The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 517 - 484: Left a Witness

After the midday meal, Zhao Xi picked up the blueprint he had created a few days ago, intending to head to Qianqing Palace to find Emperor Guangxi.

Yuanbao tugged at his sleeve, looking aggrieved, "Can’t you wait a while before going?"

Zhao Xi replied, "Sooner or later, it makes no difference."

With that, he pulled his sleeve back from Yuanbao’s hand.

"It’s different, really different, okay?" Yuanbao insisted, "Believe me, wait for the right moment before showing the blueprint, and the Emperor’s reaction will surely be different."

Seeing Zhao Xi slightly moved, Yuanbao continued to embellish his point, "Think about it, the Su Family incident just happened, and the Empress was just laid to rest not long ago. During the national mourning period, no matter what you do, he can’t propose establishing an Empress or Crown Prince. Since the effect is minimal, why not wait for a more effective time?"

Zhao Xi’s eyelashes drooped slightly, then he turned sideways and headed straight towards the gate of Yutang Palace.

The sound of Yuanbao’s roar came from inside the palace walls, "Zhao Xi, I’m breaking up with you!"

...

Emperor Guangxi, having dealt with state affairs all morning, had just planned to take a nap after his meal when he heard that the Eldest Prince sought audience. Forcing himself to stay awake, he asked Mr. Cui to announce the visitor.

Zhao Xi arrived at the inner hall, Emperor Guangxi yawned and looked at him, "You have business to discuss with me?"

Zhao Xi originally planned to hand over the blueprint to Emperor Guangxi, but then thought better of it and discreetly tucked it back into his wide sleeve, saying calmly, "According to the regulations of our dynasty, Princes must leave the palace and establish their residence at sixteen. I have already chosen the location of the mansion, and the construction may take some time. If father has no objections, I will proceed with the arrangements."

By the age of sixteen, if Zhao Xi hadn’t been titled Crown Prince, he would have to be titled a king and move out of the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Guangxi barely thought about it, nodded slightly, "Since you’ve chosen the location, I will soon have Cui Fuquan notify the Ministry of Works. By the time you turn sixteen next year, the construction should be nearly complete."

He glanced at his son and said gladly, "The mansion’s design was shown to me earlier by the Minister of the Ministry of Industry; you should check it too. If there’s anything you don’t like, have them change it in time."

Zhao Xi nodded once, "Thank you, father, for your grace."

Emperor Guangxi gestured for him to come closer, "Come here, let me show you something."

Zhao Xi complied and walked over, and Emperor Guangxi handed him a piece of paper.

Zhao Xi took it and examined it, discovering that it recorded a formula for incense.

The young prince, being knowledgeable and having some expertise in incense, frowned after reading two pages, "This incense formula is incorrect."

Emperor Guangxi raised an eyebrow, "How is it incorrect?"

Zhao Xi explained frankly, "The combination of ingredients in this formula will certainly produce negative effects, commonly known as Forbidden Incense."

Emperor Guangxi stroked his beard, asking him, "Have you heard of Thunder Shock?"

"I have," Zhao Xi nodded, "It was introduced from outside the border, used only by the military. However, the technique was immature at the time, causing widespread civilian casualties upon detonation. Since then, it has been classified as a forbidden item, and the technique for making Thunder Shock has been lost."

Emperor Guangxi chuckled, "Forbidden Incense is a forbidden item, and Thunder Shock is also a forbidden item. If I told you these two things appeared simultaneously at the Su Family, would you think it’s a coincidence or something else?"

Zhao Xi’s gaze returned to the formula, "I don’t quite understand. Could father elaborate further?"

Emperor Guangxi pointed to the incense formula in Zhao Xi’s hand, "The Ministry of Justice discovered an unusual fragrance in the direction of the ancestral hall during Su Family’s massacre investigation. After smelling it, government officials underwent drastic changes in temperament and exhibited bizarre behavior. Later, an incense master was invited to help identify several ingredients, all recorded on paper here. Though the formula might be incomplete, it is enough to prove it’s Forbidden Incense, and of a high grade."

The higher the grade of Forbidden Incense, the greater the scheme behind its production.

But simultaneously, it also means increased danger.

The producers of Forbidden Incense have risked much of themselves.

Even so, many Jianghu sects still pursue it fervently.

Forbidden Incense is not unfamiliar in the streets. Its appearance in the black market or a Jianghu sect would be considered normal, but finding it in the Su Family makes it quite baffling.

Emperor Guangxi held his forehead, "Such a major incident happened at the Su Family, people are already suspecting it was orchestrated by me in secret, so a resolution must be provided swiftly."

He turned to Zhao Xi, "Xixi, if this case is handed to you, can you confidently resolve it?"

Zhao Xi bowed, "With father’s command, I shall do my utmost."

...

Yuanbao lay by the window, teasing the Imperial Cat. Upon seeing Zhao Xi suddenly return, he was so startled that he fell on the ground, quickly scrambling back to sit properly, holding a pen, flipping through a book, showing an attitude of earnest learning.

Zhao Xi appeared solemn, evidently troubled, not noticing Yuanbao’s small actions, lost in thought after entering.

Yuanbao remembered that Zhao Xi had gone to see the Emperor earlier with the mechanical blueprint and felt sullen again, "Hey, after handing over the blueprint, what did the Emperor say?"

Zhao Xi snapped back to reality and told him, "Prepare, we’re leaving the palace together."

Song Yuanbao: "???"

Zhao Xi replied with two words: "Investigate a case."

"No, I was asking about the blueprints, why are you talking about a case? We’ve been researching the blueprints for so long, did you submit them or not? What did the Emperor say to you?"

Zhao Xi took the blueprints out of his sleeve and placed them on the desk, "Didn’t submit."

Song Yuanbao’s tense handsome face finally relaxed, "I knew it, you couldn’t be that..." Stupid.

The last word was swallowed silently and replaced with a question, "What did you just say? Investigate a case? What case?"

"The case of the Duke Mansion massacre."

Song Yuanbao almost choked on his own saliva, "Isn’t there the Ministry of Justice? Why would such a case be handed to you?"

Seeing Zhao Xi’s lack of reaction, he cleared his throat, "Speaking of which, the more significant the task assigned to you, the more it shows how much the Emperor values you, that’s something to be happy about."

Zhao Xi changed into casual robes, took Song Yuanbao out of the palace, and the two of them rode fast horses straight towards the Duke Mansion.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice had just returned to the office, leaving only a few Black Clerks guarding the scene.

Seeing Zhao Xi, several people hurried over to salute.

Zhao Xi glanced around and asked, "Who’s responsible for this case at the Ministry of Justice?"

One of the Black Clerks said, "Due to the gravity of the matter, the temple director himself is in charge."

"Where is he?"

"Just returned to the office."

Zhao Xi and Song Yuanbao exchanged a look and said, "To the Ministry of Justice."

The two turned around, just about to mount their horses to leave, when they saw a man standing not far away.

Zhao Xi did not hesitate and walked forward, recognizing the man as Lu Family’s eldest son, Lu Pingzhou.

Lu Pingzhou saluted him, smiling slightly at the corners of his lips, "Has the Emperor entrusted this case to Your Highness?"

Zhao Xi responded with a counter-question, "What do you have to say?"

The Old Marquis Lu managed the Divine Soldier Bureau, and Lu Pingzhou was the eldest son of the Lu Family, so Zhao Xi’s attitude towards the Lu Family was relatively calm.

Lu Pingzhou said, "If Your Highness trusts me, then we can talk, but if there’s doubt, then there’s no need to waste words."

Zhao Xi showed no emotion, "So, do you have something substantial?"

"Not significant, but perhaps it can help Your Highness." Lu Pingzhou finished speaking, pulled out a secret report, and handed it to him.

Zhao Xi accepted it, carefully read through it, then looked up at Lu Pingzhou, "Are you suggesting that everything was orchestrated by the Empress Dowager before her death, leading to the Su Family’s massacre, and this was by the Empress Dowager?"

"No, the Su Family brought it upon themselves." Facing the young prince’s slightly cold gaze, Lu Pingzhou remained composed, "Your Highness might think I say this because I want no evidence left, indeed, the Su Family’s destruction was too ruthless and swift, many rumors in the streets suspect the Imperial Family’s involvement, three hundred lives lost and then blame placed on the Su Family seems suspiciously like a cover-up. Therefore, I have preserved a witness, she is someone of the Empress Dowager’s, yet not necessarily of the Empress Dowager."

Song Yuanbao was utterly confused, "Mr. Lu, just say it plainly, we’re at wit’s end here, why keep going in circles when the matter is so urgent?"

Lu Pingzhou chuckled, "Please follow me, I’ll take you to meet her."

...

In a secluded courtyard within the West Garden of the Wu’an Hou Mansion, the air was thick with the lingering smell of herbs, and two young maidservants stood guard outside the door. Upon seeing Lu Pingzhou approach, they quickly curtsied, "Master."

Lu Pingzhou introduced the two young men behind him, "This is His Highness, and this is the young master of the Song family."

The maidservants quickly saluted again.

Zhao Xi raised his hand to excuse them from the formality.

Lu Pingzhou asked, "How is she today?"

One of the maidservants replied, "The household doctor just came by, said her condition is barely stable, though the scars on her body likely won’t heal."

Lu Pingzhou understood, gently instructed, "You all are not needed here, please step away."

After the maidservants left, Zhao Xi followed Lu Pingzhou into the room, seeing a person lying on the bed inside.

A woman, her body covered in burns.