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Ning Wang suddenly reached out his hand, grabbing the Crown Princess's neck and pressing her against the big tree, "Speak clearly!"
The Crown Princess seemed to know that he wouldn't actually strangle her given they were near the imperial audience hall, so she showed little fear. She sneered and said, "What exactly do you want to hear? Should I say you didn't kill Xiao Heng, or that Xiao Heng didn't return alive to the capital?"
With that, she removed his hand from her neck, "Chunying, let's go!"
Chunying glanced nervously between the two before following the Crown Princess, taking small quick steps.
Ning Wang leaned against the tree with one hand, his gaze icy.
"Qi Fei."
He called out.
The subordinate who was addressed as Qi Fei swiftly appeared and saluted, "Master!"
Ning Wang put down his hand touching the tree and looked coldly in the direction of the imperial audience hall. He softly said, "Go and find out who has entered and left the imperial audience hall in the past half hour."
"Yes!" Qi Fei replied.
Qi Fei acted quickly, utilizing their sources within the court. With little effort, he obtained the list Ning Wang needed.
Inside the carriage, Qi Fei reported the names to Ning Wang one by one.
"…Cabinet Grand Scholar Kong, Minister Xu of the Ministry of War, Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Works, Grand Secretary Yuan, Chief Huo... Senior Compiler Xiao."
Ning Wang's thumb brushed against the jade thumb ring on his hand, and he paused, "And who is Chief Huo with?"
Qi Fei replied, "Senior Compiler Xiao from the Hanlin Academy, the top scholar of this year's imperial examination. He's called... Xiao Liulang, I believe."
Ning Wang seemed contemplative, "Is he the one who resembles the Little Marquis?"
Qi Fei nodded, "Yes, that's him!"
Xiao Liulang's appearance was no secret within the imperial court for a long time. The common people might not have heard of him, but figures like Ning Wang and the Crown Prince were certainly aware of him.
Coming from a rural background, he had overcome various obstacles and challenges and entered the Imperial Academy with outstanding results. In his first attempt at the imperial examination, he had achieved the top rank, becoming the new Zhuangyuan.
Some said his success was attributed to his connection with Marquis Xuanping. Marquis Xuanping had lost his own son and happened to encounter someone who bore a striking resemblance to his son. Naturally, he formed an attachment to this individual.
No one ever suspected that he was Xiao Heng, because Xiao Heng was already dead.
This was a fact that everyone unquestionably believed.
As for Xiao Liulang, Ning Wang was privy to more information than most people. For example, the truth that the Empress Dowager wasn't recuperating in the temporary imperial residence back then, but had been living among the common people. During that period, she was rescued by Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao.
Whether Xiao Liulang had risen through sheer ability or if he was elevated by the Emperor or Empress Dowager didn't matter.
If he wasn't truly Xiao Heng, then Ning Wang had no reason to care about him.
Xiao Heng was dead, so no matter how much Xiao Liulang resembled him, he couldn't be Xiao Heng.
But if Xiao Heng wasn't dead, only Xiao Liulang could be Xiao Heng!
"Master, there are a few more names left. Do you want to hear them?" Qi Fei asked.
"No need." Ning Wang idly played with the jade ring on his thumb, "Investigate the interactions between Chief Huo and Xiao Liulang."
He couldn't be sure if Wen Linlang's words were true. He couldn't rely solely on her testimony.
This investigation wasn't difficult.
Before returning to his post in the Imperial Academy, Old Chief could easily hide his whereabouts. But now that he had once again become an official of the court, his activities were more visible, and traces were left behind.
Additionally, the people at the Imperial Academy all assumed that Old Chief's interactions with Xiao Liulang were because he saw a resemblance to his deceased disciple. With no one suspecting otherwise, there was no need for them to conceal their interactions.
Within two days, Qi Fei had managed to uncover that Old Chief was staying next door to Xiao Liulang.
"He calls the Old Chief Granduncle." Qi Fei stated.
Ning Wang's brow furrowed.
If he remembered correctly, Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao referred to Empress Dowager as ‘Grandaunt.’
Empress Dowager and Chief Huo...
Ning Wang irritably pinched his brow, "Continue!"
"Yes," Qi Fei responded. "Xiao Liulang's family moved to Bishui Alley first, and Chief Huo moved there afterward."
Ning Wang asked, "Was it before or after Chief Huo returned to the Imperial Academy?"
Qi Fei replied, "Before."
Suddenly, a bold speculation rose within Ning Wang's mind.
After the fire that claimed Xiao Heng's life, Huo Xian had left the capital with his heart heavy with grief. Ning Wang had initially believed that Huo Xian's return was due to the Emperor's request, but now he considered that it might be for an entirely different reason.
Perhaps it was for Xiao Liulang's sake that he returned to the place that held so much sorrow for him.
How could he still have the heart to work there every day, in a place that had taken his beloved disciple's life?
Looking at Princess Xinyang was enough to understand. She hadn't dared to return to the princess mansion since then, all due to the painful memories associated with it.
Ning Wang had overlooked this detail in the past because he firmly believed that Xiao Heng was dead. Anything related to Xiao Heng was beyond doubt for him.
But now, revisiting the events, the inconsistencies were glaring.
If Xiao Heng was still alive, Chief Huo's actions and reactions would make perfect sense.
Ning Wang absently played with the jade thumb ring, his gaze deep, "Xiao Heng, Young Chief, Little Marquis!"
......
Hanlin Academy.
"Liulang, Liulang, Liulang!"
Xiao Liulang was jolted awake from his slumber, and as he opened his eyes and looked up, he saw Ning Zhiyuan wearing a bewildered expression, standing right in front of his desk. The hand that had been poking his shoulder was hastily pulled back.
"Are you alright?" Ning Zhiyuan looked at him strangely, "You're all sweaty. Are you feeling unwell? Did you not rest well last night?"
Xiao Liulang mumbled, "I stayed up late."
Ning Zhiyuan's expression cleared. "I see, no wonder. I was wondering why you hadn't come out for so long during your duty. Next time, don't do this. If Chancellor Han catches you, you'll be in for trouble."
Xiao Liulang didn't doze off during the regular shift; it was during the break period that he rested his head on the table for a while.
However, he hadn't expected to fall asleep and dream about the fire on New Year's Eve.
It had been a while since he had dreamt of that fire. He had even started to think that he was forgetting it. However, the vividness of the flames and the despair in the dream were still as suffocating as ever.
"Did you come to see me for something?" Xiao Liulang asked.
"Can't I come to see you without a reason?" Ning Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "But there really is something. We’ll be gathering tonight to have a drink. Would you like to join?”
"No." Xiao Liulang refused without hesitation.
Ning Zhiyuan clicked his tongue, "Ah, you young man! I'm trying to help you. Lord Han will be there too. It's a serious occasion. You do want to secure the Reading-in-Waiting position, don’t you? You should build a good relationship with Lord Han."
"No." Xiao Liulang reiterated his refusal.
"Alright, alright, if you don't want to, then don't. So young, yet you're more afraid of your wife than I am." Ning Zhiyuan muttered to himself before heading off to the gathering alone.
Meanwhile, at the medical hall, Gu Jiao also had a dream.
It had been a while since she had a precognitive dream, and unsurprisingly, she dreamt of Xiao Liulang once again.
In the dream, Xiao Liulang had finished his duty and came out of Hanlin Academy. As he stepped out, the sky started to be blanketed by large snowflakes.
Xiao Liulang went to the bakery that sold dried vegetable pancakes and bought a few freshly made ones. He packed them in a food box and started heading back home. However, halfway there, he found himself being pursued by a group of assassins.
Xiao Liulang didn’t know martial arts and couldn't fight them off directly. Nevertheless, he used his quick wit to shake off the assassins. Unfortunately, as he was escaping, he tripped and fell, lost consciousness, and injured his hand.
Because the optimal treatment time was delayed, by the time he was taken to the medical hall, his right hand had already been rendered useless.
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