Chapter 83: Setting the Plan in Motion

Chapter 83: Setting the Plan in Motion

Yuan Jun observed Tang Xi, swiftly grasping the reason for Yuan Zixu's sudden change of behavior these past days.

Sure enough, the bait of an immortal connection he had set up was bound to have piqued Yuan Zixu's curiosity. Despite his doubts, he had still coerced Daoist Chong Xiao into alchemy.

And when a fraudster faced the threat of death, they would naturally resort to desperate measures.

The Shen family... as a powerful clan that had produced a queen, they undoubtedly had loyal agents hidden within the imperial dungeons.

A king who believed his son brought him misfortune, suppressing him relentlessly and marrying off his own daughter to distant lands, using her coldness to his advantage – such a stubborn and arrogant ruler would surely believe that a son capable of manifesting an immortal connection must possess extraordinary potential.

The emperor, believing himself to be the embodiment of heaven's will, would naturally hold a deep conviction in his divine status. So, what was strange about trusting that he, the father of this son with an immortal connection, possessed extraordinary bones?

With a gentle nudge and Daoist Chong Xiao's elixir added to the mix... wasn't the immortal connection now within reach?

He had long heard of the dark side of alchemy, which often involved substances that induced delirious euphoria and addiction. These drugs could numb the body to alleviate pain or stimulate the spirit, creating illusions of wellness and proximity to immortality. Like the Five Stone Powder or tobacco, they might briefly alleviate suffering, clear the mind, and boost physical strength.

However, the dosage would inevitably increase, like drinking poison to quench one's thirst. Piling up toxins from the elixirs, the user would eventually descend into madness, becoming a mere shell of their former self...

His imperial father, who had once dabbled in alchemy involving cinnabar, was naturally beset with urgency when he learned that his own flesh and blood had attained the very celestial fortune he had longed for—a fortune bestowed upon his son as heavenly recompense for the very oppression he himself had inflicted. How could he not be fraught with anxiety?

How could one not believe it?

This decadent and avaricious dragon had finally taken the bait it had itself unleashed.

Yuan Jun gazed at Eunuch Tang Xi, pondering that perhaps there was indeed such a thing as divine fate in this world, otherwise how could he have encountered such a miraculous experience?

He had meticulously orchestrated everything, instructing the Shen family to maintain a low profile and lie dormant. After all, a suspicious monarch would cautiously eliminate potential threats before stepping into a trap, and he had ample time on his side – he was younger than the emperor. The Shen family must comport themselves with the utmost propriety to avoid arousing any further suspicion from the emperor.

As for Rong Bi, he had initially carried a sense of guilt and wished for her to take good care of herself, spend more time with her family, and consider her own future. Therefore, he had been deliberately restraining his emotions, preventing himself from becoming further infatuated.

Unexpectedly, this young lady had accidentally stumbled upon Tang Xi.

Who could be more suitable than Tang Xi, an inconspicuous figure who had already placed her bet on him?

Yuan Jun gazed at Tang Xi, his thoughts racing. In the blink of an eye, several strategies flashed through his mind, only to be dismissed one by one. Finally, he settled on the most appropriate one and declared firmly, "Eunuch Tang, I request your assistance in supporting the Crown Prince."

Tang Xi's smile faded as the young lady's address changed from "Grandpa Tang" to "Eunuch Tang." The expression on his face shifted from warmth to solemnity, as if she was entrusting him with a matter of life and death. He bowed, his tone now serious, "I'll take your instructions, Lady Rong."

Yuan Jun said, "Please, Eunuch Tang, find a way to establish contact with Chong Xiao."

Tang Xi replied, "Chong Xiao is an extremely cunning and suspicious person, involved in a dangerous business. He probably won't easily open his heart or trust others."

Yuan Jun responded, "I have a plan."

Tang Xi replied, "I'm all ears, Lord Yuan."

As Yuan Jun unfolded his plan, Tang Xi initially remained skeptical. However, as the details emerged, his expression grew increasingly solemn, and his demeanor more earnest. A storm of thoughts raged within him. He never would have imagined that the gentle and amiable little palace maid who had just called him "Grandpa Tang" could suddenly transform into a strategist.

Her understanding of court officials, her mastery of politics, and her insight into human nature far exceeded his expectations.

This was no longer a poor peasant girl who had spent years in the palace; she seemed like a seasoned politician, well-versed in wielding power and manipulating people's hearts, just like those noble figures above. With a mere hint of benefit, she could entice many to vie for it!

After Yuan Jun finished speaking, he saw that Tang Xi was still deep in thought. Rising to his feet, he bowed deeply, "I know that Eunuch Tang risked everything out of loyalty to the former Empress, assisting the Crown Prince and Princess. You are truly a righteous and loyal person. Now, I ask for your help not for any personal gain, but for the stability of the court. The Crown Prince will surely repay you in the future."

Tang Xi, who had also risen, refused to accept the gesture. Previously, he had viewed Rong Bi merely as a hidden gem in the palace, deserving of sympathy. But now, he sensed a subtle air of nobility about her. He replied, "Mistress Rong is too courteous. How can someone as lowly as Tang Xi dare claim to be righteous and loyal? I cannot bear such praise. Your remarkable talent, Mistress, has made me realize my earlier mistake in underestimating you, seeing you only as an ordinary woman. With your abilities, your future is boundless. No wonder the Princess sent you back to the capital. With your assistance, the Crown Prince will surely escape his predicament and soar to great heights."

Yuan Jun returned the courtesy. Bai Ying, standing aside, whispered softly, "Mistress, I'm afraid Master Rong might worry if he doesn't see you at the shop."

Tang Xi hurriedly smiled and said, "Is there anything else Lady Rong needs? If you have any requests in the future, just write a letter and send it to my godson here. I'll make sure it's taken care of."

Yuan Jun returned the gesture and replied, "I will arrange for someone to deliver some silver and a list of personnel for your use later. You're indeed the perfect choice for this matter. I was worried that the Shen family would attract too much attention, so I had to be patient. Now that I've connected with Eunuch Tang, things will be much better. Yu Twelve and the others are in the capital, and entrusting these people to this experienced eunuch who has been in the palace for years will surely be of great use."

Tang Xi chuckled and replied, "Very well, thank you, Lady Rong."

After bidding farewell, Yuan Jun left under Bai Ying's escort and returned to the jewelry shop. He was still deep in thought, and Bai Ying assumed that Lady Rong must be pondering over significant matters. To avoid arousing suspicion, she instructed the shop assistant to pack the dragon scale phoenix feather bangle they had just seen, as well as a pair of plain gemstone bracelets, one for her (with a white crystal) and one for Hong Ying (with a red agate).

Yuan Jun watched her give the instructions and then picked up the dragon scale phoenix feather bangle, asking, "This pair of bangles should have matching hairpins or necklaces, right?"

The assistant smiled and replied, "Miss has a keen eye. Indeed, we have a complete set featuring the dragon scale phoenix feather pattern this year, including hairpins, earrings, and necklaces. Would Miss like to take a look?"

Yuan Jun said, "No need, just wrap them all up." Since he liked them, he decided to gift her the entire set of accessories. If they were engaged, it could serve as a congratulatory present.

Bai Ying looked at Yuan Jun with surprise. She had accompanied Lady Rong to the capital with a substantial sum of money for potential expenses. However, Lady Rong had never spent any of it on her. The daily expenses of the Rong siblings were covered by themselves. After leaving Eunuch Tang, Lady Rong immediately transformed back into the decisive and resolute Fourth Master Rong...

The assistant was delighted. Not even inquiring about the price, he was ready to purchase the entire set – a true patron! Eagerly, he instructed the other assistants to package the accessories while explaining with a slight hint of nervousness, "The headpiece, necklace, and earrings all feature intricate craftsmanship and are quite delicate, which makes them more expensive than usual. The entire set costs 10,000 taels of silver – our shop doesn't offer credit... Ladies, you can pay a deposit now and send the rest of the silver later, and we will deliver the accessories to your residence."

Bai Ying assured him, "No problem, just wrap them up. I have banknotes here that can be redeemed immediately." As she spoke, she took out a banknote from her sleeve, secretly grateful that Red Ying had reminded her to bring extra banknotes since it was rare for Lady Rong to go shopping.

The moment the servant spotted the ten-thousand silver note, he eagerly received it with both hands and passed it to the accountant. The accountant examined it and a smile lit up his face. "Received one ten-thousand silver note from the Ruiqing Hall, payable anywhere. Transaction complete."

Sure enough, they swiftly presented the entire set of jewelry for the young ladies' inspection, now treating them with the utmost respect. Who would have thought that such a young maiden could be so extravagant, able to part with ten thousand taels at once!

Here, they presented an exquisite nanmu jewelry box as a gift, carefully wrapping the accessories before handing them over to Bai Ying. Just then, Rong Yi happened to arrive. Smiling at them, he asked, "Do you want to explore more? I'll take these items to the carriage. If you still want to shop, feel free. We'll have a few days off during the New Year's celebrations."

Uninterested and feeling some discomfort in his body, Yuan Jun also noticed the lingering pain in his wounds. He thought it best for the lady to rest and, while they were out, to hurry back and make arrangements. "Let's head back first. I'm feeling a bit tired."

Rong Yi promptly responded, "I'll go fetch the carriage. Rest here for a bit, sister." With that, he took the package from Bai Ying's hands, feeling its considerable weight. Surprised, he wondered, My sister usually doesn't like such jewelry. What did she buy that's so heavy?

He quickly took the package and went to retrieve the carriage, returning shortly after. He helped Yuan Jun and Bai Ying aboard before driving back to their residence.

Once on the carriage, Yuan Jun instructed Bai Ying, "When we get back, find Yu Twelve and connect with Tang Xi. Follow Tang Xi's instructions and provide him with three thousand taels for the Master of Ceremonies. Do whatever is necessary to meet his demands."

Bai Ying promptly replied, "Understood."

Yuan Jun continued, "If there are any rare medicinal ingredients needed, purchase them too."

Bai Ying nodded. "Alright, but are you sending Yu Twelve and the others out? Didn't the lady mention wanting to open a shop?"

Yuan Jun made a mental note. "Running a shop doesn't require much effort. We can look for a suitable location while I'm on duty. Let's first enjoy the New Year festivities and focus on recovery."

Bai Ying chuckled. "Indeed. Since it's just a food stall by the dock, it won't be too taxing. Let's first celebrate the New Year with enthusiasm."

Curious about Rong Bi's marital status, Yuan Jun probed, "Have all the New Year's gifts been delivered?"

Bai Ying was surprised. "We don't really know anyone in the capital. Does Madam need to send gifts to anyone?"

Yuan Jun replied, "To Zheng Tanhua..."

Bai Ying said, "Oh, I'll take care of that then... I thought, since you refused the marriage proposal last time, you might want to keep your distance. If you want to send gifts, I'll arrange it."

A sudden sense of relief washed over Yuan Jun, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly. "No need to send them now. You're right, we should avoid any misunderstandings." It wouldn't do if Zheng Changyuan misconstrued the gesture as an indication that there was still a chance between them.