Shortly after lunch, a eunuch hurried into the hall and whispered something into Changshun’s ear.
Then, Changshun relayed the message in the same manner to Jiang Yan Chuan.
Jiang Yingcheng had sharp ears but only caught scattered words like “Jinyiwei,” “investigated,” and “report.”
Next, she saw Changshun Gonggong exchange a glance with her handsome Father Emperor before stepping forward with a smile.
“Little Highness, shall this servant take you out for a stroll to aid digestion?”
Jiang Yingcheng stole repeated glances at her handsome Father Emperor, feeling somewhat hesitant.
She wanted to stay by her father’s side a while longer.
But she understood her father had state affairs to attend to, so she obediently reached out her hand to Changshun Gonggong and walked out of the courtyard with him.
Lu Yao quickly entered the hall and reported his findings to the Mingze Emperor with difficulty.
“Your Majesty, this subject has investigated Lord Liu Zhengqing…”
Countless crimes were detailed from Lu Yao’s mouth—the man had been so audacious that even selling official positions was just one of his less conspicuous offenses.
Lu Yao trembled as he looked up, expecting to see the Tianzi in a rage. Instead, he found the man on the couch leaning relaxed against the desk with his head propped on his hand, even sporting a faint, barely noticeable smile at the corner of his lips.
Lu Yao shuddered violently.
This was even more terrifying!
The young Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard walked out of Xianyang Palace in a daze, having exchanged one piece of information for three fresh assignments:
Investigate whether Ministry of Personnel Vice Minister Hu Hongyuan was banished to his study last night for lacking money to buy his wife a bracelet;
Investigate whether Ministry of Rites Vice Minister Pu Yuanzhou kept an outer chamber in Chunyin Lane;
Investigate whether Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zheng Zhixin visited Hualiu Lane yesterday.
What kind of nonsense was this?!
Since when did the Mingze Emperor start caring about his ministers’ private lives?!
Lu Yao’s ears rang with the sound of heavy objects collapsing—the final lament of his shattered worldview.
Meanwhile, Changshun Gonggong took Jiang Yingcheng on a leisurely walk to aid digestion, eventually arriving at a rather desolate small courtyard.
A cold wind happened to blow by, carrying with it the faint, mournful sobs of a woman.
Jiang Yingcheng shuddered violently.
“Uncle Changshun, we’ve walked so far already,” Jiang Yingcheng said plaintively.
She had indeed eaten too much at lunch, but the meals at her father’s palace were incredibly lavish. In both her lifetimes, she had never seen so many dishes served together on one table. She had only taken one bite of each, yet her stomach felt as hard as a rock.
But they had walked for so long that her lunch was almost completely digested, and she didn’t want to go any further.
“Oh dear, look at this servant’s memory,” Changshun feigned sudden realization as he glanced around, exclaiming in surprise, “I’ve unconsciously wandered here.The baiting performance quickly hooked Jiang Yingcheng.
Little Jiang Fish asked curiously, “Where is this place?”
Changshun Gonggong’s face twisted with conflict, seemingly reluctant to say more to Jiang Yingcheng.
But Jiang Yingcheng, already hooked, didn’t want to let go easily. She pulled out the small dessert Jiang Yan Chuan had prepared for her from her front lapel, attempting to bribe Changshun Gonggong: “Here, this is for Uncle Changshun to eat~”
Finally unable to stand it any longer, 007 suddenly spoke up: [“The most sophisticated hunters often appear in the guise of prey.”]
Jiang Yingcheng was puzzled: [“What do you mean?”]
007: [“…”]
007 said helplessly: [“This is the courtyard where Seventh Brother’s mother resides.”]
Jiang Yingcheng froze for a moment, then abruptly looked up. Sure enough, on the dark plaque above the main gate, she spotted the three large characters: “Pinfang Yuan.”
She murmured to herself: [“So this is where Seventh Brother and his mother live?”]
Her gaze drifted downward, noticing the wooden door that already showed signs of decay.
The environment here was even worse than where she and her mother lived in Zhuyun Pavilion. At least their place still looked like a normal living space.
Sensing the Little Princess’s despondent thoughts, Changshun Gonggong teasingly snatched the pastry she was clutching—the one meant to bribe him—cleared his throat, and explained: “This is Pinfang Yuan, where Lan Zhaorong resides.”
Seventh Brother’s mother was originally an ordinary palace maid in Xianyang Palace. She took advantage of the Mingze Emperor’s drunkenness one night to climb into the imperial bed, eventually giving birth to a prince. Only then was she reluctantly granted the title of Zhaorong after childbirth.
But because of these circumstances, both mother and son suffered frequent bullying from other consorts and princes.
Even the palace servants assigned to their courtyard often neglected their duties.
After listening to 007’s background briefing, Jiang Yingcheng blinked slowly like a sloth: [“Oh…”]
For the ten-thousandth time, 007 silently cursed the heavens for forcibly reducing intelligence, making its originally simple mission so complicated.
Seeing that Jiang Yingcheng still hadn’t caught on, 007 reminded her: [“This is a good opportunity. I think you should sneak inside and take a look.”]
After a pause, it emphasized: [“Go in by yourself, alone.”]
Jiang Yingcheng finally snapped out of it: [“Okay.”]
She looked up, her almond-shaped eyes appearing innocent as she gazed at Changshun Gonggong: “Uncle Changshun, shall we play hide-and-seek?”
Changshun Gonggong, having successfully hooked his fish, secretly smiled and played along: “Of course, Little Highness. Would you like to seek or hide?”
Seeing her plan succeed so easily, Jiang Yingcheng clenched her chubby little hands into fists, excitedly declaring: “I want to seek!”
She had already thought it through: no matter what, Lan Zhaorong was still her Father Emperor’s consort. When hiding, they definitely wouldn’t casually enter each other’s courtyards. After they hid, they wouldn’t come out easily until she found them, giving her plenty of time to sneak in and chat with Seventh Brother’s mother.
“To catch the thief, first catch the king”—if Seventh Brother’s mother liked her, Seventh Brother would gradually come to like her too!
She was such a master planner!
007: [Lighting a cigarette with world-weary resignation.]
It couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission was destined to be hellish difficulty.
Changshun Gonggong readily agreed. The accompanying servants scattered while Jiang Yingcheng counted against the wall, moving to distant locations where they found cover and secretly observed the Little Princess’s movements.
Under the watchful eyes of dozens of hidden observers, Jiang Yingcheng slowly turned around, looking around furtively like a thief. Not seeing any servants around, she covered her mouth and giggled.
[“Tong Ge, Tong Ge, look!”] Jiang Yingcheng said proudly, [“Me, Jiang Yingcheng, smart!”]
007: [“…Just go in already, you genius.”]
Hearing this, Jiang Yingcheng didn’t delay any further. She quietly pushed open the gate of Pinfang Yuan and stealthily slipped inside.
The courtyard was unexpectedly devoid of any eunuchs or palace maids, with only faint sounds emanating from inside the main chamber.
It was the same sobbing voice she had heard earlier.
Jiang Yingcheng felt goosebumps rising densely on her arms: Wuwuwu Tong Ge, could this place be haunted…
Before 007 could respond, the sobbing inside abruptly ceased, followed immediately by the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground.
The sound was muffled, as if someone had fallen to the floor.
Jiang Yingcheng froze for a moment, then casting aside her earlier fear, she scurried over on her short little legs.