Chapter 205: When You Came, Did You See Anything?
If he didn’t know about those dirty things he did, Wei Chang might have been fooled by his calm demeanor.
Wei Chang stepped forward, his imposing aura as a superior pressing down, and Jiang Rui slightly leaned back.
After squinting his eyes at him for a few seconds, Wei Chang said indifferently, “This palace is quite curious. What matter does Third Young Master Jiang have for coming to the Cold Palace in the middle of the night?”
“The Imperial Advisor observed the stars at night and found anomalies, so he sent me to investigate.” Jiang Rui said indifferently.
Wei Chang’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if staring a hole through him. Jiang Rui’s heart trembled slightly, and his voice rose half a pitch. “If Your Highness does not believe it, you can ask the Imperial Advisor yourself.”
Wei Chang suddenly gave a cold smile. “You are blood brothers. Do you think if I go ask him, he will tell the truth?”
“The Imperial Advisor has always been loyal to the court and would never…”
Before he could finish, Jiang Rui directly interrupted him. “This palace received information that the Cold Palace is hiding an assassin, so I came specifically to search. Now it seems to match the Imperial Advisor’s divination perfectly. Naturally, this palace believes Third Young Master Jiang.”
He then instructed the guards beside him. “Come, go in and search carefully for me. Do not miss any corner. If you let the assassin escape, you won’t want your lives either.”
As his words fell, Jiang Rui’s brows furrowed.
Tension showed on his face. “Your Highness…”
“What’s this? Does Third Young Master Jiang want to stop this palace from searching for the assassin? Could the assassin have some relationship with Third Young Master Jiang?” Wei Chang was full of cold menace.
At this unfounded accusation, Jiang Rui paused.
The hand at his side clenched tightly.
He quickly moved aside.
“Your Highness is overthinking it. Since Your Highness says there is an assassin, this commoner also wants to contribute.”
“Third Young Master Jiang is thoughtful. These guards are all Imperial Guards, which is enough to deal with the assassin.”
Hearing this, Jiang Rui could only shut his mouth.
He stood straight, but his eyes darted left and right, revealing his nervousness.
But thinking that he had just dealt with everything, they shouldn’t find it, his heart slowly relaxed a bit.
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Wei Chang’s mouth, but he said nothing.
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice came from ahead.
“Your Highness, we found this thing.”
A guard held a black cloth bag that was bulging, not knowing what was inside, and handed it respectfully to Wei Chang’s side.
Jiang Rui’s face instantly turned ghastly pale, his body swaying involuntarily, almost unable to stand steady.
Wei Chang asked with a half-smile, seeming concerned, “Third Young Master Jiang, what’s wrong with you?”
Jiang Rui then realized Wei Chang was still there. He forcibly suppressed his emotions, gently shook his head, his voice hoarse. “Your Highness, I’m fine.”
Wei Chang sneered inwardly, turned his head to glance coldly at the bag, and ordered coldly, “Open it.”
As the guard opened it, his expression grew increasingly strange.
Soon, the things inside scattered on the ground.
Everyone’s faces were very strange.
Unexpectedly, inside was a red bodice, silk beige underpants, and a pair of underpants that was clearly for a man to wear.
Everyone present knew what this meant.
They all turned to look at Jiang Rui.
Jiang Rui’s face grew even paler, the hands inside his sleeves clenched tightly into fists.
He had clearly packed everything away just now, so why did they still find these things.
It was dark earlier, and in his panic, he hadn’t noticed exactly what he stuffed into the cloth bag.
So he wasn’t sure if these were the things he had just packed up, or if Wei Chang was deliberately bluffing him.
He could only pretend to be calm.
Wei Chang looked at Jiang Rui, a smile playing at his lips. “No one lives in this Cold Palace, so how did these things appear? Third Young Master Jiang, don’t you think so?”
Jiang Rui’s heart trembled, thinking Wei Chang had guessed it was him, panic flashing in his eyes. “Mm.”
He didn’t dare speak, afraid that speaking would reveal something for Wei Chang to know.
“Third Young Master Jiang arrived earlier than us. When you came, did you see anything?”
Jiang Rui forced himself to stay calm and looked at Wei Chang. “This commoner arrived less than half a quarter-hour before Your Highness, just walked around the courtyard once, and then Your Highness came. This commoner saw no one.”
Wei Chang glanced at the things on the ground and said indifferently, “In that case, take them to the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau and have them check carefully whose they are. If it’s found out, this palace will not let them off lightly for daring to cause chaos in the palace.”
Jiang Rui’s composure finally cracked, his eyes full of panic.
Seeing this in Jiang Rui’s eyes, he deliberately asked, “Third Young Master Jiang, do you still want to stay here?”
“This is a palace matter. This commoner shouldn’t linger and disturb, so this commoner takes his leave.”
With that, he turned directly and left.
Wei Chang’s expression was inscrutable as he watched his back, his face suddenly turning cold. “Follow him.”
He was still a bit uneasy and continued to instruct, “Go spread the news about the assassin, and also spread the news about the things found in the Cold Palace.”
He wanted to see who in the palace couldn’t stand loneliness and dared to have a secret rendezvous.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
**
After leaving the Cold Palace, the back of Jiang Rui’s robe was soaked with sweat.
If that bodice was really left by her, taking it to the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau to check would definitely reveal it quickly.
Jiang Rui, who was usually quite composed, was panicked now too.
Taking advantage of the current chaos, perhaps he could go remind her to prepare.
Jiang Rui turned his steps, instinctively changing direction, but after a few steps, a palace maid came running hurriedly from behind and stopped him.
“Young Master, the Grand Tutor calls for you to see him.”
Jiang Rui stopped, thinking there was something more important now. If he was even a step late, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Young Master, come with me quickly. The Grand Tutor said if you still want to live, hurry over.”
Seeing him still hesitate, the palace maid added emphatically.
Jiang Rui’s mood suddenly became heavy. At this point, he couldn’t worry about the Cold Palace matter anymore and went to Tianming Pavilion.
Arriving at Tianming Pavilion, Jiang Kui was sitting properly holding a book and reading.
The book in his hand was yellowed, looking very tattered, with some characters even illegible, but he read it with great interest.
“Elder Brother, you wanted to see me?”
Jiang Rui was absent-minded, still thinking about the Cold Palace matter.
Jiang Kui put down the book, his cold and aloof face instantly becoming extremely serious. “Third Brother, I always thought you were smart, but I didn’t expect you to be so utterly foolish.”
Jiang Rui was stunned, thinking for a few seconds, realizing he knew about the things he did in the Cold Palace. Jiang Kui already knew.
“Do you think going to find her now is the right thing to do?” Jiang Kui knew exactly what Jiang Rui was thinking and reminded him. “Wei Chang has always had people following you. If you go find her now, I’m afraid you’ll be caught red-handed by Wei Chang.”
