Chapter 516 - Chapter 516: Second Time

Chapter 516: Second Time

After Xiao Juan entered the palace, he met the emperor.

The emperor was in a better state than the rumors said. Although he was sick in bed and needed someone to serve him, at least his mind was clear and he looked in good spirits.

He listened to Xiao Juan recount the entire journey to Liangzhou from beginning to end. The content was almost the same as what Wei Liao had said.

The old emperor sat on the bed and spoke very slowly, with the unique bearing of an old person.

“I didn’t expect Ni Yang to do such a thing. She really disappointed me. Fortunately, you didn’t collude with her. You’re still a good child and didn’t let me down.”

Xiao Juan said respectfully, “It’s my duty to be loyal and patriotic.”

The old emperor said, “You’ve contributed to the quelling of the rebellion this time. Tell me, what reward do you want?” Xiao Juan said, “I want a three-month vacation.” The old emperor was surprised.

“Why do you need such a long vacation?”

Xiao Juan lowered his eyes, looking a little sad. “Although Mother made a huge mistake, she’s still my biological mother. I feel terrible and want to take a break.”

The old emperor sighed.

“This is all Ni Yang’s fault. She implicated you and made you suffer with her. I’ll listen to you and let you rest for three months to relax.”

Xiao Juan bowed and thanked him. “Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty.” The old emperor said, “In addition, I’ll reward you with a thousand taels of gold and a hundred pieces of satin.”

Xiao Juan thanked him again.

Just saying these words made the old emperor look tired.

Xiao Juan tactfully bade farewell and left.

After walking out of the bedroom, he did not go straight home. Instead, he took a detour to the Internal Affairs Division.

When the eunuch in charge of the Internal Affairs Division saw Duke Lang arrive, he hurriedly knelt down and bowed in fear.

“Greetings, Your Highness. May I know why Your Highness has suddenly come?”

Xiao Juan took out the jade bracelet wrapped in a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and said in a low voice.

“Help me investigate the origins of this bracelet.”

The eunuch in charge took the bracelet with both hands and looked at it carefully.

“This is indeed something from the palace, but it should be an old item from many years ago. Why is it in His Highness’s hands?”

Xiao Juan said coldly, “Don’t ask too much about things you shouldn’t.” The eunuch in charge shrank back, afraid to say anything else.

Although he was quite old, his memory was really good. He quickly found the relevant records of the jade bracelet in a large pile of books.

“This bracelet was gifted by the Persian country fifty years ago. Later, it was given to Imperial Concubine Meng by Emperor Ren. Ever since then, this bracelet has never appeared again. I remember that there was a pair. Why is there only one left? Where’s the other?”

Xiao Juan ignored the eunuch in charge’s question and asked in a low voice.

“Where’s Imperial Concubine Meng?”

The eunuch in charge extended a finger and pointed at the sky. “She’s long dead. If she was still alive, she would be a hundred years old now.”

Xiao Juan asked again, “Does she have descendants?”

The eunuch in charge shook his head. “No, Imperial Concubine Meng is a very good person. She’s famous for her good temper in the palace. Unfortunately, she has no children in her life and doesn’t even have a princess.”

Xiao Juan did not ask further. He put away the jade bracelet and instructed.

“I don’t want a third person to know what you just told me.”

The eunuch in charge hurriedly replied, “I understand.”

He watched Duke Lang leave.

After confirming that he was gone, the eunuch in charge immediately left the Internal Affairs Division and rushed to find Wei Huai’en.

He told Wei Huai’en about Duke Lang’s investigation of the jade bracelet.

Wei Huai’en did not understand. “Why would he investigate the origins of a bracelet?”

The eunuch in charge shook his head. “He didn’t say. I don’t know.”

Wei Huai’en waved his hand to dismiss the eunuch in charge and ordered someone to call Wei Liao over.

“Father, why have you summoned me?”

Wei Huai’en said, “When you followed Duke Lang to Liangzhou, did you see a jade bracelet in his hand?” Wei Liao nodded without hesitation.

“I’ve seen it.”

Then, he explained the discovery of the jade bracelet.

“At that time, I wanted to see the bracelet, but Duke Lang wouldn’t let me. From the looks of it, he must have discovered something unusual about the bracelet.”

Wei Huai’en was thoughtful. “Why would a pirate have something from the palace? Where’s the corpse of the bandit?”

Wei Liao said, “Duke Lang took it away. It should be in the Justice Department now.”

Wei Huai’en stopped asking.

Because he knew that as long as the corpse entered the Justice Department, it was Impossible tor mm to toucn It again.

Wei Liao asked curiously, “Is that bracelet really from the palace?”

Wei Huai’en said, “That’s what Emperor Ren rewarded Imperial Concubine Meng, but Imperial Concubine Meng has been dead for many years. Why would her things appear in the hands of a pirate? And why is Duke Lang so concerned about this matter? This matter is too strange. You have to keep an eye on it.”

Wei Liao nodded.

“I will.”

After getting down to business, Wei Huai’en softened his tone and chatted with him.

“You look a lot tanned after being out for a long time. You must have suffered a lot along the way, right?”

Wei Liao smiled casually. “It’s alright. I think it’s good to go out and broaden my horizons.”

Wei Huai’en said, “I heard that there was a scandal between you and the Princess Consort of Lang County. Your relationship with her is unclear. Is this true?”

Wei Liao denied it without hesitation.

“No, those are just rumors.”

Wei Huai’en stared at him. “If you say no, then I’ll take your word for it. But I still want to ask you. Do you really not have any thoughts about Yu Niaoniao?”

Wei Liao pretended to smile casually. “This is the second time you’ve asked me.”

Wei Huai’en said, “Is your answer the same as last time?”

Wei Liao opened his mouth to say yes, but Yu Niaoniao’s bright smile suddenly appeared in his mind. He suddenly could not say the words on the tip of his tongue.

He just stood there in silence.

Wei Huai En frowned slightly.

“You should know that you don’t walk on the same paths.”

Wei Liao was still silent.

Wei Huai’en said, “Go back first. Tomorrow, I’ll assign you an errand. I’ll let you leave the Imperial Capital for a while and come back when you have calm down.”

“Aye. ”

After bidding farewell to his adoptive father, Wei Liao walked out of the palace alone.

There were high palace walls on both sides and flat and hard white marble ground under their feet.

He looked ahead, still thinking about what his adoptive father had just said.

His father asked him what he thought of Yu Niaoniao.

He did not think he could have any thoughts about Yu Niaoniao.

At that moment, he was so overwhelmed that he could not deny it.

Could it be that he really liked Yu Niaoniao?

That was impossible.

She was not his type at all!

There must be a mistake somewhere!

His father was right. He had to calm down.

Wei Liao clenched his fists and silently told himself that when he calmed down, he would know that it was impossible for him to have feelings for Yu Niaoniao..