After Cao Xi returned home, he did not dare to directly tell his eldest brother Cao Shuang everything Jiang Jun said.
After all, the eldest brother is too close to His Majesty. Once some words are spoken and reach His Majesty's ears, there will be no room for recovery, and the consequences will be disastrous.
But Cao Xi really couldn't figure out what to do. After thinking about it for a while, he decided to tell Xia Houxuan the specific story first.
"I think what Jiang Jun said before his death deserves our careful investigation."
After hearing Cao Xi's words, Xia Houxuan fell into deep thought.
Logically speaking, with Sima Yi's power and status, he has no reason to be greedy, let alone to collaborate with the enemy. Then, if what Jiang Jun said is true, Sima Yi coerced Wang Li's family and forced Wang Li to death.
What is it to hide...
In the blink of an eye, it’s already July, the mid-autumn season.
The seventh day of the lunar month is the Qiao Qiao Festival, which is also the day when women gather to beg for skill.
In the Marquis of Changling's Mansion, Xia Houxuan looked at the koi in the fish pond in the back garden, thinking a lot.
Ever since he was young, whenever he had complicated thoughts, he liked to quietly observe the lake and the fish swimming in it.
Is the Sima family really involved in this matter...
If this is true, how should Yuanrong deal with it?
To be honest, because of his sister, Xia Houxuan didn't really want to find out what the Sima family had to do with this matter, but his intuition always seemed to tell him that what Jiang Jun said might not be false.
"Junhou."
At this time, the housekeeper Gu Ting came to the back garden, looked at the head of the family Xia Houxuan who was lost in thought by the pond, and said:
"Today is the day of Qixi Festival, the day of begging for tricks. The second young lady and the third young lady...oh no, it's Mrs. Sima, and Mrs. He. They just sent a letter saying that they are going to have a begging party with the old lady and the madam tonight."
Ever since Hui'er married into the Sima family and her younger sister married Taichang Hexia's son and had an affair, Gu Ting has never been able to change his mind.
"I understand, Uncle Gu, go and make arrangements now."
Xia Houxuan threw a handful of fish food into the pond.
"yes."
Gu Ting turned around and left, and went to buy fruit, wine and meat with his servants.
Do you really want Yuan Rong to wade into this muddy water?
Xia Houxuan couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Night finally fell.
In the atrium of the Changling Marquis Mansion, the servants were orderly placing snacks, fruits, wine and meat dishes on the court tables, and then stood aside.
The old lady Cao Jue and the wife of the housekeeper Li Huigu were sitting at the same table, chatting and laughing happily.
"Huigu."
Cao Jue stroked his daughter-in-law's hair and said with a smile:
"Xuan'er often goes out, either to chat with the young masters or to be summoned to the palace by His Majesty. He is always involved in many chores. Has he ever neglected you these days?"
"What did mother say?"
Li Huigu smiled gently and said:
"Although my husband is very busy every day, he treats me with great care. Huigu feels extremely happy."
"That's good, that's good,..." Cao Jue's eyes were full of kindness. Before she knew it, a lot of fine lines had appeared in the corners of her eyes. Cao Jue, who was past middle age, unknowingly had
Gradually, she began to look older, and with a lot of wrinkles, she actually looked kinder when she smiled:
"Xuan'er is really lucky to meet such a good boy like you."
"Report to the old lady."
At this time, Gu Ting, who had arranged a Qixi Festival banquet, came to the atrium and said:
"Second Miss, she has arrived."
When Cao Jue heard this, his heart was filled with joy. Ever since Hui'er married into the Sima family, he could not help but think of his daughter's appearance as a child over the years.
"Quick, let the kids in."
"Yes, Madam."
Gu Ting agreed and walked out of the corridor.
"Mother!"
Cao Jue only heard a shout outside the court and knew that his daughter had arrived.
"Mother, Hui'er hasn't come to see you for a long time. I miss Hui'er so much."
As soon as Xia Houhui entered the palace, he handed the baby in his arms to the maid beside him, and then hugged his mother.
"How come this girl is still as clingy as she was when she was little, hahaha..."
When Cao Jue saw his beloved daughter, he was already smiling from ear to ear:
"Oh, Hui'er, you brought my little granddaughter here too. Come on, give grandma a hug, be good..."
As Cao Jue spoke, he took the baby from the maid's hand. The baby girl, who was less than one year old, was looking at Cao Jue with her clear, bright eyes.
"Be good... call grandma, scream..." When Cao Jue saw his lovely granddaughter, he couldn't close his mouth with laughter.
"Mom, the child is still young and hasn't learned to speak yet..."
Seeing the naivety of his mother and child, Xia Houhui couldn't help laughing and said with a smile. After getting close to her mother, Xia Houhui immediately noticed her eldest brother's new man.
"sister in law."
Xia Houhui's heart was full of joy at this moment. She took Li Huigu's hand and said with a smile:
"My eldest brother, is he okay with you?"
Li Huigu smiled and nodded and said:
"Of course. Since marrying Taichu, I'm afraid I'm the happiest bride in the whole capital."
When Xia Houhui heard this, she smiled even more happily. When she mentioned her brother Xia Houxuan, she also missed him quite a bit. She held Huigu's hand and said with a smile:
"By the way, sister-in-law, where is my eldest brother? I didn't see him as soon as I entered the house. It's a holiday today. Is it possible that he has some official business to do?"
"He is a man, why should he accompany us to beg for luck? Hahaha..."
Cao Jue coaxed his little granddaughter in his arms, smiled and nodded his daughter's forehead and said:
"Don't worry. In order to see you today, your brother specifically asked for leave from Your Majesty today. We will wait for Yu'er, Wei Yuan, and Yuan Ji (Sima Zhao's wife and Wang Lang's granddaughter) to come later.
After we get together, go and have a nice talk with your brother and catch up on old times."
"Okay, mother!"
————
In the side courtyard, Xia Houxuan watched the fish tails in the pond sweep across the water marks for a long time, as well as the fragmented and composite reflections in the water, thoughtfully.
Many things are like this, seemingly traceable, but when you get closer and look for it seriously, it disappears without a trace.
"elder brother!"
Just as Xia Houxuan was deep in thought, a call pulled Xia Houxuan out of his wild thoughts. He hurriedly turned around and saw his sister Hui'er.
"Yuanrong..." Xia Houxuan couldn't help but feel a little dazed. In his memories just now, he unknowingly thought of the sister wearing a bun. As a result, Yuanrong in front of him was already wearing an adult lady's bun.
Mrs. Sima.
For some reason, Xia Houxuan felt fear again in his heart. For a moment, he really didn't want to continue investigating, but there was a feeling in the dark, a voice telling him that he must get to the bottom of this matter.
!
He had a hunch that the person behind the scenes must be related to the death of Grandpa Yu Jin back then, or even to the death of Commander Cao Chun decades ago.
Since he was a boy, he has had this obsession, that is, to seek justice for himself and his fathers, the elders he once respected!
Even if it costs me blood, I won't hesitate!
"Brother! Why are you so dazed!"
Xia Houhui ran into the side courtyard with a smile and walked to Xia Houxuan's side.
"nothing."
Xia Houxuan was so conflicted at this moment that his voice unconsciously trembled:
"I was just thinking that time flies so fast. My sister has grown up and become a mother."
Xia Houhui and his brother talked about old times for a while, but found that the other party always seemed absent-minded.
"Brother, are you worried about something?"
"Yuanrong..."
Xia Houxuan hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and finally said:
"Yuanrong, have you heard about the horse theft case not long ago?"
"Horse theft case?"
When Xia Houhui heard this, he was confused. Didn't his husband Sima Shi tell him not long ago that the matter had been properly resolved?
…
After a while, Xia Houxuan told his sister all his thoughts and doubts, as well as the details of the incident and the causes and consequences.
After listening to her brother's words, Xia Houhui's face gradually turned very pale, and she retorted loudly:
"No! This is impossible!"
Although Xia Houhui couldn't believe it at the moment, she also knew deep down in her heart that her brother Xia Houxuan had never been the kind of person who would wrongly accuse others casually. So at this moment, her mood was very complicated. She still couldn't believe that her husband and his family would do this.
This kind of collaboration with the enemy.
"Yuanrong, listen to me. I'm not saying that the Sima family is involved in collaborating with the enemy. I just suspect that Wang Li's death is related to the Sima family. My brother doesn't know the specific reason. Maybe... maybe Wuyang is waiting for him.
, just to protect an old friend of his in the DPRK who was involved in the case, or maybe...for other reasons that we cannot know for the time being."
Xia Houxuan looked into his sister's eyes, trying not to make her too entangled. He continued to say seriously:
"I also know that Uncle Sima and Ziyuan are not the kind of people who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country, but Yuanrong, I really need your help this time."
Xia Houhui did not speak, and remained silent for a long time.
"Brother..."
Finally, after a long while, she lowered her head and said with a trembling voice:
"I understand that you have your own difficulties... I promise to help you find the stranger you mentioned in Sima's mansion, but please promise me something, brother."
"Say it, Yuanrong."
"If things are really as you said, I hope you can let your husband go, okay..."
At this moment, Xia Houhui's eyes were full of expectation and pleading.
Xiahou Xuan hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. He also felt that Master Sima himself should have nothing to do with this matter.
"Yuanrong, don't worry, big brother promises you."
————
Ever since Jiang Jun drowned in the river, Jiang Jun's mother has been crying all day long.
At Yin hour, Mrs. Jiang called Jiang Ji. Jiang Ji woke up in a daze and saw his wife with tears streaming down her face, and couldn't help but feel desolate.
"Madam..." Jiang Ji sighed slightly, hugged Mrs. Jiang and comforted: "Jun'er has passed away, so don't be so sad..."
"Master..." Mrs. Jiang burst into tears: "I just dreamed about Jun'er again. I dreamed that he said that he was in the underworld, guarding the tomb of the late emperor..."
"Madam..." After Jiang Ji heard such words, he couldn't help but feel sad for a moment. He did everything by himself, why should he let his handsome son take the blame?