Chapter 676: Chapter 677: She’s Just Talking Nonsense

A person from the martial arts world?

She, a person who went straight from a small broken house in Chang’an City to the rear residence and then the Harem after crossing over, how would she know anything about people from the martial arts world?

The Emperor specially called her over, so it is very obvious that he is already suspicious of her.

Since Li Hongyuan has investigated, it’s highly likely he already knows something. Even though he didn’t report her to the Emperor, it showed that he wanted to protect her. But he was still vague, attributing it to a person from the martial arts world, and not saying clearly who it was.

What did he mean?

Jiang Ning quietly glanced at Li Hongyuan, hoping he could give her a clue.

Otherwise, if she were to make up a name only to find out there was no such person in the martial arts world, wouldn’t she be setting a trap for herself?

However, Li Hongyuan completely ignored her.

No matter how she tried to signal him with her eyes, blinking furiously, he remained unmoved and didn’t look at her.

The Emperor couldn’t help but speak up: “Is the Princess Consort suffering from an eye disease?”

Jiang Ning raised her sleeve to wipe her sweat and laughed awkwardly, “It’s a little hot.”

“Why not answer Our question?”

“Well…” Jiang Ning glared fiercely at Li Hongyuan, then suddenly appeared calm. She straightened her body and said, “Answering Your Majesty, this humble servant has thought of someone.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

“Lin Shimo.”

“Lin Shimo?” The Emperor’s expression indicated that he was not unfamiliar with this name.

This surprised Jiang Ning even more.

According to Guxing’s statement, Lin Shimo was the dean of an academy. An academy… where educators and scholars reside, had little to do with the martial arts world.

The reason Jiang Ning mentioned this name was based solely on a basic assumption and judgment.

Guxing was Uncle’s important subordinate, and he wouldn’t have sent her just for a trivial matter.

Uncle asked Guxing to tell her two things.

One was that Wenren Zong would come back soon, and the other was that Lin Shimo from the Spring Autumn Academy entered Chang’an City with him.

Uncle wasn’t a person to act without reason. Since he specifically asked Guxing to tell her this name, there must be a special reason.

Jiang Ning mentioned his name purely because she was taking a gamble.

If she lost the bet…

It didn’t matter.

After all, she was just a woman from the rear residence, who didn’t know anything about the martial arts world.

She was just talking nonsense.

But the Emperor’s reaction was beyond her expectation.

Jiang Ning glanced at Li Hongyuan.

Li Hongyuan still had that expressionless deathly face.

Jiang Ning wished she had that branch she used to flog Prince Xinhai’s face, which she could now aim at Li Hongyuan’s face.

Act cool, always acting cool! Pretend to be lofty every day!

You will be struck by lightning sooner or later!

The Emperor looked at Jiang Ning with a half-smile and said, “It’s unexpected that the Princess Consort, who is always in the Harem, could know about the matters of the Imperial Court and the martial arts world.”

“Your Majesty, you flatter me. This humble servant just… guessed.”

“Oh?” The Emperor appeared interested, “Then tell Us, how did you deduce it was Lin Shimo? As far as We know, Lin Shimo’s Spring Autumn Academy is a month’s journey from Chang’an City. He himself isn’t even in Chang’an City. So how did he manage to kill the twelve Imperial Guards of Prince Xinhai and strip him naked to hang him on a tree from a distance?”

Jiang Ning thought to herself, how would I know, I was forced into this!

Dean Lin, you must forgive me. I truly didn’t mean to slander you intentionally.

However, once a lie is told, to cover it up, countless more lies must follow.

This was something Jiang Ning was already prepared for mentally.