ebookland Chapter 154 Begging Her
Chapter 154 Begging Her
The fire at Prince Xin's mansion was so intense that it quickly illuminated the entire night sky of the market, and even alerted the palace.
Fortunately, the Imperial Guards arrived in time. Leng Shan led a large number of Imperial Guards inside and finally brought the fire under control in the middle of the night.
Prince Xin was covered in soot, his body was burned in many places, his clothes were tattered, and his face was covered in scratches. He looked extremely disheveled.
"Your Highness!" Leng Shan stepped forward quickly and knelt before Prince Xin. "I am late, please forgive me!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Prince Xin out of the corner of his eye.
Anyone Xie Jinghan suspects is no good.
Just as Prince Xin was about to speak, a violent coughing fit erupted.
After he finished coughing, he said in a voice hoarse from the smoke, "It's just some superficial injury, nothing serious. I feel very bad for troubling the Imperial Guards so late at night."
"Laifu." He raised his hand, and the servant who had been serving him came out carrying a box of silver.
“These are a reward for Commander Leng,” Prince Xin said. “Commander Leng must not refuse; this is my apology.”
Lai Fu struggled to carry the box of silver out; it looked to be at least two or three hundred taels. The imperial guards behind Leng Shan stared at it with shining eyes.
Fifty Imperial Guards have arrived today, and Leng Shan is a generous man; he'll probably take all the silver. Earning half a month's worth of silver in one night—that's a really good deal!
Leng Shan smiled and didn't refuse again, but instead had his men carry the silver away.
"This fire today came out of nowhere," Leng Shan sighed. "I'm afraid I'll have to lead men to investigate the entire Prince Xin's residence. I wonder what Prince Xin's opinion is?"
Although he was asking a question, he did not give Prince Xin any choice.
The Imperial Guards were known for their domineering behavior, with Fir as their leader.
Moreover, the fire was indeed suspicious, and it was only reasonable for the Imperial Guards to investigate, which Prince Xin could not refuse.
Prince Xin saw things clearly and didn't hesitate. He immediately nodded and said, "Indeed, we need to thoroughly investigate the entire manor. This time, it was Prince Xin's manor that suffered. If next time... if next time this fire spreads to places it shouldn't have, then things will be very bad."
Leng Shan had a feeling that the Prince Xin was implying something, but he pretended not to understand and remained the same burly, rough man, chuckling as he scratched his head: "That makes sense. What if it gets burned in the palace?"
"The Thousand Autumns Banquet is coming soon, so we need to be careful." Leng Shan's expression became much more serious when she mentioned the Thousand Autumns Banquet.
The Thousand Autumns Banquet will be held at the end of the year, when various states will come to pay homage, including the Northern Barbarians.
The relationship between Dali and Beidi was extremely hostile. Although it had improved considerably in recent years, it has deteriorated again due to the war in the middle of the year. This grand banquet will likely be crucial to the relationship between the two countries.
— Either it will escalate and gradually worsen, or it will turn hostility into friendship, and everyone will be happy.
Therefore, it is understandable that the Imperial Guards were so cautious.
King Kexin glanced at the fir tree, but felt a little uneasy.
Leng Shan, a burly man, was notorious in the capital for his recklessness, which led to many conflicts with Xie Jinghan, the commander of the Imperial Guards. Rumors often circulated that Leng Shan would slam his fist on the table and challenge Xie Jinghan.
However, rumors are just rumors, and Prince Xin would never believe them unless he saw them with his own eyes.
At this moment, Leng Shan crossed his arms and gave a cold smile: "After all, we subordinates have to be vigilant at all times, otherwise we might get scolded to death if we're not careful."
"I would like to ask Your Highness to be a witness for me tomorrow." Leng Shan took a few steps closer to Prince Xin and whispered, "Such a big fire will certainly not be hidden from His Majesty. When His Majesty questions us at the Grand Court Assembly tomorrow... I hope Your Highness will put in a good word for me. You see, I have put in a lot of effort for your Prince's residence."
There was a hint of trepidation in his expression as he said this.
Prince Xin hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Commander Leng, rest assured, I will definitely put in a good word for you with my brother."
"Then thank you very much, Your Highness!" Leng Shan chuckled, bowed to Prince Xin, and then led his men, carrying the silver, swaggering away from Prince Xin's residence.
After they left, Lai Fu dared to approach Prince Xin and said, "Your Highness, I have already checked the West Garden, but there is no sign of anything."
"Our people arrived in time, and Xiyuan was well preserved." Laifu said, a hint of relief in his eyes.
No one knew better than him the importance of Xiyuan in Prince Xin's heart. If Xiyuan caught fire, they would all lose their lives.
Prince Xin nodded and said, "Prepare the court attire for tomorrow's grand court assembly."
Upon hearing this, Laifu exclaimed in surprise, "Are you really going to the Grand Court Assembly? Today's fire was very strange; perhaps that person was plotting against you behind the scenes. If you go to the Grand Court Assembly..."
“How can we put their minds at ease if we don’t attend the Grand Court Assembly?” Prince Xin sneered. “No one knows better than me how suspicious my elder brother is! After all these years, he finally couldn’t hold back anymore.”
Lai Fu was secretly alarmed, but he still immediately agreed.
Since Prince Xin had spoken, no one in the entire palace dared to disobey.
……
The Duke of Wen's Mansion.
Wen Yitong had been very tired these past few days, but no matter how tired she was, she still sat up straight after learning that Madam Wen had been arrested and imprisoned. Her eyes were dark and swollen, but she forced herself to be energetic because of this matter and asked, word by word, "Granny Lin, say it again."
The news was too incredible for her to believe.
Lin Mama forced a laugh: "You heard right, Madam... has indeed been taken to the Dali Temple."
At that moment, Wen Yitong felt as if a thunderbolt had struck from the sky, making her tremble all over.
"How is this possible?" Wen Yitong paced back and forth in the bedroom, her eyes flashing with sharpness and resentment. "It must be Wen Shuyao! It must be Wen Shuyao who's behind this!"
Lin Mama was somewhat helpless. Anyone could see that Lady Wen's imprisonment was entirely at the behest of Prince Jing.
But... but who dares to say that King Jing is wrong?
"Is there nothing Aunt can do?" Wen Yitong's eyes widened, as if she had grasped at the last straw. "Aunt is a Noble Consort, she will definitely be able to rescue Mother!"
Lin Mama closed her eyes and answered in a low voice, "It's not that I don't want to go to the Imperial Concubine, but... all the letters sent to the palace have disappeared without a trace."
The last path has been blocked, and Duke Wen is even less willing to make any effort for Lady Wen's sake.
It seems there's only one way left.
Thinking of this, Granny Lin looked at Wen Yitong.
Her gaze was so intense that Wen Yitong understood what she was thinking in no time.
"You want me to beg her?" Wen Yitong asked through gritted teeth, her voice filled with resentment.