svetikya Chapter 185: The Crown Princess seeks a child?
Chapter 185: The Crown Princess seeks a child?
Qian Ming was silent for a while, sighed and nodded.
"Yes, they threatened me, saying that if I didn't do what they said, they would tell the truth."
"who are they?"
"I don't know." Qian Ming shook his head blankly. "Both times we met, we were separated by screens and curtains. I couldn't see their faces clearly."
"Where is the meeting place?"
"Funing Temple."
The Funing Temple is a nunnery. Many daughters of royal relatives and nobles who have committed sins would be punished by having their heads shaved and practicing Buddhism here. Therefore, when nobles in the capital city teach women about women's virtues, they would inevitably mention the Funing Temple.
To that group of people, Qian Ming was just a chess piece that came to them at random, so they were naturally on guard against him from the beginning.
Therefore, Qian Ming knew nothing about the other party's identity and characteristics. The only clue was the meeting place, Funing Temple.
Although the clues are few, they are not completely useless.
Xu Xingyin ordered someone to write down everything Qian Ming said, and asked Qian Ming to look at it and sign his name on it. Xu Xingyin was not in a position to handle the rest of the matter, so he left it to Jing Zhichen to handle.
As soon as it got light outside, students gathered in groups of three or five to ask for an explanation from the East Palace. Jing Zhichen ate his breakfast motionlessly. He waited until the noise outside became loud enough before he led his men to escort Qian Ming out of the East Palace.
"The Luo Xuehai you are looking for died a few years ago. Now this person is called Qian Ming..."
Jing Zhichen first explained the whole story to the confused people, then personally handed Qian Ming to Shuntian Prefecture in front of everyone, and spoke again:
"Although Qian Ming's actions are pitiful, the law cannot be abolished. I am now handing him over to Shuntian Prefecture in the hope that you can learn from it. Secular concepts divide people into four classes: scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, but everyone is equal before the law. The law is formulated to give people relative fairness. Regardless of your status, we hope that everyone can bravely take up the weapon of the law. The emperor is guilty of the same crime as the common people, not to mention those self-proclaimed noble clowns. Believing in the law is the best way to protect yourself."
Jing Zhichen's words were impartial and neither humble nor arrogant. They not only reflected the crown prince's concern and responsibility for good and evil, and the people's livelihood, but also aptly expressed his understanding and support for laws, fairness and rules. For ordinary people, it was a popularization of the law and a boost to people's morale.
After Qian Ming was sent to Shuntian Prefecture, Shuntian Prefecture publicly interrogated Qian Ming again based on the evidence provided by Dongfu, and his confession was almost exactly the same as what Jing Zhichen said.
After careful consideration, Shuntian Prefecture sentenced Qian Ming to two years in prison and released him after serving his sentence.
At the same time, Jing Zhichen's words and deeds on that day spread from the people to the palace. Everyone who heard it said that the crown prince not only had a broad mind, but also had the courage to set an example and uphold the Dayan Law, and everyone praised him.
Jing Zhichen's popularity made some people happy while others sad. Prince An's group was so restless, while Emperor Yanning and the Grand Tutor were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling.
On the contrary, the people in the East Palace, who were the real owners of the incident, seemed the calmest.
Under the pavilion of the East Palace Garden, Dan Feng was talking about the rumors outside with her hands and feet dancing, but Xu Xingyin didn't listen to much. Instead, he was concentrating on investigating the Funing Temple.
When Xu Xingyin was puzzled, he happened to see Jing Zhichen entering the mansion with a stern face. Without thinking much about it, his eyes lit up and he trotted over to meet him.
Jing Zhichen had been in a bad mood recently, but when he saw the little girl jumping towards him like a little rabbit, his anger dissipated a little.
His expression relaxed a little, and he subconsciously reached out to support Xu Xingyin.
"Wait a minute."
Xu Xingyin didn't notice this, and said with a curled lip:
"I have been thinking about investigating the Funing Temple for a whole day, but I still can't come up with a reliable method. Does Your Highness have any good ideas?"
"The Funing Temple is under the protection of the royal family and cannot be easily touched. It is almost impossible to conduct an open investigation. The temple is heavily guarded, and all pilgrims entering the temple must be registered one by one, so it is difficult to conduct secret investigations."
Xu Xingyin nodded and added, "Traveling to the East Palace is already conspicuous. Even going there to burn incense requires a suitable reason, let alone investigating something."
It was rare to see Xu Xingyin's confused look, as he couldn't think of a solution. Jing Zhichen couldn't help but curl his lips.
"It's not that there is no solution at all."
"What method?"
"In a few days, it will be your return home day."
Xu Xingyin was a little confused, but still nodded honestly, "Yes."
"I have heard that the Funing Temple is very effective in praying for children."
"Cough-cough-"
The sudden words caught Xu Xingyin, who was drinking tea, off guard and choked until his face turned red. After finally stopping coughing, he met Jing Zhichen's eyes, which were filled with some meaning.
"Why, does the Crown Princess feel that it is inappropriate?"
"A newlywed couple wants to have a child. No one can say anything wrong about this reason. It's perfect, very perfect."
"Then why are you blushing?"
"Cho...choke!"
This casual question made Xu Xingyin angry again. He stammered out these words and turned around and ran away, pulling Dangui.
"I have something important to do, so I'll take my leave now!"
Looking at Xu Xingyin fleeing in panic, Jing Zhichen couldn't help but smile, but was caught by the gossipy Du Huaigu, who came over with a teasing look on his face.
"I see that your Highness's investigation is fake, but his wish for a child is real."
Jing Zhichen glanced at Du Huaigu calmly and said, "I think since you are free these days, why don't you go to the palace to check the pulse of the ladies?"
Du Huaigu choked when he heard this, and immediately said seriously:
"Sorry for disturbing you, I'll take my leave now!"
……
According to the rules of Dayan, one must return to one's parents' home after three days. Xu Xingyin missed the chance to do so three days later, so according to the old custom he could only return on the day after three months.
The Crown Princess's return was a big event for both the Yudong Mansion and the Duke's Mansion. Xu Xingyin was very busy for a while just preparing the return gifts.
As for the Duke's Mansion, not only was the mansion newly decorated, but even the married girls were called back to the mansion, as if the whole family was happily welcoming the Crown Princess back home.
On the day of the return visit, white snow covered most of the capital city. The crown prince and his wife came in person, and the East Palace's ceremonial guard was astonishing, stretching out and occupying more than half of the street.
Everyone in the Duke's Mansion was kneeling outside in a huge crowd. The entire mansion was hung with bright red silk, which somewhat masked the bleakness of winter.
Following Jing Zhichen's words "Stand up", everyone in the Duke's Mansion stood up to greet them, all with happy expressions on their faces.
Xu Xingyin did not treat Jing Zhichen as an outsider, and walked up to him and called Chen warmly.
"Mother, Jiaojiao is back."
Chen couldn't help but smile, but before she could say anything, she saw Xu Xiuzhu stepped forward and stood in front of her.
"It is cold and damp in winter. Hot tea and warm wine are ready in the mansion. Your Highness, please move."
After saying this, Xu Xiuzhu put on his fatherly airs and turned to Xu Xingyin and said, "What are you standing there for? Why don't you invite His Highness into the mansion?"