Chapter 3116 - 3117: Seeking Refuge with the Wrong Person

Chapter 3116: Chapter 3117: Seeking Refuge with the Wrong Person

In the Zhongyuan, only the Emperor is allowed to wear bright yellow clothing, but in the Western Regions both the king and the princes may wear it, while no one else can. So it was obvious that the person in the room was a prince.

"It’s the Second Prince!" Someone recognized him, and at that shout quite a few people immediately became aware of the proper etiquette, hurriedly knelt to salute, and no longer dared to rush about recklessly.

At this moment the Second Prince’s face looked terrible; there was no time for him to hide anywhere now.

"This hall suspected something fishy in Father King’s death, so I returned to Gaochang in plain clothes to conduct a secret investigation. I must ask all of you to go back for now and by no means expose this hall’s whereabouts." The Second Prince cleared his throat and spoke.

With so many people, so many mouths, how could it not be spread once it was spoken? What he said was merely to explain why he was in Gaochang City at this time instead of returning to the Palace to attend the funeral.

Bai Ruozhu tugged Jiang Yichun’s hand and shot him a look: this Second Prince reacts pretty fast.

The intruders all responded in agreement, each one obediently withdrawing.

Jiang Yichun pulled Bai Ruozhu away; if they stayed any longer and their whereabouts were exposed, it would be bad.

"This Second Prince seems to have quite a bit of prestige." Once outside, Bai Ruozhu said in a low voice.

Jiang Yichun nodded. "The Western Regions Country doesn’t have many princes, and the most outstanding is this Second Prince. It’s just a pity that he insists on making trouble on our heads."

Very soon, new rumors spread throughout Gaochang City, saying that the Second Prince was truly filial, that he had braved danger to rush back to Gaochang City in advance to secretly investigate the cause of the king’s death, and that his filial piety had moved the late king; the king sending a white dove to land on his rooftop was the best proof.

Bai Ruozhu burst out laughing when she heard this, and said, "The commoners of the Western Regions actually believe this?"

"Quite a lot of people believe it. Some even say the king was indicating that the Second Prince should inherit the throne." Jianqi replied.

"Since he ignored the danger to investigate in secret, if the king’s spirit really lingers, shouldn’t he be protecting him all the more, instead of sending a dove to expose his whereabouts? It’s completely illogical. Looks like the Second Prince’s out of options as well." Bai Ruozhu sneered. "We’ll spread some news too—say the Second Prince suspects the General Chai of murdering the king, that the Yard he was hiding in belonged to the Chai Family, and that the Second Prince braved danger to step into the tiger’s den."

"Yes." Jianqi accepted the order and arranged for people to handle it.

Very quickly several versions were circulating in Gaochang City, not only what the Second Prince and Bai Ruozhu had spread, but also what other schemers put out. For a while speculation ran rampant; though the commoners talked endlessly, most of them were just there to watch the spectacle, whereas the aristocrats began to move.

But no matter how many rumors there were, the Second Prince’s whereabouts had already been exposed. He had no choice but to return to the Palace openly, and even fainted from weeping in the king’s Memorial Hall.

Bai Ruozhu and the others were just about to proceed with their next steps when Ao Song unexpectedly received a courier message from the Zhong Family, with a small delicate ring inside.

"Ruozhu, hurry and look. They say Princess Yingtong and Chu Hai are in their hands!" Ao Song handed the letter and the ring to Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu recognized that ring at a glance; it was indeed the one Princess Yingtong often wore on her hand. She and Chu Hai had actually defected to the Zhong Family and had now become the Zhong Family’s hostages!

"Damn, they only knew we went halfway to the Zhong Family, but not what happened afterward. When they ran into trouble in the Palace they immediately went to the Zhong Family. I should have sent them a message earlier." Bai Ruozhu was filled with regret. Unfortunately, the Western Regions were not Danliang Country; information couldn’t be transmitted so conveniently, or Princess Yingtong and the others wouldn’t have pledged themselves to the wrong people.

"They’re after me; I should go and settle this once and for all." Ao Song said.

"No!" The Astrologer was the first to object. He absolutely could not watch her go to her death. The Zhong Family wanted to use her to resurrect the Taisui, and not only did they want her life, they wanted her damned for all eternity!