roccoschili Chapter 226 The first clues appear
Chapter 226 The first clues appear
"Master Guan, what you mean is, is there any secret organization under this imperial city that wants to rise above the imperial power?"
Guan Changfeng received a letter from Tang Yuwei a few days ago, saying that in order to ensure the safety of the Duan family, someone needed to be sent to protect them secretly.
As expected, Yuwen Bo promised the prince that he would protect the Duan family's safety, while at the same time allowing people from Qingshang Pavilion to sneak into the Duan Mansion and do illegal things.
This time, Guan Changfeng has captured a secret guard, and is reporting to Xuanyi on the pretext that he discovered a secret organization while protecting the safety of the capital.
"Yes, Your Highness. The man who was captured is very agile and has superb martial arts skills. I have never heard of such skills before!"
Yuwen Yuehua has been worried about the news from Yuwen Bo these days. The Queen Mother has been in bed for a long time, the Duan family cannot be moved, and the Crown Prince is far away in Mobei and difficult to control. She doesn't know when she can take the throne.
As for Guan Changfeng's report, she felt it was of no importance. She rested her head on her head, closed her eyes and asked perfunctorily, "Did the investigation reveal anything?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, we are currently torturing him to extract a confession. However, Your Highness would like to ask Your Highness to take a look at this badge!" Guan Changfeng held up the badge with both hands, and the eunuch close to Yuwen Yuehua came forward.
The eunuch took the badge and turned around to lift the curtain. He knelt beside Yu Wen Yue Hua's couch and held the badge in his palm. "Your Highness, please take a look."
Yuwen Yuehua slightly opened her eyes and saw the three big characters "Qingshang Pavilion" on the waist badge. She didn't know what it meant, so she closed her eyes again and said disdainfully, "What is this Qingshang Pavilion?"
"I have investigated all the sects and esoteric schools in Dapu country overnight, but I have not found any records of Qingshang Pavilion. However..."
"Why are you hesitating? Come on and tell me. I'm very tired!"
"Although there is no record of this organization, Your Highness, have you smelled a strange fragrance on this waist badge? This smell is not ordinary. There is only one place in Jingwei City with this fragrance - Wanhua Tower!"
"Wanhua Tower?" These three words made Yu Wen Yuehua suddenly open her eyes alertly, and all her sleepiness disappeared. "How could Wanhua Tower have such an organization!"
Others may not know how powerful the Wanhua Tower is, but those in power in the imperial city are the ones who know it best.
On the surface, it is an upscale restaurant that pretends to be elegant and attracts the rich and powerful, but in reality it is a secret place for the court to monitor the movements of bureaucrats, and all the famous actors and singers who entertain guests there are from Bichang Pavilion.
The Bichang Pavilion was a place specifically for detaining the wives and elderly of criminals of the imperial court, and they also exercised the right to train them in secret.
Therefore, for Yu Wen Yuehua, the infiltration of a secret organization that does not belong to the court into a place like Wanhua Tower means that the court's confidential information is controlled by outsiders, which is indeed a dangerous signal.
Since Yuwen Yuehua attached so much importance to it, Guan Changfeng took the opportunity to say, "Your Highness, since this matter is confidential, I have no choice but to come and report carefully. Do you need to conduct a thorough investigation of Wanhua Tower?"
"Investigate!" Yu Wen Yuehua had just finished speaking, but then paused and said, "Don't alert the enemy. I still need to think carefully about this matter!"
Wanhua Tower is important, but Guan Changfeng is from Jinglinsi after all, and he used to be on good terms with the prince, which makes Yuwen Yuehua have to be on guard. So, after much thought, Guan Changfeng cannot be allowed to investigate this matter!
"You may withdraw first! I have taken this matter to heart. And the criminal you caught must be spared!"
"Yes, Your Highness! I'll take my leave!" Guan Changfeng did not ask any questions, because he came to report today not with the purpose of continuing a thorough investigation, but to plant a seed of doubt!
It seems that the goal has been achieved.
As soon as Guan Changfeng left, Feng Jiaojiao came forward from the back hall to massage Yuwen Yuehua's legs and shoulders. "Aunt, in my opinion, this Lord Guan is not trustworthy. He is so anxious to investigate, he must have ulterior motives!"
"Do I need to tell you this?" Yu Wen Yuehua sighed. At this point, she had no one to use. This was what made her most uncomfortable.
Feng Jiaojiao saw Yuwen Yuehua's worry and said coquettishly, "Aunt, why don't you just let Jiaojiao's father check it out?"
"Your father?" Yu Wen Yuehua thought for a while, remembering that his previous attempts to be the prince had all ended in failure, which had left him neglected for quite some time. Now, because of the matter at Wanhua Tower, he was probably the only one who could be reused.
"This matter involves the entire court and even concerns some ministers. They appear to be submitting to me, but in fact they have long harbored ulterior motives!" Yuwen Yuehua analyzed, and with a wave of his hand, he asked the eunuch next to him to go and invite General Feng Dequan to come.
Feng Jiaojiao was pleased and said happily, "Don't worry, Your Highness. Father will definitely get to the bottom of this matter."
"It would be good if we could find out!" Yu Wen Yuehua did not make a final statement, but she thought to herself that if Feng Dequan messed things up again this time, he would be of no use.
After thinking about it, he asked Feng Jiaojiao, "How has the Queen Mother been doing these days?"
Feng Jiaojiao has now taken over the full responsibility of taking care of the empress dowager. Every day, apart from paying respects to Yuwen Yuehua in Qinghua Palace, she goes to Fuyuan Palace to "take care of" the empress dowager. As a result, the empress dowager looks rosy, but in fact, the poison has penetrated into her bones.
Since Xuan Yi asked, Feng Jiaojiao naturally had to answer truthfully, "Aunt, don't worry, I'm with you. The Queen Mother has looked much rosier these days, so it's not impossible for her to wake up!"
"Wake up?" Yu Wen Yuehua felt that the word was very harsh, and secretly said, "If you really can't wake up, I won't blame you. You have also fulfilled your filial duty!"
Feng Jiaojiao knew what she meant when she heard this, so she further probed, "My aunt is considerate, but it's always the Crown Princess who takes care of the Queen Mother. Jiaojiao is really afraid that something might go wrong!"
"Just do your best. Those people in the Duan family are not worthy of being used!" It was really a shame. Yu Wen Yuehua shook her head and closed her eyes again, wanting to rest for a while.
But Feng Jiaojiao was feeling proud at the moment, so she wanted to press on with the victory. If the entire Duan family was imprisoned, then the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess would probably have no chance of turning things around. Then, wouldn't she, the Second Prince's Consort, be the best candidate for the Crown Prince?
When she thought of this, Feng Jiaojiao ignored Yu Wenyuehua's mood and said, "Since they are not worthy of being reused, why not take down the Duan family? In this way, maybe we can get what the imperial aunt wants from the Duan family?"
These words were originally what Yu Wen Yuehua was thinking, but coming from the mouth of a prince's wife who had nothing to do with state affairs, it seemed as if the entire palace knew that she, Yu Wen Yuehua, had evil ambitions.
Yuwen Yuehua sat up with a chuckle and said sternly, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Feng Jiaojiao had never thought that Yuwen Yuehua would have such a big reaction to these words. She sat down on the ground in shock, "Aunt! Jiaojiao is telling the truth!"
"What do you mean by telling the truth?" Yu Wen Yuehua hated people guessing her thoughts the most. "I am devoted to the Great Pu Kingdom, how can I allow you to gossip like this! Get out of here!"
"Royal Aunt!" Feng Jiaojiao knew that she had said the wrong thing this time. She sobbed and dared not say anything more. "Jiaojiao will leave now. I hope the Royal Aunt will not be angry with Jiaojiao!"