Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 329 Yu Qian's Ring

On the way to Yunnan, Yu Qian had asked about the secrets hidden in the Prince of Han's mansion countless times, both openly and secretly, but Yang Shiqi had always deflected his questions with various excuses.

Now that they had reached the Yunnan border, Yu Qian's curiosity was piqued once again. Without caring whether he would get any answers this time, Yu Qian immediately asked Yang Shiqi again.

"Lord Yu, regarding everything you want to know, I'll say it again: only after you arrive in Yunnan and meet the Crown Prince of Han will I do everything in my power to persuade him to let you know."

"It's pointless to say anything now. Besides, even if I told you now, you might not believe me. It's better to see for yourself when we get to Yunnan." Yang Shiqi naturally knew what Yu Qian was thinking, so he silenced him with words once again.

Seeing the somewhat disappointed look in Yu Qian's eyes, Yang Shiqi's eyes lit up and he spoke again.

“Minister Yu, although I cannot discuss that matter, I can tell you the reason for my momentary lapse in concentration.” Yang Shiqi was also curious about whether the ring Yu Qian was wearing was indeed that of the Han Crown Prince, so he decided to ask to clarify his thoughts. However, Yang Shiqi did not ask directly; instead, he first laid the groundwork for himself.

"Please elaborate, Minister Yang." Although he still couldn't get any useful information out of Yang Shiqi this time, Yu Qian, who was bored, was also curious about the reason for Yang Shiqi's momentary lapse in concentration. So he looked at Yang Shiqi with great interest and continued to ask.

After all, in Yu Qian's opinion, this dry journey was really boring, and it would be good to have someone to chat with and join in the fun!

"Before answering Vice Minister Yu's question, I would like to trouble you to raise your hand so that I may see it." Yang Shiqi spurred his horse forward a few steps to stand next to Yu Qian, then reined in his horse and stopped, speaking to Yu Qian with a serious expression.

"Do you want to raise your hand for a look?"
"Which hand? Is it this one?" Yu Qian was somewhat stunned as he looked at Yang Shiqi, who was standing in front of him with a serious expression. However, Yu Qian still nonchalantly extended one hand for Yang Shiqi to see, and worried that he might have extended the wrong hand, he immediately asked Yang Shiqi if the hand he extended was correct.

"Yu Qian~!" The instant Yu Qian extended his hand, Yang Shiqi saw the familiar item on Yu Qian's finger! It was the ring given by the Crown Prince of Han to the emperor before meeting the alligator! Upon seeing this, Yang Shiqi's pupils dilated violently. Then, Yang Shiqi suddenly grabbed Yu Qian's hand with a frenzied expression, roaring at Yu Qian with eyes full of rage.

"Grand Secretary Yang...?" Yu Qian was completely bewildered by Yang Shiqi's sudden madness. He had no idea what had happened. So he could only call out to Yang Shiqi with a puzzled expression, trying to bring the Grand Secretary Yang to his senses.

"Be on guard!" Yang Shiqi's sudden roar clearly startled Fan Zhong, who was leading the way. Fan Zhong, who was leading the way, was momentarily confused by Yang Shiqi's outburst and immediately ordered himself to take armed precautions.

Instantly, all the soldiers who had been marching in neat rows quickly and efficiently surrounded Yu Qian, Yang Shiqi, and the heavy coffin containing the charred body of the Prince of Han, forming a protective circle behind them. At the same time, they drew their swords and drew their bows and arrows, staring at their surroundings with wary expressions and full of vigilance.

"Grand Secretary Yang, Lord Yu, what's going on?" After the soldiers behind him formed a defensive formation and were on guard, Fan Zhong immediately rode up to Yang Shiqi and Yu Qian. Looking at Yu Qian, whose hand was being held by Yang Shiqi, he couldn't help but ask the two what had just happened.

"General Fan, I don't know either."

"I was chatting with Grand Secretary Yang when he asked to see my hand, and then suddenly this happened." Faced with Fan Zhong's question, Yu Qian was also puzzled. He and Grand Secretary Yang were chatting peacefully, so why did Grand Secretary Yang suddenly change his expression? At this moment, Yu Qian was really dumbfounded.

"Grand Secretary Yang?" After hearing Yu Qian's words, Fan Zhong also looked at Yang Shiqi, only to see that Yang Shiqi was staring intently at Yu Qian's hand, looking at him with a solemn expression.

Seeing that Grand Secretary Yang did not reply, Fan Zhong had no choice but to turn his gaze to the hand that Grand Secretary Yang was holding Yu Qian, and examine it carefully.

The instant Fan Zhong's gaze fell on Yu Qian's hand, he also instantly noticed the familiar gold ring on Yu Qian's hand!

"Hiss~~" The moment Fan Zhong saw the ring on Yu Qian's hand, he couldn't help but gasp. Because Fan Zhong knew perfectly well where that ring came from!

That ring was a token given by the Crown Prince of Han to someone else to temporarily control the alligator dragon! The ring on his own hand was obtained when Emperor Taizong was alive, while the ring on Grand Secretary Yang's hand was given to him by the Crown Prince of Han when Grand Secretary Yang was first sent to Yunnan!

After Yu Qian was enfeoffed as the heir apparent of Han, the two never even met once! So where did Yu Qian get the ring from?!

Where did Yu Qian get this ring from?! This was the biggest question in Yang Shiqi and Fan Zhong's minds at that moment!

Even though the two of them were unwilling to believe it, there was only one answer they could think of: the Crown Prince's father—the Prince of Han!

Prince Han!!! Suddenly, a name popped into Fan Zhong's mind that he didn't want to mention at all: Prince Han!

Could it be that the Prince of Han had planted some hidden trap on Yu Qian before his death?! In a moment of panic, Fan Zhong involuntarily turned his gaze to Yang Shiqi, who was still staring intently at Yu Qian.

Perhaps sensing Fan Zhong's gaze, Yang Shiqi also turned his gaze to Fan Zhong. The moment their eyes met, they both saw the same shock in each other's eyes.

Without prior arrangement, both men turned their heads simultaneously, casting their gaze upon the magnificent coffin behind them. Clearly, Yang Shi and Fan Zhong shared the same concern: they worried that the Prince of Han might have plotted something against Yu Qian before his death.
"Minister Yu! Where did you come from?"

"I ask you, where did you get this?" After turning his gaze away from the coffin, Yang Shiqi focused his attention on Yu Qian, grabbed Yu Qian's hand and shook it repeatedly, staring intently at the ring on Yu Qian's hand, and questioned him with a serious expression.

"What? What did you bring?"

"What are you talking about, Grand Secretary Yang?" Yu Qian was still completely bewildered by Yang Shiqi's question. He asked Yang Shiqi with a puzzled look, as he really didn't know what Grand Secretary Yang was talking about.

"General Fan, what is Grand Secretary Yang doing?" Seeing Yang Shiqi holding his hand and staring intently, Yu Qian had no choice but to turn his gaze to Fan Zhong, who had just arrived, wanting to ask Fan Zhong if he knew what the Grand Secretary meant, or what exactly Grand Secretary Yang was talking about.

However, when Yu Qian looked at Fan Zhong beside him, he found that Fan Zhong was also staring intently at his hands with a serious expression, scrutinizing them with a solemn look.

"Do I really have something in my hand?" Yu Qian wondered to himself.

With doubts in his heart, Yu Qian could only examine his own hands carefully, wanting to see what was different about the hands that were being held by Grand Secretary Yang.

"A ring?!" Yu Qian stared at his hand for a long time but couldn't find anything different about it.

While pondering this, Yu Qian suddenly noticed the brass ring on his hand. A sudden realization struck him, and he looked at Yang Shiqi and Fan Zhong with disbelief. Yu Qian guessed that the problem with Yang Shiqi and Fan Zhong's attitude towards him might lie in the ring on his hand!

(End of this chapter)