NFBE Chapter 124 Seeking Skin from a Tiger
Chapter 124 Seeking Skin from a Tiger
The peach blossoms were in bloom, their fragrance filling the air. Their pink petals flowed down the river into the capital, bringing news of canal construction in Yingchuan—or, more accurately, the romantic affairs of Prince Ningyuan.
Just as the work was about to be completed, the workers on the two sections of the canal started arguing over the connection problem. One worker said he had dug in the wrong place, and the other worker said he had built the canal in a crooked position.
In the end, they started fighting.
The King of Ningyuan, who was supposed to be in charge of the canal, disappeared. Local officials searched for him for a day and a night, and finally found him drunk and lying in the arms of a beautiful woman in the most famous Qinlou and Chuguan in the area.
When Lu Mingyang heard the news, he had just found the murderer and was sitting in a teahouse drinking tea when he spat out a mouthful of tea.
Yang Nian'er patted her second sister's back and comforted her: "Second sister, don't be sad!"
"I'm not sad, I just feel... a little ashamed."
She was worried that Chu Mingzheng would destroy her when he returned from successfully repairing the canal, so she worked day and night to investigate the case just to get ahead of him. She never thought he would do such a shameful thing.
After all, in name only, he is now her man.
"This is truly a disgrace to the imperial family." A man at the next table slammed his desk and sighed, "I heard the emperor was embarrassed and sent Junior Guard Song to replace Prince Ningyuan."
Lu Mingyang's heart skipped a beat. He walked over and asked, "Big Brother, how long ago did you say that happened?"
The man quickly put his foot down from the bench and scratched his head. "I heard that from someone too. It's been a while!"
That means King Ningyuan is coming back.
"Nian'er, let's go!"
After returning to the Chengyang Marquis Mansion, Lu Mingyang quickly sorted out the evidence collected over the past few days. Yang Nian'er looked at her second sister picking out the vague evidence pointing to Concubine Song and asked in confusion.
"Gamble!"
"What are you gambling?"
"Gambling your life!" Lu Mingyang said, "Nian'er, have you ever heard the saying, 'Buddhas fight for a stick of incense, and people fight for a breath of air?'"
"What do you mean?" Yang Nian'er was even more confused.
"You'll know when the time comes." Lu Mingyang picked up the evidence and went to the Ministry of Justice.
Yang Nian'er chased after her and said, "Second sister, Concubine Song doesn't know that you have produced the evidence against her. If you hand the evidence over to the Ministry of Justice, will Concubine Song kill to silence her?"
"No, I will go to the palace tomorrow."
Although the Ministry of Justice might have had Concubine Song's spies, she was, after all, someone from the inner palace, so she wouldn't get the news so quickly. When it came to taking action, they had to think carefully. Furthermore, Song Wei was not around.
Lu Mingyang warned, "Nian'er, you don't have to come with me. Go tell Uncle Zhong and have him tell the palace that I want to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager tomorrow. Hurry up, or it will be too late."
"Oh, I see." Before Yang Nian'er finished speaking, she had already run away.
In the Ministry of Justice's government office, in full view of the crowd, Lu Mingyang struck the Ministry of Justice's drum. Shen Yan personally invited her in.
"Sir Shen, the murderer is from a security company called Longwei Security Company, which is entrenched in Niuyan Mountain. Please excuse me, sir."
Shen Yan held up the heavy evidence and said, "Don't worry, Princess. After the Ministry of Justice has verified the evidence, we will report it to His Majesty."
Lu Mingyang warned, "This case was investigated by me alone and has nothing to do with anyone else in the Lu family. Please report the truth to His Majesty, including my eldest sister."
Shen Yan was surprised: "But I remember that the wife of the Marquis of Zhongxin investigated cases with the princess many times."
"That's what my eldest sister meant."
"Okay then!" Shen Yan didn't say anything else.
"Thank you!"
Everything has just begun.
Lu Mingyang walked out of the Ministry of Justice. She looked back at the plaque, touched the scar on her face, and the anger in her heart rushed to her chest.
If I really had the title of Marquis of Chengyang, what would a scar on my face be? Even if I had ten scars, he would still come back and beg me. It was not his turn to divorce me.
The hope in her heart was budding, growing little by little, giving her endless impulses.
The next morning, Lu Mingyang went to Shoukang Palace to pay his respects to the empress dowager. The empress dowager had long known about Prince Ningyuan's absurd behavior in Yingchuan, and she thought her grandson's wife was crying and complaining, so she pulled her aside and talked to her for a while.
Lu Mingyang racked his brains to say many good things about Chu Mingzheng, and finally got to have lunch. Unfortunately, King Guangcheng did not come to Shoukang Palace for lunch.
"Queen Dowager, when I was living in the palace, I once told His Royal Highness Prince Guangcheng that bamboo dragonflies were fun, and he clamored for one. I brought some today, intending to give them to His Royal Highness Prince Guangcheng."
The Queen Mother said casually, "Put it down, then. I'll give it to him when Hui'er comes."
"Empress Dowager!" Lu Mingyang explained awkwardly, "The bamboo dragonfly is a bit complicated to play with. I still need to teach His Royal Highness Prince Guangcheng how to play it."
The Queen Mother was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Go ahead, I have two jars of the best scented tea here, give them to Concubine Song."
"Yes!" Lu Mingyang followed the eunuch who led the way and left.
Xu Pei looked at her back and asked in confusion, "Why does she insist on seeing King Guangcheng?"
"She doesn't want to see Hui'er, she wants to see Concubine Song. With the Yingchuan Canal nearing completion, if Zheng'er returns to the capital, will the Emperor punish him? And the evaluation of the canal supervisor sent later is crucial."
Xu Pei was shocked: "You mean, she went to curry favor with Concubine Song?"
Thinking of Qin Miao hearing those rumors and coming to her to cry, the Queen Mother sighed: "Zheng'er really married a good wife."
Now that she knows her grandson can recover, her biggest concern is no longer giving birth to a child, but his situation.
In Xiefang Palace, Concubine Song looked at the evidence Lu Mingyang handed over and angrily slammed the table: "How dare you slander me."
Lu Mingyang knelt down and said loudly, "I dare not. I only want to ask Your Majesty to save my life. I do not want to marry the King of Ningyuan."
Concubine Song sneered: "Everyone saw Miss Lu kneeling at the palace gate for Prince Ningyuan. Why don't you want to get married now?"
Lu Mingyang said, "I don't want to be implicated by him. There's nothing I can do. And because of that incident, I've made up my mind to draw a clear line between myself and him."
Although Concubine Song was skeptical about this, she was worried that she still had evidence. Although she knew that the people at Longwei Escort Agency didn't know who was behind the scenes and couldn't convict her, it would be a big trouble if the Queen Mother knew about it, so she spoke carefully.
"You know, although you haven't married yet, you've already had the canonization ceremony, and your name has been entered into the royal register. Even after death, you will still be the legitimate wife of Prince Ningyuan. I have no way to help you."
Lu Mingyang said, "I only ask Your Majesty to tell Your Majesty an anecdote."
"An allusion?" Concubine Song became interested: "Yunmeng, please take a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Lu Mingyang stood up and sat down.
After a cup of tea, Concubine Song looked at the woman in front of her and was a little shocked. She didn't expect that she could come up with such a meticulous plan. She said tentatively, "I heard from my second brother that he gave Wan'er's jewelry to you."