TBR CH144

Chapter 144: Quelling the Storm – Better to Bring Ji Ying Along for the Sun

The atmosphere in Prince Duan’s residence lately was like an ice cellar, everyone bowing their heads, fearful of drawing trouble upon themselves.

It was evening, and Prince Duan was writing in his study as usual, but he ruined many sheets of paper. Large drops of ink flowed down, blurring the strokes. He irritably pressed his brow, tearing up the paper in front of him and throwing it on the floor.

His graceful, gentlemanly demeanor was almost impossible to maintain.

In the study, the maid who was preparing his ink was clearly startled by his reaction, her face pale, yet she still dared not stop grinding the ink. Prince Duan composed himself. He had always appeared lenient, but these past two days, he truly couldn’t control his anger, punishing many servants for inadequate service. These people always reminded him of the palace maid who died on that stormy night.

She was just a palace maid who had once served him.

Even if he had lowered himself and had a past entanglement with her, who would take it seriously?

For such an absurd reason, he had become the target of all the current evidence. Prince Duan tried to appear unconcerned, but people’s discussions and strange glances still kept his nerves taut. Chu Huaicun wanted a scapegoat, and even the Emperor couldn’t protect him. If such a baseless charge ruined his many years of effort, wouldn’t it be utterly ridiculous!

He turned around, trying to soften his expression.

“Did I scare you?” he deliberately smiled. “What are you afraid of? Am I an unreasonable person?”

Prince Duan had intended to make a light joke, expecting the maid to be flattered. But the maid’s face not only didn’t improve, it grew even paler, and she timidly raised a pair of eyes filled with fear.

Below those autumn-water-like eyes, there was a small red mole.

Prince Duan didn’t know how terrifying his expression was at that moment. He almost instantly flew into a rage, more violent than all the anger he had shown these past few days combined. He wanted to demand who let her in, and why she had a mole under her eye similar to that palace maid’s?

His reason told him that he had never told outsiders these things, and those under his supervision in his residence were all people he knew well. This was merely a terrible coincidence. But his emotions felt mocked—

“Get out?! Get out!!” he shouted, pointing at her. “Never let this person appear before me again.”

The maid suppressed her tears, quickly tiptoeing and running out of the study door, her pomegranate-red silk skirt flashing past. Prince Duan stood in the empty study, his gaze dark. He slowly walked towards the desk, looking at the inkstone, which was said to be worth a thousand gold, frowned, and reached out to smash it on the ground.

“Your Highness, do not be angry,” a voice spoke.

The person, dressed in deep purple official robes, walked in, the fabric of his robes rubbing lightly, like the hiss of a rattlesnake. He walked to Prince Duan’s side and respectfully bowed to him. “Prince Duan is a person of immense value. This matter is not yet settled; there is still a chance to overturn the verdict. Your humble servant will certainly serve Your Highness with utmost diligence.”

Ji Ying these past few days had also been worn down significantly, his face pale, only his dark eyes still sending shivers down one’s spine.

He was originally the key suspect designated by Chu Huaicun. However, later investigations revealed that Lord Ji’s sedan chair, with him and his horses, almost fell off a cliff in that night’s heavy rain. Fortunately, Lord Qi, who was traveling with him, discovered it immediately after the accident. Thereafter, his every move was corroborated by Lord Qi and his servants in his residence, and he had indeed caught a cold from the rain.

But Chu Huaicun, true to his nature, had to tear off a layer of his prey’s skin, blood and all.

With Ji Ying standing before him, Prince Duan’s expression instead calmed down, and he withdrew his hand from the inkstone. He slowly exhaled, looked at the other, and asked: “Lord Ji, tell me the truth, what does the Emperor truly mean by this now?”

Ji Ying’s voice was gentle: “His Majesty naturally trusts Your Highness. However, Chancellor Chu is truly angered this time. If he doesn’t get a satisfactory explanation, he will not easily let anyone go. Your Highness also knows that Chu Huaicun is not easy to deal with.”

These were empty words.

The real answer Prince Duan wanted was whether the palace knew any new information. In fact, a vague suspicion had always lingered in his mind. This was not something his current status should consider, but if he couldn’t protect himself, who cared about propriety and ethics? He only knew that someone wanted to put him in a disadvantageous position, wasn’t that enough?

“Then, according to His Majesty’s consideration,” he asked slowly, “who should the poisoner be?”

“His Majesty is still having this matter thoroughly investigated,” Ji Ying’s reply was watertight.

Prince Duan sighed. A bold idea suddenly occurred to him, and he raised his eyes to look directly at Ji Ying: “Then, according to Lord Ji’s consideration, who could the poisoner be, besides you and me?”

This time, Ji Ying’s lips finally opened. Ji Ying slowly blinked, a shadow seeming to flicker in his eyes.

“Naturally, not Your Highness, nor I. The Seventh Prince stayed with His Majesty all night,” his voice in the latter half of the sentence was softer than the first, with a few words pronounced exceptionally clearly, “and it cannot be His Majesty. If not for Chancellor Chu orchestrating this himself, it can only be…”

“Not” and “cannot” differ by only one word, but their meanings are worlds apart.

Prince Duan’s heart skipped a beat, thinking, could it really be the Emperor’s instruction? He looked at Ji Ying, his expression fluctuating between clear and overcast. Yet, he saw the man’s respectful demeanor, his raven-black hair falling heavily down his back, his manners impeccable, and his words only halfway, harmlessly spoken. This appearance reminded him of how His Majesty had used bloody means to ensure his obedience.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Prince Duan even personally stepped forward two paces, helping Ji Ying, who had bowed low due to his slip of the tongue, up. He presented himself as a wise and virtuous lord who valued scholars.

“Why bother, Lord Ji? Your words just now are like a sudden enlightenment. I regret not having more discussions with Lord Ji. If I had had a talent like you assisting me back then, how would I have fallen into the predicament of being framed by Chu Huaicun and forced to leave the capital? It’s a pity that His Majesty now also deeply values Lord Ji. I sincerely wish to consult with Lord Ji, but I wonder if I will have this opportunity?”

He was no longer the glorious Crown Prince of yesteryear; he had few cards left to play.

Between an imperial father and son, what talk of kinship? If he could bring Ji Ying under his command, wouldn’t the movements within the palace be completely transparent? Prince Duan spoke cautiously, only watching if Ji Ying showed any inclination to defect. It would be foolish to leave such a sharp weapon unused.

Being personally helped up by Prince Duan, Ji Ying seemed flattered, raising his eyes. A faint touch of emotion flickered in those dark eyes. Prince Duan’s heart felt a bit more certain, yet Ji Ying remained silent for a long while, finally only saying:

“Did Your Highness remember what I just said?”

Such a response was the most reassuring. If someone changed allegiance at the slightest reward, such a person would be untrustworthy. Thinking of this, Prince Duan’s expression became even more pleasant, and Ji Ying’s words resonated even deeper.

Not Ji Ying, not Prince Duan, not the Seventh Prince, not the Emperor.

Then there was only one suitable scapegoat left. That person was the least likely to act against Chu Huaicun. Because without Chancellor Chu’s support, he would never have reached his current position.

“Wouldn’t directing this matter to the Eastern Palace be too risky?”

Ji Ying now stood tall, his back straight. Prince Duan was a bit surprised; he had never seen Ji Ying act this way in front of his father. At this moment, he truly looked like a strategist, every word quite convincing:

“Your Highness, in the current situation, only by dangling bait at the tiger’s mouth can we turn danger into safety.”

In the Eastern Palace, there was indeed an air of triumph at this moment.

The Crown Prince had tried repeatedly but failed to invite Chu Huaicun to this family banquet. However, this did indeed confirm that Chancellor Chu was still recuperating in bed. The Crown Prince’s mood did not become less pleasant because of this; on the contrary, it became more relaxed.

If he said he wasn’t nervous and trembling at the time of the incident, praying to heaven that Chu Huaicun would be alright, that would certainly be a lie. But now the situation had suddenly turned around, revealing a silver lining. Chu Huaicun was indeed poisoned, but not fatally. The Chancellor’s residence was now tightly closed, and some key powers were transferred to his hands due to the lack of available personnel.

He had been a puppet Crown Prince for a long time, and now finally getting a taste of real power, he was naturally ecstatic.

After several rounds of feasting, Prince Pingjiang distantly raised his cup to him, speaking somewhat indiscreetly: “Congratulations, Your Highness, for turning misfortune into blessing. Your Highness knows, on that night at Dan Mountain Palace, if a true misfortune had occurred, I had almost already begun to gather troops—”

“Uncle,” the Crown Prince tried to reprimand him severely, but his wine cup swayed, and he too, with drunken eyes, stared at the wine for a long time, murmuring, “Yes, if Chancellor Chu were gone, wouldn’t the only path before me be that one? That was… that was forced abdication.”

Those two words were scalding, almost shocking him sober.

But he ultimately swallowed that rebellious thought along with the wine. If Chu Huaicun died, his position as Crown Prince would be precarious. Prince Duan was eyeing him covetously, and His Majesty almost disowned him, his rebellious son. The only struggle left would be a desperate fight, winner takes all.

From this perspective, he should thank the poisoner.

The poison, if a bit more, would be too much; if a bit less, would be too little. Wasn’t it precisely to his liking?

Moreover, the focus of the poisoning was entirely on his arch-nemesis, Prince Duan. His imperial brother was now tormented by countless pieces of evidence and humiliated by the pressure exerted by Chu Huaicun. If convicted, he might be driven out of the capital once more.

The Crown Prince thought so, but couldn’t help but frown, as if there was something strange about this thought. But the alcohol quickly suppressed the fleeting strangeness. Seeing the hall full of splendor, fine wine, and delicious food, the previous discord with his uncle dissipated. He couldn’t help but call out again: “Fill my cup. Uncle, look, I too can finally see this day.”

“Is Your Highness celebrating because Chancellor Chu is alive?”

Prince Pingjiang suddenly asked a strange question. He looked straight ahead, clinking cups with his nephew, discarding the usual etiquette of deference, appearing to speak from the heart. “Chancellor Chu—Your Highness should really think carefully.”

The wine cups clinked softly.

The Crown Prince was silent for a moment, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable. He said softly, “Uncle, it’s not that I’m clinging to formality, but you must know that even though I am the Crown Prince now, I am merely living by the grace of others. If Chu Huaicun says east, how dare your nephew go west? I do not wish to think such things, and I ask Uncle not to mention them again in the future. Chancellor Chu is, after all, on my side of the Eastern Palace.”

“Is that truly so?” Prince Pingjiang’s expression was quite enigmatic. He too raised his cup and drank. “If Chancellor Chu truly has no intention of overstepping, then so be it. But can Your Highness truly be sure that you are not Chancellor Chu’s enemy? What if he has long intended…”

The Crown Prince should have interrupted him, but for some reason, he paused.

“Does Uncle have any evidence for this claim?”

He palely tried to patch up his suspicions: “I know you and Chancellor Chu had friction over the military grain case, but you were indeed in the wrong back then. If Uncle fabricates trouble out of thin air, your nephew will certainly not easily believe it.”

The atmosphere of the banquet froze for a moment. Fortunately, this was just a family banquet. Since Chu Huaicun wasn’t coming, the Crown Prince had only invited his most trusted family relatives, so there was no worry of any conversation leaking. Prince Pingjiang was in no hurry to answer. He first used his chopsticks to pick up a few slices of beef, chewed them slowly with his wine, and then, after a long pause, spoke faintly:

“This matter, I don’t know whether to tell Your Highness. But if I don’t, I fear Chu Huaicun’s ambition is too great and too harmful. I am at a loss for what to do.”

“Uncle, please speak.”

The Crown Prince spoke, knowing there was no turning back.

“Does Your Highness know about those trusted individuals around Chancellor Chu…” Prince Pingjiang said softly, “Among them is a particular mystic, most mysterious, rarely showing his true face. But the last time I went to the wine market to buy wine, guess who I saw, Your Highness?”

The Crown Prince’s hand, holding the wine cup, trembled.

“I saw that Mr. Fang!” Prince Pingjiang pronounced the name fiercely. “He’s the charlatan who swindled me out of a million taels of silver. I saw it with my own eyes, absolutely no mistake. Now he’s suddenly transformed into Chancellor Chu’s advisor. No, Your Highness, think carefully, perhaps he has always been Chu Huaicun’s man.”

“How could that be,” the Crown Prince said somewhat blankly, “This, this is probably just someone with a similar appearance.”

“Why must Your Highness defend him so much?”

Prince Pingjiang allowed no further argument. “That was indeed the master I met. However, the specific details of identification are inconvenient to explain to Your Highness now. Your Highness only needs to know that Chu Huaicun began plotting against us a long time ago. Yet he still wants me to feel guilty about this, begging for mercy. Such a person is probably more terrifying than Prince Duan.”

“But,” the Crown Prince avoided his gaze and repeated,

“Chancellor Chu can only support my Eastern Palace now, waiting for me to ascend the throne—”

The drunkenness on his face faded, and under his luxurious silk robes, his body suddenly began to tremble.

Prince Pingjiang saw this and knew that the Crown Prince’s resolve had wavered seven or eight parts.

He sighed and said, “Your Highness, I only wish that day truly comes.”

Chu Huaicun, the central figure of the incident, was quietly staying in the peach orchard of the Chancellor’s residence.

At this time, the last vestiges of spring had vanished, and summer was growing vigorously. The peach orchard was rich with the scent of plants, the peach leaves were verdant, and some branches already bore small green fruits. Although Chu Huaicun’s body temperature was always a bit lower than normal people’s, his adaptability was excellent. Besides, the woods were always suitable for calming the mind.

He was here entirely at Mr. Fang’s request.

Although Chu Huaicun firmly insisted that he was almost fully recovered, Mr. Fang clearly maintained his medical insistence on this matter, demanding that Chancellor Chu, no matter what, not overexert himself these days and go out to bask in the sun. If possible, it was best to bring Ji Ying along.

Unfortunately, Ji Ying was not suitable to meet him these days.

Ever since that night at Dan Mountain, Chu Huaicun had coordinated with Lord Qi of the Ministry of Justice, fabricating all traces of Ji Ying staying there overnight, including the overturned sedan chair by the cliff on the mountain. This might not eliminate all suspicion, but it could at least temporarily keep him out of the spotlight.

Ji Ying, however, acted even more decisively than he had imagined.

The palace sedan chair bearers were actually his people. Ji Ying had learned of the poisoning in this way, the news subtly floating through the palace air, carefully avoiding him. But what surprised Chancellor Chu was that among the two adjutants His Majesty used for surveillance, Ji Ying had, by some unknown means, turned one of them. The other’s confession was undoubtedly as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The other adjutant “fell” off the cliff with the overturned carriage.

After that, the two became merciless political enemies. These days, he had shown no mercy to Ji Ying, waves of pressure, under the name of the Chancellor’s residence, surging towards him. And Ji Ying, as the only person sanctioned by the Emperor to contend with Chu Huaicun, continued to use ruthless methods, sometimes even proving tricky for Chu Huaicun to handle.

He once again marveled at the other’s talent.

However, unlike before, they no longer had secrets from each other.

The dappled sunlight of early summer fell on Chu Huaicun through the peach orchard. He was in white robes, his hand on the saber at his waist. He paused, then remembered Mr. Fang’s admonition before leaving and decided to refrain. As if possessed, he thought of Ji Ying whenever he closed his eyes.

Having just confessed their feelings, they were already going their separate ways. Even a moment apart was difficult to bear.

He sighed silently and turned to reach out to Liang Kechun:

“Young Master Liang, never mind what Mr. Fang said, give me the files. I’ll just sit here and read for a while; it won’t cause any trouble.”

Liang Kechun was much easier to talk to than that stubborn old man Mr. Fang. Upon hearing this, he simply said “Oh” without much surprise, then, without much integrity, he surrendered, relaying the latest investigation results from the Chancellor’s residence and the palace to Chu Huaicun in full detail. When speaking of Prince Duan, he even rummaged through and included the news Ji Ying had brought.

Chu Huaicun calmly assented, allowing Liang Kechun to also summarize the Chancellor’s residence’s findings and send them to Ji Ying if he had the opportunity.

The focus at this moment was not on Prince Duan; Chu Huaicun knew this well. He sighed, but before asking about the Eastern Palace, he first asked about Mr. Fang. Mr. Fang had rarely stayed at the Chancellor’s residence lately, instead often wandering around the capital. Of course, there was a reason for this, which he knew himself, keeping others in the dark until he recently told Chancellor Chu.

“Mr. Fang is a person of great capability,” Chu Huaicun’s pupils shifted slightly, seemingly looking in the direction of the imperial palace. His voice was still cold, but seemed to carry a reassuring tone, “What he is confident about cannot be wrong; if he makes a decision, nine oxen couldn’t pull him back. My master was just such a person.”

Just this morning, Mr. Fang bid farewell to Chu Huaicun.

The place he was going was not mountains or wildlands, not palaces or towers, not rivers and lakes or bustling markets, but a place from which all people retreated in fear, trembling at its mention. In that place, they did have an acquaintance. This acquaintance was none other than Qin Sangzhi, renowned as the foremost gentleman of the current dynasty.

Mr. Fang’s destination for this trip was the Imperial Prison.

The secret texts left by Wei Gong, the Grand Historian of the previous dynasty, could not be abruptly cut off there. No matter what kind of storm they were caught in now, Chancellor Chu never for a moment forgot to solve this mystery. He also needed to find Ji Ying’s weakness, though this might be harder than imagined, but it was a mist that had to be explored for their future.

The depths of that place were dark and damp, filled with fierce ghosts and wandering souls, blade edges and chains.

In truth, the Imperial Prison was not a place one could simply enter. However, Mr. Fang believed that being suspected of defrauding royalty and noble families of several hundred taels of silver was certainly enough qualification to take a stroll inside.

Mr. Fang was like someone going for a walk, utterly unaware of any danger. He possessed a plethora of abilities to protect himself. If anyone in the entire world could emerge from the Imperial Prison unscathed, it would probably be someone like Mr. Fang.

“Take care,” Chu Huaicun said softly before parting.

Mr. Fang glared at him, then sighed: “You and Ji Ying are the ones who need to take care. I’ve left the medicine for ‘Half-Face Makeup.’ While not as effective as my acupuncture, it should suffice for a while. I’m just going for a trip. Chancellor Chu, please don’t get poisoned again.”