"just."

Xie Lan looked at her with an emotion that Tao Yaoyao couldn't understand, then turned around and got on the carriage, "I will take you back."

"Ah...oh."

After Tao Yaoyao got on the carriage, she sat across from him. She opened her mouth several times to say something, but then swallowed it. Should she tell him what the emperor had just said to her?

His life is not easy to begin with, and if he knows this again, he will only be worried about it.

Moreover, she didn't want more people to know about the Chu family's affairs before it was confirmed. Although she believed him, what if he told the matter for the sake of the people of Jingguo?

Forget it, let’s wait until it’s confirmed.

On the way back, neither of them spoke. When they came to the street, Tao Yaoyao asked the driver to go to Dali Temple, "I will go in alone later. You are also very tired today, so don't accompany me." .”

Xie Lan nodded after noticing her caution.

When the carriage arrived at the entrance of Dali Temple, Tao Yaoyao jumped out of the carriage and went straight to the prison. Xie Lan did not leave, but got off the carriage and went to the court. Xiao Shuo was still investigating the cause of the third prince's death. He was very busy at this time. When he saw him coming, he was stunned for a moment.

"You're back so soon?" He put down the file and asked anxiously, "How is Miss Tao? She is safe."

Xie Lan nodded, "She came here too and is now in prison."

Hearing this, Xiao Shuo breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, I'm really afraid that she will have some shortcomings..." After saying that, he was worried that Xie Lan would misunderstand, so he explained, "This girl is kind by nature, but her temper is a bit impulsive. But the prince is following her. , I guess it’s okay.”

"You don't have to compliment me." Xie Lan explained the purpose of his visit, "Back then, how much did you know about the Xie family and the Chu family?"

Xiao Shuo and Xie Lan were about the same age, so how could he know things that he didn't even know? So when he heard Xie Lan's question, he looked confused.

After asking, Xie Lan realized that he had asked the wrong person, "Forget it, just pretend that I didn't say anything."

Xie Lan turned to leave, but Xiao Shuo stopped him, "I may not know, but the prince should know. My father used to be His Majesty's companion. My father knows His Majesty's affairs more clearly."

"How did you..." Xie Lan frowned.

Xiao Shuo smiled and said nothing.

"Since you guessed my king's thoughts correctly, then lead the way." Xie Lan turned around and walked out. Xie Lan quickly sorted out the files and caught up with him.

On the way back, Xiao Shuo talked about something, "On the night when the third prince died, someone once saw Chu Wulang meeting the second prince. It's strange that Wulang usually despises the second prince the most. If there is anything that requires him to go there in person Find him."

The key is that Chu Wulang never mentioned this matter to him after that. If the yamen had not gone out to do business today and accidentally learned about it, he would not have known about it.

Xie Lan's hand holding the tea cup paused slightly, then raised his head and looked at him, "What did you just say?"

"It's nothing, just a little thing."

"Say it again." Xie Lan's expression was too solemn, and Xiao Shuo could only repeat what he just said, "Your Majesty, I just said casually, I know better than anyone what Wu Lang's temperament is. We grew up together... …”

"As far as I know, Chu Wulang went to the battlefield at the age of thirteen. It has been nine years, and you have remained unchanged for nine years."

Xiao Shuo frowned, "What does the prince mean by this? Wu Lang is Miss Tao's brother, you are not..." Xiao Shuo had already seen that he liked Tao Yaoyao, so he was afraid that he would misunderstand his explanation.

Now seeing that he actually doubted his future brother-in-law, he quickly reminded him, "Miss Tao has a very good relationship with Wu Lang. She will definitely be angry if he hears you talking like this."

"This king is just asking a routine question. Didn't you just say that he was innocent? If so, why did you say such a thing? Or are you actually doubting him?"

"Unjustly accused." Xiao Shuo felt that he had fallen into the prince's trap. He was obviously the one who had doubts about this matter at the beginning, so why did he end up being blamed for this?

Xiao Shuo quickly explained, "I just find it strange that Wu Lang doesn't like the second prince, and naturally he doesn't like the third prince either. When talking about them on weekdays, his eyes can't hide his disgust. And that night, Miss Tao was in danger. Since he He must have known about this when he went out, but instead of entering the palace, he went to find the second prince."

Xie Lan interrupted him, "Let someone investigate what Chu Wulang did after returning to the capital, and who the second prince has met recently."

Xie Lan stopped the carriage and called for the guards. After giving the instructions, the guards left.

The carriage continued to move forward, but Xiao Shuo's face was solemn.

"Maybe this is a misunderstanding..."

"Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, we will find out after the investigation."

The prison of Dali Temple.

"Fifth brother."

Tao Yaoyao stood outside the cell, looking at him with a dark complexion. When Chu Wulang saw her, he was stunned for a moment, then got up and ran forward, "Yaoyao, it's great that you are okay. Do you know that you left?" This period of time almost scared me to death. When I came back, my father and my brothers repeatedly told me to protect you.

If something happens to you, how can I explain it to them? "

After Chu Wulang finished speaking, he took Tao Yaoyao's hand and checked carefully. After confirming that she was not injured, he became even more happy and said, "Fifth brother has never suffered any crime since he was a child. You really don't have to worry..."

"Fifth brother, I just entered the palace, and the emperor told me a secret." Tao Yaoyao stared at Chu Wulang, not letting go of any of his expressions.

"What secret?" Chu Wulang looked curious.

Tao Yaoyao was silent. Gradually, Chu Wulang lost his patience, "You kid, when did you learn to tell the truth? Forget it, if you don't want to say it, just don't say it.

It's getting late, you should go back early. There must be a lot of chaos outside these days, so don't go out if you have nothing to do. If Fifth Brother is gone, no one can protect you in the future..."

Chu Wulang looked worried and pulled off a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to him, "Take him to find the housekeeper. He will find someone to protect you. Our little cotton-padded jacket from the Chu family will never be alone." .”

Tao Yaoyao looked at the jade pendant in his hand but did not pick it up.

"Fifth brother, I was worried about you just now and forgot to tell you that Tao Shi'an found a marriage for me. He is the eldest son of the Wang family. Tao Shi'an said that if I don't have any objections, we can get married this month.

He also said that I was too restless and stayed at home for too long, which was not good for them. He didn't want to be frightened, so he wanted to marry me off. "

"Princess of the Wang family?" Chu Wulang frowned, "But the Wang family who resigned and returned to his hometown?"

Tao Yaoyao nodded, and Chu Wulang immediately changed his face, "Are the Wang family crazy? Who are they? They dare to care about my sister. Doesn't Tao Shian want to live? He knows how much my Chu family loves you, my sister. He actually dares to drive you away like the god of plague."

"Yes, I am like a god of plague in the Tao family." Tao Yaoyao smiled bitterly, "If fifth brother cares about me so much, why didn't he take me away back then?"

When I was very young, the Chu family thought about taking the original owner away, but the original owner refused. Later, the original subject was discussed once, but the Chu family did not agree at that time.

The reason given at the beginning was that she had grown up and there were many men in the border areas who had a bad reputation for her.

In fact, the original owner believed this reason, and she would have believed it if today's incident had not happened. However, after hearing the emperor's words, she could not allow herself not to think too much.

That's why she asked such words at this time, the purpose was to test Chu Wulang's reaction.

Chu Wulang obviously didn't expect it to ask this suddenly. This time he hesitated for a while before speaking, with a forced smile on his face, "Why do you ask this suddenly?"

"It's nothing, I just feel that if I leave the Tao family, they won't hate me so much. Fifth brother, am I a person that no one likes?

As soon as he was born, his mother passed away, but he had no father. Although the Chu family loves me, they haven't been around for so many years. Strictly speaking, I don't have many relatives around me.

If I really die tonight, looking back at my life, I will feel pitiful. "

"Don't talk nonsense." Chu Wulang said distressedly, "I know you are worried about Tao Shi'an marrying you off. Don't worry, Fifth Brother will definitely help you."

"Fifth brother can't protect himself now." Tao Yaoyao reminded him.

Chu Wulang said, "Even if I am controlled by others now, it is more than enough to deal with Tao Shi'an. You can go back. You will know tonight. Tao Shi'an is bullying me if she deals with you. I will not let her have an easy time."

This time, Tao Yaoyao stared at him for a long time but did not speak until he left, nor did she tell him what the secret the emperor told him was.

Chu Wulang didn't have the time to think about it now. After Tao Yaoyao left, he would find a way to send someone the news.

Tao Yaoyao had been hiding outside and waiting. When she saw a jailer coming out, she followed him. The jailer turned around on the street, entered a cloth pile, and came out quickly. Then he returned to the Yamen.

Xiao family

"Why did the prince suddenly ask about this?" Mr. Xiao is old and resigned last year. Now he is idle at home. He was surprised to see Xie Lan coming over. You must know that this Dingbei King never interacts with anyone in the court. People are involved.

Today, he came to their house uncharacteristically. He was worried about something, so he turned away the servants. Unexpectedly, what he heard was that he wanted to inquire about the emperor's past.

"That's all in the past. It's not good for you, a junior, to know too much."

King Dingbei was not favored, and this was a past event that the emperor did not want to mention, so Mr. Xiao did not want to cause trouble for him. Who knew that Xie Lan said, "My mother told me about this, but because she was still angry, she was very one-sided. I guess my father didn't mind it when he mentioned it today, so he came to ask Mr. Xiao." "

So that's it.

He thought that His Majesty would never be able to let it go in his lifetime.

Rare, rare.

It's just a pity for that woman. If it weren't for that past, she should have been...