Chapter 646 - Chapter 646: Clue
After leaving the prison, Song Jingchen looked up at the sky with mixed feelings.
“Master, where are we going now?” South Wind asked.
Song Jingchen pursed his lips. “Into the palace.”
The emperor was definitely still waiting for news from him.
After two rounds of inspection as usual, Song Jingchen had just arrived at the door of the imperial study when he saw Shangguan Yu come out.
The two of them looked at each other. Shangguan Yu opened his mouth to say something.
The eunuch who led the way carefully reminded him, “Earl Zhongyi, His Majesty is still waiting for you inside.”
Song Jingchen nodded and walked past Shangguan Yu into the imperial study. Shangguan Yu paused for a moment. His eyelashes lowered as he led Lianshan out of the palace.
In the imperial study, without waiting for Song Jingchen to bow, the emperor asked impatiently, “Have you obtained the antidote?”
From the moment Shangguan Pu was captured until now, the emperor had never met him alone. It was because Shangguan Pu’s actions previously had frightened him. The emperor was now afraid and hated his son.
Song Jingchen explained that Shangguan Pu didn’t have an antidote and could only suppress the effects of the drug. In the end, he said, “I think the other party doesn’t trust Lord Jing.”
He almost said that Lord Jing was an idiot who was being used.
The emperor’s expression turned extremely ugly. The more mysterious the other party was, the more it explained the problem.
At the same time, he was angry at Shangguan Pu for being too stupid and being used so easily. However, when he thought about how he had almost been killed by this stupid son, wouldn’t he be even more stupid?
Therefore, the emperor got even angrier.
Song Jingchen didn’t know what the emperor was thinking, but he explained kindly, “According to Lord Jing, Your Majesty wasn’t poisoned with the Heart Devouring Poison. I don’t think he’s lying. After all, the greatest use of the
Heart Devouring Poison is to control others.”
He did not continue, but the emperor understood. That unfilial son wanted his life. There was no need to poison him and control him.
The emperor thought to himself, “So I have to thank that unfilial son for not thinking about letting me live for too long?”
Although he was still very angry, it was better than being poisoned without an antidote.
After calming down, the emperor looked at Song Jingchen. “In order to prevent the people from panicking, we can’t tell anyone about the remnants of the previous dynasty for the time being. Do you understand what I mean?”
Although the previous dynasty had been destroyed, it was difficult to guarantee that there weren’t still followers among the commoners. If word got out, there would definitely be another bloodbath.
This meant that Song Jingchen had to investigate secretly.
Song Jingchen lowered his eyes. “Yes.”
Although this was the arrangement, he didn’t completely believe Song Jingchen’s words. As soon as Song Jingchen left the imperial study, the emperor instructed Lin Mu to personally make a trip to the ancestral residence.
However, he didn’t know that for a common purpose, Shangguan Pu and Song Jingchen had already lined up their stories.
On the long palace path, a rather likable-looking eunuch came up. “Earl Zhongyi, I’ll send you out.”
Song Jingchen glanced at the young eunuch and didn’t refuse.
The two of them walked along the palace path one after another. There was still a half-step between them. If others saw them, they would think that Song Jingchen had gained power and that the eunuch had gone up to gain favor.
After all, this was not uncommon.
“Eunuch, you look familiar.” Song Jingchen looked straight ahead and said casually.
“Earl Zhongyi is a benefactor who forgets things. Last year, I followed Godfather to Xunyang City and even met Young Master Shenzhi,” Qi Shou said respectfully.
Song Jingchen nodded and didn’t speak again.
South Wind was waiting at the palace gate in a carriage.
Without giving Song Jingchen a chance to refuse, Qi Shou went forward and helped him into the carriage.
Song Jingchen paused for a moment, took out his pouch, picked out the smallest piece of silver, and handed it over. “Thank you. Please go back.”
“Take care, Earl Zhongyi.” Qi Shou bowed to the departing carriage.
As soon as the carriage left, the smile on his face immediately disappeared. He did not care if the surrounding guards would hear him and spat. “What? You’re so stingy.”
In the end, his reaction was heard by the emperor. The emperor, who had been in a bad mood all day, was amused. When he heard that Qi Shou was Eunuch Li’s godson, he immediately got someone to transfer him to his side to serve him.
Eunuch Li and Eunuch Deng went to the Punishment Bureau. When they were brought out, they were only left with one breath and were still recuperating. The emperor’s actions reassured the two of them.
Most importantly, Qi Shou’s attitude towards Song Jingchen made him feel at ease.
However, he did not know that Qi Shou had already stuffed a booklet into the carriage.
The booklet recorded the whereabouts of all the palace maids and eunuchs who had left the Eastern Palace two years ago.
According to Shangguan Pu, he had bribed a little palace maid in the Eastern Palace to put the things inside back then.
How ridiculous. She was just a little palace maid.
On the other side, when Shen Yijia found out that the mute woman could speak, she immediately brought MO Yuan to Xuanyuan Ce.
It had to be said that Xuanyuan Ce was also worried sick about the couple. Afraid that MO Yuan’s medical skills would not work, he specially sent people to find a few doctors to enter the residence.
Coincidentally, his reason for staying in Great Xia was to recuperate. Ji Yunxi was not around, so his actions would not attract attention.
When he saw the mute woman again, he saw that her mental state was much better, but she still could not see. After all, the spiritual liquid could only repair any injured body parts. It was impossible for her eyeballs to grow back.
However, her ten fingers recovered after her bones were straightened.
“Thank you, Madam Song.” Zhong Cheng kowtowed firmly to Shen Yijia.
Hearing the commotion, the mute woman quickly got out of bed. Before she could kneel down, Shen Yijia quickly supported her.
“You don’t have to kneel down. Just don’t forget what you promised us.” Shen Yijia pursed her lips. “Your life might be in danger.”
Even if the reversal of the case was an unspoken mutual understanding between the emperor and her beautiful husband, it was still the emperor’s fault. If they really placed the evidence in front of him, who knew if he would go back on his word for the sake of his reputation?
Moreover, the ones who were wronged were meritorious officials. When the time came, in order to give the people an explanation, an imperial edict would be unavoidable. How could the emperor be willing to do so?
Therefore, her beautiful husband had never thought of bringing the mute woman directly to the emperor. They needed to spread news about this matter far and wide and let everyone know, so that the emperor had no choice but to review the case from back then.
The mute woman was undoubtedly in danger.
“I already have one foot in the coffin. Before I die, I can still seek justice for the old duke. I can die without regrets.”
Shen Yijia puffed up her cheeks and looked at Zhong Cheng, whose eyes were red. She thought for a moment and said, “Don’t worry, she might not die.”
After giving a few more instructions, Shen Yijia came out of the mute woman’s house.
In the central room, Xuanyuan Ce had already asked the chef to prepare a table full of dishes.
This was what he had instructed when he sent someone to inform Shen Yijia..