Chapter 876: Chapter 831: Wanwan’s Audience with the Emperor (Double Update)

When He Jianzheng came to find Emperor Xuanjing again, before he even spoke, Zhao Xi looked at him with interest, "Did that expert guide you again?"

He Jianzheng felt a bit embarrassed, thinking that what his colleagues said in private was indeed true. In front of the new emperor, any little schemes have nowhere to hide. With those extraordinarily sharp eyes and an extremely clever mind, it’s no wonder that since the new emperor ascended to the throne, instances of corruption in the various departments have rarely been exposed. With such a formidable leader in place, who would dare to play tricks under his watch?

Glancing at Emperor Xuanjing’s expression and noting that he didn’t seem angry, He Jianzheng decided to speak truthfully, "Your Majesty is wise. My friend, this expert, has indeed calculated something again."

Zhao Xi closed the memorial, his slender, jade-like fingers tapping on the sandalwood table, "Speak."

"She told me that the Beijiang Government did not handle control measures properly, leading to the spread of the plague. To avoid alarming the court, the government will order the sealing and burning of villages."

Zhao Xi’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

The history of Chu Country has no shortage of plague records. From the early stages to the later stages, there would often be a major outbreak process. At such times, the government would often adopt the most inhumane yet most rapid and effective method to prevent the spread of the plague, which is to seal and burn the villages. Regardless of whether they are infected or not, they would burn them to death to achieve a once-and-for-all solution.

What has been troubling Zhao Xi lately is precisely this issue.

If the villages are not sealed and burned, the plague will spread without limit. At that time, the Northern Border will not be able to hold on, or if the already infected patients are brought into the pass at Liangzhou City, then tens of thousands of people in Liangzhou City would suffer, and the plague could possibly spread to the Capital within a short time.

If the villages are sealed and burned, it would result in innocent people dying unjustly, and the Northern Border would certainly have public resentment and complaints.

It seems that no matter what is done, there is something inappropriate.

He Jianzheng continued, "Once the village is burned, the villagers shrouded in the fear of death will find ways to escape. If one escapes, it plants the seed of disaster for the country. Your Majesty, the horror of the plague is greater than that of floods and beasts. It must be considered thoroughly!"

Zhao Xi rubbed his temple, "Since that expert is willing to let you come to me, there must already be a strategy to deal with it."

He Jianzheng hesitated for a moment, "There is indeed a strategy to deal with it, but the expert did not directly tell me."

This means needing to meet with the emperor.

Zhao Xi smiled faintly, "First, it was the Liaodong Iron Mine, and then it’s the Northern Border plague. The expert you speak of, if not possessing the ability to foresee, then must have spies placed in Liaodong and the Northern Border, intending to take the opportunity to gain my trust. With such ambition, what exactly does your Astronomical Bureau intend to do?"

He Jianzheng’s face turned pale, and he hurriedly knelt down, "Your Majesty, please see clearly. This old minister has not the slightest ambition. It’s just that, it’s just that..."

It’s really that he was entrusted by someone and had no choice!

Zhao Xi’s eyes were as cold as frost, "Someone, take off the hat from He Jianzheng’s head and let him enter the Heavenly Prison to calm down for a few days."

He Jianzheng did not expect the new emperor to suddenly turn against him. Seeing the Imperial Guard in black armor, armed with spears, rushing in to take him to prison, he became anxious and shouted, "Your Majesty, please listen to me. The expert I mentioned is not someone else but the daughter of the Princess Guardian, personally titled Princess Yong’an by the late Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi’s brows furrowed.

The so-called expert is actually none other than Princess Yong’an, Wen Wan, who caused a stir recently due to separating from Song Wei?

How is this possible?

Doubt arose in Zhao Xi’s heart, but he didn’t show it on his face, "Princess Yong’an is my cousin. How could she possibly be involved in state affairs?"

He Jianzheng wiped the cold sweat, "If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can have someone summon the Princess to the palace, and you will find out with a single question."

This matter was too perplexing; Zhao Xi couldn’t make sense of it.

If the "expert" behind He Jianzheng were a man, then regardless of whether he had an official position or not, his purpose would definitely be to gain the emperor’s trust and then get heavily used. But, unexpectedly, the "expert" is a woman, and she is his close relative.

After separating from Song Wei, Wen Wan did not remarry. Instead, she subtly asked the Astronomical Bureau to discreetly remind him about significant events potentially harmful to the court and Chu Country in places beyond his sight.

This is too strange!

"Sanbao, make a trip to the Changning Marquis Mansion and bring Princess Yong’an to the palace," Zhao Xi called Eunuch Sanbao in and instructed.

Eunuch Sanbao did not dare to ask more questions and soon boarded a carriage, left the Imperial City, and headed straight for the Changning Marquis Mansion.

Wen Wan was lying on the couch, moaning in pain. Ever since wearing the bracelet this last time, her headache hadn’t subsided and felt like it was going to burst every day.

Wen Wan didn’t tell the truth. Zhao Xunyin didn’t know the cause of her headache and thought it was an ordinary headache. The household doctor was summoned to check for a long time but couldn’t find anything wrong. Not daring to prescribe medicine at will, he only provided a bottle of pain-relief pills and advised to take them with peach kernel wine.

After taking them, Wen Wan managed to suppress the pain.

Zhao Xunyin looked unwell and asked her, "Ever since you came back from visiting Song Jiao’s grave, you’ve been complaining of headaches. Did something happen during the visit?"

What could it be? She recklessly went to borrow the treasure from Xu Jia again.

Wen Wan secretly complained. She had previously heard people say that jade has a spirit, that it can recognize its owner, and shouldn’t be worn casually. She always thought these were just stories. But after witnessing the Yun Family’s ancestral treasure, she had come to understand; if it’s not yours, you really shouldn’t wear it carelessly.

She wore that bracelet three times and her headaches got worse each time. Wen Wan did not doubt for a second that if she tried again, that thing would probably kill her directly.

"It’s a pity that the Divine Doctor from the Yun Family went to the Northern Border; otherwise, he could have taken a look at you." Zhao Xunyin worried inwardly. Her husband had encountered trouble in the Northern Border, and ever since Yanqing left without a trace, she had only been living with her two children. If her daughter were to have an accident, she couldn’t imagine whether she could bear it.

Wen Wan was startled, "Yun Shiliu is at the Northern Border? What is he doing there?"

Zhao Xunyin, realizing she had slipped up, immediately concocted a story, "Isn’t the plague rampant in the Northern Border? The epidemic is difficult to control. Your Majesty specially discussed borrowing the Divine Doctor from the Yun Family to go to the Northern Border and help develop a cure."

Wen Wan nodded, no longer questioning it. Seeing the concern in her mother’s eyes, she smiled, "I’m fine, I’m much better now."

"I just instructed someone to call for the Imperial Physician." Zhao Xunyin said, "You rest for a while. When the Imperial Physician arrives, I’ll have Dou Kou inform you."

Wen Wan couldn’t stay put. Her mind was completely occupied by the thought of how Zhao Xi might react upon hearing He Jianzheng’s words. If it didn’t work out, all her efforts would have been in vain.

Xujia’s bracelet was something she dared not attempt again. But without it, her foresight only allowed her to see trivial matters related to herself, and with Song Wei gone, she couldn’t even get a clear idea of the cause and effect.

The supposed foresight ability was quite arduous to use.

As she pondered, she felt drowsy and wrapped a fox fur around her legs, preparing to take a nap by the warm brazier.

Unexpectedly, just as she closed her eyes, Linglong came in and said Eunuch Sanbao had come with a decree to escort her to the palace.

Wen Wan suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Linglong, "Was it truly Eunuch Sanbao who came?"

Linglong replied, "He’s waiting outside the gate. He said it’s an urgent summons from Your Majesty, so he didn’t come in, asking the Commandery Princess to hurry out and follow him to the palace."

Hearing that the new emperor had summoned her, Wen Wan was no longer sleepy. She quickly straightened up from the couch and had Linglong find her some clothes.

She was already divorced from Song Wei, so her noblewoman status was invalid and she couldn’t wear the first-rank noblewoman’s attire. However, she still held the title of Commandery Princess, so she had to change into something more presentable.

A quarter of an hour later, Wen Wan was dressed and appeared outside the gates of Changning Marquis Mansion.

Eunuch Sanbao greeted her with respect, "Servant pays respect to the Commandery Princess."

Wen Wan waved her hand, "Since it’s an urgent summons from Your Majesty, there’s no need for formalities, Eunuch. Let’s quickly head to the palace!"

As she spoke, she stepped onto a small stool and got into the carriage.

Eunuch Sanbao acknowledged and returned to his own carriage. The two carriages speedily headed in the direction of the Imperial City.

Zhao Xi was prepared for a private meeting with Wen Wan, yet when she appeared in Qianqing Palace, he couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty." Wen Wan knelt, performing the rites perfectly.

Recovering from his surprise, Zhao Xi instructed her to rise.

Wen Wan slowly stood up.

Zhao Xi got straight to the point, "Previously, He Jianzheng from the Astronomical Bureau told me something. He said it concerns the Commandery Princess. I’m not sure whether it’s slander or if it’s true?"

"Your Majesty, it’s true," Wen Wan confessed without hesitation.

Zhao Xi became even more puzzled. He didn’t believe that a woman of the inner residence like Wen Wan would understand state affairs regarding Liaodong and the Northern Border. The most likely possibility was that Song Wei had advised her.

But the two of them had already divorced, and Song Wei was on his way back to Ningzhou. How could he have advised her?

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious Zhao Xi became.

He remained silent, clearly waiting for Wen Wan to provide a reasonable explanation.