Wang Qingyao returned and got into the same carriage with Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun had arrived on horseback, so Yuan Bao rode the horse, trotting alongside the carriage.
Wang Qingyao used her clairvoyant eyes to scan the surroundings of the carriage, and seeing no suspicious individuals, she lowered her voice and said to Xiao Yun, "I have an idea. See if it can work."
Xiao Yun raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
"Grand Tutor Wei is desperately searching for the Emperor's eldest son. We have no evidence regarding the former Empress's childbirth back then, it's all speculation. Why don't we... why don't we fulfill Grand Tutor Wei's wish and create an eldest son for him."
"How do we do that?"
Xiao Yun was a little confused. Creating a fake one to attract Grand Tutor Wei's attention wouldn't be useful. Instead, it would put the fake one in mortal danger. Grand Tutor Wei wouldn't kill himself; assassins wouldn't care about the reason, they'd just kill. Even if caught, it would be useless.
They still had Steward Ji in their hands, who was tight-lipped and wouldn't confess no matter how much he was beaten. He was a tough character. If Fang Zheng were to interrogate him, perhaps something could be revealed.
Therefore, the first step was to bring Steward Ji back to Duanjing.
Steward Ji was currently a wanted criminal. Bringing him back to Duanjing would inevitably lead to him being discovered. Whether he was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice or Dali Temple, Grand Tutor Wei would have people there. Interrogation would then be difficult, and there was even a risk of him being silenced...
Xiao Yun's thoughts raced, and he truly felt it would be simpler to end Steward Ji with a single blow, saving himself the trouble.
Wang Qingyao said, "Didn't the Emperor send you to Yun Gui on a secret mission? What that mission is, isn't it up to us? We can spread some rumors, saying the Emperor sent you to find the prince who was lost among the common people, or an illegitimate son, or something like that."
Xiao Yun's eyelids twitched. His wife was truly daring, saying anything. If the Emperor found out, he'd probably slap her a few times. Why create an illegitimate son when she was supposed to be staying safely in the palace?
If the Emperor was angered and investigated, and it led to the Prince of Ding'an's mansion, it wouldn't be something explainable in a few words.
Xiao Yun remained silent. Seeing his expression, Wang Qingyao knew what he was thinking.
"Naturally, we won't spread it widely. These rumors will only be spread to the Wei family, especially Grand Tutor Wei. As for the eldest son, he's just a phantom, a phantom that makes Grand Tutor Wei jump around. Perhaps as he jumps, we can glimpse a bit of the truth from back then."
Grand Tutor Wei had failed to get rid of Wang Qingyao several times. Although he wasn't making moves now, there were still people watching outside the Prince of Ding'an's mansion. They thought they were hidden well, but Wang Qingyao had discovered them long ago. Wang Qingyao knew the power of a double-cross and didn't have them removed, thinking they might be useful later.
See, they were useful now.
Xiao Yun understood her meaning.
Moreover, they had just returned from the former Empress Xiaoxian's maternal family. If any news were intercepted immediately, it would be too suggestive.
After returning to the mansion, that very night, they sent a message by carrier pigeon in the direction of Nanzhou – to Xiao Mo. It wasn't a secret that Xiao Mo was in Nanzhou. However, Xiao Yun always communicated with him through their own secret channels. As long as there were no traitors within these channels, others couldn't easily intercept them.
The pigeon flapped its wings a few times, but before it could fly far, it was shot down. It fell to the ground with a thud, making no sound, and died without even a cry.
In the darkness, someone quickly picked it up and disappeared into the night.
Yuan Bao, who was secretly monitoring, saw this scene and immediately returned to the mansion to report to Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun nodded. The bait had indeed taken the hook.
The content of the carrier pigeon's message was very vague. Those who didn't know about the former Empress Xiaoxian's child being born and murdered wouldn't understand. If Grand Tutor Wei truly sent people to Nanzhou, it would mean that something had indeed happened back then.
Grand Tutor's Mansion.
When Grand Tutor Wei saw the slip of paper delivered to him, his face changed. The Emperor already knew! The Emperor hadn't shown the slightest hint, and had even sent the Prince of Ding'an to investigate secretly. Could it be that he suspected him?
Thinking this, Grand Tutor Wei couldn't sleep. However, remembering that he had already sent people to Nanzhou, he felt a little relieved. If Xiao Yun and his group found the eldest son first, he still had a backup plan.
Back then, the former Empress Xiaoxian had given birth to the Emperor's eldest son a month before Consort Wei. He had started his plan then. Although everyone involved in the birthing room had been silenced, and he had seen the child's corpse, how could that child still be alive? And this matter had actually spread, and even been written into a book and performed on a large scale?
It was too outrageous!
The people Grand Tutor Wei sent out found no midwives, wet nurses, or palace maids from that year. Just as he had ordered back then, everyone in the birthing room had been silenced, and nothing had leaked out. But that damned Wang Qingyao knew!
How did she know?
Given her age, it was impossible, and she shouldn't have known!
Moreover, that damned girl never spoke the truth and had played them all for fools.
Now that she was the Princess of Ding'an, it was difficult to move against her!
But now it was good. At least he knew that child had ended up in Nanzhou. As long as that child was in Nanzhou, he would turn the entire Nanzhou upside down to find that child.