“A girl who’s already married, yet somehow even clingier than before. Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?”
Old Madam Cui stroked her head. “Yunchu, tell your grandmother honestly. Have you suffered any grievances in the Shen family?”
“No.” Cui Yunchu shook her head. “Grandmother, I came back because there’s something I want to ask you. You must answer me truthfully, all right?”
“Go ahead.” Old Madam Cui gazed at Yunchu, a smile lingering on her face from beginning to end.
“Does the death of Lord Shen’s father and elder brother have anything to do with you?”
Old Madam Cui’s smile froze, then gradually faded. “Why are you suddenly asking about this? Has your husband started investigating? Is he preparing to settle the score?”
“Grandmother, answer me first.”
Old Madam Cui was silent for several moments before shaking her head. “Yunchu, your grandmother can’t say.”
“Why not?”
“Your grandmother owes someone a debt of gratitude. I can never speak of this matter in this lifetime. But the deaths of Lord Shen’s father and elder brother are indeed inseparable from our family. If your husband wants to settle the score, don’t stop him. Don’t put yourself in the middle and make things difficult. I’m already very old—he can do whatever he wants to me.”
“You and he have only just married, and you still have a life to live together. Don’t let this create a rift between you.”
“Grandmother…” Cui Yunchu’s eyes stung with tears. “What kind of debt of gratitude is it? Why can’t you tell me?”
“The deaths of Lord Shen’s father and elder brother were indeed caused by the Cui family. Yunchu, stop asking.”
No matter how Cui Yunchu questioned her, Old Madam Cui refused to explain, leaving Yunchu anxious and helpless.
The grandmother and granddaughter chatted for a long time. They talked about Yunchu’s childhood, about her days in the Shen residence, and about how, when Old Madam Cui grew old, Yunchu had to live out the rest of her life in peace and happiness.
As dusk fell, Old Madam Cui’s eyes were filled with reluctance when Yunchu prepared to leave.
“These days, every meeting may truly be our last.”
Cui Yunchu said, “I’ll come visit you again in a few days. Take good care of yourself and wait for me to return.”
On the way back, Cui Yunchu kept pondering the favor her grandmother had mentioned. It seemed that Old Madam Cui had brought it up in front of her more than once.
And she seemed to have heard about it from someone else, too.
The Cui family carriage suddenly stopped on the road leading to the palace. The coachman quietly reported, “Prime Minister, there’s a carriage stopped up ahead. It looks like the eldest son-in-law’s.”
Cui Qingyuan lifted the curtain and looked ahead.
Yu Feng, who was driving, crooked a finger at Cui Qingyuan.
“…”
Was that really the gesture one used to summon a prime minister? Even calling a dog would have been more respectful.
“Go over there.” Cui Qingyuan dropped the curtain and ordered the coachman.
The coachman drove the carriage over and stopped beside the Shen family carriage. Shen Xiabai’s voice came from inside.
“Everyone else, withdraw.”
With Cui Qingyuan’s tacit permission, the servants on both sides moved away.
“The interrogation produced results.” Sitting upright inside his carriage, Cui Qingyuan’s calm voice carried over.
“Indeed, you are worthy of being Prime Minister. You know the movements of the Office of Cautionary Punishments as clearly as if you were in charge of it yourself.”
“If that’s the case, then why were you so careless as to let me catch the man?”
Cui Qingyuan ignored the remark and asked instead, “Get to the point. What do you want?”
“Now that Prince An and the Crown Prince are jointly handling state affairs, I will also spare Cui Yunli any trouble for A Chu’s sake. His official career can be said to be rising like the sun. It’s time for Prime Minister Cui to submit his retirement and leave office.”
Cui Qingyuan fell silent.
Shen Xiabai continued, “A Chu cares deeply about Old Madam Cui. You want her to live a long and healthy life too, don’t you?”
“What did you say?” Cui Qingyuan abruptly threw open the carriage curtain and stared at Shen Xiabai in disbelief.
Shen Xiabai also lifted his curtain and met his gaze.
Cui Qingyuan’s expression turned grave. “Have you forgotten what you promised when you married Yunchu? You’ve only just married, and already you’ve turned ruthless and heartless!”
“Back then, you were the one who refused to agree.”
“How dare you.” Cui Qingyuan’s expression became icy. “Whatever you dare to do, I will never let you off.”
Shen Xiabai said, “Back then, you also never said that someone else had been involved in the deaths of my father and elder brother.”
Cui Qingyuan frowned, his face full of confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” Shen Xiabai lowered the carriage curtain. “Prime Minister Cui, you should start thinking about when it would be most appropriate to submit your resignation.”
Cui Qingyuan gave a cold laugh. “It hasn’t even been two months, and Lord Shen has already changed his tune. If I truly leave office, won’t my entire clan end up dying by your hand?”
Shen Xiabai fell silent. Only after a long while did his voice emerge again.
“I swear on the lives of my dead father and elder brother.”
As long as Cui Qingyuan left and never appeared before him again, Shen Xiabai would be the most devoted and dutiful son-in-law the Cui family could ask for.
“I will advise Prime Minister Cui three times. If you insist on this course, then the two of us can only take the gamble.”
With that, he tapped on the carriage window. Yu Feng immediately returned and drove the carriage away.
Cui Qingyuan sat in the carriage with a dark expression, his brows tightly furrowed.
He wondered what Shen Xiabai had learned from the assassin that could have caused such a sudden change in him.
But the fact that Shen Xiabai had used his mother as a threat still left him furious.
“You snot-nosed little bastard,” he cursed, striking the carriage window in anger.
…
As he drove, Yu Feng could not help saying, “Master, you never intended to harm Old Madam Cui. Why did you say something like that to Prime Minister Cui? If Madam hears about it, won’t it only deepen the misunderstanding?”
Shen Xiabai slowly withdrew his gaze from the view outside the window. His voice was quiet and measured.
“The Cui family is not entirely innocent in this matter.”
“At the very least, they were accomplices.”
After returning to the Shen residence, Shen Xiabai did not go straight back to his own courtyard. Instead, he first went to Dowager Shen’s residence.
Yu Feng could only send someone ahead to report to the main courtyard.
“At this hour, instead of going back to keep your wife company, you come here? What do you want?” Dowager Shen did not seem particularly pleased to see him. In fact, she seemed somewhat annoyed that he had disturbed her peace.
Shen Xiabai saluted and sat down to one side, looking as though he had not noticed her displeasure.
Dowager Shen said, “Is this about the death anniversary of your father and elder brother? I’ve already handed everything over to Yunchu. If you have any requests, discuss them with her.”
“This matter is not suitable for A Chu to handle. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you with it again, Mother.”
Dowager Shen had been wholly absorbed in trimming the branches of a flower. At his words, she abruptly raised her head and looked at him.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Have you and Yunchu had a falling-out?”
“You child.” She put down her shears heavily, her expression darkening. “How long has it been since your wedding, and already you’ve changed completely. What have I taught you since you were little? A person must remain devoted from beginning to end. Have you done something to wrong Yunchu?”
“…”
“If you dare, I’ll cut off your family jewels.”
“…”
At that moment, Shen Xiabai’s silence was deafening.
“Old Madam,” Nanny Li coughed several times and hurriedly nudged Dowager Shen.
Dowager Shen snorted. Realizing that what she had just said was indeed rather outrageous, she added, “Then tell me what this is about.”
“My wife and I have not quarreled. I came tonight because, after investigating, I’ve uncovered new leads regarding the people who killed Father and my elder brother.”
Dowager Shen’s expression shifted slightly. “Go on.”
“I discovered that the killers who murdered Father and my elder brother belonged to an organization of assassins from the martial world. The assassin who carried out the attack said that the person who hired them was a woman.”
Dowager Shen said, “And?”
“The Cui family did indeed reveal my father and elder brother’s route. And the Cui family has only one female member who could have done it. I suspect…”
“Absolutely impossible!!!!” Dowager Shen’s voice rang out.
