Two tall guards brought Daoist Master Qingxu before Ye Xian. “Young Master, we’ve caught him.”
Daoist Master Qingxu was somewhat dazed. Young Master? Which family’s heir had personally come to arrest him?
Ye Xian glanced at Daoist Master Qingxu and said, “Take him back and hand him over to Li Xianhuai for questioning.”
The guard from Prince Yanping, wearing a padded jacket, came over to pay respects to Ye Xian, smiling flatteringly with clasped hands: “Thank you for your assistance, Young Master. This humble one will immediately report to Prince Yanping about your generosity!” He also glanced at Gu Dezhao, thinking how bold this Imperial Physician Gu was to interfere with their business.
Daoist Master Qingxu hurriedly said, “Young Master! This is a misunderstanding! This poor Daoist has devoted himself to cultivation, how could I have done such a thing? The Prince’s eldest son was truly not killed by me!”
Ye Xian couldn’t be bothered to say more to him. The guard reached out and dislocated his jaw. Daoist Master Qingxu’s face showed a painful expression, his mouth mumbling incoherently. Only then did the guards take him away.
Jin Chao was watching from a distance, hearing everything they said clearly. Thinking about it now, she understood why this Daoist Master Qingxu was so young yet had such a ruddy complexion—it was probably due to long-term consumption of arsenic. In her previous life, she had heard that small amounts of arsenic could beautify one’s appearance. Some concubines would take a tiny amount of arsenic powder with their fingernails daily to maintain their beauty and favor.
Prince Yanping’s eldest son had been chronically ill—taking arsenic would certainly cost him his life.
The Marquis of Changxing’s household and Prince Yanping had always been on good terms, no wonder Ye Xian personally came to arrest the man. Jin Chao looked at Ye Xian but felt hesitant in her heart… Should she tell him about Xiao Qishan? If she didn’t, she would have to watch helplessly as Ye Xian walked down the same path as in her previous life—becoming a corrupt official who committed all manner of evil, leaving behind an infamous reputation for generations.
Gu Dezhao thought for a moment, then his expression changed drastically: “The medicine… Not good!…” He ran outside.
Manager Li was confused about what had happened and hurriedly chased after him. Jin Chao, however, understood. Her father had just remembered the medicine sent to Gu Jinrong. She told Maid Tong to follow him, “…Tell father clearly that Jinrong hasn’t taken the medicine.”
Fortunately, she had been cautious and told Gu Jinrong not to take the so-called immortal elixir. It was a life-taking substance.
Ye Xian looked at Gu Jinchao, seemingly not understanding what had happened.
Jin Chao walked over to him and smiled, “Would the Young Master honor us by staying for a cup of tea before leaving?”
Ye Xian didn’t speak. Why did she keep forgetting to call him “Cousin”? He felt somewhat unhappy. After a while, he asked her flatly, “…Is that cactus you’re keeping still alive?”
Jin Chao was startled, then smiled bitterly: “It’s living better than anything else, don’t worry.”
Jin Chao invited Ye Xian to the flower hall, where a maid brought up a cup of almond tea.
Ye Xian took a sip and frowned. He was very picky about food and drink, so he put it aside and ignored it. He told her about Daoist Master Qingxu: “…Your father is something, believing such a charlatan. Taking arsenic for preservation—how could he do something like that?”
If he hadn’t preserved himself this way, he wouldn’t have been able to swindle others’ money, Jin Chao thought silently. She then asked him, “How did you discover there was arsenic in the medicine?”
Ye Xian leaned lazily in his chair and said calmly, “Prince Yanping’s eldest son was naturally weak, yet he still insisted on visiting brothels—his body had long been failing. Last night he died suddenly, and Prince Yanping suspected poisoning. They collected everything the eldest son had eaten and gave it to Master Xiao to examine. That’s when they discovered arsenic in the medicine… In my opinion, even without this medicine, his son wouldn’t have lived many more years. Daoist Master Qingxu was just unfortunate to be caught in the crossfire…”
Ye Xian spoke to her about visiting brothels with an unchanged expression.
Jin Chao didn’t want to comment on this matter, but when Ye Xian mentioned Master Xiao, she felt very hesitant.
“Is Master Xiao’s courtesy name Qishan?” she smiled and said, “He treated my aunt’s illness. I’d like to carve a seal for him as a gift.”
Ye Xian responded with an “Oh”: “So has your aunt’s illness improved?”
Jin Chao shook her head and said softly, “Aunt wouldn’t take Master Xiao’s medicine. She lost the child and hasn’t been in good spirits since.”
Ye Xian wasn’t very interested in matters concerning her aunt and continued telling her about Xiao Qishan: “His style name is Qishan, but I don’t remember his courtesy name. When I was with him in Guizhou, a fellow townsman came looking for him, and that’s when I heard his original name was Xiao You. Since he’s called You, perhaps his courtesy name is Lansheng. You can carve whatever you like!”
Ye Xian smiled indifferently, but when he looked up, he noticed Jin Chao’s poor complexion.
So it was that Xiao You! The same Xiao You who later became an advisor to the Wise Prince!
Jin Chao’s heart tightened, but when she looked up, she found Ye Xian watching her, his gaze seeming to penetrate her thoughts.
Jin Chao quickly smiled, “Cousin has lived in Guizhou?”
Ye Xian’s mood improved somewhat, and he nodded: “My health was poor, so I was in Guizhou from age five until eleven. Master Xiao was with me the whole time.”
Ye Xian must have deep feelings for Xiao Qishan! Jin Chao thought about this and found it even harder to speak up. She hesitated for a moment before telling him, “When I went to Tongzhou a few days ago, I heard that bandits from Guizhou had come to Xianghe and were secretly transporting weapons to Yanjing.”
Bandits from Guizhou? Why is she telling me this? Ye Xian nodded: “Mountain regions have many bandits, that’s not strange. But regarding weapons transport… Did you see this yourself, or did you hear it from someone?”
How could Gu Jinchao say this involved the Ji family?
Ye Xian was such a brilliant person that from just a few clues, he could extract countless details he wanted. Jin Chao decided she shouldn’t get too involved in this matter and said, “Cousin, you’ve helped me many times. I won’t hide things from you. In short, I’ve heard some unfavorable things about Master Xiao—he might secretly have connections with the Wise Prince. The Emperor is seriously ill now, and the court may face uncertainties. You should be careful of those around you…”
After speaking, she took her leave. Ye Xian couldn’t even keep her from going.
Ye Xian was thoughtful. How would Gu Jinchao, a young lady from the inner chambers, understand court matters? What exactly had she heard?
Most importantly, was what she said true?
There was a deep conflict between the Wise Prince and the Marquis of Changxing’s household—they were the most opposed families among the nobility. This conflict originated when the old Marquis of Changxing suppressed Crown Prince Cheng’s rebellion. At that time, the Wise Prince strongly advocated for Crown Prince Cheng’s son, but his grandfather executed him by the sword. The Wise Prince and Prince Cheng were brothers, yet his grandfather killed his nephew, thus creating a feud with the Marquis of Changxing.
Ye Xian’s heart tightened. Xiao Qishan was originally an advisor to Prince Cheng…
He felt he should investigate this matter thoroughly.
Ye Xian called his guards to prepare to return home. As they hurriedly left, they ran into Gu Lan, who had come after hearing the news.
Gu Lan was learning needlework from a new Suzhou embroidery teacher when she heard about officials coming to the mansion. She hurried to Jiu Liu Pavilion to see. She didn’t see any officials but saw Ye Xian leading a group of people walking toward her. Her heart inexplicably fluttered, and she bowed in greeting: “I hope the Young Master is well.”
Ye Xian stopped, seeing that she was Gu Jinchao’s half-sister, with hemp cloth pinned to her chest. Gu Jinchao’s mother was also her mother, and seeing her poor spirits, she must be deeply grieving. He nodded: “Second Miss Gu, no need for formalities.”
His voice was gentler than usual.
Gu Lan looked up. Ye Xian was wearing a crescent-white plain silk robe, his bearing elegant, his face like fine jade. Such a picturesque young man, yet followed by a large group of tall guards surrounding him like stars around the moon. Such a young man also wielded great power…
She lowered her eyes with a smile and stepped aside to let Ye Xian pass. Then she stood there for a long time, lost in thought.
In her memory, Ye Xian had never been so gentle with her. Did this mean… he felt something special for her…
A smile appeared at the corners of Gu Lan’s mouth.
Mujin whispered beside her, “This Young Master is quite a fine talent… I think even women might not be as handsome. Miss is also beautiful and would look just as elegant standing beside the Young Master.”
Gu Lan said softly, “You and your clever mouth! Come with me to Jiu Liu Pavilion.” But she wasn’t angry at all. Mujin heard this and knew she had guessed her mistress’s thoughts correctly, so she continued to please her: “I’ve heard that the Marquis of Changxing’s heir is distant with everyone, but he’s gentler with you! It must be because our Miss is beautiful.”
All the Gu family daughters were beautiful, with Gu Jinchao probably being the most beautiful, yet her reputation was too poor. Gu Lan smiled and said, “For a woman, virtue comes first, then appearance. Don’t be shortsighted.”
Mujin repeatedly agreed, and the mistress and servant gradually walked away.
When Gu Dezhao arrived at the eldest son’s Jingfang Study, Maid Tong caught up with him and explained about the medicine: “…The eldest Miss thought it inappropriate and told the young master not to take the medicine. The master need not worry.”
Gu Dezhao sighed in relief, thankful that his eldest daughter was now sensible. He then felt remorseful—as a father, he had been too negligent. He didn’t even know that Daoist Master Qingxu dared to put arsenic in the medicine, nearly harming Gu Jinrong! After thinking for a long time, he went to Gu Jinchao’s Qingtong Courtyard.
Jin Chao was practicing calligraphy in her study. Though she was supposedly practicing, her mind was not on it at all but rather thinking about Ye Xian’s situation.
She was living a second life with foresight. But this was something she couldn’t tell anyone—supernatural phenomena, of course, she understood! So there were many things she couldn’t say, not even hint at. How did the Marquis of Changxing die in her previous life? It was right after Emperor Muzong had just passed away. He led a large group of soldiers into the forbidden palace, where the Wise Prince struck him down with one sword, claiming he intended to rebel.
But this explanation was full of doubts. The Marquis of Changxing was most loyal to the Emperor and would never rebel. Even if he were rebelling, if he brought people to storm the forbidden palace and killed the Crown Prince, who could stop him? He was the Marquis of Changxing, a veteran of many campaigns whose name struck fear into barbarians!
So there was only one explanation: the Wise Prince had been lying in ambush in the palace, waiting for the Marquis of Changxing to come to his death. But why would the Marquis of Changxing bring officials to storm the forbidden palace, especially right after Emperor Muzong had just passed away?
Jin Chao was very grateful that in her previous life, she had married into the Chen family, which made her more aware of these matters than others. But no matter how clear her understanding was, she couldn’t possibly know everything.
She didn’t know these reasons, so it was impossible to hint at saving his father.
She thought for a long time. When Cai Fu told her that her father had arrived, she saw that she had written “Marquis of Changxing” and “Ye Xian” all over the paper. She took the candlestick and burned the paper before going out to meet Gu Dezhao.