Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 281 Split up
Yan Ciwan suspected that the Emperor knew her true identity, which was why he deliberately kept her in the palace. However, she couldn't voice this suspicion, so she could only stand there and watch Xiao Wenyi leave.

After leaving the Sizheng Hall, Xiao Wenyi passed through the Chongming Gate and arrived at the Menxia Province, where memorials were reviewed and reported. He often came here and was very familiar with the people and affairs of this place.

He found a familiar eunuch here and asked him to deliver a letter to the Xianju Palace.

After finishing his business, he left the Secretariat and encountered Xiao Wang and Li Chengge when he passed through Qi De Gate.

Xiao Wenyi was quite surprised: "Why have you all come to the palace?"

Xiao Wang explained, "Just now, I accompanied Sanlang to the palace to visit Consort Jin. Consort Jin learned about Ning Ci's matter and sent people to inquire about the situation near Sizheng Hall."

Xiao Wenyi understood. He said, "It seems you already know that Ning Ci was kept in the palace by the Emperor."

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Wang couldn't sit still any longer and immediately got up to take his leave. Although Consort Jin was reluctant to part with them, she knew she couldn't keep them for too long, otherwise it would attract unnecessary gossip.

She had no choice but to order someone to hand over the packaged desserts to Li Chengge and have a trusted eunuch escort them out of the palace.

After leaving the Immortal Abode Palace, Xiao Wang deliberately took a detour so that he could see his grandfather as soon as possible.

He asked impatiently, "Why did the sage leave Ning Ci behind?"

Xiao Wenyi shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either.

Seeing Xiao Wang's worried expression, he comforted him, "The Emperor seems to have no ill intentions towards Ning Ci. Ning Ci should be safe staying in the palace. I have already sent a letter to Consort Jin, asking her to help take care of Ning Ci. You don't need to worry too much."

Xiao Wang was not reassured by these words. He knew that Ning Ci possessed unparalleled martial arts skills and was clever, so ordinary people could not harm her. What he was really worried about was that she suffered from soul separation disease. What would she do if she suddenly had a relapse and he was not by her side?
He asked, "Is there any way for me to stay in the palace?"

Li Chengge joked, "There are only two types of adult men who can stay in the palace: the Imperial Guards and eunuchs. The Imperial Guards require martial arts skills, and you probably can't use martial arts skills yet, so you can only choose the latter."

Seeing that Xiao Wang remained silent, his expression changed: "You're not serious, are you? No way, I was just joking!"

Xiao Wang was too lazy to pay attention to this guy. He leaned close to his grandfather's ear and whispered about Ning Ci's dissociative identity disorder.

After listening, Xiao Wenyi's expression changed from surprise to solemnity.

"This is indeed a tricky situation. How about this: starting today, you will enter the Dali Temple as an investigating official. His Majesty has entrusted the Dali Temple with the investigation of Fu Hui's murder. Although I hold the title of Minister of the Dali Temple, I am getting old and my energy is not what it used to be. I need someone to help me run errands and deliver messages. Although the investigating official is a low-ranking official without any official rank, there is no need for assessment. As long as you have my letter of introduction, you can take up the post directly. For the next three days, you will follow me. You may also accompany me when I go to the palace on official business."

Xiao Wang's eyes lit up. This would give him a chance to enter the palace and see Ning Ci!

He said happily, "I'll do as Grandfather says, thank you Grandfather!"

Xiao Wenyi reminded him, "The Sage has only given us three days to find out the truth. If we still cannot prove Ning Ci's innocence after three days, then Ning Ci will be executed as the murderer."

Xiao Wang suppressed his joy and replied seriously, "I will definitely find out the truth as soon as possible!"

Li Chengge said, "If there's anything I can help you with, just let me know. I'll do whatever it takes to help you."

Xiao Wenyi said, "Fu Hui's body has been sent to the Dali Temple. I will go directly to the Dali Temple later and have the coroner carefully examine his body. Liu Lang, go to the East Market and find out why Fu Hui went there today. If Prince Jin has time, please ask Prince Ning to help you. Fu Hui has been living in Beidu for the past few years. Besides his family, the person who knows him best is probably Prince Ning. However, Prince Ning has a special status, and ordinary officials cannot question him directly. Therefore, we can only ask Prince Jin for help with this matter."

Xiao Wang and Li Chengge nodded in agreement.

After leaving the palace, the three were to split up. Du Lingzhou chose to go with Xiao Wang, because the bustling East Market was clearly more fun than the boring Ning Prince's Mansion and Dali Temple.

……

Yan Ciwan followed the eunuch to the gate of Xianju Palace.

The eunuch said, "His Majesty has decreed that you shall stay in Xianju Palace for the next three days. This is the residence of Consort Jin. You may speak to Consort Jin if you need anything, but remember, you may not step out of the gate of Xianju Palace without His Majesty's permission."

Yan Ciwan was quite surprised.

She originally thought that the sage would just find a remote little house, lock her up, and then ignore her, but she never expected that the sage would let her stay in the Immortal Abode Palace.

The eunuch led her into the Xianju Palace, where she met Consort Jin.

Consort Jin hadn't expected the Emperor to arrange for someone to stay with her. She couldn't understand what the Emperor was thinking, but no matter how much she was thinking, she had to pretend to be respectful and obedient.

"Go and report to His Majesty that I will take good care of Lady Ning."

"Yes."

The eunuch quickly left the Xianju Palace and returned to report to the emperor.

Consort Jin looked Yan Ciwan up and down and asked, "So you are the Ning Ci that Prince Jin mentioned."

Yan Ciwan blinked: "Does Your Highness know Prince Jin?"

Instead of answering, Consort Jin asked, "Didn't Prince Jin tell you about me?"

Yan Ciwan shook her head to indicate no.

Consort Jin felt a little disappointed; it turned out that even the Third Prince was unwilling to mention her in front of his friends.

Yan Ciwan continued, "I met the Prince of Jin in Xiangzhou. At that time, he called himself Li Sanlang and concealed his true identity. I only found out today that he was the Prince of Jin."

Consort Jin suddenly realized, "So that's how it is." She smiled helplessly, "Prince Jin has always liked to hide his identity and play pranks on people since he was a child."

When Yan Ciwan saw that Li Chengge's expression was gentle when she mentioned Li Chengge, and then she remembered that Xiao Wenyi had said that Consort Jin was his daughter, and that Li Chengge had called Xiao Wenyi her maternal grandfather, she suddenly realized and blurted it out.

"So the Imperial Concubine is Prince Jin's mother!"

The palace maid Song Qing immediately spoke up to remind her, "Madam Ning, please keep your voice down and don't let outsiders hear this."

Yan Ciwan asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"Because Crown Prince Renxian died without a son, the Emperor was saddened. He did not want the Crown Prince's lineage to be without an heir, so ten years ago he issued an edict to adopt the Third Prince under the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and conferred upon him the title of Prince Jin. Now the Prince of Jin's parents are Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Lady Ning must not say anything wrong."

Song Qing lowered his voice deliberately when he said these words, and his expression was extremely serious.

Yan Ciwan looked at Consort Jin and saw that although she was somewhat saddened, she was still relatively calm. It seemed that she had already accepted the reality of being forced to separate from her son.