kingnovel Chapter 917 Do You Understand?
Chapter 917 Do You Understand?
"Why don't we dig a secret passage to our village and go straight back to our hometown?" Fang Nanzhi suggested.
Fang Tong's eyes lit up: "It's not impossible."
Qian Fengping burst out laughing: "You're really something, why don't you dig up the entire imperial court?"
They even dug into the village. Not to mention how much manpower and resources it would take, wouldn't others notice if they did it this way?
The topic finally veered away from the secret passage: we need to send more people to keep an eye on Yun Congsheng; they're bound to discover something.
At this moment, in the secret chamber of the Yun family.
As Yun Congsheng looked at the dark, ancient, and composed token, a tremendous wave of emotion surged within him.
The black iron token was engraved with dragon patterns.
Yun Congsheng was well-versed in ancient and modern times, so he knew that the late emperor had kept a special force called the Dragon Hidden Guard during his reign.
They were unrestrained, obeying only the orders of the late emperor, and even had the power to execute corrupt officials without prior approval.
However, in the late years of the late emperor, the Dragon Guard mysteriously disappeared and never appeared in the world again.
I heard that when the current emperor first ascended the throne, he searched for them, but to no avail.
There are rumors that the late emperor was ruthless and that the Dragon Guard was a sharp blade in his hands.
The late emperor hoped that the current emperor would be a benevolent ruler and develop the country slowly, so he disbanded the Dragon Guard and did not hand it over to His Majesty.
But who would have thought that the Dragon Guards had never disappeared?
"Lord Yun, do you obey the late emperor's edict?" Ying Liu asked in a stern tone.
Yun Congsheng looked up at him and saw that the Dragon Guard still had the imperial edict in his hand.
Although Shadow Six didn't take it out, he believed it.
"Your subject will gladly give his life for your sovereign."
The late emperor is no longer here, but he is still the ruler.
Shadow Six suddenly knelt down on one knee before Cloud Congsheng.
"The late emperor decreed that whoever receives the imperial edict may be recognized as the master by the Dragon Hidden Guard."
"Shadow Six greets Master."
Yun Congsheng's gaze was deep and thoughtful.
When he stepped out of the secret room, the moon had already risen. He looked up at the moonlight, his heart filled with complex emotions.
"Master, Madam sent someone to invite you an hour ago..."
Yun Congsheng nodded slightly and turned to head towards the backyard.
The following day, a major piece of news spread throughout the capital.
Some of the treasures lost from the previous dynasty's treasury have been recovered, thanks to the officials of the Ministry of Personnel.
They've loaded up seven horse-drawn carriages and are being escorted to the capital today.
Many of those who had secretly sent people to search for the treasure were furious.
Their men were completely outmaneuvered and gained nothing, while the man surnamed Zhang had already gotten his hands on the goods.
They actually kept the news a secret, sending people to pretend to search for him. Only after the people arrived in Beijing did the man surnamed Zhang reveal the truth.
Zhang Guodong is truly insidious, cunning, despicable, shameless, and utterly shameless!
Zhang Guodong is the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the right-hand man of the Minister of Personnel. He is young, capable, and low-key.
But many people cursed him in their hearts.
Zhang Dongliang was completely unaware as he rode his tall horse into the city, followed by two teams of guards and a series of carriages in the middle.
The people of the capital had no idea how much Lord Zhang had sacrificed to obtain the treasure, but they all came to watch the spectacle.
Given how extravagant the last emperor of the previous dynasty was, what was the state of their treasury like?
In fact, the common people don't know what's in the national treasury of this dynasty.
It's a rare opportunity to see this, so I had to come and take a look and broaden my horizons.
Qingyan also invited Fang Nanzhi and her siblings to come and watch.
The restaurant has three floors, and we reserved the best private room with an excellent view.
Fang Nanzhi had always been skeptical: "Is there really treasure in the place Chen Yong mentioned? How did he know?"
"Even if he knew, why would he tell the imperial court?"
She originally thought that the so-called former dynasty's treasury was just a smokescreen put out by Chen Yong to divert attention.
Even when the palace discovered the mechanism used to transfer funds from the previous dynasty's treasury, they still couldn't find any treasures.
Unexpectedly, the imperial court actually made some gains.
Qin Yan poured his sister a cup of almond tea: "It should be said that the person behind Chen Yong is incredibly powerful."
Yao Xin?
Fang Nanzhi immediately thought of the other person.
"Well, Mr. Yao is a close friend of my uncle. Now that he's in Beijing, shouldn't I go and pay him a visit?"
It sounds nice, but really it's just wanting to meet people and test the waters.
Qin Yan glanced helplessly at his eager younger sister.
"The fact that Yao Xin was able to become friends with Chen Xiang back then shows that he is also incredibly intelligent."
People always prefer to make friends with those who are similar to themselves.
"And he is much older than you. I'm afraid that if you go to meet him, you won't be able to find out anything, and you'll be tricked into revealing information."
How could a little fox be a match for an old fox, let alone a nine-tailed fox like Yao Xin?
Zhizhi is young and naive, and doesn't know how to hide her emotions. If she rashly tries to test the waters, it's like a mouse being a bridesmaid for a cat.
Qin Yan looked at his sister with a warning: "Not everyone is Madam Yun."
Madam Yun was caught off guard and unaware of the inside story, which is why she was willing to say more.
Okay, Fang Nanzhi behaved herself.
Qingyan did not interrupt the siblings' conversation. He listened quietly until the end before asking about Yao Xin and Madam Yun.
The two then realized that they hadn't told the Crown Prince about this.
Fang Nanzhi went on and on.
Finally, he added, "Qingyan, could you help me investigate the fight case from Lord Yun's hometown back then?"
I inquired so much yesterday, but I didn't find any clues. The only problem is about Lord Yun's hometown.
But that matter didn't seem to have anything to do with the Chen family's troops.
It's just a casual search.
And since this old case happened locally, it was extremely difficult to investigate.
She has already asked her father and second uncle to try to find out if there is any record of the case from back then, or if the local county magistrate has reported it.
However, one of them was from the Ministry of Agriculture and was a minor official of the eighth rank, while the other was a general. To investigate such an old case, they would have to go to the Ministry of Justice.
Whether the Ministry of Justice will show it to them is still unknown.
Since we've seen so many people die in the fight, will local officials try to cover it up?
If we need to send people to investigate in the local areas, it's more convenient for the Crown Prince.
"Okay," Qingyan replied.
He actually cares more about Yao Xin.
"Since Zhu Guanfeng suspects Yao Xin, he must have something to hide."
Qingyan lowered his eyes: "With Yao Xin's abilities, she might actually know the location of the treasures from the previous dynasty."
Fang Nanzhi and her brother sat up straight and listened attentively.
“When Yao Xin was young, he was skilled in mechanical arts, but his parents thought it was a trivial skill and did not allow him to waste his time on such things.”
"Later, Yao Xin devoted himself to his studies. After becoming an official, he liked to govern local areas. In one of his tenures, he built an office building."
"The building has eight floors, and each floor has a different mechanism. Yao Xin uses this to attract martial arts practitioners to solve the puzzles, thereby recruiting some talents from the martial arts world."
Qingyan knew this so clearly because when he was seven years old, he became interested in mechanical calculations and went to the mechanical building himself.
At that time, Yao Xin had already resigned from his post, but the government building was not demolished.
Qingyan stayed inside for four hours before exiting the level.
He thought it was just average, but some people in the martial arts world believed that Yao Xin was a master of mechanical devices.
"In other words, the Imperial Advisor stole from the national treasury and moved it to a hidden place, while Yao Xin deciphered the mechanism of the hidden treasure and found the item."
Fang Nanzhi speculated.
"Very likely." Qin Yan agreed, but then asked with a question, "But why would he go to such great lengths to find the treasure and tell the imperial court?"
According to Chen Yong, Chen Zijun discovered the treasure first and was about to report it, but didn't have time...
It's highly improbable. Even if Chen Zijun had truly discovered it, she would have told her trusted confidants before her death, rather than letting an unfamiliar nephew or niece know.
“I have read Yao Xin’s records during his tenure, and it is clear that he was an ambitious man who cared deeply for the people.”
He achieved great success in promoting agriculture and sericulture, fostering commerce and encouraging people to study.
Qingyan's comments were very objective.
Fang Nanzhi blinked: "You mean he's loyal to the imperial court, which is why he used Chen Yong to reveal the location of the treasure?"
Why is she so unconvinced?
After Chen Yong filed the complaint, he continued to slander Princess Mingzhu, which shows that Yao Xin disliked the Princess Mingzhu and the royal family.
Would he suddenly help the emperor and the court?
Qingyan glanced at the little girl and simply said, "People change."
More than a decade ago, Yao Xin was selfless and full of vigor, but now that she is blind, who knows if she will change her original intention?
"So he had an ulterior motive? Could he have poisoned the treasure?"
Everyone who touches it will die.
Fang Nanzhi was somewhat frightened.
Thinking back to the stories I've read, there's a possibility that something was mixed in with a pile of treasures, which would activate at a crucial moment.
“That’s one possibility, but all those items have to be inspected before they enter the warehouse,” Qingyan explained.
"Actually, there is another possibility."
"This treasure may indeed have been found by Chen Zijun, together with Yao Xin. After Chen Zijun's death, only Yao Xin knows the whereabouts of these things."
"Perhaps Chen Zijun's wish was to give the treasure to the imperial court."
Yao Xin may have been many years late in helping her friend fulfill her wish, but she did not tamper with anything.
Fang Nanzhi frowned slightly; both guesses seemed logical.
This matter is complicated, just like Yao Xin's, making it impossible to immediately determine right from wrong.
Outsiders say Yao Xin is a gentleman, but his current behavior doesn't really show any gentlemanly qualities.
A large hand covered the little girl's head, seemingly to soothe her worries.
"Don't rush, more and more things are being revealed." Qingyan's voice was like a mountain stream, gentle yet powerful.
Fang Nanzhi looked up, about to express her dissatisfaction, but Qingyan had already withdrawn his hand.
He had a self-disciplined and courteous expression, as if his "abrupt" behavior just now was not intentional.
But Qin Yan's eyes had turned completely cold, alarm bells were ringing in his mind, and he felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.
"Zhizhi, do you want to sit by the window? It's a better place to watch the excitement."
His tone was gentle, revealing nothing about his true intentions.
Fang Nanzhi didn't think much of it and switched seats with her brother, sitting diagonally opposite Qingyan, which was the furthest distance between them at the same table.
Qin Yan stared directly at the Crown Prince, his tone somewhat aggressive: "I have heard that the palace is preparing a selection of consorts for Your Highness, but Your Highness has refused."
"Yes, my heart already belongs to someone else."
Unlike the "bitter trick" and "warm and roundabout route" used in front of Fang Tong.
Qingyan's "rudeness" in front of Qin Yan today is itself a powerful offensive.
He needed to restrain his own desires and please his future elders, but Qingyan believed that he also needed allies.
The ally he chose was Qin Yan.
Qin Yan had no idea what he was thinking; if he had, he would have certainly scoffed.
He curled his lips into a smile, feigning surprise: "Your Highness is indeed deeply devoted..."
Before Qingyan could respond, Qin Yan changed the subject.
"I heard that Your Highness and Miss Liu fell in love at first sight. It seems that good things are about to happen. Congratulations!"
Qin Yan cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, speaking with an air of authority.
Qingyan was slightly taken aback. Who was Miss Liu?
Fang Nanzhi was also very curious, so she asked directly.
"I don't know much either, but everyone at the Imperial Academy is saying that a few days ago, Miss Liu went on a spring outing and encountered bandits in Qinglan Mountain. His Highness the Crown Prince rescued her, and after the rescue, His Highness even sent people to escort Miss Liu back to her residence."
"I heard that Miss Liu gave me a handmade folding fan as a token of her gratitude."
"I heard that the Empress Dowager is very fond of Miss Liu and intends to marry her to a member of the royal family."
What do you mean by not knowing much? You know too much!
It was also emphasized that the news had spread throughout the Imperial College, which was sufficient to prove its credibility.
Fang Nanzhi believed it wholeheartedly, her eyes shining brightly.
"Is this true? Qingyan, when are you getting married? I'll definitely give you a generous gift!"
The first of her friends to get married deserves her careful preparation of gifts.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yan's smile widened.
The crown prince was ambitious and ruthless, but his sister was clever and quick-witted and would not fall for his tricks.
Qingyan wasn't saddened by Qin Yan's "rumors and slander," but Fang Nanzhi's attitude made him feel uneasy.
Looking at her smiling face, Qingyan's heartache subsided a little.
Never mind, his girl is still too young, innocent and doesn't understand matters between men and women. It's not that she doesn't like him.
He can try to seduce the girl when she grows up and begins to experience romantic feelings.
As long as he keeps fighting and grabbing, the little girl will definitely understand his intentions.
After calming himself down, Qingyan said expressionlessly, "It's fake."
"I don't know any Miss Liu, and I've never saved any woman."
As for the subsequent thanks and the Empress Dowager's ambiguous remarks, they had even less to do with him.
Fang Nanzhi believed it immediately. She was bewildered: "Who was so bold as to impersonate you and try to be a hero?"
Impersonating the crown prince? He's got a death wish.
"This matter must be investigated. I wonder if Brother Qin would be willing to share my burden?" Qingyan did not issue the order in his capacity as the Crown Prince, which was quite amiable.
Qin Yan thought to himself, "You wish."
He's the one who stirred up trouble by having affairs and then asked to investigate the rumors he created?
Why?
But then he thought, it wouldn't be impossible for him to do something underhanded during the investigation so that his sister could "see" the true face of the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness has given the order, and this humble subject will obey." Qin Yan was arrogant inside, but his demeanor was humble on the surface.
Fang Nanzhi couldn't help but ask curiously, "So who is the woman you admire? What does it feel like to admire someone? Does your heart race when you see her? Like in those storybooks, where you fall in love at first sight?"
Qingyan thought about it carefully.
Heartbeat... I have one, but it often skips beats and is not very controllable.
A single glance felt like an eternity; he recalled the first time he saw the little girl in the village, when he was almost knocked away by a foal.
Actually, at that time, he was more focused on the horse and the young girl. She was only a little tall. If he had any other thoughts about her, he would be really sick.
"Alas, the young lady is not yet in love with me, so I cannot say anything, lest I tarnish her reputation."
Qingyan was very serious.
Qin Yan clenched his fist. How could a prince, a prince of such stature, say such things to fool a young girl? Doesn't he feel disgusted?
"Your Highness, matters between men and women are never sweet when forced. Since the other party is unwilling, it is best to let it go as soon as possible."