Chapter 724.2: Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law
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Xiao Heng was in disguise, and if he entered the Commandery Office, he was likely to be exposed. There was also a high chance he would endure some form of harsh interrogation, especially if he accused the heir of the Han Family of being the assassin.
Zhang Dequan wouldn't interfere with the Commandery Office taking someone, as it was also a trusted government office of the Emperor.
At that moment, a disciple of the Imperial Advisor's Hall approached—it was none other than Ye Qing, the senior disciple of the Imperial Advisor's Hall.
Ye Qing calmly said to the young eunuch, "This is the Imperial Advisor's Hall. Whatever the matter is, wait until Lord Imperial Advisor comes out to discuss it."
The young eunuch opened his mouth, "But the Commandery Office..."
Ye Qing flung his long sleeves with an imposing aura, "The Commandery Office has no right to take anyone from the Imperial Advisor's Hall!"
The young eunuch trembled in fear, "Yes! This servant shall go and report this immediately!"
After the young eunuch hurried away, Ye Qing greeted Zhang Dequan and then turned to Xiao Heng, his tone and expression much more polite than before, "You're Young Master Xiao's medical assistant, right? My name is Ye Qing, I'm the senior disciple of the Imperial Advisor's Hall. Lord Imperial Advisor has prepared some medicinal ingredients for Young Master Xiao, follow me to get them."
Xiao Heng nodded and left the Qilin Hall with Ye Qing.
Ye Qing said, "The junior disciples have placed the herbs in the library. It's just ahead."
Xiao Heng replied, "Thank you."
The two walked together toward the library.
Ye Qing suddenly sighed and said, "Such a huge incident involving the former Crown Princess has shaken the entire imperial palace. Although she has been deposed and reduced to a commoner, after all, several of the imperial concubines watched her grow up. Before dawn, they requested imperial permission to go to the ancestral temple to offer prayers for her and seek blessings. Han shizi, as the Deputy Commander of the imperial guards, accompanied them as part of the escort."
Xiao Heng's eyes flickered, and he looked at Ye Qing, "Han shizi was at the ancestral temple the entire time?"
Ye Qing nodded and said, "Yes, the ancestral temple is located in the outer court, what the common people refer to as the Front Palace. For the concubines to leave the Inner Palace, they naturally required the protection of the imperial guards. The imperial concubines prayed until midday, and it wasn't until Han shizi and his imperial guards escorted them back to the Inner Palace that they left."
But the assassination attempt had taken place at the hour of sishi(9-11am).
By the hour of zishi (11pm-1am), he had already entered the imperial palace.
If Han Ye had been at the Ancestral Temple the whole time, then he had a perfect alibi.
If he had been taken by the Commandery Office just now and testified in front of all the officials that Han Ye was the assassin, it would surely be deemed a false accusation.
Gu Jiao had fought with the real Han Ye in the forest.
The Han Ye at the Ancestral Temple was a decoy, using disguise techniques just like Xiao Heng.
No wonder Han Ye dared to personally attempt to assassinate the physician summoned by the Emperor.
If successful, it would have been ideal.
If unsuccessful, and they accused Han Ye, they would have fallen into this carefully laid trap.
The result would not only fail to bring down the Han Family, but could also turn the former Crown Princess’s injury into a staged plot to frame the Han Family and the Crown Prince.
What a scheme, truly a brilliant scheme!
But why did Ye Qing tell him all this?
Was it intentional or unintentional?
"We're here." Ye Qing said to Xiao Heng, "Let's go in."
Xiao Heng and Ye Qing entered the library together.
The library was very quiet, matching the calm and peaceful demeanor of Ye Qing.
Ye Qing seemed like a young man who was easy to get along with, yet there was a polite sense of distance about him, not allowing others to get too close.
The disciples greeted him one by one, "Senior brother."
Ye Qing nodded politely in return.
Ye Qing led Xiao Heng through rows of bookshelves to his desk. Looking at a basket of herbs on the table, he said, "Ah, here it is."
"I'll take it." Xiao Heng said.
Xiao Heng stepped forward and lifted the heavy basket of herbs, but in doing so, he accidentally knocked over a scroll nearby.
Xiao Heng bent down to pick up the scroll, "Sorry about that."
Ye Qing took it, unrolled it, and smiled, "No harm done. This is a portrait of the Eldest Imperial Grandson, drawn three years ago."
The Eldest Imperial Grandson.
A subtle feeling stirred in Xiao Heng’s heart, and he instinctively looked at the portrait.
When he saw the boy in the portrait, and especially the familiar tear-shaped mole under his right eye, he was completely stunned.
……
In the study of the Zhonghe Hall, the Emperor was reviewing a mountain of documents.
The Emperor was known as a tyrant and a mad ruler, but he wasn't particularly negligent when it came to diligently managing the country.
Zhang Dequan was absent, having gone to the Imperial Advisor's Hall. Attending to the Emperor in his place was Zhang Dequan's adopted son, who also had the surname Zhang. Cunning and mischievous, he was known in the palace as Little Zhang.
Little Zhang was mimicking his foster father’s usual method of serving the Emperor—fanning when needed, refilling tea when needed, and never speaking unnecessarily.
But just as Little Zhang was halfway through fanning, the Emperor suddenly spoke in a deep voice, "Get out!"
Little Zhang trembled in fear!
What was wrong with His Majesty?
Had he not been serving properly?
The Emperor said coldly, "Call Zhang Dequan!"
"Yes!"
"Wait!"
"Your Majesty?"
"Forget it."
Forget it? Which "forget it" did he exactly mean?
Did he mean ‘forget it, you may go now’, or ‘forget it, no need to go anymore'?
Serving the Emperor really wasn't something just anyone could handle. If his foster father were here, he would surely understand what the Emperor meant, but Little Zhang had no idea!
The Emperor had ordered so many annoying young eunuchs to be beaten to death. Would he meet the same fate, left without a trace?
Oh dear, if only he hadn't flattered his foster father and taken this job in the first place!
"Your Majesty, Guardian Commandant requests an audience." A young eunuch reported from outside.
"Let him in." the Emperor said, frowning as he glanced at Little Zhang, "Keep fanning."
Little Zhang felt a wave of relief, grabbed the fan, and continued fanning the Emperor.
Guardian Commandant Wang Xu of the Commandery Office had come to report on the investigation.
Wang Xu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this humble official went to the forest where they were ambushed by assassins, but found no useful clues. The men from the Commandery Office were going to bring in that medical assistant for questioning, but were stopped by people from the Imperial Advisor's Hall."
The Emperor snorted coldly, "You dared to take someone from the Imperial Advisor's Hall, quite bold of you."
Wang Xu lowered his head, "This humble official realizes his mistake."
Though the Commandery Office was the Emperor’s trusted force, it still didn’t hold the same status as the Imperial Advisor's Hall in the court.
There was nothing wrong with interrogating the medical assistant; the mistake lay in attempting to take him from the Imperial Advisor's Hall.
How would that reflect on the Imperial Advisor's Hall?
In truth, if not for the urgent surgery required by the former Crown Princess, that young man named Xiao Liulang should have also been summoned to the Commandery Office to assist with the investigation.
"Continue the investigation." the Emperor said.
"Yes!" Wang Xu cupped his hands again and withdrew.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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Description:
In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.
When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.
The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.
From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.
***
Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.
After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"
Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"
Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”
Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
He hasn't finished his lines yet though…