âNiang-niang, I heard yesterday night the emperor left Kun Ning Palace in the middle of the night, and returned to Gan Qing Palaceâ Qiu Feng said in the morning while helping Xian Concubine prepare.
âI seeâ, Xian Concubine said while slowly wiping her hands with a smile on her face âPerhaps the empress did something wrong, that angered the emperorâ
âThen according to you, what could the empress have done to anger the emperor?â
Xian Concubine gave the handkerchief to another servant, sat in front of the mirror to wait for Qiu Feng to help her comb her hair and said âSu Jie Yu died coincidentlyâ
âIt is indeedâ Qiu Feng held on to Xian Concubineâs hair and combed slowly, and added âpreviously whenever there were cases that involves human lives, the empress will definitely lead the investigation, but this time it seems like there are no newsâ
Obviously Xian Concubine will know what Qiu Feng was implying, she herself also thought that the death of Su Jie Yu is related to Ye Zhen Zhen, because âit seems, few days ago when that incident happen, the empress was there as well, but she only stood there and saw Su Jie Yu block for the emperor and gained favour, so she was jealous and was holding a grudgeâ
Qiu Feng thought that this possibility was very high, so she asked ,âthen should we use this matter to add oil to the fire?â
âNo rush, first we see how the emperor reacts. The assassin was a guard, the emperor would most probably use this chance to implicate Lu and Ye Family as well, just not sure to which extend. The empress in the end would not be able to get anything good of it anyway. Furthermore, even if the emperor let her off, there is still the empress dowager. As for us, we should just have to sit at the peak to look at the tigers fight.
âI will not just sit here and wait, when it is the right time, I will naturally actâ
***
Inside Wu Ying Hall, the person in charge of this case, Xie Chang Qing was being questioned by Ji Wu Jiu. Kang Cheng Luâs interrogation process is not very smooth, no matter how much they tortured or asked him, he only kept saying that he did not like Ji Wu Jiu, and that he thought that he was a bad emperor, kills others easily, and that there was no mastermind behind him. These type of words.. even a fool would not believe.
Ji Wu Jiu pondered for a while and asked âThat person, few days before the assassination, was his actions suspicious? â
âReplying to your majesty, after asking around the people that were closed to him, we did not manage to find anything suspicious about his previous actions. Just that⊠this person does not like woman, but a few days ago, it seems like he visited a brothel to drink. â
âTo drink?â Ji Wu Jiu scoffed, âBrothels surely does not lack gossips, which one did he go?â
âReplying to your majesty, the one that he went to is Cui Fang Louâ
âCui Fang Lou?â Ji Wu Jiu closed his eyes and murmured to himself âGreat, I also need to drop byâ
Xie Chang Qing thought that he has found out a very big secret, so he hardened his face, at a side trying to reduce his existence.
Ji Wu Jiu asked, âThe person who falsified the edict, did you find out the culprit already?â
âReplying to your majesty, a constable found a dead body at Xiang River, after we got it up, and after thorough investigation, it has been confirmed he is the person who falsified your edict, to meet with Kang Cheng Luâ
âWhat is the deceasedâs background?â
Xie Chang Qing did not answer, but instead looked up and glanced at Feng You De.
Feng You De replied âYour Majesty, the deceased is called Ren Er Xi, an eunuch from Zhong Gu Sectionâ
Ji Wu Jiu could roughly guess in his heart, âContinue the investigation, find out who he is close with or which palaceâs eunuchs that he is friends with, or if he is involved with any ministers.â
âYesâ
After that Ji Wu Jiu brought Feng You De along to Cui Fang Lou. Although he has only been here twice, but the madam there has a very strong impression about him. The moment she saw him, she quickly rushed forward, and greeted him  âGentlemen Ji, it has been a while since we saw you, our Lady Hong Yun has been guarding an empty room by herself, donât you feel bad!â
Ji Wu Jiu is not used to the heavy perfume smell in the main hall, he did not reply the madamâs accusations but asked her to open a room for him, and after made her stay so he can ask her some things.
After asking Feng You De to guard the doors outside, JI Wu Jiu took out a drawing and asked the madam âthis person, have you seen him before?â
The madam took a look and said âGentlemen Ji, you coming here, is it to enjoy or here to revenge on someone. If you are looking for enjoyment, I can make sure you will be satisfied.. but if for othersâŠâ
Ji Wu Jiu quickly took out some money, and said âthis person is a wanted person by the court, if you donât say, I am only afraid this Cui Fang Lou will bring upon bad luckâ
Partially threatening and partially bribing, even if she doesnât want to say, she canât help it. Furthermore who will turn their backs against money. The madam took the money and kept it properly before saying âIndeed I have seen this person before, few days ago he came here onceâ
Ji Wu Jiu looked at her suspiciously, âthere is so many people going in and out from here, he only came once, how can you remember so well?â
âGentlemen Ji, this you wouldnât know, he is rather poor but he still wanted to get our most popular lady to serve him, that is why he made an impressionâ
âO? Then what did he do here at the end?â
âRight, it was rather weird too, the moment our Lady Liu Yue saw him, she invited him to her room, I also donât know what they did inside the room, but after a while he came out alreadyâ
Ji Wu Jiu asked âwho is Liu Yue?â
âGentlemen, have you forgotten already? The first lady that you chose when you first came here, that is Liu Yue, our most popular girl.â
Ji Wu Jiu tried to recall, and remembered that truly there was a woman that dragged him into the room without reason. He nodded, and took out another stack of money, placed it on the table and said âour conversation today, donât you dare to leak out a single work, if notâŠ.â
The madam took the money from him before he can finish his sentence, nodded and said âdonât you worry! If I tell anyone I will be a stone for the remaining lifetimesâ
âRight, you can leave now, call Hong Yun overâ
âYes, yes, yes, It is time for businessâ The madam laughed and went out.
Knowing that Gentlemen Ji is here, she knew that it is time for her to make money again, so she was happy. The moment the madam told her to go to him, she immediately left what ever she was doing and headed to his room.
JI Wu Jiu wasnât sure of how to tell her about it yet.
Hong Yun has been in this business for a long time, so she understands the heart of a man very clearly, seeing that he is having trouble to speak out, she asks instead âSir, donât tell me you use force on her?â
ââŠ.. can be considered so..â
âAi yo. What do you want to me say ah.. Earlier on I asked you to be gentle and caring, in order for you toâŠ. Great.. now all your efforts are wasted.â
Every sentence she said made Ji Wu Jiuâs face turn one shade darker, after she stopped, his face was already at itâs worst.
Hong Yun then asked, âthen⊠her husband.. does he know about it?â
â???â
âKnow or donât know? You have to tell me somethingâ
âI am her husbandâ
ââŠâŠâ
Hong Yun looked at Ji Wu Jiu for a period of time not saying anything. She has met countless man, it seems that she is still too young, this was such a unique scenario, why would anyone be afraid of touching their own wife? Also who is this wife, how can she treat her husband, who not to mention is not only good looking but rich too, this way. Donât tell me she will be happy only if she can marry the emperor!
Hong Yun has so many things that she wants to say, but was afraid that if she were to say them, she will anger him, but in the end she only sighed and said âSir, towards your wife you really have fallen deep in love with her, so sweet, yet so pitiful.â
Ji Wu Jiu on the other hand got shocked by her words âFallen deep in love?â
Hong Yun finally can understand him a little more ⊠this person, his brain is not too bright. She nodded and said âYes, as the saying goes âNo treasures can be compared with a good manâ, Sir your feelings towards your wife, really makes me touched. Then again, donât tell me.. you donât know that you have fallen in love with her?â
Ji Wu Jiuâs expression was of realization.
It is indeed so, Hong Yue said âit is true that when you are involved you would be the last to know, the relationship between man and woman, has always been hard to understand, for you to not know is understandable. But, it was fortunate that you met me.. âHong Yun looked up to take a peek at Ji Wu Jiu, and saw that he seems to be in a daze, not sure where his thoughts went.
âGentleman? Gentleman?â
Ji Wu Jiu suddenly stood up, and turned to leave.
Hong Yun chased from the back and said âSir, you havenât pay up!â
Ji Wu Jiu took out a stack of money, and without looking stuffed them into her hands. Hong Yun then holding on to the stack of money starts to laugh, not bothered with him anymore.
On their way back, Ji Wu Jiu seems to be lost in thoughts, Feng You De looked at him, a face full of understanding and worry.
When they reached Gan Qing Palace, Ji Wu Jiu made everyone leave and alone, was in deeper thoughts.
All this while, the way he treats woman, was the same as how he treats food or objects. When there is a need, then he will use them, and which one is not bad, he will award them.
He has never thought of what a relationship between man and woman could be. All his intelligence was used on planning for the court, towards love and relationship it was not clearâŠ
Now he finally understood that âloveâ can appear without trace, and cannot be removed making people miss one another so badly.
Ji Wu Jiu has never lacked any woman in his life, and he has never have any feelings of obsession towards any woman.
Until he met Ye Zhen Zhen.
Ji Wu Jiu found out, he has all the way been thinking about this matter the other way round. The reason why he wants her so badly, was because he likes her.
He walked out of Gan Qing Palace, passed through Jiao Tai Hall, and stood infront of Kun Ning Palace. He wanted to go in, to talk to her, to tell her, he likes her.
However, standing in front of Jiao Tai Hall, he never took a step forward.
Opposite him, the windows suddenly opened. Ye Zhen Zhen was sitting infront of the window, and saw him. She felt that it was very stuffy inside, and ignoring Su Yueâs advice she opened the window to let some air in, the cold air blew in. She really feel much refreshed.
Ye Zhen Zhen looked at Ji Wu Jiu, Ji Wu Jiu was also looking at Ye Zhen Zhen. Both of them looking at each other from a far like a pair of lovers separated by a bridge.
JI Wu Jiu suddenly turned around, and walked into Jiao Tai Hall.
Ye Zhen Zhen, who was looking at his back figure suddenly said to Su Yue âSu Yue, I think I am in the wrongâ
âNiang Niang, you telling me these words is useless, the emperor would not be able to hear itâ Su Yue said.
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