NCCnovel Chapter 150 Good people are bullied
Chapter 150 Good people are bullied
After a long time, she took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She knew that this matter was of great importance and she must not jump to conclusions.
She asked in a deep voice, "This matter is of great importance. This princess needs to investigate it carefully."
Seeing this, Ji Zhao was secretly delighted, knowing that his plan was already halfway successful. As long as he deliberately let the princess get the so-called "evidence", she would believe it even if she didn't want to. He replied respectfully, "Your Highness is wise. This matter does require careful handling."
The more Princess Jue Ling thought about it, the more she felt her heart swell up and down, her chest heaving violently. She stood up suddenly and paced back and forth in the room, the contents of the letter and Ji Zhao's exaggerated words echoing in her mind.
She forced herself to calm down and carefully considered the whole process. Could Cen Jiexiao really be Xi Xiang's spy? Was everything she did really just to cover up her tracks?
Princess Jue Ling pondered for a moment and then asked, "Does your master have any plans?"
Ji Zhao smiled mysteriously and said in a low voice, "The Lord is very clever and has already arranged everything. Your Highness, please rest assured. We have found the key witness who can expose Cen Jiexiao's true identity. As long as..."
He deliberately prolonged the ending tone and stared at Princess Jue Ling with burning eyes, waiting for her response.
Princess Jue Ling's heart moved, and she asked anxiously, "What do you want?"
Ji Zhao walked up to Princess Jue Ling and whispered the master's plan. Princess Jue Ling showed a hint of hesitation after hearing it, but in the end, she nodded and agreed to Ji Zhao's request.
A cool breeze blew by, and the night deepened, yet the lights in Emperor Chai Zhen's palace study remained brightly lit. Chai Zhen, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat at a large desk, intently reviewing a mountain of memorials. His brow furrowed, his gaze piercingly scanning every word, as if engraving them in his memory. Occasionally, he would pause his brush and rub his aching temples, trying to ease the fatigue.
"Your Majesty, you've been reviewing memorials for two hours straight. You should rest a bit," Li Dehai advised softly, holding a cup of steaming ginseng tea. A veteran eunuch who had served Chai Zhen for many years, he knew his temperament well and was well aware of his dedication to the people. However, he was also concerned that overwork might harm his health.
Chai Zhen gently shook his head, put down his red brush, took the ginseng tea, and sipped it. The bitter-sweet taste lifted his spirits. He rubbed his swollen temples and asked with a hint of fatigue in his tone, "Mr. Li, is there anything important happening today?"
Li Dehai bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, nothing major has occurred in Linkang Prefecture or the imperial palace today." He paused for a moment, carefully weighing his words, before adding, "However, I have heard a piece of news about Dean Cen, and I'm unsure whether I should share it."
Chai Zhen put down the teacup in his hand and said calmly, "Mr. Li, please feel free to speak."
Li Dehai stepped forward and said in a low voice, "I heard that Princess Jue Ling sent people to investigate Miss Cen's background today."
"What?" Shai Zhen stood up suddenly, his face suddenly becoming very ugly, his tone filled with disbelief and anger, "What is she crazy about again?"
Li Dehai lowered his head, not daring to speak. He knew that Princess Jue Ling was the emperor's biological sister, spoiled and willful since childhood. This sudden investigation into Cen Jiexiao's background might have been instigated by some rumors.
Chai Zhen paced back and forth in the imperial study, feeling restless. He knew that Princess Jue Ling, though capricious, was kind-hearted and would never target Cen Jie Xiao without reason. Someone must be stirring up discord, hoping to use Princess Jue Ling to target Cen Jie Xiao. And this person was most likely the one who was trying to finance the East Sea sacrificial ceremony.
A figure flashed through Chai Zhen's mind, and his heart suddenly turned cold. He knew this person was treacherous, cunning, and ruthless, willing to do anything to achieve his goals. If it was really him, then Cen Jiexiao's situation was in danger.
"No, I can't just sit there and watch!" Chai Zhen stopped, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. He said to Li Dehai, "Mr. Li, pass on my order. Prepare the horses and carriages. I want to go to the princess's residence in person!"
Upon hearing this, Li Dehai hurried forward to dissuade him, saying, "Your Majesty, it's already late at night. If you rashly go to the Princess's residence like this, you'll probably get criticized. Why not let this old servant run the trip for you?"
Chai Zhen sighed and said firmly, "Well, all right, this matter is of great importance. Mr. Li must go there in person, only then can I feel at ease."
Chai Zhen paused and said solemnly, "Mr. Li, we can't let Sister Cen Xiao get into any more trouble now. The Zhenbei Division under the Emperor's uncle has sent a secret letter, and Liaodan has already taken action. If there is any problem with our peace treaty with Xixiang this time, once we have to fight on two fronts, I'm afraid hundreds of thousands of warriors of our Great Zhou will really be buried in a foreign land!"
Chai Zhen gave Li Dehai a meaningful warning. He knew that Li Dehai was a prudent and thoughtful person who would definitely handle this matter well. Furthermore, Li Dehai had been with him for many years and was loyal to him, so he would definitely not leak any information. Therefore, Chai Zhen could rest assured.
……
Inside the princess's bedroom, carved wooden windows stood half-closed, allowing moonlight to pour in like water, casting a silvery white across the floor. Gauze curtains hung low, swaying gently in the occasional night breeze. Wisps of delicate fragrance rose from the incense burner, filling the air and creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
Yet, Princess Jue Ling's heart, like the turbulent night sky outside her window, was restless. She reclined on a soft, brocade-covered couch, a bound storybook in her hand, flipping through it absentmindedly. The words on the pages danced like dancing musical notes before her eyes, yet they failed to leave any impression on her mind.
"Princess, are you still thinking about Cen Jiexiao?" A maid came in quietly with a tray and placed a cup of steaming hot tea on the tea table next to Princess Jue Ling. Seeing that Princess Jue Ling looked absent-minded, she couldn't help but ask softly.
"I'm wondering, is she really a spy from the Xixiang tribe? When I direct spies, they only cause destruction. How come she, a spy, has come to my Great Zhou to do good things for the country and its people?" Princess Jue Ling put down the script in her hand, frowning slightly as she muttered to herself. Her voice was soft, yet it carried a hint of worry and anxiety that was hard to conceal.
The maid was startled when she heard this, and the tray in her hands almost slipped. She hurriedly said, "Princess, I have something to say, but please don't let your imagination run wild! Although Dean Cen came from a humble background, she was a well-educated and well-mannered woman. She did help many children from ordinary families in Linkang Prefecture realize their dreams of studying. It's really far-fetched to think that she was a spy for the Xixiang tribe."
"Born in a humble family, yet well-educated and well-mannered? Humph!" Princess Jue Ling sneered and placed the teacup in her hand heavily on the table, making a crisp sound.
After seeing Princess Jue Ling's reaction, the maid didn't dare to say anything more and could only stand aside silently.