After the cannon fodder father and daughter married into the family, the whole family regretted it

Yao Xin's face grew more somber, and under the cloth covering her eyes, the dark clouds were as thick as inky black ink.

"Hearing that Brother Zijun's old case is being retried, I am uneasy and must go to the capital to see the result."

Wan Sheng didn't say anything, but picked up his glass and drank with him.

I swallowed all the bitterness whole.

When Chen Zijun died, he was heartbroken and worried about Zixi. He mustered his strength and made plans for Zixi.

Yao Xin, after going blind, returned to the capital. Hearing that the Grand Princess had erected a tomb and a monument, he went to the tomb and cried for three days.

My eyes were already badly injured, and after three days, the burden has become even heavier.

Yao Xin didn't care about anything else, and cried until she couldn't shed any more tears before leaving the capital in disappointment.

It's normal that Yao Xin can't let go after all these years.

None of his close associates could believe that Chen Zijun harbored any rebellious intentions.

The two put down their glasses, and the atmosphere in the cell fell silent. It was at this moment that Zhu Guanfeng arrived.

Footsteps are always more noticeable in the dark.

At the small table, the two turned around together and saw Zhu Guanfeng in an official robe.

"Lord Zhu, what brings you here?" Wan Sheng didn't even get up.

He and Zhu Guanfeng were good friends. The fact that he could address Zhu Guanfeng as "Sir" to his face was only because they were in the Ministry of Justice prison, and they were giving him some face.

Zhu Guanfeng didn't mind and smiled with narrowed eyes.

"I heard that Mr. Yao had come, so I came to see him."

Yao Xin hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting: "I am here to visit you in prison, I am unworthy of such attention from you, sir."

"Mr. Yao is someone I have admired for many years. In terms of poetry, he is even called the 'Little Li Bai.' It is an honor for me to meet him today."

Zhu Guanfeng quickly stepped forward to return the greeting.

His words were hardly a compliment; the title "Little Li Bai" was a household name in Beijing more than a decade ago.

It was only after Yao Xin went blind that he stopped writing poetry and prose, or perhaps he wrote some but they never got published, and his fame gradually faded away.

"What 'Little Li Bai'? I am but a mere mortal, unworthy of such praise. Your words, Lord Zhu, are truly an insult to me." Yao Xin's expression remained calm, displaying great humility.

It seems that those who were once full of vigor have truly accepted their fate and become calm.

Wan Sheng, on the other hand, looked around and then picked up the wine pot and poured more wine.

"You two, why be so hypocritical? We have wine today, so we should use it as a pretext to talk about our true feelings. Don't ruin the atmosphere."

After hearing this, the two could no longer be polite.

Zhu Guanfeng sat down naturally next to Wan Sheng, diagonally facing Yao Xin.

This position is ideal for observing people's subtle movements or micro-expressions.

The three sat at the same table, but each harbored different thoughts.

With Zhu Guanfeng around, Wan Sheng and the others stopped talking about the past and only talked about their current situations.

Knowing that Wan Sheng had filed a complaint and ended up in jail himself, and with Zhu Guanfeng taking care of him in every way, Yao Xin was no longer worried.

But Zhu Guanfeng interrupted.

"Mr. Yao has been indulging in the beauty of nature over the years, and must have seen a lot of local customs and traditions. I wonder which places he has visited?"

As he spoke, he gave a shy smile.

"If I have the opportunity, I would like to travel around and broaden my experience."

His tone betrayed his undisguised envy.

Yao Xin, on the other hand, was already fed up.

"May you have lofty aspirations, sir, and travel the world, finding interest in everything you see and hear."

"For someone like me, whose heart is as cold as ashes, it's all the same no matter where I go; I'll never see a glimmer of light again."

These words sound really depressing.

Wan Sheng felt uneasy and wanted to say a few words of advice, but Zhu Guanfeng beat him to it.

The latter became serious and said earnestly, "Mr. Yao, you are mistaken."

"Mr. Yao, are you aware that Chen Zixi has a daughter who is still alive?"

Yao Xin tilted her head in his direction, pretending to listen attentively.

"His daughter has an older brother who broke his leg in his early years. Despite seeking treatment from many famous doctors, he could not be cured. He was bullied by his clan and looked down upon by outsiders, but his heart was as firm as a rock and he was never disturbed by external things."

"Now that his leg ailment has been cured, he has even entered the Imperial Academy, truly a prodigy of his youth."

"As long as Mr. Yao does not change his original intention, such a day will come eventually."

Zhu Guanfeng spoke with absolute certainty.

Yao Xin didn't care whether he believed it or not. He put down his wine glass and remained silent.

Since Yao Xin went blind, no matter how many people around him tried to comfort and console him, it was all in vain.

Over the years, he has become even more stubborn and is no longer willing to listen to advice.

He probably only felt that Qin Yan, who came from a farming family, was lucky to be cured of his illness.

His eyes, however, showed utter despair.

Wan Sheng put down his chopsticks and deliberately made a little noise to break the atmosphere between the two.

"This wine is not quite right today; it can't compare to the bamboo leaf wine in my restaurant."

"Tsk, Brother Wan is already in jail, it's good enough that you have wine to drink, and you're still being picky. If you go too far, the Minister might personally hold me accountable." Zhu Guanfeng raised an eyebrow.

Wan Sheng smiled.

"I'm afraid the Minister is reluctant to part with you and is thinking about how to poach your talent."

The atmosphere relaxed again at the dinner table.

Zhu Guanfeng didn't probe any further. Whether Yao Xin spoke or not made little difference; traces of her passing would remain. His men were already investigating Yao Xin's whereabouts over the past few years.

After the meal, Yao Xin didn't stay long before taking her leave.

Zhu Guanfeng was very enthusiastic and asked his subordinates to see him off, as he had finally met the person he respected and wanted to do something insignificant.

Yao Xin didn't refuse; she actually accepted.

Now that he has shown himself, he is not afraid of revealing his address.

Zhu Guanfeng's smile faded only after everyone had walked away.

He was somewhat confused about the purpose of Yao Xin's trip.

If he hadn't already begun to suspect Yao Xin, from the perspective of their past relationship alone, it would have been perfectly reasonable for him to come to Beijing to wait for the outcome of the Chen family case's retrial.

But that's not actually the case.

The fact that this case has blown up so much suggests that Yao Xin might have played a part in it.

Zhu Guanfeng thought for a moment, then went to chat with Wan Sheng again.

Wan Sheng had drunk a bit too much and was somewhat intoxicated. He couldn't maintain his usual gentle demeanor and appeared aloof and melancholic, revealing a lot of hidden thoughts.

Before Zhu Guanfeng could speak, Wan Sheng's eyes were filled with a deeper meaning.

"Are you doubting Brother Yao? Why?"

They are all intelligent and quick-witted; they can guess at the slightest hint of trouble.

Last time, Zhu Guanfeng's expression changed when he heard Yao Xin's name. This time, when he met her, although he spoke respectfully, there was a hint of probing in his tone.

Besides, the claim that Zhu Guanfeng idolizes Yao Xin is utter nonsense.

More than a decade ago, Yao Xin was a master of poetry, but when did Zhu Guanfeng develop such a great interest in poetry?

He has always been more concerned with solving cases.

Zhu Guanfeng glanced at him, then simply sat on his bed, taking up his resting spot.

"Does Yao Xin and Grand Princess Mingzhu have any old grudges?"

It is quite common for brothers to have disagreements with each other's wives.

Upon hearing this, Wan Sheng immediately realized what was going on.

"You suspect that Chen Yong is Yao Xin's man?"

Only Chen Yong insisted that the events of that year were framed by the Grand Princess Mingzhu.

In reality, it explicitly refers to the Grand Princess, but implicitly refers to the Emperor behind the scenes.

It is common knowledge that Grand Princess Mingzhu is wholeheartedly devoted to the royal family.

Looking further back, Wan Sheng also tacitly acknowledged that it was the Emperor and Grand Princess Mingzhu, aunt and niece, who joined forces to defeat Chen Zijun.

They believe Chen Zijun died due to political intrigue, and the charges against her were simply arbitrarily imposed by the victors.

So over the years, he didn't want to investigate the Chen case. There's a saying that goes, "If the ruler wants his subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die."

Since Chen Zijun is a subject, what can he do even if he is wronged?

He couldn't forget it, and the only thing he investigated in detail was why Chen Zixi was assassinated.

He was so close to seeing the person he had been longing for.

It was only after the Grand Princess Mingzhu personally brought this matter to light, and with Chen Yong's complaint and the subsequent arrogant assassin, that Wan Sheng finally understood.

What happened back then wasn't actually a scheme by the emperor to eliminate a major threat.

It's even possible that the emperor was used as a pawn in Chen Zijun's death.

Wan Sheng then wanted to know the truth and wanted to give Chen Zixi an explanation when he went to her grave to pay his respects.

He knew Zixi; he feared that no one who had lived in the village for so many years could forget the death of Chen Zijun for even a moment.

Zhu Guanfeng didn't answer and calmly lay down on the bed.

I must say, it's quite comfortable.

After Wan Sheng went to prison, his bed wasn't just made of a few planks; it was bought at a high price, and the mattress and everything else were the thickest available.

These days, Zhu Guanfeng hasn't had a full night's sleep at home; he mostly sleeps in the Ministry of Justice or on a small couch in his study.

I really feel relaxed now.

He didn't speak, but Wan Sheng already understood. He leaned back, half-resting on the straw mat.

"It's not exactly an old grudge, but I do have some dislike for him."

"Zijun, treat the princess like a precious jewel, but the princess's heart is hard to fathom."

This means that the princess may not have been in love with Chen Zijun, but she agreed to the marriage.

Between the two, it was destined that Chen Zijun would give more.

As a close friend, Yao Xin naturally hoped that her friend and her husband could have a harmonious marriage.

Zhu Guanfeng learned many old stories from Wan Sheng.

For example, the reason why Chen Zijun and Yao Xin have a good relationship is not only because they share the same ideals, but also because they have a life-or-death bond.

When Chen Zijun first became an official, he served in the Ministry of Rites. That year, during the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, a major blunder occurred due to the machinations of a villain, and the late emperor was assassinated and fell into a coma.

The entire Ministry of Rites was thoroughly investigated.

Chen Zijun was a low-ranking official and was chosen to take the blame. Everyone hoped that he would either accept the blame or die in prison.

It was Yao Xin who protected him all along. After the late emperor woke up, he appreciated Chen Zijun very much, so he gave him a chance to investigate thoroughly, which allowed him to clear his name.

Although Chen Zijun was exceptionally capable, without the time Yao Xin had bought for him, he probably wouldn't have even had the chance to get a chance and would have died an unexplained death.

As for how Yao Xin bought time back then, he was from a collateral branch of the family and abducted the eldest son of the legitimate master, who was only three years old.

In order to get the clan to contribute, they openly and secretly sent people to protect Chen Zijun.

How could Yao not hate him for kidnapping her own clansmen, especially his own sons, for the sake of outsiders?

Of course, Yao Xin did not abuse or intimidate the three-year-old child; she simply hid him and provided him with good food and drink.

But this can also be considered a betrayal of the family.

If Yao Xin hadn't already become an official, and if he hadn't been known as "Little Li Bai" and was a valuable member of the clan, he probably would have been killed by the clan after that incident.

He didn't die, but he was given forty strokes of the cane and had a fever for several days, barely managing to stay alive.

Therefore, they shared life and death, and their affection was unlike that of others.

What Wan Sheng meant by saying this was that he felt Yao Xin had no connection to the Chen family case, and that she might have been misled or gone astray, taking a wrong turn and hating Princess Mingzhu.

Zhu Guanfeng could tell, but he didn't think so.

Yao Xin's evidence is fake; it is clearly a frame-up to implicate Princess Mingzhu.

How twisted must one be to do such a thing?

I saw Yao Xin today, and she seemed to be in good condition; she hadn't gone mad.

Therefore, Zhu Guanfeng is more inclined to believe that Yao Xin did all this because she had ulterior motives.

It's sad, though.

But it's normal for everyone in the world to be driven by profit.

Zhu Guanfeng slept for half an hour in Wansheng's cell before getting up.

He still has a lot to do.

As he was leaving, he asked, "When do you plan to go out?"

"Let's wait until we catch the culprit who tried to kill Zixi back then," Wan Sheng said calmly.

Zhu Guanfeng has a headache.

"Are you pressuring His Majesty?"

"As a commoner, I would naturally not dare to do so."

Wan Sheng spoke humbly, but his expression betrayed it.

"Back then, you saved people, which was against the law. Since His Majesty didn't hold it against you, you should have known when to stop."

Zhu Guanfeng advised him.

"I admit my mistakes, but the killer from back then should also be brought to justice." Wan Sheng was determined.

Zhu Guanfeng flicked his sleeves and left.

The reason why Wansheng is so confident has a long history.

Unlike Chen Zijun and Yao Xin, they gained their reputation through various meritorious deeds after becoming officials.

Wan Sheng was famous from a young age. He began his education at the age of three, read the Four Books and Five Classics by the age of seven, and was knowledgeable about both ancient and modern times by the age of ten.

He also comes from a minor family, the kind that wouldn't make it into the annals of prominent families.

But they were still a prominent family; however, the Wan family now only has two descendants left.

The Wan family died for the late emperor; the entire clan was trying to protect him, which is why this happened.

So when Wansheng was a child, he was raised in the palace by the late emperor. When he was seven or eight years old, he said he couldn't get used to living there, so he couldn't do it.

Wan Sheng's son is an adopted son, but he was only found a few years ago; he is another member of the Wan family.

So why didn't the Eighth Prince treat Wan Sheng with any condescension?

Firstly, Wan Sheng had a great reputation and was a famous scholar of the time.

Secondly, they had studied together in the palace and had been friends since childhood.

Even the emperor took good care of Wansheng.

If he hadn't been unwilling to serve as an official, he might have been given a much more important position.

So, Zhu Guanfeng offered a couple of words of advice, but when that didn't work, he gave up and decided to let the emperor have his own headache.

On the other side, after leaving the yamen, Yun Congsheng, unusually, did not go straight back to his residence. Instead, he had a carriage driven through two streets, then got off and went to a pastry shop.

I changed my clothes at the pastry shop and quietly left through the back door.

If Bai Wu hadn't been so observant, he really wouldn't have noticed.

Bai Wu came to follow them personally. There was no other way; the people he had captured at the manor, the assassins, had been sent to the Ministry of Justice. Ying Si and another member of the Chen family were both very stubborn, so he had no opportunity to use his skills and volunteered to come.

Following the clouds, they bypassed two small paths and entered a house.

Yun Congsheng changed his clothes again, disguised himself as a day laborer, and left from the side with his load on his shoulders.

Bai Wu became even more vigilant; the more furtive the other party was, the more suspicious it seemed.

He actually suspected that the pastry shop and the house behind it were both properties owned by Yun Congsheng.

Otherwise, how could changing one's appearance be so easy?

Following the people, we finally arrived at our destination.

He Xiang Ju is a restaurant.

Yun Congsheng went down to the first floor and chose a corner seat.

The waiter asked him what he wanted, and he only asked for a bowl of vegetarian noodles.