Chapter 1240 - 916: He Trusts No One
Upon hearing the Emperor inquire about Yu Dingxing, the breath the Crown Prince had been holding suddenly became heavier, but he still immediately lifted his head and calmly said, "The Commandery Prince is recuperating from his wounds."
"Oh."
Yu Wenquan nodded and, after a moment of silence, continued, "Are his injuries still severe?"
Yu Wenqian replied, "They have improved significantly."
Yu Wenquan said, "That’s good then."
His tone seemed merely concerned about Yu Dingxing’s injuries, but upon hearing Yu Wenye mention that someone didn’t want the investigation to continue, he suddenly asked about Yu Dingxing, which made Yu Wenqian’s breath even heavier.
He looked up at Yu Wenquan and cautiously said, "I wonder how Father plans to handle today’s incident."
Yu Wenquan extended his hand and slowly closed the scroll spread over the imperial desk and then said, "This matter must be thoroughly investigated."
After speaking, he said, "Since the Duke Wushan’s injuries are no longer serious, let him immediately dispatch troops out of the city. Those two rebels fled with Pei Xingyuan; they don’t have many places to go. Make sure to bring them back!"
Yu Wenqian said, "I will immediately send someone to relay the message."
After he finished speaking, he thought for a moment and then said, "Father, what should we do with Jiang Yu?"
Upon hearing this, Su Qinglan, who had been standing quietly and tensely on the side, not daring to breathe heavily, immediately looked up, half frightened and half helplessly, at the Crown Prince and then at Yu Wenquan.
Lou Yingxiong said, "The rebels of Wanggang Village even went so far as to raid a prison for him; leaving this person alive will only be a scourge. It would be better to kill him!"
"Cannot kill!"
Shang Ruyi suddenly spoke, surprising everyone in the hall, even Yu Wenquan was a bit taken aback, but he didn’t speak immediately, instead he just watched his always silent daughter-in-law. Lou Yingxiong hesitated for a moment and immediately sneered, "A rebel from Wanggang Village, why does the Princess say he cannot be killed?"
Shang Ruyi said, "If the main perpetrator is not caught and the accomplice is killed, wouldn’t the case be even more impossible to pursue?"
She then smiled slightly, "Isn’t General Lou always hoping to complete the investigation?"
The last remark made Lou Yingxiong’s face stiffen, but he immediately said, "This person knows nothing, doesn’t he? Since he knows nothing, he is just a useless person. Even if he is killed, it has no relation to the case."
Shang Ruyi immediately said, "Since he knows nothing, isn’t he an innocent person?"
"..."
"Does General Lou still want to implicate the innocent and indiscriminately kill?"
Lou Yingxiong was stiffened again by her words.
Before he could respond, Shang Ruyi immediately addressed Yu Wenquan, "Father, the world is unsettled, and the four seas are not at peace. We should recruit heroes across the land and accept talents widely. If at this time we implement collective punishment and indiscriminately kill innocents—no matter what Wanggang Village people think, other factions surely won’t dare to have any thoughts of joining our Dasheng."
"..."
"This act is detrimental to Father’s great ambitions and absolutely must not be done!"
Upon hearing her words, Yu Wenquan’s eyes brightened.
If in the past, killing one Jiang Yu wasn’t a big deal, even if he wasn’t killed, it wasn’t difficult, yet today’s incident made him realize that perhaps beyond the surface scheme of the Wanggang Village rebels plotting the Hot Spring Palace event, there might be other truths. Thus, the decision to kill or not kill Jiang Yu was indeed far more significant than before; moreover, killing a powerless man, if manipulated by those with intentions, and spread, would indeed have very bad repercussions.
Yu Wenquan said, "The Princess Qin’s words are reasonable. The individual will be held temporarily; punishment will come after everything is clarified."
After saying all this, he looked up at the people in the hall, his gaze moving from the Crown Prince, Lou Yingxiong, then to Yan Shaoxuan, and Yu Wenye, pondering for a moment, he said, "Order the Left Guard to search the whole city, ensure the capture of the group that intercepted and tried to kill Pei Xingyuan, and investigate the mastermind behind it!"
Eunuch Yu immediately responded, "Yes!"
After saying this, his face revealed a trace of weariness that even anger could not cover, he sighed deeply and said, "Everyone can leave now."
Everyone knelt and saluted in unison, then exited Xuanzheng Hall.
Eunuch Yu was the last to leave, after closing the door, he turned and looked at those standing around, seeming a bit bewildered and not immediately leaving, including the Crown Prince and Prince Qin, he bent over with a smile and said, "Cold winds are blowing, everyone should go back for now, I have messages to deliver, so I must take my leave."
After speaking, he hurried off.
After he left, those standing afar seemed more uncertain, finally Yu Wenqian turned to look at Yu Wenye and said, "Second Brother, I’ll be leaving first."
"Safe travels, Imperial Brother."
"Since the incident, Father has been quite depressed, Second Brother and Sister-in-law are in the palace, do accompany Father more, and ease his mind."
"Yes."
After saying those words, Yu Wenqian also turned and left.
Once he left, Lou Yingxiong naturally followed, both leaving hastily, their figures quickly disappearing ahead.
Yan Shaoxuan and his two subordinates also departed successively, leaving behind only Su Qinglan, whose face still remained as pale as paper, her expression fraught with anxiety. Looking at her in this state, Shang Ruyi found herself scarcely believing it was the same person who, on Vermilion Bird Street earlier today, risked everything to warn Pei Xingyuan, resolutely refused Jiang Xian and returned to face suspicions and judgments.
At times, a person’s cleverness, kindness, and resolve are truly not shown through mere words.
Shang Ruyi softly said, "Doctor Su, it’s alright now, you may go for now."
Su Qinglan glanced at the two of them, and softly but earnestly said, "Thank you, Prince Qin, thank you, Princess."
Upon finishing, she also turned and left.
In Xuanzheng Hall earlier, neither Yu Wenye nor Shang Ruyi spoke on her behalf, so her thanks were naturally not for herself. Watching her slender retreating figure, Shang Ruyi could not help but sigh, turning back to follow Yu Wenye towards Qianqiu Palace, while walking quietly, she said, "For her, this incident has been an unexpected disaster."
"..."
Yu Wenye continued walking forward, saying quietly, "In this world, events are intertwined as blessings and misfortunes."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi was taken aback, then realized and said, "Ah yes, I nearly forgot about our previous wager, in that case, I have won."
"..."
"You promised to support her to become the Chief Imperial Doctor."
"..."
"There’s no turning back once a promise is made!"
Yu Wenye faintly smiled, "I remember all that I have promised, no need for you to remind me. It’s just that, now is not the time yet."
Shang Ruyi said, "I know."
As she said this, her expression once again became solemn, recalling Yu Wenquan’s final orders, she said, "Father asked the Left Guard to handle this matter, his intention is—"
Yu Wenye’s eyes turned cold, "He trusts no one."