"My lord, why can't I understand what you're saying?"
Seeing the person feigning ignorance before her, Lin Qingge poked him unceremoniously and said:
"With your character, how could you possibly let me wander around alone?
Moreover, as I walked, I saw not a soul, not even a bird. It's clearly a trap!
So, it was you who helped Bai Yichen fake his death back then?"
Upon hearing the last sentence, Hua Jinrong's hand, which was fanning himself, paused slightly. A fleeting look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He then praised:
"As expected of you, my lord. I grow more curious about what's inside your skull."
"Enough!
Stop talking nonsense with me.
Since you've dragged me into this, I have the right to know the whole story, don't I?"
"My lord, the weather is fine today. Why don't I tell you a story first?"
With that said, Hua Jinrong pushed open the door and paced into the pavilion.
In the main hall on the first floor, several delicate pastries and a pot of steaming tea were placed on the table.
Clearly, they were prepared in advance.
Hua Jinrong casually sat by the table, skillfully poured two cups of tea, and then pushed one towards Lin Qingge before speaking in a low voice:
"This matter goes back to when the Empress Dowager was unmarried.
Although the Nalan family, to which the Empress Dowager belonged, did not have many high-ranking officials, they were recognized as a family of empresses. Including the Empress Dowager, they produced a total of three empresses.
At that time, there was even a saying that 'he who obtains a Nalan family's嫡女 (di nü - daughter of the legitimate wife) will win the empire.'
Due to the Nalan family's supreme status, the Empress Dowager, as a direct descendant of the Nalan family, frequented the imperial palace from a young age.
However, unlike the previous two virtuous and benevolent empresses, the Empress Dowager was not only strikingly beautiful but also extremely feisty. She almost made the late emperor cry every time they met.
As for the daughter of the Prince of Zhennan, who was engaged to the Prince of Wucheng, Madam Yan, she would beat the Prince of Wucheng whenever she saw him.
Of course, other princes were not spared either.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Empress Dowager and Madam Yan at that time were the nightmares of the entire imperial family.
However, these two formidable women only showed a maiden's shyness when they saw a particular person."
Lin Qingge heard this and immediately blurted out with sudden insight:
"You mean Bai Yichen?"
"Precisely.
But unfortunately, one married the late emperor as empress, and the other was eloped with by Yan Xiuping to the border."
As if feeling thirsty, Hua Jinrong picked up his teacup and took a sip before continuing:
"Madam Yan was actually fine, as she liked anyone who was good-looking.
But the Empress Dowager's situation was a bit different. kuAiδugg
But what difference did it make?
As the eldest daughter of the Nalan family, the Empress Dowager could not refuse a bestowed marriage.
And it was common knowledge in the capital, if not universally known, that the Empress Dowager was fond of Bai Yichen."
"So the late emperor always felt like his head was green?
Viewing Bai Yichen as a thorn in his side, a gnawing pain?"
"How would I, an outsider, dare to casually speculate on the late emperor's thoughts?
However, it is true that the late emperor disliked that person. Yet, that person was known as a divine physician, far surpassing any imperial physicians in the palace.
Even for the sake of the Grand Empress Dowager's health, the late emperor had to keep him by his side.
However, not only did the late emperor personally decree Bai Yichen's marriage, but as if to spite the Empress Dowager, he frequently favored Consort Ruan, which only pushed the Empress Dowager further away."
"Farther away? More than just farther away?"
Lin Qingge got up and walked to the window, pushing it open. Outside, beyond the vast training ground, was the nameless courtyard she had just passed.
Looking at the handsome monk, who was pleasing to the eye even when watering plants, she suddenly understood why the Empress Dowager liked to chant scriptures and pray there.
"Tsk, tsk, if the late emperor knew that Bai Yichen, who should have been dead, was wandering right under the Empress Dowager's nose every day, he would probably crawl out of his imperial tomb in anger!
So, Bai Yichen's death was the late emperor's doing?"
"You could say that."
"What do you mean, 'you could say that'?"
"According to my investigation over the years, it was Prime Minister Shangguan who framed Murong Bai's father. At that time, the Grand Empress Dowager had just passed away, and the late emperor, who had been enduring for many years, merely went with the flow."
"Bai Yichen, sensing danger, found you and asked you to help him fake his death and escape?"
"No, I received news beforehand and decided to play along.
Everything was proceeding according to plan, but at some point, the information leaked, leading both the late emperor and Prime Minister Shangguan to dispatch assassins.
My men fought desperately, but they were outnumbered.
Fortunately, that person was blessed by heaven and received help from a noble benefactor.
However, I am curious about who this benefactor is, to have so perfectly staged the scene of someone falling off a cliff, deceiving everyone, including myself.
If it weren't for the need to invite the Empress Dowager back from Putuo Temple to suppress those malevolent spirits.
I wouldn't have known that the person the late emperor hated so much was hiding in this very Putuo Temple.
Therefore, I am curious, what kind of divine being could have opened the doors for this person and kept him hidden for years?"
...
Although harboring the same questions, Lin Qingge, unable to say anything, forcibly changed the subject:
"By the way, does Murong Bai know that his father is still alive?"
"He probably doesn't.
After all, I haven't had a chance to tell him yet.
But he seems to believe that his father is still alive."
Lin Qingge, finally understanding why Murong Bai harbored such animosity towards the imperial family, raised an eyebrow:
"What makes you say that?"
"Given his personality, if he knew his father was murdered, do you think those who harmed his father would still be alive today?"
Lin Qingge thought about it and shook her head decisively.
So, among the people under her command, aside from Yan Hanhan, none of them were normal?
No, Yan Hanhan couldn't be considered normal either.
But if she had to choose the most abnormal among everyone, it would undoubtedly be the person in front of her.
With this thought, Lin Qingge narrowed her eyes slightly, "Master Hua, you still haven't told me why you arranged for me to meet Bai Yichen."
"The reason?
It's simply because I saw that you, my lord, had been in office for many days without any cases, and I feared you would be bored, so I thought of finding something for you to do."
"So I should thank you for that, Master Hua?"
"I dare not accept such praise."
Suppressing the urge to hit him, Lin Qingge gnashed her teeth and said:
"What crime did Bai Yichen commit to incur the emperor's wrath?"
Before Hua Jinrong could speak, Yan Tinghao came rushing over from the path below, shouting the familiar opening:
"My lord, bad news, bad news!"
Lin Qingge heard this and said indignantly:
"How many times have I told you, I am doing very well, better than well!
Tell me, what is it?
Don't tell me someone else has died?"
"My lord, no, no one has died, it's, it's Prince Andre who has gone missing!"