TRBDM -Chapter 186 Who Do You Want to Choose?

Wei Zhaorong’s words were clear enough. By offering to visit Jiang Yuelin on Xie Wanrou’s behalf, she was essentially acknowledging the relationship between the two of them.

It was only that Jiang Yuelin had not yet formally come to propose. But their feelings for each other were obvious to anyone with eyes.

In the past, Xie Wanrou would have blushed upon catching the meaning behind Wei Zhaorong’s words. But she was far too worried about Jiang Yuelin now to feel shy.

“Thank you, Mother.”

As she left Anhe Courtyard, Xie Wanrou felt much lighter.

“Miss, you should sleep earlier tonight. You’ve been staying up every night these past few days—there are dark circles under your eyes. It pains this servant to see it,” Xiaodie urged.

“All right, I’ll listen to you.”

She said she would sleep early, but once she lay down, worry still gnawed at her. She tossed and turned for a long time before finally drifting into a hazy sleep.

The next day, Wei Zhaorong went to the Court of Judicial Review.

The murder of Minister Feng Yun had cast a heavy shadow over the entire Court.

As Wei Zhaorong stepped through its gates, every guard and official she passed hurried along with grave expressions.

She had come at a timely moment. Just one stick of incense earlier, Jiang Yuelin had returned from the Feng residence.

Feng Yun’s body had remained at the Court for two days before his family took it back. The funeral was conducted quietly. In between handling the case, Jiang Yuelin visited the Feng residence daily to pay his respects and console the family.

The Feng family was devastated—especially Madam Feng, who had fainted from grief several times. Each time, Jiang Yuelin’s heart twisted painfully.

He felt he had failed them.

He knew who the mastermind was, yet he could not secure a conviction.

If Zhao Jingyan were to ascend the throne, Feng Yun’s death would never be avenged in this lifetime.

Although the Third Prince still had the Crown Prince as a rival, Jiang Yuelin did not think highly of the latter.

True, the Crown Prince had personally come to the Court and extended an olive branch—but Jiang Yuelin had yet to decide whether to accept it.

Just then, someone reported:

“Lord Jiang, the Old Madam of the Marquis’ residence has arrived.”

Jiang Yuelin lifted his head from the case files. “Please invite her in at once.”

When Wei Zhaorong entered, Jiang Yuelin immediately ordered tea to be served.

They had not seen each other for days. Jiang Yuelin had grown thinner, and his complexion was poor.

His left arm hung suspended against his chest—no matter how one looked at it, he was still a patient.

Yet judging from the piles of files stacked on his desk, this “patient” had not rested at all, working day and night instead.

No wonder Xie Wanrou was worried.

“Have you had breakfast, Lord Jiang?”

Jiang Yuelin shook his head. “I went to the outskirts early this morning. There wasn’t time to eat.”

“No matter how busy you are, you must eat. Nanny Qi, bring the breakfast.”

Early that morning, Xie Wanrou had risen before dawn to simmer sliced fish congee. Fragrant and soft, it had been packed in an insulated container and was still hot when opened.

“Lord Jiang, have your breakfast first. We can talk after.”

“Very well.”

With just one glance, Jiang Yuelin knew it had been made by Xie Wanrou herself.

The exhaustion of the past days seemed to vanish the moment the fresh congee touched his lips.

He had not felt hungry before, but as the aroma wafted up, his stomach suddenly protested fiercely—it wanted food.

In no time at all, he had finished every last drop.

“My thanks, Old Madam.”

“Don’t thank me. Rou’er made it. She woke before dawn and stood over the pot herself, simmering it for a full hour.”

Jiang Yuelin’s heart ached upon hearing this. “Next time, don’t let her do that. Waking so early—she’ll wear herself out.”

“You tell her yourself. I’m old now; she won’t listen to me.”

Jiang Yuelin paused for a moment, then understanding dawned, and he smiled. “All right. Next time, I’ll tell her personally.”

Nanny Qi gathered the bowls and chopsticks, carrying the insulated container out with her.

When Wei Zhaorong came today, besides checking on Jiang Yuelin for Xie Wanrou, she also had another important matter to discuss.

“Lord Jiang, was Lord Feng’s death the work of the Third Prince?”

Jiang Yuelin nodded. “Yes.”

“But the Court of Judicial Review has no evidence.”

“That’s right. The killer took his own life. We investigated for a long time but never found any proof linking him to the Third Prince.”

If the Third Prince wanted someone dead, he would naturally leave no evidence behind. Wei Zhaorong had long guessed this case would yield no result.

She reminded him, “His Majesty is critically ill. It won’t be long before the Third Prince ascends the throne. This case will be quietly shelved.”

How could Jiang Yuelin not know that? That was why he had investigated day and night, hoping to find evidence as soon as possible.

But today, he had completely given up. The evidence had long been destroyed—there was nothing left to find.

Before Wei Zhaorong, a crack finally appeared in Jiang Yuelin’s impenetrable shell.

He admitted dejectedly, “The old madam was right. This case will indeed be left unresolved.”

Clear as the breeze and bright as the moon, iron-faced and impartial, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review had reviewed countless wrongful cases—yet he could not capture the mastermind behind the murder of Minister Feng Jun.

Tragic and lamentable. He blamed himself, but self-reproach changed nothing.

He thought of the Eldest Princess, Zhao Lingchen, who had known full well that Fu Wei had been wronged, yet had been powerless to help.

The same sense of helplessness lodged in his throat like a bone.

Wei Zhaorong broke through his self-blame and said firmly,

“Lord Jiang, there’s no need to worry too much. The person behind this will surely face retribution.”

Jiang Yuelin gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “Once the Third Prince ascends the throne, he will be the ruler of the nation. Who could possibly touch him?”

“Then don’t let him ascend.”

“…?”

Jiang Yuelin suddenly looked up, staring at Wei Zhaorong.

“According to our laws, any prince of pure Dachong bloodline is eligible to become the new emperor.”

How could Jiang Yuelin not understand her implication?

“You mean… choose another prince to support?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Yuelin fell silent.

Wei Zhaorong gave him no time to ponder and immediately pressed on, “Lord Jiang, if you could choose a different prince, whom would you choose?”

The first person to appear in Jiang Yuelin’s mind was the Tenth Prince, Zhao Jingheng.

Though he knew the Tenth Prince was not favored and had no political backing at court, if Jiang Yuelin had to choose, he alone was most suitable.

Zhao Jingheng was upright in character, outstanding in scholarship, intelligent and cautious.

Others thought it foolish of him to leave the palace and enter the Imperial Academy, but Jiang Yuelin believed the opposite. It was precisely because he was exceptionally clever that he had chosen the Imperial Academy.

He avoided factional struggles among the princes and escaped the danger of assassination. The perils within the palace were a hundred times greater than those at the academy.

Had he remained in the palace these past three years, who knew how many open and hidden attempts on his life he would have faced? As it was, he had barely moved into Qingfeng Hall before Zhao Jingrui poisoned him.

The lower his profile, the safer he was.

Jiang Yuelin felt a sense of mutual appreciation for Zhao Jingheng.

After a while, he said, “I choose the Tenth Prince.”

Wei Zhaorong laughed softly. “It seems our thoughts align. I also choose the Tenth Prince.”

“The Third Prince is tyrannical and ruthless. The Crown Prince is weak in character and frail by nature. If either of them becomes the new emperor, they will damage the fortune of our Dachong dynasty.”

Her words struck directly at Jiang Yuelin’s heart.

Back when Feng Jun had supported the Crown Prince, Jiang Yuelin had disagreed—but as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he could not openly question Feng Jun’s stance.

After all, the Crown Prince had been personally chosen by His Majesty as heir.

Now that Feng Jun was dead and Jiang Yuelin was temporarily acting as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he could make his own choice.

“Lord Jiang,” Wei Zhaorong said, “my purpose in coming today is precisely to persuade you to join hands with the Mingde Marquis Manor and support His Tenth Highness in ascending the throne.”