Governor Yu’s smile remained unchanged. “I don’t understand Your Highness’s meaning. As an official, I serve the common people with sincerity and remain loyal to His Majesty as a humble subject.”
Having said this, not wishing to engage further with Shen Xihe, he added: “I still have official duties to attend to and cannot keep you company. I ask for Your Highness’s understanding.”
Shen Xihe yielded the way accordingly, without pressing further. Watching Governor Yu’s retreating figure disappear with his two subordinates, she then asked Tang Juan: “Magistrate Tang, are there any in your prefecture office who are not of one mind with the magistrate?”
Tang Juan felt an inexplicable twinge in his brow. The princess before him was otherworldly in her refinement, her voice enchanting and gentle when she spoke. Though she seemed without the slightest sharp edge, she nevertheless gave people the impression of a precious sword that could fly from its scabbard at any moment—and once drawn, would surely drink blood.
Suppressing these thoughts, Tang Juan lowered his eyes: “Your Highness need not worry. Though I am dim-witted, I do possess some ability in managing my subordinates.”
“That is very good,” Shen Xihe smiled faintly.
Good in what way? Tang Juan asked himself. Though he had been steeped in officialdom for over ten years and seen all manner of people, this princess before him, who appeared delicate and young, was difficult for him to see through.
Surely the rough customs of the Northwest couldn’t mean… surely she couldn’t have learned the bandit methods of the Northwest King and planned to directly kill Governor Yu in his prefecture office to silence him?
Thinking of some of the Northwest King’s past deeds, then looking at Shen Xihe sitting elegantly and lowering her head to taste her tea, his moment of panic subsided. The princess appeared refined and courteous, her every movement unlike someone rash and overbearing. She surely wouldn’t be so bold and reckless.
Unable to figure out what Shen Xihe intended to do, yet not daring to ask too much lest he unwittingly become an accomplice, Tang Juan waited anxiously. Soon enough, Governor Yu came out, his men holding Bu Shulin.
When Bu Shulin saw Shen Xihe, he gave her a quick wink. Shen Xihe nodded almost imperceptibly.
The next instant, Bu Shulin suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, startling even Tang Juan’s expression to change. Governor Yu also turned his head to glance at Bu Shulin, who had collapsed weakly and was now trembling as he pointed a finger at Governor Yu.
They heard Bu Shulin speak with difficulty: “Prefect… why… why did you poison me!”
With that, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed in the arms of Governor Yu’s subordinate.
“Governor Yu, what have you done to Young Master Bu?” Shen Xihe immediately demanded.
Governor Yu’s face was taut: “This official did not poison Bu Shulin!”
“Magistrate Tang, please call for a physician!” Shen Xihe said coldly.
“This official will…”
“Governor Yu.” Shen Xihe cut off his words, “Young Master Bu was caught with evidence and is a suspect. At this moment, Governor Yu is also suspected of poisoning Young Master Bu. If Governor Yu cannot clear this suspicion, I will not let you take Young Master Bu away.”
“Princess, are you interfering with imperial affairs?” Governor Yu’s face darkened.
“Governor Yu, I have neither prevented you from taking Bu Shulin away nor asked a single question about the tomb robbery case. How is this interfering with imperial affairs?” Shen Xihe stood her ground, “I witnessed Bu Shulin being poisoned in your custody, and before losing consciousness he identified you as having poisoned him. This is a separate matter.”
“Princess!”
“Let the physician examine him first.” Magistrate Tang called for the prefecture physician at this point, trying to mediate. He too did not know what exactly Shen Xihe had planned.
Governor Yu looked to his other subordinate, who immediately ran out.
The prefecture physician took Bu Shulin’s pulse and seemed uncertain: “Young Master Bu shows signs of poisoning, but forgive my shallow learning—I cannot identify which poison.”
“How does Governor Yu explain this?” Shen Xihe asked.
Governor Yu gave a cold snort: “Princess, do not be hasty.”
Before long, Governor Yu’s subordinate returned with another physician carrying a medicine chest: “This is the state prefecture’s physician. This official was concerned that Young Master Bu might be delicate and meet with some mishap along the way, so brought a physician along.”
Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows but did not prevent this physician from examining Bu Shulin’s pulse. This physician was Governor Yu’s man, but with other physicians present, he could not speak nonsense. After carefully examining for some time, he lowered his head and reported: “The Young Master has indeed been poisoned. This humble one has never seen this poison before.”
Shen Xihe gave Governor Yu a meaningful look that was somewhere between a smile and not.
Governor Yu knew this must be a scheme between Shen Xihe and Bu Shulin. If he couldn’t take Bu Shulin away now, he would never be able to. If Bu Shulin had not become the mastermind of the tomb robbery case, then his hasty interference, even without evidence, would surely have seen this pot of excrement dumped on Prince Zhao’s head.
“Since this poison is so unusual, come, quickly take Young Master Bu to the state prefecture to seek famous physicians to cure the poison!” Governor Yu shouted.
He naturally had brought more than just two men, and his people from outside rushed in.
Magistrate Tang stepped aside. Since the princess had set up such a situation, she must have anticipated this step and surely had countermeasures ready. His position and stance made it inappropriate to side with either party.
“Mo Yuan!” Shen Xihe called out sharply, and Mo Yuan likewise charged in with over ten men.
“Princess is obstructing official business and hindering this official’s investigation. This official will certainly report this matter to His Majesty!” Governor Yu’s face was cold as he clasped his hands toward the direction of the capital in a salute. “Take him away!”
“A Governor poisoning a suspect greatly suggests intent to silence. I too will inform His Majesty.” Shen Xihe smiled faintly, retreating behind Mo Yu and Zhen Zhu. “Seize them!”
Tang Juan had not expected things to truly escalate to this point. He wanted to speak but held back.
As Mo Yuan’s men and Governor Yu’s men began fighting, Shen Xihe walked around the corridor to the prefecture office entrance without a sideways glance. Governor Yu’s subordinate running out surely hadn’t just brought back a physician—she hadn’t forgotten Bu Shulin mentioning that the local garrison commander and Tang Juan had competed over her.
Just as Shen Xihe reached the entrance, sure enough, the garrison commander came riding up with a squad of men, with Teng Jin guarding outside to block them.
“Princess, this official received the prefect’s call for aid, saying someone here intended to harm his life.” The garrison commander gripped the sword at his waist while peering inside.
“Governor Yu is suspected of poisoning Young Master Bu, as witnessed by myself and Magistrate Tang. I only hope Governor Yu will remain here to clear up this matter, but Governor Yu insists on using force. In this matter, Commander, you would do best to follow Magistrate Tang’s example and stay clear.” Shen Xihe said softly.
“Princess, forgive me, but this official bears an imperial mandate to maintain peace in this region. It is my duty—at this time I cannot stand idly by.” The garrison commander gave Shen Xihe a salute, then gestured to his men.
Zhen Zhu and Mo Yu moved to block them, but Shen Xihe raised her hand to stop them. As the garrison commander charged in with his men, Mo Yuan had just leaped up to exchange blows with Governor Yu’s trusted subordinate, managing to strike him down with a palm strike. The man crashed beside Governor Yu’s feet, a porcelain bottle rolling from his body.
“Stop!” The crisp sound of the medicine bottle shattering rang out together with the garrison commander’s shout as his men rushed in and surrounded everyone.
Shen Xihe approached slowly, wearing a wisteria-colored silver-threaded cape with plane tree leaf embroidery. Both sides stopped fighting as she walked step by step to stand before Governor Yu. “Zhen Zhu.”
Zhen Zhu, who had followed beside Shen Xihe, picked up a piece of the medicine bottle and the pills that had fallen out, placing them on the porcelain shard and offering them to Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe did not take them, but instead addressed Tang Juan and the garrison commander: “I trouble you both to each find a physician to examine whether this poison matches what Young Master Bu was poisoned with. Then we shall know if Governor Yu administered the poison.”