Lady Zhangsun breathed deeply, and after calming down somewhat, she shook her head: “No, my husband wouldn’t kill His Majesty. He has no motive for murder—it must have been someone else.” She then said urgently: “Help me go see my father-in-law.”
Xiuzhu didn’t comply with her request to help her, her expression grave with a hint of disdain: “It’s said that when Xin’an discovered the master and Princess Jinyang, they were both disheveled. The speculation is that His Majesty caught them in an improper act, they quarreled, and thus… accidentally killed His Majesty!”
“Never!” Lady Zhangsun immediately protested: “My husband is about to marry the Princess—why would he engage in such improper conduct? This still doesn’t make sense.”
“Perhaps they couldn’t even wait these few days.” Xiuzhu frowned: “This servant has long said Princess Jinyang is no good person and warned against getting involved with her. You just wouldn’t listen, Miss, and now… who knows how this will end.”
Lady Zhangsun bit her silver teeth tightly. After a long while, she said: “Go make arrangements—I want to visit my husband at the Ministry of Justice prison.”
Xiuzhu glanced at her protruding belly and hesitated: “The prison is an inauspicious place. In your current condition, Miss, it might be inappropriate to go. Why don’t I go on your behalf?”
Lady Zhangsun’s eyes shone with determination: “My husband is imprisoned there. Never mind mere inauspiciousness—even if it were a dragon’s den or tiger’s lair, I would brave it. As for this child…” She touched her belly, saying slowly: “If he cannot withstand even this bit of inauspiciousness, how can he help his father in the future?”
Seeing Lady Zhangsun’s mind was made up, Xiuzhu had no choice but to arrange things as she wished. Soon, a sedan chair carried Lady Zhangsun to the Ministry of Justice. After some monetary arrangements, she finally saw Li Shimin. Seeing his hands and feet bound in shackles, Lady Zhangsun’s eyes reddened and she nearly wept.
Li Shimin saw Lady Zhangsun standing outside the cell and hurried over: “How did you come here?”
Lady Zhangsun held back the sourness in her eyes, choking out: “Your wife heard about His Majesty’s matter, so I came to see you, husband.”
Li Shimin’s expression stiffened momentarily, then he smiled: “I’m fine—it’s just a misunderstanding. I’ll be out in a few days. This place has heavy malevolent energy and foul air—go back quickly and don’t worry about me.”
“How can your wife not worry when such a serious matter has occurred?” Upon hearing this, Li Shimin fell silent. After a long while, he said softly: “Wugou, do you believe me?”
Lady Zhangsun met his gaze: “If I cannot even believe my own husband, your wife doesn’t know who else I could believe.”
These words were like a ray of the most beautiful spring light, illuminating this dark cell and slightly lifting Li Shimin’s heavy mood. He grasped her hand through the bars: “Thank you for believing in me!”
Lady Zhangsun smiled, then said seriously: “By the way, was the person you went to see last night sent by the Princess?”
“No.” Li Shimin recounted the events, saying: “Clearly, someone deliberately orchestrated this to harm Yunyi and me. I just can’t think of who bears such deep hatred toward us that they would use His Majesty to put us to death.”
Lady Zhangsun thought carefully for a while, also saying: “Your wife also cannot think of who bears such deep animosity toward you, husband.” After a pause, her eyelid twitched as she blurted out: “Could it be Princess Xin’an?”
“Ruyi has the same thought as you, but… as Yunyi said, Princess Xin’an doesn’t have such meticulous thinking. Even if she truly had a part in this, at most she would only be an accomplice. The mastermind…” Li Shimin thought for a long time but remained clueless.
Lady Zhangsun was equally at a loss, then said: “Even if we can’t find Little Six, we can look for His Majesty’s personal attendants or the guards who were on duty last night—they should be able to corroborate your innocence, husband.”
“Before coming here, I mentioned this to Elder Brother—he will investigate for me. But I’m afraid…” Li Shimin said worriedly: “it won’t be of much use.”
Lady Zhangsun asked puzzledly: “Why do you say this, husband?”
Li Shimin sighed: “Since the mastermind knew to hide Little Six, he surely wouldn’t forget to erase these surface clues, so there’s little hope.”
Lady Zhangsun pondered for a moment: “Even if all these clues are erased, he’s still left the biggest one.”
Li Shimin was startled, then immediately understood: “You mean Princess Xin’an?”
“Exactly—perhaps we can find the real culprit through her.” Faced with Lady Zhangsun’s words, Li Shimin shook his head: “Setting aside that this is all just our speculation, even if it were true, how could Princess Xin’an admit it, let alone reveal the mastermind?”
“No matter what, since we have a clue, we must try.” She gripped Li Shimin’s pale, cold hand tightly: “Rest assured, husband—your wife will certainly clear your name and never let you suffer this false accusation.”
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin shook his head: “You’re currently inconvenienced by pregnancy and shouldn’t overexert yourself. Just let Elder Brother investigate.”
Lady Zhangsun smiled gently: “Your wife knows her limits—you needn’t worry, husband.” During their conversation, the jailer’s impatient urging came from ahead, and Xiuzhu reminded from the side: “Miss, we should go.”
“I know.” Lady Zhangsun acknowledged, then said reluctantly: “Husband, your wife will go back first and come see you again tomorrow or the day after.”
Li Shimin hesitated for a moment: “Wugou, may I ask you for something?”
In their three years of marriage, this was the first time Li Shimin had used the word “ask,” leaving Lady Zhangsun puzzled: “Whatever you need, husband, just say it—your wife will certainly do her utmost to accomplish it for you.”
Li Shimin took a light breath: “If… we truly cannot clear this false accusation, promise me you’ll definitely ask Father to spare Yunyi and not make things difficult for her!”
Seeing Li Shimin unable even to protect himself yet still wholeheartedly thinking of Yunyi, Xiuzhu became furious. How fortunate that the Miss had such a good temper—if it were her, she wouldn’t even bother acknowledging him.
Lady Zhangsun met his gaze and said firmly: “Rest assured, husband—not only the Princess, but you will also be fine. Your wife will certainly restore both your reputations!”
Under the jailer’s repeated urging, Lady Zhangsun reluctantly departed. When she found herself once again in the bright spring sunshine, Xiuzhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. That prison truly wasn’t a place for humans—though it was warm March weather, inside it was eerily cold, just like being in the depths of winter.
“Miss, you’ve been out so long and must be tired. Let this servant help you return. Though your pregnancy is now stable, we must still be extra careful.”
“I’m fine.” After saying this, Lady Zhangsun continued: “After returning to the mansion, have Chu’yi and the guards who were on duty at the gate that night all come to Muhua Pavilion—I have questions for them. Also, go to the palace gates to inquire and see if you can learn any clues. Additionally, ask about Princess Jinyang’s condition and see how she’s faring.”
“This servant understands.” Xiuzhu wanted to persuade Lady Zhangsun to follow Li Shimin’s earlier suggestion and leave this matter to Li Jiancheng to investigate, but she knew her Miss’s character too well—gentle on the outside but strong within. Once she decided on something, no one could dissuade her, just like with the Princess Jinyang matter.