Rumors are so feared even by the cleverest of people because they can't be traced.

  Shen Xingwen knew he had said something useless after finishing speaking. This move can be considered a dark loss.

  Jing Wan'er couldn't help but clench her teeth and looked at Pei Tan.

  Pei Tan's face was calm as water: "We don't need to be influenced by outside voices. This case, we'll handle it however it should be handled."

  This is what Pei Tan would say, unmoved by any disturbance, forever doing only what he should do.

  But this time, Jing Wanyu had a different and heavier premonition than before.

  "Only by solving this case can I ask Your Majesty for an edict to revoke this imperial marriage."

  Shen Xing's expression changed slightly, and he looked incredulous: "Your Excellency... wants to cancel the engagement?"

  "Sir, why must you do this?"

  Even if Pei Tan wanted to handle this case fairly, there was no need to use divorce as a condition.

  The method of handling, however, is that those people are probably jealous of the identity of Da Tang Jun Ma Ye, and will come up with such a sinister move. If Pei Tan were to back out of the marriage, at least those people would have succeeded.

  "In the past few cases, Your Majesty's protection of the Grand Justice Temple has indeed caused many people to be jealous. Now that you are about to rise to a higher position and become the Emperor's son-in-law, won't they be even more envious?" Jing Yu'er said, "You don't have to cater to their wishes at all. Especially after solving this case, they will be even more wary of your higher status."

  In Chang'an, power is everything. Without power or influence, one will be trampled underfoot. There was a majestic horse who became the Grand Justice of the Temple of Great Awesomeness, and the Temple of Great Awesomeness would flourish like the sun in midday.

  Shen Xingwen narrowed his eyes and said after a while, "If that's the case, why doesn't Your Excellency request an imperial decree now to have His Majesty terminate the engagement and put an end to the rumors?"

  At this time, requesting the return of the betrothal gift would make one appear even more selfless and gain people's trust.

  "It's not that simple." Pei Tan said solemnly, "If we request Your Majesty to withdraw the edict now, the people will only think that Your Majesty is yielding to rumors and pressure. This would damage Your Majesty's imperial authority."

  Jing Wan had a feeling of being enlightened suddenly.

  Shen Xingwen also looked somewhat similar, his face was much more solemn. It is said that the monarch has no joking words, this is not a joke, especially for Zhong Zong, he is such a special emperor, if because of a few rumors, he casually withdrew the already issued imperial edict, others will only think that the king has no prestige, is a soft persimmon that can be taken advantage of.

  In that case, Zhong Zong would definitely not agree to withdraw the imperial edict. If Pei Tan insisted on requesting a divorce, the consequences would be... unthinkable.

  Shen Xingwen thought about it afterwards, but just smiled lightly and said with self-deprecation: "I, Shen, have a high opinion of myself. In front of adults, I am indeed not as good."

  Conquering a person and making him surrender from the heart is the best strategy, but now Pei Tan doesn't have the energy to be happy, it should be said that he is far from being as calm as he appears.

  The situation is not favorable for the Dalai Lama at all.

  Because Pei Tan has made up his mind to do nothing, the situation of rumors getting more and more out of hand is a bit out of control.

  "Your Excellency, it's all over town now - Pei Qingtian? Ha! This title is too honorific for that whelp."

  On Zhong Chu's face, which had been gloomy for many days, a hint of a smile finally appeared: "Your Majesty,"

  "When they got married, I suppose they didn't think it would end up like this. After all, it's still because of our emperor here, being too impatient."

  Too anxious to pull the Great Temple, pulling Pei Tan.

  "It's unclear whether Crown Prince Zhang Huai was wrongly accused back then, and no one can say for sure. Since it's something that can't be clarified, naturally everyone has their own thoughts on the matter." With a bit of embellishment, the case from back then can become shrouded in mystery and fog in the minds of ordinary people.

  At this time, whoever reverses the case will make people suspect.

  Zong Chuke slowly lifted the cup lid: "What's new with the Temple of Great Wisdom?"

  The strategist said: "That young man can hold his breath, and it was already within the expectations of the adults."

  If Pei Tan had only this much tact, he wouldn't have made his Excellency, the Minister of War, so wary.

  Zong Chuke slammed the teacup onto the table, his eyes sinking: "It's just a rumor, it can't shake the foundation of Dalisi Temple." What he wanted was more. He hoped to see both Dalisi Temple and Pei Tan destroyed forever.

  "May I request your assistance, Your Highness?"

  When she learned that Emperor Zhongzong wanted to reopen the case of Crown Prince Zhao's death, Empress Wei immediately "

  He casually mentioned this marriage, and Zhong Zong agreed without much thought. The only person Zhong Zong could use by his side was Pei Tan, and he would only trust Pei Tan to handle cases, so it was natural for him to entrust Pei Tan with the task of clearing his brother Crown Prince Zhang Hua's name.

  Wei Zifu was a woman who plotted for the world. She could live with Zhongzong under the torture of Tian Hou, and one day Wei Hou, dominated the world.

  "Your Majesty wants his own brother to be truly rehabilitated and to win the acclaim and submission of the people of the Great Tang. But he chose Pei Tan to handle the case, as long as this marriage is in place, for all eternity, the Crown Prince Zhang Hua will never be able to clear his name."

  There was a hint of satisfaction in Zong Chuke's eyes. To control people's hearts to such an extent, how could he not be called a treacherous minister.

  When Zhong Zong agreed to this marriage, he must have thought that this imperial edict was just a good move for him to take Pei Tan one step closer as his own person. However, he forgot that Pei Tan didn't need him to be taken in, as long as he was the Grand Minister of the Dali Temple, Pei Tan would definitely die for the Tang Dynasty.

  Wei Hou's "casual" suggestion to Zhong Zong was a gentle stab in the back, a knife that scrapes the bone.

  The strategist's eyes were gloomy: "What if Pei Tan... breaks this situation?"

  All along, Pei Tan's rivalry with the Ministry of Works had left a deep impression on Zong Chuke's mind. Although the current situation was difficult to resolve, he didn't think Pei Tan wouldn't come up with a solution.

  Zong Chuke's eyes suddenly turned ruthless: "Then let him never turn over again."

  In the eyes of the strategist, there is also a surging ambition: "Let that upright son pay for the young master's life."

  At the mention of the dead Zong Huo, a sudden depth and darkness appeared in Zong Chuke's eyes: "In my son's death, wasn't there also that girl with the surname Jing?"

  The jade cup was crushed in Zong Chuke's palm.

  "Pei Tan always kept the girl by his side, and between the two of them, something had naturally been exchanged."

  ——

  Jing Wan'er indeed didn't sleep well. To be honest, after returning from Qinglong Temple, the knot in her heart had actually loosened a lot.

  But this time, she had a faintly ominous feeling. The last time she felt like this was that night at the Jing's house.

  Pei Tan's plan was clear to her: once the case was solved, she would request an imperial decree to divorce, which would demonstrate that the Grand Court had no bias. This was also the best way to break this deadlock.

  However, Pei Tan's plan was flawless, but what made Jing Wanyu anxious was the possible changes that might occur in between.

  Jing Wan'er's premonition soon came true.

  On the second evening, someone sent another letter to the Dali Temple, which was for Jing Wanyan.

  Invite Jing Wan'er to meet at the teahouse from last time.

  The last time a message was sent to Jing Wanyi, it was by a maid named Xi Cha. She used to be a tea-picking palace maid in the palace and escaped to a teahouse after fleeing the palace.

  It's only been a few days, why is Xi Cha sending her secret messages again?

  Jing Wan'er was uncertain whether she should go. Subconsciously, she felt that the letter was strange, but Xi Cha was her person, and the cryptic message on it was known only to the two of them. If she didn't go... Jing Wan'er thought, what if Xi Cha was in danger?

  Since she couldn't not go, Jing Wan'er let out a sigh in her heart.

  This time Jing Yuanner specially changed into a woman's clothes, put on a cloak, and left the Dali Temple from the side door.

  Jing Yuanyu stopped her footsteps at the bottom of the tea house and didn't go in directly.

  She slowly made her way around to the back of the teahouse, where, by lifting her head slightly, she could see the private room they had reserved earlier.

  The window of the elegant room was half open, and there really sat a young girl. From her figure, it was indeed Xi Cha.

  Jing Wan'er had just let out a breath of relief when Xi Cha, who was standing by the window, turned her head and saw Jing Wan'er downstairs.

  Two people looked at each other.

  Xi Cha suddenly turned pale and grasped the window sill with both hands, as if she was about to jump down!

  Four hands appeared on Xi Cha's shoulders and roughly pulled her back.

  Jing Wan's heart sank.

  Xi Cha shouted loudly by the window: "Girl, run quickly!"

  The voice of Xi Cha was hoarse and trembling with sobs.

  Jing Wan'er gritted her teeth and was about to leave, but then she saw a group of people rushing towards her from the front of the street. She immediately turned around, only to see that the rear path was also blocked, with no room for reaction.

  Jing Wan'er had not encountered such a desperate situation for many years, and she stood still on the spot, her face pale.

  At least twenty people came from both sides and surrounded Jing Wanyan, after which the group of people stopped moving. They just stared at Jing Wanyan with expressionless faces.

  Behind them a four-wheeled carriage slowly came forward.

  Looking at the horse carriage, Jing Wanyan gave up her plan to call for help.

  This alley is rarely visited by people, trapping her here, crying out to the heavens and earth without response, her cries are barely audible before she can be knocked unconscious by the people around here.

  "You don't shout or yell, it seems you really have some guts." In front of the carriage, a man let out a cold hum, looking at Jing Wanyan with an arrogant attitude. This man was dressed in fine clothes, completely different from the servants around him.

  At this time, covering up was meaningless, Jing Wanyu slowly took off her cloak.

  She could feel it, in an instant, a pair of eyes staring at her from inside the carriage.

  Those eyes looked her up and down deeply, giving people a sense of being judged.

  The man standing in front of the carriage suddenly pulled his expression together, leaned his ear closer to the carriage, and was clearly listening for orders.

  After listening, he glanced at Jing Yuane with his eyes: "You, report your name."

  Jing Wan'er actually wanted to laugh and looked at this group of people, slowly asking: "You're blocking me, don't you know my name?"

  The man's face stiffened, as if he was about to get angry.

  At this time, the people inside the carriage started talking again. The man listened for a while and suppressed his anger to look at Jing Wanyan once more.

  "Jing Wan'er, only fifteen years old, the daughter of a criminal official, a low-ranking palace maid, isn't that right?"

  Jing Wan'er looked at the man, "You're looking for me, it has nothing to do with the girl upstairs, let her go."

  The man spoke directly: "What makes you think you can set conditions?"