Chapter 472

Gu Rongjin: "So you're saying Master Cao got nothing today?"

Not exactly.

"What did you gain?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

Cao Shiming laughed: "It's unrelated to this incident; it's my personal gain."

He had an inscrutable expression.

Gu Rongjin snorted.

That just means there isn't any.

At that moment, a faint whistle suddenly sounded.

While Gu Rongjin and Mu Yuanzhi were puzzled, Cao Shiming said: "The Princess summons me for something; I must take my leave."

So this whistle was sent out by the Pei Si?

Gu Rongjin: "No need to see you off."

Cao Shiming went and then turned back, hesitating whether to speak, but finally said: "Princess, if you go to the palace in the next two days and see the Empress, could you trouble yourself to mention it tactfully to the Empress, just hint that the Third Prince's marriage need not be rushed—the Emperor and Empress are pressing the Second and Third Princes to marry urgently, and our Prince is really worried."

"Oh? There's such a thing?" Gu Rongjin instantly became interested, "But your Prince indeed is of marriageable age; the Emperor and Empress think that since they aren't married, it's not appropriate to urge the younger Crown Prince to marry, and the Crown Prince's great wedding is a matter of the state's foundation."

Cao Shiming: "That's the reasoning, but our Prince really has no intention regarding this; the Second Prince could."

Gu Rongjin: "……"

Can we pass the buck to the older brother?

Mu Yuanzhi nodded: "Sure, it's a trivial matter; the Third Prince has helped us so much."

Upon hearing that, Cao Shiming's eyes flickered: "Princess, you're truly reasonable and understanding!"

He added: "Please don't let the Third Prince hear about this; I'm saying this behind his back."

Mu Yuanzhi: "Don't worry, Master Cao, this small favor is no trouble."

Thank you, I really must take my leave now.

Cao Shiming said that and then vanished in a flash.

Gu Rongjin and Mu Yuanzhi continued looking here for any clues, he walked and said: "I didn't expect you to actually agree to Cao Shiming's request."

"What's the big deal? It's just a trivial matter," Mu Yuanzhi said, "not really a major hassle."

"This is a royal matter, after all; I thought you'd avoid it."

"Maybe it's because I myself don't like being forced into marriage."

Recalling those years when Xiao Yichen was forced into marriage by various oddballs, she agreed to help without a second thought; the feeling of being forced into marriage is indeed unpleasant.

Besides, the Empress is very kind; she'll surely be reasonable.

"No matter what, as long as you like it, that's fine." Gu Rongjin indulged her as always.

This is the crime scene; lanterns are lit all around, and from afar it looks a bit eerie, especially when the wind blows, the two rows of lanterns sway, as if ghosts might appear at any moment.

However, neither of them is timid, so the slightly eerie atmosphere at the scene didn't affect them.

"The fire really raged, little Yuanzhi, watch your step below." Gu Rongjin never forgot to remind Mu Yuanzhi.

"Hmm." Mu Yuanzhi kept her head lowered all the way.

Below were clump after clump of ash, unrecognizable as to what they originally were; there seemed to be nothing noteworthy.

Officials came several times, and everything they found was placed in the government office.

Cao Shiming probably also searched thoroughly.

They came just to see if anything had been missed, or if there was anything they considered worth noting.

Even if the lighting is bright, late at night it still can't compare to daytime.

But night also has its advantages—for example, some things only glow at night, and even hidden in the dark they can catch people's attention!

That point of light is actually quite trivial; if Mu Yuanzhi hadn't crouched down to examine the ground here, she wouldn't have noticed the tiny bright spot, as small as a needle's eye, in the blind spot of her vision.

She walked over suspiciously, gloved hand moving aside obstacles, and finally discovered a night pearl the size of a button.

"Any discoveries?" Gu Rongjin walked over and asked.

"A night pearl." Mu Yuanzhi showed it to Gu Rongjin.

Gu Rongjin took it and looked: "This looks quite valuable."

He looked more closely: "Isn't this from the old Qi family?"

Mu Yuanzhi: "Could General Qi have come here?"

"Or maybe he gave it to Fanghua?" Gu Rongjin put away the night pearl, "I'll go find him tomorrow."

They continued searching; after about an hour, they indeed found nothing, and it was late, so they decided to head back to sleep.

"Although we have quite a few clues now, they're all practically meaningless—we don't even know where to seize Fanghua, let alone what her purpose is." Gu Rongjin frowned.

"If she really is using yin embroidery, whose lifespan is she trying to take? Why would it be the Junior Secretary of the Imperial Court of Justice? What exactly is the connection?" This is what Mu Yuanzhi can't figure out.

"Or maybe they have a grudge?"

"Forget it, let's go back to sleep." Mu Yuanzhi yawned, she was very tired, and went back to sleep.

They really are putting in more effort into the investigation than the Prefect of the Imperial Court of Justice.

The next day, after Mu Yuanzhi washed up, while she was strolling in the outer courtyard, someone from the palace came and said the Empress invited her to come for a visit.

Mu Yuanzhi recalled Cao Shiming's words from last night; it seemed he knew the Empress would invite her to the palace.

So Mu Yuanzhi went back and changed into a more formal outfit.

"Mother, where are you going?"

Gu Yutong, who had just woken up and was looking for his mother, rubbed his eyes and asked.

"Mother has something to attend to; today your father is free, go play with him." Mu Yuanzhi rubbed her daughter's head and smiled.

"Where is Mother going? I want to go too!" Gu Yutong clung to his mother's leg, acting cute.

If it were an ordinary day, Mu Yuanzhi would think it's no big deal to bring the younger ones along, but today the Empress is surely going to talk to her about the Second and Third Princes' marriages; with the children present, wouldn't that make the Empress think it's better for her to settle down early, have children, and enjoy family bliss?

So Mu Yuanzhi decided not to bring them after all.

"The place Mother is going to isn't convenient to bring you, be good, I'll bring back some snacks for you later."

"Oh." Gu Yutong nodded obediently, "Mother, you must remember to bring me some snacks!"

"Don't worry, I'll stay home and be good."

Soon, the carriage from the Grand General's mansion arrived at the palace gate; Mu Yuanzhi got off and took a palanquin to the Pepper Chamber Hall.

The Empress was waiting for her in the pavilion beside the Pepper Chamber Hall; upon seeing her arrive, she dismissed the attendants.

"The princess has come, sit down; we haven't had a chance to chat in a long time." The Empress smiled warmly as always.

"Your health has improved a lot, Empress, so I, as the doctor, naturally come less often." Mu Yuanzhi also laughed.

"Look at what you're saying; does our relationship have to be only that of patient and doctor?"