The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 189: Suspicions

The weather has already started to cool at this time of year.

It’s even chillier at night.

When Duke Xie rushed over and saw the three of them kneeling there, he felt a bit of pity.

All those kneeling were women, and as a titled lord, it would be very unbecoming for him to kneel as well.

Moreover, it might be seen as a ploy to elicit the emperor’s sympathy.

He cleared his throat and asked Ji Mingzhu, "Has the Empress agreed to see you?"

Ji Mingzhu’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

She was contemplating whether the Crown Prince was behind the sudden death of Consort Xu.

After all, it was the Eastern Palace, heavily guarded, and not easy to assassinate someone.

Even if the target was the neglected Consort Xu.

If it wasn’t the Crown Prince, things would be much simpler.

But if it was the Crown Prince, what was his motive?

The Emperor’s condition is not very good now, and the Crown Prince has already begun to handle state affairs. It seems unreasonable to discard Xie Yunzhen like a used tool.

The political situation is unstable, and there are those who are stirring in the shadows.

Even if wary of Xie Yunzhen, they wouldn’t cut off their own arm at a time like this.

If the Crown Prince isn’t targeting Xie Yunzhen.

Then, this is a setup.

Is it targeted at the Xu and Xiao families?

Because of her father’s connections, Ji Mingzhu paid particular attention to matters involving the Xu and Xiao families.

She naturally understood some things about the court.

Ji Mingzhu leaned toward the latter assumption.

But political matters change rapidly; today’s allies could become tomorrow’s adversaries over conflicting interests.

She was uncertain of what the truth was behind it all.

She only knew she needed to play along.

If this was a trap to lure out the enemy, her actions could confuse them.

Making the enemy wonder if there was a rift between the Crown Prince and Xie Yunzhen?

If it wasn’t a setup, and Xie Yunzhen truly encountered trouble.

Then she would sincerely plead for him.

Hearing Duke Xie’s voice, Ji Mingzhu quietly responded, unwilling to say more.

Xie Yunling’s knees were getting stiff from kneeling.

Enduring the pain, she moved closer to Ji Mingzhu, offering a space, "Uncle, you should kneel too."

Duke Xie twitched his lips. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Kneeling at the drop of a hat is a tactic for those without competence.

He thought of saying that a man should have dignity, but feared such words might reach the palace and cause displeasure.

He quickly changed his words, "The Emperor and the Crown Prince are wise and discerning, they won’t wrong Ah Zhen. You kneel here, while I return to the mansion to write a petition, requesting the Emperor and the Crown Prince to thoroughly investigate this matter."

Xie Yunling pouted, muttering softly, "If writing a petition works, then why are we still kneeling here?"

Duke Xie glared at her, "Children should not speak recklessly."

In a voice only they could hear, he whispered, "This is called covering all bases, showing the sincerity of the Xie family to those inside."

Although young, Xie Yunling was not foolish.

She felt this matter would be very tricky, and the Crown Prince wouldn’t easily let her brother go.

After all, that Consort Xu was his woman.

Now that this matter is no longer a secret, perhaps people are already stirring things behind their backs, blowing up the situation to a point of no return.

Whether seeking justice for Consort Xu or for his own reputation, the Crown Prince would not easily let it pass.

Otherwise, with her brother’s relationship with His Highness, why would he be detained and lose his freedom?

The more she thought about it, the more Xie Yunling feared.

Growing up in the capital, she’d heard of many incidents.

Things would be fine one day, with prosperity all around, only for a family to be ruined overnight.

People would die, others would be exiled...

Mansions would suddenly collapse; in the circles of nobility, it’s not a new story at all!

So scared, she didn’t even know when Duke Xie left or what he said before departing.

In her mind, there was only one thought.

If someone seized her brother’s weakness to make an issue of it and attack Duke Mansion...

Would they be in big trouble?

Frightened, she asked, "Sister Mingzhu, will Big Brother be alright?"

Ji Mingzhu comforted, "I trust the Crown Prince."

The complexities inside are well-known to the Crown Prince. Unless he intends to make things difficult, Xie Yunzhen will surely extricate himself.

It’s only a matter of time.

Ji Mingzhu bent over to check Xie Yunling’s knees, placing one hand underneath them and gently rubbing with the other.

"Don’t push yourself, go home if you’re feeling unwell."

Xie Yunling was young and still growing, and Ji Mingzhu feared she might develop health issues from this.

Her concern made Xie Yunling suddenly burst into tears.

"I’m just scared."

Power struggles are fraught with danger, even a small mishap can be magnified into a deadly threat.

Moreover, many saw her brother at the scene of Consort Xu’s death.

And the rumors were not suppressed.

Today, with so many gathered for the Crown Prince’s wedding, the news would spread even faster.

Enemies of Duke Mansion would catch the scent and pounce like wolves.

They would tear off chunks of Xie family flesh, wanting to destroy them completely!

Originally, Ji Mingzhu had calmed down and was no longer flustered.

Xie Yunling’s tears, however, suddenly stirred the unease buried within her.

Her eyes burned, her nose tingled.

But she couldn’t cry; otherwise, Yunling would be even more afraid.

She softly coaxed, "Your brother will be fine. So many people are thinking of ways to help him through this crisis. The storm will pass, eventually."

Will it really pass?

Earlier today, the Empress had rewarded Sister Mingzhu, allowing her to take a sedan into the palace.

Even their aunt, a member of the imperial family, never received such an honor.

Yet now, kneeling at the palace gate, the Empress had not shown any gesture.

She hadn’t even sent a message.

Was it because people’s minds changed too quickly, or was the true nature of weighing pros and cons so hurtful?

Xie Yunling could not understand.

She only knew that she didn’t want her brother to be in trouble.

Even without power, if the family was safe and sound, wouldn’t that be a blessing?

The night was cold.

In their hurry, they hadn’t dressed warmly.

Since childhood, Xie Yunling had never suffered such hardships.

The cold wind slicing through her seemed to foreshadow the turbulent future of Duke Mansion, making her cry even louder.

Ji Mingzhu held her close, "Don’t cry, don’t be afraid, we’re many. Even if the sky falls, the elders will hold it up."

Leaning into her embrace, Xie Yunling felt more desperate, "Uncle is unreliable, you see he just left like that without thinking to plead with someone to pass a message to the nobles!"

Ji Mingzhu didn’t know Duke Xie well.

If it weren’t for Du Peifang’s entrance into Duke Mansion in this lifetime, they would have even fewer interactions.

Outside, Duke Xie was praised as a good man by everyone.

Even with the bad temper of Princess An He, Duke Xie had never thought of divorce.

In fact, he often apologized on her behalf.

Looking at it now, who knows if he is broad-minded or inherently indifferent.

Otherwise, with Xie Yunzhen in trouble, Princess An He is frantic, yet he took his time coming.

And then did nothing before leaving...

Ji Mingzhu patted Xie Yunling’s shoulder, "Don’t be stubborn, didn’t the Commandery Princess go back to her family to find solutions?"

As long as those in the mansion truly care for the interests of the Duke Mansion, they wouldn’t turn a blind eye.

And with their aunt and others, even without benefits, they would do their best.