Chapter 558: Chapter 557: 557: Gained Some Weight, Breathed Some Heavily

“Mu Jian.”

“Oh, the commander of the Crown Prince’s Right Imperial Guards.” Jiang Ruobai had a thorough grasp of the imperial court and immediately remembered the man with the hooked nose and peach blossom eyes who often accompanied the Crown Prince.

He was highly skilled in martial arts and seldom spoke.

A formidable figure.

Jiang Ning held up a letter, “This one, found in Denghua’s possession, which you should know about since Uncle must have told you. As for this other one, I just tricked it out of Mu Jian’s hands.”

Jiang Ruobai pondered for a moment before suddenly realizing, “Huh, could it be that the Crown Prince poisoned Concubine Jin?”

“Father, you’ve finally caught on.” Jiang Ning folded up the letter, put it back in the envelope, and carefully stored it away, “This is precisely what’s been puzzling me, and I was just about to ask you for advice when you conveniently showed up. Speaking of which, how did His Majesty allow you to come to me?”

“By appealing to his emotions and reasoning with him. His Majesty also has a heart of flesh, so he has to empathize with this old father missing his daughter.”

“Father, your choice of words is a little off.”

“I know better than you.” Jiang Ruobai scoffed, “Why would the Crown Prince want to kill Concubine Jin? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Father, if it truly was Li Hongyuan’s doing, I can come up with a motive for him.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

“His Majesty isn’t old, although he’s put on some weight and is a bit short of breath, his health has always been quite good. Li Hongyuan, as the Crown Prince, might have to wait another ten or twenty years, or even thirty or forty years to ascend to the Imperial Throne.”

Jiang Ruobai said nothing.

Jiang Ning continued, “Which Crown Prince would be willing to wait for so many years, only to grow grey-haired while still a Crown Prince?”

Jiang Ruobai smiled, “Aren’t you painting the Crown Prince in too malevolent a light with this idea?”

“Isn’t the Crown Prince malevolent?”

“It’s hard to say.”

“Throughout history, there have been no shortage of palace coups.” Jiang Ning said, “However, my motive is based on the assumption that we are certain Li Hongyuan was the one who killed Concubine Jin. What if it wasn’t him who ordered Mu Jian to do it?”

“You think Mu Jian betrayed the Crown Prince?”

“It’s hard to say.”

“…Don’t imitate the way I speak.” Jiang Ruobai slapped her head.

Jiang Ning said, “Father, you have to help me investigate.”

“Do you even need to mention it?” Jiang Ruobai laughed, “This isn’t just about you, it’s of great importance. Regardless of whether Mu Jian betrayed the Crown Prince or not, it’s a serious matter. Don’t worry, I’ll look into Mu Jian. I have overlooked him in the past.”

“You need to hurry, I don’t know how far Li Hongyuan’s investigation has progressed. If they keep me locked up like this, eventually everyone will believe I am the murderer.”

“Perhaps that’s exactly what they want people to think.”

“Framed, huh?”

“The Jiang Family is not to be so easily framed.” Jiang Ruobai stood up and pulled a stack of banknotes from his pocket, placing it on the table, “You’re strapped for cash in the palace, take these and spend them, don’t be frugal.”

It was quite a thick stack.

Jiang Ning laughed, “Third Brother already gave me money when he came.”

“Who ever complained about having too much money?” Jiang Ruobai said, “The money your brother gave you is his, and this is from your father.”

“Father, actually, I don’t lack money. I can’t spend that much in the palace.”

“That’s because you haven’t encountered a need to spend money yet. Once you need money, you’ll realize its benefits.” Jiang Ruobai mused, “Seventh Sister, let me ask you this, if it turns out that the Crown Prince really killed Concubine Jin, what do you plan to do?”