The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion

Chapter 470: Changing Sides

Sun Shaozong was following the Crown Princess and Princess Consort from afar, and as they approached the small courtyard where the Crown Prince was recuperating, he suddenly saw someone blocking his path. Looking at his short and chubby figure and flattering expression, who else could it be other than Wang Dexiu, the Chief Clerk of the Attendant Mansion?

“Thank you very much, Lord Sun, for informing on behalf just now.”

Wang Dexiu gave a deep salute first, then pointed in the direction of the front yard and said, "When you were just ordered to meet Beijing Princess Consort, someone in the front yard sent a message saying that it was Steward Zhao from your family who brought a young woman along. It seems that there is something urgent to report.”

Zhao Zhongji brought a young woman over?

Upon hearing this, Sun Shaozong felt somewhat puzzled. As the Crown Prince's Residence was not far from the Sun family, Zhao Zhongji encountered an indecisive situation, and it was not a strange thing that he ran over to report it to himself. But what happened to the young woman?

Although he also owed some promiscuous debts outside, they were all people with family, and they didn’t dare to come to his door on a sunny day.

His heart was filled with suspicion. Coincidentally, he had to wait for Beijing Princess Consort to leave before he could continue to inquire with the Crown Prince. Currently, he was idle, so he went to see what Zhao Zhongji was up to.

Sun Shaozong thanked Wang Dexiu and hurried to the front yard.

Due to the fine rain-like mist, it drifted around when blown by the wind. Even walking in and out of the corridor, the people who walked still felt a sense of dampness.

So when he arrived near the gate, Sun Shaozong first took out his handkerchief from his sleeve pocket and wiped away the rain from his face before entering the gatehouse with a straight face.

As soon as he entered, he saw Zhao Zhongji sitting stiffly in the corner, obviously restrained by the Crown Prince's Residence, hunched down, his hands resting on his knees, and stiff like a clay-carved wooden sculpture, with only a pair of eyes twirling nervously.

Compared to him, the young woman appeared very calm and sat across from Zhao Zhongji, completely free from the embarrassment of being alone with the man.

“It’s you?”

Sun Shaozong was momentarily taken aback by the woman's appearance and then suddenly stood up and blurted out, "Are you also here for Wei Ruolan?”

He saw the woman standing up and gave a salute to Sun Shaozong, but it was not a common greeting. Instead, she folded her hands and pronounced the Buddha's name, "Amitabha, indeed, everything can’t be hidden from the eyes of Lord Sun.”

It turned out that this woman was not someone else; it was the fake nun Miaoyu of Longcui Temple.

However, she didn't wear the iconic patchwork dress today but instead wore a plain white wide-sleeved flowing fairy skirt. Her hands were as white as jade, and her two weak cicada-wing sleeves fluttered in front of her. Coupled with her usual cool demeanor, she showed a more extraordinary demeanor.

This changes…

Even if Wei Ruolan could escape a disaster this time, he might not be able to return to his original position. If it turned out bad, his future might be ruined.

In this way, the marriage with the Shi family would naturally end without any trouble.

Wasn’t it because the fake nun felt like she had the opportunity to take advantage of the situation, so she even changed her outfit so that she could marry the Wei family smoothly in the future?

Sun Shaozong was daydreaming in his heart and asked Zhao Zhongji with a straight face, "Why did you come over with Abbess Miaoyu?”

As early as Sun Shaozong entered the door, Zhao Zhongji had already jumped up. However, seeing that Sun Shaozong's attention was all on the woman, he stood in the corner without speaking.

At this moment, when Sun Shaozong asked, he quickly bowed and reported, "This girl has arrived at our mansion. She first asked to see the Eldest Madam and then mentioned that she wanted to see the Second Master. As the Eldest Madam has instructed, I happened to have something to report to you too, so I brought her along.”

With Jia Yingchun's delicate and evasive nature, if she knew that Miaoyu was trying to cause trouble for him, she wouldn’t agree to let her come. It was estimated that this fake nun might not have told her the truth.

Thinking of this, Sun Shaozong swung his sleeve and Zhao Zhongji obediently retreated outside the door.

“Let's talk.”

Sun Shaozong sat down on the main seat and casually poured himself a cup of hot tea. He said calmly, "Why do you believe that I can save him, and why do you believe that I will take action to save him?”

“Your Excellency, you have a reputation for divine judgment, and this case has many mysteries. As long as you are willing to personally take the initiative, you will definitely…”

“Stop!”

Seeing Miaoyu's empty words, her words were not persuasive, and she was even unclear about the most basic court system. Sun Shaozong couldn't help but interrupt her words and shook his head, saying, "Let's not talk about the mystery in this case. As Wei Ruolan's boss, I should have avoided suspicion as a rule, and I can't participate in this case.”

“But there is always an exception.”

Miaoyu argued, "Even if the court doesn't allow you to participate in this case, you just need to investigate in secret and find some evidence, and then give it to the investigators; won't it be fine?!"

To take the risk of offending the Supreme Court and the Criminal Department, secretly investigate the evidence, and then to give the credit to others...

Why should he?!

Sun Shaozong couldn't help but roll his eyes and said speechlessly, "What makes you believe that I will take action to save him? Don't forget, he has been trying to challenge me in the Criminal Department, and the Wei family and my family have always been at odds.”

“But in private, Master Wei admires the ability of yours!" Miaoyu saw that his words were unquestionable, and her emotions became slightly agitated. She straightened her breasts and said urgently, "Besides, after the solar sun being swallowed by the Heavenly Hound...”

Cough

Sun Shaozong let out a dry cough and interrupted her again.

Miaoyu also knew she had made some mistakes and quickly skipped this section. "He also had the heart to get along well with you. Although your Big Brother and Commander Wei had old grudges, they are now on different sides, and there is no conflict of interest. Why don't you take the opportunity to bring the two families back together?”

What an idea of ”peace is precious.”

Unfortunately, this fake nun didn't understand the complexity of the matter at all.

Yes, the initial feud between the Wei family and the Sun family was indeed due to a conflict of interest between Sun Shaozu and Wei Rusong. However, the biggest obstacle to the hostility now between the two sides has long been beyond this and lies in the conflict between Prince Beijing and Prince Zhongshun!

The big shots behind both sides were in a similar situation. As vassals, could the Sun and Wei families privately resolve their past grievances?

Perhaps seeing Sun Shaozong's disapproval, Miaoyu became even more anxious and couldn't care about any reason anymore. She begged, "Please help Lord Wei. He is... a good person…”

Good person?

There were countless things that a good person couldn’t repay, and there wasn’t a shortage of such situations.

Sun Shaozong immediately wanted to sneer and decisively reject this absurd plea.

Just as the words reached his lips, he suddenly changed his mind again. The Crown Prince and Prince Zhongshun had always been friendly, and Beijing Princess Consort came to beg at the Crown Prince's Residence. If the Crown Prince ultimately promised to come forward to protect Wei Ruolan, Prince Zhongshun would naturally not stop such a move. At this moment, if he flatly refused, wouldn’t he be in vain to be a bad person?

Thinking of this, he immediately replaced his sneer with a hesitant expression and pondered, "This matter is of great importance. It is not something that can make anyone risk their lives by saying that he is a good person with empty words.”

As he spoke, he got up and turned around the room a few times. Just as Miaoyu was trembling and unsure of what he was struggling with, he stopped walking and said, "Alright, why don't you wait here for a moment and let me carefully consider it? I shall give you a definite message before noon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't wait for Miaoyu to respond, and he walked out on his own.

“Second Master.”

Zhao Zhongji, at the main gate, also guarded outside, and when he saw Sun Shaozong coming out from inside, he quickly bowed and saluted.

Sun Shaozong didn't answer either. He walked directly to the middle of the left corridor and then stopped. He turned around and asked Zhao Zhongji, who was following suit, "Didn't you just say there's something else you need to report?”

“Yes, Second Master.”

Zhao Zhongji hurriedly said, "After you left early this morning, a beggar named Hong Jiu came to our house. He claimed there was something big to report, but since you were not at home, I interrogated him several times. Unexpectedly, he refused to speak up and insisted on waiting for you to go back and report in person.”

Hong Jiu has something big to report in person?

Sun Shaozong's expression suddenly became solemn. Others might not know, but since he established Hong Jiu as the ”Beggar Armor System,” he naturally would pay attention to Hong Jiu's every move.

After initial discomfort, Hong Jiu became increasingly insightful as the head. Moreover, as he was the first security supported by the government and even established a relationship with Zhao Wuwei, some of the securities appointed later had to give him some face, even if they didn’t follow his lead.

So now, Hong Jiu has become the co-owner of thousands of beggars in the Capital, not the little beggar who had to rack his brains for a few taels of silver.

Although in Sun Shaozong's eyes, Hong Jiu was still just a chess piece that couldn't stand the stage, in terms of information channels alone, he was probably even more knowledgeable than the government.

At present, Hong Jiu ran to the Sun family and said that there was a big matter to report to him in person. Even if the statement was exaggerated, it was probably not a small matter. If it were a small matter, he dared not find Sun Shaozong.

But at present, Sun Shaozong has just arrived at the Crown Prince's Residence, and he really couldn’t get away from it. Therefore, he had to instruct Zhao Zhongji to leave Hong Jiu at home for good treatment and then inquire about the reasons when he returned.

“Second Master.”

Zhao Zhongji received the order and was originally going back to the mansion. However, when his gaze swept over the gatehouse, he paused and hesitated, saying, "Abbess Miaoyu…”

“You don't have to worry about it. If the Eldest Madam asks about her, you say she has already returned to Rongguo Mansion.”

Zhao Zhongji bowed and returned.

After sending Zhao Zhongji away, Sun Shaozong estimated that the Crown Prince should have done almost everything, so he rushed to the backyard without stopping.

As soon as he arrived near the lane outside the courtyard, she saw Beijing Princess Consort walking out of the courtyard, surrounded by two maids.

Sun Shaozong was about to dodge to the side, but he heard Beijing Princess Consort take the initiative to greet him and say, "Master Sun, stay.”

As she spoke, she quickly approached with her long legs, saying a blessing, and then forced out a smile to apologize, saying, "I have offended you so much just now. I hope you can forgive me.”

This disdainful and respectful attitude...

Did the Crown Prince grant her request and prepare to send him to intervene in the case; that was why she was busy trying to please himself? Or has the Crown Prince already rejected her, so she urgently sought attention and begged him again?

Sun Shaozong couldn't determine for a moment whether it was the former or the latter, so he just bowed and replied calmly, "How dare I?”

The smile on Wei's face stiffened, and Sun Shaozong could even hear the sound of her two rows of silver teeth clicking. However, after a moment, she still forced a smile and said, "You are young and promising, and your future is limitless. The saying of an enemy should reconcile and not be made, so naturally there is no need for me to intervene. As long as you can handle everything fairly, the Palace and the Wei family will definitely have something in return.”

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince has already granted her request.

But he wondered what the chips she sacrificed?

With the current condition of the Crown Prince, she couldn’t be selling her beauty, right?

Thinking wildly in his heart, but on the surface, he still bowed with neither humility nor arrogance.

Wei-Shi finally gave up persuasion and angrily led his two servant girls away, seeing that he was not easily painted.

Speaking of it, her palace dress was originally loose and baggy, but now it has been soaked in a lot of rain and dew, making it look much closer to her. From behind, he could see the outline of two peach-like petals, trembling with the tense pace, like a ripe fruit, sending out a signal of hope to be picked on the branch.

It seemed that she not only gave birth with a pair of long legs but also her buttocks.

“Lord Sun.”

As he watched the ”ripe fruit” gradually recede, another maid walked out of the courtyard and greeted him, “His Highness has instructed you to come in and speak.”

Sun Shaozong withdrew his gaze as if he had nothing to do and followed the attendant inside.

When he arrived at the Crown Prince's bedroom, he saw the Crown Princess not avoiding him but standing at the head of the bed with dignity and grace. Seeing Sun Shaozong come in from outside, she first nodded habitually, and then her face showed some blush.

“Greetings to both Your Highnesses.”

“Don't be too polite.”

The Crown Prince looked very excited, and before Sun Shaozong finished his salute, he rushed to say, "That shrew came this time to bow down to me.”

After listening to his ups and downs, Sun Shaozong realized that Shuirong had really used all means to save Wei Ruolan, his brother-in-law.

Not only did Wei promise the Crown Prince through a letter condemning those officials who were linked to the solar eclipse and the Crown Prince's immorality, but they also pointed out suspicions about the Niu family.

They also promised to personally come to the door and bow down to Prince Zhongshun.

In the future, they guaranteed that they would only follow His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

“That old…”

Cough

As the Crown Prince was speaking, he almost blurted out the words ”old devout woman” without hesitation. Fortunately, the Crown Princess was there and interrupted his false words promptly.

He suddenly changed his tone and said, "The Empress Dowager probably wouldn't have dreamed that her beloved grandson would stab the Niu family in the back.”

No wonder the Crown Prince was so proud.

Just like the Imperial Grandson whom Sun Shaozong concocted, many people in the court suspect that the Niu family was behind the scenes. However, due to the love between the Empress Dowager and the Supreme Emperor, no one dared to pierce this layer of window paper without evidence.

The exception was Shuirong, Prince Beijing, as even if the Empress Dowager got too angry, she couldn’t bear to use her only biological grandson for punishment.

However, upon hearing this, Sun Shaozong suddenly had a thought in his heart. Isn't that the eldest son, Niu Jizong, really killed by Wei Ruolan?!