A few days ago, the Shen family had been demoted to commoners for showing disrespect to the emperor. Zhongli Mingye had said that the Shen family would leave their home and return to their hometown in these few days.
Now... Shen Shulan was seriously injured and in a coma. What had happened?
Without time to think, Song Jinyu immediately administered acupuncture to save her life.
Rong Shuang'er watched her calm and skillful needlework. Naturally, she knew that the Princess of Yu must be highly skilled in medicine. After Shen Shulan's condition stabilized, she came out of the room.
Walking forward to salute, Rong Shuang'er calmly explained what had happened. "I've had quite a lot of interactions with Shen Shulan. I wanted to go and see her off today." But she had come up empty-handed.
Shen Shulan's personal maid revealed that she had gone to Xiangguo Temple to offer incense for the last time today.
Song Jinyu sighed slightly. "She's pregnant, less than three months along."
"Ah?" Rong Shuang'er opened her mouth in shock. "Do you know who the father is?"
Shen Shulan wasn't married. How could she be pregnant? Rong Shuang'er looked utterly incredulous. Shulan was actually pregnant!!!
When Song Jinyu came out of Xiangguo Temple, it was already late. Zhongli Mingye was waiting for her beside the carriage.
"Why are you here..."
"I was worried about you being out alone!" He took her hand and got into the carriage with her. "Who said I was alone? Qingfeng is driving, and Niaoniao and Micui are accompanying me."
She looked at him with a smile. "Is there something going on in the palace?"
"The Shen family left the capital today..." Zhongli Mingye hugged her, his gaze far - reaching. "However, they were ambushed and killed outside the capital!"
"Not a single person in the entire family survived!"
Song Jinyu sat there dazedly in the carriage. "Do you know who did it?"
"Father is extremely angry. The atmosphere in the court is tense. Now, he has ordered me and the magistrate of the capital to solve the case within ten days!" The Shen family had died so miserably.
The Grand Tutor Shen had been dragged to death by horses, and Lady Shen had been buried alive and suffocated to death. The other children and concubines had all died in extremely cruel ways.
It could be said that the Shen family had been tortured for several hours before they finally died. Poor little young master, who was only over a year old, had been drowned.
"It's hatred, deep - seated hatred!"
Song Jinyu thought of Shen Shulan. She quickly told Zhongli Mingye about this. "Really?"
"Yes! Rong Shuang'er is taking care of her in Xiangguo Temple!"
Zhongli Mingye immediately sent people to surround Xiangguo Temple tightly. "You mustn't let this news leak out, or..." He was afraid that Shen Shulan wouldn't be able to escape death!
Suddenly, he kissed her. "You're really my lucky star!"
Subconsciously, he felt that Shen Shulan must know something. Otherwise, why had she gone to Xiangguo Temple today of all days? Song Jinyu looked at him shyly.
"But she's seriously injured. She's just lucky to have survived." Song Jinyu couldn't help but worry.
But Zhongli Mingye said, "It doesn't matter... I have other arrangements." Whether Shen Shulan lived or died didn't matter.
What mattered was that someone definitely wanted her dead.
The person who knew the news of the Shen family leaving the capital today must be someone in the court or someone related to it. Thus, the context of the Shen family case was quite clear.
For now, they had to find the person who had a feud with the Shen family.
"Shen Shulan is pregnant, but it's not certain if the baby can be saved." Song Jinyu said worriedly. "We'll have to wait for her to wake up..."
She had not only injured her bones but also her head. It was uncertain when she would regain consciousness.
Solving the case within ten days. Wasn't this making things difficult for Zhongli Mingye?
Zhongli Mingye stroked her head. "Don't worry. Father just thinks I'm too idle and wants to keep me busy!"
For several consecutive days, Zhongli Mingye hardly returned to the prince's mansion. Even when he showed up occasionally, he was in a hurry. Song Jinyu felt sorry for him being so busy.
Originally, she wanted to help him and continue treating Shen Shulan. But he wouldn't agree. "Don't go... There are so many people in the imperial hospital. Why bother my beloved princess!"
The way he called her "beloved princess" made Song Jinyu's heart tingle. She had no choice but to give up the idea.
Not long after, the news that Shen Shulan had survived spread. Ji Qinglin was extremely panicked.
He had known he should have just killed that woman with one stroke. Why had it become a sword hanging over his head today!
But... he couldn't act rashly now. He had to think hard about a solution.
Xiangguo Temple had already been tightly surrounded by the royal guards. The Shen family had offended the emperor and lost his favor. But they were still the family of the Crown Princess.
Therefore, the emperor had ordered the Prince of Yu to get to the bottom of it!
Song Jinyu thought about it and realized that this must be a plan to lure out the enemy. Who had the Shen family offended back then?
Before they could lure out the "snake", a series of official murders occurred in the capital.
The body of Xu Zichen, the junior guardian of the crown prince, was found on a prostitute's bed in a music workshop;
Li Jun, the vice - minister of the Ministry of Works, died in his villa;
Zhai Yuzheng, the director of the Ministry of Revenue, vomited blood while having a meal and died of a sudden illness!
A series of high - ranking officials had been killed. Everyone in the court was in a panic. The shadow of the tragic annihilation of the Shen family had not yet dissipated, and now several officials in the capital had been killed. It was really lamentable. The emperor was extremely angry and ordered the Prince of Yu to solve the case as soon as possible!
Qingfeng told Song Jinyu about this in detail. Originally, he didn't want to tell the princess, but since Zhongli Mingye had been busy for several days and hadn't shown up, Song Jinyu was very worried.
"Really?"
She faintly felt that this wouldn't end. Under the prosperous appearance of the capital, there must be unknown crimes hidden.
She couldn't see Zhongli Mingye every day and couldn't get more detailed information. What could she do?
Suddenly, she remembered Rong Shuang'er. From Zhongli Mingye's words, it seemed that Rong Shuang'er had also been controlled in Xiangguo Temple. "Qingfeng, I want to see the King of Zhongzhou."
"Take the prince's visiting card and invite him to the mansion!"
Ming Ruyi fanned himself, looking a bit disgruntled. "Jinyu, you see me just because of him... Humph..."
"I thought you missed me!"
Song Jinyu: "..."
"Ming Ruyi! If you're not afraid of my prince's short sword stabbing into your forehead, keep talking nonsense!"
"Anyway, please check on Xiangguo Temple for me."
"Remember to tell me the situation later!" After Song Jinyu saw Ming Ruyi off, she changed into plain clothes and was about to go out.
Qingfeng and Micui looked at each other. "Princess, please don't..."
"I just want to take a look. That's all!"
While she was getting ready, she thought she'd go to the Shen Mansion to see the situation first!
The gate of the Shen Mansion was sealed. The former prosperity was gone. There used to be a constant stream of carriages in front of the door, but now it was desolate and no one was willing to step in.
Song Jinyu remembered that last year, she had been seriously injured by Shen Yingyun, and Zhongli Mingye had been so angry that he had directly destroyed the Shen family's power and implicated many people.
"Greetings to the princess..." It was Ji Qinglin.
"Master Ji, what a coincidence?"
"Why are you here, princess?"
Song Jinyu looked at him with a smile. Senior Brother Ji had always been cautious. He rarely talked much on Tianmen Mountain.
He didn't study medicine or poison, nor did he practice martial arts. He was only interested in criminal law. Later, in order to pass the Tianmen Mountain exam, he had to learn a little bit of poison techniques, but only superficially.
A few years ago, he had requested to go down the mountain and leave Tianmen Mountain. His attitude was very determined. In anger, the master had expelled him from the sect.
However, the master still felt very sorry for Ji Qinglin.
Miao Yunshen had used his secret connections in the court to help him achieve success in the officialdom. Now, although Ji Qinglin was not very old, he held a fifth - rank official position.