Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 90 Searching the Mansion
Xiao Muchen nodded and pointed at the man in the scroll who was handing over the medicine to Su Yu. He said, "This man is Wang Chengyi, a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue. He was a local official recommended by the King of Wei and transferred from Bingzhou. He used to be a salt transporter, but during the years he was in office, the price of salt rose, and many people were ruined because they couldn't afford salt. It was almost like the famine in the second year of Yongchun.

However, the King of Wei said that this man possessed both talent and virtue, and was deeply loved by the people, so he promoted him to the position of Doctor of the Ministry of Revenue. Later, when Prime Minister Di was promoted to Tongpingzhangshi and concurrently Minister of Revenue, he investigated his resume and past political achievements and found that he was not a man of high moral character. He was greedy for bribes, ignored the suffering of the people, and lived a life of extravagance and debauchery. The Censorate once impeached him, but in the end they only fined him a year's salary, and the matter was settled.

"It was the King of Wei who protected him, right?" asked Lu Shiyilang.

Xiao Muchen nodded.

"Who is this woman?"

Xiao Muchen replied, "General Zhang Qianxu's wife, Lady Wang, is also a daughter of the Wang family of Taiyuan."

"Ah? They even dared to touch General Zhang's wife?"

Xiao Muchen also fell silent.

If even the wife of a general and the daughter of Wang from Taiyuan could be coerced and bribed by them, then who knows how many decent women in Luoyang City would have been harmed by them.

After Xiao Muchen finished speaking, he called Xuan Yu, who was guarding outside, over and pointed at the people in the painting and said, "Go check these two people and find as much evidence as possible."

"Yes, my dear, but I have limited resources within the Inner Guards. Most of them have been transferred by Wuling Yue. And Wuling Yue is now searching all over Luoyang City for you."

Xiao Muchen was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I know. We can use our own people. Whether Xuan Yu, Prime Minister Di, Prime Minister Cen, and the others can walk out of the imperial prison, and whether I can clear my name, depends on whether the evidence hidden in the White Horse Temple can be presented to the Saint. And this Wang Chengyi is the key witness!"

"All right!"

At this time, Xie Zi'e stepped forward and said, "I have some righteous men under my command. If we can get rid of some corrupt officials, it will be their lifelong wish. I am willing to do my best to help Xiao Zhongcheng."

After saying this, he glanced at Murong Huan again and added, "I just hope you two can take care of yourselves. Whether we can overthrow the King of Wei and bring him to justice depends on you two!"

Murong Huan also nodded: "Zi'e, Su Yu left behind an account book. Even though those people didn't want him to issue receipts, he wrote a book himself to protect his life in the future. I have marked the location where he kept it. Go and get it for me!"

Xie Zi'e nodded and said, "Okay!"

"Also, take over the several pharmacies under Su Yu's name for me!"

"Okay, I'll definitely take care of this! You two should go back quickly to prevent the soldiers from searching here!"

Murong Huan nodded and planned to return to the warm room in Princess Taiping's house with Xiao Muchen. However, just as he took a step, his energy seemed to be depleted to the extreme, and his consciousness gradually became blurred, as if he was about to faint.

Xiao Mochen quickly held her in his arms, only to hear her say, "I'm tired, Xiao Muchen, I'm going to trouble you to carry me back again."

"Stop talking, let's go back immediately!"

As he spoke softly, he had already picked her up and hurried towards the gate in front.

Lu Shiyilang was stunned watching from behind: "I have never seen this cold and aloof Xiao Zhongcheng actually have such a gentle side."

"Cold as ice? I see he has always been very nice to this young lady." Xie Zi'e added.

"You haven't seen his past. Even his smile to you was cold. I always feel like he's hiding a knife behind his smile. He might even put you in jail one day!"

"I think you're jealous! Jealous that someone else got the beautiful girl!"

"You say that as if I've never seen a beauty before, but..." Lu Shiyilang glanced at the hurriedly departing figure from afar, "This is indeed the first time I've seen a beauty like this. It's a pity that I missed the best opportunity and someone else got there first."

Seeing him beating his chest and stamping his feet in grief, Xie Zi'e glared at him fiercely, and then the two of them parted ways. ...

When she returned to the warm room, Ah Shu was already waiting anxiously outside the door. During this period, Ah Huan had never taken her anywhere to protect her safety, and had just let her stay at Princess Taiping's mansion with peace of mind. Seeing Ah Huan hugging Xiao Muchen tightly and sleeping peacefully in his arms, Ah Shu felt both worried and happy.

"Xiao Zhongcheng, is my Ah Huan okay?"

"Nothing. I'll just look after her. You can go and do your thing first."

What do I have to be busy with?

Although she was complaining in her heart, Ah Shu couldn't help but feel happy when she saw Xiao Muchen staying by Ah Huan's side so attentively: They looked like a young couple, and Ah Huan finally had someone who truly loved her.

In order not to disturb them, Ah Shu tactfully ran out of the warm room and was planning to find something to do in the princess's mansion, but she heard heavy footsteps coming from the mansion, and it sounded like many officers and soldiers were pouring into the princess's mansion.

Ah Shu hurried back and said, "Xiao Zhongcheng, Xiao Zhongcheng, it seems someone is coming, soldiers are coming!"

Ah Shu didn't know whether those people were officers and soldiers, Qianniu Guards, or Jinwu Guards, so she could only say this.

"Shh..." Xiao Muchen made a silent gesture, gently stroked Murong Huan's cheek, covered her with the quilt, and said to Ah Shu, "I'll go check on her. Don't run around. Take good care of her!"

Ah Shu nodded desperately.

As Xiao Muchen walked out of the warm room, a maidservant from Princess Taiping hurried over, bowed to him, and handed a note to Xiao Muchen, whispering, "Mr. Xiao, this is from Her Highness the Princess. The Princess wants you to follow what's written on it."

"it is good!"

……

At this moment in the front hall, Wuling Yue was sitting on a Hu chair sipping tea, while Taiping was leaning on the soft couch opposite her.

"Ayue, you didn't even give me face, and directly brought the inner guards to my house to search for someone?"

"I'm sorry, I've searched the entire neighborhood of Luoyang Shendu, but couldn't find those two people. Ah Yue thought that given the princess's friendship with Xiao Muchen, he might be in your house."

"So what are you going to do if he's in my house? What are you going to do if he's not in my house?"

Wu Lingyue said, "Please forgive my recklessness, Princess, but I am also working for the Saint. Xiao Muchen is suspected of treason after all. He cannot escape until he has evidence to prove his innocence. However, he ran away with a young lady without considering the consequences. His escape means that he is guilty.

If he is in the princess's house, I will take him away or kill him. If he is not there, A Yue will also apologize to the princess!"

Taiping smiled and said in a very sarcastic tone: "Ayue, you should know that this so-called conspiracy case is nothing more than your father asking Lai Junchen to frame him because the Prime Minister Cen Changqian, Ge Fuyuan, Di Xiang and other court officials opposed him becoming the crown prince. His purpose was to catch all the ministers who did not support him in the court.

You and I know Zicheng very well. He is a reserved person, not affiliated with any faction, and does not hold military power. So what right would he have to rebel?"

Wu Lingyue was silent for a moment, then said, "But someone has accused him of treason, which proves that he is a suspect. Princess, I am not here to argue with you about whether he is guilty of treason. I am here to arrest him according to the imperial decree. Please, Princess, please do me a favor and let me search him!"

Taiping sighed and said, "Ayue, you have really changed now. In the past, you aspired to be a wise and capable minister, obeying the emperor's will, pleading for the people, investigating unjust cases, redressing grievances, and creating a prosperous era of sea and river feasts for the saint. But what you are doing now, aren't you aiding and abetting your father's evil deeds?"

"You can search my residence, but if you can't find it, I will report you to my mother!"

(End of this chapter)