Chapter 295 The Inconspicuous Truth

"Sir, this is the portrait drawn based on the description of the woman."

The subordinate presented a stack of rice paper in front of Fei Nian.

Feinian unfolded the papers one by one - in order to reduce errors, usually three to four portraitists draw a person's head at the same time, and finally the most experienced one among them combines the scrolls into one. This time, the four paintings and the final image are all similar. Judging from the painting, the person is a woman of seventeen or eighteen years old: about five feet tall, with a high nose bridge, wide eyes, and her hair is tied into a flat bunch. She is neither protruding nor outstanding. Not to mention ugly, but she is a very ordinary-looking woman.

"Where's Shangguan Cai?"

"It has been sent out of the Privy Council."

"She doesn't have any complaints, does she?"

"Yes, she seems to have accepted the statement that 'this was a misunderstanding', and asked when she can see you again."

Feinian smiled and put the scroll in his arms, "It's better that this side is gone. Prepare your horses, I'm going to see His Highness."

The matter has not yet been clarified, so of course it is impossible for him to report this to the second prince.

What Fei Nian is really looking for is He'er.

And He'er would always appear next to Ning Qianshi.

After getting the consent of the second prince, Fei Nian met the little girl who always looked carefree in the back room of the palace greenhouse.

"Fei Nian, good evening!"

She was wearing a bright red maid uniform, adding charcoal to the stove in the greenhouse. If she hadn't been aware of her abilities, she would have been no different from the lowest-level maid at this moment.

"Hello, Miss He'er." He bowed respectfully, and then spread the portrait in front of the other party, "I want to use your ability to complete an investigation."

"Do you want to ask about Wanxiang chess records?" He'er put down the charcoal basket, "I have no problem, but has His Highness agreed? He won't let me use this ability at will."

Because this ability places a heavy burden on He'er, it will consume all of He'er's energy after one use. If it needs to be used again in the world of chess, it can only wait until the next day.

"Your Highness approved it."

"Then come on. You should have already thought about the question you want to ask, right? You can only ask it three times!" He'er held out three fingers.

"Yes, I understand that." Feinian nodded.

"Get ready." He'er sat down cross-legged, put one hand on top of the scroll, and closed his eyes slightly, "Immortal skills, all things chess records!"

Surging waves of air poured in from her body, and the pure breath was like a wave entity! It is hard to imagine that a seven or eight-year-old girl can actually contain such powerful Qi. I don't know if this is due to the inherited immortal skills or her talent that is arrogant in the mountains.

When He'er opened her eyes again, there was light blooming in her eyes, and her voice became ethereal and sweet, as if it was not her who was speaking at this time, but the magic itself.

"If you have any questions, just tell me."

Feinian took a deep breath and asked, "Is this woman's involvement related to the change in Xia Fan's ranking?"

"Yes." He'er replied expressionlessly.

He was shocked. It seemed that he was not looking in the wrong direction!

If the Tianxia chess game is the result of the confrontation between forces, then the Wanxiang chess record is another inquiry into the information He'er has. It also cannot give a process, and the answer can only be yes or no. If you ask about something that He'er doesn't know yet, the technique will be terminated immediately. This is why you need to think carefully about three questions before asking.

This affirmative answer made Fei Nian feel reassured. It meant that he had found the key clue related to Xia Fan, and that He'er's intelligence database did contain information about this person.

Unfortunately, he couldn't directly ask the other party's name.

The next two questions must be as narrowly focused as possible.

“Has this person ever lived in the inner city?”

Shangyuan City is divided into internal and external areas. The richer the person, the closer he is to the palace area. Judging from Shangguan Cai's experience, the other party has a lot of money and should not be too short of money.

"yes."

Feinian felt that he was only one step away from the truth.

The inner city area contains four residential areas and the Gyeonggi Royal Palace. There is not much difference in any one you choose. Thinking of this, he asked the last question, "This person does not live in the palace."

"No." As he gave the answer, the light in He'er's eyes suddenly dimmed, "Your question has been answered."

Then she shook twice and fell to one side.

Feinian quickly took two steps forward and reached out to hold the little girl.

"Hey...what did you ask? Have your doubts been resolved?" Her voice returned to that of a child, as if she had no idea what had just happened.

"It's almost solved, you were a big help."

"That's good..." He'er's voice deepened, "I'm... sleepy."

"Have a good rest." Fei Nian carried her onto the couch, walked out of the back room, and saluted the second prince who was painting in the hall, "Your Highness, I want to find someone in the palace."

…

With the direction, the search efficiency suddenly becomes much higher.

Soon, a maid recognized the identity of the person in the painting, "Hui, sir, this woman... looks a bit like the third princess's maid, Qiuyue."

Fei Nian perked up, "Are you sure it's her?"

"This—the maid is not sure." The maid cringed, "Her eyebrows and mouth are a little different from the portrait, but the face shape and height match."

Appearances can be faked, and considering her reluctance to reveal her whereabouts, it's not surprising that she has changed slightly.

In order to verify this judgment, Fei Nian directly called in the maids and servants who had had direct contact with the third princess before. For outsiders, the princess's maid was an insignificant character, but for them, she was already a frequent visitor.

Everyone believed that this person was Qiuyue.

But Qiuyue herself would never want to become an alchemist.

Then the one who replaced Shangguan Cai must be Ning Wanjun!

But why did the princess's visit to Jinxia City as an alchemist make Xia Fan's ranking rise? What else did He'er discover that ultimately led to the change in the list?

Fei Nian felt that the answer was only a thin layer of window paper away from him.

He returned to the Record Department and reread the correspondence about Jinxia.

That was the fiefdom of the third princess. Whether she went there as a princess or an alchemist, it should be harmless. The latter was at most her playfulness and wanted to experience the life of alchemy.

Wait.

Fei Nian's eyes stayed on the document in which the princess asked for credit for Xia Fan because of the Gaoshan County incident.

He suddenly realized that he was only focusing on replacing the alchemist... Maybe it was too narrow-minded. Qiuyue was responsible for contacting Shangguan Cai, which meant that Ning Wanjun could leave the capital area first without being restricted by the time of the exam. Moreover, the Privy Council had no way of knowing the specific time when the princess left Beijing. What if she was no longer in Shangyuan before the exams in the two places started?

A new idea suddenly opened up in his mind!

So where would the princess go?

Fei Nian immediately called up the exam records of Qingshan Town.

In the column of the inspector, Ba Xingtian's name was clearly written.

And Ning Wanjun could quietly intervene in the exam with the help of this person's influence.

So Xia Fan's transfer to Jinxia City was not an accidental thing?

Fei Nian only felt a bang in his head-

The exam results of Qingshan Town were artificially changed; Ning Wanjun became an alchemist not because of personal interest, but because she wanted to get to know someone deeply; her document for seeking credit was not a favor from the other party, but actually an exchange of interests! That’s why Xia Fan later rose all the way to become the youngest chancellor of Daqi.

If Shangguan Cai had kept a low profile as agreed, or the Privy Council had not sorted out the old and new documents, there would be no abnormality in all this, but when both happened at the same time, He’er’s ability corrected this inconspicuous deviation and readjusted Xia Fan’s ranking—not to promote him, but to restore him to the position he should have been in!

Of course, Fei Nian’s focus was obviously not on this.

The most critical information in this matter is that Ning Wanjun may have contacted Xia Fan in advance, and reached some kind of agreement with him after he became a Taoist priest.

The relationship between them is probably much deeper than the friendship between Princess Fenfeng and her savior!