Chapter 315
“Is that fate?” Mrs. Li asked, pressing her heart with a handkerchief.
Bai Qingyan shook her head. “There must be another purpose behind it…”
Nanny Tong addressed the masters. “Eldest Princess, ladies, right after Lu Yuanpeng injured someone to protect our young lady, the young lady sent Doctor Hong, disguised as someone from the Lu Mansion, to examine Lin Xinan’s injuries and check his pulse! Doctor Hong said it was a minor injury… Moreover, both mother and son are greedy. They had already extorted a large sum of money from the Lu Mansion and complained about the new doctor sent by the Lu Mansion. They showed complete disdain.”
Suddenly, under the flickering light of the glazed lamp, Nanny Jiang heard a very faint sound of crackling sparks. She shivered and said, “I didn’t finish my words earlier. After that woman knocked on the Dengwen Drum, she scolded the ruling elite, brought up the incident of the young lady burning and killing surrendered captives, and said a lot more… about how it was inhumane for the young lady to burn and kill surrendered captives. She used all sorts of vicious words against the young lady, questioning why her son couldn’t scold her…”
Nanny Jiang held back, tightening her fist. “She even said such a tyrannical person as the young lady was unfit to be titled as the Princess.”
Bai Qingyan tightened the fingers resting on the table. She looked up, her eyes clear and bright.
That woman knocked the Dengwen Drum. Instead of appealing for sympathy from the people for the suffering her son had endured and seeking justice for him, she risked her life to knock the drum to scold her?
With the realization, everything became clear.
This matter, from Lin Xinan drunkenly defaming her at Fanque Tower, was targeted at her, Bai Qingyan!
Why did Lin Xinan choose to speak those words at Fanque Tower of all places? Because such places with a mix of various individuals spread information the fastest.
But perhaps Lin Xinan didn’t expect Lu Yuanpeng to intervene and beat him up.
To be beaten by the legitimate grandson of Prime Minister Lu, any ordinary person would have been frightened. But Lin Xinan… dared to act lowly against the noble and even demanded compensation from the Right Prime Minister’s Mansion!
Did he not care about his future in Dadu City as a student of the Imperial College?
Could it be that someone was supporting him, giving him such audacity?
Although it is said that the barefooted are not afraid of those wearing shoes, Lin Xinan, as a student of the Imperial College, cannot be considered barefooted.
If it was aimed at her, it was not difficult to guess. It must be either someone from the Crown Prince’s residence or Li Mao and King Liang’s faction.
However, the matter of King Liang being detained in his residence was not yet resolved. Based on Doctor Hong’s description of Lin Xinan, this person sought profit and avoided harm. If he followed King Liang’s orders to ruin her reputation and got entangled with Lu Yuanpeng, he wouldn’t dare to confront the Lu Mansion again.
Left Prime Minister Li Mao and the aide of the Crown Prince, Elder Fang, both had motives.
But Li Mao doing it didn’t differ much from King Liang doing it.
That night, because of that woman’s relentless accusations against Bai Qingyan, everyone at the Princess of Zhen’s mansion had a restless night.
Mrs. Dong was especially anxious, repeatedly sending people to check if the students of the Imperial College were still outside Wude Gate. Each affirmative response deepened her worry.
When Nanny Qin reported for the last time, she said that besides asking the Emperor to punish the murderer, the students were also requesting the Emperor to severely punish Bai Qingyan for slaughtering surrendered captives without permission, to cleanse the Jin Kingdom’s reputation.
Mrs. Dong, sitting on a soft couch, clutched her handkerchief, finding the matter increasingly troubling.
Knowing Mrs. Dong couldn’t sleep, Bai Qingyan had Nanny Tong prepare Mrs. Dong’s favorite sour plum soup and went to her courtyard to keep her company, awaiting Wei Zhong’s return.
Wei Zhong’s efficiency was undeniable, and he returned soon.
As he entered through the Chuihua gate, the Eldest Princess sent someone to fetch Bai Qingyan.
When Bai Qingyan and Mrs. Dong stepped into the Changshou Courtyard, Wei Zhong had just arrived.
Wei Zhong had thoroughly investigated the matter. The two households adjacent to Lin Xinan’s mother had discovered Lin Xinan’s death only after his mother knocked on the Dengwen Drum.
Neighbors said they had seen Lin Xinan’s mother brewing medicine for him that morning.
Wei Zhong, skilled in martial arts, had secretly examined Lin Xinan’s body and found that he had been smothered using a technique that left no trace – the paste-up officer method.
If Wei Zhong could detect it, then the experienced coroner could too.
Lin Xinan’s mother risked her life knocking on the Dengwen Drum, not genuinely intending to kill Lu Yuanpeng but to incite the students of the Imperial College against Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan pondered for a moment and asked, “Who led the students demanding corporal punishment in the Imperial College? Has it been investigated?”
Wei Zhong hadn’t looked into this. Bai Qingyan’s sudden question startled him.
“Please investigate overnight, finding out who’s leading this. I want a detailed report on them.”
Wei Zhong, seeing the young lady’s calm demeanor, bowed and obediently exited, heading out for the investigation overnight.
“Grandmother and Mother, rest assured. This time… the Crown Prince will definitely protect me,” Bai Qingyan said. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Elder Fang’s advice for the Crown Prince aimed to ruin her reputation, forcing the Crown Prince to protect her, thus making her forever indebted to him.
So, regardless of whether it was Li Mao or Elder Fang behind it, the Crown Prince would be persuaded by Elder Fang to protect her.
This ordeal, she and Lu Yuanpeng would get through safely.
Tomorrow, she could return to Shuoyang with peace of mind.
At this time, Prime Minister Lu’s mansion was also shrouded in gloomy clouds.
The lights in Prime Minister Lu’s study were brightly lit.
Lu Yuanpeng’s mother, Third Madam Lu, cried with heartbreak, kneeling outside Prime Minister Lu’s study, begging him to save Lu Yuanpeng at any cost.
When trouble arose, the men discussed it in the study. Though the women couldn’t help, crying outside like a funeral wailer only caused more disturbance.
Prime Minister Lu’s brow twitched as he placed his teacup heavily on the table, suppressing his anger, and said to his anxious third son, who kept glancing outside, “Shouting! Just shouting! If your wife keeps this up, she’ll be sent back to her parents’ home!”
Realizing his father was genuinely furious, the third son hurriedly apologized and ran out to have the Third Madam escorted back to her courtyard.
Initially unwilling, Third Madam only complied after her husband said further shouting would disrupt his father’s efforts to save Lu Yuanpeng, making his situation truly hopeless. She returned to the inner courtyard, pale-faced, supported by her maid.
With the study quieted, Prime Minister Lu drank two more cups of tea before calming down.