Shen Lingyun's eyebrows knitted instantly. She looked up at Xiao Tianchi in a scrutinizing manner.
She was far away in the capital and didn't know about what had happened in Dongli Town. However, Xiao Tianchi had actually been there and knew the local situation best.
But...
Was what he said true? Could she trust him?
As if sensing Shen Lingyun's suspicion, before Xiao Tianchi could say anything, Eunuch Wang couldn't help but speak up:
"Your Highness, what His Majesty said is true. These are all the information I've gathered. Those people were quite indignant when they mentioned His Highness the Crown Prince. When Guard Bu entered their houses for a search, he threw and smashed things. If anyone dared to resist, he would use torture."
Xiao Tianchi's expression turned cold and he scolded, "You've got a lot of nerve. You dare to interrupt before the master speaks. When we get back, you'll receive twenty big boards!"
Shen Lingyun felt a bit embarrassed. She stopped him and said, "He's just telling the truth. Why are you punishing him? Eunuch Wang, tell me everything else you've found out."
Eunuch Wang looked at Xiao Tianchi. Seeing that he didn't stop him, he said, "On the day we arrived in Dongli Town, I saw with my own eyes that Guard Bu blocked the entrance of the town. He checked everyone passing by one by one and distributed portraits of His Highness the Crown Prince, asking the passing commoners to keep an eye on His Highness's whereabouts."
"Forgive my audacity, but I think Guard Bu's actions didn't seem like he was looking for His Highness the Crown Prince. Instead, it seemed like he wanted to make it known to the world that His Highness the Crown Prince had been missing for many days. In this way..."
He bent down slightly. "In this way, when His Highness the Crown Prince's body appeared, it could be quickly recognized, and His Highness the Crown Prince's death would become a foregone conclusion."
It seemed that Bu Hua's actions were indeed quite strange.
He alone couldn't have accomplished all this. The only explanation was that this assassination targeting Cheng'er had been premeditated. There must have been a traitor in the Crown Prince's entourage, and that person might be Bu Hua.
Moreover, Bu Hua had long since defected to another master and betrayed Xiao Jingcheng.
"Where is Bu Hua?" Shen Lingyun asked.
Xiao Tianchi replied, "He's in the dungeon. If you want to interrogate him, Lingji, I can take you there at any time."
Shen Lingyun wasn't in a hurry. Instead, she looked at the body in the ice coffin, her eyebrows furrowed.
"I don't understand. Since they wanted Cheng'er dead, why did they put out a fake body to confuse people? If Cheng'er is in their hands, why didn't they just kill him and throw out his body?"
There were many doubts in this matter, which was really strange.
Xiao Tianchi said, "This is also what puzzles me. Since this person was wearing the Crown Prince's clothes, it means that the Crown Prince did fall into their hands. But it seems that they didn't immediately take the Crown Prince's life. However..."
Shen Lingyun looked at him.
"There's something quite interesting, but I don't know if it's related to the Crown Prince's assassination and disappearance."
A glint of interest flashed in Xiao Tianchi's eyes. "After finding this body, I planned to take it back to the capital as soon as possible. But Prince Ning proposed that since the Crown Prince died unexpectedly, there must be grievances in his heart. So he invited a Taoist priest who could communicate with ghosts from Tianyuan County, intending to invite the 'god' to possess him and console the soul of the Crown Prince."
Shen Lingyun's eyebrows furrowed even more.
"I don't believe in such superstitious things, but Prince Ning was very insistent, so I agreed. On the day we were about to leave with the body, a Taoist priest in a Taoist robe really came."
Shen Lingyun's heart tightened. "Did it work?"
Xiao Tianchi narrowed his eyes meaningfully. "That Taoist priest did seem to have some skills, but something went wrong halfway. I saw him glance behind me, and then the Crown Prince was 'invited' by him. He left a few ambiguous words and then fainted."
Knowing that Shen Lingyun was worried about Xiao Jingcheng, he didn't keep her in suspense. "When the Taoist priest was possessed by the 'god', he mentioned the private salt case in Ningzhou. That was a case that the Crown Prince personally handled and investigated in Ningzhou. It probably means that the Crown Prince's death was revenge from someone related to the private salt case in Ningzhou."
Shen Lingyun said, "It can't be that simple."
Xiao Tianchi nodded. "You're right. Although many corrupt officials and merchants were investigated and seized in the private salt case, the matter has already been settled. They didn't take action when the Crown Prince was in Ningzhou, but they waited until the Crown Prince left Ningzhou. This is unreasonable."
Remembering that he had just mentioned Xiao Wuchen, Shen Lingyun said, "Could it be Prince Ning?"
Xiao Tianchi looked at her with a faint smile. She quickly realized and said, "Prince Ning has no support from his mother's family. Princess Ning is just the daughter of a small official, and her family has no power. He has been suppressed by Prince Xuan for many years. He shouldn't have the ability to plan such a meticulous scheme."
Prince Ning and Prince Xuan had always been in the same camp. No matter what Prince Xuan did, Prince Ning was always involved. Maybe the real mastermind was Prince Xuan, Xiao Yixuan, the son of Concubine Feng.
Xiao Tianchi took Shen Lingyun's hand and pulled her back. He picked up a handkerchief and wiped the ice water on her hand.
Shen Lingyun didn't notice this detail. At this moment, her mind was working at full speed.
Once she figured out one of the doubts, many other doubts were also easily solved.
If all this was related to Prince Xuan and he was the one planning behind the scenes, then everything made sense.
The Feng family behind Concubine Feng was not as prestigious as the Shen family. It was just a small prominent family in Hezhou. Her father, Feng Qinian, was just a staff officer in the Xiao family's army back then. During the war to destroy Chu, his daughter, Feng Wenyi, accidentally saved Xiao Tianye's life. Since then, she had become Xiao Tianye's concubine.
After Xiao Tianye replaced Xiao Tianchi and ascended the throne, the Feng family was granted the title of Duke Protector of the State. Feng Qinian was promoted from a staff officer to the Divine Strategy Army Camp and served as a third - rank commander. And Feng Wenyi was made a concubine. Soon after, she gave birth to Xiao Tianye's second son, Xiao Yixuan.
Since then, the Feng family had been on the rise, and their prestige had been increasing day by day. With Xiao Tianye's intentional indulgence and permission, they were likely to replace the Shen family in Hexi.
The Feng family had money and people. It wasn't difficult for them to achieve all this.
If the Crown Prince died, the most direct beneficiary would be Xiao Yixuan. The position of the crown prince was vacant, and as the legitimate wife, she couldn't have another child. Naturally, the position of the crown prince would fall to Xiao Yixuan.
Shen Lingyun couldn't help but recall what had happened when she was sent to the cold palace.
Xiao Tianye only based on some rumors outside and questioned Xiao Jingcheng's birth and her loyalty.
If no one had instigated it, how could these rumors have spread and reached Xiao Tianye's ears?
Xiao Tianye's favor had strengthened the Feng family and nourished the ambitions of Feng Wenyi and Xiao Yixuan. All this was probably their doing.
Ironically, after Xiao Tianchi led his troops into the palace, Xiao Tianye actually ran away with Feng Wenyi.
She lowered her head and pondered. Her cold and stiff fingers soon warmed up under Xiao Tianchi's wiping.
As her fingers regained their temperature, her sense of touch became more sensitive. Realizing that her hand was being held, Shen Lingyun came back to her senses and subconsciously pulled her hand back and hid it in her sleeve.