Chapter 98: Opportunity (1)

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and the grass, trees, and rocks in the courtyard were clearly visible. Red silk and lanterns that hadn't been removed yet could be seen everywhere. Unfortunately, the cold and quiet courtyard, set against the glaring red, inexplicably revealed a trace of sorrow. The low chirping of insects sounded as usual, and the gentle night breeze brushed her face. The scenery never changed; what changed were the people looking at the scenery and the heart that appreciated it.

In the main hall, the servants didn't dare to disturb the new Madam, only lighting two lanterns in the porch. The soft light shone into the hall. Zhuo Qing was still sitting in the position from noon. She knew she had sat for a long time, just didn't want to move.

Soft footsteps sounded, and a thin figure flashed by. A low male voice came to her ear: "Eat something first."

As soon as the words fell, a bowl of warm meat porridge was slowly handed to her. Zhuo Qing looked up, and what came into view was that face as innocent and pure as an angel's. The difference was that the usual playfulness was gone from his face, and his bright eyes were looking at her with worry.

Seeing who it was, Zhuo Qing reacted after a while and asked softly: "Why haven't you left yet?" He should have left long ago.

"Leave?" Bai Yi frowned: "Leave to where?"

Putting the porridge in her hand onto the tea table beside her, Zhuo Qing replied with some fatigue: "A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. As a crown prince of a country, you should know this principle. The current Prime Minister's mansion is no longer suitable for you to continue staying."

"I don't care about any dangerous wall!" Bai Yi shouted excitedly. Regardless of the difference between men and women, he grabbed Zhuo Qing's hand and said loudly: "How could Prime Minister Lou rebel? Someone must have framed him! I will absolutely not leave the Prime Minister's mansion when it is in crisis! Don't worry, I am a crown prince after all. With Prime Minister Lou away, I will protect you!"

Bai Yi's hands were thin like him, but they were warm, and his young face was full of indignation. Zhuo Qing smiled. This was also the first time she had smiled since noon. Slowly withdrawing her hand, Zhuo Qing sighed: "Alright, I appreciate your kindness, leave quickly." It was a bit ridiculous for him, a foreign prince, to claim to protect her, but after all, he was just a child of ten-something, and it was out of good intentions, so Zhuo Qing still thanked him.

"I won't leave!" Calling him a child, he actually started acting like a rascal, sitting down at Zhuo Qing's feet, Bai Yi insisted: "Not only will I not leave, but I will also find a way to help Prime Minister Lou clear his name!"

"You?!" His childish behavior stunned Zhuo Qing. He was a prince after all, how could he act like such a rascal? She really appreciated his kindness, but she didn't need someone to add to the chaos!

Zhuo Qing glared at him, and he glared at Zhuo Qing. The two looked at each other for a long time, and Bai Yi finally softened a bit, leaning closer, and said mysteriously: "You don't have to look down on me. I have already sent people to investigate. Guess what I found?"

Zhuo Qing retorted impatiently: "What?" She didn't believe that in just an afternoon and half a night, he could find anything!

Taking a piece of paper out of his arms, Bai Yi handed it to Zhuo Qing triumphantly. Zhuo Qing opened it suspiciously. It was actually a record of an interrogation of the rebels. Looking at the date, this interrogation should have taken place just before returning to the capital.

Zhuo Qing looked intently. Bai Yi crossed his arms and analyzed eloquently: "When the Su Family Army caught the rebels, they had already interrogated them once. At that time, they said they colluded with the Minister of Revenue who opened the treasury back then, and even signed and pressed their fingerprints. All the way back, except for the people from the General's Mansion, no one should have been able to get close to the prisoners. Who knew that as soon as they returned to the Ministry of Justice, they insisted that it was Prime Minister Lou and his son who instigated it? Isn't this very strange? Why would they frame the Prime Minister? Someone must have instructed them to do so!"

Her sharp eyes stared at Bai Yi's young and handsome face. Zhuo Qing asked: "Where did you get these things?"

This kind of thing was either in the Ministry of Justice or kept in the General's Mansion. Why could he, a foreign prince, get his hands on it in such a short time? Was she underestimating him, or was everything fundamentally related to him?

Facing Zhuo Qing's questioning, anyone with eyes could see her vigilance and pressing. Bai Yi, however, had eyes shining brightly, looking like he was asking for credit, and said triumphantly: "I naturally have my own ways! Know how powerful I am now! I said I could protect you, but you didn't believe me!"

Zhuo Qing held in her hand things that ordinary people could hardly touch. These reminded her not to underestimate the boy. He was not as simple as he appeared! But facing those bright, pure eyes and the face asking for credit, Zhuo Qing felt that she was ungrateful and too nervous. Perhaps he was sincerely trying to help her, and being able to get these materials only showed that Liaoyue had already planted spies in the court.

Thinking of this, Zhuo Qing seemed to trust the boy beside her more. He didn't hesitate to expose his country's spies just to show her the interrogation records, which showed that he should be treating her sincerely.

Thinking of Bai Yi's words just now, Zhuo Qing frowned again: "You mean Su Ling deliberately framed Xiyan? Impossible!" Su Ling didn't look like that kind of person!

Bai Yi curled his lips and replied: "I didn't say it must be General Su, but I can't say he doesn't have the greatest suspicion!"

Now there was no evidence, and Zhuo Qing couldn't refute his words. Su Ling indeed had suspicion.

Zhuo Qing didn't refute anymore. Bai Yi simply sat cross-legged and analyzed on his own: "I think the most important thing now is how to prove that those rebels are talking nonsense and framing the loyal and good! As long as we prove that the Prime Minister was wronged, we can get him out of prison first. As for who the mastermind is, it would be more appropriate for the Prime Minister to investigate it himself. He is so wise and talented, his strategies must be more exquisite than ours."

Zhuo Qing shook her head tiredly: "Easier said than done!" She naturally understood the principle of what Bai Yi said, but now Lou Xiyan was imprisoned on charges of rebellion! In every dynasty, this was a serious crime! Those who wanted to frame him wouldn't easily leave loopholes for them to drill through.

Beckoning Zhuo Qing to lean in, Bai Yi smiled slyly and whispered in Zhuo Qing's ear: "Actually, it's not difficult."

Not difficult? Zhuo Qing looked at the quirky boy in front of her, feeling suspicious in her heart, but her body had already bent down involuntarily.

Looking left and right to make sure there was no one around, Bai Yi whispered in Zhuo Qing's ear: "We just need to forge some evidence to prove that those rebels were instructed by General Su to frame the Prime Minister, and we can prove that the Prime Minister was wronged! Once the Prime Minister is out, he can investigate carefully, and naturally, he can find out who the mastermind is. At that time, if it wasn't General Su's doing, he can still be cleared!"

"No!" Zhuo Qing shouted low, glared at Bai Yi, and cursed: "This is framing others!"

Bai Yi wrinkled his nose, unconvinced, and muttered: "Isn't the Prime Minister framed by others? They can forge evidence, why can't we? Besides, these are all expedient measures; getting people out is the priority."

Zhuo Qing was almost angered to death. If she did this, how was she any different from those who framed Xiyan? Besides, did he really think Su Ling was a vegetarian? He wanted to frame him just like that! Angrily patting Bai Yi's head, Zhuo Qing snorted: "You are indeed still a child, is doing this kind of thing child's play?"

Rubbing his head, Bai Yi insisted while rubbing: "I didn't treat it as child's play. It's called 'making a feint to the east and attacking in the west', 'stealing the beam and replacing it with a pillar'. We are just confusing the situation. It won't have any major impact on General Su, and it can let the so-called evidence that frames the Prime Minister show loopholes. Isn't that very good?"

Facing the stubborn child in front of her, Zhuo Qing really didn't know what to say, and her head started to ache again. Now she was upset and confused. Rubbing her temples lightly, Zhuo Qing waved her hand at Bai Yi and said impatiently: "Forget it, you go out first, I want to be quiet."

"Oh." Seeing her painful appearance, Bai Yi didn't insist anymore, climbed up from the ground, patted his clothes, and walked toward the door, not forgetting to instruct: "Remember to eat."

Closing her eyes, Zhuo Qing replied perfunctorily: "Mm."

Finally, Bai Yi's footsteps went further and further away. Zhuo Qing slowly opened her eyes, looking at the interrogation records in her hand. Her already poor complexion became even more haggard.

Bai Yi's footsteps were light. When he walked in front of the study door, he didn't enter for a long time. A black and burly figure appeared behind him, following all the way, but with a hesitant look. Bai Yi seemed to be in a good mood, his thin lips curled, and he smiled: "What's the matter?"

The burly man hesitated for a while, but still bowed slightly and asked his doubt: "Master, please forgive this servant for being bold. Why do you want to help Lou Xiyan, even at the cost of letting yourself and Liaoyue get involved in such right and wrong?" Handing that thing to Qing Ling was undoubtedly exposing Liaoyue's hidden strength in Qiongyue. He could barely understand what the Master had done before, but this time it was truly puzzling, and it concerned the entire Liaoyue, so he dared to ask!

Bai Yi seemed to have guessed that he would ask this, and was not surprised. Instead, he turned around, looked at the nervous burly man behind him, and smiled: "Who do you think will be Liaoyue's greatest enemy, Lou Xiyan or Su Ling?"

The burly man was stunned, but still thought about it seriously before replying truthfully: "Lou Xiyan is resourceful, Su Ling is brave in battle. But in terms of the threat to Liaoyue, Su Ling is better!" The Su Family Army swept across the six kingdoms, invincible. This was also the reason why Qiongyue ruled the six kingdoms.

Bai Yi nodded with satisfaction, walked close to the burly man, and his thin figure was almost completely covered by the burly body under the moonlight. Bai Yi slowly raised his head, and the sophistication and coldness in his eyes, along with the strange arc of his mouth, made even the burly man beside him tremble: "What if Su Ling could possibly collude with Liaoyue? What would happen? If the two countries go to war again in the future, would Yan Hongtian dare to send the Su Family Army to conquer Liaoyue? Wouldn't he be afraid that Su Ling would defect? Framing him today, although the evidence is not sufficient, is enough to bury the seeds of suspicion in Yan Hongtian's heart. Which monarch is not suspicious! Even if Yan Hongtian finally treats no one for the sake of balancing the court relationship and stabilizing Qiongyue's political situation, after this, the Prime Minister's mansion and the General's Mansion will definitely become enemies. How can the civil and military officials led by them live in peace? Such a Qiongyue, how can it be compared with my Liaoyue!"

The still clear voice whispered in his ear in the completely silent night. The burly man immediately cupped his hands and replied: "This servant is dull! The Master is still far-sighted. But will Madam Lou be willing to cooperate in framing Su Ling? In this servant's view, she doesn't look like a foolish person!"

She was indeed not a foolish person, but she was absolutely an infatuated person! Patting the burly man's shoulder, Bai Yi smiled softly and unhurriedly: "She would definitely not be fooled if it were ordinary times, but it might not be the case now. Lou Xiyan has already been imprisoned, and she has long been anxious. I heard that the Prime Minister's health has always been poor, and he has old illnesses. If he happens to have an attack at this time and almost dies in prison, you say, can the infatuated Madam Lou still be so rational?"

"This servant will do it immediately." The force on his shoulder, which was heavier than before, made the burly man immediately understand, and after bowing, he hurried toward the gate.

Bai Yi nodded with satisfaction, his footsteps still light, but under the moonlight, the strange brilliance flowed in the eyes that should have been sunny and bright.

Lanyue Lou

Autumn wind began to rise, and a few strands of gold were faintly revealed from the white clouds, plating the white clouds with a golden edge. The breeze blew across the lake, causing ripples. The lotus flowers had withered, leaving many lotus pods swaying in the ink-colored lotus leaves.

A plain-clothed beauty sat on a stone stool by the lotus pond, holding a small booklet, reading it intently. Behind her was Mo Bai's tall figure.

After a long time, Zhuo Qing looked up and asked: "Did Qing Mo come to find me?"

"No."

Logically speaking, whether she found anything or not, Yun should have come to find her this morning, but now it was almost noon, and she hadn't seen her shadow. Did the case have progress, or did something happen to her? Her brows frowned involuntarily, and Zhuo Qing continued to ask: "Is Jing Sa back?"

Mo Bai's cold face was now a bit impatient, and he replied in a deep voice: "No." Jing Sa went to the Ministry of Justice prison early this morning to inquire about the Master's situation, and it had been two hours, but he hadn't returned. If he really couldn't find out, he would have to sneak into the Ministry of Justice prison tonight!

Zhuo Qing's hand holding the booklet stiffened. Was she too anxious? She just felt a sense of unease. Lowering her head again to look at the things Mo Bai had organized for a whole night, she had to say that the relationship between the Lou family and the entire Qiongyue dynasty was intricate. She felt a bit dizzy just reading it once. It was truly difficult for Xiyan to have to weigh the pros and cons and maneuver in between.

"Beautiful sister."

The clear male voice came from the courtyard gate again. Zhuo Qing squinted and saw a thin figure holding a tray, walking toward her with a face more sunny than the sunlight.

It was Bai Yi.

Slowly putting the small booklet into her sleeve, Zhuo Qing whispered to Mo Bai behind her: "You go down first."

"Yes." Mo Bai nodded and left. When passing by Bai Yi, he glanced at the food on the tray he was holding. The brilliance in his blue eyes flickered. Offering courtesy for no reason, what exactly was this brat trying to do?

Sitting down beside Zhuo Qing, Bai Yi pushed the tray in his hand lightly toward her and smiled: "I was afraid you wouldn't eat breakfast again, so I came to eat with you."

Zhuo Qing looked down at the full meal and replied faintly: "You eat it yourself, I'm not hungry."

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 99 =====