Chapter 33: Miscalculation

Chapter 33: Miscalculation

Empress Lu was prompt in her actions. The next day, she sent over four palace maids, all of them plump, fair, and with pleasing appearances, well-suited for childbearing. They were personally brought by Li Dongfu to pay their respects. Yuan Jun, who was sitting upright and copying a book, didn't even lift his head when he saw them. "I have no need for attendants. Thank you, Mother Empress, for your kindness, but please send them back to the Palace of Imperial Concubines."

Li Dongfu gave a soft cough and whispered, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, His Majesty personally instructed this. He fears the cold weather might affect you, being without attendants. Therefore, he commanded Empress Dowager to select considerate palace maidens to serve you." According to protocol, as the Crown Prince was now confined and awaiting punishment, any gift from the Emperor, be it a thunderous rebuke or a gentle rain of kindness, should be accepted. As a close attendant to the Emperor, Li Dongfu wielded considerable power and respect within the palace; even the Empress usually showed him some deference. However, in front of this young and stern Crown Prince, he dared not display his usual arrogance. Instead, he humbly urged the prince to accept the arrangement.

Yuan Jun's countenance remained calm, devoid of any trace of humiliation or anger. He merely said indifferently, "Since they have been bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, let them stay. Name them Qingdou, Biguā, Cuìjiǔ, and Lǜcong."

Li Dongfu's face lit up with joy. He promptly instructed the four palace maids to come forward and pay their respects to Empress Luo before relief washed over him as he returned to fulfill his duty of reporting to her.

Princess Lu, upon hearing that the Crown Prince had indeed kept the eunuch, smiled slightly and said, "As expected, Eunuch Li has a way. With someone attending to the Crown Prince, this palace can rest assured."

Li Dongfu replied with a smile, "I dare not accept your Highness's praise. It is all due to the Empress's excellent choice and His Highness's personal bestowal of a name, indicating his great regard. I shall immediately return to fulfill my duties and convey the message."

Empress Lao bestowed gifts with a gentle smile, only to let out a cold laugh once Li Dongfu had taken his leave. Emperor Yuan Zhen happened to drop by to pay his respects that day and, noticing the empress's smile, inquired, "What profound meaning lies behind Father Emperor bestowing a lady upon Imperial Brother?"

Empress Luo spoke indifferently, "It all boils down to the same imperial machinations—feeling that his edge has not dulled with age, he does not wish for any of you princes to truly rise above the rest, instead pinning his hopes on capable grandsons. The Crown Prince, without a Crown Princess, is confined within the palace; no matter how many illegitimate sons he sires, they will never amount to much. With the Crown Prince not marrying a proper Crown Princess, how can you, his younger brothers, take in your own chief consorts? Without chief consorts, the grandsons born would mostly be of humble origins, naturally easier to manipulate. And as for you princes, without the support of your wives' clans working on your behalf outside the palace, relying solely on your maternal clans, you too would not pose a significant threat. Which of the Emperor's subjects doesn't comprehend this scheme? They merely go along with the flow, hoping to easily manipulate the grandsons. After all, while His Highness the Crown Prince is young, he is not one to tolerate injustice. Those powerful ministers outside the palace hardly wish for a truly formidable master; naturally, they prefer masters who can be easily controlled."

As a prince, Yuan Zhen was naturally well-versed in historical texts. A slight unease flickered across his face. "Our father... truly holds us brothers in such low regard?"

Empress Lao gave a cold laugh. "You must always remember that there can be only one person sitting in the highest position. No one wishes to be a living retired emperor! Before that seat, what are father-son or husband-wife relationships? The crown prince is too outstanding, and it has become an obstacle in his eyes. He is well aware of the prince's excellence, which is why he's pushing the prince to produce more imperial grandchildren. As for you, you have never been on his radar! And that is your advantage. At least for now, both you and I can still hold high positions and plan for our future."

Yuan Zhen whispered, "What should we do now? Are we truly going to stand by and watch as our imperial brother welcomes an imperial grandchild?"

Empress Lao said coldly, "If he can father children, so can you. Isn't it all about producing capable imperial grandchildren? Go and talk to your uncle. Ask him to choose a concubine from his family to serve you. In the future, you won't be treated unfairly. Also, ask him to convey your regards to State Scholar Lu Yongquan. I've heard that he has a daughter who is a widow with a reputation for being a talented woman. You should personally visit their home to propose marriage and take her as your concubine."

Yuan Zhen took a deep breath. "Though Lady Lu is renowned for her talent, she's a young widow who has been waiting at her husband's gate for many years now, well into her twenties..."

Empress Lao understood his disdain and scolded, "What do you know? If Lady Lu hadn't been a widow, how could the Lu family have agreed to let their daughter become your concubine? They called it a widow's marriage, but in truth, it was because Chancellor Lu doted on his daughter. He would rather keep her at home than marry her off to be a widow. In reality, he was looking for a suitable son-in-law, preferably one of his own students who would treat his daughter well. That's how they finally settled on you. Besides, it's better for women to be older when they bear children. Twenty is the prime of life. The Chancellor of the National Academy is the embodiment of scholarly refinement. If you win Lady Lu's favor and she bears you a child, that grandchild will naturally receive a fine upbringing from the Lu family. With Lady Lu's remarkable talents, she would certainly raise a fine child. Wouldn't that be the ideal imperial grandson your father desires? Surely, such a child would be better than one born into the cold palace, like a pig in a sty?"

Yuan Zhen finally acquiesced, "Mother Empress is right. I'll ask Uncle to make the arrangements when I return."

Luo Empress said calmly, "You must have patience. Also, try to spend more time with Third Brother in the outdoors, composing poetry. For the next few years, your sole task is to bear children... How proud and self-assured the Crown Prince was back then. No matter how many stunning beauties were sent his way, he never took interest. Now, confined as he is, he's stooping to tending a vegetable garden and concealing his ambitions while fathering offspring."

Unaware of the threats and misunderstandings his retention of a few concubines had caused, Yuan Jun only thought of the garden sketch drawn by the little palace maid. He supposed some assistance would be needed, and besides, wouldn't she feel lonely in the cold palace? Since he couldn't refuse, he might as well leave a few people behind to keep her company and alleviate her boredom.

He wondered what reaction that little palace maid would have upon discovering that he had used her body as a conduit for the arrow. Of course, his sister would handle it appropriately.

As he slowly wrote another character, his vision suddenly went black.

Upon opening his eyes again, he was first jolted awake by an unusual commotion.

Hanguang Palace was usually too cold and quiet. Suddenly finding himself amidst the bustling marketplace, he was somewhat taken aback.

"My poor child!"

"This place has killed someone! Don't let them off, everyone!"

"The people behind this shop have power! They disregard human life – we mustn't let them get away!"

"Killing demands retribution!"

"What secret palace recipe? It's all a fraud!"

"Mr. Rong, let us escort you back first. It's chaotic here, and we've already sent someone to inform the authorities."

Yuan Jun opened his eyes to see paper money swirling in the air. Standing at the balcony on the second floor, he overlooked the street below, where the crowd was dense and noisy, with everyone looking either furious or grieving. Many onlookers had tightly surrounded the entrance of the downstairs shop, where a rectangular object covered in white cloth was laid out.

Silently observing the mourners dressed in mourning clothes below, Yuan Jun slowly spoke, repeating the question, "Someone informed the authorities?"

Hong Ying reassured beside him, "Don't worry, the provincial inspector here would never turn a blind eye to justice. These people are troublemakers causing a commotion. Our medicinal food shop has only just opened for a few days, and it must be due to our booming business that someone is jealous and targeting us. You're not aware since you've always been in the palace; such street tactics are common. Let's return now. Yu Twelve and the others are already guarding the back entrance."

Yuan Jun pondered, "The medicinal food shop..."

Bai Ying, on one side, said indignantly, "You cook the daily medicinal porridge yourself, carefully selecting all the ingredients. How could it possibly kill someone? These recipes are from the Imperial Hospital, used for nobles' long-term health maintenance. There's no way there could be any issues."

Yuan Jun had figured it out. He turned to look at the well-kept shop and instructed Hong Ying, "Go fetch a hundred taels of silver, each ingot worth ten taels. Stack them on a tray, then call over the guards to separate the onlookers."

Bai Ying gasped, "Second Young Master! Are you really going to compensate them? Once they see money, they'll only ask for more! They're insatiable! Let's go back! The princess will stand up for us!"

Yuan Jun spoke calmly, "Do as I say."

Having been raised as a crown prince since childhood, he was second only to the emperor, and his authority emerged when he put on a serious face. Bai Ying and Hong Ying trembled, quickly bowing their heads and saying, "Yes."

A thought crossed his mind, and he noticed the reference to 'Second Young Master.' Lowering his gaze, he saw that he was indeed wearing a male robe with fox fur trim, without any hairpins or earrings, and even a short sword at his waist. It was a masculine attire.

Yuan Jun felt a mix of emotions. Despite it being just a simple male outfit, he suddenly sensed an unfamiliar yet kind intention.

For that reason alone, he decided to resolve this matter firmly. It was evident that the medicinal food shop was run by a young palace maid. Her dishes were indeed delectable, and it seemed that the recent surge in business had attracted trouble. If he didn't address it immediately, even if his sister intervened later, the blame for the death would still stick to the shop.

With his short sword firmly clenched at his waist, he strode down the steps with determination.

Amidst the chattering crowd, a squad of formidable guards suddenly charged in. Tall and sturdy, they had broad shoulders, narrow waists, and carried long staffs. Each wore a saber at their hips and barked orders to clear the area, leaving only a couple kneeling before the fallen body. A few ruffians who attempted to intervene were swiftly disarmed with blows to their shoulders, then expertly bound and tied to the window bars by their wrists, their mouths gagged.

The onlookers, not wanting to provoke trouble and end up similarly restrained, fell silent and obediently stood by, watching in silence.

The scene instantly quieted down, leaving only the awkward wails of the couple. The woman, stunned, froze with her mouth agape, no longer daring to cry. The man, however, still tried to intimidate with a fierce shout, "What's going on? Can anyone just take people like this? Someone's being beaten!'

Then, the shop door swung open, and a group of guards escorted a young man draped in an exquisite white fox fur robe. Despite his blossoming youth, his expression was as cold as ice, exuding an effortlessly refined and noble air.

He stood firm, his clear eyes scanning the crowd below. The noise subsided as he slightly tilted his head in a gesture, and a maid stepped forward, carrying a tray. On the red felt on the tray were neatly arranged silver ingots, their surfaces shining like new. Each piece was likely around ten taels, stacked together to resemble a small hill of silver, dazzling everyone's eyes and instantly capturing all attention.

Even the man was momentarily stunned, then overwhelmed with joy, though he still tried to maintain his tough stance. "Don't think you can just buy us off with some measly coins. My father ate your porridge and died from stomach pain! The doctor said it was because of some incompatible ingredients! It must have been poisonous!"

Yuan Jun stood there, proud and aloof, but his voice was crystal clear. "My name is Rong, the owner of this establishment. For the inconvenience caused to our fellow townsfolk today, I apologize. Now, let me make myself clear: First, if anyone has truly fallen ill from consuming our food, I, Rong, will take full responsibility, paying compensation or even my life without hesitation. This tray of silver will be delivered to the authorities later.

"Second, if the issue did not arise from our shop but was fueled by false accusations to incite trouble, as long as you admit your misunderstanding and apologize before our fellow townspeople, I, out of respect for the deceased, will provide some burial money to assist you in returning home.

"Third," Yuan Jun's icy gaze swept over the troublemakers. "If you harbor malicious intentions, are swayed by others, and falsely accuse us, defaming and extorting money, disrupting our business, then you will all be handed over to the authorities for punishment."

The crowd fell silent as the man stepped forward and said, "How could it be slander? My father ate your medicinal cuisine here, witnessed by our neighbor! After returning home, he suffered unbearable abdominal pain and sweated profusely. In no time at all, he passed away!" The woman beside him began weeping bitterly, seemingly deeply grieved.

Yuan Jun, however, spoke calmly, "Answer one question at a time. I'll ask, you answer, and my recorder will jot everything down for the authorities to judge later." A guard promptly brought out a table, and a clerk-like figure bowed before taking a seat and preparing to write.

Unfazed, the man replied, "Ask away! Let everyone hear!"

Yuan Jun asked, "Who was the deceased to you? How old was he?"

"He was my father, fifty-eight years old."

"How many children did your father have? Is his wife still alive?"

"I'm an only son. My mother passed away from illness last year."

Yuan Jun continued questioning without pause, "Where do you live? What is your name? Where do you reside? What occupation do you have? What was your father's name?"

"My name is Geng Youfu. I live in Screen Wall Village, and we farm for a living. My father's name is Geng Dashan," Geng Youfu answered swiftly. But as soon as he finished, Yuan Jun asked again, "On which day did your father, Geng Dashan, dine at my shop?"

Geng Youfu answered smoothly, "It was yesterday. He even told us about a new store he saw in the city that had just opened and was offering a half-price promotion. They claimed to sell royal medicinal cuisine recipes. He tried this dish called Four Gods Porridge, but after eating it, he didn't feel well. He asked us to cook some bean porridge to soothe his stomach. He drank half a bowl of the bean porridge, then suddenly shouted in pain, saying his stomach hurt! He then collapsed on the ground, rolling around for a while until he stopped breathing!"

Yuan Jun asked, "Who did he have the Four Treasures Porridge with? How much did it cost? What else did he buy in the city? Why did he go to the city? How did he get there? And when did he return to the village? By carriage or on foot?"

Yuan Jun's questions were meticulous and detailed. Geng Youfu was initially nervous, but as he realized they were ordinary inquiries, albeit precise, he gradually relaxed. Yuan Jun asked quickly without any suspicion, solely focusing on eliciting answers. Geng Youfu answered every question, even developing a smug expression, clearly feeling confident that he had the upper hand. His eyes occasionally flickered towards the pile of shimmering silver under the sunlight.

In a private room across from the Herbal Cuisine Shop, a sigh echoed softly, "Geng Youfu is finished."

A scholar in a green robe leaned against the railing and commented with interest, "The more he speaks, the more inconsistencies arise. He's already contradicting himself but doesn't realize it, still proudly believing his story is flawless. The other side is using their power and wealth to pressure him, continually asking questions to lure out his words, recording them all. Once all the questions are listed, the inconsistencies will be exposed. After that, handing it over to the authorities for investigation will reveal the truth."

Beside him, a tall, sword-wielding man asked in confusion, "I don't understand. Isn't it clear whether someone died from an autopsy? Why all this fuss?"

The scholar smiled and said, "You don't understand. The point is to stir up trouble. As long as the chaos persists and the shop owner remains absent, most people will assume the owner is guilty. The crowd just wants to see a spectacle and will remember that someone died at the Nourishing Spirit Herbal Cuisine Shop. Word will spread, and the objective will be achieved. Who will care about the final verdict of the officials?"

"But when Lady Rong stepped in and calmed the situation, taking control and turning it to her advantage, she remained calm and fearless in public, showing no guilt. Then she used her wealth and influence to entice him while questioning him on the street. Just her composed demeanor in a crisis has already earned her credibility with the bystanders. Not to mention, Geng Youfu is so inexperienced; he'll slip up soon, probably within a short while. Look, he's already contradicting himself. He first mentioned drinking bean porridge before dawn, then later said it was millet porridge. Lady Rong deliberately doesn't correct him, only continuing to ask questions, likely waiting for a fatal loophole. For a teenager, how can she possess such seasoned interrogation skills? It's as if she's an experienced old judge from the Ministry of Justice or the Supreme Court."

The scholar turned, revealing his handsome features and refined demeanor – it was none other than Lu Peiling, the Left Minister of Yan, known as the Little Zhang Liang. He looked at the robust figure of Prince Jingbei, Guo Shuji, sitting at the head of the round table in the private room, with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Your Highness, being unflustered in sudden crises and not angered by unjust accusations – Princess Rong has such talent in her ranks, with high aspirations indeed. Fortunately, this person is a woman, for if she were a man, she would be a formidable contender for the throne."

"It seems Your Highness's plan may have backfired."

Guo Shuji's brows flickered slightly. "I was merely taking advantage of the situation and testing the waters. Order the provincial inspector to send someone over; I've had my fill of the spectacle."

Lu Peiling teased, "Are you planning to continue interrogating this lady official at the local government office?"

Guo Shuji glanced at him. "She is the princess's lady official, with duties to fulfill. She must not be summoned lightly. Instruct them to take away the troublemakers and handle the case impartially."

He stood up and added thoughtfully, "I've heard that when the Crown Prince was ten, he began observing court proceedings at the Supreme Court at the recommendation of his tutor."

Lu Peiling chuckled. "Empress Shen passed away early. It's said that the Crown Prince was raised under the Princess's tutelage, with her acting as both mother and sister. From this, it seems the Princess possesses great political acumen. No wonder even her lady official displays such fortitude. I'm ashamed to say that at her age, I was far less accomplished."