Chapter 1656: Concerning Shady Dealings in the Prince

"Zhu San is innocent, and Zhu San will definitely be released. I don't care what the Mei family's attitude is; in short, I don't want to see the Mei family jump out to find trouble. Marchioness Zhang, do you understand what I mean?"

Chen Guanlou warned the other party.

Marchioness Zhang opened her mouth to speak, looking very troubled.

After a long while, she finally cried out: "Zhu San is innocent, so who is the murderer? How can I explain it to the Mei family?"

"That is your business; you find a way to solve it yourself. Once the Mei family jumps out, I will tell the Mei family the truth about you scheming against Third Miss Mei; you look after yourself."

"You cannot treat me like this."

"Of course I can! If it weren't for your surname being Zhang, you would already be dead. You being able to live is my tolerance; I am giving the Marquis's Mansion face."

Chen Guanlou said so, telling the other party to take care of herself.

"I'd rather go die!"

"I can fulfill your wish." Chen Guanlou raised his hand, immediately intending to kill the other party.

Marchioness Zhang screamed in terror, "I don't want to die, let me go. I will solve the Mei family; I guarantee they will never jump out to spoil things. I guarantee! Don't kill me!"

She squatted in the corner, trembling.

Chen Guanlou snorted coldly. "Solve it within ten days, otherwise bear the consequences yourself."

Having said that, he took Li Tou and left the side room, intending to go directly down the mountain.

On the way, he met the guest monk of Baoguo Temple, who said Master Jueneng invited him to drink tea.

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. "Jueneng has a sharp nose, actually knowing I came up the mountain."

He instructed Li Tou to go down the mountain first and organize the files, while he went to meet Master Jueneng.

Li Tou was not very reassured.

"Do you want me to call someone?"

Chen Guanlou laughed. "Rest assured, Baoguo Temple alone cannot stop me. Go back, don't worry about me."

Dismissing Li Tou, he followed the guest monk to the quiet room on the back mountain, where Jueneng had been waiting for a long time.

"Benefactor Chen, drink tea!" Jueneng was very polite.

Chen Guanlou picked up the teacup but didn't drink. "Monk, why don't you state your purpose first? Otherwise, I won't feel at ease drinking your tea. It's too expensive; I'm afraid I don't have enough money."

A barrage of sarcasm, without half a bit of politeness.

Master Jueneng didn't get angry either, saying calmly: "Just drinking tea, it's not as complicated as you think."

"Do you think I believe that? Monk, you are an imperial offering, a master famous throughout the world, busy with ten thousand things, walking among nobles all day. How do you have time to invite a small person like me to drink tea? You're trying to fool a ghost!"

Chen Guanlou smiled half-heartedly, simply putting down the teacup. He made his attitude clear: if you don't tell the truth, there is nothing to talk about today.

Master Jueneng chuckled, looking very helpless. "Your temper hasn't changed at all."

Chen Guanlou didn't make a sound, waiting for the other party's follow-up.

"Why must you make things difficult for the Marquis's Mansion?"

Master Jueneng finally said a word of truth, revealing part of his purpose.

Chen Guanlou scoffed. "The Marquis's Mansion doesn't make things difficult for me, so naturally, I won't make things difficult for them. In that case, you already knew my purpose for coming up the mountain today."

Master Jueneng wanted to deny it, but after thinking about it, he was still straightforward and honest, nodding in admission.

"I know a thing or two. Unfortunately, my cultivation is not enough, and I couldn't get close. I can only invite you to drink a cup of tea afterward, hoping you will calm your anger."

Honest enough, but not enough.

Chen Guanlou played with the teacup and looked down with a smile. "Monk, when did you become a running dog for Prince Zhao? Is it worth it?"

"Third Miss Mei's death is a pity; no one expected it beforehand. The Prince has already sent the murderer; do you want to take a look?"

Chen Guanlou frowned. What does that mean?

"If you are looking for a scapegoat, just say so." He was very disgusted.

Master Jueneng chanted a Buddha's name. "Not so! You really misunderstood the Prince. This poor monk was entrusted by someone, so it is necessary to clarify the matter. I cannot let the Prince bear the crime of murder."

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly, not refuting.

He just wanted to hear how the other party would quibble and how he would exonerate Prince Zhao.

Master Jueneng thought of the content he was about to say, which involved blaspheming the Buddha, so he could only chant a Buddha's name first.

"Although the Prince has some strange habits, he has indeed never caused a human life; Third Miss Mei's death is the first. If you don't believe it, you can go and inquire. With your ability, this poor monk cannot fool you.

In the past, those girls, even if they were unwilling at first, were satisfied and kept the secret after receiving compensation and a marriage. This time, it was not the Prince's improper conduct, but those around him acting on their own initiative.

Because Third Miss Mei resisted fiercely, the Prince only stayed for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. Afterward, he let those around him handle the aftermath. At that time, Miss Mei was still fine; she was alive and could move and run, and there were only a few wounds on her body, which could be completely covered up.

The Prince only knew that the person had died that night. By then, Zhu San had already been thrown into the Heavenly Prison as a scapegoat. All of this was the Marquis's Mansion and the Prince's entourage acting on their own initiative; the Prince was unaware beforehand."

Chen Guanlou crossed his arms, showing his attitude of not believing.

It was all nonsense.

"This poor monk knows you don't believe it. At first, this poor monk didn't believe it either! Later, after inquiring about it, I realized I had misunderstood the Prince."

"What is the identity of the person around him? Why harm Third Miss Mei?" Chen Guanlou pursued.

Master Jueneng pondered for a while before saying: "The person around the Prince, to be precise, is a concubine maid, but her status is not ordinary. She was rewarded to him by the Prince's mother, accompanying him since childhood. Calling her a maid, she is actually half a master.

Many things in Prince Zhao's inner mansion can be decided by this maid, and most of the time the Prince will indulge her.

Until this time... because Third Miss Mei was an official's daughter, losing her chastity, she wasn't that easy to dismiss. The best way to handle it was to send her into the Prince's Mansion to be the Prince's concubine. According to the Mei family's status, starting as a side consort in the Prince's Mansion was also possible."

"An eyesore?"

"Indeed an eyesore! An eyesore to that concubine maid. For so many years, the Prince refused to give her a status; although she remained by his side to serve, her status was awkward. In the past, those women were all from small families and had no threat. This time it was Third Miss Mei, and that person developed a sense of crisis. So... you know the rest."

Chen Guanlou frowned. "If I remember correctly, Prince Zhao married and had children long ago. A mere concubine maid, and no one manages her?"

"Prince Zhao's wife is in poor health; managing the Prince's Mansion has already taken up most of her energy. The Prince's affairs, most of the time, the Prince's wife cannot intervene. This matter concerns the shady dealings in the Prince's inner mansion; this poor monk only knows one thing, not the other!"

Chen Guanlou didn't believe a single word, but he still followed up: "Since Prince Zhao knew the truth, he didn't kill the concubine maid?"

Master Jueneng said matter-of-factly: "Originally, he was going to kill her. Later, he heard that you were investigating this matter privately, so he spared that maid's life. He said that when the time is right, he will hand her over to you to deal with."

Upon hearing this, Chen Guanlou instantly showed a look of sarcasm.

"Putting the cart before the horse, the face is truly thick. If I hadn't investigated this case, this concubine maid would continue to act tyrannically in the Prince's Mansion, right? Prince Zhao knows my temper, that I will not stop until I reach my goal; no matter what, I will find out the truth.

So he is anxious; he doesn't want to conflict with me, because I might not give him face. Once the matter blows up, it doesn't matter to me, but the one who suffers will only be him. That is why he is willing to hand over his confidante maid, wanting to buy me off to stop, right!" ===== CHAPTER 1657 =====