Peerless Heiress - Chapter 95
"Where is that fruit farmer?"
"He is already dead."
"Dead, dead?..." I exclaimed in surprise.
Ru Ying nodded, "Less than an hour after our undercover agents discovered something was wrong, the fruit farmer died."
"......"
“It should be murder to silence them,” Ru Ying said calmly. “However, they haven’t gotten rid of our eyes and ears. We have someone infiltrated among them and are trying to find out the details. We will get back to them later.”
"...Where is it?" I asked, a bitter feeling welling up inside me. After all, we live in different times and spaces. What is a very ordinary murder case for them is still somewhat hard for me to accept.
"Pingcheng."
"Pingcheng?!" I exclaimed. The Pingcheng that Ruying and Rong's mother just returned from? I felt as if a thought suddenly flashed through my mind, but when I tried to grasp it, it vanished without a trace.
“It’s Pingcheng.” Ruying nodded, her voice somewhat ethereal, her gaze fixed on the distance, lost in thought. We both fell silent for a moment.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★
In a quiet alley, dappled shadows of trees fall on the ground, and unknown birds sing merrily. A dark figure slowly approaches, step by step, solemn and calm, as if stirring up the wind and rain in the air. A gloomy atmosphere washes over you, and for a moment, even the sunlight loses its luster, and the birds suddenly fall silent.
He stopped expressionlessly, reached around his neck and took out a small, black whistle-like object, put it in his mouth and blew it.
There was no sound, but after a short while, the sound of wind whistling arose, and several dark figures emerged from the eaves and corners, kneeling on the ground, "Your subordinates greet your master."
He nodded. "Zhongfangyuan is currently looking for a doll named Xiaozheng. They may have already found some initial clues. You should assist them in secret and make sure to find him as soon as possible."
"yes!"
He thought for a moment, “Send someone to follow me and record all my words and actions. When I use the highest sign language, report everything to me. Otherwise, do not disturb me.”
The command was rather strange, but no one hesitated in the slightest; the response was still a chorus of "Yes!"
The dark figure quickly disappeared.
He stood alone in the slightly gloomy alley, his back straight. The wind whipped his long robe, making it flutter and roll, just like his eyes, which, though calm as darkness, held turbulent and unpredictable undercurrents.
Chapter 208: The Wedding is Approaching
The Crown Prince's wedding is fast approaching, and the entire nation is in an uproar. If preparations before were busy, now they are urgent. It's a momentous event for both nations, and even the armies on the border are beginning to assemble, preparing for a celebration and military parade on the wedding day.
In essence, it's similar to a military exercise in our time and space. After all, the alliance between two major powers poses a significant threat to other countries, and there are likely quite a few who would want to sabotage it. Demonstrating the strength of both nations through a military parade can also deter those who might be tempted to do something underhanded.
Suddenly, things became countless. All the court officials were busy, with one political matter after another. Even Cheng Jue suddenly disappeared without a trace, so I missed my chance to take this opportunity to explore what the portal to time and space was.
The court was in a state of utter chaos, and as someone with nothing better to do, I felt embarrassed to spend all my time wandering around there. So I stayed in Zhongfang Garden, drinking Ziru's beauty tea, chatting with Ruying about new mechanical designs and potential changes to the garden's song and dance performances, making kites and swings with Lüju, having a great time. Occasionally, I would go out with Jin San to inspect the subordinates and branch altars, chuckling and pretending to be an expert.
The only exception was Meng Tai.
Ever since he was scared away by Mo Yu that day, he seemed to have become familiar with me. He would come to Zhongfang Garden almost every day or every other day. After he came, he would not do anything else but watch the singing and dancing, and he would ask some girls to accompany him. If he met me, he would greet me with a smile and chat for a few words. If he did not meet me, he would not make a special request to invite me. He would just enjoy himself there, just like a very ordinary guest who came to Zhongfang Garden, and the kind of person who was having so much fun that he did not want to leave.
At first, I was on guard, afraid he might suddenly appear out of nowhere. But after a few times, I really couldn't figure out his intentions. Because, seemingly unintentionally, he dropped a tunnel map right in front of me—and it was from Zhongfangyuan, the very tunnel map I had searched for so long without finding!
When Jin San and Ru Ying mentioned it, Jin San gasped and looked somewhat dazed. Ru Ying, however, acted strangely and remained silent.
I was intrigued. This Meng Tai was becoming increasingly unpredictable and formidable. He wouldn't do me such a huge favor for no reason, especially not pretending to be unintentional! So, what was his purpose? Was he trying to lower my guard? Or was he trying to curry favor with me, hoping to get something from me?
That day, I was on my way to the Minister's residence to find Mo Yu and confirm Meng Tai's identity, because judging from Mo Yu's behavior last time, it seemed that he knew who Meng Tai was. I had just stepped out of my room and into the side corridor when Ru Ying stopped me.
"Qingyan, where are you going?"
I smiled and said, "I'm going to the Minister's residence. I'll be back later."
Ru Ying nodded and continued, "There's new information coming back about Xiao Zheng's matter."
"Oh, what is it?" I stopped immediately. It had been a while since I'd heard from Xiao Zheng, and I was worried about him.
Chapter 209: Xiao Zheng is a Prince
Ru Ying paused for a moment, then said, "It is said that Xiao Zheng is a prince of the Beixian Kingdom."
Huh? ... I widened my eyes. "How could that be? How were you so sure?"
"The current ruler of the Beixian Kingdom has two sons: Meng Rulei and Meng Ruyun. Xiao Zheng is Meng Rulei's eldest son. Years ago, Meng Rulei had a favored concubine, and Xiao Zheng was born to her. After Xiao Zheng's birth, Meng Rulei's legal wife forcibly took him away to raise, driving the concubine away. Before leaving, Xiao Zheng's mother personally burned a crescent-shaped blue scar on his back, hoping for a future reunion. However, the concubine died a violent death shortly after being expelled. Later, Meng Rulei had no more children, and his legal wife treated Xiao Zheng as her own. This matter was kept strictly secret, and with the passage of time, it gradually faded from public knowledge. However, we have spies planted around the eldest prince, so we know. I've investigated; on Xiao Zheng's back..."
“Xiao Zheng does have that scar on his back,” I replied. “I saw it with my own eyes.”
When we encountered danger that day, Xiao Zheng's clothes were torn, revealing a light blue, crescent-shaped scar on his back. I remember it clearly. No wonder this little guy gave off an air of extraordinary origin, and the guards who were quietly following him said that he was actually a prince of a kingdom.
"There are also some scattered rumors that Xiao Zheng is just imprisoned and his life is not in danger. They may be trying to use Xiao Zheng as a bargaining chip to make a deal with someone. In addition, it is said that there are several experts guarding Xiao Zheng. Moreover, not long ago, Xiao Zheng tried to escape on his own, but the plan was exposed and he was beaten up. Then he was transferred to a more secret location, which our people have not yet found out."
He even got beaten up? ... The image of that brat's bright, glassy eyes flashed before his eyes, grinning and gesturing wildly as he teased the scholar. Remembering what Ru Ying had just told him about his past, a pang of pain shot through his heart.
"Ruying, we must find a way to rescue Xiaozheng as soon as possible." This brat must have suffered enough these past few days, right?
Ru Ying nodded. "The orders have already been given. The people below are all gathered, and the covert operations are being activated as much as possible. All available resources will be mobilized. Qingyan, you can rest assured."
"Hmm." I responded and walked upstairs with my head down, not noticing Ru Ying behind me. Suddenly, when she turned around and looked at the rockery, there was a cold smile on her lips and a flash of resentment and hatred in her eyes.
Chapter 210: Emergency Summoning
Before I even reached Mo Yu's residence, I was stopped by Lü Ju, who was rushing up behind me. The girl was covered in sweat and panting heavily, so she must have been in a great hurry.
"Lvju, what are you doing?" I asked, puzzled. I just came from Zhongfang Garden, what's the rush?
"Young...Young Master, there's an urgent matter. You should go back first." Green Ju's face flushed red. Without saying anything more, she grabbed me and pulled me back.