Chapter 49: Could There Be A Spy?
Shaking off the stray thoughts in his mind, thinking of the grievance Jiang Xuerou had just suffered, Lin Ningkun quickly followed after her and said to Madam Zhou, “Mother, you all go back first. I still have a little matter to attend to.”
Hearing Lin Ningkun protecting Jiang Xuerou here, Madam Zhou knew something was seriously wrong and had specially rushed over to stop it.
Fortunately, it was a close call but no harm done. Jiang Xuerou’s matter was resolved, and the relationship between the two had not been discovered by anyone.
Now with the Zen Buddha matter weighing on her mind, she had no heart to care about him.
Jiang Ruanxi deliberately slowed her steps. After they had all left, Jiang Ruanxi looked at the footprints in the snow and fell into contemplation.
“Madam, we should also head back early.”
“Hong Ye, what do you think this is?”
Hong Ye looked along the ground and saw a row of footprints of varying depths, which seemed nothing special to her.
She looked up doubtfully and asked, “Madam, these are just footprints. Is there anything special about them?”
“If it were in the front courtyard, it wouldn’t be anything special, but think about it, where is this place?”
Hong Ye suddenly understood. “Madam, the Heir Apparent of Yongning Marquis Manor just said he mistook someone for another. If he was telling the truth, could these footprints belong to that footprint’s owner?”
Although Sun Chengye had not revealed who that person was, he had admitted that the person was a woman.
Looking at the row of deep and shallow footprints, Jiang Ruanxi wanted to see just who this person was.
She followed the footprints.
This person was smarter than she had imagined. Halfway there, the footprints mysteriously disappeared.
It seemed they had noticed their own footprints.
“Madam, that person must have noticed and deliberately swept away the footprints.”
Hong Ye felt a bit regretful, but as she turned sideways, she spotted something in the distance and excitedly pointed. “Madam, what is this?”
An embroidered shoe?
Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes flickered. She walked back, directly pressed the shoe onto the footprint by the door. It was neither too big nor too small, and even the pattern on the sole matched.
Hong Ye was stunned. “Madam, that’s the shoe that woman left behind.”
“This is the temple’s back courtyard. That person must have already gone back. Keep this shoe safe; it will be very useful in the future.”
No matter who it was, as long as she still had the ability to act, she would definitely catch her.
Jiang Ruanxi and Hong Ye returned to outside the side room when they were suddenly bumped into by an oncoming maidservant.
Fortunately, Hong Ye blocked in front in time, so Jiang Ruanxi avoided disaster.
Looking up, she saw it was Lin Tingting’s personal maidservant, Hong Er.
“Hong Er, are you blind when you walk? Don’t you know Madam is passing by here?”
Panic flashed in Hong Er’s eyes, her face pale as she immediately knelt down. “Madam, spare me. This servant didn’t see Madam just now…”
Hong Ye wanted to scold more, but Jiang Ruanxi stopped her and said, “Forget it. This is a pure Buddhist place; say less.”
“It’s also because Madam is kind. If you’re so reckless next time, there won’t be such a good outcome.”
Hong Er hurriedly lowered her head. “This servant understands.”
Hong Er was the maidservant by Lin Tingting’s side, usually as arrogant as her master, but today she didn’t retort. Jiang Ruanxi was a bit doubtful about her unusual behavior and couldn’t help but look at her a couple more times.
Hong Er noticed Jiang Ruanxi’s expression and subconsciously hugged her arms, leaving without looking back.
Hong Ye was still indignant. “Madam, Hong Er is originally Third Miss’s personal maidservant. Third Miss usually doesn’t get along with you. I think Hong Er did it on purpose.”
“Go follow her and see.” Jiang Ruanxi didn’t care about her recklessness and instead thoughtfully watched Hong Er’s back.
Hong Ye calmed down. “Madam, do you think Hong Er has something suspicious?”
“Whether she does or not, go and see. Remember, don’t let anyone discover you.”
After Hong Ye left, Jiang Ruanxi passed by the west wing room and glanced inside the room, but the door and windows of the west wing room were tightly closed, so she couldn’t tell what was happening inside.
And she did not know that inside the room, the cold and aloof Crown Prince on the snow mountain peak was staring blankly at the note in his hand.
“Are you sure this was picked up from the door crack?”
The cold words showed no anger, but the guard broke out in a cold sweat.
The Crown Prince’s itinerary was always kept secret; others had no idea. But that note was clearly aimed at Crown Prince’s identity.
“Crown Prince, spare me. This subordinate deserves death. This subordinate also doesn’t know who that person is.”
The guard was also frightened and knelt straight down on the ground with a thud.
The Crown Prince’s face immediately darkened. “Since you don’t know, go receive your punishment.”
“Yes, Crown Prince.”
Not making him die was already the Crown Prince’s mercy. The guard looked relieved.
The guard walking out frowned tighter and tighter, his face also becoming grave.
The secrecy work for the Crown Prince’s outing had always been done very well, but this time…
Could there be a traitor?
The Crown Prince thought of this reason too. Although the matter on the note hadn’t happened yet, the fact that the person knew his identity was enough to prove that what the note said was true.
“Call the abbot over, and also investigate who sent the note.”
**
Half a shichen later, Hong Ye hurriedly returned.
“Madam, you really predicted it like a god. Hong Er indeed has something going on.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes flickered. Hong Ye excitedly took out a shoe. “Madam, this is the shoe Hong Er took to throw away. I picked it up and checked; it’s exactly the same as the one we just picked up.”
“So does that mean Hong Er is the one who had the appointment with the Heir Apparent of Yongning Marquis Manor?”
“Do you think Sun Chengye would take a fancy to Hong Er?”
Hong Ye tilted her head and thought.
Hong Er was very ordinary-looking, and Sun Chengye was famously fond of beauties, so it definitely wasn’t Hong Er.
If not Hong Er, then who was it?
Suddenly, Hong Ye thought of something and covered her mouth in surprise, as if discovering something tremendous.
“Madam, could it be Third Miss?”
“Whether it is or not, we’ll know in a few days. Take this shoe to Jiang Xuerou.”
Hong Ye was puzzled. “Madam, such important evidence, how can we give it to others?”
Jiang Ruanxi smiled mysteriously. “How could it be others? Anyone who can help us is a good person.”
Jiang Xuerou would definitely make Lin Ningkun believe she was innocent in order to clear her own grievance.
Although Hong Ye didn’t understand what she really wanted to do, she still took the shoe over.
In the middle of the night, Jiang Ruanxi was sound asleep when she was woken by crying from next door.
“Madam, I see torches outside. I don’t know what happened.”
Hong Ye hurriedly came in, flustered, closing the door and even locking it. “Madam, there’s an assassin. Don’t go out.”
Jiang Ruanxi was greatly shocked in her heart and now understood the seriousness of the matter.
