HLnovel Chapter 792 A Gamble
Chapter 792 A Gamble
It's still a pity.
As Yingxun thought this, the surprise she had just felt dissipated, and her mind cleared up.
He was so caught up in his surprise that he almost forgot about Lu Yangyang's predicament.
Although it's unclear how Xue Wanyue found Lu Yangyang, it seems inappropriate to involve Lu Yangyang in this case.
Yingxun's expression also became serious.
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Ying. It is my honor that you still remember me." Lu Yangyang said politely, and when she looked at Ying Xun, her eyes changed from surprise to seriousness. He was obviously considering her current situation and that she probably couldn't participate in the case.
She still needs to dispel his concerns first.
“Lord Ying, I know that given my current situation, it is probably inconvenient for me to participate in this case. However, I have been entrusted by Consort Duan, who promised to plead with His Majesty on my behalf to restore my freedom after the matter is settled. So all I need is for you to do me a favor and let me participate in the investigation of this case as a coroner. Whether or not the truth is found, I will not implicate you.”
There are only three days left for the Tenth Prince's body to be laid in state. If the truth cannot be found within three days, Yingxun cannot guarantee how the case will ultimately turn out.
The Dali Temple has accumulated many unsolved cases every year, especially those involving the imperial court. Nine times out of ten, these cases are closed in a way that has nothing to do with the truth.
That's why I've been so anxious these past few days.
In his position, he naturally wanted to find out the truth and seek justice for the wrongfully killed. However, being in this position also meant that he had many things beyond his control. When the deadline arrived, there were some cases that he had to close even if he didn't want to.
Ying Xun glanced thoughtfully at Lu Yangyang. He could roughly understand what Xue Wanyue meant: to take one last gamble.
Lu Yangyang is in a difficult situation now, but she is not without options.
Lu Yangyang made outstanding contributions in the smallpox case at Yangguan City, and therefore His Majesty exceptionally bestowed upon her the title of Princess. Discovering a method to prevent smallpox was a great deed that benefited the country and its people. Such achievements would not only be recorded in history but would also be noted in His Majesty's record of accomplishments. Therefore, no matter how serious Lu Yangyang's crime was or what punishment she received, His Majesty could not possibly strip her of her title of Princess.
Lu Yangyang was exiled because she was implicated by the deposed crown prince as the crown princess. If she had not married the deposed crown prince, she would still be a princess personally appointed by the emperor based on her achievements.
With the fate of the deposed crown prince still unknown, there must be quite a few people secretly watching Lu Yangyang. However, if His Majesty is willing to pardon her, Lu Yangyang can still openly and legitimately be a princess. In the end, Lu Yangyang has not done anything wrong; it all depends on whether His Majesty can pardon her.
Just like Consort Duan, Xue Wanyue, the Tenth Prince died suddenly in her palace. All the apparent evidence pointed to Xue Wanyue, but His Majesty's temporary punishment was only to send her to a temple to pray and reflect on her actions; he did not strip her of her title. Whether she could return to the palace and continue as Consort Duan depended on whether His Majesty was willing to protect her.
If Lu Yangyang can find out the truth for Xue Wanyue, given Xue Wanyue's current favor with the Emperor, it's not impossible for her to be pardoned.
So it's not surprising that the two were able to reach such an agreement.
As for the relationship between the two, even if Ying Xun didn't delve into it, he could guess a little. They had both studied at Taiming Academy before, so it wasn't surprising that they knew each other.
Having figured out the crux of the matter, and given Ying Xun's great curiosity about Lu Yangyang's autopsy skills, he was currently stuck and couldn't find a breakthrough. If Lu Yangyang were to join in, perhaps there would be new discoveries.
Ying Xun was able to think of a way to invite Lu Yangyang to the Dali Temple from the beginning, and he was not a timid person. He quickly made a decision in his heart.
He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lu Yangyang: "It would be my honor to receive Miss Lu's assistance. Please rest assured, Miss Lu, since I have decided to involve you in this case, I will personally take full responsibility for any problems that arise and will absolutely not implicate you. If this case is successfully solved and the truth revealed, I am also willing to petition His Majesty on your behalf."
Lu Yangyang had thought that persuading Ying Xun would not be so easy, but she did not expect Ying Xun to agree so easily. She quickly cupped her hands in return, "Lord Ying is too kind. I will do my best."
Having decided to cooperate, Ying Xun didn't mince words and told Lu Yangyang about his arrangements: "The coroner in charge of this case at the Dali Temple is surnamed Min. Chief Clerk Min has two apprentices. Due to the special nature of the coroner, these two apprentices rarely show up and are both unfamiliar faces. I will go to Chief Clerk Min first thing tomorrow morning and ask you to replace one of his apprentices so that you can participate in the investigation normally."
During the reign of the late emperor, coroners were considered lowly and, although they worked in the government offices, they were not considered government servants. It was only after Emperor Zongque reformed the classification of lowly people in the Great Zhao Dynasty that coroners became official government servants and received salaries from the imperial court.
Lu Yangyang nodded: "I will leave it all to Lord Ying's arrangements."
He then introduced Hongyu to Yingxun: "This is my good friend Hongyu. It is inconvenient for her to go to Dali Temple with me. Please take care of her for the next few days."
Lu Yangyang had just returned to the capital when she was entrusted by Xue Wanyue to investigate a case. Before she could contact anyone else, she asked Hongyu to handle the matter and also to inquire about the situation for her.
Ying Xun naturally agreed and understood that Lu Yangyang needed Hongyu to pass on messages to her. He nodded and said, "I will instruct the steward later that Miss Hongyu only needs to inform the steward when she comes and goes these days."
In this way, any news from Hongyu can be successfully relayed to Lu Yangyang through him.
Lu Yangyang quickly thanked him and then asked Ying Xun, "Does Lord Ying have any further instructions? Is there anything I should pay special attention to after entering the Dali Temple?"
Ying Xun thought for a moment, "There are too many people at the Dali Temple, and they're all talkative. As long as you don't ask any questions, I'll take care of the rest. Just one thing..."
Ying Xun's expression was slightly strange. "It's not a big deal. His Majesty has ordered the newly appointed top scholar, Lu Wei, to assist in this case. This scholar Lu is quick-witted. When you are with him, young lady, you should be careful to avoid any complications."
Lu Yangyang was taken aback when she saw the slightly embarrassed and strange expression on Ying Xun's face. Given Ying Xun's personality, it must have been quite awkward and difficult for him to remind her to be careful of her colleagues in private. But she had to admit that Ying Xun was indeed worthy of being the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; his judgment was very accurate.
If she hadn't known Lu Wei beforehand and was aware of his background, Lu Wei would probably have quickly seen through her.
If someone suddenly appears at the Dali Temple at this time, they are likely to be targeted if someone notices something amiss.
Lu Yangyang couldn't reveal that she knew Lu Wei, so she could only thank Ying Xun for his kindness: "Don't worry, Lord Ying, I will be careful and never let the other party see through my disguise."