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Chapter 775: I Don't Believe He Committed Treason (Second Iconic Scene)
This person was naturally sent by her, but she couldn't let others trace this individual. Her words were meant as a probe, hoping Ding Jue would investigate. If Ding Jue failed to uncover anything, the matter would end there. If he did discover clues, it would only mean she hadn't erased her tracks thoroughly enough.
Ding Jue's gaze fell upon Yu Sangning's tender white hands gripping his arm.
Only then did Yu Sangning realize her impropriety and quickly released him, explaining, "This ancestral heirloom must not be stolen. In my moment of desperation, I offended you, Young Master. I beg your forgiveness."
Ding Jue grinned roguishly, "Second Lady, rest assured, I bear no grudge. Since it's your family's stolen treasure, I'll help you recover it. However..."
"Young Master, speak plainly of any requests," Yu Sangning steadied her composure.
"This item is quite rare. If I help you uncover the truth, would you consider partnering with me to monetize it?" Not asking for benefits would arouse Yu Sangning's suspicion.
Hearing this, Yu Sangning sighed inwardly with relief, her wariness toward Ding Jue diminishing considerably: "After you complete the investigation, we can discuss how to cooperate..."
"Second Lady is decisive. I'll spare no effort in investigating thoroughly, hoping to soon join you in pursuing great wealth." Ding Jue snapped his fan shut, eyes gleaming.
Being an unmarried man and woman alone together, they didn't linger long. After quickly arranging communication methods, they departed separately. No sooner had they left the teahouse than Xiao Changmin's confidant emerged with a darkened expression.
Just outside the teahouse, they happened to see several cheerful young men entering the pleasure house across the street - naturally Xiao Changmin's establishment, where nothing escaped his notice.
Xiao Changmin's confidant also learned about a certain scent pill in the pleasure house. A clever courtesan had secretly kept one pill. After obtaining the item and overhearing some inappropriate conversations, Xiao Changmin's confidant immediately rushed to the Second Prince's residence.
"Your Highness, I obtained this from the pleasure house!" The confidant presented the scent pill, whose appearance and fragrance were all too familiar to Xiao Changmin.
It was identical to what his concubine had given him that day. He wasn't one to consume anything recklessly - when the concubine first produced it, he'd had it examined by a doctor, confirming it was merely an arousal aid without harmful effects. Only then did he take it when the concubine mentioned it again, almost as if bewitched.
Who could have known it would lead to such disaster!
"Your Highness, today I witnessed Lady Yu and the Northern Garrison Marquis's heir... having a secret rendezvous!" The confidant seethed with anger. "Their intimate behavior was no chance encounter. Many privately claim this medicine circulated from the Northern Garrison Marquis's heir..."
"What did you say!" Xiao Changmin shot to his feet.
The confidant didn't need to elaborate explicitly - just these few words were enough to make the conspiracy-prone Xiao Changmin entertain dark thoughts.
This scent pill had caused him to suffer a major setback!
The pills had circulated from Ding Jue, Yu Sangning was entangled with Ding Jue, and she couldn't even wait until after her miscarriage to secretly meet him!
Did this mean Yu Sangning had long been illicitly involved with Ding Jue? Had she decided he'd lost power and already found her next patron?
How dare she show such disrespect to a son of heaven! To escape him and join her lover, had Yu Sangning resorted to such vicious methods?It must be said that Xiao Changmin had guessed almost everything correctly in an instant, except for the part concerning Ding Jue!
The thought of being stripped of all his positions by His Majesty over this matter and enduring the ensuing rumors made Xiao Changmin wish he could tear that adulterous couple to pieces!
They had ruined his reputation, so he would make sure they died without a burial ground!
"Go, send someone to keep a close watch on that adulterous pair!" Xiao Changmin ordered through gritted teeth.
To catch adulterers, one must catch them in the act. He would personally tear the masks off these two and wash away his shame!
Xiao Changmin's men began surveilling Ding Jue and Yu Sangning, while Xiao Huayong kept himself fully informed of all developments.
During this period, Ding Jue met with Yu Sangning several times under the pretext of discussing investigative progress, which in Xiao Changmin's eyes confirmed the affair between Yu Sangning and Ding Jue.
On this day, the envoys from the Shu Southern Royal Manor finally arrived safely in the capital. Besides submitting the memorial regarding Bu Shulin's inheritance of the peerage, they had another mission: to bring Xiao Wenxi, who was five months pregnant, back to the Shu Southern Royal Manor for a family reunion.
Xiao Huayong had chosen the day of departure for Xiao Wenxi. On the eve of that very day, Ding Jue and Yu Sangning had another "secret rendezvous."
The location of their "rendezvous" was a manor that Yu Sangning had obtained from Xiao Changmin as part of their divorce settlement!
The moment Yu Sangning and Ding Jue stealthily arrived at their meeting place, Xiao Changmin and his men stormed in with overwhelming force, blocking both the front and back gates of the manor.
With a darkened expression, Xiao Changmin waited outside for a moment before waving his hand and ordering his men to break down the doors. As Xiao Changmin arrived with his entourage, both the Five-City Garrison Command and the Golden Guard, fearing a major incident, followed along.
However, when the group charged in, they failed to find Yu Sangning and Ding Jue. Instead, they discovered another person in the room. When the garrison commander and the Golden Guard general saw this person's face, they instantly turned pale as ghosts!
This person looked exactly like His Majesty!
Several years earlier, after learning about bone-shifting techniques, Xiao Huayong had jokingly told Shen Xihe that they should "create a His Majesty to play with."
Shen Xihe hadn't taken it seriously at first, because His Majesty was His Majesty. Even if the appearance could be replicated, his demeanor, tone, and life experience could never be imitated!
Attempting to replace His Majesty through such means was nothing but a fool's dream. Yet, Xiao Huayong was brimming with enthusiasm and even found someone among Xiao Juesong's followers who was willing to undergo bone-shifting to resemble His Majesty.
This person harbored a blood feud against His Majesty for annihilating his entire family. Xiao Juesong had taken him in, and now, with an opportunity to get close to His Majesty, whether he could succeed in his assassination attempt depended on his own luck—he would naturally not let it slip away.
Coincidentally, Sui Axi also believed this person could be bone-shifted to resemble His Majesty. Although there was some difference in height, it didn't matter—Xiao Huayong wasn't planning to replace His Majesty; he only needed a face like His!
In the Hall of Diligent Governance, the Youning Emperor stared furiously at the person being escorted in. Because of his face, the guards didn't dare to bind or manhandle him. The Emperor could no longer contain his rage; he grabbed an inkstone from the table and hurled it at Xiao Changmin's forehead!
Xiao Changmin didn't dare to dodge. The impact left him dizzy, with blood instantly streaming down half his face!
"You! How dare you keep such a person in secret? Your wolfish ambition is clear as day! Do you still regard your sovereign and father?!" The Youning Emperor spat out each word through clenched teeth, consumed by fury.
"Your Majesty, I wouldn't dare! This person was certainly not kept by me! If I had raised such a person, how would I dare to openly lead a search party to capture him?" Xiao Changmin, ignoring the pain, cried out in injustice—this was a capital crime! "I went to catch adulterers! Yes, it was Lady Yu who colluded with her lover to harm me!""Catching an adulterer?" The Youning Emperor sneered, "Summon Lady Yu!"
The emperor's reaction made the flustered Xiao Changmin feel that something was terribly wrong, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what.
Just then, Xiao Huayong stepped forward from the side: "Your Majesty, Second Brother is filial and fraternal. I cannot believe he would commit such treasonous acts. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."
Xiao Changmin, already feeling uneasy, found no comfort in Xiao Huayong's words. Instead, he sank deeper into despair...
(End of Chapter)
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