Chapter 287

Chapter 287 Chunjuan said, "I've questioned that girl as well." "The Eldest Young Master has a habit of drinking soup at night. That girl goes to the kitchen to fetch the soup at this time every night. Coincidentally, that day she saw the guards in the front courtyard shouting, got so frightened she spilled the soup, and hurried back to the courtyard to inform the wet nurse." "Their statements all match up. There aren't many holes, and no one seems particularly suspicious." Xie Run's brow twitched slightly. Could she have suspected the wrong person? After a moment of thought, Chunjuan said, "Although we didn't get anything out of those people, I thought to myself—with so many people attending to the Eldest Young Master, it's impossible that the wet nurse and two maids could carry him out of the courtyard without a single servant noticing. It's as if they were all dead." "So I kept digging, and sure enough, I found something useful!" "The eunuch on night duty that evening was sleeping in the corridor, and he actually overheard a conversation between the wet nurse and the two maids." Xie Run said calmly, "I'm afraid he didn't hear much either. If he had heard something significant, he wouldn't have stood by and watched the wet nurse take the Eldest Young Master away." Chunjuan scratched her head and smiled. "He truly didn't hear much." "But he said that between sleeping and waking, he heard a servant girl mention the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. It seemed she was also 'suggesting' to the wet nurse that she could take the Eldest Young Master to flee to the back courtyard." The wet nurse had never been one to make her own decisions. When faced with danger, she immediately lost her composure. With someone vaguely suggesting in her ear that she should take the Eldest Young Master to the back courtyard, and mentioning how secluded the path to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion was, the wet nurse would unconsciously form that idea on her own. Xie Run said, "Now the wet nurse can't remember exactly what the two of them said, and that young eunuch only vaguely heard a few words. We can't confirm it was the servant girl who said it." "And I suspect he's afraid of stirring up trouble, so he wouldn't dare come forward as a witness. He'd only mention it to you privately, wouldn't he?" Chunjuan lowered her head. "Exactly so." "He told me what he knew and begged me—if there were no other witnesses, he absolutely would not dare testify." "After all, he was half-asleep at the time and couldn't remember much clearly." "If the Prince questioned him, he'd surely slip up, and then he might even implicate you, mistress. So I didn't press him." "You did the right thing." Xie Run lowered her eyes. "Evidence is meant to be shown to the Prince." "With some matters, we don't necessarily need to uncover the full truth. We just need to know who was behind things, and who the real culprit is." Xiaoshu asked, "Mistress, do you want to investigate quietly?" Xie Run smiled and shook her head. "No need to investigate further. We know the servant girl is likely problematic, which means someone has been pulling strings in the shadows." "At this time, who would want to harm the Eldest Young Master? And who has the ability to do so?" "Think carefully, and the answer will naturally come to you." Xiaoshu didn't even need to think. She said, "Who else could it be but Consort Sun?" Chunjuan asked in confusion, "Mistress, do you plan to investigate this matter or not?" "If you want to investigate, just seize that girl and question her—she'll surely reveal something." "I do want to investigate, but there's no need to fixate on the girl." Xie Run said calmly, "That night was dark and the road was slippery. Even if the girl was instigated or threatened by someone, she probably doesn't know much." "If we go around in circles, who knows what else might get dragged into it." Xie Run said, "Now that we have a suspect, investigating further is simple." "Give the order, mistress, and I'll do it at once!" Xie Run said to Dantao, "That servant girl made a mistake and probably can't continue serving by the Eldest Young Master's side. Since that's the case, send her to serve by Consort Sun's side as a second-class maid." Dantao and Xiaoshu's eyes widened in surprise, mixed with some delight. "If it truly was Consort Sun's doing, when she sees the girl transferred to Pine Breeze Courtyard, she'll surely feel guilty." Xie Run added, "Dantao, take one of the inkstones the Prince bestowed today and send it to Consort Sun. Say that Taotao hasn't been sleeping well lately, and I'd like to ask her for a piece of jade to weigh down the pillow." "I've heard that the Duke of Yingguo has the best collection of jade, so Consort Sun must have quite a few fine pieces in her possession as well." "Then, when you're there, casually let slip a few words about what the young eunuch said, and test her reaction." Hearing this, Xiaoshu was immediately eager to try. "Mistress, Sister Dantao's temperament is too gentle for this task. Why not let me go instead?" Xie Run refused. "It's precisely because your Sister Dantao has always been gentle and kind that she's the most suitable for this task." "If you went, Consort Sun would surely guess that I'd received information and sent you specifically to test her." "She's no fool—how could she possibly reveal anything then?" Xiaoshu responded with a disappointed "Yes." Xie Run smiled. "Don't be impatient. I have another good task for you." Xiaoshu's eyes lit up with curiosity and excitement. The next moment, she heard Xie Run say, "Send someone to the front courtyard to inquire about how Concubine Wan's funeral arrangements should be handled." Prince Jing was a traditional man of the old school, and he always kept matters of the front courtyard and the inner courtyard strictly separate. Matters that belonged to the inner courtyard, he never meddled in, entrusting them entirely to the Princess Consort. Matters that belonged to the outer courtyard, he would never allow the inner courtyard to interfere with either. But Wan Linlang's situation was somewhat complicated. She was a woman of the inner court, yet she died in Qiangwu, her body hastily collected by Prince Jing's men. She died saving Prince Jing, so by rights she should have been credited as a meritorious figure, and her treatment should have been elevated a notch. But before Wan Linlang left the residence, her scheming had harmed so many people—not to mention the things she had done before that had left such a poor impression in Prince Jing's mind. With all these factors combined, Prince Jing made no mention of how to handle the matter, leaving Xie Run at a loss as to how to arrange things. The light in Xiaoshu's eyes vanished in an instant. "Mistress, if we go to the front courtyard to inquire, the Prince will surely find out..." She feared Prince Jing. Or rather, the maids of the inner court—unless they were desperately trying to climb into his bed—all feared seeing Prince Jing. Xie Run smiled. "I intend precisely for the Prince to know, and to await his reply." "If you handle this errand well, your reward will not be lacking." Xiaoshu nodded with difficulty, took a deep breath, and said, "This servant will surely do it well!" "Matters of interpersonal relations have never been able to stump you," Xie Run said with a smile. "In this skill, no one in Chunshan Court can surpass you." Xiaoshu felt somewhat inflated by Xie Run's praise. The sorrow on her face dissipated in an instant. That evening, when Prince Jing returned, he naturally learned from his guards that Xie Run had sent someone to inquire about Concubine Wan's matter. He thought for a moment. "Shi'an, go to Chunshan Court." Originally, he had planned to spend the night in the study. He had only walked halfway when he saw a figure in white robes swaying off to the side. At first glance, it looked like seeing a ghost. Prince Jing furrowed his brow. "Who's there?!" Eunuch Shian immediately said, "Your Highness, ahead is the Bishui Canal, its water flowing from Guanyuechi above. At this late hour of the night, there should be no one?" Prince Jing was not afraid of ghosts or spirits. He said coldly, "Send two men ahead to take a look." "Yes!" Eunuch Shian pointed at two young eunuchs with his horsetail whisk. Hua Yu, who was crouching at the mouth of the canal in a white dress, heard footsteps and felt a surge of joy. She turned her head with a hint of coy shyness. But instead of seeing Prince Jing, she saw two pale-faced, beardless young eunuchs staring at her with wary eyes, as if they were catching a thief. The shyness on Hua Yu's face vanished in an instant. "Who are you?!" The young eunuchs exchanged a glance and hastily bowed. "This servant pays respects to Consort Hua." Consort Hua was just growing annoyed when she heard a man's voice from above, its tone unreadable—pleased or displeased. "What are you doing here dressed like that in the middle of the night?!" Consort Hua started slightly, looked up at Prince Jing, and the emotions in her eyes shifted in an instant. Grievance, dissatisfaction, adoration, longing... all finally coalescing into a call that was both aggrieved and coquettish: "My Prince~" The eunuchs nearby, including Eunuch Shian, couldn't help but break out in goosebumps. Prince Jing: "..." Consort Hua belatedly rose to bow, deliberately squeezing her voice as she said, "This concubine heard that Your Highness led the Yan family army to provide disaster relief in Qiangwu, and that many commoners and soldiers perished in that calamity." "Moreover, the residence suffered turmoil, and the Third Young Master and Concubine Wan both met with misfortune..." "This concubine came specially to burn some spirit money for them, hoping they may find peace in the underworld." "And this concubine heard that setting lotus lanterns afloat on water can dispel calamities and avert misfortune, so I thought to release a few lotus lanterns on behalf of Your Highness and the afflicted commoners, to pray for safety and freedom from worry." As she spoke, Consort Hua lowered her head slightly, revealing the fair, delicate profile of her face. In the night, her white dress made her figure appear graceful and slender—pitiful and endearing, elevating her merely six-tenths beauty to seven-tenths. This posture, this angle, had been affirmed by her personal maids as best showcasing Consort Hua's beauty. Even the words she spoke today had been discussed and polished by her maids before being memorized for her to recite. She herself felt it was excellent. Consort Hua thought to herself, surely the Prince will be moved? Unexpectedly, she waited for a long while, but Prince Jing's voice never came. Consort Hua timidly raised her eyes and met Prince Jing's pitch-black, cold gaze. "You are this Prince's Concubine Consort. Did the palace matrons not teach you under what circumstances one may wear mourning white?" Consort Hua's face turned pale. She hastily explained, "The matrons did teach me. But this concubine wore white also for the commoners and soldiers who perished in Qiangwu..." "In what capacity are you wearing mourning garments for them?" Prince Jing's tone carried a hint of impatience. "This Prince is not yet dead—are you so eager to don these clothes?" "Since you love wearing them so much, then in two days at Concubine Wan's funeral rites, you shall be the one to wear mourning garments for her." Upon hearing this, Hua Yu's face turned deathly white in an instant. Hua Yu: "How can this be?!" "Why can it not be?!" Prince Jing said coldly. "Since you can wear mourning garments for commoners and soldiers you do not even know, surely you can do the same for Concubine Wan." "You have called each other sisters all this while—there should be at least some small measure of affection between you." Hua Yu was both aggrieved and furious, but suppressed by Prince Jing's imposing aura, she dared not utter a single word, only trembling in the cold wind. Prince Jing continued, "Or is it that you think Concubine Wan's rank is lower than yours, and you look down on her in your heart?" "This concubine certainly does not!" Consort Hua dared not admit to such a thing by any means. Prince Jing was clearly in a rage; if she said she looked down on Concubine Wan's low status— The common folk and soldiers outside were of even lower status than Concubine Wan, yet she had gone out in the dead of night to burn paper offerings and release lanterns. Wouldn't that just prove she was being insincere? Consort Hua could only whimper meekly, "This concubine... this concubine wouldn't dare." "This concubine only wished to share the Prince's burdens, with no other intentions whatsoever." Prince Jing was silent for a moment. "If you truly have no other intentions, then I should count myself fortunate." Those who aren't clever but pretend to be clever are merely fooling themselves. And worse, they think no one else can see through them, going about their business feeling sorry for themselves. Prince Jing hadn't been raised on dew and moonlight—he could see at a glance that Consort Hua was here to curry favor. But he'd been berated by those old fogies at court today, and his temper was still simmering. He'd barely returned to the manor to deal with household matters when he ran into Hua Yu, this self-styled clever one, halfway there. He'd only just been named Crown Prince, and Hua Yu was already parading around the manor in white robes burning paper offerings. Prince Jing knew she wasn't trying to curse him—she was just trying to win his favor. But it was grating! She might as well have just come out and asked for his favor directly! Consort Hua felt that the Prince's words were a rebuke of her scheming nature. But she thought she'd been discreet, that she'd done nothing wrong—so why had she incurred the Prince's displeasure? Hua Yu's tears fell in grievance, but Prince Jing turned and left with his attendants. He feared that if he stayed around Hua Yu any longer, he'd vent all his pent-up anger on her. Arriving at Spring Mountain Court, Prince Jing sat down with a cold face. The maids and matrons nearby didn't dare breathe too loudly. Xiaoshu was especially anxious, asking Xie Run, "Mistress, could the Prince have learned that this servant went to the front courtyard today to inquire about Concubine Wan, and taken offense?" Xie Run patted her hand. "No, the Prince isn't that petty." Having said something against her conscience, Xie Run silently scorned herself for a moment. But she comforted Xiaoshu because she knew the Prince was petty, yet generally didn't bother with servants. If he was displeased, he'd only take it out on her. She took the tea from Dantao. "Let me." Xiaoshu grabbed Xie Run's sleeve. "Mistress, let this servant go instead." "If the Prince is going to blame someone, let him blame this servant alone—at worst, a punishment..." Xiaoshu couldn't bear to see her mistress suffer. Xie Run smiled and waved her hand. "When have you ever seen the Prince truly angry with me?" Xiaoshu: "..." Actually, she had seen it before. But Xie Run had already made up her mind, and neither Xiaoshu nor Dantao could stop her. She carried the tea forward lightly. "Prince, do have some tea first." With that much fire in him this late at night, had he swallowed some frustration somewhere? Prince Jing gave a light snort, picked up the teacup, and sniffed it. "What tea is this?" "A tea to calm the nerves and quell the fire." Xie Run said softly, "This concubine saw the Prince full of anger and feared his temper might frighten me, so I had the maids brew something to cool the heat and soothe the spirit." Prince Jing: "...You knew I was angry, and you still brought this tea—are you deliberately mocking me?" Xie Run blinked innocently. "This concubine offered it with sincere intentions, and the Prince misunderstands me so?" She lowered her head with a hurt expression. "Then the Prince may scold me, or even strike me if he wishes... This concubine will bear it this once, and come to the Prince with my grievances afterward." Prince Jing had indeed been quite irritated, which was why he'd been lashing out indiscriminately at everyone. But seeing Xie Run feign hurt, he almost laughed. "In your eyes, am I really the kind of unreasonable person who goes around striking and scolding others?!" "Of course not." Xie Run said slowly and deliberately, "Precisely because the Prince is not such a person, this concubine said I'd endure for now and come to the Prince with my grievances later." "If the Prince truly were so unreasonable, where would this concubine ever get the chance to voice my grievances?" Prince Jing snorted, but much of his anger had faded. "You've grown quite silver-tongued these days."