Proud Feather

Chapter 83 Night News
The four of them left the alley and saw Gao Mian leading a group of people waiting for them.

Zhang Qianyi then realized that Yang Yu's words were true; even if he had resisted just now, he would not have been able to escape.

Gao Mian bowed respectfully in this direction and said, "Princess."

Zhang Qianyi's body trembled, and he suddenly looked over.

Chu Ling nodded. She had informed Gao Mian before coming to Xianle Tower. He was investigating Zhang Qianyi and happened to run into him. Qingcha arrived late because she was dealing with this matter.

Zhu Fan was also startled and looked up in their direction. Perhaps it was because Chu Ling's mannerisms were too similar to the Crown Prince's, but she felt a mix of emotions and remained speechless for a long time.

Gao Mian waved his hand, and the constables stepped forward, detained Zhang Qianyi, and took him back to the Dali Temple.

Chu Xiaojiu walked over with a grin: "Princess, are you alright? We were really amazing, catching a wanted criminal in one fell swoop! By the way, did you arrange for Lord Gao to come? He arrived just in time!"

"You did a good job too." Chu Ling praised him generously. "This time, we made such great progress thanks to your timely discovery of the clue."

"Hahahaha!" Chu Xiaojiu was secretly pleased, but wanted to pretend to be modest, so she waved her hand and said, "It's alright! I was just thinking what if, but who knew it would actually be related."

Hmm, I'll treat Cheng Jun to drinks later and give him this big credit.

The carriage arrived, and Chu Ling asked, "Shall we go to the Dali Temple?"

Chu Xiaojiu was itching to go, but Yang Yu pulled her back and said, "It's getting late, we should go back. The princess can call us again next time if there's anything."

Chu Ling smiled and nodded: "I will send someone to the Kang Prince's residence tomorrow to deliver the reward. What about Young Master Yang? Do you need it?"

The reward was to vouch for Chu Xiaojiu, to prevent him from being scolded by his family. Yang Yu had always been a good child and naturally didn't need it. In fact, he was a little afraid to let his father know that he had been in close contact with the princess, so he quickly waved his hand and said, "No need."

Chu Ling smiled slightly, her expression meaningful: "In that case, I'll remember it."

After saying that, Qingcha lowered the carriage curtain, the carriage started, and headed towards the Dali Temple government office.

Watching the carriage drive away, Chu Xiaojiu asked, "Why didn't you go to the Dali Temple? Aren't you curious?"

Yang Yu rolled her eyes at him: "You're a member of the imperial family, don't you know you can't be curious when you shouldn't? If we go, we'll really get involved in this case."

"..." Chu Xiaojiu could articulate the theory of纨绔 (wan ku, spoiled brats), so he naturally understood this principle. However, after thinking about it, he muttered to himself, "Actually, we've already been involved for a while, haven't we? Last time at Wenxianju..."

"Yes, you provided both crucial clues." Yang Yu said expressionlessly. He was still a little puzzled when he thought about it. Chu Xiaojiu brought it on herself, so why did he get dragged into it? Oh well, he could only say he just happened to stumble upon it.

"That's enough, this is enough. The rest is not something we can interfere with." Although he didn't know the ins and outs, he knew from Zhang Qianyi and Zhu Fan's conversation that this matter involved court politics. He was a student who hadn't finished his studies, and Chu Xiaojiu was a spoiled prince of the royal family. It was really not appropriate for them to get too involved.

"Alright." Having been through so much together, Chu Xiaojiu trusted him completely and obediently agreed. "Shall we go back? It's so late, it's not good for you to go back to the Imperial Academy, is it? You'll have to explain if you go home. Why don't you stay at my place for the night?"

Yang Yu thought about it and agreed, "Okay."

Chu Xiaojiu was shocked: "You're really willing to come home with me? Then we'll be acquainted as people who've slept together!"

"Shut up! Don't say such nasty things!" Yang Yu snapped. "What do you mean, 'slept together'? Your Kang Prince's mansion is so small, can't you even spare a bed?"

Chu Xiaojiu chuckled, "Yes, yes, you can sleep in my bed..." The two walked away, chatting and laughing.
-
Dali Temple.

"Please, Your Highness," Gao Mian said respectfully.

Chu Ling didn't stand on ceremony and sat at the head of the table, indicating that he should begin the questioning.

Gao Mian cupped his hands in greeting again before turning to look at the two people inside the room.

“Young Master Zhang, Miss Zhu,” he said, “I have not held court today, and all the officers are outside, because I do not wish to treat you two as criminals. How about we have an open and frank discussion?”

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was undoubtedly a high-ranking official. Even before the Zhang and Zhu families fell from grace, their fathers would have shown him great respect. Gao Mian's actions showed considerable sincerity, and Zhang Qianyi knew that if the princess hadn't been present, Minister Gao might not have been so courteous. To refuse now would be to be ungrateful.

Zhang Qianyi bowed his head and said, "This humble one dares not accept such praise. Please make the decision, Lord Gao."

Gao Mian nodded, but first asked Zhu Fan, "Miss Zhu, the Crown Prince saw you before he died, didn't he?"

Zhu Fan responded in a low voice.

"When? What do you want with the Crown Prince?"

Zhu Fan glanced at Chu Ling at the head of the table, only to see her calmly sipping her tea, with her advisor giving him a friendly nod. Reassured, he began, "That was around the middle of the year. I was invited to play the zither at a banquet and met the Crown Prince. I knew he was cleaning up the Imperial Waterworks, so I tried to send him a message..."

She recounted her story slowly, revealing the many hardships she had endured. At first, she wasn't sure if the Crown Prince would actually see her, but later he visited her incognito at Xianle Tower, much to her delight.

"...So, you're seeking justice from the Crown Prince?"

“Yes,” Zhu Fan said indignantly. “My father was a scapegoat. There was fierce infighting within the Water Conservancy Bureau. When His Majesty was punishing the guilty, the judge pushed my father out. When the Crown Prince took over the Water Conservancy Bureau, I wanted to go to him to plead my case and clear my father’s name.”

"Is your father innocent?"

Gao Mian's question made Zhu Fan hesitate for a moment, but she finally replied: "If Lord Gao asks whether my father embezzled, then I can only answer that my father is not entirely innocent. But if you ask whether the collapse of the river embankment was due to my father's dereliction of duty, then I can swear that this matter is definitely not my father's responsibility."

Gao Mian didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Zhang Qianyi and asked, "Young Master Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Qianyi replied, “Lord Gao, our two families have been working in the Water Conservancy Bureau for many years, with at least two generations engaged in water affairs. To reach the position of Supervisor, it is impossible to remain untainted by the filth, and superiors would not allow it. I can only say that both my father and Lord Zhu must have shared the money, but they also did their best in repairing the river.”

These words were fairly frank. Gao Mian had spent his early years working in various localities, so he certainly knew the saying, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish." If everyone else takes something and you don't, you will be ostracized and face obstacles everywhere you go. But whether his two children were truly protecting their relatives' privacy is another matter entirely.

Just then, the sound of tea lids clinking came from the seat above.

The three turned around and saw Chu Ling put down her teacup, looking at them with a half-smile.

"According to you two, your father is not entirely innocent, but he doesn't deserve this much punishment, does he?"

Her expression was inexplicably frightening, and Zhang Qianyi and Zhu Fan forced themselves to reply, "...Yes."

"That's interesting," Chu Ling asked softly. "The two supervisors, Zhang and Zhu, acted in the same way, so why did one take the blame while the other was promoted to judge?"