The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion

Chapter 574 - Summon for Interrogation

Stepping out of the Xuanwu Gate and looking back at the dark cave, one couldn't help but feel a sense of impermanence in the world.

When he was summoned to the Palace, he thought that Jia Yuanchun and Rongguo Mansion would be implicated by the Supernatural Jade, but who would have thought that Dai Quan and Lu Hui would end up in trouble?

Indeed, as soon as he entered the Palace, it was as deep as the sea!

With a deep sigh, Sun Shaozong untied the reins from the horse post and flipped over, riding his horse and galloping away.

Upon arriving at Rongguo Mansion to inquire, Jia Baoyu was not at home.

This was also normal. He only followed Xue Pan and others to his mansion at noon to hang out. With their temperament, it would be strange that they would disperse early.

He believed that at this moment, there might be someone indulging in extravagance and drinking, and it must be Xue Pan, who was the host. Whoever snatched from him, he would be angry.

Although the gatekeeper said that Jia Lian was at home, after hesitating for a moment, Sun Shaozong still chose to directly ask to see Old Madam Wang.

The change in Jia Lian's attitude was incomprehensible, so Sun Shaozong felt that it was better to maintain a certain distance from him first.

The two families were already close friends, and now they have become relatives. In addition, as Old Madam Wang was approaching her fifties this year, Sun Shaozong's initiative to meet might be somewhat abrupt, but it didn’t affect etiquette, laws, and human relationships.

After waiting for about a cup of tea in the front hall, Zhou Rui hurried over and led Sun Shaozong to the backyard.

When Sun Shaozong arrived near the side hall where he was beaten, he saw several people eagerly waiting outside the gate.

This was naturally led by Old Madam Wang, but there was still a graceful woman standing beside her, if it wasn’t the long-lost Aunt Xue. Who else could it be?

It was already late autumn now, but Aunt Xue still hadn't given up her favorite low-cut Palace dress. She just wrapped an apricot yellow cloak around her shoulders and neck.

Between the cloak and the Palace skirt, there was a diamond shape that was about half a foot or so square, framing two inexplicable objects in between, but it only made people more and more tempted to glimpse a spot and want to know the whole leopard.

Amitabha Buddha!

Sun Shaozong lowered his head and recited the Buddhist name to himself, barely driving the scene out of his mind. While bowing to the situation, he pondered why Old Madam Wang suddenly put on this battle.

If there were no guests present, Old Madam Wang would have just returned the favor. However, since Aunt Xue was also present, she should have stayed in the room and waited for her younger generation to come in and pay their respects.

"Get up, get up!"

Old Madam Wang hurriedly reached out and gave a few empty hands. When she saw Sun Shaozong get up, she hurriedly stepped in and said, "Erlang, come in and talk."

This…

Although at her age and his age, no one should have misunderstood anything, this enthusiasm still goes far beyond the normal range.

"Auntie, you don't need to be so polite."

Sun Shaozong was humble in his mouth, but he analyzed Old Madam Wang's words and actions in his heart.

After repeatedly resigning from his seat in the flower hall and waiting for Old Madam Wang to speak again, Sun Shaozong combined what he had heard along the way with Old Madam Wang's reaction and had some speculations in his heart.

So he rushed to open the door and said, "Auntie, have you arranged for someone to gather information at the Palace gate?"

"How do you know?!"

Old Madam Wang was taken aback, but when she thought about Sun Shaozong's usual behavior, she was relieved and only smiled bitterly, saying, "Since my daughter arrived at Jingren Palace, there have been letters every three to five days, but after seven or eight consecutive days, there has been no news."

"I had no choice but to send a few people to the Palace gate to wait, thinking of getting the news as soon as there was any."

"I just received a report saying that you have gone to the Palace to handle affairs, but you have arrived at our house."

Although she has some talent in managing the family, she has very little exposure to external affairs. At this critical moment, her daughter has been in a state of emergency for several days without any news, and she has long been anxious and disorganized.

She also felt that the Sun family was a younger generation in marriage, and her son had also received more guidance from Sun Shaozong, so she simply confided in him the anxiety in her heart.

As she approached, she finally remembered the main matter and quickly asked, "Erlang, for you to come to our house as soon as you leave the Palace, what important news have you received?"

"Auntie, don't worry."

Sun Shaozong smiled and said, "I have some good news that was passed on from Commander Qiu Shi'an. Yesterday, Imperial Concubine Xiande went to the Qianqing Palace to serve. You can just keep your heart at ease."

After hearing these words, Old Madam Wang was somewhat puzzled and frowned, saying, "Qianqing Palace? Isn't it in Jingren Palace? Why did she go to Qianqing Palace again?"

It seemed that she has no idea what kind of drastic changes have occurred in the Palace.

However, this was also normal. With Jia Zheng's release, there was not even a serious official in Rongguo Mansion, and the channels of information were naturally blocked.

Normally, relying on the presence of Imperial Concubine Xiande in the Palace, they also gathered some insider information.

But now that Dai Quan has collapsed and the situation was unclear, who in the Palace dared to spread news recklessly?

Therefore, it was normal for her to know nothing about it.

However…

Should he explain to her completely?

Sun Shaozong hesitated for a moment and considered that Jia Yuanchun had spent the night in the Qianqing Palace last night. He arched his hand and said, "There is some insider information about this. I'm afraid it won't be easy for others to know."

Upon hearing these words, Old Madam Wang quickly rebuked the maids inside and outside the flower hall.

Aunt Xue wanted to follow out when she saw the situation, but was stopped by Old Madam Wang. After all the servants had walked away, she urged, "If Erlang has anything to say, just say it directly."

She was truly a noblewoman who had followed the rules all her life. At this moment, she still has to hold her sister by her side to avoid suspicion.

At that moment, Sun Shaozong compared a piece of supernatural jade he found with Jia Baoyu's, and the news somehow spread to the Palace the next day.

When it came to the Emperor's summons and recognizing that the jade belonged to Prince Yizhong, Old Madam Wang's knees softened, and she almost collapsed on the ground. She kept shouting, "This is killing my son wrongly. That supernatural jade was held in his mouth when he was born. How could it be related to Prince Yizhong?"

Aunt Xue, beside her, hurriedly helped her, but she was also frightened and almost turned the diamond into an ellipse.

When Old Madam Wang said these words, Sun Shaozong had been secretly observing, but saw that she was filled with righteous indignation, as if she was not pretending.

Was that jade really from when he was a child?

Sun Shaozong hesitated and advised, "Auntie, you don't need to be like this. Since Commander Qiu has entrusted me with a message, I believe His Majesty has already cleared the charge on behalf of the mansion."

Upon hearing these words, Old Madam Wang finally regained her composure and broke free from Aunt Xue's embrace, praising His Majesty's wisdom in a chorus towards the direction of the Palace.

After knowing the cause and consequences, she quickly instructed Aunt Xue to go to the small Buddhist temple later and burn a few sticks of incense for her, thanking the Buddha and Bodhisattva for their blessings.

After all, she was a woman, and when she heard that the situation was almost dispersed, she didn't think deeply about joining in it.

And when Sun Shaozong saw her like this, he was happy to skip mentioning the matter.

As for the role played by Jia Baoyu in this, let her figure it out later on.

However, there was one thing that must be said.

"Auntie."

After Old Madam Wang's mood calmed down a bit, Sun Shaozong bowed and said seriously, "In fact, when I was in charge of investigating a certain case in the Palace, Imperial Concubine Xiande once sent someone to inquire about something from me..."

"Are you serious?!"

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Wang quickly asked again, "What did she send someone to inquire about?"

"She didn't ask a few questions either."

Sun Shaozong spread his hands and said, "Because I soon realized that the Eunuch was not actually sent by the Imperial Concubine Xiande, but someone had impersonated."

"A fake?!"

Old Madam Wang was taken aback and immediately remembered someone. She couldn't help but blurt out, "It must be Concubine Rong. Yuanchun has always had a good reputation in the Palace, and only that little scumbag would do such a thing!"

After hearing her said so, Sun Shaozong couldn't continue for a moment.

Finally, after Old Madam Wang urged him repeatedly, he pondered and said, "Actually, there was also a counterfeit coming from behind, and it can be concluded that it's not the same as the one in front..."