Chapter 776: Precious Jade Bangles
Chapter 776: Precious Jade Bangles
Rong Zemin looked at the identity token of Wushi and got it checked by the official, who handled work related to the identification.
"Your Highness, the identification is real," Qu Yangxi told Rong Zemin, who took the token from him. Wushi was settled on the chair. A few beads of sweat could be seen on his forehead and he had joined his hands.
"You seem close to Empress Dowager," Wang Hao asserted.
"Empress Dowager orders the precious ornaments, jades, and other jewels from me. I had come to give the ordered ornaments to Empress Dowager and thought to tell what I saw in Changying," Wushi calmly answered the question of Wang Hao.
"You cannot leave the capital for a week. Also, we need to check the place where you are staying. Huo Jin and the few other soldiers will accompany you," Wang Hao stated.
"Sure, General Wang," Wushi agreed immediately. Seeing him relaxed, Wang Hao wondered if he had already cleaned the evidence or if he wasn't part of Deng Hui's plans.
Huo Jin came forward and took Wushi out of the prison while four soldiers accompanied them.
Rong Zemin turned to Wang Hao. "Empress Dowager's sudden appearance was doubtful. She never was interested in the matters, but I have noticed a little change in her." Rong Zemin had noticed how Deng Hui used to rule out some decisions. Also, the incident of poisoning was suspicious in his eyes.
"Does the Third Prince think that the Empress Dowager can plan anything against the Empress?" Wang Hao queried. He wanted to know the view of Rong Zemin toward Deng Hui.
"Why not? I should not say this, but I have seen Empress Dowager asking Brother Nianzu to do things that he always opposes. It makes me remember the mother of the First Brother. Moreover, Empress Dowager despite the warning of the Emperor took the sweets for the Empress. That's odd," Rong Zemin deduced whatever he had observed till now.
"If it was Empress Dowager, then the truth would come out soon," Wang Hao assured Rong Zemin.
Outside the barracks, Lei Wanxi asked Huo Jin if he could accompany them to the resthouse. Huo Jin did not refuse him and the two got into the carriage.
Lord Wushi greeted Lei Wanxi, who glanced at him from the bottom to the top. "Lord Wushi, it is strange that I never noticed you coming to the palace and delivering ornaments to Empress Dowager," Lei Wanxi said with skepticism.
Lord Wushi smiled and replied, "The Imperial Palace is big. Hundreds of officials and servants go in and out, Your Highness. I do not visit Empress Dowager frequently. Only on some special occasion. A few days ago, I handed Empress Dowager the order of the precious jade bangle. The pearls used are the most expensive ones,"
Wushi cleared the doubts of Lei Wanxi on him.
"Lord Wushi, my eyes are like a hawk. Nothing is hidden from them," Lei Wanxi made Wushi aware of his one of the many qualities.
"I am afraid but the Sixth Prince has indeed failed to notice me," Lord Wushi replied in his humble tone without offending him.
Lei Wanxi squinted his eyes and turned to look at Huo Jin. "I heard that a previous jeweler of the Former Empress was killed brutally," Lei Wanxi told Huo Jin, who was perplexed to hear it.
"When did it happen?" Huo Jin was curious to know.
"When the Former Empress was given the death sentence. The jeweler used to spread rumors in the capital about my dearest Brother Sheng," Lei Wanxi stated.
Wushi curled his fingers and his eyes flickered for a few seconds which Lei Wanxi noticed.
"What kind of rumors, Your Highness?"
"That Brother Sheng doesn't show mercy. He hates women and he kills children. When Brother Sheng returned from the campaign, the jeweler spread false rumors about him," Lei Wanxi replied. "I wonder if jewelers aren't busy. What do you say, Lord Wushi?"
He got intimidated and found that he was unable to speak.
"It is strange that Lord Wushi is sweating in such cold weather," Lei Wanxi remarked and asked Huo Jin to open the window.
Wushi wiped the sweat on his forehead from the back of his sleeve.
"Whoever is spreading the rumors about the Emperor will soon be caught. He has forgotten that the elite soldiers of the Han Army easily nab such people," Lei Wanxi stated.
Wushi gulped and decided not to make any eye contact with Lei Wanxi. He had heard about him. Though he was weaker in strength among all the princes, his mind was sharper than many.
The carriage soon stopped as they reached the resthouse. A soldier opened the door for them. Lei Wanxi stepped out of the carriage, followed by Huo Jin, and then Wushi came out.
Lei Wanxi stepped forward when an arrow passed him, and it hit the carriage's door. "Your Highness!" Huo Jin immediately came forward and shielded Lei Wanxi. People started to scream and run around.
The soldiers surrounded them while Huo Jin safely escorted Lei Wanxi inside the carriage. "Your Highness, lie on the floor," Huo Jin said and closed the door before turning to Wushi, who had squatted down.
Huo Jin took the sword from one of the soldiers. He looked in the direction from where the arrow had come.
Grasping the arm of Wushi, Huo Jin pulled him up. "Let's go in," Huo Jin said when more arrows fell in their direction. An arrow hit Wushi in th
e middle of his forehead, and he fell to the ground.
"Huo Jin got on his knees and saw a masked man on the roof of the house on the left. "Catch him," Huo Jin commanded the soldiers, who ran behind the masked man while checking Wushi's pulse. Alas! He was already dead. Huo Jin was unable to understand who could attack them and why?
The people had stopped running and surrounded the carriage. Lei Wanxi, who was lying on the floor of the carriage, heard the noises which had already died. He sat up and pushed the door.
"Lord Wushi!" He immediately jumped out of the carriage.
"Your Highness, he's dead," Huo Jin said and stood up.