Chapter 257:

Chapter 257:

 Fortunately, Xiao Junzhan seemed to just say something casually, and then ordered an inner court guard to protect Yunpei.

 The main theme is to respond to requests.

 There were only two of them in the huge Qinzheng Hall.

One is reviewing the memorial, while the other is looking here and there, occasionally leaning his little head over to read the contents of the memorial.

When she came closer again, Xiao Junzhan took her hand and refused to leave, "But we are bored here. How about we go to the imperial garden? Or do you want to go to the palace or have the music performers come and perform?"

 “It’s not boring.” How could it be boring to stay with him? Wei Hanzhang hooked his palm and leaned close to him with a smile: “Brother Boqian, how about we do something bad?”

 Xiao Junzhan glanced at her and said, "What's the bad thing?"

Pack!

 Still pretending!

It's amazing to say that she didn't like being close to him when she was poisoned, but he seemed to be a different person. Every time they met, he wanted to press her down on the bed and bully her. But now that she has recovered from the poison, he has returned to his normal self. The upright look at the beginning.

It’s as if those frivolous actions were imagined by her.

 But she still liked his seriousness.

Wei Hanzhang rubbed his arm: "It's just what you do after taking off your clothes."

Xiao Junzhan was a little uncomfortable. He put down the memorial in his hand, paused briefly, and said helplessly: "Ran Ran, why are you so shameless?"

"Why don't you act like a good boy even though you're getting an advantage?" Wei Hanzhang said confidently, "If I were ashamed, I would be so ashamed that I wouldn't be able to see anyone when I bathe in the hot spring with you."

 Xiao Junzhan stopped talking.

 …If we look into this matter carefully, it is indeed what he did wrong.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Wei Hanzhang kept asking, "Are you coming?"

The tone was as casual as inviting him to play.

Xiao Junzhan lowered his eyes to look at her, his eyes full of tenderness. He looked at her like this for a long time, lowered his head and pressed a kiss on her lips, coaxing softly: "Ran Ran, good boy, there are less than two months left, please bear with me."

These words made the girl, who had always been bold and bold, immediately blush.

　　glaring, feeling ashamed and angry: "I just want you to think about it, I don't want to!"

“Okay, I think so,” Xiao Junzhan nodded slightly, caressing her blushing face, and said, “But it’s not possible now. You and I haven’t had the wedding ceremony yet.”

Wei Hanzhang opened his mouth. He really wanted to say that he didn't know you were such a disciplined person before.

Most importantly, if she did not survive this disaster and was buried with Liu Wanning, wouldn't he have to remain a virgin for the rest of his life?

 Does he understand her good intentions?

Thinking of this, Wei Hanzhang wished he could just ask the overlord to draw his bow.

While hesitating, he heard a knock on the palace door.

 Xiao Junzhan was pardoned and asked people to come in.

Ning Hai bowed and saluted, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, Mr. Chen is outside asking for an audience."

 Xiao Junzhan's face slightly condensed: "Send him to come in."

Wei Hanzhang had the nerve to get so close to him when a minister was coming. He immediately wanted to retreat behind the screen, but he held his hand and said, "Just stay here."

Wei Hanzhang raised his eyebrows slightly, not knowing why, when he saw a familiar figure walking into the hall, he immediately understood.

 It turns out that Mr. Chen is Chen Zishu.

Chen Zishu, who was wearing a crimson official robe, bowed with slightly lowered eyes. After being called up, he raised his head and saw the girl next to the throne who looked embarrassed.

 The two people’s hands are still holding each other’s hands…

His expression paused for a moment, then he collected all his thoughts and said with cupped hands: "Reporting to Your Highness, the traces of the assassin in the paddock have been traced."

Xiao Junzhan folded his fingers, holding the stiff little girl and gently comforting her. Hearing the words, he raised his eyes and said, "Say."

The voice was sharp and cold.

 …That is murderous intent.

Unexpectedly, it was about him. Wei Hanzhang also became more energetic and looked at it.

“The three assassins captured alive are all hard-core. They haven’t uttered a single word yet, and they are definitely dead soldiers. However, the poison they swallowed has some background.”

Without waiting to ask, Chen Zishu said: "This is a poisonous pill from the Miao Territory. This poisonous pill seals the throat with blood. It is extremely precious. Since the imperial court sent troops to the Miao Territory forty years ago, the spirit poison has been almost lost. Anyone with money can't find it." You can’t buy it, you need a lot of connections to get even a little bit.”

"Ordinary aristocratic families raise dead soldiers to perform tasks, usually with ordinary poisons. Compared with spiritual poisons, poison poisons take longer to take effect. Wei Chen thought, maybe the mastermind behind the scenes was cautious to avoid accidentally exposing himself. Used this poison."

Wei Hanzhang was a little surprised, it was Miao Jiang again.

 Is this place rich in poison?

It can be seen that the people behind the scenes were extremely careful when they decided to assassinate her. They hoped that all the assassins would die before being caught. They did not dare to underestimate the power of torture in Dali Temple, and even used the spiritual poison that was almost lost in Miao territory.

Although this thing is good, it is precious after all and requires connections in the Miao border. If you are not careful, you can easily expose yourself.

Wei Hanzhang didn't know much about the background of the aristocratic family in Beijing, so he had no clue when he thought about it. He stood quietly by the side, waiting for the analysis of the two men.

 Xiao Junzhan thought for a while with a sullen face, then suddenly told Ning Hai beside him: "Bring a chair over."

Ning Hai, who was standing by the side, was slightly startled. He quickly went down the steps and personally moved a chair up, next to the throne, and thoughtfully put a soft pillow on it.

Wei Hanzhang sat down silently, feeling sweet and shy at the same time.

 While chatting about business, I was still keeping an eye on her to see if her legs would get sore from standing for a long time.

 But he was worried that her legs would be sore, so he let her sit down.

Looking at his unwillingness to let go, Wei Hanzhang had to suspect that if he wasn't afraid of her being angry, he would even hold her on his lap and sit in front of Chen Zishu.

Where does it take a special trip to bring a chair?

　　After thinking wildly for a while, I heard the man next to me speak again: "Ai Qing, I have a suspect, but it doesn't hurt to say so."

Since he chose to be gifted, Chen Zishu naturally had a certain range.

He said: "As far as I know, when the army was launched in Miao territory, Liu Boxheng took charge of the commander-in-chief and went out with two deputy generals. One was Pingxi General Zhang Sheng, and the other was the Ziyi Hou Mansion who had been executed by everyone. Xie Yan, the crown prince, apart from Liu Boxheng, there is a high possibility that these two people have collections of rare items from Miao territory."

Wei Hanzhang's heart tightened when he heard this: "The Duke of Qi?"

She remembered hearing Jiang say that the Ziyi Marquis Mansion was ransacked, and it was the Duke of Qi himself who had done it himself. His old acquaintance, his children's relatives, became the executioner wielding a sword.

Even in the capital, the center of power, struggles for power and wealth among aristocratic families are common, and it is rare to see someone as ruthless as the Duke of Qi.

"In order to convey Gu's decree, Princess Xuan Changle came to see her and brought her husband and son with her." Xiao Junzhan said with a cold expression: "Ask Deng Chen to lead his troops to surround the Duke of Qi's mansion. Without Gu's decree, no matter who is allowed to enter, they are not allowed to leave."

Ning Hai looked solemn as he followed the order and left.

Wei Hanzhang frowned slightly: "Do you suspect that Princess Changle hates me because of Qi Yuxiao's death?"

 Xiao Junzhan turned his head to look at her and said, "Is that true? I'll tell you when I call you."

This autumn hunting, the Duke of Qi is not accompanying him. He is all in the capital at the moment, and it will only take a moment to wait for others to arrive. Ke Wei Hanzhang always felt that it would not be that simple.

Princess Changle is not stupid. After all, she grew up in the palace. Even though she was pampered by the emperor's father and became arrogant and arrogant, it should be obvious after her daughter's death that the capital is no longer a capital where she can be domineering.

There are people she cannot offend. Once she offends her prince brother's sweetheart and stirs him up to murderous intent, not even her father can protect him.

Unless there is no one else in this world that she cares about, no matter how sensible she is, she would not dare to do anything to herself and follow in the footsteps of her daughter.

 Is there anyone she cares about?

In addition to Qi Yuxiao, Princess Changle also has a son.

With this thought in mind, he heard footsteps approaching from outside the palace, and Ning Hai quickly stepped inside.

As soon as he entered the door, he quickly reported: "Your Highness, the young master of the Qi family frightened his horse in the martial arts arena yesterday and fell on a spear. He was not alive at that time. He was treated by the imperial doctor for a day and a night and died half an hour ago. Out of breath, Princess Changle vomited blood on the spot and is now unconscious. "

It was a very cool late autumn day, and he was actually covered in sweat.

There was also silence in the palace.

Wei Hanzhang felt the hand holding her tighten. She turned her head and glanced at the people around her. They were his nephew and half-sister.

Although he himself was preparing to call people in for interrogation just now, he was still a little shocked when he heard the bad news.

Yesterday, they themselves were in a state of chaos and chaos, so they had no time to pay attention to which of the children in the capital fell off their horses and was injured.

 Speaking of which,...this is too coincidental.

Princess Changle had a son and a daughter. Qi Yuxiao had just died, and her youngest son had died again.

 It’s like receiving retribution.

Something flashed through her mind. She blinked and didn't catch it, but she heard the person next to her speak.

“After the Xie family’s female relatives entered the Jiaofang Division, are there any survivors now?”

Since Chen Zishu found out about the Ziyihou Mansion, he naturally also checked out the follow-up information.

He shook his head and said: "Wei Chen found that a total of twenty-four Xie's daughters were sent to the Jiaofang Division. Over the past ten years, they either died of illness or committed suicide due to the humiliation. The last Xie's daughter died five years ago. Now, they are all dead.”

 At that time, all the men in the huge purple-clothed Hou Mansion were beheaded, and none of them survived.

 With the women entering the Jiaofang Division, although their lives were saved, what awaited them was life worse than death.

 But the bloodline of the Xie family has been cut off. Could it be that the son of Princess Changle really died in an accident?

Or, did she inadvertently offend others?

However, even Princess Changle, who has been arrogant for many years, has not provoked a second one of these life-and-death enemies, right?

The silence returned to the room again, with only the sound of the autumn wind hitting the window sill coming from time to time. Xiao Junzhan lowered his eyelashes, not knowing what he was thinking.

After a long time, he said slowly: "Ask Deng Chen to come back. There is no need to surround the Duke of Qi. I will also send Si Jie to see him."

Ning Hai took the order and withdrew again.

Si Jian can be regarded as one of Xiao Junzhan's personal secret guards, but the Secret Guard's informants are all over the states and counties of the Daling Dynasty. He is the emperor's eyes and the emperor's sword. As the leader of the Secret Guard, he sometimes gets busy and cannot follow him all the time. .

However, it’s not too far away.

After a while, Si Jian, dressed in black clothes, walked in and knelt down to salute.

Xiao Junzhan spoke, without making too many greetings, and ordered: "Send someone to keep an eye on Qi Mingrui secretly, and then ask the Secret Guard Department to check Qi Mingrui's whereabouts over the years, focusing on whether there are places where he often goes."

Si Jian accepted the order with his hands raised.

Xiao Junzhan added: "It is possible that the legitimate wife of the Prince of Qi is not dead, but was hidden somewhere by him. This matter is of great importance, so you must investigate carefully."

 As a monarch, he rarely explains the purpose of his orders to his ministers.

Si Jian said with a solemn expression: "Your Highness, don't worry, if the person is really not dead, no matter where he is in Daling, I will definitely be able to find him."

“Don’t set the scope too large,” Xiao Junzhan reminded: “The focus is on the capital city and the suburbs.”

 “No.” Si Jian responded respectfully.

The Secret Guard Division is very mysterious. This is not only the first time that Wei Hanzhang has met the leader of the secret guard, but also the first time for Chen Zishu.

 He kept his head slightly lowered throughout, neither interrupting nor raising his eyes.

As soon as the others left, Xiao Junzhan's eyes fell on him and asked: "Have you found anything from the royal family's palace?"

Chen Zishu said: "I am incompetent and have not found any doubts."

 Xiao Junzhan looked calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

Even though there was a spiritual poison and the clues pointed to Anguo Gongfu and the General's Mansion, his biggest suspicion still lay with the clan.

Only absolute benefits are worth the risk for those in high positions and their lives.

 The biggest benefit is just the succession of the dynasty.

 Before his Ran Ran appeared, he had never thought about marrying a wife and having children. After she appeared, he did not know how many people's interests were affected.

 Especially after Qi Yuxiao's death, everyone knew how much he valued the little girl around him.

 It is so serious that many people may think that if something happens to the little girl, he will never think about marrying again in this life.

 Everything will be restored to its original position.

As if thinking of something, he frowned, and at this moment, his cuffs were yanked sharply.

"Brother Boqian," Wei Hanzhang blurted out: "You suspected that the royal family was plotting to kill me in order to give you a step-heir. Didn't you also suspect your two younger brothers?"

 She finally caught what was wrong that had just flashed across her face.

Princess Changle is probably just a cover to block the gun. The real mastermind behind the scenes can't jump out so easily.

Also in the original work, Wei Hansu's child was selected by Xiao Boqian. Is it really just because of his talent?

Although the other two princes have very little presence and are very young, His Majesty actually has three sons today.

  Xiao Boqian has two brothers with the same father. In terms of blood relationship, the children of cousins ​​must be separated by one layer, right?

Two younger brothers can’t give birth to a smart and good child?

 Resulting in the imperial power being transferred to the heirs of the uncle's family?

Her voice sounded extraordinarily loud in the empty palace. Chen Zishu, who had always lowered his head slightly, raised his face in surprise. He was shocked that she dared to speak so freely in front of His Highness.

Whoever listens to this wouldn’t think that this is a way to sow discord between the royal brothers?

If this is known to Your Majesty...

The tip of my heart was a little worried for her.

Xiao Junzhan didn't mean to be angry at all. Instead, he squeezed her hand and praised: "Ran Ran is really smart as ice and snow."

 He also thought of this just now. (End of chapter)