Shen Mingzhu instinctively gasped, regarding Xie Lang with increasing seriousness. What on earth was going on?
Previously, Shen Mingzhu had never delved deeply into this imperial noble consort. She had simply assumed that the woman had been arrogant due to the emperor's favor and was eventually bestowed death by the emperor. However... having reached the position of imperial noble consort, how could she be a simple person?
Xie Lang noticed the expression on Shen Mingzhu's face and felt a bit surprised. It seemed that the former empress, now the empress dowager, had protected Shen Mingzhu well and had not told her about the bloodshed of the past. It was a pity that now...
"Yeah." Xie Lang responded softly. He poured a cup of hot tea for Shen Mingzhu before continuing, "Consort Wei was the adopted daughter of a certain noble family. Let me think, which one was it?"
The past was too far away. Although Xie Lang was not very old, he had only gradually learned about Consort Wei's old case when he was investigating other matters later.
"Consort Wei's mother was a woman who remarried. She brought her daughter into a noble family. Only then did Consort Wei, with her ordinary family background, have the opportunity to participate in the imperial consort selection." Xie Lang pondered for a moment and continued, "I remember now. It was the Zhang family in Yangzhou!"
Yangzhou!
A storm of shock arose in Shen Mingzhu's heart. She couldn't even conceal the expression on her face, which gradually darkened. She took a deep breath to suppress her shock.
It was Yangzhou again!
"But why was Consort Wei bestowed death? Clearly..." Shen Mingzhu knew very well that her father, the emperor, was not a heartless person. Especially when it came to the women in the harem, he was kind - hearted. If they didn't commit any major mistakes, it was impossible for them to be bestowed death, let alone have their entire family executed!
"Because the Zhang family committed a capital crime. What Consort Wei did was actually insignificant."
Xie Lang said, looking at Shen Mingzhu, "At first, the Zhang family was privately smuggling salt. Later, the emperor discovered it and gave them a warning."
Shen Mingzhu nodded and continued, "But this crime was not punishable by death. Or rather, with Consort Wei in the palace, they surely couldn't have ended up so miserably. What else did they do?"
"Your Highness is smart. The Zhang family was indeed not content with this. The huge amount of silver from smuggling salt was finally used to produce ironware under the Zhang mansion."
Xie Lang didn't say it directly, but Shen Mingzhu understood what he meant. She looked at him in shock and said, "The Zhang family actually had the intention of rebelling!"
"Yes. Although they had just started hoarding iron, it was already enough to arouse the former emperor's killing intent."
Shen Mingzhu sat there, listening to this event that had happened more than a decade ago from Xie Lang's mouth with full - hearted shock. She suddenly felt a bit incredulous. Then she raised her voice towards the outside, "Chuntao! Go and investigate the Zhang family for this palace!"
Chuntao rushed in. The moment she saw Shen Mingzhu's expression, she became extremely worried. When she heard the name of the Zhang family, she couldn't help but frown and asked uncertainly, "Your Highness, which Zhang family?"
"The Zhang family in Yangzhou."
Xie Lang explained and pointed out a way for Chuntao, "Check directly in the palace. Or you can look for those officials related to salt."
When Chuntao heard the word "salt", her heart sank. She said to the two of them, "Yes."
After seeing Chuntao leave, Shen Mingzhu continued, "Xie Lang, what else do you know?"
Xie Lang sighed. Looking at the expression on Shen Mingzhu's face, he regretted for the first time that he was not such an in - depth investigator. He could only shake his head and say, "This is a private matter of your royal family. I just happened to hear about it."
Indeed, it was too private. Shen Mingzhu even didn't expect that Xie Lang would know about this. She then felt that the person in front of her was not simple.
Such a long - buried secret! He actually knew all about it. He had really hidden himself deeply.
"Don't frown." Seeing the sadness in Shen Mingzhu's eyes, Xie Lang couldn't help but say, "If you want to know, I'll help you investigate together."
Shen Mingzhu looked up at him.
The sky was gradually getting dark. It was already late when Shen Mingzhu and Xie Lang returned to the mansion. After talking to Aunt Zhang for so long, now, when she suddenly came back to her senses, she felt a bit dazed.
Watching the last ray of afterglow fall on the windowsill, Shen Mingzhu stared at him for a few seconds and said, "Then this palace won't be polite. If you need anything, just..."
"Shen Mingzhu."
Before Shen Mingzhu could finish speaking, Xie Lang interrupted her. The man stood up and looked down at her. There was an indescribable look in his eyes. He said calmly, "I've said that I don't need your gratitude."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Seeing that Shen Mingzhu was about to speak again, Xie Lang quickly reached out his hand to cover her mouth and said, "Don't say anything. I don't want to do a whole bunch of things for nothing and only receive your gratitude in the end."
However, Shen Mingzhu was the eldest princess, one of the most noble people in the world. Many people rushed to offer her all kinds of things, just hoping to gain her favor. If someone could get her gratitude or promise, it would be an unimaginable good thing!
Shen Mingzhu couldn't quite understand Xie Lang. But the person in front of her had hidden himself so deeply that she still didn't know his background clearly. So Shen Mingzhu swallowed the words she was about to say and nodded to Xie Lang.
[That's right. Shen Mingzhu really has a talent for making me angry. It's good that she shut up this time. Otherwise, I would be so angry that I might lose a few years of my life!]
Shen Mingzhu: "..."
Xie Lang was really...
Shen Mingzhu looked at him and found that his hand hadn't moved away yet.
There were some calluses on Xie Lang's palm, but his hand was warm, carrying a kind of indescribable warmth and the faint fragrance of daily life. Shen Mingzhu instinctively didn't dodge. Instead, she even felt a bit at ease.
[Shen Mingzhu looks so cute like this.]
Shen Mingzhu paused for a moment. The next moment, she looked at Xie Lang with a bad look in her eyes.
"What?" Seeing that Shen Mingzhu's look at him was gradually changing, Xie Lang instinctively asked. Somehow, he even had the courage to reach out and pinch Shen Mingzhu's face. Then he continued to ask, "Do you still want to know anything else?"
[I have to say, Shen Mingzhu's face is so soft. It's nothing like her personality. It feels great.]
Shen Mingzhu almost stood up abruptly. But then she thought that Xie Lang had just helped her, so she suppressed her dissatisfaction. Looking at Xie Lang, she said, "Don't do this again. Don't touch this palace's face."
Hearing this, Xie Lang leaned down and suddenly got closer. His warm breath even fell on the side of Shen Mingzhu's face. He sighed and said, "Didn't Your Highness just say that if I wanted anything, then..."
Shen Mingzhu instinctively leaned back and gave him a disdainful look. She said, "This palace was talking about serious matters."
"Serious matters?"
A faint smile appeared in Xie Lang's eyes. Looking at Shen Mingzhu with a burning smile, he said, "Isn't this a serious matter?"
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's gradually reddening earlobes, Xie Lang could hardly hold back his laughter. He coughed a few times and continued to say to Shen Mingzhu, "Could it be that in Your Highness's opinion, this doesn't count as a serious matter? Then what exactly is a serious matter?"
As he said this, Xie Lang's gaze fell on the bed.