If it had been him, he would never have let her leave. Lord Gu squeezed his eyes shut.
“What about my wife?”
“Don’t worry. Lady Gu is perfectly fine. Nothing will happen to her.”
Shen Xiabai paced away from the cell. Just as he was locking it, he suddenly turned back and asked Lord Gu, “Does His Majesty know Xiao Lan’s true identity?”
He probably did. Otherwise, he would not have hurried to kill the late emperor.
Lord Gu refused to budge. “The Second Princess is of the late emperor’s bloodline. Lord Shen, do not make such reckless accusations.”
“Oh.” Shen Xiabai drawled the word as he nodded, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. “It doesn’t matter. She must be an illegitimate daughter.”
Gripping the bars of the cell door, Lord Gu said, “Look after my wife. You promised me. Don’t forget.”
After leaving the Department of Palace Justice, Shen Xiabai instructed Yu Feng, “Have someone keep an eye on Xiao Lan. If anyone goes to see her in secret, report it to me immediately.”
Ten days. He hoped that would be enough time to uncover something unexpected.
Yu Feng said, “My lord, His Majesty is now firmly seated on the throne. Isn’t it unwise to investigate the late emperor’s death at a time like this?”
Shen Xiabai said nothing.
Yu Feng continued, “Are you really going to fall out with His Majesty?”
Shen Xiabai raised his head and gazed at the sun, which was hidden behind the clouds. Only a small corner was visible, yet it still gave off a dazzling light.
“That day, in the side hall, he intended to kill A Chu.”
Imperial Physician Chen, whom Cui Qingyuan had sent people to search for throughout the night and the entire morning, suddenly arrived not long after the morning court ended.
He took Cui Qingyuan’s pulse and administered the needles in one smooth sequence. Even the prescription had been written beforehand and was handed directly to the steward to have the medicine prepared.
The steward was left utterly bewildered.
After the pain eased, Cui Qingyuan seemed to collapse in on himself, completely drained. He could barely manage to say a full sentence. He stared at Imperial Physician Chen and moved his lips several times.
The steward finally asked the question that had been troubling him. “Where did you go yesterday, Imperial Physician Chen? We sent so many people to look for you, but no one could find you.”
Imperial Physician Chen packed up his medical case and answered without the slightest attempt to hide the truth, “I was invited to the Shen residence for tea. I drank several pots. I nearly burst.”
“…”
The steward turned to look at Cui Qingyuan. His gaze was filled with speechless exasperation, as if he had known all along. His brows were furrowed, and the corners of his lips twitched.
“See Imperial Physician Chen out,” Cui Qingyuan said.
After seeing the imperial physician off and taking his medicine, Cui Qingyuan had only just fallen asleep when another servant came to report that someone from the palace had arrived.
Cui Qingyuan could only force himself to summon his remaining energy and deal with the visitor.
The steward said, “Prime Minister, do you think the eldest young lady was involved in this?”
Remembering the eldest young lady’s promise the previous night, the steward sighed repeatedly. “You’re her father, after all. How could she bring herself to do this to you?”
Thinking of how the Prime Minister had writhed in agony all night, he could not bear it.
Cui Qingyuan kept his eyes closed, leaning against the soft pillow. He looked as though he did not wish to say a single word. Gloom weighed heavily upon the corners of his eyes and brows, leaving the steward no choice but to fall silent.
He was afraid the Prime Minister would be angered into fainting again.
The emperor’s personal eunuch soon arrived with an imperial physician. The moment they saw Cui Qingyuan’s pale, deathly appearance, they were both startled.
It really was that serious. Prime Minister Cui was truly lucky to have survived this.
Then again, someone had risked his life and still failed to poison the victim to death. What kind of farce was this?
“The eunuch has arrived,” Cui Qingyuan said weakly, his voice faint as a mosquito’s hum.
“Oh, Prime Minister, please lie down properly. His Majesty was furious when he learned what happened. He specifically ordered me to bring the most skilled physician from the Imperial Medical Academy, along with nourishing medicines, to visit Prime Minister Cui.”
With a wave of his hand, several young eunuchs immediately entered carrying brocade boxes filled with all kinds of precious medicinal ingredients.
Cui Qingyuan said, “I am deeply grateful for His Majesty’s kindness.”
The eunuch shook his head and sighed. “Prime Minister, how can you say that? Ultimately, this happened because the princess failed to teach her subordinate properly, and that led to this disaster, causing you such suffering.”
At those words, Cui Qingyuan frowned and shot a quick glance at the steward. The steward was just as baffled.
Cui Qingyuan had spent many years in officialdom and was as shrewd as an old fox. He asked, “I am extremely grateful that His Majesty sent people to visit me. However, I wonder about the princess…”
The old eunuch smoothly picked up the cue. “You mean the princess whom you directed an official to accuse and provide evidence against? Once His Majesty learned of it, he immediately dealt with the matter. Prime Minister, rest assured. His Majesty has granted the Second Princess three feet of white silk. The sentence will be carried out ten days from now, giving you the justice you deserve.”
The official he had directed?
Cui Qingyuan was stunned for a brief moment before quickly regaining his composure. He nodded and gave a quiet acknowledgment.
So it was the Second Princess, Xiao Lan, who had poisoned him.
Wonderful. Simply wonderful.
She had nearly taken his life, so at least he had personally brought about her death. His efforts had not been in vain.
“What is the matter, Prime Minister? Why does your face look so awful?”
Cui Qingyuan said, “Nothing. I’m relieved.”
Extremely relieved.
Beside him, the steward lowered his head deeply, his scalp prickling.
“Since that is the case, Prime Minister, rest easy and recuperate. These imperial physicians will remain here to nurse you back to health. I shall return to the palace and report back to His Majesty.”
Cui Qingyuan nodded.
Only after the eunuch had left and the physicians had withdrawn did the steward ask, “Prime Minister, was it the Second Princess who poisoned you?”
Cui Qingyuan gave him a heavy look and slowly closed his eyes. “Just shut up.”
Idiot.
The steward was not an idiot, of course, but he did not dare say so outright. He could only bend at the waist and ask, “Shall I invite the eldest young lady over?”
“Not yet.” Cui Qingyuan closed his eyes and gathered his strength. “Let me recover for a while.”
He was getting on in years and could not withstand this kind of torment. If he summoned Cui Yunchu now, he truly feared that he would be angered to death by that unfilial daughter.
He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but he could not swallow the foul anger lodged in his chest. After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes again.
“Go and bring that young man here. I want to see whose idea this was.”
Unless he vented his anger, he would never be able to calm down.
That girl Yunchu had never possessed such courage before. Yet ever since she and that young man had fallen in love, she had grown increasingly bold.
She had even dared to turn her poisonous hand against him.
The steward left. Cui Qingyuan stared at the ceiling beams and suddenly let out a short laugh.
“If it was her, then she does have… some brains.”
But no sooner had he finished laughing than his body began to ache again. He frowned and cursed once more, “That wretched girl.”
At Chu Garden, Cui Yunchu had instructed Xing’er to keep a close watch on what was happening in Cui Qingyuan’s courtyard. When she learned that Imperial Physician Chen had come and gone, and that people from the palace had also arrived and departed, she pursed her little lips and immediately ordered Xing’er to pack their things.
“Miss, where are we going?” Xing’er asked, completely confused.
Cui Yunchu hurriedly pulled on her clothes. “Anywhere will do. We need to lie low and avoid the storm.”
Xing’er watched her mistress rush around the room as if her clothes were on fire. “Miss, did you stir up a hornet’s nest?”
“Something even worse.”
“…”
Xing’er did not ask any further questions. Having followed Cui Yunchu since childhood, she was well practiced at fleeing trouble. In no time at all, she had packed up all the valuables. Even Cui Yunchu was left staring at her in astonishment.
“Let’s go, Miss.” Carrying several large bundles, Xing’er waved at Cui Yunchu.
Shen Xiabai entered Cui Qingyuan’s bedchamber carrying a paper packet of pastries. “I heard Prime Minister Cui was feeling unwell, so I specially bought some sweet cakes to nourish your body and came to pay you a visit.”
Cui Qingyuan frowned and glanced at the paper packet he had tossed onto the table.
“Recently, the Department of Palace Justice suddenly began cracking down on corruption. The officials are all walking on eggshells, and the Department of Palace Justice must have collected quite a few bribes. How is it that Lord Shen has become so miserly?”
“My hard-earned money, spent on Prime Minister Cui, would be a waste.” Shen Xiabai sat down beside the table, flicked his sleeves lightly, and fixed his gaze on Prime Minister Cui.
“Everyone else knows to bribe Prime Minister Cui, yet how is it that I haven’t seen any bribes from you? Could it be that Prime Minister Cui is so noble and incorruptible that you truly have nothing but clean sleeves?”
Cui Qingyuan gave a short laugh and snorted. “You abuse your power and rely on your influence.”
Shen Xiabai readily agreed with his assessment. “From now on, I shall make a point of strictly investigating this sort of misconduct.”
Two or three times a year would be enough for A Chu to squander.
Cui Qingyuan frowned. “One must have both merits and flaws to walk this path. Don’t make your extortion too obvious.”
Shen Xiabai was utterly unconcerned. “A Chu likes it.”
“Those minor officials don’t earn much even when their salaries are added to what they embezzle. Give them a little room to breathe.”
Shen Xiabai raised his eyes slightly. “That is why it’s two or three times a year, not once a month. I’m giving them ample opportunity to embezzle.”
Then he confiscated every last bit of it, all for the thrill of keeping them trembling in fear. They worked hard all year, only to end up with nothing.
Cui Qingyuan closed his eyes. He felt a helpless weariness at how impossible it was to have a conversation with Shen Xiabai.
Shen Xiabai’s skin was thick as ever, and he showed not the slightest trace of shame.
“Was this your idea?” Cui Qingyuan suddenly asked, his voice deep and low.
Shen Xiabai did not beat around the bush. He answered bluntly, “The idea was mine. But I wasn’t the one who administered the poison.”
Cui Qingyuan’s brows drew together.
Shen Xiabai continued, “If it had been me, the effects would never have been so mild. Prime Minister Cui most likely wouldn’t be sitting here having a heart-to-heart with me.”
