Chapter 52 - 3#

This was also not quite right.

If it was really just for fun, how could he maintain such interest for so long?

According to Emperor Jingyuan’s nature, anything that interested him in the past, whether it was a person or a thing, would be thoroughly destroyed by him. How could it be possible to live for a long time?

Jingzhe was the first one to live safely until now, and even existed as a particularly special presence.

Mao Zishi couldn’t help but start pondering over Shen Zikun’s words. It seemed there was some reference value.

But…

He remembered that someone had been following Jingzhe for a long time, right? With a temper like Emperor Jingyuan’s, how could he not leave a backup plan?

…

Jingzhe’s foot took many days to recover.

It takes a hundred days for muscles and bones to heal. His injury wasn’t that serious, but it was difficult to get out of bed and walk.

Because of the foot injury, Mingyu and Yunkui both came to visit him one after another.

Mingyu came and left in a hurry, not staying long.

Although the Imperial Kitchen was being watched closely these days, it was actually a good thing for them. Every step was watched by someone, making it harder to frame them.

He couldn’t stay outside for too long, lest he attract more attention to Jingzhe.

As soon as Mingyu left, Yunkui arrived.

He brought greetings from Zheng Hong and Huli, as well as a larger jar of wild honey.

Jingzhe hadn’t even finished the small jar from before.

Yunkui sat carelessly by the bed, looked around, and seeing no one around, whispered: “Have you offended anyone recently?”

Jingzhe: “Why do you say that?”

Seeing Jingzhe’s calm expression, as if nothing had happened, Yunkui felt a bit relieved and whispered: “You know the news from the Miscellaneous Affairs Office is always the most informed. Recently, it seems someone is looking for a…” He looked at Jingzhe from head to toe, then said, “Little eunuch like you.”

The person inquiring was very cautious, and it was just a casual question, not a very serious attitude, so ordinary people wouldn’t remember it.

But Zheng Hong happened to be the most cautious.

He secretly investigated that person’s identity, and upon checking, found it strange. Why would people from Yongning Palace look for someone suspected to be Jingzhe?

If it weren’t because he couldn’t get away, he would have come to ask personally this time. But since he couldn’t leave, he dragged Yunkui to ask.

Jingzhe was silent, then touched his nose, and touched his face again: “…Maybe it’s because I beat up someone from Yongning Palace.”

Yunkui’s eyes widened, and he slapped Jingzhe’s arm, “Why didn’t you bring me along for such a good thing?”

Jingzhe: “There was a reason, it was an accident…”

He covered his arm and hissed. That slap almost gave him a bruise.

“Was it a misunderstanding?”

Jingzhe was silent. That was impossible.

“Not a misunderstanding.”

If it happened again, Jingzhe would still beat him up.

And it would only be more severe than this time, aiming for his face.

Yunkui clicked his tongue in wonder, rubbed his hands, and whispered: “This is a bit tricky. This person has traced it here, looking like he wants to find you to vent his anger. truly petty. Otherwise, find an opportunity to sack him again.”

However, what was strange was that most of these inquiries were before the fire in Yongning Palace.

Since the fire, there had been no movement like before.

It seemed that overnight, all the restless movements had gone dormant.

Was it because they were tied up by the fire, or some other reason?

Jingzhe couldn’t help laughing: “Sacking him again would be satisfying, but it won’t solve the problem.”

Yunkui thought about it and agreed.

There is no logic in guarding against thieves all day long. Even if someone covers it up, this palace is neither big nor small. If they accidentally run into each other, it will be hard to end.

Jingzhe said calmly: “Go back and tell Zheng Hong not to bother with this matter, so as not to invite trouble. That person is not easy to mess with.”

Jingzhe didn’t say who the chief eunuch was. Anyway, as long as it was someone from Yongning Palace, just be on guard together.

It’s best to take a detour to avoid trouble.

Jingzhe thought it was all good, but when Yunkui was about to leave, his eyes glanced at the two people walking outside the window. A thought moved in his mind, and he revealed a weird smile.

“I will definitely come up with a way for you!”

The voice was so loud that people inside and outside the room could hear it clearly.

Jingzhe was confused, watching Yunkui run out like a whirlwind. Just as he was about to withdraw his gaze, he met Shi’en and Gusheng directly.

Behind them followed Huiping who had returned. Their gazes fell on him leisurely, carrying an indescribable meaning.

Bang—

Jingzhe’s left side was curiously hooked by Gusheng, “Jingzhe, what did Yunkui say to you just now?”

Shi’en pressed on his right arm, tone eerie: “Yes, I also want to know. Huiping, do you know what’s going on?”

Jingzhe was pressed on the bed, almost unable to breathe. He struggled several times but failed to get up, and finally could only raise his hands in surrender.

This unlucky foot of his made him unable to even run away. He was dragged forcefully, like a turtle turned over, at the mercy of others.

…Yunkui, you brat, just you wait!

Jingzhe was too lazy to get up, so he lay on the bed and talked.

After hearing the whole story, Shi’en slapped his thigh fiercely.

“Is it that bastard Kangman?”

Others might be deceived, but Shi’en knew many inside stories. Upon hearing Jingzhe say this, he immediately knew who it was. He praised his own wit in his heart. He didn’t let Jingzhe go to Yongning Palace before, and indeed he did the right thing!

Jingzhe nodded: “It is indeed him.”

Shi’en narrowed his eyes, staring at Jingzhe closely.

“Why do you look so calm? You have an idea, what is it?”

The other two also stared at Jingzhe, especially Huiping.

Jingzhe said slowly: “Kangman has had a smooth journey. Anyone who stands in his way usually meets with accidents.”

There are dead people, but not everyone is dead.

If Kangman really killed gods and buddhas in his way, then he shouldn’t just be a chief eunuch of Yongning Palace now. At the very least, he should have climbed to Qianming Palace, right?

Gusheng raised his eyebrows: “Could it be that you went to find those people?”

Only the parties involved knew best.

Huiping was puzzled: “But how do you make them believe you? If you go to find them, it’s also easy to expose yourself. Perhaps some of these people, after being scared out of their wits, have also become Kangman’s puppets?”

There haven’t been no such examples.

Clearly pitiful people who were oppressed, but with the passage of time, they became the伥鬼 (ghosts enslaved by a tiger) of the perpetrator instead.

Jingzhe laughed.

“It’s not me going.”

“If it’s not you, then who could it be?”

The others were surprised.

Jingzhe didn’t want to tell them about this before because it contained danger. Since it was dangerous, Jingzhe always preferred to go himself rather than harm others.

At this critical juncture, how could another person pop up?

Jingzhe scratched his face: “I asked Rong Jiu to check for me.”

After Rong Jiu suppressed him and forced him to submit to his despotic power, agreeing to take medicine on time from now on, Jingzhe brazenly asked him to help check Kangman’s experience.

The fire in Yongning Palace was undoubtedly a very strange thing.

At that time, after listening to his request, Rong Jiu didn’t agree immediately. Instead, he looked at him a few times and said slowly: “If you didn’t know me, what would you do if you encountered such a thing?”

Jingzhe said naturally: “Then I wouldn’t encounter such a thing.”

Rong Jiu raised his eyebrows, his sharp gaze lingering on Jingzhe, listening to him continue.

“I might still leave the North Wing, then continue to try hard to live. Until one day I don’t want to live anymore, I might try every means to stab Huang Qingtian.”

When Jingzhe said this, he laughed.

“Of course, it’s also possible that nothing will happen, and I will just live on like this.”

When Jingzhe talked about the past, his tone was light, rarely showing excitement. But Rong Jiu knew that in Jingzhe’s heart, there was a burning fire.

It was burning all the time.

For his family, for his friends.

Rong Jiu raised his hand, grabbed Jingzhe’s collar, and pulled him over until their eyes met.

Rong Jiu held Jingzhe firmly and said slowly: “I will investigate Kangman’s matter. You don’t need to act rashly, whether it’s you or that group of yours, friends.”

Jingzhe always felt that when Rong Jiu said the last word, it carried a heavy sense of disgust.

He was originally being pulled by Rong Jiu, and now he lowered his head further until their breaths mingled.

Jingzhe said slowly: “Are you… You, are very hostile towards them?”

Rong Jiu looked at him coldly: “Anyone who occupies your attention is disgusting. Whether it’s your friends or…” He paused, but in the end didn’t say the last word.

Heh, family.

In Rong Jiu’s dark eyes, extreme emotions surged. The looming killing intent was just revealed, but was mostly rubbed away by a pair of hands that came up.

Jingzhe pinched Rong Jiu’s face and sighed in distress, “I may never need to be jealous again in this life.” He looked at the man pointedly.

“Just the smell on you is sour enough to be unbearable.”

In short, to sum up.

Rong Jiu intervened in this matter.

“If that’s the case, then it’s easier.”

Hearing that Rong Jiu was intervening, Shi’en felt somewhat relieved.

Jingzhe pondered. Actually, he had other ideas, but they were much more dangerous.

But he didn’t know if Rong Jiu had discovered it. When he left that day, he pinched Jingzhe’s face, telling him to behave himself and not act rashly, otherwise he would twist his little dog head off.

Jingzhe was very confused. Why a little dog head?

He touched his own head. It looked quite upright. Where was it dog-like?

Jingzhe muttered. And what’s wrong with danger?

It was always danger finding him. If he actively looked for danger, that would also be, considered normal, right?

In the end, he only dared to think so secretly. Jingzhe rubbed his face and gave up.

He dared not stroke the tiger’s whiskers.

Since Rong Jiu agreed, Jingzhe successively received many details about Kangman’s past. Among them, there were not only his schemes but also a list of people he murdered.

Jingzhe looked at that full list and was somewhat stunned.

Although he knew Kangman wasn’t a good thing, he was too much of a not-good-thing.

However, among them, what surprised Jingzhe the most was actually Ding Peng.

This Ding Peng, who was already dead, was actually also from Yongning Palace before he became the manager of the Transport Department.

This high degree of overlap made him involuntarily turn his gaze to Consort Kang of Yongning Palace.

Consort Kang had always been an inconspicuous character in the palace.

Although she entered the palace earliest, regardless of her status in the palace or her temper, she was not outstanding.

Consort De occasionally looked after her slightly, but it was also because of her overly submissive temper. Even Talented Lady Liu in the side hall could ride on her head back then, let alone others.

Precisely because Consort Kang had too little presence, even though Jingzhe noticed the anomalies in Yongning Palace several times, he didn’t think of her at all. But if it was repeatedly related to Yongning Palace, did it also mean that this was related to Consort Kang?

This was just Jingzhe’s guess, but Rong Jiu should have already noticed it.

When he finally sent away a group of worried friends and lay on the bed, Huiping also lay lazily on his own bed.

The lights in the room were extinguished.

It was quiet. Neither of them spoke, but they both knew the other wasn’t asleep yet.

“Huiping, do you still have something to say?”

Jingzhe turned over and looked at the opposite bed in the darkness. He had vaguely felt just now that Huiping seemed to have something to say. But until everyone left, the words were still stuck in his throat and couldn’t be spoken.

Huiping was slightly stunned, not expecting Jingzhe to be so keen. But thinking it was him, he didn’t find it strange.

From Huiping’s side came a rustling sound, and a voice with a bit of probing and hesitation rang out, “Jingzhe, is what Rong Jiu doing dangerous for you?”

“This matter didn’t expose me, how could it be dangerous?” Jingzhe said with a smile, “If criminal evidence is found, he will be sent directly to the Department of Prudence and Punishment. It won’t touch me.”

Huiping hesitated a bit, and after a while, said again: “You seem to trust Rong Jiu even more.”

Jingzhe was slightly surprised, twisting around on the bed, “…Why do you say that?” Is his outward emotion already so obvious that now not only Mingyu but even Huiping can see it so clearly?

Huiping said slowly: “I actually, guessed. Before, no matter how many things you encountered after coming here, you mostly solved them by yourself and rarely mentioned Rong Jiu.”

Jingzhe didn’t like asking others for help.

No matter what happened, as long as he could handle it himself, he never said a second word. Sometimes, it was only after the event had passed and the result came out that they knew such a thing had happened to Jingzhe.

Like the matter of the Huang family.

If not for the rewards from Qianming Palace, they probably wouldn’t have known for a lifetime that Jingzhe had such hidden circumstances.

He was used to this.

Except for close contact with Mingyu, most of the time, even though he had many friends around, he still looked a bit lonely.

Jingzhe fell silent, starting to ponder recent events.

In the past, he rarely talked to Rong Jiu about his troubles.

But recently, he would actively open his mouth to ask Rong Jiu about some confusing things, such as the envoy incident in Shangyu Garden back then, and would also ask him to help do some things, like checking Kangman this time.

…It was a more normal investigation after pressing Rong Jiu’s “kill word formula”.

This was easy for Rong Jiu.

But for Jingzhe to open his mouth, it was a difficult task. It was hard for him to ask others to do something, except for Mingyu.

And now, his attitude towards Rong Jiu seemed different.

Jingzhe blinked involuntarily after listening to Huiping’s words, falling into deep thought.

Is it because… he is letting down his guard towards Rong Jiu more and more, and trusting him more?

Depend on mountains and mountains fall, depend on people and people run.

Relying on others is an extremely stupid thing.

It will make people weak and powerless.

…Ha, unknowingly, he has already started doing stupid things.

The author has something to say:

Jingzhe: Relying on others is a stupid thing.

Rong Jiu still felt it wasn’t enough: Indeed should have killed Mingyu, an eyesore.