Prince Wei stood a few steps away from Su Pan’er and greeted her with a bow and a smile.
"Qi Di pays his respects to the Empress!" Qi Di said. "It was only this morning that I learned the Empress was also in Luoyan Village, and I hurried over imdiately. For any discourtesy, I hope the Empress can be generously forgiving!"
This term "Empress," Prince Wei called out exceptionally clearly as if he were very familiar with Su Pan’er.
Su Pan’er, on the other hand, sat even more indifferently, turning her head to order a servant to bring over a small stool for Prince Wei to be seated.
Once Prince Wei leisurely picked up his robe and sat down, Su Pan’er remained calm and collected.
"Qi Di is quite the jester," she said. "I am here on a secret visit; it’s unexpected that Qi Di learned about it so quickly. And you even made a special trip to see ; you are really thoughtful!"
Su Pan’er spoke with a double aning, "Please rise, Qi Di. This countryside is humble, and I fear you might find it hard to adjust for a while. It’s just a small rural place. It seems I have put you at inconvenience."
"Why would I dare to speak of hardship when the Empress herself does not find residing here a burden?" Prince Wei asked, seemingly unaware of the reason Su Pan’er was here as he lightly chuckled and inquired.
"From your perspective, Prince Wei, do you think I am ill at ease living here? It’s only now that I’ve co to realize that despite your constant calls of ’Empress,’ you hold so much dissatisfaction towards in your heart. It begs the question, Prince Wei, who do you think should live here to not feel aggrieved?"
Prince Wei was left speechless by her probing question.
He had not considered this aspect before; it was rely a conversation that led there, and he happened to respond like that.
Yet this Empress, she turned her face faster than flipping through a book; her change in deanor was exponentially faster than the turning of a page. He had never noticed this before!
He quickly knelt down, bowing sincerely, "Empress, please be rciful. Qi Di truly did not consider it that deeply! Even if the heavens gave ten tis the courage, I would not dare to entertain such thoughts. I hope the Empress can see the truth! Otherwise, Qi Di can only offer his life as an apology!"
"Where do these words of yours co from, Prince Wei?" Su Pan’er continued. "It’s rely a casual comnt; why would you talk of life and death? You’re losing too much face for the Qin Family!"
Su Pan’er kept up the repartee, relentlessly sparring with Prince Wei.
The Prince Wei she t today had really changed a lot compared to a few years ago!
Perhaps power has magnified personal desires. Compared to a few years ago, the current Prince Wei seed much more seasoned, not to ntion his montum was a great deal stronger than before!
While many things can be cultivated, the intrinsic montum cannot be simply claid.
Su Pan’er engages in small talk with him while assessing the reasons for Prince Wei’s visit in her heart.
Prince Wei held significant power, especially with his force expanding greatly in recent years. Alongside the growth of Prince Wei’s power, his ambition had grown all the more significant!
Among the feudal lords, Prince Qi was often the most restless, while Prince Wei was deed the most compliant and perceptive.
But at the mont, Prince Wei’s compliance seed to have a lot of empty promises contained within!
As Su Pan’er’s thoughts were churning, their conversation was drawing to a close.
"Qi Di, you’re not staying in your own fiefdom, but you have the leisure to wander around? You really have a taste for elegance!"
"The Empress is not aware."
Breaking his usual deanor, Prince Wei dropped the frivolous smile and looked at her with a calm face: "The reason Qi Di is here, really, is that I’ve recently received His Majesty’s command to rigorously investigate abnormalities in all regions. With a heavy responsibility on my shoulders, I dare not slack off and am inspecting every corner. My presence here is also related to Lord Su’s disappearance case!"
Su Pan’er’s heart raced as if it skipped two beats.
Yet on the surface, she seed unperturbed and her smile grew even more obvious.
"Qi Di truly has remarkable abilities!"
Su Pan’er looked at him smilingly, "Thinking of Qi Di’s concern for country and people, even news from thousands of miles away is thoroughly investigated. Really extraordinary!"
Then, she shifted the topic, "So what do you think, where might Lord Su currently be? Who could be by his side, and why would he disappear so mysteriously?"
Su Pan’er threw one question after another, but Prince Wei simply indicated with a smile, without uttering any superfluous words.
"Empress, the questions you have are exactly what Qi Di is investigating. When Qi Di finds sothing, I will co and discuss it with you in detail."
"If Qi Di is willing to take on the task, it is of course a boon that this palace greatly welcos. I shall await the latest developnts in the missing person case."
After thanking him, Su Pan’er then gestured for Prince Wei to join her for lunch.
Prince Wei agreed without a second thought.
From start to finish, Su Pan’er was probing her counterpart. It was particularly frustrating for her that this Prince Wei was as slippery as a loach, and to catch any fault in him would likely require unconventional ans!
The luncheon was simple, yet rich.
Simple, because the al consisted rely of ho-cooked dishes, clearly indicating that Su Pan’er had not brought the Imperial Chef with her this ti. Rich, for there were seven or eight dishes prepared, which was quite substantial.
Prince Wei felt apprehensive.
This Empress seed casual and languid, yet she kept probing for weakness at intervals.
The saying goes "There is No Good Banquet"; perhaps this al was a trap, but how could he avoid it?
At this point, refusing wasn’t an option for him.
When the al was served, Su Pan’er was the first to pick up her chopsticks.
Prince Wei and Su Pan’er dined separately on their tables, matching each other’s moves with their chopsticks without any difference.
This made Su Pan’er’s eyes narrow — was Prince Wei being cautious, or was he simply overly concerned?
Even with her suspicions, she, Su Pan’er, would not poison him to take his life!
After all, he was Prince Wei of Our Great Zhou, and a brother of His Majesty. Why would she poison him? He wasn’t fortunate enough to taste the poison she had crafted herself!
After rely picking at a few dishes, Su Pan’er set down her bowl. Prince Wei promptly placed his bowl and chopsticks down as well.
Once the Fragrant Tea was brought in, Su Pan’er continued the previous topic, "Does Prince Wei know that yesterday at Shuanghekou dock, over a dozen sufferers were killed?"
"Qi Di heard about it from the ferryman while crossing the river. Those thieves really are bold! Unexpectedly daring to make a move on you, Empress! Qi Di earnestly requests that the Empress strictly investigates this case, to ensure justice and restore peace to Our Great Zhou!"
Prince Wei spoke with increasing solemnity, manifesting an intention to volunteer himself for the task.
This caused Su Pan’er to scrutinize him more intently.
"Why not leave the case to Prince Wei to handle? Should there be any good news, please trouble Qi Di to inform this palace at the earliest. What do you think, Qi Di?"
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