An hour later, Mo Yuan searched everywhere but found no second Cui Jinbai, making him wonder if Shen Xihe was overthinking.
In the capital, under the Emperor’s feet, who would dare impersonate a government official, let alone the Deputy Chief Minister of the Court of Judicature, a rank four official!
“Your Highness, I’ve made inquiries. Today, Deputy Minister Cui went from his home to the Court of Judicature for roll call, then rode straight to the courier station,” Mo Yuan reported cautiously. “Calculating the distance and time, Deputy Minister Cui should have made the journey without any delays.”
This meant he couldn’t have been switched en route, especially since he had two Court officials accompanying him.
Unless he had been replaced at home – but who would dare be so brazen?
Shen Xihe listened with a calm expression. She had anticipated this outcome even before Mo Yuan went searching.
This man was certainly no careless individual. Since he had come, he must have made thorough preparations.
“Mo Yu.” Shen Xihe called out, and when Mo Yu entered, she asked, “Is he still questioning people?”
“Yes,” Mo Yu answered. “Zi Yu, Hong Yu, and Bi Yu were all summoned for questioning, as well as the servant girls.”
“What did he ask about?” Shen Xihe felt she had guessed the purpose behind this person’s impersonation of Cui Jinbai.
He was trying various ways to learn about her, but he would be disappointed.
Shen Xihe was no longer the same Shen Xihe as before.
“He asked how Lingling usually served Your Highness, how Your Highness treated Lingling, how much Lingling knew about Your Highness…” Mo Yu recounted truthfully, including how she had answered everything.
Indeed, while seemingly inquiring about Lingling, every question was actually about her. Even the sharp-witted Bi Yu and others hadn’t noticed.
Lingling was, after all, her personal maid, so it was natural that she was involved in everything. This Deputy Minister asked in such an official manner that no one would think twice about it.
By now, he had learned Shen Xihe’s temperament thoroughly from her four maids, under the guise of investigating Lingling’s matter.
Shen Xihe’s eyes, seeming to hold a faint mist, gazed outside at the golden yellow flowers blooming in layers around the straight, sturdy pines. She fell into deep thought.
Why was this person going to such lengths to learn about her?
If it was for the Bone-Melting Pills, he shouldn’t be acting now, nor should he use such methods, and he wouldn’t have given her the Immortal’s Sash.
But besides the Bone-Melting Pills, there were no other connections between them.
What was his true purpose?
“Your Highness, Deputy Minister Cui is taking his leave,” Just as Shen Xihe was pondering this person’s motives, Hong Yu came to report.
“Go invite Deputy Minister Cui over, tell him I have some doubts I’d like him to clarify.”
Shen Xihe instructed Hong Yu, then had Mo Yu close all the windows. She changed the incense in the delicate burner, covered it well, and placed it on the table. She then lifted the beaded curtain and entered the inner chamber, sitting on the soft couch, leaning against its edge.
When Cui Jinbai entered the inner chamber, he saw Shen Xihe through the beaded curtain, supporting her head with one hand, looking somewhat weak as she leaned against the bedpost. “Your Highness.”
“All of you withdraw, I have some words to speak privately with Deputy Minister Cui.” Shen Xihe instructed Mo Yu and the others, then covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed several times.
Cui Jinbai watched as everyone withdrew and even closed the door.
Just as he was feeling suspicious, Shen Xihe spoke softly: “My body is weak and cannot withstand drafts, I hope Deputy Minister Cui understands.”
Everyone of rank in the entire capital knew that Shen Xihe was frail – all due to the karma of Prince Kang’s mansion.
“What instructions does Your Highness have? Please speak directly.” Cui Jinbai spoke neither humbly nor proudly.
“Please be seated, Deputy Minister Cui… *cough* *cough* *cough*…” Shen Xihe raised her hand to point at the round wooden table, then covered her mouth and nose with her handkerchief and coughed for a while.
Seeing this, Cui Jinbai clasped his hands in respect before taking a seat at the table.
He happened to sit right next to the incense burner, where wisps of smoke curled up, slowly releasing an extremely faint fragrance.
The scent was subtle and lingering. Cui Jinbai had never smelled it before and took a deep breath without showing it.
“Lingling and I have been mistress and servant for many years…”
Shen Xihe spoke of some past events with Lingling, her tone full of reminiscence and sadness. They were all inconsequential matters, and she would cough every few sentences, rambling on for who knows how long.
Cui Jinbai showed great patience, and since every word of Shen Xihe’s concerned Lingling, and he had come for Lingling’s case, he listened very attentively.
“Deputy Minister Cui comes to the Court of Judicature as Deputy Chief, in charge of interrogations and detailed punishments.” Shen Xihe’s handkerchief lightly covered her lips as she suddenly changed the subject. “I would like to ask Deputy Minister Cui, what punishment should be given to someone who impersonates a government official?”
Cui Jinbai raised his eyebrows slightly and answered seriously: “For impersonating a government official, the punishment depends on their actions. If they imprisoned an official and impersonated them without evil deeds, the punishment ranges from beating with a rod to imprisonment; if they killed an official to impersonate them, regardless of whether they committed evil deeds or not, they should be beheaded.”
“Which category does Deputy Minister Cui fall into?” Shen Xihe suddenly asked.
Cui Jinbai’s expression remained unchanged: “This official doesn’t understand Your Highness’s meaning.”
Shen Xihe slowly rose, her slender, soft fingers passing through the beaded curtain as she took graceful steps forward.
Today she wore a light purple gauze shawl with silver-threaded ruyi patterns draped over her shoulders and trailing to the floor; her off-white long dress with scattered purple daylily flowers was ethereal and elegant. The ornaments at her waist swayed gently as she walked as if dancing with the wind.
“Deputy Minister Cui… are you feeling dizzy?” Her voice was clear and ethereal, like jade stones striking together, pleasing to the ear.
Cui Jinbai raised his head to look at the pearl-inlay flower ornament on her brow.
The pearl was small but lustrous and white, appearing noble and exquisite against the red flower ornament, just like Shen Xihe herself.
Gradually, however, he found that the tiny pearl seemed to have multiple shadows.
His body weakened, and he had to support himself with one hand on the table to avoid falling.
Shen Xihe walked to his side, still covering her mouth and nose with the drug-soaked handkerchief: “It seems my Turmeric Softening Incense works quite well.”
This was Shen Xihe’s first time using the softening incense made primarily from turmeric flowers.
Cui Jinbai turned his head to look at the white Xing kiln porcelain lotus-shaped incense burner beside him, which still emitted thin wisps of smoke, and raised his hand to cover his mouth and nose.
“Beating with rods, imprisonment, beheading.” Shen Xihe’s gaze fell on Cui Jinbai through the slowly drifting incense smoke. “Deputy Minister Cui, which do you think suits you?”
“Your Highness, you…”
Shen Xihe couldn’t be bothered with him: “Mo Yu!”
Just as Shen Xihe called out, before Mo Yu could push open the door, Cui Jinbai suddenly sprang up, his figure flashing as he forcefully pulled Shen Xihe into his embrace.
“Release Her Highness!” Mo Yu pushed open the door to see this scene, drawing her sword and pointing it at Cui Jinbai.
“You’re fine?” Shen Xihe couldn’t believe it.
People need to breathe, and when the fragrance enters the lungs there’s no way to resist it. Even if someone were immune to all poisons, they couldn’t escape this!
“I thought Your Highness would come to peel off the skin on my face personally,” Cui Jinbai’s voice changed. “So I put on this act, hoping to amuse Your Highness, and also… have a chance to get close to your fragrance. Alas, Your Highness didn’t give me this opportunity.”
As he spoke the last sentence, he seemed quite regretful.