Shi An turned around and looked at his younger sister worriedly.
"I surely trust the Empress Dowager, but those people outside are really garrulous. Don't worry, Your Highness. I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Big Brother. By the way, I just happen to have something to discuss with you two."
She told them what had happened at Baotuo Temple. After they listened, anger appeared on their faces involuntarily.
"I originally thought the Western Regions were obedient, but now it seems they only feigned surrender back then and have actually been plotting in secret."
"Big Brother, there's no need to be angry. Now that we've captured the envoy, we're bound to get some information from him. However, the methods of those in the prison might not be enough. Big Brother will have to go there in person."
"Okay. I'll go right away."
The young emperor pursed his lips and pointed out the crux of the problem.
"I'm sure the Western Regions didn't simply stage this drama. The abduction of those court officials must just be the beginning."
"Now the most important thing is to find the whereabouts of that maid. She must know something."
Shi An sighed. "The people have been missing for so long. It's almost impossible to find them now. How about we start with those rescued officials first? Maybe we can find a clue."
This was indeed a good idea. After some discussion, they decided on it.
The first person they chose was, of course, Minister Li.
When the young emperor saw Qingqing again, he always felt that this little girl seemed to have a kind of magic. Every time he saw her, the haze in his heart would be swept away.
Madam Li was extremely excited that her husband had returned. When she saw them, she couldn't help shedding tears. Her knees buckled, and she knelt on the ground.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Empress Dowager. If it weren't for you, my husband might really have been doomed."
Shi Muyuan never thought of taking credit for anything, so she told them about that man.
"If you want to thank someone for this, thank the national teacher. If it weren't for the national teacher, we wouldn't have discovered it."
Madam Li wiped the tears from her face and nodded hurriedly.
"We still have to thank the Empress Dowager. If it weren't for you, we might have only been able to reunite underground. Moreover, the Empress Dowager was so considerate and sent a divine doctor to treat my husband."
Shi An felt that they had chatted long enough and reminded them from the side, "Don't forget the purpose of our visit. But I'd like to ask Madam Li, is the minister awake now?"
Madam Li nodded hurriedly and led the way for them.
"My husband is already awake. He heard that the Empress Dowager and His Majesty were coming and has been waiting in the room."
When they arrived, Madam Li voluntarily led her daughter away.
When they pushed open the door and entered, coughing sounds came from the bed in the room.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager."
For every word he said, he gasped for a few times and then coughed more and more violently. If he hadn't been standing firmly in place, Shi Muyuan would almost have suspected that he was going to collapse the next moment.
"Just lie down. You're seriously injured now. We understand. We've come today just to ask you some questions."
"Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager can just ask. I will surely tell you everything I know."
"You've been there for so long. You should know something. If you can provide us with useful clues, we can then decide whether to continue the relationship between the two countries."
Hearing this, Minister Li nodded seriously and began to recall the details in his mind.
After he had said almost everything, the three of them left the Li Mansion.
Sitting in the carriage, Shi Muyuan pursed her lips and racked her little brain.
"It seems that the Western Regions have been setting up a huge game from the very beginning, aiming to make us fall into their trap."
"What should we do then? We surely can't just wait for the Western Regions' plan to continue. Their goal should be to replace the Jiangshan of the Great Liang."
Although Shi Muyuan didn't want to be the Empress Dowager at all, she had met a few people worth cherishing here. She didn't want the Jiangshan of the Great Liang to be overthrown. Otherwise, the people she cared about would all lose their lives.
Seeing her anxious expression, Ji Heng pinched her hand with his little hand.
"Don't worry, Mother. Even though the national teacher is seriously injured, I will surely protect this country."
Shi Muyuan felt heart - ache for the young emperor, who was shouldering such a huge responsibility at a young age and still comforting her.
She had sighed more than once that at this age, in her time, children were at their most rebellious stage and were kids who could act coquettishly and willfully in front of their parents.
But just because of a change of dynasty, this child had to bear too much pressure at such a young age.
She reached out and stroked the young emperor's head. "Your Majesty has grown up and understands his responsibility."
The look of gratification on his younger sister's face was just like that of a mother looking at her own child, which made Shi An feel a bit helpless.
After all, his younger sister was still a child herself.
Each of them lost in their own thoughts, they soon returned to the palace. Shi An went straight to the prison. Looking at the man lying on the ground, cold light flashed in his eyes.
"The envoy should just confess what he knows quickly. Don't force me to take action. Otherwise, it will be ugly for everyone."
Lan Xi was lying on the ground. Before Shi An came, he had already been tortured a bit and looked rather disheveled, but there was also a kind of wild beauty about him.
This appearance of his might have been useful to others, but today he was facing Shi An.
"I really don't know anything. The Empress Dowager just had me arrested. Isn't she afraid that she won't be able to explain herself when our king asks about it?"
"You don't need to worry about how she will explain. You'd better think about what you should say."
A guard brought a chair over. Shi An sat down beside it and asked someone to light an incense stick.
"I'm not a patient person. I'll give you the time it takes for this incense stick to burn out. If you still don't want to say anything after that, don't blame me."
Lan Xi watched the incense start to burn and felt a bit conflicted in his heart. In fact, before he came, he had carefully investigated everyone around Shi Muyuan, including her elder brother.
He knew in his heart that if he really said nothing, there would be only one dead end for him.
For a moment, he hesitated. Should he say it or not?
If he said it, he might get a chance to survive, but then again, it would also lead to a dead end.
However, staying here now, in Shi An's hands, was also a dead end.
Not knowing how to choose, he involuntarily placed his hand on his pulse.