Wei Shuxuan thought the Crown Prince really put on a grand show. She had never seen anyone visit like this.
The man sitting in the main seat stood up. There was a sly smile on his handsome face. He walked up to Xin Zizhao. "Are you my fifth imperial brother?"
No matter who he faced, Xin Zizhao never showed many emotions on his face. He was a bit taller than the Crown Prince. Looking down at the man in front of him, he said, "I don't know."
This answer made everyone present can't help but feel sorry for the fifth prince. For the Crown Prince had many means, most of which were under - the - table. As the people serving the Crown Prince, how could they not know his temper?
"Do you know who I am?" There was no obvious change on the Crown Prince's face, but the glint of anger in his eyes was perfectly captured by Xin Zizhao.
"Yes, you're the Crown Prince."
"I'm your second imperial brother. You don't even pay your respects when you see me. What kind of propriety is this?" The Crown Prince began to scold Xin Zizhao.
"Father didn't tell me."
What he meant was that Emperor Jinzheng didn't tell him that the current Crown Prince was his second imperial brother.
"Do you mean to blame Father for not telling you?"
"No. Second imperial brother, do you know that ignorance excuses no one? Father sent me out of the palace for many years. I've never met my so - called siblings. How could I know who you are?" Xin Zizhao's tone was cold and flat, showing no emotion.
However, both Wei Shuxuan and the Crown Prince understood the hidden meaning in Xin Zizhao's words. If Emperor Jinzheng hadn't thrown him out, how could he not know his siblings?
In other words, he was shifting the blame to Emperor Jinzheng. But how dare the Crown Prince blame his father in front of Emperor Jinzheng?
Although angry at Xin Zizhao's words, the Crown Prince didn't show his anger but instead laughed. "My fifth imperial brother is quite eloquent, just like your mother."
The look in Xin Zizhao's eyes turned even colder as he stared at the Crown Prince. "You've met my mother?"
"I met her a few times before. She was a very talkative woman. But so what? In the end, my mother still snatched the position of the empress from her. And she ended up with no body left."
The Crown Prince was ten years older than Xin Zizhao, so he had naturally met Xin Zizhao's mother. After Xin Zizhao's mother was bestowed death by the Empress Dowager, Xin Zizhao was sent out of the palace.
Xin Zizhao didn't have many memories of his mother. But after all, she was his biological mother. He couldn't help but want to know about her.
"Do you want to know?" The Crown Prince squinted his eyes and looked at Xin Zizhao, but Xin Zizhao remained unmoved.
"It's not necessary. She's already gone. Knowing about her won't do me any good. I don't have any impression of her at all. So, second imperial brother, you don't need to tell me. And if there's nothing else, you can leave. I want to rest."
No one had ever dared to disdain him, the Crown Prince. No one had ever dared to treat him like this. Since his fifth imperial brother came back, Father's attention had almost all been on this fifth imperial brother. He had already made that woman disappear without a trace. Why did Father's heart turn away from him as soon as that woman's son came back?
He was so unwilling!
"One day, you'll regret your actions today."
The Crown Prince left this sentence before he left Fenghe Hall with his entourage in a grand manner.
Xin Zizhao ignored him. After the Crown Prince left, he sat down on one side and calmly asked Grand Tutor Li to serve him tea. Grand Tutor Li trembled. "Fifth prince, you shouldn't talk to the Crown Prince like that. The Crown Prince is ruthless. If he ascends the throne, we'll all be in big trouble."
"It's okay, Grand Tutor Li. Please go and make me a pot of chrysanthemum Pu'er. I seem to be getting angry."
After Grand Tutor Li left, Wei Shuxuan propped her chin with her hand and looked at Xin Zizhao. "Hey, Xin Zizhao, you said you don't want to know about your mother?"
"Hmm?" Xin Zizhao looked up at Wei Shuxuan and replied, "Yes."
"I don't believe you. You actually want to know very much. When that arrogant Crown Prince mentioned your mother, your expression changed. Don't think I didn't notice. After all, we've been on the road together for so long. I know what's on your mind to some extent."
"Mind your own business."
"Humph, I'm just concerned about you." Wei Shuxuan looked around. Since there was no one around, she moved her stool very close to Xin Zizhao. "I said, if you want to know about your mother, why don't you just ask your father?"
Xin Zizhao just glanced at her indifferently and then shifted his gaze. "After you examined the bodies, what do you think of the murderer?"
He didn't answer her question directly at all. Wei Shuxuan pouted. If he didn't want to answer, that was fine. She wasn't the kind of person who forced others.
"… Thoughts? Actually, I think the murderer should be quite familiar with the palace. Because he kills purposefully. He only kills people around the emperor and some concubines who have been sent to the Cold Palace. If someone isn't very familiar with the palace, there won't be such coincidences."
"Are you going to start the investigation from the people in the palace?"
Grand Tutor Li placed the teapot in front of Xin Zizhao. Just as he was about to pour the tea for him, Xin Zizhao motioned for him to step back first. Xin Zizhao poured a cup of tea for himself and Wei Shuxuan respectively.
Holding the hot teacup, Wei Shuxuan nodded. "Of course. I'm going to cooperate with Ge Zian to conduct the investigation. After all, he's more familiar with the palace. Anyway, it's a waste not to use someone's assistance."
Hearing Wei Shuxuan mention Ge Zian so naturally, Xin Zizhao had a bad feeling. He didn't really want Wei Shuxuan to have too much contact with Ge Zian. Although he had asked the people in the palace about Ge Zian's character before and knew that Ge Zian was a good person, he just didn't want Wei Shuxuan to deal with that man. It made him feel a bit jealous.
"You can go to the Imperial Study Room to study at ease. I won't bother you."
Wei Shuxuan smiled brightly and patted Xin Zizhao on the shoulder.
The next day, after Xin Zizhao went to the Imperial Study Room, Wei Shuxuan planned to visit General Long'an's Mansion to see Ge Zian. After all, he was her assistant, and she also had some things she wanted him to help with.
The information about the deceased that she had asked the imperial guards for yesterday was only delivered to her early this morning. She planned to go and discuss it with Ge Zian today.