“Li… Li’er, this matter is truly important.” Leng Jinyu parted his dry, chapped lips, his voice hoarse.
“Alright, then you speak slowly.”
Leng Ruoli wore a look of helplessness.
Following that, Leng Jinyu had the guards in the tent withdraw.
“Xiao Cheng, Ye Wu, you few go outside and guard the entrance of the tent for me.”
Afterward, Xiao Cheng, Ye Wu, and the others bowed in farewell to the King of Leng and his consort, and to Leng Jinyu, then left one by one.
When Leng Jinyu saw that only the King of Leng and his consort remained in the tent, he slowly began to speak, “You must have already understood the situation outside. Rumors have been spreading in the military camp recently, haven’t they?”
The King of Leng and his consort both nodded upon hearing this.
“This Deputy General Yang is a spy he planted in the military camp.”
At this moment, Leng Jinyu said something with an unreadable expression.
Hearing this, the King of Leng and his consort were completely bewildered.
“Daddy, who is this ‘he’ you’re referring to?” Leng Ruoli asked with confusion.
“Alas, this ‘he’ is Jun Nansheng, the sixth son of the late emperor,” Leng Jinyu stated astonishingly.
Upon hearing this name, Jun Mohan’s expression immediately turned solemn.
“Father-in-law, are you sure about your information? Wasn’t Prince Gong, Jun Nansheng, said to have died in that palace fire twenty years ago? How could he still be alive?” Jun Mohan sounded almost disbelieving.
“I also couldn’t believe it, but that day when Xiao Cheng and I rushed to the military camp, I encountered a masked middle-aged man. He was no match for me, and I even grabbed his collar. Then, during our struggle, a jade pendant fell from his chest. It was a jade pendant with a four-clawed python and the character ‘Sheng’ carved on it,” Leng Jinyu recalled meticulously.
“But that doesn’t prove Jun Nansheng is alive, does it? Perhaps someone wants to impersonate him?” Leng Ruoli voiced her doubt.
“Li’er, I thought the same as you at the time, believing that person was impersonating Jun Nansheng. However, I believe it now. Today, after Deputy General Yang attacked me from behind, he said something to me: ‘My Lord had me infiltrate the military camp for twenty years. Today, I will flee here immediately and achieve great things with my Lord, haha…’”
Leng Jinyu recounted Deputy General Yang’s words to the King of Leng and his consort.
“That Deputy General Yang said his Lord planted him in the military camp twenty-two years ago. Then it’s very possible it was that Jun Nansheng. After all, there are not many princes in Jun Mohan’s generation who are over twenty. The older Prince Shou is only two years older than Jun Mohan. Twenty-two years ago, Prince Shou was still in diapers and wouldn’t know about arranging spies in the military camp,” Leng Ruoli stated logically.
“Father-in-law, we also found some clues outside just now. A soldier told us that a few nights ago, he saw Deputy General Yang sneak into the small southern forest to meet someone. He heard Deputy General Yang call that person ‘Master,’ and their conversation also included the word ‘Guigu’,”
Jun Mohan suddenly mentioned what they had inquired about at the tent entrance earlier.
“Your Highness, this matter must be reported to His Majesty. The genuine Imperial Seal has very likely fallen into Jun Nansheng’s hands. If the Imperial Seal is in his possession, he will definitely lead a rebellion. Make His Majesty prepared,” Leng Jinyu reminded Jun Mohan.
Jun Mohan nodded upon hearing this.
“I will personally go to the palace to inform Father. Li’er, you stay in the military camp to look after your father. I will return to the capital and try to be back before sunset,” Jun Mohan said sternly to Leng Ruoli.
“Alright, be careful on your way!” Leng Ruoli said to him with concern.
With that, Jun Mohan left the tent and the military camp.
“Daddy, what exactly is the deal with this Jun Nansheng?” Leng Ruoli asked curiously.
“Alas, this Jun Nansheng is the son of the late emperor and Consort Hui, ranking sixth. He is also the current Emperor’s half-brother. Twenty-two years ago, the late emperor was gravely ill and decreed the current Emperor as the Crown Prince. However, this Jun Nansheng was not appeased. He colluded with several other princes of the late emperor and led over ten thousand cavalry to surround the palace, committing massacres within. Later, I and the Emperor suppressed him. He fled into Consort Hui’s palace and set a large fire, perishing in the flames with Consort Hui,” Leng Jinyu briefly explained the situation of that year to Leng Ruoli.
After listening, Leng Ruoli frowned deeply.
“Did you all witness Jun Nansheng and Consort Hui immolating themselves?”
“No, the fire was too intense then, and we couldn’t get close. By the time we put out the fire, there were only a few charred bodies in Consort Hui’s palace, their faces unrecognizable. At that time, the late emperor’s condition had worsened, and the Emperor was in a state of great distress. He had no inclination to have anyone investigate the matter of Jun Nansheng and Consort Hui, so this matter was buried in the past,” Leng Jinyu sighed.
“Oh, so that’s how it was.”
Leng Ruoli seemed to understand.
…
In the small forest not far from the military camp.
At this moment, Deputy General Yang, following special markings on the tree trunks, stealthily slipped into the depths of the small forest.
He walked for half an hour and finally stopped behind a figure in black.
“Master, I have completed the task you assigned to your subordinate,” Deputy General Yang said respectfully to the black-clothed man’s back.
“Mmm, did Leng Jinyu die?” the black-clothed man asked.
“Your subordinate dealt a fatal blow to Leng Jinyu’s back. Even if he doesn’t die, his body will not recover quickly,” Deputy General Yang replied truthfully.
“During this period, you will be responsible for spreading news of the lost Imperial Seal throughout the capital,” the black-clothed man assigned another task to Deputy General Yang.
“Yes, your subordinate obeys!” Deputy General Yang replied respectfully.
before dusk, Jun Mohan left the Imperial Study and drove a carriage to the military camp outside the city, picking up Leng Jinyu and Leng Ruoli and bringing them back to the capital.
The next day, as the King of Leng and his consort were discussing countermeasures in the study, Ye Ying knocked on the study door.
“Your Highness, Your Highness the Consort, something big is about to happen! The entire capital is abuzz with news that the Emperor has lost the Imperial Seal,” Ye Ying said while knocking.
Upon hearing Ye Ying’s words, the King of Leng and his consort immediately opened the study door. Jun Mohan said to Ye Ying, “Go and investigate the mastermind behind this spreading of rumors. Once you find them, do not act rashly. Report back to me first.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Ye Ying replied and immediately departed.
“Alas, Jun Mohan, now we can only intensify our efforts to find the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal. Otherwise, if this matter continues to spread, it will be very disadvantageous to us,” Leng Ruoli said with a frown.
“Indeed, Father also has this intention. He has already deployed his personal Jin Yi Wei to investigate this matter. With our combined efforts now, I believe we will quickly discover the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal,” Jun Mohan said, pursing his lips and gazing into the distance thoughtfully.