Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 154 Find the Spy
After the banquet ended, the Tibetan envoys left the hall with dark faces and dejected expressions, while the ministers present all looked at Murong Huan with admiration.

"I had long heard that this Madam Xiao was skilled in bone reading and portrait drawing, and that she had helped the Dali Temple solve several cases in Luoyang. Seeing her today has truly broadened our horizons."

"Yes, yes! The Su family was already infamous. When Prime Minister Xiao insisted on marrying this young lady, it made some prominent young men in Luoyang laugh at her for a long time. But this young lady is indeed quite capable. Today, she not only joined forces with Prime Minister Xiao to solve this case, but also restored the face and prestige of our Great Zhou!"

"Yes! Look at the faces of those Tibetan envoys, it's so satisfying! Hahaha..."

As the ministers, nobles, and royalty emerged from the main hall, Li Guo'er, who had spent most of the night in the carriage with Lady Wei, couldn't help but prick up her ears to listen to their discussions. When she heard that most of the words expressed admiration and praise for Murong Huan, Li Guo'er curled her lips in dissatisfaction.

"How come she always manages to steal the spotlight wherever she goes? What's even more infuriating is why that Tibetan envoy wouldn't let her go and marry their prince!"

Madam Wei was furious and said, "You still dare to talk? You've ignored all my teachings. Have you forgotten the deaths of your brother and sister? Why haven't you learned your lesson about how loose your tongue can cause trouble?"

"If we're talking about this, you should thank Madam Xiao for solving the case on the spot today. If the death of this Tibetan prince were truly related to our Great Zhou, the Emperor might have had to send you to marry a Tibetan prince in order to appease the Tibetans' anger!"

At the mention of a marriage alliance, Li Guo'er shrank back in fear and shook her head repeatedly: "No, no, Mother, please don't make me go on a marriage alliance. You and Father only have me as your biological daughter now. Guo'er will take care of Father and Mother and stay with you until you grow old!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wei's heart softened again. Looking at her daughter, she felt both heartache and sigh.

"Guo'er, you've come of age now. Since you don't want a marriage alliance, in order to prevent your grandmother from being suspicious of your father, the only way is for you to marry into the Wu family and become the son of the Prince of Liang. Only then can our family live peacefully in Luoyang."

Upon hearing that she would be married into the Wu family, Li Guo'er felt a deep reluctance. Her mind involuntarily recalled her intimate moments with Cui Shi, and her heart was once again filled with ripples of emotion.

Thinking back to the mediocre face of Wu Chongxun, the son of Wu Sansi, whom she had once seen, compared to the exceptionally talented men like Cui Shi and Xiao Muchen, he was like a firefly against the sun and moon, utterly insignificant. Li Guo'er said aggrievedly, "Mother, Guo'er doesn't like that Liang Prince's son. I've met Wu Chongxun, and whether in terms of appearance, talent, or even family background, he is no match for the men of the Cui family of Boling or the Xiao family of Lanling..."

As she spoke, a blush and shyness involuntarily rose on Li Guo'er's face. This sight startled Madam Wei, who seemed to have made a connection to something. She quickly grabbed her daughter's hand and asked in a low voice, "Guo'er, tell your mother the truth, you've been going out a lot lately. Have you been going to see a certain gentleman?"

Li Guo'er was surprised that her mother was so perceptive, and quickly shook her head: "No, no, Guo'er just often chats with the ladies from the Cui, Zheng, and Wang families. Didn't you often tell me to make friends with some noble ladies?"

"That's good, Guo'er. You're still young, and your father's position is currently in a precarious situation. You mustn't cause any more trouble, understand?"

Li Guo'er suddenly felt extremely helpless. Could she tell her mother about her relationship with Cui Shi?

No, no, Cui Shi still has contact with his aunt, and the king will definitely not agree to her marrying Cui Shi. What they care about now is the marriage alliance with the Wu family.

What should she do? She's already lost her virginity, what can she do?
……

After Xiao Muchen and Murong Huan escorted the Silla Queen and Princess Hye-sun back to the embassy, ​​they soon received an audience with the Empress.

After the two left with Shangguan Wan'er, Princess Huishan looked at the deep reluctance and longing for her son in the eyes of the Queen of Silla and couldn't help but ask, "Aunt, why did you do this? Why didn't you tell him the truth? Perhaps he would have returned to Silla with you. At the banquet today, I saw that the wife he married was very intelligent and broad-minded. She should be able to understand your difficulties and intentions."

“I know that because I know their hearts, I don’t want to restrain them for any reason, so that they will go against their own hearts and leave their homeland.”

Ah Chen is still surnamed Xiao after all. His father was the eldest son of the Lanling Xiao Clan, a descendant of a prestigious family. Although he is the only one left in this branch of the Xiao family, I know that he wants to continue his father's lineage and let the glory of the Lanling Xiao Clan live on forever.

"Then as his mother, of course I must support and fulfill his wishes!" "But you've come all this way to Da Zhou, and your time is running out... Aren't you also afraid that nightmare might come true?"

As Huishan spoke, tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably.

"Stop talking about it, and don't mention it in front of A-Chen. After submitting our credentials tomorrow, let's head back!"

Hye-sun had no choice but to agree. Just as she was feeling melancholy, the Queen of Silla asked, "Hye-sun, do you think that Khitan envoy looks familiar?"

Hui Shan shook her head: "I didn't notice that. What kind of person does Aunt think he is?"

……

At this moment in the Ziwei Palace, the Empress dismissed all the palace maids around her, leaving only Xiao Muchen and Murong Huan in front of the hall.

"Zicheng, you and your husband did a very good job today, but is there anything you haven't finished saying?" the Empress asked first.

Xiao Muchen then said, "Yes, the fact that the sixth prince of Tubo dared to kill someone in the Mingtang Hall of my Great Zhou is not just a conspiracy by him to seize the throne in Tubo. There must be someone else helping him, especially someone from my Great Zhou."

"People of my Great Zhou?" The Empress raised her eyebrows, revealing extreme displeasure.

Murong Huan then replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, who released the cat, causing its meows to attract everyone's attention? And who spread the rumor that the demonic cat eats people? The person who did this must not be a Tibetan, but someone from my Great Zhou."

"So, you suspect that there are spies within my Great Zhou Dynasty, or even within this imperial palace?"

"Not a spy, but a traitor to my Great Zhou."

After Murong Huan finished speaking, he continued, "Has Your Majesty considered why the rumor of the demon cat eating people happened to spread before the arrival of the envoys from various countries? Could someone have planned this scene in advance, just waiting to be staged at tonight's banquet?"

The Empress immediately became suspicious and looked at Xiao Muchen: "Zicheng, what other ideas do you have?"

Xiao Muchen then said, "I believe that after the Tubo mission returns home, they will not let this go. Lun Qinling is like a pillar of stability for Tubo. As long as he is there, Tubo will not truly ally with our Great Zhou. Every peace talk they make is just a delaying tactic to find out the military and civilian strength of our Great Zhou. They will launch another attack at another time."

Upon hearing this, the Empress nodded with great satisfaction. This was not the first time that the Tubo had used the tricks of feigning surrender and pretending to negotiate.

"Then, in Zicheng's opinion, what should I do?"

Xiao Muchen then said, "As far as I know, because Lun Qinling's merits overshadow the emperor and he is arrogant because of his achievements, the Khan of Tubo is already very dissatisfied with him. I think we can intensify the conflict between Lun Qinling and the Tubo Khan. If we can force Lun Qinling to surrender to our Great Zhou, then Tubo will no longer be a fierce tiger threatening our Great Zhou!"

“Excellent! That is indeed a brilliant plan.” After a pause, the Empress asked, “Then what about this traitor of the Great Zhou you just mentioned…”

Murong Huan replied, "This humble woman has a plan to find this person for Your Majesty!"