Chapter 43: The Needle Pierces the Bone, Perhaps Then It Won’t Hurt…

Chapter 43: The Needle Pierces the Bone, Perhaps Then It Won't Hurt...

Jiang Jin listened to the young master's words, his eyes reddening as he looked at the man who had followed him for over a decade and would turn twenty-five tonight—a man with a bright future ahead of him. His smile seemed both genuine and fake, both joyful and sorrowful. Suddenly, he felt as if he had never truly known the young master.

He asked one last question, "Who can make the Imperial Princess drink this bowl of medicine?"

Mei Changsheng had already thought about it, "Wait for someone to come." He gently closed his eyes, "When he comes, he can help me."

On the first day of the eighth month, the governor of Ruzhou was assassinated in his office.

On the second day of the eighth month, the news spread back to Luoyang without delay. The recently cleansed court, filled with remaining old ministers, was thrown into panic, fearing that they might be accused and suffer the same fate as Grand Secretary Jiang.

The Deputy Minister of the Secretariat, Di Yuanying, pondered all night without sleep. The next day, he submitted a memorial to the emperor, advocating a thorough investigation into the mastermind behind the assassination, and jointly signed with officials from the Secretariat, requesting that the emperor confer the title of Grand Imperial Princess upon Zhaole, the Imperial Princess.

He finally understood why the emperor had announced his true relationship with the Imperial Princess to the world, praising her contributions but delaying her promotion—what the emperor was waiting for was the attitude of the old ministers.

Especially those who had previously impeached the Imperial Princess for disrespecting the imperial family and the emperor; now, the emperor wanted to vindicate her name, naturally starting with these people, waiting for them to admit their past mistakes and restore the Imperial Princess's honor.

He, Di Yuanying, was the first target.

Such a heart-piercing strategy, he still couldn't believe it was the idea of his good junior brother. But thinking further, even Prince Chuguang's generations-old wealth could be confiscated overnight, and even Grand Secretary Jiang could be toppled. This intricate plan could only have been devised by Mei Changsheng.

With Jiang Cong's precedent still fresh in mind, Di Yuanying paced anxiously in his study all night, finally submitting the memorial the next morning, holding his nose as he did so.

Upon reaching the emperor, the memorial was retained without immediate action. The next day, several dozen grand scholars from the Chongwen Pavilion and the Zhaoxian Hall again jointly petitioned for the vindication of Zhaole, the Imperial Princess.

The emperor finally issued an edict, promoting Zhaole, the Imperial Princess, to the rank of Grand Imperial Princess, granting her a stipend higher than that of a prince, and ordering the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple to prepare for the ceremony of promotion.

On the fourth day of the eighth month, a swift horse galloped from Luoyang to Ruzhou.

The rider, dressed in green robes and wearing a jade crown, carried a yellow silk tube securely on his back, resembling a military flag. His slender waist and strong back exuded a vibrant demeanor.

The young man's horsemanship was unparalleled, leaving the palace messengers far behind. He arrived at the Ruzhou palace first, eager to be the first to share the good news with his elder sister and see her delighted smile. No one else deserved to do so.

Arriving at the white marble archway, Yan Huai dismounted without pausing, a blade of grass between his teeth, and cheerfully ascended the mountain.

The guards stationed outside recognized the capital's nine-gate inspector and quickly saluted and let him pass. However, when he reached the palace entrance, he encountered the middle guard Cui Wen, who had not seen him before and blocked his way, asking, "Identify yourself. What is your business here?"

Ever since he had drawn his sword against Mei, the imperial son-in-law, at the princess's residence, Cui Wen's reputation had spread. The Imperial Princess praised his bravery, and thus he was chosen to accompany her on this trip.

Seventeen-year-old Cui Wen had risen from a minor guard to a middle guard, leaving the chief guard at the residence puzzled. After much thought, he patted Cui Wen's shoulder before he left, saying, "Young blood is hard to cool; it turns out it's not always trouble. Keep it up."

Cui Wen believed that he had gained the Imperial Princess's favor due to his adherence to his brother's advice: follow orders wherever you go. Since then, he had become more diligent, determined to protect the princess.

Yan Huai glanced at the young guard, puzzled, but continued walking, eager to see his sister.

Seeing a stranger approaching the princess's quarters, Cui Wen knew he had to act. Despite recognizing the visitor's unusual status, he held his sword and shouted, "Please stop. Identify yourself!"

"Hey, pointing that thing at me?"

Yan Huai spat out the grass, casually flicking his wrist, revealing a flash of brilliant knife light under the sun.

In an instant, Cui Wen's embroidered saber was unsheathed and resheathed, and the tall figure had entered the hall.

Yan Huai turned back, smiling confidently, "You're not bad."

He then scanned the hall, seeing Lady Cui, and asked brightly, "Lady, where's my sister?"

"How did Young Master Yan get here?"

Lady Cui was delighted to see Yan Huai. Ying Xiao also arrived, calming the stunned guard and explaining that he was the capital's nine-gate inspector and the young master of the British Duke's House, with close ties to the princess. Next time, he should follow his lead.

Entering the hall, Ying Xiao greeted Yan Huai, who nodded and asked again, "Where's my sister?"

Xuan Mingzhu was currently relaxing on the Qingliang Terrace.

The Qingliang Terrace was a circular jade platform outside the Magnolia Pavilion, with a wide base that appeared like a flawless piece of jade. A wide channel surrounded the terrace, filled with flowing spring water.

Amidst the white magnolias and the jade platform, the gentle sound of dragon whispers made it a perfect place to cool off in summer and enjoy snow in winter. No wonder Mei Yu had persistently sought to acquire it.

The governor of Ruzhou had recently presented several fine horses, including a particularly elegant chestnut foal. Bao Ya was immediately smitten and insisted on learning to ride. At that moment, she was seated proudly on the foal, dressed in red riding attire, while Mei Yu and Mei Heng stood on either side, carefully supporting her, afraid she might fall.

Xuan Mingzhu reclined leisurely under the dense leaves of a banyan tree, her feet submerged in the surrounding pool, smiling warmly as she watched the children play.

Since arriving at the palace, she had developed a habit of going barefoot, finding it refreshing in the heat. The fish in the pool, noticing her white feet, swam closer, tickling her and making her laugh. Her bell-like laughter echoed across the square:

"You two are so close to the foal, it's like you're going to carry it and her together. How will she ever learn? Relax, my Bao Ya isn't afraid, right?"

"Yes, I'm not afraid at all!"

From a distance, the little girl on the horse shouted excitedly, waving her hand, "Mother, look! I can ride a horse!"

"My little darling, don't let go," Mei Yu hurriedly placed the reins back in her hands. Though nervous, he couldn't resist teasing her, "If that's riding, a grasshopper could climb a tree."

"Who's a grasshopper? Who are you calling a grasshopper?"

"Well, among us, my brother is the best rider."

"Hey, bookworm, which side are you on? Feeling rebellious?"

Their banter grew louder, echoing around the Qingliang Terrace, filling Xuan Mingzhu's ears. Her gaze became even warmer and gentler.

In that moment, she felt that these three children were wonderful, and she couldn't get enough of watching them.

Only hoping that from now on, the three children will support each other as they grow up, just as they are today. Then even if she cannot see it, she would be greatly comforted.

As she thought about this, Xuan Mingzhu felt drowsy from the summer heat and propped her twisted foot on the beauty railing, not bothering to wipe it. She let the breeze pass through her wet toes, bringing a refreshing sensation that was hard to describe.

Just as her eyelids were about to close, she suddenly felt an itch on her foot.

Xuan Mingzhu lazily groaned, rolled over, and opened her eyes, only to see a youth half-kneeling by the railing, gently wrapping her wet foot with the hem of his expensive brocade robe.

The youth looked up, gazing at the woman he had been longing for day and night. Her black braid, narrow clothes, and finely drawn eyebrows reminded him of the maiden in the old chamber, swinging on the autumn swing of summer days.

The swing ropes were tied by his own hands. The maiden's jade-like hands lazily held onto them, her gaze filled with smiles, and her flowing dress leaped high above his head.

From that moment on, his gaze was forever fixed in admiration, unable to look away.

Now their eyes met, and Yan Huai's eyes and voice were gentle. "A-Jie, you shouldn't indulge in the coolness like this; it's better to dry your feet before resting."

"Xiao Huai'er?"

Xuan Mingzhu took two breaths to react and then came to her senses. She glanced at the cool platform; the children were still there.

She asked when he had arrived, feeling awkward, and quickly pulled her foot back.

"A-Jie, don't move." Through a layer of silk, the youth held her slender ankle firmly, lowering his brows and carefully wiping her foot.

"If A-Jie always treats me like a child, a younger brother, why worry about propriety between men and women? If you consider Yan Huai a man..."

He raised his eyebrows proudly, revealing a row of dazzling white teeth. "Then Yan Huai's feelings for A-Jie cannot be dismissed with familial excuses."

Those usually gentle eyes suddenly showed a hint of dominance. Xuan Mingzhu met his gaze, her heart jolted.

"Sir, Young Master Yan has indeed come!"

Jiang Jin reported to Mei Changsheng immediately after receiving the news, admiring his master's foresight. But when he stepped into the room and saw the table full of items, his heart sank heavily.

A five-inch-long hollow steel needle, a rabbit-hair brush, a candle holder, and white gauze were prepared for drawing blood.

Golden wound medicine, concentrated ginseng soup, and silver needles were ready for any emergencies during the process.

Mei Changsheng, wearing a deep-colored robe, exposed his left chest and calmly instructed, "If I faint later, do not stop drawing blood. If you can't get the ginseng soup down me, use the silver needle to prick my hand and nose."

After saying this, he smiled. "I probably won't be that weak."

Even though Jiang Jin had mentally prepared himself these past few days, his eyes still reddened and his hands trembled when the time came.

He knew he couldn't persuade his master and understood that Mei Changsheng trusted him with his life. But he was afraid to accept this trust.

"Perhaps we should wait a bit longer. What if the young master refuses..."

Mei Changsheng shook his head calmly and tapped the table lightly. "He might make things difficult for me in other matters, but not this one. His heart is no less concerned than mine."

All the servants in the governor's mansion were dismissed, leaving the five-room, three-story residence enveloped in vast silence. Mei Changsheng listened and heard the cicadas chirping in the courtyard.

Their continuous chirping, living from morning till night, was surprisingly lively.

Mei Changsheng lit the white-wick candle and heated the hollow steel needle over the flame, his expression and hands steady, murmuring:

"I wonder what they will talk about and do when they meet."

Jiang Jin held his breath and did not dare to answer.

The so-called keen insight meant being able to deduce every word, action, and expression without being present. The more invisible and intangible it was, the more he had to ponder it. The more he pondered, the more it felt like a torture to his heart.

His master's self-inflicted words seemed to sprinkle a layer of anesthesia on his heart, anticipating the pain beforehand. After enduring it, perhaps the steel needle piercing the bone wouldn't hurt as much.

But who knew if it wouldn't hurt twice as much.

"I, I'll go catch the cicadas outside," Jiang Jin said anxiously, turning around. "They're too noisy; I can't keep my hands steady."

"Do not delay, what are you afraid of?" Mei Changsheng smiled faintly, handing over the needle and knife, and said something seemingly unrelated, "Think about it, whatever Yan Zibai says or does, he can please her."