AWB Chapter 124: Multi-party melee
Chapter 124: Multi-party melee
Zheng Luoqi always felt that things weren't as simple as they seemed. How did Miss Guo fall into the water?
Zheng Luoqi thought that Ye Churan's intentions were definitely not just to have him watch the show.
Zheng Luoqi felt something was wrong the more she thought about it. Suddenly she remembered that Jingyu hadn't returned for so long. Could something have happened to him?
Zheng Luoqi didn't have time to think too much and immediately asked Boyu to find someone.
Bo Yu accepted the order and withdrew.
Zheng Luoqi was still thinking about something when Ye Churan suddenly called out, "Lord Zheng, what do you think?"
"What do you mean, 'what do I think'?" Zheng Luoqi asked Ye Churan suspiciously.
"Lord Zheng, what do you think should be done about this?" Ye Churan asked Zheng Luoqi with a smile.
"I'm digging my own grave," Zheng Luoqi thought to herself.
"So what was Lord Ye originally planning to do?" Zheng Luoqi asked in return.
"Since Miss Guo accidentally had physical intimacy with Young Master Zhang, I believe that Young Master Zhang should take responsibility for Miss Guo!" Ye Churan said.
"I don't think this is a good idea! Has Miss Guo's opinion been consulted regarding whether this is responsible or not?" Zheng Luoqi immediately realized what Ye Churan meant after hearing her words.
The Zhang family is part of the Prime Minister's faction. Now that the Zhang family's grandson is in trouble, if I were to stand by and watch Zhang Zhiyan marry Miss Guo, wouldn't that cause a rift between the Zhang family and the Prime Minister's residence?
So, is this supposed to make the Guo family accept their bad luck? And let me, the official, stab the Grand Commandant's mansion in the back again?
In fact, either outcome would be beneficial to Ye Churan.
"I think it would be better to ask Miss Guo in detail why she fell into the water. What do you think, Lord Ye?" Zheng Luoqi said. At this moment, Boyu and He Jinyu returned together.
He Jinyu whispered a few words in Zheng Luoqi's ear, and Zheng Luoqi's expression changed slightly, but quickly returned to normal.
Zheng Luoqi guessed correctly; He Jingyu had indeed run into trouble, and it wasn't just him; Quan Yuyuan was also involved. Zheng Luoqi was still wondering why, according to the timeline, the young master should have arrived at the pavilion long ago, but he hadn't.
First, he tried to break up a fight and was injured. Then he was assassinated. Now he is lying in a small wooden house, seriously injured and unconscious.
He Jinyu was originally chasing a man in black when he passed by and wanted to take a closer look. However, as soon as he went inside, he was locked inside. Just as he was about to break through the window to escape, he heard that Consort De, along with female guests, had already strolled into the wooden house where the young master was injured.
If Jingyu is discovered, he'll be alone with the young master, whose fate is unknown, by his side. Even if Jingyu didn't do it, he won't be able to explain himself. Besides, he's Zheng Luoqi's man, so it's obvious they're trying to pin the blame on the Prime Minister's Mansion through He Jinyu.
Time was of the essence, and Boyu arrived just in time. He immediately appeared and went up to pay his respects to Consort De and all the noble ladies he saw, one by one.
He Jinyu knew that Bo Yu was buying him time, so he immediately jumped out of the window and ran away.
After all, Zheng Luoqi's reputation isn't very good. Even if the prince's injury wasn't something Zheng Luoqi ordered He Jinyu to do, without evidence, no one would believe it. So Jingyu can't be found out that he's in the same room as the injured prince.
However, Boyu was unaware that Consort De was traveling in a "low-key" manner today. When Boyu bowed to Chen Xianlin, the noble ladies around him were all startled. They seemed not to have expected that this famous calligrapher in the capital, "Linchuan Xianyu," was actually the current Consort De.
Bo Yu and He Jinyu quickly reunited and returned to Zheng Luoqi's side.
Zheng Luoqi pondered the relationship between the two matters. There was no doubt that the matter involving Zhang Zhiyan and Guo Yanzhe was arranged by Ye Churan. As a member of the imperial faction, he created conflict between the Grand Commandant and the Prime Minister's factions. In the power struggle among us ministers, he just happened to reap the benefits.
However, for Quan Yuyuan, Ye Churan had no need to risk offending the Prince of Huainan to weaken the Prime Minister's power, as this would not be of much benefit to her.
Then there's only one possibility: it's Wen Yichuan and his group. Wen Yichuan found out about the conflict between Zheng Luoqi and the Crown Prince by the lake, and then attacked the Crown Prince, injuring Quan Yuyuan, in order to frame the Prime Minister's Mansion. It seems reasonable, but it's a bit absurd. Zheng Luoqi felt like something was missing.
Moreover, there are still matters concerning the Zhang and Guo families to deal with. First, there's Ye Churan sowing discord, and then there's Wen Yichuan framing him...
A moment later, another servant came to report. This time, the servant only whispered in Ye Churan's ear. After listening, Ye Churan's expression changed slightly, and then she began to say to everyone present, "I have something urgent to attend to today, so please make yourselves at home! Young Master Guo, Young Master Zhang, and Lord Zheng, please wait!"
"Please come with me!" Ye Churan said.
The group then arrived at a courtyard. As soon as Zheng Luoqi entered, she saw a woman kneeling on the ground, with Xue Huaiyu sitting in the main seat, Chen Xianlin beside him, and several guards.
"Sister!" Guo Yanzhe was puzzled to see his sister kneeling on the ground.
Immediately, Ye Churan bowed and said, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty and Consort De!"
After hearing Ye Churan's words, Guo Yanzhe and Zhang Zhiyan immediately bowed in respect.
"No need for formalities!" Xue Huaiyu said calmly.
"I have summoned you here. Do you know why?" Xue Huaiyu asked.
The two shook their heads and said, "We don't know!"
"When was the last time you saw the Crown Prince?" Xue Huaiyu asked.
Guo Yanzhe and Zhang Zhiyan, unsure which one was the Crown Prince, asked in confusion, "We don't know who the Crown Prince is...?"
Xue Huaiyu immediately ordered his men to carry Quan Yuyuan up. Quan Yuyuan was found covered in injuries and was still unconscious.
When Guo Yanzhe and Zhang Zhiyan saw the prince's face, they realized that he was the man who came to mediate the fight, but he was accidentally injured by them. However, he was not seriously injured!
Guo Yanzhe and Zhang Zhiyan realized why the emperor had summoned them. Seriously injuring the crown prince was a grave offense, so they immediately knelt down and explained, "When we encountered the crown prince, he wasn't injured yet; he was just trying to break up the fight and was accidentally injured by us."
"But it was just a superficial injury at the time. Then the young master got angry and left. We haven't seen him since. His injury is so serious. We really didn't do it," Guo Yanzhe and Zhang Zhiyan explained in a panic.
Xue Huaiyu also fell into deep thought. Chen Xianlin, who was beside him, suddenly spoke up: "When I found the Crown Prince injured, I encountered Lord Zheng's men. Why were Lord Zheng's subordinates there?"
"I heard that Lord Zheng's men had a conflict with the young master before, and they even got into a fight. It was witnessed by passersby. I wonder if Lord Zheng is aware of this?" Chen Xianlin continued.
"So, does Your Highness mean to doubt me? Your Highness always needs evidence. As for why my people were there, they were just lost!" Zheng Luoqi replied matter-of-factly.