Chapter 1635: Chapter 20: Ming Guang Outsmarts the Fat Nephew
The day had just broken, and the carriage with the Beiyaduwei insignia was already parked outside the gates of Jiang Mansion.
The carriage driver had yet another unfamiliar face.
Jiang Wang instinctively noted his Divine Soul Breath before looking towards the carriage interior.
Zheng Shangming and Lin Youxie were inside, each sitting on one side, both silent.
Specialization in one’s field.
Not having seen each other overnight, he thought they must have made some progress in the case, yet their expressions showed no change.
Those skilled at finding clues are naturally adept at hiding them.
Jiang Wang bent down and entered the carriage, taking the middle seat.
"This carriage driver is from my own household," Zheng Shangming spoke up, "There are more patrol guards near your home, mandated by the Chang Le Palace; there are also near Lin Vice Envoy’s home. The Crown Prince has strictly ordered that the case must not be disturbed."
Jiang Wang understood this was the handling result of the carriage driver being threatened into passing messages.
Not that he, Jiang Someone, wasn’t deserving of a greater spectacle, but since that carriage driver had vanished in every sense, there was no one to hold accountable.
"Understood," Jiang Wang responded.
He was indifferent to today’s search, solely focused on what clues Gongsun Yu’s side might provide.
Originally intending to cultivate all the way to the Long Life Palace, Lin Youxie suddenly spoke, "The examination results of the medicine soup from the Eleventh Prince are out."
"What does it show?"
"Besides the Ling-Inhibiting Herb, there are also Scorching Sun Flower, Red Feather Powder, and Red-Bellied Spider Legs... all medicines for resisting the cold poison."
"Seems there’s nothing unusual," Jiang Wang remarked.
"Indeed," Lin Youxie turned to Zheng Shangming, "Did Director Zheng’s interrogation yesterday yield any results? I heard you went to examine the corpse at night?"
Zheng Shangming gave a wry smile, "I thought I might get some results, but it was wishful thinking. In this line of investigation, one cannot avoid taking wrong paths."
Lin Youxie nodded and asked, "Does Director Zheng have any thoughts to share today?"
"Investigation ideas must be broad, but not imagined out of thin air. We must let clues speak, collect evidence first, and then talk about other things." As he said these empty words, Zheng Shangming’s expression was earnest.
Lin Youxie simply said, "Director Zheng is absolutely right!"
Jiang Wang kept a straight face throughout.
These two had come all the way from the Beiyaduwei, together in the carriage for so long without saying anything! Just waiting for him to arrive, then adopting a perfunctory routine.
"Director Jiang seems in low spirits?" Zheng Shangming asked, somewhat suggestively.
"Oh?" Jiang Wang countered.
"I see you haven’t spoken," Zheng Shangming explained.
Jiang Wang replied in a muffled voice, "You both are responsible for handling the case, as long as you agree."
"Indeed," Zheng Shangming nodded and said no more.
The carriage immersed in an eerie silence, once again arrived at the Long Life Palace.
Zheng Shangming and Lin Youxie worked actively, thoroughly engrossed in the investigation of the Long Life Palace, from the front hall to the back hall, from Jiang Wuqi’s sleeping chambers to the eunuch palace women’s rooms... not overlooking the tiniest clues.
Jiang Wang followed silently behind, barely speaking unless necessary.
This time the search covered the entire Long Life Palace. Zheng Shangming and Lin Youxie nearly combed through every nook and cranny, until sunset marked the end of the search.
"Did Director Lin find any useful clues?" Zheng Shangming asked.
"There’s a myriad of threads, growing increasingly confusing," Lin Youxie shook his head, countering, "What about Director Zheng?"
Zheng Shangming also shook his head, "Just like Director Lin. I wonder if Feng Gu’s death... might be related to reprisals from the Equality Country?"
"Very likely!" Lin Youxie said earnestly.
Jiang Wang silently watched them perform, keeping quiet.
"Any discoveries, Director Jiang?" Lin Youxie suddenly asked.
"No discoveries, both of you seem quite normal," Jiang Wang turned and said, "Let’s head back."
Lin Youxie and Zheng Shangming clearly had their sights set on the assassination case of Concubine Lei, both aware of each other’s thoughts while pretending to be unaware.
Lin Youxie merely wants to uncover the truth from years ago, make it public, and restore her father’s innocence.
Even now, Lin Kuang’s cause of death documented in Beiyaduwei’s files remains "incompetence in handling the case, evading responsibility by suicide," tarnishing his lifelong reputation!
Zheng Shangming also wants to uncover the truth of the past, but whether this "truth" is to be revealed must align with the Son of Heaven’s preferences, thereby paving the way for his future succession as Capital Commandant. If Jiang Wang agrees to first take up the role of Capital Commandant, Zheng Shangming would willingly concede the benefits to him; if Jiang Wang does not wish, Zheng Shangming would perform well himself.
The conflict between the two lies within this, thus whoever first finds the truth becomes the crucial point.
Hence, though they claim to be collaborating on the investigation, they guard against each other, definitely keeping private any clues that don’t need to be disclosed.
Having been confronted by Jiang Wang in this way, they no longer need to feign propriety.
Then they departed.
The heavy palace doors slowly closed, temporarily sealing off the palace.
The trio silently boarded the carriage.
Interestingly, everyone on this carriage believed they were getting closer to the truth.
Though silent, they each had their own goals and choices.
Lin Youxie needed Jiang Wang to keep one eye open and the other closed; the open eye named "truth," the closed one named "duty."
She aimed to grasp the clues of the assassination case of Concubine Lei first and delve into the truth from years ago.
Zheng Shangming wanted Jiang Wang to agree to take over as Capital Commandant before sharing the clues he had in this case.
