The first time in history

Chapter 142: Arresting the Sixth Prince Ruishen

Qian Mingduo looked at Lu Ran and said slowly, "You mean... the news about Moyi Tower... Could it be that someone used Liu Jingxue to deliberately give me false news and let me report it to my father in order to frame my sixth brother?"

"But what if this news is true? If the assassin was really sent by the Sixth Prince..." Lu Ran frowned, "Why did they only send a ninja with only five bamboo leaves to assassinate the current emperor instead of the most powerful nine-leaf ninja? Don't they know the strict security of the Imperial Palace?"

"This is really confusing!" Qian Mingduo stood up and paced slowly in the study. "Liu Jingxue asked me to find her sister for her. What is her purpose in doing this?"

"Is it to make me believe in her?" Qian Mingduo said softly.

"That's very possible." Lu Ran said, "She might be trying to show empathy. Since your Highness has something to ask of me, then I also have something to ask of you. It's like both sides are doing business, with both buying and selling, and no one owes anyone anything."

Qian Mingduo saw Xiu'er walking through the corridor and quickly heading towards the study. Lu Ran also walked behind him. She had never seen Xiu'er so flustered.

"Your Highness." Xiu'er walked into the study and took out a note.

Lu Ran took the note. "There's news from the court that the Sixth Prince Rui Shen was arrested by the Imperial Guards and has been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice. He is under full-time guard by the Imperial Guards."

"When did it happen?" Qian Mingduo asked.

"One hour ago." Lu Ran handed the note to Qian Mingduo.

"Does Father think that it was my sixth brother who sent someone to assassinate me?" Qian Mingduo looked at Lu Ran and asked, "Isn't this illogical?"

Lu Ran thought for a moment, "Will the Sixth Prince send a second-rate assassin to assassinate the current emperor? If so, he must be a top-notch expert, right?"

"Ran'er." Qian Mingduo frowned, "I don't think it's that simple. It's possible that father is protecting sixth brother. Even we can analyze the assassin's situation. With father's wisdom and sources of information, it's impossible that he doesn't know about the powerful one among them."

"Yes, Your Highness analyzed it." Lu Ran nodded. "There are two possibilities for sending the imperial guards to guard the Sixth Prince. One is that the Emperor is sure that it was the Sixth Prince who ordered the assassination. The other is that the Emperor is worried about the Sixth Prince's safety. There is no place safer than the Ministry of Justice."

Xiu'er walked up to Lu Ran and asked, "So what should we do next?"

"Your Highness." Lu Ran looked at Qian Mingduo and said, "Isn't it time for Chief Steward Gao to give us some news?"

"Gao Quanfu is an extremely smart man. He won't bet anything until the situation is completely clear. Although he told me that he wants to cooperate with me." Qian Mingduo smiled, "but he never gave us any valuable information."

"Your Highness is referring to a clear situation..." Lu Ran said, "Could it be that Chief Steward Gao will cooperate with the emperor only after he finds out who he has chosen as the crown prince?"

Qian Mingduo nodded, "Or he tried to figure out the emperor's intentions and came to his own conclusion. At critical moments, he would cooperate with the people he identified."

"Xiu'er." Qian Mingduo said, "Immediately arrange for someone to go to the Ministry of Justice to get information. Find out whatever you can. No matter the cost!"

"Yes." Xiu'er turned and left.

"Your Highness." Xiu'er walked into the corridor again, followed by a eunuch from the palace.

"This old servant pays respect to His Highness the Fifth Prince."

"Eunuch Xue, please stand up." The person who came was Xue Wei, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Study. "When did Eunuch Xue return to the capital from the temporary palace? Please sit down."

"I have just arrived in Beijing."

Qian Mingduo glanced at Lu Ran, "Oh! Just arrived in Beijing? ... Then what important matter did Eunuch Xue come to my house for? Did the emperor have an order?"

"I am indeed here to pass on an imperial decree, but not to the Fifth Prince." Xue Wei bowed, "I am here to pass on an imperial decree to the Third Prince, ordering him to lead the twenty imperial guards who returned to the capital with me to the Sixth Prince's residence to arrest him and hand him over to the Ministry of Justice."

"What?" Qian Mingduo pretended to be panicked and said, "Father wants my third brother to arrest my sixth brother? Why?"

Xue Wei stood up and took out a small paper roll from his sleeve. He gently placed it on the desk. "The decree I am delivering this time is a secret decree. This is what Chief Steward Gao ordered me to deliver to the Fifth Prince. Chief Steward Gao said that the Fifth Prince is extremely intelligent and wise. He will definitely understand this matter."

Xue Wei finished speaking, bowed deeply, and turned away.

It was not until Xue Wei disappeared outside the corridor that Qian Mingduo looked at the paper roll on the desk.

"Your Highness." Lu Ran said softly, "Is it God's will? Your Highness, you are the crown prince..."

Qian Mingduo raised his hand to stop Lu Ran and smiled. "Let's see what Gao Quanfu wrote first! If I'm not mistaken... he didn't write anything."

There was indeed nothing written on the scroll.

"What does this mean, Chief Steward Gao?" Lu Ran asked.

"It doesn't mean anything. I guess the second and third brothers received the same paper roll." Qian Mingduo said, "This should be the so-called emperor's mind, to make us all think that the emperor wants to make us the crown prince, so as not to cause chaos. After all... the sixth brother has just been arrested!"

"Is this just to stabilize the princes?"

Qian Mingduo nodded and looked at Lu Ran. "Father, what is the meaning of doing this? Why didn't you hold my sixth brother accountable at the first time, but detained him at this time?"

"Your Highness." A maid came in from outside. "The Princess's Mansion has sent a message, please come over to speak to Your Highness."

Qian Mingduo looked at Lu Ran and said, "The royal aunt has never seen guests in these years, but she invited me into the mansion to talk. Why is that?"

"Your Highness." Lu Ran said, "You will know when you go there."

Qian Mingduo rode a fast horse, and Yujiao led him to the backyard of the Princess's Mansion.

"Chen'er pays respect to the Imperial Aunt!"

"Get up." Rui Yulan gently helped Qian Mingduo up.

"The Imperial Aunt has summoned my nephew. What instructions do you have?" Qian Mingduo said with a bow.

Rui Yulan turned around and said, "Follow me into the house and let's talk."

"Close the door." Rui Yulan sat down gracefully and nodded.

Qian Mingduo glanced at Rui Yulan and closed the door.

"This is a letter from your father to your aunt," Rui Yulan looked at the letter on the table. "Open it and take a look."

Qian Mingduo said with a puzzled look: "My nephew... do you dare to open it and take a look?"

"I'm letting you see it, what are you afraid of?" Rui Yulan smiled.

——Sister Lan, how is the investigation going? I miss you very much. I will return to Beijing soon. I hope you can let me know when we meet again.

"Aunt Imperial, what does this mean? Your nephew... Your nephew doesn't seem to understand."

Rui Yulan smiled lightly, "Do you know what your father asked your aunt to help him investigate?"

"I don't know."

"Do you know what your father hates the most?" Rui Yulan looked at Qian Mingduo, "Don't play dumb with your aunt."

Qian Mingduo glanced at Rui Yulan and blinked. "I am not playing dumb, but I guess that what father hates most is that the royal family members make friends with ministers, especially with military commanders. Auntie, am I right?"

"You guessed right." Rui Yulan sighed softly, "In fact, your father has long known that you princes have privately made friends with civil officials and military generals. He just wants me to help him confirm it."

Qian Mingduo asked softly, "Is this also what the Emperor asked the Empress to investigate?"

Rui Yulan nodded, "Why don't you make friends with the generals in private?"

"Your nephew..." Qian Mingduo was secretly delighted, "Because the emperor is afraid of you, your nephew dare not make friends with the generals."

"Among you brothers, you are the most cunning one." Ru Lan pointed at the stool, "Sit down and talk."

Qian Mingduo sat down tremblingly and asked quietly, "Why did the royal aunt say this about my nephew? I don't think I have any cunning ideas."

"You openly don't make friends with any military commanders, which is to comply with your father's wishes. But you secretly collect the officials' secrets. What is your purpose in doing this?" Rui Yulan looked at Qian Mingduo coldly. "Aren't you just going to use the information you have to threaten them?"

Qian Mingduo said with great fear: "It seems that nothing can be hidden from the eyes of the Royal Aunt. I thought I had done it very secretly. But still..."

Rui Yulan said slowly: "Chen'er, among you brothers, the imperial aunt loves you the most. Your mother passed away when you were very young. You are a miserable child."

"I know that the Royal Aunt loves me the most." Qian Mingduo walked to Rui Yulan's side, knelt on the ground, and leaned on her knees.

Rui Yulan smiled at Qian Mingduo and stroked his hair. "Chen'er, do you know how the imperial aunt is going to tell your father about this?"

"I don't know!"

"Sit down and listen to what your aunt has to say."