Turning the tide in the Red Chamber

Chapter 126 [126] Interrogation of Jia Lian

If he had known that there would be a major case of the prince's disappearance, Qiu Chen would have found an excuse to leave the capital and blamed Jin Yiwei's deputy commander Bai Hu, Suzaku and Xuan Wu.

Just when Qiu Chen was terrified by Huang Huangdi's power, suddenly a guard came to report that there was a guard in Jin Yi who wanted to see Qiu Chen.

Emperor Chongrui raised his eyelids, and there was a glint of hope in his eyes.

Qiu Chen was overjoyed when he heard the words, knelt down and said:
"Your Majesty, there may be the whereabouts of the second prince."

Emperor Chongrui only uttered two words:

"Go!"

"Yes! My minister obeys the order!"

Qiu Chen gave a salute and hurried out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After a while, Qiu Chen ran in with a face full of surprise, saluted and said:

"Your Majesty Qizuo, according to my report, there is a clue about the Second Prince!"

Emperor Chongrui urged. "Tell me!"

Hearing this, Qiu Chen quickly replied:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I led my subordinates to visit the entire Shenjing City, and finally got a piece of news. It turned out that the second prince went to a mansion that day."

As soon as these words came out, Emperor Chongrui's eyes widened.

Swept by this look, Qiu Chen shivered in fright.

Not everyone can withstand such a domineering emperor.

Only Jia Chen could be neither humble nor overbearing when he met Emperor Chongrui.

The other ministers, even the prince, were more or less afraid of Emperor Chongrui.

Chou Chen didn't dare to talk about it anymore, so he hastily introduced:
"According to the report from Weichen's subordinates, it was the residence of a woman named Yang Wan'er, but..."

Having said this, Qiu Chen's tone became hesitant and hesitant.

Seeing his virtuous conduct, Emperor Chongrui knew in his heart that some high-ranking official was involved.

"There is no need to be taboo, but it's okay to say!"

Emperor Chongrui's face turned serious, and he said softly.

Qiu Chen didn't dare to hide anything, and hurriedly said:

"Your Majesty Qizuo, this Yang Wan'er is a concubine secretly raised by Jia Lian in the Rongguo Mansion."

Qiu Chen replied with a bitter face.

In fact, now that Jia's family is in the West, if it only involves Jia Lian, Qiu Chen doesn't have to be so cautious.

It's just that Jia Chen, an offshoot of the Rongguo Mansion, holds a very high status in Emperor Chongrui's heart, and he is a celebrity around His Majesty. Therefore, Qiu Chen is so hesitant, worried that Emperor Chongrui will be angered, and that this matter will spread to the public. In Jia Chen's ears, he was revenged by Jia Chen in the future.

Hearing these words, Emperor Chongrui's face darkened, and a fierce gleam flashed in his eyes.

He closed his eyes slightly, and after a while, he opened them suddenly, and said sharply:

"Come here, tell Jia Chen and Jia Lian to come to the palace to have an audience."

"Your servant complies with the decree!" Qiu Chen saluted, ran out of the palace, and ordered someone to announce that Jia Chen and Jia Lian had entered the palace to face the saint.

Less than a stick of incense later, Jia Chen and Jia Lian rushed to the palace.

The guards stopped Jia Chen from the door.

Amidst the restless heartbeat, Jia Lian tremblingly walked into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Before he came, he knew that Emperor Chongrui must have announced him into the palace because of the matter of the second prince.

And the second prince is now buried in his courtyard.

Or he buried it with his own hands.

Jia Lian had ghosts in his heart, so he was naturally panicked.

When he entered the hall and saw the aloof Emperor Chongrui, his heart beat violently, and he quickly knelt down on the ground and said in a trembling voice:

"Grassman Jia Lian kowtows to His Majesty!"

After finishing speaking, Jia Lian prostrated on the ground, buried his face deeply, his eyes were full of panic.

Emperor Chongrui looked down at him coldly, and ordered sharply:
"Head up!"

Although there are only four short words, it seems to hide the supreme coercion, making Jia Lian tremble with fright.

But His Majesty has an order, Jia Lian dared not disobey, so he raised his head slowly.

When he saw Emperor Chongrui's majestic and domineering eyes overflowing with coldness, his face turned pale with fright and his lips trembled.

Seeing that he seemed guilty of being a thief, Emperor Chongrui wanted to deceive him, so he suddenly yelled:
"Come here, execute this heinous person Ling Chi!"

As soon as the words fell, guards immediately stepped forward to arrest Jia Lian.

Seeing this situation, Jia Lian was so frightened that his heart and liver were torn apart, his soul flew out of his wits, and he hurriedly kowtowed and said:

"Your Majesty, spare your life, Your Majesty, forgive me! The grass people are wronged, the grass people are wronged!"

He was a little incoherent and confused.

Emperor Chongrui's doubts about him deepened, and he asked sharply:
"Injustice? What's wrong with you?"

Jia Lian burst into tears and said in a trembling voice:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, although Cao Min is not as outstanding as his cousin Jia Chen, he has never committed crimes or committed any crimes!"

Hearing these words, Emperor Chongrui's heart sank, isn't this place without three hundred taels of silver?
It seems that the disappearance of the second prince may be related to Jia Lian.

Thinking of this, Emperor Chongrui patted the table again, and asked:
"I ask you! Where is the second prince?"

Hearing this, Jia Lian's heart skipped a beat.

It's over!

It seems that His Majesty has heard some news!
Naturally, Jia Lian didn't dare to admit it, so he had to pretend to be bewildered, and asked innocently:
"Your Majesty, the second prince is a member of the royal family, and Caomin has never seen him before."

Hearing these words, Emperor Chongrui was dubious.

Seeing Jia Lian's bewildered and innocent face, Emperor Chongrui wondered: Does this matter have nothing to do with Jia Lian?
Emperor Chongrui took a deep look at him, and asked:
"I ask you, do you have a concubine?"

Jia Lian's heart skipped a beat. It turned out that His Majesty had found out that he had a concubine. Since the other party asked so, there must be sufficient evidence. If he denied it, he would attract suspicion instead, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and nodded repeatedly:

"Report to Your Majesty, there is indeed such a thing!"

Emperor Chongrui narrowed his eyes slightly, and asked, "I'll ask you again, where is this person now?"

Jia Lian's heart sank, this little concubine was buried in his yard, and the second prince was buried with her, so he naturally dared not tell the truth.

Taking a deep breath and calming down his flustered heartbeat, Jia Lian shook his head and said blankly:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Caomin doesn't know. Caomin has not seen her for several days. I have asked all her relatives, friends and old friends but I can't find her. In desperation, Caomin had to report to the government, but the government has not found her whereabouts yet."

Among the dandies in the Jia family, Jia Lian was somewhat talented. After the initial panic, he gradually calmed down and answered questions fluently.

Seeing that his tone was steady and his face was calm, Emperor Chongrui's doubts about him slightly eased, and he asked:
"Is this true?"

Jia Lian hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not lie a little bit, everything is true!"

Seeing that his tone was sincere and he didn't want to be fake, Emperor Chongrui closed his eyes slightly and waved:
"Retire first. Recently, you have to stay in the mansion, not to go out, and listen to the announcement at any time."

As soon as these words came out, Jia Lian felt a little joy in his heart. It seemed that he had passed the test temporarily, so he quickly saluted: "Yes! My minister obeys the order!"

Emperor Chongrui looked at the back of Jia Lian leaving in a hurry, and was half-believing in his heart. Judging from Jia Lian's performance, it seemed that he really didn't know?
Where did the second prince go?
(End of this chapter)