Chapter 585: Chapter 584: 584: The Scapegoat Hero

Jiang Yi laughed, “Do you think I’m the kind of person to kick someone when they’re down? If I wanted to deal with Mu Jian, I’d have an open and fair fight with him in the martial arts training ground.”

“Third Brother’s martial arts skills…”

“What, you’re looking down on me?”

“Not at all, not at all. Third Brother is an educated man and wouldn’t stoop to such violent acts like them. Instead, you should compete in elegance and poetry. Ten Mu Jians would be no match for you, Third Brother.”

Though he knew Seventh Sister was just trying to comfort him, Jiang Yi was still very pleased.

“Seventh Sister, Mu Jian is already dead drunk. What are you planning to do next? Search his body or something else?”

“Are you dumb? What could he possibly be carrying with him while traveling?” Yun Dai laughed, “Let him be drunk for the entire night, so I can sneak out and secretly search his house.”

“Good idea, I’ll join you.”

“I’ve already sent someone else.”

“Who? Gucheng?”

“No.” Jiang Ning glanced out the window at Gucheng.

She had spent quite some time flattering General Jiang Mubai to get him to assign the elusive Guxing, who was skilled at gathering intelligence, to this task.

Jiang Yi looked up at the sky and asked, “You have to return to the palace before evening, right?”

“Mom won’t let me leave.”

“Mom is headstrong.”

“Mom went to talk to Dad.”

“Got it.”

Jiang Yi knew that whenever Mom made a request, there was nothing Dad would refuse her.

Even if it was impossible, he’d find a way to make it happen.

Jiang Yi said, “This is bound to break the palace rules. Didn’t you say our Jiang Family should keep a low profile these days and not give the Imperial Court any more excuses?”

Jiang Ning laughed, “Isn’t there a ready scapegoat now?”

“What?”

“Mu Jian is drunk, isn’t he?”

“Oh, I get it.” Jiang Yi laughed out loud.

Mu Jian was in charge of escorting the Princess Consort and the two young princes. Now he was dead drunk and unconscious. How were the Princess Consort and the young princes supposed to return to the palace?

If something went wrong on the way, who would take responsibility?

And so, Jiang Ning stayed at the Jiang Family that day.

Li Hongyuan returned to the East Palace late at night, and casually asked, “Li Xiu, when did the Princess Consort return?”

Li Xiu quickly replied, “Your Highness, the Princess Consort has not yet returned to the palace.”

“Hm?” Li Hongyuan stopped and looked back at him, “What’s going on?”

“This servant doesn’t know… The Princess Consort has sent no word on the matter.”

Li Hongyuan frowned, “The Princess Consort and the children have left the palace and not returned. Why didn’t you report it immediately? Where is Mu Jian? Bring him to me at once!”

“General Mu hasn’t returned either.”

“…”

“This servant will go and inquire right away.” Li Xiu, seeing that the Crown Prince’s expression was not good, quickly slipped away, fearing he would get beaten.

It was easy to find out.

Li Xiu soon brought back the news: “Your Highness, this servant has inquired. The Princess Consort and the young princes are staying at the Prime Minister’s Mansion tonight and will return to the palace tomorrow.”

Li Hongyuan asked, “Did I agree to let her stay out?”

“The news from the Prime Minister’s Mansion is that General Mu got drunk and is unable to escort the Princess Consort and the young princes back to the palace.”

“Mu Jian got drunk?”

Li Hongyuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

He had grown up with Mu Jian and had never seen him get drunk.

To be precise, he had never seen Mu Jian drink at all.

With Mu Jian’s personality, he would never get drunk while carrying out his mission.

Without thinking about it, it was easy for Li Hongyuan to deduce that it was Jiang Ning who was behind it all in order to avoid returning to the palace.

The Jiang Family was her territory, and with her family helping her, getting Mu Jian drunk would be a piece of cake.