Emperor Chongrui felt uneasy. He wanted to know where the second prince had gone.
Is it life or death?
But he didn't find anything unusual about Jia Lian just now.
Even so, Emperor Chongrui still had some doubts in his heart, so he sent someone to announce Jia Chen, who was waiting outside the door, into the palace.
At this time, at the entrance of the palace, Jia Chen saw Jia Lian walking out of the door safe and sound, and his mind became much more stable.
It seemed that Emperor Chongrui had not found anything, otherwise Jia Lian would have been arrested by now.
At this time, a eunuch ran out of the palace gate and announced his entrance.
Jia Chen walked into the Yangxin Hall and saluted Emperor Chongrui.
Emperor Chongrui asked coldly:
"Jia Chen, I ask you, do you know the whereabouts of the second prince?"
Jia Chen responded calmly:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I don't know."
Naturally, Jia Chen did not dare to tell the truth, because the second prince was now buried in Jia Lian's house.
Moreover, he was the one who ordered Jia Lian to dig a hole and bury it.
Emperor Chongrui frowned slightly and saw that Jia Chen's face was as calm as water and his eyes were unwavering. It didn't look like he was lying.
He closed his eyes slightly, opened them suddenly, and asked:
"You really don't know?"
Jia Chen pretended to be confused and said calmly: "I really don't know."
After Emperor Chongrui was silent for a moment, he nodded slightly and said:
"Then where do you think the second prince is now?"
Jia Chen said:
"Wei Chen doesn't know the whereabouts of the second prince. I wonder how long the second prince has been missing?"
He must pretend to know nothing and can only ask questions knowingly.
Emperor Chongrui said:
"The second prince has been missing for two days."
Jia Chen asked again:
"Then your Majesty, can you send people to search Shenjing City?"
Emperor Chongrui said:
"We have sent people to search the capital, but the whereabouts of the second prince have not been found."
Jia Chen pondered for a moment, then said solemnly:
"Then there are only three possibilities. One, the second prince left Shenjing City, two, the second prince was kidnapped by a traitor, and three, the second prince has been killed."
Emperor Chongrui was startled and asked hurriedly:
"Jia Aiqing is very resourceful. Please help Aiqing analyze which situation is most likely?"
After Jia Chen thought for a moment, he said with a bitter face:
"Weichen believes that the second prince is most likely to be killed."
Emperor Chongrui's heart trembled and he said urgently:
"Why do you say this, my dear?"
Jia Chen sighed:
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, has the Second Prince ever left Shenjing City before?"
Emperor Chongrui said:
"Never."
Jia Chen said:
"Yes, your majesty, just imagine, the second prince has never left the city of Shenjing, how could he leave the city without saying goodbye? Moreover, your majesty has sent people to search the whole city. The officers and soldiers must know the appearance of the second prince. If the second prince was there two days ago
After leaving the city, the officers and soldiers guarding the city gate should have seen the second prince, but no one did, which means that the second prince did not leave the city."
Emperor Chongrui's heart sank and he asked:
"Then why couldn't he have been kidnapped by an adulterer?"
Jia Chen said:
"The traitor must have a motive to kidnap the second prince. Why did they kidnap the prince? Naturally, they wanted to use it to extort a huge ransom. However, the second prince has been missing for two days, but no traitor has sent a letter to the government or the palace.
Asking for ransom means that the second prince was not kidnapped by an adulterer."
Emperor Chongrui exclaimed:
"Then according to what Aiqing said, the second prince is in danger of being in trouble?"
Jia Chen said: "Please forgive me for speaking frankly. I'm afraid I will die without life."
Emperor Chongrui took a deep breath, leaned against the dragon chair, rolled his eyes, and almost lost his breath.
Dai Quan on the side hurriedly ordered the palace maid to bring warm tea for Emperor Chongrui to drink.
Dai Quan also stroked Emperor Chongrui's chest and helped him straighten his breathing.
After a long while, Emperor Chongrui regained his breath and asked sharply:
"Jia Aiqing, do you know who plotted to murder the second prince?"
Jia Chen said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I don't know, but this murderer's character is comparable to that of a snake or a scorpion. Even if he is cut into pieces with a thousand cuts, it will not be enough to appease his anger."
Emperor Chongrui had tears in his eyes, gritted his teeth and nodded:
"This man is really hateful. He dared to murder the prince and let me experience the pain of losing a son!"
Hearing this, Jia Chen deliberately said with hatred:
"If I knew who he was, I would cut him into pieces."
The hall fell into a dead silence.
Emperor Chongrui remained silent, and Jia Chen, Dai Quan, and the eunuchs and maids also stood silently.
Suddenly, Emperor Chongrui looked at Jia Chen and said:
"Jia Chen, now the Jinyiwei commander Qinglong is on business in the border area. The other Jinyiwei commander Qiu Chen has limited capabilities. I want to entrust you with an important task!"
As soon as these words came out, Jia Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, but looked at Emperor Chongrui with a somewhat complicated expression.
Emperor Chongrui stared at Jia Chen and said: "Jia Chen, I order you to do your best to find the whereabouts of the second prince and hunt down the murderer of the second prince!"
As soon as these words came out, Jia Chen was a little confused.
Emperor Chongrui actually gave this job to himself?
Is this asking him to catch himself and Brother Lian on his own?
How could it be caught?
Suppressing the weirdness in his heart, Jia Chen saluted and accepted the order.
After coming out of the palace, Jia Chen went home with a complicated mood and an inexplicable look on his face.
Emperor Chongrui's order was very simple, which was for him to assist Jin Yiwei in handling the case.
This was because Qiu Chen was having trouble doing things and had to ask him for help.
Although it was said to be assistance, Emperor Chongrui clearly wanted Jia Chen to be his official.
In other words, during the period of investigating the case, he will temporarily control Jin Yiwei.
You must know that Qinglong, the commander of Jinyiwei, is actually a first-class official.
Another Jinyiwei commander, Qiu Chen, is still junior, but he is also a second-grade official.
And he is only a fourth-grade imperial captain, with an official rank far lower than Qinglong and Qiu Chen.
But now, he has temporarily become their superior officer.
This is really weird.
However, Jia Chen is also used to it.
The last time he served as an imperial minister and went to Yangzhou City to investigate the officialdom of Yangzhou, he was only a fifth-rank imperial guard with a sword in front of him. He was not still speaking of the Constitution and representing His Majesty.
All officials, both civil and military, dare not disobey.
This time, Jia Chen was ordered to handle the case. Although Qiu Chen was dissatisfied, he did not dare to show any dissatisfaction on his face.
When Jia Chen arrived at Fusi Yamen in Jinyiweibei Town, Qiu Chen greeted him with a smile on his face.
"I am lowering my rank to Qiu Chen to pay my respects to Mr. Jia."
Before Jia Chen could speak, Qiu Chen called himself a lower official.
Now Jia Chen is not an imperial envoy, but he is indeed an imperial envoy. Qiu Chen dare not be disrespectful.
Jia Chen said:
"Sir Qiu, you're welcome. Captain Qiu is a second-rank official, so there is no need to call himself a lower official."
Seeing Jia Chen being so humble, Qiu Chen felt a little more comfortable.
Jia Chen ordered:
"Lord Qiu will continue to send people to search the streets and alleys of Shenjing City. He will also send people to send messages to all parts of the country, asking the Jinyi guards stationed across the country to take action and cooperate with the local officials to find the whereabouts of the second prince."
Qiu Chen bowed his hands and saluted:
"As you command!"
Jia Chen thought to himself:
The man behind the scenes wanted to frame the death of the second prince on Jia Lian. He had sinister intentions. The identity of the other party must be extraordinary to set up such a big scheme.