Chapter 137: The Crown Prince's double standard behavior

Auntie Wang said to Lin Qingyue: "I don't know if that girl is dead or alive now. I also went to the Xuanjing Division to inquire later, they said Officer Lin hadn't returned, and I didn't dare to say anything more. I didn't expect to have the honor to meet the officer today."

"Just now outside, there were many people, and I didn't dare to say anything, so I had to lower my face and invite you in to drink tea. Fortunately, Officer Lin is wise and doesn't mind that my place is dirty."

What she didn't say was that when she was ridiculed outside, she was actually holding a breath in her heart. If Lin Qingyue didn't pay attention to her and left, she would pretend that the matter hadn't happened, so as not to cause trouble for herself.

Lin Qingyue unfolded the torn skirt, the blood stains were dry, but the handwriting was still clear:

【There is a traitor in the Xuanjing Division colluding with the Li family】

The handwriting was a bit sloppy, and it was written in a hurry at a glance.

After reading the blood letter, Lin Qingyue frowned slightly.

A traitor in the Xuanjing Division? Who is it? So Hong Yao discovered these, so she didn't surrender, but instead brought about a fatal disaster?

A year ago, when Dongfang Qi was assassinated, he also suspected that there was a traitor in the Xuanjing Division. But later they investigated secretly and found no trace. It can be seen that the other party is hidden deep.

Lin Qingyue withdrew her thoughts, put the blood letter into her arms, and took a silver ingot from her sleeve and put it on the table.

"This white jade hairpin cannot be given to you, the silver is considered compensation."

Auntie Wang hurriedly waved her hand: "This jade hairpin was originally for you, I have absolutely no intention of swallowing it privately. You are a good official, if you have a way, be sure to save that girl."

She clenched the corner of her clothes, a bit guilty: "Holding this hairpin always makes me uneasy, dreaming of being chased and killed every night. That night I didn't mean to drive her out, it was really..."

Lin Qingyue said: "In that situation that night, you were powerless to save her, don't blame yourself. Being able to bring these words is already a great grace. In the future, if you encounter trouble, you can come to the Xuanjing Division to find me. This matter ends here. Remember not to mention it to anyone, lest it bring fatal disaster to yourself."

Auntie Wang hurriedly said: "I know the importance, I dare not talk nonsense!"

When Lin Qingyue came out of Auntie Wang's place, there were still many people peeking outside the alley.

Lin Qingyue threw a fierce look: "Are you all so idle?"

Those heads shrank back in a hurry.

After leaving Qifang Street, Lin Qingyue didn't return to the Xuanjing Division and went straight to the Eastern Palace.

Eastern Palace.

Dongfang Qi hadn't managed government affairs for more than a year, and now that he had returned to his position, there were naturally a lot of things waiting for him to deal with.

All morning, he was meeting with advisors in the Eastern Palace to discuss politics.

At noon, someone came to report that someone from the Xuanjing Division was asking to see him.

Dongfang Qi's first reaction was that Lin Qingyue had come, so he hurried to greet her outside the hall, but what he saw was Xie Shouzheng.

Xie Shouzheng was very excited: "Crown Prince, why did you come out to greet me personally? This makes me feel embarrassed."

Saying he was embarrassed, his eyes glanced proudly at the advisors beside the Crown Prince: Even if I am no longer on duty in the Eastern Palace, you people can't replace my position in the Crown Prince's heart!

Dongfang Qi was instantly disappointed: "Xiao Hui, why are you here? Since when did the Xuanjing Division become so idle?"

Xie Shouzheng said: "Isn't it lunchtime, I thought you were about to have a meal here too, so I'll accompany you. Hehe, I haven't eaten the Eastern Palace's food for a long time, I miss it."

Dongfang Qi said: "Someone, pack a portion of today's lunch for Lord Xie to take away."

Xie Shouzheng asked: "Eating now is good, why bother packing?"

Dongfang Qi said: "I still have government affairs to deal with, I will eat later. Xiao Hui, you go back first, as a main official, leaving the affairs of the yamen halfway to come out to beg for food, it's not good for your official reputation if it spreads."

Xie Shouzheng didn't feel embarrassed after being rejected, just simply thinking that the Crown Prince was considering him everywhere.

"Crown Prince, you are right, then I will go back and eat. Oh, by the way, are you free tonight? Let's have a meal together."

Dongfang Qi turned and went in: "I am very busy, no time."

Xie Shouzheng scratched his head and said: "That's a pity. Deputy Envoy Lin has been conferred a Prince title, and she wants to treat our whole yamen's brothers to dinner, I wanted to call you to join in the fun. Since you are not free, then..."

Dongfang Qi paused: "Where are you eating? I haven't seen the brothers of the Xuanjing Division for a long time."

Xie Shouzheng said: "Tianxiang Restaurant, the best restaurant in the capital. Oh Crown Prince, didn't you just say you were not free?"

Dongfang Qi said lightly: "I still have time to squeeze, since you opened your mouth, I will go."

When Xie Shouzheng left, carrying the meal packed from the Eastern Palace, his face was full of smiles: The Crown Prince is indeed the one who values me the most, he was so busy but still attended the Xuanjing Division's gathering to give me face.

Just as Dongfang Qi walked into the hall and was about to discuss matters with the advisors, someone came to report: "Crown Prince, someone from the Xuanjing Division is asking to see you!"

Dongfang Qi was a bit impatient: "Xiao Hui is really like a dog, sticking to people, I don't know what he wants to do by returning!"

He was about to say he wouldn't see him.

The subordinate said: "Then the servant will refuse the Haolan Female Prince."

"Wait, who did you say came?" After Dongfang Qi reacted, he kicked his subordinate angrily, "When did you learn to be like that dog Xie Shouzheng, not being able to speak clearly? Why don't you invite the Haolan Female Prince in!"

Lin Qingyue was led by the palace servant to the main hall of the Eastern Palace, and just as she crossed the threshold, Dongfang Qi had already greeted her.

He was wearing a moon-white brocade robe with dragon-soaring and auspicious cloud embroidery on the collar. Wearing a white jade crown, it was luxurious but not flashy, cold but not distant.

Seeing Lin Qingyue, he smiled slightly, and his whole person added a touch of gentleness.

"Why did you come here? Please take a seat—someone, bring tea! It's noon, have you eaten?"

Facing Dongfang Qi, Lin Qingyue didn't have much polite talk, and said straight to the point: "I have something to find you, I didn't have time to eat."

"Just right, I haven't eaten either, let's eat and talk." Dongfang Qi ordered the food to be presented.

Lin Qingyue swept a glance at the people beside the Crown Prince, and before she could speak, the Crown Prince ordered the advisors beside him: "You all go down first, I have something to discuss with the Haolan Female Prince."

When there were no outsiders in the hall, Lin Qingyue took out Hong Yao's blood letter and gave it to Dongfang Qi, and also told him about the situation she learned from Auntie Wang.

After Dongfang Qi read the blood letter, his expression was solemn: "I originally wanted to tell you about the Donglin Fu case. On the night Miao Donggui was escorted back to the capital, he committed suicide for fear of crime."

"Although there was a confession left before, the lack of witnesses, coupled with Duke Li, as expected, pushed all the crimes onto the dead Li Duo. So this case should not be investigated to Duke Li. At most, it's just lax discipline of his son, and he will be closed at home for a few days."

"This point is about the same as our previous expectations. As for Hong Yao—judging from the situation you said, she should have discovered that someone in the Xuanjing Division was colluding with the Li family, so she was targeted." ===== CHAPTER 138 =====