They are all concubines, so of course they choose the future emperor.

Chapter 146: Alarming the Snake

"Oh?" Li Ce raised his eyebrows, "What does Wan'er think?"

Jiang Wanyue lowered her head as if she was deep in thought. She thought for a long time before she spoke.

"I think Captain Fu has been with His Highness for quite some time, and he would not do such a thing. Besides, this stone bridge is so close to the East Palace, there are guards at the gate, and there are patrolling left guards. If he wants to do something, he won't do it here! What if he is recognized?"

"Besides, if Captain Fu is really a traitor, since he is the captain, he has many opportunities to come into contact with His Highness. Why would he be so roundabout and use such a method to murder His Highness? He could just find an opportunity to assassinate him directly!"

Jiang Wanyue found it unlikely that the other party set the trap in order to murder Crown Prince Li Ce.

The chances of success are not high.

Moreover, Li Ce was surrounded by many guards and followers. If anything happened, they would protect him first. Even if he really stepped onto the stone bridge, with so many people around him, the black gunpowder would not be able to kill him.

Those who fell into the water yesterday were only injured and only one person died. This shows that the lethality of black gunpowder is not that exaggerated.

It may also be because the stones used to pave the bridge are too thick and it is located on a river, so its lethality is limited.

But no matter what the reason was, this incident was not aimed at Li Ce's life.

What was the purpose of blowing up the bridge?

Luo River runs across the entire city. There are three bridges in the city. The one on the east side is only used when the emperor goes out. Unless it is an emergency, such as an express journey of 800 miles, people are not allowed to travel freely at other times.

The floating bridge on the west is narrower, and most of the people traveling on it are civilians.

The stone bridge in front of the East Palace is wide and stable, and carriages and horses are accustomed to using it.

Thinking of this, a light suddenly flashed in Jiang Wanyue's mind.

"Your Highness! Could it be that the other party's purpose is just to blow up the stone bridge? Does this stone bridge have any other uses?"

Li Ce was stunned for a moment, then shook his head after thinking for a moment.

"Nothing."

Jiang Wanyue stroked the bracelet on her wrist and frowned: "I still think that Captain Fu's death is strange."

“How come you see?”

"Look, so many people fell into the water yesterday, and they were only injured, not seriously. How come only Captain Fu died?"

"Could it be that someone did this on purpose? Want to shift the suspicion onto Captain Fu?"

"Ah! If that's the case, then Captain Fu is also pitiful and has become a scapegoat."

Jiang Wanyue sighed.

Jiang Wanyue thought of many possibilities.

However, there are no more clues at the moment, and these are just guesses and cannot be used as a basis for judgment.

Li Ce didn't expect Jiang Wanyue to really find the murderer, but Jiang Wanyue's words gave him new ideas.

Xing'er, who had been listening to the two people talking, couldn't help but ask at this time.

"If Captain Fu dies in the water, will he become a water ghost?"

She was so frightened that her face turned pale.

Xiuchun glared at her and said, "How can you interrupt the masters when they are talking?"

Xing'er quickly knelt down and apologized.

"I have overstepped my bounds."

Li Ce didn't bother to care about the maid and just waved his hand casually.

Xing'er stood up and hid behind Xiuchun, still a little scared.

She glanced at her master and tried to give a suggestion.

"Master, how about asking someone to burn some paper money by the river to commemorate Captain Fu?"

Jiang Wanyue's eyes flashed and suddenly an idea came to her mind.

She tugged at Li Ce's sleeve.

"Your Highness, Captain Fu's martial arts skills should be pretty good, right?"

"Yes, he is among the top three among all the guards. Moreover, he is particularly good at swimming. After entering the water, he is like a river fish. This ability is very rare."

Li Ce originally took a fancy to Captain Fu because of his amazing diving skills.

Jiang Wanyue touched her nails.

"I suspect that the person who killed him was someone close to him who he would not be on guard against. Didn't the coroner say that he died from a blow to the back of his head? Who would leave his back to him without any defense? I think, apart from his family, it could only be his comrades."

Li Ce also thought of this possibility.

Jiang Wanyue glanced at Xing'er and spoke in a low voice.

"Time is running out and we are about to go on a spring hunt. We cannot delay this case. Your Highness, why don't you take a risky move and alert the enemy?"

Li Ce looked at her in surprise.

"Wan'er has read a lot of military books recently?"

Jiang Wanyue pursed her lips and smiled.

"I just want to have more things to say to Your Highness, but the military book is difficult and I don't understand many things. When Your Highness is free in the future, can you talk to me about it?"

Li Ce smiled and pinched her face.

"Okay. I'll teach you once this matter is resolved."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Ce stood up.

"Wan'er, you go back first. I will not alert the enemy if I go."

He flicked the hem of his clothes, waved his hand, and left the Shangwu Hall first.

As for how to "startle the snake", he has his own way.

Although Jiang Wanyue was curious, she did not chase after him to ask. She asked someone to pack up the food box and returned to Yichun Palace.

As soon as she returned to Yichun Palace, Nanny Qian couldn't wait to catch up with her.

"Master, what's going on?"

Jiang Wanyue waved her hand and asked everyone else to leave, leaving only Xiuchun and Nanny Qian.

"Captain Fu's death is indeed suspicious. Your Highness has already sent someone to investigate."

Nanny Qian patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then Old Ma should be relieved. Alas! Old Ma and Captain Fu have known each other for many years, but I never thought that Captain Fu would die a violent death and be slandered. The person behind this is really hateful!"

Jiang Wanyue leaned back.

"Don't rush to find Lieutenant Ma. It's not good to be seen by others. The people behind this incident may have other plans, but their purpose is still uncertain. Madam Qian, how much do you know about Captain Fu's situation?"

Nanny Qian thought for a moment before she spoke.

"Captain Fu has been with His Highness for three or four years, but he is not an old subordinate of His Highness. He came after His Highness returned to the capital. He was just an ordinary guard. Once when he was with His Highness, someone fell into the water and Captain Fu jumped in to save him. He is an excellent swimmer and can stay underwater for more than a quarter of an hour without taking a breath. Therefore, His Highness appreciated and promoted him and brought him with him."

"Captain Fu has a widowed mother at home. She has poor eyesight and is almost half blind. Usually, his wife takes care of her."

Jiang Wanyue listened and asked casually, "How many children does he have?"

"He has no children."

Jiang Wanyue was quite surprised by Nanny Qian's words.

"No children? Not one?"

"Yes! I don't know if it's because of Captain Fu or his wife, but they have been married for many years and still have no children. Originally, the family was in a difficult situation and they didn't care about it. In recent years, life has become better and his wife wanted to take a concubine for him, hoping to continue the family line. But she was scolded by Captain Fu and she dared not mention it again."

Jiang Wanyue's expression changed slightly.

Xiuchun was puzzled: "Captain Fu is so affectionate to his wife? Why is he scolding her?"

"Deeply affectionate..." Madam Qian almost uttered a curse word, but stopped herself in time and changed her tone, "How can there be any deep affection at all! His wife used to be like an old maid, doing all the dirty and tiring work at home. Not only was she often scolded, but the couple didn't even sleep in the same bed!"

As Nanny Qian spoke, her expression suddenly became strange. After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly lowered her voice and said something hesitantly.

"I have always suspected that Captain Fu is a bunny husband."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Wanyue and Xiuchun both looked at her.

"Madame Qian, you can't say that."

Jiang Wanyue frowned.

Madam Qian slapped her thigh and said, "I am not talking nonsense! There is something wrong with this person! Master, look at my old Ma. He is about the same age as Captain Fu, and a few years older than him. Every time he sees me, he is always in a hurry..."

"Cough cough!"

Xiuchun coughed vigorously a few times.

Nanny Qian slapped her mouth.

"Look at what I have said. I have polluted the master's ears. What I mean is that Captain Fu is not interested in his wife, and he does not take concubines. He is not seen drinking and having sex, and he is not anxious about not having children. I think he may not like women, but like men."

Xiuchun's face suddenly turned red, and then she turned to look at Jiang Wanyue.

Jiang Wanyue seemed to be thinking about something.

"If that's the case, his wife must know... Madam Qian, I'll have to trouble you to go ask Captain Fu's wife. Oh, and bring some things with you. Tell her not to worry about her future life. The Eastern Palace will take good care of her and her mother-in-law."

Nanny Qian immediately perked up and responded in an exceptionally loud voice.

"Yes!"

Then she went out happily.

Xiuchun also went over to help.

Since they were going to the Fu family to express condolences, they could not just ask Nanny Qian to go alone. Xiuchun asked four palace maids to accompany her and found a lot of things from the storehouse. In addition to the common gold and silver items, she also brought some things that could be used for funerals.

When Nanny Qian arrived at the Fu family, Li Ce's people had just finished questioning and left, so they did not meet.

Mrs. Fu knelt on the floor of the main hall with a blank look on her face, while her mother cried bitterly beside her.

Nanny Qian winked at a few palace maids and went up to help Madam Fu.

"Don't be too sad, big sister. Let's set up the mourning hall first! Send Brother Fu off properly, then you can cry for a while and tell me anything. Our Jiang Liangdi is kind-hearted. Even if Brother Fu is gone, she will take good care of you."

When Mrs. Fu heard this, she slowly raised her head, with a dead silence and numbness in her eyes.

"Did Empress Liangdi send the nanny? Thank you, Empress Liangdi."

She bowed towards the door.

Several palace maids took out the things they had brought, and soon the mourning hall was set up and a white banner was hung at the door.

Nanny Qian led Madam Fu into the house to change her clothes. She kept comforting her and used herself as an example to talk about how good Jiang Wanyue was to her subordinates.

Finally, she sighed.

"We women all have a hard life. I met the wrong man in the past and was almost killed by my husband's family. Now, isn't it over? You are younger than me, and you still have a long time to live! The Fu family doesn't have any children. If you want to remarry, after the mourning period, tell Liang Di and she will make the decision for you."

Mrs. Fu was stunned and touched her face. Suddenly, her hands began to tremble.

"remarry……"

She had never thought of this possibility.