"Dad! How can this cell be so filthy? You are the grand imperial tutor, you can reside in this cell, so why canāt I come here to bring you food?"
Wei WeiāErās little mouth chattered, which quickly made Wei the imperial tutor anxious. He opened his mouth to scold his daughter, but then heard Wei WeiāEr speaking to Xie Si.
"Brother Xie! Do you think what I said makes sense?"
Xie Si chuckled lightly and promptly replied, "Miss Wei misses her father and came to visit, itās only natural!"
Xie Siās words satisfied both sides!
"Wailing and crying..." began anew.
Xie Si and Wei the imperial tutor were quite helpless.
"Whose daughter is this, crying so miserably? What did she do to end up here?"
Wei the imperial tutor was troubled by the crying and couldnāt take it any longer, he stomped his foot in front of his daughter.
Listening to the sound, Wei WeiāErās brows furrowed slightly, knowing who it was.
"Judging by the sound, it seems like Miss Xiao NingāEr from the Dukeās Mansion!"
"Miss Xiao NingāEr from the Dukeās Mansion? Why is she locked up too?"
Wei the imperial tutor was astonished!
Xie Si pricked up his ears to listen.
"You might not know, sir, but His Majesty was poisoned in an attempted murder. The one who poisoned him was Miss Xiao NingāEr. The Empress Dowager was furious and immediately ordered that Miss Xiao NingāEr be flogged to death, but later Divine Hunter Ji and a young lady pleaded for her life, which saved Miss Xiao NingāEr temporarily; she is now locked in the Celestial Prison awaiting Divine Hunter Ji to uncover the truth!"
The maid Cuicui was always quite gossip-minded and knew a few things about what happened in the Capital City.
"Miss Xiao NingāEr from the Dukeās Mansion poisoned Emperor His Majesty?
Thatās impossible! Rumor has it that Miss Xiao NingāEr is deeply in love with His Majesty; even if she were to poison herself, she wouldnāt poison His Majesty!"
Since childhood, Wei the imperial tutor had taught the Emperor and the Ji family brothers, he knew a lot about the Emperorās matters!
"Daughter, initially, they said a girl with the last name Xie poisoned him, and Miss Xiao NingāEr provided testimony. Later, Divine Hunter Ji investigated in the Palace and found evidence clearing the Xie girl, but the Inner Guard found poison in Miss Xiao NingāErās room, leading to the discovery that Miss Xiao NingāEr was the one who poisoned him!"
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing Wei WeiāErās words, Xie Si abruptly interjected and walked over, asking.
"Ah!"
Seeing Xie Siās reaction, images flashed through Wei WeiāErās mind, and she tentatively asked Xie Si.
"Brother Xie, do you know a girl named Xie PanāEr?"
Xie Si quickly nodded, "Sheās my sister! Whatās wrong with her?"
Wei WeiāEr blinked and quickly said, "Her situation is unclear; rumor has it sheās been punished by the Empress Dowager and hasnāt left the Palace yet!"
"Why would PanāEr be in the Palace? Wasnāt she accompanying the Princess at the Ji Mansion?"
"Well... I donāt know either! The Ji Mansion has no interaction with us!"
The matriarch of the Ji Mansion left the Capital City over a decade ago, and upon returning, didnāt host a banquet or participate in any; she only went once to the Junior Minister of the Guanglu Templeās mansion, and itās rumored she went to support Xie PanāEr!
Later, the Ji matriarch lived a secluded life and stopped going out; a few days ago, it was said the Empress Dowager summoned the Ji matriarch and senior lady to enter the Palace accompanying the entourage!
"I canāt leave PanāErās situation alone. Miss Wei, can I ask you for a favor?"
Xie Si became anxious and quickly asked Wei WeiāEr for help, but as soon as he made the request, he met Wei the imperial tutorās deep gaze!
Xie Si bravely pretended not to see.
Wei WeiāEr happily asked, "What is it? Brother Xie, say it, Iāll definitely help you!"
Wei the imperial tutor stood by and coughed forcefully, "Ahem ahem!"
"Dad, whatās wrong? Is your throat uncomfortable? Have some water!"
Cuicui quickly handed a waterskin to Wei the imperial tutor.
Wei the imperial tutor: "..."
"Brother Xie, quickly tell, what do you need me to help with?"
"Miss Wei, I would like to ask you to go to the Ji Mansion and bring a message to the Seventh Master, saying I wish to see him!"
"Divine Hunter Ji?"
Wei WeiāEr had heard of this Divine Hunter Ji, known for his remarkable case-solving prowess; she had heard about Xie Siās case, accused of assassinating the Nanjiang Princess, which was reportedly a wrongful conviction.
"Are you seeking Divine Hunter Ji to help investigate your case?"
"I want to inquire about my sister; sheās confined in the Palace, Iām very worried!"
"Oh! Okay! Iāll definitely deliver the message for you!"
Wei the imperial tutorās blood got caught in his throat. "Daughter, why are you agreeing? Donāt forget youāre a noble lady; how can you privately meet an outsider!"
Wei WeiāEr didnāt care and retorted to her father, "Dad! If I donāt meet outsiders, how can I see you? Look around the cell, so many men here; havenāt I seen them all? Meeting Divine Hunter Ji is no different!"
Wei the imperial tutor: "..."
When Ji Youzhi met Wei WeiāEr, he was just putting Xiaosuisui onto the carriage. Princess Lianchun had learned of the Emperorās poisoning and, worried about his situation, insisted on entering the Palace to visit.
Xiaosuisui was taken along.
The Ji family didnāt want Xiaosuisui to enter the Palace, but the Emperor, as her godfather, was endangered; otherwise, it wouldnāt make sense for her not to visit the Palace, so Ji Youzhi accompanied her to send her into the Palace!
Just as Xiaosuisui got onto the carriage, Ji Youzhi was about to mount his horse when he heard a young girlās inquiry.
"Excuse me, is this the Ji Mansion?"
Cuicui got off the carriage and walked toward the gatekeeper, asking.
Hearing someone inquire about the Ji Mansion, Xiaosuisui and Princess Lianchun inside the carriage both curiously lifted the curtain to look outside.
Two girls came towards them, looking like a mistress and maid!
"Whose daughter is this, so beautiful!"
Princess Lianchun was struck by Wei WeiāErās beauty; a rare beauty!
Xiaosuisui pouted, "Iām afraid there might be a calamity!"
"?"
Princess Lianchun looked puzzled at her and asked, "How can you tell?"