arrived breathlessly. "No need, no need for anyone else. I know the way."

Jiang Shijun was delighted: "Little eunuch, thank you for your help - can you still hold on?"

The eunuch took a deep breath and waved his hand, "It's all right. But Mr. Jiang, you don't look well. Can we walk slower?"

Jiang Shijun touched his forehead and found it was covered in cold sweat.

Seeing this, the head aunt was also very worried: "Mr. Jiang, why don't you wait a little longer? What if you get sick on the way? What will you do?"

"No!" Jiang Shijun was so anxious, he turned around and around, "I have something urgent to report to the princess."

The head aunt thought for a moment and said, "Then Mr. Jiang, can you take a ride? I'll have someone send some refreshments to the Crown Princess, and then the ride will be available."

Jiang Shijun was overjoyed: "Thank you, auntie. Please take care of it."

The palace required a certain rank for the carriages, which Jiang Shijun could never get, so he could only resort to this tricky method.

So the small cart loaded with refreshments carried people out of the East Palace, and as Jiang Shijun waited anxiously, they were getting closer and closer to the Taiji Palace.

Seeing the Taiji Palace plaque, Jiang Shijun jumped out of the car and hurried to the parade ground without waiting for it to stop. He walked faster and faster, and finally he just ran.

When he finally arrived near the parade ground, he was shocked when he saw the princess talking to Zhu Shan with a smile.

"Princess..." He stumbled over.

Chu Ling turned around when she heard the voice and looked at him in surprise: "Mr. Jiang, why are you..."

Here they are, finally here. Just as he was about to run into Chu Ling, Jiang Shijun tripped and fell to the ground.

"Mr. Jiang!" Exclamations echoed from all around, and Zhu Shan was also surprised. Princess, please don't say anything...

Jiang Shijun grabbed Chu Ling's skirt tightly, opened his mouth... and then fainted.

……

"Princess!" Jiang Shijun woke up in shock and couldn't figure out where he was.

The eunuch standing guard woke up and rubbed his eyes: "Master is awake? Great! Princess! Princess!"

Jiang Shijun saw Chu Ling coming in from outside and murmured, "Great, the princess is fine..."

Chu Ling asked with a smile, "What are you talking about, Mr. Jiang? What has happened to this princess?"

Jiang Shijun was at a loss for words, so he stood up and asked, "Princess, is Zhu Shan here?"

"He's back."

Jiang Shijun was relieved and said, "I have something to report to the princess."

Chu Ling understood and gave a wink, and the eunuch went out on his own.

"This is Taiji Hall, no one lives here. Qiu Niang is guarding outside, just tell me."

Jiang Shijun didn't know where to begin, so he asked, "Princess, did you go to the East Palace today? Did you find any progress on the matter that the Crown Princess asked Zhu Shancha to investigate?"

Chu Ling nodded: "Not bad."

"What did he say? No! Did the princess tell him the secret clue?"

Seeing his nervous look, Chu Ling guessed something and replied, "He confirmed one thing. Big Brother's murder is probably related to the investigation into corruption in Xiuhe. He also gave the names of several officials, and the suspicion is locked among them."

After a pause, she asked, "What are these confidential clues you're talking about? I asked him to investigate, so he can't just say nothing, right?"

Jiang Shijun's forehead was sweating as he recounted what happened last night.

"...Fang Wu is often opportunistic and can't be trusted, but what he says makes sense. If there's really something wrong with Zhu Shan, Princess, you tell him the clues, and they'll be cut off!"

"No wonder you're so anxious today." Chu Ling seemed to be thinking about something. "You're worried that I'll reveal my cards to him and cause irreversible consequences, right?"

Jiang Shijun nodded and said, "Did the princess say anything?"

Chu Ling smiled: "Why don't you ask me first, who did he mention?"

Jiang Shijun was puzzled: "Princess..."

Chu Ling simply took out the booklet and handed it over: "Why don't you read it yourself!"

Jiang Shijun was full of doubts, but when he opened it, his expression changed and it was full of excitement.

"Isn't it interesting?" Chu Ling asked with a smile.

Jiang Shijun nodded silently, his previous worries dissipated, but greater doubts arose in his heart.

"How could this happen, the two of them..."

"Yes! The lists they both handed over were exactly the same." Chu Ling said slowly, "But you know what? He said almost the same thing as Fang Wu. Fang Wu's behavior is suspicious and he is suspected of colluding with outsiders. He can't be trusted."

!!!

Jiang Shijun's mind was a little confused: "What's going on..."

Fang Wu and Zhu Shan attacked each other, but handed over the same list?