In the study of the Jingtao Courtyard, yellowed letters were spread out on the table. Ji Lingchuan was bowing his head and carefully looking through them.
After a moment, he found the information he wanted.
He pulled out that letter. Ji Lingchuan's eyes quickly scanned the neat and somewhat childish flower - like small regular script on the letter. Almost instinctively, he held his breath.
The renovation of the water channels in the capital city was exactly in the 16th year of the Jinghong era. At that time, that young friend had even complained a bit that due to the renovation of the water channels in the city, there were pits everywhere and the water channels at home were out of use, causing a lot of inconvenience in life.
And he had mentioned in the letter that the reason it had taken so long to complete the renovation was that difficulties had been encountered during the construction. Building water channels was very labor - intensive, but the statures of adult and strong men were simply too big to get into the underground passages. The Ministry of Works was extremely worried about this.
When that young friend replied to him, she said, "What's so difficult about this? There are quite a few dwarf acrobats in the acrobatic troupes in the capital city. Don't think they're like children, but they're quite strong. I've seen them perform in the market a few times. One dwarf can carry a boulder weighing over a hundred catties. If the government recruits these people to help build the water channels, won't it be quickly completed?"
Her tone was full of innocent naivete, but this method did give Ji Lingchuan a lot of inspiration. He told the method she provided to Ji Zihuan, and Ji Zihuan quickly led the Ministry of Works to repair the water channels in the city.
Ji Lingchuan put the letter back into the box, then took out the drawing from his bosom and spread it out on the table.
The drawing showed the distribution areas of the old and new water channels. As he looked, his face darkened.
The murderer had left a message saying that he would surely kill another person within three days. He needed to catch the murderer as soon as possible. That young friend's home also had an old water channel. As long as the murderer was not caught, his young friend would be in danger.
...
In the capital city, since the murderer had not been found for many days in this case, the curfew time was getting earlier and earlier. As soon as it got dark, the streets and alleys were empty, and everyone was in a panic.
When it came to this case, people in the streets and alleys said all kinds of things, but most of them said that there were ghosts. They said that those women had suffered retribution and were punished by heaven, so they died.
In the dead of night, from the carved canopy bed deep in the Yixiang Pavilion came Song Nanxin's panicked murmurs in her sleep.
She suddenly woke up from the dream. Recalling the content of the dream, she covered her face and cried.
The door of the secret room was opened, and a figure walked out. Sitting on the edge of the bed, the figure put an arm around Song Nanxin's shoulder and coaxed, "My young lady, what's wrong this time?"
Song Nanxin burrowed into the figure's arms, hugged the figure's waist, and said tremblingly, "I dreamed of Baizhi again. I dreamed that she came to claim my life. Have you heard about that case? Do you think the next person to die will be me?"
Cui Ying'er patted her back lightly and said indifferently, "There are no ghosts or gods in this world. Don't think too much. This is the Prince Ning's Mansion, and the heir apparent is here. You don't need to be afraid at all."
Although Cui Ying'er coaxed her like this, Song Nanxin still couldn't feel at ease. The next day, when she went to pay respects to the Princess of Prince Ning, in front of the Princess and Ji Lingchuan, she mentioned:
"Recently, many women in the capital city have died inexplicably. Whenever I think about it, I feel extremely sad for them. Mother - in - law, Heir Apparent, I'd like to go to the Changyue Nunnery to pray and offer salvation for these women. I wonder if it's okay?"
After learning that Song Nanxin was in good health and confirming that the rumors in the mansion were untrue, the Princess of Prince Ning's attitude towards Song Nanxin returned to the previous amiable one. She smiled and said:
"Those women in the afterlife will be grateful to you for your kind heart. I have no objections. Heir Apparent, what do you think?"
Ji Lingchuan rarely came to pay respects to the Princess of Prince Ning today. After hearing this, he looked up at Song Nanxin.
It had been a while since he last saw her. His eyes swept over her body. Looking at her figure, his brows frowned imperceptibly, and he asked, "Where is the Changyue Nunnery?"
Song Nanxin had been hanging out with Cui Ying'er in recent days. She felt inexplicably guilty under his sharp and somewhat scrutinizing gaze. Lowering her eyelashes, she said with a shallow smile, "It's located thirty li outside the western suburbs of the city. It can be reached by carriage within an hour on the official road."
A thoughtful look flashed in Ji Lingchuan's eyes. Straightening his cuffs with his fingers, he said lightly, "Alone?"
Song Nanxin's heart skipped a beat. She didn't understand why he asked this and was worried that he would notice something. Choosing her words carefully, she replied nervously, "Of course not. I'll take Baishao and Nanny Zhao with me."
Ji Lingchuan suddenly said, "It seems that the Heir Apparent's Consort likes listening to operas very much?"
Song Nanxin instinctively tightened the handkerchief in her hand and replied calmly, "I can't really say I like it. I just use it to pass the time when I'm bored. Why does the Heir Apparent ask this?"
Ji Lingchuan said lightly, "Yesterday in the market, I accidentally heard someone mention the Qionglu Troupe. I heard that the leading actress of the Qionglu Troupe fell ill after leaving the Prince Ning's Mansion and hasn't been able to perform on stage until now."
Before Song Nanxin could speak, the Princess of Prince Ning frowned and said, "She fell ill after leaving our mansion? We didn't do anything to her. I hope she's not trying to extort us."
Song Nanxin also quickly said, "Maybe it's just a coincidence?"
Ji Lingchuan looked up at the expression on Song Nanxin's face and said lightly, "Does the Heir Apparent's Consort like watching acrobatic performances?"
"I've never watched acrobatic shows." Song Nanxin said with a bit of disdain. "Acrobatic troupes usually perform in crowded places in the market. I don't like crowds. I just like peace and quiet."
Ji Lingchuan stood up expressionlessly and said, "I'll send two guards to accompany you when you go to the Changyue Nunnery this time to protect your safety throughout the whole process. These days, you can stay in the Changyue Nunnery at ease."
Song Nanxin was a bit surprised, and then a sweet feeling welled up in her heart.
After returning to the Shulan Courtyard, Song Nanxin told Cui Ying'er about what happened in the morning. Cui Ying'er, with Baishao's face, was smiling, but there was no trace of a smile in her eyes.
"It seems that the Consort has completely fallen in love with the Heir Apparent. It's naturally a good thing that the Heir Apparent is willing to cherish the Consort. I also really want to see the Consort and the Heir Apparent live in harmony and be united forever."
Song Nanxin was eager to go to the Changyue Nunnery to eat vegetarian food and chant scriptures to offer salvation for Baizhi. She simply packed her luggage, then left the mansion with "Baishao" and Nanny Zhao and got on the carriage to the Changyue Nunnery.
It was not until the carriage drove out of the western city gate of the capital that Song Nanxin suddenly realized.
She had just left like this, and Song Yihuan was still in the Prince Ning's Mansion. But she was only startled for a moment and then felt relieved.
She had already ordered the Marquis Ding'an's Mansion to withhold that little bitch's monthly allowance. These days, that little bitch had been living in the Prince Ning's Mansion. Presumably, the silver in her hand had almost run out. Without silver and having to give the short - lived ghost medicine every day, she wouldn't be able to run out of the capital or out of her palm.
In the Tinglan Courtyard of the Prince Ning's Mansion.
"What did you say? Elder sister left the mansion with people today and went to the Changyue Nunnery?"
After Song Yihuan heard what Fuling reported, her heart skipped a beat.
She remembered that in March, her elder sister had gone to the Changyue Nunnery to attend a Buddhist ceremony, and this time she was going there again.
It seemed that there was something mysterious about this Changyue Nunnery.