He walked down Zhuque Street, lost and dispirited, unsure what had gone wrong.
A few days ago, he remembered it vividly.
The Crown Prince had tasked him with investigating the Chang'an Red Tea!
But now the culprit had surfaced, and even the main accomplices had been killed.
Why hadn't the Crown Prince summoned him?
He was imprisoned in Jinwu Prison, only to be summoned by the Princess. The Crown Prince had made no indication!
What went wrong?
This was exactly what Zheng Qing had analyzed.
Li Longji wasn't a good person. In the beginning, he used various strategies, such as winning hearts and minds, showing kindness, and dropping hints, to unite his subordinates and make them work for him.
But once they were involved in a task and something significant happened, he would avoid them. This was because he wanted to avoid the suspicion of others about his support for his faction.
However, the straightforward Zhong Lang Jiang hadn't realized this yet!
On the way, he saw a tavern about to close.
Lu Ling Feng stepped forward:
"Wait, bring me some wine!"
The owner looked hesitant:
"But, curfew is about to start..."
Lu Ling Feng frowned:
"I am the Zhong Lang Jiang of the Jinwu Guard, I authorize you to sell wine!"
"Well... alright!"
…
Inside Jinwu Prison —
Su Wu Ming was napping with his head on the table.
Suddenly, a prison guard came and opened his cell door.
Wei Feng Hua walked in and looked him up and down.
He whispered:
"Su Wu Ming.
The Princess has ordered you to come with me."
Su Wu Ming replied weakly:
"Who are you?"
"Su Wu Ming, you have a terrible memory. Half a year ago, the Princess was traveling in Wu Gong County and lost her scented pouch. Didn't I also deliver the message to you? Now you've solved the Chang'an Red Tea case, and you're thinking of climbing the ranks, so you've forgotten me?"
Su Wu Ming quickly got up and took a few steps forward, surprised.
"Wei Dian Jun? It's really you!
My eyes are getting old, I didn't recognize you. Don't be angry!"
Wei Feng Hua was furious, but he couldn't do anything to the smooth-talking Su Wu Ming.
"Humph, let's go."
When they arrived at the Princess's residence, they heard that the Princess wouldn't be available for a while.
Su Wu Ming sat there, watching the dancers below, and got drunk, ignoring his appearance and starting to eat and drink heavily.
"Everyone, leave!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out, and the dancers and servants all left.
Su Wu Ming stared, still dazed from the alcohol, not knowing what had happened.
Just then, Princess Taiping walked in gracefully.
Seeing her, Su Wu Ming quickly got up, walked forward, and bowed.
"Su Wu Ming pays his respects to the Princess!"
Seeing that Princess Taiping didn't say anything, Su Wu Ming smiled.
"For over an hour, Su Wu Ming has felt like he's been in a fairyland! Now, my belly is full, my heart is content, thank you for your hospitality, Princess!"
Princess Taiping was furious.
"You have such audacity!"
Su Wu Ming's face stiffened. This woman was changing her expression so quickly?
He quickly knelt in the center, asking respectfully.
"Su Wu Ming doesn't know what he's done wrong. Please enlighten me, Princess!"
"The red tea has poisoned the masses, and rumors are spreading throughout Chang'an City! This is all directed at me. You are in charge of investigating this case, why didn't you clear my name first?"
Princess Taiping asked coldly.
"I... Su Wu Ming doesn't know where to begin."
Princess Taiping continued.
"You're just a county magistrate in Wu Gong County. If it weren't for me, would you be able to enter the capital city? What? Did Di Gong only teach you how to solve cases, but not how to be grateful?"
Su Wu Ming's heart skipped a beat. He knew this was about that incident! He immediately said:
"This subordinate is of low rank and limited ability! Moreover, the Red Tea case has already gone beyond the jurisdiction of the Chang'an County Magistrate! Besides, rumors stop with the wise. Those who can enter the court are all intelligent and virtuous gentlemen. Who would believe that the demon tea has anything to do with the Princess?"
Princess Taiping shook her head, her face filled with sarcasm.
"You're quite eloquent. The Emperor has already ordered the Dali Temple to take over this case! To avoid panic in the court, the case will not be made public. As for the Chang'an Red Tea, no one is allowed to drink it anymore! Those who are addicted will not be punished. Su Wu Ming, what do you think about this?"
"The Emperor is wise!"
Su Wu Ming said seriously.
The Princess snorted.
"There's a Sihu Canjun named Wen Chao who seems to be involved as well. This morning, someone discovered he had hanged himself at home."
"Really?" Su Wu Ming was puzzled.
He knew Wen Chao, who was in charge of weddings and funerals and had previously colluded with Yin Shi Lang. But they had previously made Wen Chao make amends for his actions. Why would he commit suicide at home? Could it be the escaped Shi Yi Niang?
"In my opinion, it's more likely to be murder to silence him. Unfortunately, the Emperor has already ordered that there be no further investigation. This isn't something I should be involved in, so I'm not going to worry about it. Yuan Lai is already dead, and even though he's just a county magistrate, he's still the county magistrate of Chang'an City! He holds a rank of Fifth Grade and a prestigious position in the capital! It seems many people are already vying for his position. Su Wu Ming, are you interested in taking this position? If you are, I'll help you get it. After all, you are the one I brought to the capital. You will have to work for me in the future, right?"
Su Wu Ming looked up at the Princess and felt his back drenched in cold sweat. This was the Princess's true objective!
Gaining people's loyalty, offering important positions, all to turn him into her person! Just like Wu Zetian had treated her mentor Di Gong!
After all, everyone knew that the Princess and the Crown Prince were fighting fiercely, and the Emperor was being sidelined. Now, a new talent, even just a county magistrate or county magistrate, would start to take sides. Once the side they were loyal to came to power, they would rise to great heights, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate! But if they chose the wrong side, what awaited them would not be a pleasant fate. Su Wu Ming's mind was racing, and then he hesitated. He didn't want to be caught in this whirlpool of power struggles.
Princess Taiping naturally saw this. She slowly got up, her eyes gradually becoming sharp.
"What? You don't want to work for me in the future?"
Su Wu Ming was terrified, afraid that the Princess would turn around and make him wish he were dead!
He used a rather smooth answer.
"To work for the Princess is to serve the court! Su Wu Ming will dedicate his life to serving the court, even unto death!"
"You sly fox! Keep drinking! Let Su County Magistrate finish all the wine in this room! You won't be able to figure out some things unless you're completely drunk!"
The Princess turned and left.
Su Wu Ming trembled all over, afraid that the Princess would return and make him unable to live or die! After reluctantly finishing all the wine, Su Wu Ming felt dizzy and disoriented. But suddenly, a jolt made him wake up. He looked around in a daze, as if he were being carried. He looked to the side, puzzled, and asked Wei Feng Hua.
"You... you're taking me where?"
Wei Feng Hua answered truthfully.
"The Princess has ordered that you be sent back to where you were picked up!"
"What?"
Su Wu Ming was stunned. He was being sent back to Jinwu Prison?
…
The first update is here! Please give me flowers, monthly tickets, and reviews!