Chapter 962: Chapter 962: This is Outrageous

Shu Yu and Hu Li walked ahead, while the others kept some distance behind them. Only then did Hu Li reveal the purpose of heading into the woods.

“Have you heard that the black market has acquired a perfectly clear mirror?”

Shu Yu nodded, “I just heard Young Master Jiang mention it yesterday. Because of it, security has been tightened.”

Hu Li said, “Didn’t the Third Prince’s consort take that mirror? Later, when she saw that the Third Prince’s mother, Princess Consort Hui, also liked it, she gifted it to her out of respect. But somehow, because of that mirror, Princess Consort Hui ended up receiving the Emperor’s favor.”

Palace schemes–Hu Li wasn’t too clear on the details, so he naturally couldn’t explain it all to Shu Yu.

But that was just the start. As a result, the favored concubine the Emperor had just taken in last year became discontent, raising a ruckus and insisting on having that mirror.

And just like that, the spark of palace intrigue was lit. At first, it seemed like the usual petty squabbles. The inner palace often turned deadly over the smallest things, depending on which side the Emperor chose to favor.

But this time was different. The Emperor’s health was deteriorating rapidly, and the struggles among the Princes were becoming more overt. This time, the flames of the inner palace had spilled over into the court.

Somehow, a strange rumor suddenly spread, claiming that the mirror was no ordinary mirror–it could reveal the good and evil within a person. It was said the Emperor saw Princess Consort Hui’s kind and gentle nature when she looked into the mirror, which is why he decided to reward her.

“Huh?” Shu Yu’s eyes widened, his head full of question marks.

This was absolutely ridiculous!!

“People actually believe this kind of rumor?” Was this some kind of joke?

Hu Li sighed, “On the surface, of course, no one believes it. Everyone thinks it’s nonsense.”

No one believes it on the surface, but…

“What about in secret?” Shu Yu asked.

Hu Li sighed again, “In secret, plenty of people have flocked to the black market in Jiangyuan County.”

“They believed it?”

“Not exactly.”

Shu Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness–she had thought those cunning old foxes in the court had all lost their minds.

Hu Li spoke in a hushed tone, “They don’t believe it, but it’s obvious this rumor was spread with an agenda. Someone is using the mirror as a pretext to stir things up. While their ultimate goal is still unclear, it’s likely connected to finding the person who sold the mirror. As a result, several factions have converged on the black market in Jiangyuan County. These factions belong to different powers. As long as they don’t cross paths, it’s fine, but as soon as they meet, trouble breaks out.”

Those people didn’t enter the county town but instead gathered around the black market.

Jiangyuan County was under Xiang Weinan’s jurisdiction, and of course, he wasn’t going to let these people come and go as they pleased on his turf. However, the Fifth Prince sent word to maintain a loose outer appearance while remaining vigilant internally, letting these people go to the black market to see what chaos might ensue.

This eventually led to the mess that Jiang Kuanyu had described.

However, Jiang Kuanyu’s intel was limited and differed somewhat from Hu Li’s account.

It wasn’t just an ordinary small mess–it had resulted in several deaths.

But those deaths couldn’t be dealt with openly. Whether it was the factions involved or the black market itself, by the time the officers arrived, everyone had already cleared out completely.

Xiang Weinan tried to investigate further into the mountains but was stopped at the base by guards claiming it was private property and that he couldn’t enter without cause.

Xiang Weinan needed to conduct matters discreetly. Forcefully barging in was not an option, especially since this involved multiple factions. For an outsider, a mere county magistrate meddling in such affairs would instantly become a thorn in their side.

For now, Xiang Weinan could only temporarily withdraw and wait for the right opportunity.