HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 61: "Would She Be Close to Me?"

Chapter 61: “Would She Be Close to Me?”

Such a grave crime with ironclad evidence was a challenge to imperial authority – Emperor Youning had no choice but to strike decisively.

Shen Xihe didn’t believe this was the Crown Prince’s doing. Looking at the whole picture, the Crown Prince seemed more like a chess piece.

Because of his prior involvement and uncertain fate, no one dared speak up for Chen Zhong. When Chen Yi’s misdeeds and Chen Zhong’s embezzlement came to light, none dared plead for mercy.

Without the Crown Prince’s involvement, even if impeached for other crimes, people would surely have spoken up demanding a thorough investigation, allowing Emperor Youning to consider their opinions and delay accordingly.

“Investigate Qu Yanguang – perhaps then we can guess who’s behind this conspiracy,” Shen Xihe instructed Mo Yuan.

Not only did Shen Xihe send Mo Yuan to investigate Qu Yanguang, but Emperor Youning thought similarly – or rather, all the clever people in the capital believed the Xianping household had been targeted for a long time, and the plotter was whoever stood behind Qu Yanguang.

However, since his father’s death and separation from the Baron of Wanping’s household, Qu Yanguang had spent these three years in mourning, renting a thatched cottage in the countryside, tending herbs daily, studying, and avoiding contact with others.

After the Xianping affair concluded, Emperor Youning restored to Qu Yanguang the title he had been wrongfully denied, while his brother was sentenced to three years imprisonment for bribing officials.

Upon returning to the Wanping household, Qu Yanguang focused entirely on exam preparation, never leaving home or interacting with others.

“Princess, we discovered that just over the hill from Qu Yanguang’s cottage, less than half an hour’s walk away, is the Fourth Prince Prince Ding’s estate.”

Shen Xihe: “Who did you say?”

“The Fourth Prince, Prince Ding,” Mo Yuan replied.

“So it was him…” Shen Xihe was somewhat surprised, yet felt it made sense. A trace of regret passed through her misty, fog-like eyes.

The Fourth Prince, Prince Ding Xiao Changtai, was widely known as a prince who loved nature rather than court politics, living freely like a wild crane.

His princess consort was Ye Wantang, once one of the capital’s Nine Beauties. Their loving marriage was the envy of others.

He didn’t participate in politics, declining several official positions offered by Emperor Youning. He spent most of the year away from the capital, traveling to scenic spots with Ye Wantang.

Though very different in personality from Gu Qingzhi, Ye Wantang got along well with her, often telling Gu Qingzhi how fortunate she was.

Suddenly, Shen Xihe’s gaze sharpened. She had always felt that whoever impersonated Hua Fuhai must be someone who could move freely and connect with people from all over – Prince Ding fit perfectly.

Thinking of how he had once jokingly proposed to marry her, Shen Xihe felt Ye Wantang deserved better.

“Princess, in three days Prince Ding is hosting a banquet at his residence for the Princess Consort’s birthday. Will you attend?” Usually, Biyu would skip these invitations since Shen Xihe had instructed them to decline them all.

Only because Mo Yuan mentioned Prince Ding today did Biyu think to ask.

“Yes,” Shen Xihe nodded.

She would go meet Xiao Changtai.

“Old Fourth’s birthday banquet will surely be lively. I’d like to join in the festivities too,” said Xiao Huayong, lying on his sickbed having just seen off the imperial physician, one hand behind his head, staring listlessly at the canopy.

Tianyuan’s legs gave way and he dropped to his knees: “Your Highness, please spare your servant!”

If this continued, never mind others – his master would be the death of him first.

Xiao Huayong’s eyes shifted to glance at Tianyuan’s bitter expression, turning on his side and propping his head on one hand: “I won’t go as myself.”

Though Tianyuan’s expression improved slightly at these words, he still pleaded earnestly: “Your Highness, why must you go?”

This time Xiao Huayong had included himself in the scheme, making himself a chess piece, deflecting trouble to implicate Prince Ding. Now everyone probably thought Xiao Changtai, who spent his days wandering freely like a crane, was the most fearsome person.

“Youyou will be there,” Xiao Huayong’s lips curved up, his gaze gentle.

He had recently received intelligence from the Tao family that Shen Xihe’s childhood name was Youyou – like the deer’s call, as pure and spirited as a deer. It truly suited her perfectly.

Tianyuan held back his tears – his master became possessed whenever it concerned the Princess or anything related to her.

“Now that Old Fourth’s ambitions are exposed, Youyou will surely misunderstand. If I don’t go and she later mistakenly identifies Hua Fuhai as Old Fourth, what if Old Fourth notices and takes advantage?” Xiao Huayong argued forcefully.

Tianyuan: …

He wanted to shake his master – if the Princess were so easily fooled, would you still treasure her so? Would you need to be so careful?

He admitted Prince Ding was also a crafty old fox with centuries of cultivation, but against the Princess, who would come out worse was uncertain!

His master was truly contradictory. When the Princess was before him, he stayed constantly vigilant, hiding his true nature.

When she wasn’t present, he saw her as weak, pure, and kind, thinking everyone might bully her.

What logic was this?

“Your Highness, the Minister of Protocol position is now vacant – perhaps consider who should fill it.” Better to worry about proper matters than have his mind full of the Princess and be blinded by love!

“When did I say I wanted to seize this position?” Xiao Huayong asked.

Tianyuan: !!

Forgetting hierarchy, Tianyuan raised his head. Seeing Xiao Huayong wasn’t lying, he desperately protested: “Your Highness, you clearly said to clear out the Minister of Protocol position for your use…”

Xiao Huayong insisted righteously: “I did not.”

Tianyuan felt the world spinning. He had already relayed this to his master’s advisors and followers. After their efforts, everyone was waiting for rewards. If his master went back on his word, wouldn’t he be blamed? Wouldn’t they think he had falsely transmitted orders?

Those hungry wolf cubs would tear him apart!

“Hahahahaha…” Having successfully reduced Tianyuan to despair, ready to hang himself with his belt, Xiao Huayong burst out laughing. “Alright, alright. The Minister of Protocol position isn’t suitable for our people. Whoever’s person takes it now would be suspected by His Majesty.”

Tianyuan stared pitifully at Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong asked: “In three days, at Prince Ding’s birthday banquet, should I go?”

Tianyuan gave Xiao Huayong a resentful look: “Your servant will guard the Eastern Palace well.”

Xiao Huayong nodded with satisfaction: “Have them support the Right Assistant Minister of Rites’ promotion to Minister of Protocol, then promote the Director from Personnel to fill the Right Assistant Minister position, arrange our person as the new Director in Personnel, and use connections to have the new Minister of Protocol bring one of our people into the Protocol Ministry as a clerk.”

The Emperor was still in his prime – showing one’s hand too early wasn’t wise. These people were still young and vigorous, they needed to be tempered step by step. In seven or eight years, they would be ready for greater responsibilities.

Tianyuan listened in amazement – this could work?

This way, how could His Majesty know whose people were whose?

“You may go. Relay the message to them,” Xiao Huayong waved his hand.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Tianyuan respectfully withdrew. Just as he left the hall, he heard Xiao Huayong seemingly talking to himself: “The Grand Tutor’s daughter is quite tall. If I disguise myself as a lady, would she be close to me?”

Tianyuan stumbled, nearly falling flat.

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