Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 882 - 858: The Dead
After Xie Jue got a lead, he promptly arranged for personnel to investigate the entire Royal Palace Inner Hall. Xie Jue did not know when Fang Chuning had left the palace, so he could only send people to investigate the Forbidden Army guarding the Royal Palace at that time. In fact, this was very difficult to trace. After the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry withdrew from the Royal Palace, although the Forbidden Army was in charge of guarding it, people were panicked at that time, and a batch of Forbidden Army had died, replaced by another batch, mixed with loyalists and traitors, making it hard to distinguish them. Whether someone infiltrated and then let others leave was also unclear, and moreover, there were too many people coming and going in the Royal Palace. Many palace maids and inner servants felt that their future was perilous and chose to flee. Han Ziqi was considered kind-hearted and agreed to let them leave the palace, making it difficult to check everyone who was coming and going.
Even if it was difficult to check, Xie Jue insisted on checking. He managed to find a little clue, and he would definitely not let it go. This investigation lasted for two months. Han Ziqi had already returned to Sannan, accompanied by Dugu Jing and Fang Lingjun. After the two got married, Fang Lingjun followed Dugu Jing faithfully and came to Mudan City.
Moreover, she was nearly a month pregnant, and the journey by boat and carriage was very tough. Coupled with the hot weather, she had a poor appetite and had lost a lot of weight, looking very haggard. After arriving in Mudan City, she met Xie Jue with Dugu Jing and, upon hearing news of Fang Chuning, Fang Lingjun’s expression was joyful and she hurriedly inquired about the details. Xie Jue explained everything in detail. Han Ziqi was already aware of the news from Mudan City along the way, so he showed no signs of unease. He didn’t expect that the carefully woven lie would have a continuation; Fang Chuning had apparently not died at that time and was hidden in the Royal Palace Inner Hall.
Why?
Regrettably, there was no further news. Fang Lingjun was anxious and helpless but more joyful than when she learned she was pregnant. As long as her brother was alive, he would do everything possible to return to them.
Han Ziqi also stated that he would do everything he could to help investigate. Dugu Jing and Fang Lingjun’s residence was to the east of Mudan City, originally the residence of the Eldest Young Master. The Eldest Young Master lost his life during the turmoil in Sannan, his family scattered, and the residence became vacant. The Eldest Young Master was favored by King of Sangnan, and the mansion was somewhat against regulations, built to be very grand and magnificent. To curry favor with Dugu Jing and Fang Lingjun, Han Ziqi gave them this residence. Originally, Dugu Jing, upon entering Mudan City, was the most esteemed Marquis, and he could have lived in the Royal Palace.
Fang Lingjun had no fondness for the palace, so Dugu Jing lost interest. This mansion had the tranquility and softness of the Jiangnan Water Town, which Fang Lingjun did not reject as much.
However, she felt discontent in her heart that this unfamiliar city would be her home in the future.
This would be her home.
A woman marries and follows her husband, leaving her warm nest to enter this unfamiliar and cold place, uncertain of her future. Fortunately, she had a fallback.
The news of her brother was the greatest consolation for her visit to Mudan City.
Dugu Jing helped her sit down; tens of thousands of troops needed to be arranged. Dugu Jing was busy with military affairs, yet he still accompanied Fang Lingjun to settle down, ordering people to boil water for Fang Lingjun to wash and prepare meals according to her taste.
Fang Lingjun, born into a family of military generals, was tall and not frail. However, the pregnancy caused her to become weak and slender, swaying like a frail willow. Dugu Jing feared the wind would blow her away.
He couldn’t imagine how arduous it was for women to be pregnant. His sisters-in-law had robust appetites, could sleep well, and even practiced martial arts in the courtyard while pregnant, still capable of horseback riding and archery. He didn’t expect the Beining women to be so feeble during pregnancy. Fengyu needed quiet rest and couldn’t attend the wedding; Fang Lingjun was extremely regretful. Now, Fang Lingjun vomited after eating and ate after vomiting, and since diagnosing her pregnancy, hasn’t stopped. If Mrs. Fang and the Grand Marshal saw their daughter so thin, they might blame Dugu Jing for mistreating her. Dugu Jing constantly thought of ways to care for her; when she couldn’t eat, he would hunt in the mountains during camp to offer her fresh game; she loved sour foods, and he would pick half-ripe fruits from the mountains, worried they might be poisonous or taste bad; he would try them first, then give them to Fang Lingjun. If Fang Lingjun could eat them and liked them, he would send people to pick more. Along the way, aside from military affairs, he coaxed her to eat. They should have arrived in Mudan City seven days earlier, but Fang Lingjun’s pace slowed them down.
"The army hasn’t been settled yet; go attend to it. I’ll take care of myself."
"I’ll dine with you first and then go!"
Dugu Jing had just finished speaking when his personal guard hesitated at the door, not daring to speak due to Dugu Jing’s forceful presence, and Fang Lingjun understood.
"Hearing the news of my brother today gives me immense joy. I will definitely eat three bowls of rice today; you can go and work with peace of mind. I’ll wait for you to return."
Dugu Jing hesitated several times, glanced back at his soldier urgently beckoning him at the door, nodded, "Alright, Qiangwei, take good care of Madam, and if anything happens, report to me immediately."
"Yes!"
Dugu Jing left hurriedly with his men. The water was boiling, Qiangwei quickly brewed a cup of fruit tea with added honey; since pregnancy, Fang Lingjun had a special fondness for all things sweet and sour, finding what others might consider overly sweet just right.
"Qiangwei, it’s wonderful that upon arriving in Mudan City, I heard news of my brother. I feel I might not dislike it here as much." Fang Lingjun had held back for a long time, and finally, her eyes reddened.
"Miss, Eldest Young Master is blessed and will surely be fine."
Fang Lingjun nodded with red eyes, "As long as he’s alive, even if we never meet again in this lifetime, I’m willing, living is enough." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
After Han Ziqi returned to the palace, he called over his Deputy General Han Li, dismissed others, and said, "Was it you who placed the wine flask?"
"Prince, what are you thinking? Of course not!" Han Li said sternly, "I’m not suicidal enough to dare such a thing. If it’s false, how could it be settled? Only you dare deceive him."
Han Ziqi’s heart skipped a beat; he indeed had only informed Han Li about this matter. According to the itinerary, Han Li should have received the news before Xie Jue arrived at Mudan City. He thought Han Li arranged this farce to cover up the lie.
"Could it be that Fang Chuning is truly alive?" Han Ziqi widened his eyes, "Who saved him?"
"My Prince, speak cautiously, what are you saying? Of course it was the High Priest who took him, hid him in the hall; he’s now with the High Priest’s people. What are you thinking? Keep this in your mind, remember it so well that even in sleep talk, it’s flawless. If people find out it’s fake, don’t expect to keep your head." Han Li said quietly, "Prince Yan had people rummage through the temple ruins, inch by inch, standing outside for three days and nights without eating or drinking; he is absolutely insane. You better not provoke him, just honestly help him search for Fang Chuning."
Han Ziqi knew the severity. "I understand, but there’s no reason, why would the High Priest take him away, why not kill him?"
"The High Priest is dead. You ask me, whom do I ask? Besides, you are the one who spun the lie; no one knows who took Fang Chuning, best keep quiet, don’t mention it, insist it was the High Priest. Dead men tell no tales."
