Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 278 Entering the Palace
On the way to the palace, Yan Ciwan was still somewhat dazed.

Last night, after her soul left her body, she saw Li Chengge and Du Lingzhou being treated as the murderers who killed Fu Hui. The two were taken to the Dali Temple by the Jinwu Guards. She originally thought that she would also be sent to the Dali Temple or the Jingzhao Prefecture, but she did not expect that things would suddenly take a turn for the worse.

Now that Fu Zheng and Xiao Wenyi are going to the palace to meet the emperor, Yan Ciwan, as the prime suspect, is forced to accompany them.

Xiao Wang, Du Lingzhou, and Li Chengge also came along.

They all rode horses, but Xiao Wenyi, being too old to ride, had to choose to ride in a carriage. He asked Yan Ciwan to ride in the carriage with him.

Fu Zheng did not stop him. Anyway, the carriage was surrounded by Imperial Guards on all sides, so Yan Ciwan was sure to get away.

The carriage swayed and rattled along the road. Yan Ciwan's mind was filled with thoughts of what to do next. She had never met the Sage and didn't know what kind of person he was. She also couldn't be sure if the Sage would handle the case fairly and justly.

Seeing that she looked preoccupied, Xiao Wenyi gently comforted her, "You are Liu Lang's savior, and I will protect you no matter what."

This was Yan Ciwan's first time meeting the legendary Lord Xiao. He had heard that Lord Xiao was the third-ranked scholar in the first imperial examination of the Daye Dynasty, and later entered the Hanlin Academy to serve by the emperor's side. He had once taught Emperor Wen when he was still a prince, and after Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he was also appointed to teach Crown Prince Renxian and other princes and princesses. He also served as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy for a long time. After the current emperor ascended the throne, he was honored as Grand Tutor.

Xiao Wenyi is now not only the prime minister, but also the chief minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

It seems that Xiao Wenyi's journey has been smooth sailing, with almost no setbacks. It seems that his success today is all due to good luck.

However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that this is merely a superficial appearance.

After the founding of the Daye Dynasty, Emperor Wu, the founding emperor, gradually became senile and suspicious due to old age. There was constant infighting in the court and the harem, and many people lost their future and lives in the struggle. However, Xiao Wenyi survived peacefully.

After Emperor Wu's death, Emperor Wen succeeded to the throne. Later, the case of Crown Prince Renxian's rebellion emerged, and countless officials were implicated in the case. It is said that at least several thousand people lost their lives because of it, but Xiao Wenyi was still unharmed.

After Emperor Wen passed away, it was the turn of the current emperor to succeed to the throne. In order to consolidate his power, he purged almost all the officials in the court and the country, except for Xiao Wenyi, who remained unmoved.

It is said that the great waves sift out the sand, and the fact that this old man was able to survive through so many changes is enough to show that he is no ordinary person.

After thinking for a moment, Yan Ciwan finally voiced her thoughts.

“I think there’s something fishy about Fu Hui’s death. I was riding a very slow horse, so he should have had time to dodge, but he didn’t. Instead, he deliberately rammed into me. I suspect he was already out of his mind at that time. We need to get the coroner to examine his body as soon as possible. There might still be clues left on his body.”

Xiao Wenyi looked at him with admiration: "Such a big thing has happened, and you are not only not flustered or afraid, but you are also able to calmly think about how to deal with it. That's really good."

Yan Ciwan sighed and said wistfully, "Actually, I was also very flustered when I first encountered this kind of thing, but now it's happened so many times that I've gotten used to it."

Xiao Wenyi asked in confusion, "Were you also mistaken for a murderer before?"

"Unbeknownst to you, Lord Xiao, when I first met Xiao Liulang in Xiangzhou, I was immediately accused of being an accomplice in a series of rapes and murders, and was wanted throughout the city by the local government. Later, when we went to Luzhou, heavy snow blocked the mountains, and we were trapped in Mengdie Manor. A murder occurred in the manor, and I was imprisoned for another night because I was suspected of committing the crime. Then, when we went to Yizhou, Governor Xie Tanyu was murdered, and I was once again placed under guard as a suspect. They say things don't happen more than three times, but I've already been accused of murder for the fourth time now. My luck is truly unbelievable."

By the end, Yan Ciwan's face was filled with distress.

Even if Xiao Wenyi was very knowledgeable, she had never seen anyone as unlucky as Yan Ciwan.

He smiled and said, "You have managed to escape from murder cases time and time again, and you have been able to find out the truth and find the murderer. This is enough to prove that your intelligence and character are outstanding. I am sure that Fu Hui's case will not be difficult for you either. When I meet the Sage later, I will do my best to fight for the opportunity to open a case for investigation for you."

Yan Ciwan sincerely said, "Thank you!"

The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate, and Yan Ciwan followed Xiao Wenyi out of the carriage. Before going to the East Market, Xiao Wenyi had already sent someone to deliver a memorial requesting an audience with the Emperor to the palace. After seeing the memorial, the Emperor granted Xiao Wenyi's request.

However, the Imperial Guards at the palace gates only allowed Xiao Wenyi, Fu Zheng, and Yan Ciwan to enter the palace. Everyone else was stopped outside the palace gates without the Emperor's permission.

Xiao Wang watched Yan Ciwan's figure disappear behind the palace gate, his heart filled with worry.

Unable to stand outside the palace gates in peace, he asked Li Chengge.

"Haven't you visited Consort Jin in the palace for a long time?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengge immediately realized that Xiao Wang was trying to sneak into the palace under the guise of visiting Consort Jin.

He cautioned, "The emperor usually summons foreign officials to the Sizheng Hall, which is far from the palace where Consort Jin resides. Even if we manage to enter the palace, you will most likely not be able to see Lord Xiao and Ning Ci."

"I understand, let's go to the palace first and then talk."

Li Chengge had indeed not seen Consort Jin for a long time. In the period immediately after leaving the palace, he dreamed of Consort Jin almost every night, and he couldn't help but shed tears every time he woke up. Later, as time went by and he grew up, he got used to life without his parents by his side.

If you think about it carefully, the last time he saw Consort Jin was four years ago at the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven. He was standing in the procession of foreign officials when he saw her standing among the concubines from afar.

Not long after that, he left Chang'an with Xiao Wang to travel.

Li Chengge stared at the palace gate for a long while before speaking.

"Let me send a visiting card to the palace and see what happens."

"it is good."

The visiting card was delivered to the palace, and not long after, a eunuch rushed to the palace gate. He took out the token given to him by Consort Jin and whispered a few words to the Imperial Guards guarding the gate.

The guard glanced at Li Chengge, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded in agreement.

Li Chengge and Xiao Wang were able to enter the palace. Du Lingzhou wanted to follow them in, but was stopped by the Imperial Guards.

Du Lingzhou was indignant: "Why can the other two go in, but I can't?"

The Imperial Guard retorted, "Consort Jin wishes to see her family. Are you one of them?"

Du Lingzhou choked.

Forget about his family, he didn't even know what Consort Jin looked like.

In the end, he could only watch helplessly as Li Chengge and Xiao Wang left.

Consort Jin resided in Xianju Palace. Xiao Wang and Li Chengge walked along the palace road, with eunuchs silently leading the way. The closer they got to Xianju Palace, the heavier Li Chengge's steps became.

But when he saw the gate of the Immortal Abode Palace, he involuntarily stopped in his tracks.