"Don't get upset," Gu Sinian said, quickly comforting Qi Zhenzhen when he saw her displeased expression. "I didn't let that Xu Miaoniang succeed. As for Gu Siya, rest assured, I won't be soft-hearted. What needs to be reclaimed, I will reclaim. I cannot stay at Taihe Temple for long; I must go to the palace to report to the Emperor."
"Did you receive the letter I sent earlier?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
Gu Sinian shook his head.
"There are others colluding with Qin Lang, including the current Minister of the Dali Temple, Li An," Qi Zhenzhen explained her suspicions and Qian Yuanbao's current predicament.
Gu Sinian's brow furrowed as he quickly recalled information about Li An. He was unremarkable in appearance, yet had ascended to such a position at a young age, a first since the founding of Da Feng. Furthermore, he was skilled at handling cases, having unearthed and organized old cases from previous Ministers of the Dali Temple. This man was also unafraid of power; he never sheltered the children of high-ranking officials who made mistakes, thus earning him an excellent reputation among the populace. The common people even called him Li Qing Tian.
For such a man to be colluding with Qin Lang, to harbor rebellious intentions, was something Gu Sinian couldn't comprehend. If the current Emperor were a foolish ruler, it would be understandable for a minister to rebel to save the people from suffering. However, the current Emperor was a wise ruler, and the people lived in relative prosperity. Was Li An perhaps mentally unsound? Did he believe that by uniting with Qin Lang and forcing Qian Yuanbao to amass wealth for him, he could succeed in rebellion? If these two things alone were enough to achieve rebellion, the position of Emperor Chongwen would have been usurped countless times. After all, who wouldn't want to be emperor?
Therefore, Gu Sinian felt Qi Zhenzhen's speculation had merit; Li An might be the descendant of a former prince, believing their lineage to be the legitimate one.
"Rest well, I will go to the palace first. I think it's best to inform the Emperor about this matter first. If he believes me, so be it. If not, it will at least serve as a warning," Gu Sinian stood up. "Do not leave Taihe Temple. With Monk Yuan Jue here, some people will not dare to rush directly to this place. Several old established aristocratic families in the capital are also involved in this matter. I believe Li An might just be a facade, and the true manipulators are these old established families. As for Qin Lang, he is likely just their tool."
Qi Zhenzhen was unfamiliar with the old established families Gu Sinian mentioned, but since Gu Sinian had said it, he must have evidence. Qin Lang and Li An alone were troublesome enough. Now, with the involvement of old established families, the matter was likely far from simple. Even without understanding them, Qi Zhenzhen knew that families with centuries of history, deep foundations, and intricate interconnections would not have simple ambitions. As the saying goes, emperors come and go, but aristocratic families remain.
Qi Zhenzhen was somewhat worried. Qian Yuanbao had a close relationship with Emperor Chongwen, yet he hadn't informed the Emperor about this incident. Now that Ah Nian was going to tell him, would the Emperor believe him?
"Li An's identity must be investigated. Without clarity on his identity, this matter is difficult to handle," Qi Zhenzhen said. Madam Qian, who was also at Taihe Temple, had stayed by Emperor Chongwen's side for many years and should be very clear about the affairs of the princes. Qi Zhenzhen felt it would be best for Gu Sinian to seek out Madam Qian to gauge her opinion before going to the palace.
To reassure Qi Zhenzhen, Gu Sinian naturally did not refuse her suggestion. Madam Qian recalled one by one, but none of the descendants of the former princes, who were now kings, matched Li An's profile. This was somewhat strange. Could it be that Li An had no special identity and merely coveted the throne? As a Minister of the Dali Temple, without status or military power, where did he get his confidence?