Though Consort Xiao resided deep in the palace, she knew much about court affairs and matters outside the palace.

Sometimes it was Jing Yi who told her when he entered the palace, sometimes it was the palace maids beside her who informed her.

Such a woman appeared gentle and weak, extremely tender, yet that look in her eyes carried the inherent darkness of harem women.

She smiled sweetly. “People have disappeared in the capital, and they still can’t find any information. That Capital Magistrate really takes money without doing his job.”

Having spoken, she put away the scissors in her hand and forcefully threw them into the flowerpot, crushing several flowers.

Taking the handkerchief a palace maid handed her, she wiped her hands.

At this moment, a young eunuch hurried in with his head lowered, standing to the side with his hands obediently hanging at both sides. “Your Ladyship, Prince Rong has entered the palace.”

Upon hearing the two words “Prince Rong,” Consort Xiao’s originally gentle and beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her brows pressing down.

She glanced at the young eunuch and asked coldly, “Just returned to the capital?”

“Yes, he entered the palace in regular clothes and is heading to Fuyang Palace. His Majesty and the Crown Prince are discussing matters inside. By now, Prince Rong should have arrived.”

“Entered the palace without even wearing court robes? Interesting.” Consort Xiao smiled, though her expression was quite sinister.

They said Prince Rong was shrewd and quite good at calculations. This small action alone was enough to please the Emperor.

Consort Xiao merely pinched a flower heart and applied gentle pressure—the flower heart broke!

At this moment in Fuyang Palace.

When Jingrong arrived, the young eunuch outside had already gone in to announce him, but had yet to come out.

Jingrong stood at the entrance, his expression cold and stern, his upright posture unmoving, eyes looking straight ahead, embodying the spirit of an upstanding man.

At some point, the sky had begun to rain. Rain flowing down from the eaves fell to the ground, splashing onto Jingrong’s robe, quickly soaking a large area.

He waited for nearly the time of one incense stick!

Creak—

The carved doors before him were suddenly pulled open from inside by two eunuchs. The eunuch who had gone to announce stood in the center of the doorway.

Bowing his head: “Prince Rong, His Majesty summons you into the palace.”

His cold and stern face maintained its seriousness as he lifted his robe and stepped through the door.

After entering, he followed the leading eunuch to the side hall.

At this time, in the side hall, the Emperor and Crown Prince were leisurely playing chess.

Emperor Qi Zhen was already sixty years old, with some wrinkles on his face and a graying beard, giving him a somewhat amiable appearance. But upon closer inspection, between his brows there clearly emanated an imposing force, even carrying the authoritative desire for ruling the realm!

On his brown-yellow dragon robe were embroidered nine dragons. In the center were five-colored clouds. Before and behind the collar was one upright dragon each. At the knees—left, right, front, back, and at the crossing front—was one moving dragon each. At each sleeve end was one upright dragon.

Below the dragon robe’s hem were embroidered many curved water patterns. Above the water patterns were many rolling waves. Above the waves stood the “seawater and cliffs” pattern.

The Crown Prince across the chessboard wore a bright blue robe embroidered with five dragons. The ceremonial robe was blue garment with vermillion skirt, five emblems on the garment and four emblems on the skirt.

Jingrong stood in the center of the side hall, hands cupped, calling out, “Father Emperor!”

Yet Emperor Qi Zhen acted as if he hadn’t heard!

In his hand, he held a white piece, pinched between his index and middle fingertips, placing the chess piece on the board.

Landing with authority!

The black piece in Crown Prince Jing Hua’s hand had nowhere to fall. Finally, he placed it back in the chess bowl.

“This son’s chess skills are inadequate. I’ve lost again.”

Emperor Qi Zhen said in a deep voice, “Jing Hua, whether you’ve won or lost is still too early to say. This game of chess is like the entire realm—until the last move, who can say for certain who wins or loses?”

As soon as these words were spoken, Emperor Qi Zhen picked up a white piece from the Crown Prince’s bowl and threw it onto the board.

The white pieces originally surrounded by black pieces saw light again!

With such a reversal, the Crown Prince’s white pieces had won the entire board.

Jing Hua showed an expression of sudden realization and nodded. “Father Emperor is right. This son has shallow talent. There is still much to learn.”

“On the chessboard, every piece and every move requires careful consideration. One wrong step, and you’ll lose the entire realm.”

“Yes, this son thanks Father Emperor for the teaching and will firmly remember it.”

Jing Hua’s flattery wasn’t just a day or two old!

Yet Emperor Qi Zhen, as if poisoned, only accepted Jing Hua’s “antidote” sweet as candied fruit!

The chessboard was put away, and only then did the two attend to Jingrong, who had been standing in the hall all along.

Jing Hua rose and stood to the side, his eyes looking Jingrong up and down.

Half a year hadn’t been seen, and that cold air about this fellow hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Emperor Qi Zhen picked up the hot tea from the small table, took a sip, and his vigorous eyes looked toward Jingrong.

He said, “Why did you enter the palace without even changing into court robes?”

“This son just returned to the capital. Without entering my manor, I came directly to the palace to have an audience with Father Emperor and report on the Linjing Case. This case…”

Before he finished speaking, Emperor Qi Zhen raised his hand, interrupting him.

He set down the teacup in his hand and cleared his throat lightly. “Though it is Duke Yuguo’s case, I already entrusted it to you long ago. You can discuss the details with Minister Qin. There’s no need to rush into the palace to report to me.”

“Yes.”

Duke Yuguo’s case, in the end, was ultimately a lawsuit brought by Minister Qin Shiyu. He knelt outside the Southern Zhe Gate for three days and nights before Emperor Qi Zhen ordered a thorough investigation.

However, Duke Yuguo was, after all, Emperor Qi Zhen’s blood brother. An imperial family case naturally couldn’t be a minor investigation, especially a massacre case from fourteen years ago.

Moreover, it was Emperor Qi Zhen himself who had closed the case back then. Now Qin Shiyu, using the power of public opinion, forced him to overturn his own closed case and reinvestigate—how could this not leave resentment in his heart!

Emperor Qi Zhen raised his eyes and glanced at Jingrong again, saying, “However, that you rushed to the palace to see me also gratifies me. You’ve worked hard this half year away. Duke Yuguo’s case is not simple. You must put in more effort.”

Before him, Jingrong ultimately maintained an indifferent appearance. To others it looked like a son’s respect for his father, but only Emperor Qi Zhen himself knew that in Jingrong’s heart, there was only the way of ruler and subject, no father-son affection.

Lowering his head and nodding, Jingrong said, “Father Emperor can rest assured. Since this son has taken on this case, I will naturally investigate it thoroughly.”

“You’ve been investigating this case for half a year now. Has there been any progress?”

“This son has been to many places, without much progress. However, this son has brought back one person. This person will certainly be able to help this son clarify this case.”

Hmm?

This piqued Emperor Qi Zhen’s interest.

Jing Hua at the side also wore an expression of curiosity, stepping forward two paces. As if carrying some disbelief, he asked, “Who is so capable? Even the Court of Judicial Review can’t handle the case, yet this person can solve it?”

Clearly, Jing Hua didn’t believe it at all. This case had been going on for so long. Jingrong couldn’t solve it, the Court of Judicial Review couldn’t solve it—could there be some extraordinary person who could?

Didn’t believe it. No matter what, didn’t believe it.

The disdainful expression on Jing Hua’s face was utterly evident!