Chapter 274

"Oh?" Yan Hongtian raised the corners of his mouth slightly, unable to tell if this "not appropriate" violated the imperial will.

"Magistrate Dan's ability to handle cases is obvious to all. Retrying the Gold Case will definitely set off a thousand waves. I am afraid that someone will jump over the wall in a hurry and cause trouble during the celebration, which will be disadvantageous to Qiongyue."

With his hands crossed over his chest, Yan Hongtian squinted at Lou Xiyan: "Then, in the Prime Minister's opinion, what should be done? Just let it go?"

Lou Xiyan laughed: "That's not necessary."

Yan Hongtian raised his sword-like brows, leaned back on the dragon chair, and looked at him leisurely, waiting for him to continue.

"There are still two months until the celebration. The Emperor can first see what new evidence Magistrate Dan can find. If Magistrate Dan can find more powerful evidence, the Emperor can take this opportunity to uproot them."

"Uproot them?" Yan Hongtian sneered: "Do you think it's possible?" If it were so easy to uproot them, it would have been done back then. Did he still need to lie dormant for so many years?

Lou Xiyan smiled indifferently and replied nonchalantly: "If he can't, borrowing this stick to startle a few more snakes for the Emperor is worth it. After the celebration, the treasury will definitely be empty. If we can find the lost ten thousand taels of gold, that would be even better."

Nodding with satisfaction, Yan Hongtian replied readily: "Just do as you say."

Lou Xiyan laughed. The Emperor had already planned it, but he just wanted to hear it from his mouth. "Yes." Arching his hands slightly in salute, Lou Xiyan turned and left.

"Wait." Yan Hongtian asked sternly: "Do you really have to marry Qing Ling at this time?"

A trace of teasing flashed in Lou Xiyan's eyes, and he replied with a smile: "This subject will handle this matter well and dare not trouble the Emperor to clean up the mess."

"Lou Xiyan!" He actually dared to use the words he just said to him!

Yan Hongtian changed his face, but Lou Xiyan didn't care, arched his hands again with a smile, and replied faintly: "This subject takes his leave." His departing back was graceful and calm.

Yan Hongtian shook his head helplessly. He had to remind the Empress Dowager to find another husband for Xuan'er. If he remembered correctly, he remembered that Xiyan once said in his youth that he would only marry one wife in his life. If Xiyan could really do it, he would really admire him. It wasn't that it was difficult to be devoted to one woman in his life, but for people like them, marrying wives and taking concubines was more often a need to win over and balance various forces. Whether in his eyes or the eyes of their families, women existed more as "tools," and he was very happy to make good use of these "tools."

His gaze swept over the fifty taels of gold on the desk, and Yan Hongtian suddenly called out in a low voice: "Gao Jin, proclaim Ming Jian."

"Yes." Gao Jin hurried out of the Imperial Study. Half an hour later, a man walked in behind Gao Jin. He was over seven feet tall, lean and upright. Although he was not wearing an official uniform, the dark blue long gown had already set him off as heroic and elegant. The man walked calmly to the center of the hall, knelt on one knee, and said loudly: "This subject Ming Jian, paying respects to the Emperor."

Yan Hongtian raised his head from a large stack of memorials, glanced at the man in front of the hall, raised his hand slightly in a good mood, and replied: "Rise. How is the matter I asked you to investigate?"

The man stood up and stepped forward a few steps, whispering in front of Yan Hongtian's desk: "Replying to the Emperor, this case was caused by the bounty hunter Qian Jing killing Yang Lu, a former soldier of the Ministry of War and current guard general of the General's Mansion. During the trial of the case, Qing sisters Qing Ling and Qing Mo both participated. Qing Ling found clues on the corpse, confirming that the murder weapon on the fatal wound on Yang Lu's chest was not the flying knife commonly used by Qian Jing. Qing Mo saw through the loopholes in Yang Lu's wife's testimony and set a clever plan to capture the murderer. The murderer is indeed Yang Lu's wife, Qu Xin, and Qu Xin is the younger sister of Qu Ze, who was convicted of colluding with rebels and stealing gold back then. Qu Xin killed Yang Lu and framed Qian Jing, firstly to avenge her brother, and secondly to attract Magistrate Dan's attention to overturn the Gold Case back then."

There were guards outside the hall, and there was no one else in the hall except Gao Jin, but the man still lowered his voice to only Yan Hongtian could hear, showing his caution.

Dan Yulan had already stated the details of the bounty hunter murder case involving the old Gold Case very clearly in the memorial. He just felt that Dan Yulan seemed to always have something to hide, and his interaction with Xiyan was not small, and Lou Xiyan was also unusually concerned about this case. It turned out that there were such interesting things in it.

Yan Hongtian laughed: "Qing Mo is Qing's little sister?" Xiyan had already loved the house and its crow for Qing Ling.

"Yes, that woman is very clever and has a lot of experience in questioning prisoners and finding evidence. In short, this woman is independent, and even Magistrate Dan appreciates her quite a bit." Ming Jian's affirmation of this woman made Yan Hongtian have some interest in the woman he just mentioned casually. He smiled in disbelief: "Not to mention whether she is exceptionally clever and independent, how can a mere little woman enter and exit the General's Mansion at will, and still be able to assist Dan Yulan in handling cases?" If he remembered correctly, although the General's Mansion was not as strict as the military camp, it could not tolerate any presumptuousness, let alone a woman.

Ming Jian coughed lightly and whispered: "Her status in the General's Mansion seems to be not low. Everyone in the General's Mansion calls her 'Madam'."

"Madam?" Yan Hongtian was rarely stunned, and only after a while did he come back to his senses, wondering: "Do Su Ren and Su Yu recognize her?"

The corners of Ming Jian's eyes also raised a faint smile, and he replied: "General Su Ren respects her as... 'Sister-in-law' in front of and behind people."

Sister-in-law?! This time Yan Hongtian was really shocked. Su Ren was calm and meticulous, and it was absolutely impossible for him to call a woman sister-in-law casually in just over a month. Or... was it authorized by Su Ling?

Too interesting? Yan Hongtian suddenly burst into laughter. This was more interesting than Xiyan and Qing Ling. He hadn't forgotten the bitter and deep-seated look on his face when he bestowed the Qing family's young lady to Su Ling. Didn't General Su not get close to women? How long had it been before he surrendered? Who was this Qing family's little sister?

The guards guarding outside the hall looked sideways one after another. Inside the Imperial Study, there was only the Emperor's hearty laughter. Commander Ming didn't know what good news he had brought back again. The Emperor hadn't laughed so heartily for a long time.

Catching his breath, Yan Hongtian picked up the tea on the table and took a light sip. The smile on his face gradually faded. Looking at the memorials on the desk, he said in a low voice: "Since Dan Yulan wants to retry this case and found a 'master' to help, you don't disturb them, just let Dan Yulan investigate. Both the Prime Minister's Mansion and the General's Mansion are involved in this case, and some people will definitely be unable to sit still. You just need to keep a close eye on them."

"Yes."

Yan Hongtian put down the hot tea and continued to deal with the memorials from all over the country, but Ming Jian did not ignore the cold, sharp light that flashed in the Emperor's eyes.

Ming Jian retreated out of the hall silently. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a familiar figure at the corner. Ming Jian strode over and called out heartily: "Ming Ze."

Hearing the man's call, Ming Ze's body stiffened slightly. He clasped his fists and bowed, replying respectfully but distantly: "This subordinate pays respects to the Commander."

"You..." The smile on Ming Jian's face froze at the corner of his mouth, and the hand that was about to be placed on Ming Ze's shoulder could only stop there awkwardly. Staring at the outstanding but always isolated and cold younger brother in front of him, Ming Jian had no more words, and in the end, it could only turn into a sigh. Putting down his hand, Ming Jian turned and left.

Ming Ze straightened up slowly, looking straight ahead, turning a blind eye to the departing back that contained hidden anger but could only be helpless. The red-clothed deputy general beside him couldn't stand it and sighed low: "I said Ming Ze, the Commander is your brother after all, why do you have to..."

"You don't need to worry about my business." The cold male voice ruthlessly interrupted Lu Tong, who was still preparing to preach. Swallowing the words on his lips, Lu Tong slapped his face hard and spat: "Fine, fine, fine, I have a cheap mouth! Happy now!" Speaking of which, he was really asking for a scolding himself. It was none of his business what happened between brothers! Besides, Ming Ze had a brother who was the Commander of the Imperial Guard, and the Ming clan behind him, so of course, he could be as arrogant as he wanted. He was really asking for trouble!

The sunlight in the midsummer afternoon was dazzling even after piercing through layers of leaves. Qingfeng sat on the lounge chair by the window with a book in her hand. The wind blowing from time to time blew the pages in her hand into a mess, but Qingfeng didn't care. She hadn't read books properly for a long time, and she still didn't now. Holding the book was just to make herself look not so absent-minded when dazing.

Light footsteps came from outside. Before long, Fuling walked to her side quickly. Without waiting for her to ask, Fuling whispered: "Master, Princess Zhaoyun has returned to the palace."

Qingfeng tightened her grip on the book: "Why?" Wasn't it just yesterday that she went to the Prime Minister's Mansion? And it was sent by the Empress Dowager herself. The Princess returned to the palace, but Qingfeng didn't feel happy at all, instead, she felt more panicked. Putting down the book in her hand, Qingfeng urged: "What exactly is going on?"

"Early this morning, Princess Zhaoyun returned to the palace. I don't know the reason, but after returning, the Princess didn't see anyone." The imperial physicians and the Empress Dowager were all blocked outside the hall. Now everyone in the palace was guessing what the Princess had encountered in the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"How is the Prime Minister's Mansion? Did the Emperor or the Empress Dowager get angry because of this?" It was Lou Xiyan, right? Only he could make the Princess retreat. Qingfeng felt both happy and worried in her heart. Happy that Big Sister didn't misjudge the person, worried that the other party was a royal lady after all, could they really afford to offend her?

"Prime Minister Lou still goes to court as usual. The Emperor is busy dealing with state affairs and has no intention of making things difficult for Prime Minister Lou because of this. The Empress Dowager went to Qingxuan Hall this morning but was rejected by the Princess, and she returned to the palace after a while. This servant really can't find out anything else."

"I see. You retreat." Qingfeng could only rely on the news brought back by Fuling now, and she couldn't demand too much from her. Even if her heart was panicked at this moment, she could only wait and see.

"Yes." Retreating to the door, Fuling closed the door gently. The master would probably sit like this for a day again.

"This subject Lou Muhai pays respects to the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live, long live."

In the Imperial Study, a burly figure knelt in the hall. The loud voice made people's eardrums ache. His waist was straight, his eyes were bright, and he was over fifty years old, but he showed no signs of aging at all.

Yan Hongtian sat on the dragon chair, raised his hand to signal him to be exempt from courtesy, and smiled: "General Lou has guarded the northwest and has made great contributions. No need for courtesy. After a few years, the General's body is still strong." Lou Muhai was upright and had a very hearty personality. Yan Hongtian often wondered how Lou Muhai, who was a military general, gave birth to a son like Lou Xiyan, who was physically weak but deep in thought and more cunning than a fox?

(End of chapter)