Chapter 18 Confrontation

Chapter 18: Confrontation

What should have been a perfectly pleasant Lantern Festival banquet was abruptly cut short amid the chaos.

The side hall was just nearby, requiring only a walk through two covered corridors. Xiao Yunlang raised his sleeve and turned sideways, shielding Jiang Yanzhou from the wind.

The eunuch leading the way, of course, didn't notice.

Mu Baicao followed alongside, his eyes wide as if he'd seen a pig fly—he was utterly flabbergasted.

Although Xiao Yunlang was someone who appeared cold-faced but was actually quite decent at heart, had he ever been this solicitous towards anyone before?

Which of the other tutors in the residence had ever received such treatment?

How bizarre.

He had originally intended to suggest it was best not to let Jiang Yanzhou be exposed to the wind, but now, it was better to just keep his mouth shut and save himself the trouble.

The corridors were still adorned with palace lanterns specially prepared for the Lantern Festival, glittering brilliantly. The lamplight cast long, slanting shadows of the corridor's occupants.

The Little Miracle Doctor's medicine worked wonders; Jiang Yanzhou's pain had lessened considerably.

Severe pain is exhausting and takes a toll on the body. As the agony faded, Jiang Yanzhou only felt drained, his mind blank and his face vacant.

Dazed, he looked up and saw Xiao Yunlang's sharply defined jawline.

...The Crown Prince seemed distinctly unhappy.

Jiang Yanzhou thought hazily, it wasn't an act; his displeasure was genuine.

The Ministry of Justice officials and imperial physicians had already examined Jiang Yanzhou's food and drink, discovering Qingpeng Grass in the tea. To ensure the Crown Princess's safety, the clothes and jewelry he had changed out of also needed to be inspected.

The Crown Princess's belongings could not easily be taken away, so the inspection was conducted then and there in the side hall.

The imperial physicians completed their examination and confirmed no other poisons were found. However, a Ministry of Justice official's gaze immediately fell upon that bracelet medicine pouch.

He opened the small ball, gave it a light sniff, but didn't catch a whiff of medicine.

The official asked with feigned casualness, "Your Highness, does the Crown Princess usually wear this medicine pouch?"

Xiao Yunlang replied, "His health has been poor since falling into the water. He's been wearing it these past few days. It contains pills for strengthening his foundation and vitality, for emergency use when he feels unwell. He took one on the way to the banquet today."

The official was surprised.

Xiao Yunlang: "Is there a problem?"

He had a natural air of authority, and tonight his mood was even darker. The official immediately realized his expression was inappropriate, snapped back to attention, and hurriedly said, "Nothing, I was just thinking about the Crown Princess suffering such an undeserved calamity. Your Highness, rest assured, we will certainly provide His Majesty and Your Highness with a full report."

Xiao Yunlang made no comment.

The official was surprised because the stances of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were common knowledge, yet he hadn't expected Xiao Yunlang to be so familiar with the details of Jiang Yanzhou's affairs.

But upon second thought, precisely because they were adversaries and lived under the same roof, knowing your enemy was the key to victory. It was quite normal for Xiao Yunlang to know more.

Moreover, it matched the Little Miracle Doctor's diagnosis.

As an investigator, he was in the habit of suspecting everything he laid eyes on. He must have been overthinking.

After finishing the inspection, the official bowed and withdrew.

The Little Miracle Doctor had a great deal he wanted to say about Jiang Yanzhou's condition but couldn't speak now. He was practically bursting, so he could only instruct them to send for him again if there was any further discomfort. With that, he too left, his words unspoken.

Xiao Yunlang sat by the bedside, looking at Jiang Yanzhou's pale, thin face. His mind was just as full of questions as the Little Miracle Doctor's.

He, too, very much wanted to know what exactly was going on.

Was Jiang Yanzhou still hiding something about his illness?

Jiang Yanzhou should have recovered somewhat by now, no longer moaning in pain. His eyes were red-rimmed as he wrapped himself in the quilt, stealing a cautious glance at Xiao Yunlang.

But there didn't seem to be any guilt from hiding something in his gaze.

It meant Jiang Yanzhou truly felt it was fine not to tell him.

The palace really wasn't a good place for conversation. Xiao Yunlang was growing irritated.

Shuang Quan personally led the servants attending to them, walking softly and speaking in a low voice, "Your Highness, Chancellor Jiang has arrived."

Given their superficially cordial relationship, Xiao Yunlang should have made way for Jiang Linque, allowing father and son to converse.

But tonight, he wasn't much in the mood to oblige.

However, Jiang Yanzhou gave him a slight, almost imperceptible nod, clearly indicating he wanted to see Jiang Linque.

Furthermore, Shuang Quan added, "His Majesty requests Your Highness's presence in the warm chamber for discussion."

Xiao Yunlang took a deep breath, suppressing the feeling of blockage in his chest. His face held no warmth, his back stiff as he said coldly, "Understood."

When he lifted the curtain to exit the inner chamber, he encountered the waiting Jiang Linque. Jiang Linque bowed according to protocol, but the Crown Prince showed no favorable expression towards this father-in-law.

All the shock, anger, and fury he had accumulated throughout the evening were directed at this old man.

Xiao Yunlang let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Hah."

Jiang Linque's bow was halfway through when this sneer interrupted him. Before he could look up, the Crown Prince had already brushed past him and left.

Fortunately, Jiang Linque was deep and inscrutable, showing no visible sign of displeasure at being slighted.

He entered the inner chamber. Jiang Yanzhou had regained some strength and was leaning against the headboard.

Father and son met, but there was no display of paternal kindness or filial piety.

Jiang Linque looked at his son as if seeing him for the first time. Even the candlelight couldn't illuminate the depth in his eyes. "You have surprised me," he said slowly.

Since this was the opening line, it meant he felt confident and unafraid of eavesdroppers. Many things could be said now.

Jiang Yanzhou looked listless and no longer wished to pretend to be an obedient child, because Bujianyue was truly agonizing.

"On the day of the return visit, you said you had already given me the antidote."

Jiang Linque: "You don't look like someone suffering from a Bujianyue episode."

"Counting from when you collapsed, a Bujianyue episode wouldn't be this short."

"Because the poisoning had already occurred long ago," Jiang Yanzhou recalled the excruciating, life-wrenching pain and still felt suffocated. His voice was slightly unsteady as he clenched the quilt. "I had been enduring it all along."

This time, Jiang Linque was genuinely taken aback, his expression of astonishment completely unfeigned.

If it were the former Jiang Yanzhou, he would have long been howling in agony, writhing on the floor.

Then, upon seeing Jiang Linque, he would have been a tearful, snotty mess—though filled with hatred, fear would have dominated, and he would have sobbed, begging for the antidote.

But the present Jiang Yanzhou did not.

Stunned, Jiang Linque blurted out, "Then the Qingpeng Grass—"

"I don’t know, and I don’t care."

Jiang Yanzhou finally lifted his thin eyelids to glance at him. "It doesn't matter who's scheming against me, but as long as you fail in what you want to accomplish, I’m satisfied."

Jiang Linque’s words abruptly stopped.

Jiang Yanzhou actually had little desire to speak at the moment; his voice was hoarse. But amid the intense pain, his thoughts ran wild, and he had indeed figured out a few things.

Now was the perfect time to settle them.

"The monthly antidote only relieves the pain, but over time, will I still die young? Once I die in the Crown Prince’s residence, you can claim the Crown Prince poisoned me. Under the banner of seeking justice for me, there’s plenty you could do."

Jiang Linque focused his gaze on him again, his face returning to its unflappable calm. "As your father, I would naturally never—"

Jiang Yanzhou was even calmer. "Do you dare swear on the Jiang family’s century-long legacy?"

Jiang Linque: "..."

He could not.

Because that was exactly what he had planned.

If Jiang Yanzhou could gather some information by the Crown Prince’s side, all the better. But from the very beginning, his greatest use was to die in the Crown Prince’s residence at the right moment.

Jiang Yanzhou was born with a prognosis of a short life, and Bujianyue would only hasten his decline.

From the moment Jiang Linque married off his son, this trap had been set.

Seeing Jiang Linque’s silent admission, if this were the real Young Master Jiang, he would likely have been furious. But he was not, so this instance of a tiger devouring its own cub did not sadden him in the slightest.

Outside, night had fallen. The cold wind of the late spring chill grew stronger, swaying the palace lanterns and clattering the eaves bells into a chaotic jangle.

It was hard to say whether it was pleasant or harsh and shrill.

Amid the urgent ringing of the eaves bells, Jiang Yanzhou spoke with difficulty, yet without yielding ground: "Then I could just as well go before the Emperor and say it was you who poisoned me."

Once the reputation of harming one’s own child was confirmed, the scholars of the world, each with a drop of spit, could drown Jiang Linque.

Even without concrete evidence, the Emperor, who would love nothing more than to bury the Jiang family, would have no qualms about helping Jiang Yanzhou.

Even if he couldn’t touch Jiang Linque’s power, tarnishing his reputation would be beneficial. When the day came to truly send Chancellor Jiang to prison, the list of charges could include one more.

Look how utterly depraved this man is.

With the life-threateningly rapid ringing of the eaves bells in his ears, Jiang Linque showed no panic. "As you said, I could also insist it was the Crown Prince’s doing, or even that the Crown Prince threatened you into slandering me. Without evidence, we’ll all just argue. The infamy will be shared between him and me. Whoever gets what they want from this will depend on their own abilities."

Jiang Yanzhou’s throat was uncomfortable. He couldn’t help but lower his head and cough a few times. By the time he finished, the strong wind outside had passed, and the eaves bells slowly swayed to a stop.

Jiang Yanzhou took a couple of shallow breaths, his eyes holding a strange glint. For some reason, that glimmer made Jiang Linque’s heart race.

Then he heard Jiang Yanzhou say, "No evidence needed."

"After I accuse you, I’ll just dash my head against the ground and die right in front of the Emperor." The candlelight flickered on Jiang Yanzhou’s pale face and light-colored pupils, his eyes dancing with flames as he curved a slight smile, enunciating each word clearly. "Then there will be no room for reversal."

The eaves bells suddenly fell completely silent. Jiang Linque, caught off guard by these words, was incredulous and inwardly horrified. "You!"

For pursuing fame and profit, killing one’s own child and destroying human ethics—history would forever record this stroke against Jiang Linque, indelible.

What a ruthless stroke!

Jiang Linque was both shocked and furious, unable to maintain his chancellor’s composure. He glared wide-eyed. "You rebellious son! How dare you!"

Jiang Yanzhou slightly lifted his chin. "I dare."

His voice was so light it seemed it could scatter with a grasp, yet it was tenacious as silk.

"I have no other skills, just this one life. Rather than letting you benefit from it, I’d rather take it myself."

The charcoal in the room crackled once. Jiang Linque’s furious eyes bore into Jiang Yanzhou as if trying to burn a hole through him.

But in reality, it was his own chest heaving violently, ignited by rage.

Jiang Yanzhou showed no fear at all, his calm demeanor tinged with a madness that said, "We might as well try."

Faced with such an expression, Jiang Linque suddenly found he couldn’t utter the words, "I don’t believe you’d really dare to throw your life away."

...This madman seemed serious.

But how could it be? Everyone in the Jiang family knew how afraid of death Jiang Yanzhou was.

When physicians said he was short-lived, he refused to believe it. Anyone who dared discuss it or even showed him pity would have tea cups thrown at them and be driven out; if he lacked the strength, he’d have servants do the beating.

How long had this Jiang Yanzhou been out of the residence, and suddenly he wasn’t afraid of death anymore?

Or were all those years in the Jiang residence just an act?

If it really was an act, and even he hadn’t seen through such depth of scheming, then this person...

If he had known Jiang Yanzhou possessed such intellect earlier, Jiang Linque would never have used this move.

For a moment, only Jiang Linque’s heavy breathing filled the room.

Jiang Yanzhou had spoken too much and was truly exhausted. He was uncomfortable and wanted to bend over, but he refused to lower his head before Jiang Linque. After taking a couple of light breaths, he straightened his posture and continued.

"Give me the medicine that can completely cure Bujianyue. From then on, we go our separate ways, severing all father-son ties. We’ll have nothing to do with each other."

Originally, Jiang Yanzhou had considered keeping Bujianyue, thinking it might someday be used against Jiang Linque.

And besides, Xiao Yunlang seemed... not at all happy.

Jiang Yanzhou pressed his lips together.

Jiang Linque was so angry his blood surged. He stood silently in place for a good while before slowly calming down.

Regardless of how Jiang Yanzhou had changed, things had indeed taken an unexpected turn.

Thinking calmly, it might not be a bad thing.

Although Jiang Yanzhou was currently opposing him, it also seemed like a son’s rebellious act to anger his father.

The Jiang family’s mark on Jiang Yanzhou was ultimately indelible. Even if he was dissatisfied with his father, he had no reason to help the Crown Prince.

Both the Emperor and the Crown Prince would be wary of him and second-guess him, at best just using him.

Jiang Yanzhou hated the Jiang family, yet he couldn’t rely on the imperial household either—he was the one truly on his own.

Having realized this, Jiang Linque, that cunning old fox, finally reined in his full anger.

They had all the time in the world; sooner or later, Jiang Yanzhou would realize that aside from the Jiang family, no one would stand behind him.

He reassumed the dignified bearing of a chancellor and fixed a deep, penetrating gaze on Jiang Yanzhou.

“Two days from now, I’ll have your eldest brother visit you at the Crown Prince’s residence to deliver the medicine.”

Jiang Linque paused, then added, “The antidote.”

He turned to leave, lowering his voice with each step, sounding confident and meaningful: “As for that ‘unrelated’ nonsense, I, as your father, will act as if I never heard it. You were born a member of the Jiang family—everyone knows that. The Crown Princess Consort bears the surname Jiang.”

His official robes swished, stirring the warm air in the room as he strode away. No sooner had his footsteps faded than the eunuch Shuang Quan entered, carrying a bowl.

“Your Highness, just now Lord Jiang instructed us to fetch silkie chicken soup from the kitchen. The imperial physician also said it’s suitable. Could you manage some?”

Shuang Quan was shrewd. The Emperor had assigned him to guard here, to prevent outsiders from infiltrating the servant ranks, but the Jiang family's internal affairs were exempt, so he had pretended to be sent away.

Jiang Yanzhou wanted to refuse—who needed Jiang Linque’s false kindness?

But he hadn’t eaten much tonight, and as the rich, golden aroma of the chicken soup wafted over, it instantly roused his dormant appetite.

...Food was innocent.

Jiang Yanzhou swallowed the word “no” and silently accepted the soup bowl.

When Xiao Yunlang finished speaking with the Emperor and returned to the side hall, he found Jiang Yanzhou curled up in the blankets, wrapped tightly around himself.

It was a posture of insecurity.

Had his eyes not opened at the sound, Xiao Yunlang might have thought he was asleep.

Xiao Yunlang had approached hurriedly, but softened his steps as he entered. A trained martial artist could walk soundlessly, so it was probably the noise from the attendants outside that had woken Jiang Yanzhou.

Seeing him drowsy and utterly exhausted, all Xiao Yunlang's questions were set aside. He said softly, “The Emperor has given us permission to stay in the side hall tonight. You…”

Jiang Yanzhou listened, then slowly propped himself up on his arms and sat up, shaking his head slightly, his voice thick and nasal: “...I want to go back.”

Go back.

Xiao Yunlang didn’t know why, but that simple word pierced him.

“Alright,” he said.

The Crown Prince’s carriage, long waiting at the palace gate, finally received its master. The bodyguard personally took up the reins and cracked the whip, and the wheels rumbled into the night.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, there was no curfew. The streets were still brightly lit, with festive lanterns and celebrations, people coming and going, a dazzling scene of lights and fireworks, extraordinarily lively.

Xiao Yunlang noticed that Jiang Yanzhou was quite fond of the little trinkets at the market. On the way to the palace, Jiang Yanzhou had lifted the curtain from time to time to watch the Lantern Festival scenes outside. Now was the height of the night's excitement…

Yet Jiang Yanzhou was sunk into the soft cushions in the carriage, almost asleep.

If not for the scheming and planning, Jiang Yanzhou would likely have kept his eyes wide open today, wordlessly but with bright eyes, admiring the splendid Lantern Festival night.

Xiao Yunlang reminded himself to let Jiang Yanzhou rest properly today; anything else could wait until tomorrow. His illness was puzzling, and discussing it might take a while.

How bad was the pain? Was it related to the Jiang family? Why didn’t he tell me first? And… Xiao Yunlang couldn’t help but murmur, almost to himself, “Why did you go to such lengths?”

The banquet scheme clearly involved Jiang Yanzhou factoring in his own illness and suffering.

Given the current situation, why did he need to take such risks, to go this far?

Jiang Yanzhou’s dark eyelashes fluttered slightly, drowsy. He tilted his head toward Xiao Yunlang, as if he hadn’t quite heard clearly.

Xiao Yunlang asked again, “Was it for your career?”

The people around him always had their own purposes for doing things, including Xiao Yunlang himself.

Born into the royal family, amidst open and covert struggles, he had grown up in such a place and had climbed out and survived by acting this way.

Having a purpose wasn’t a bad thing. His ministers chose him, including Liu Hexuan—wasn’t it also to use the Crown Prince’s hand to benefit the world and fulfill their own ambitions?

Xiao Yunlang allowed others to use him in this way because it was mutually beneficial.

No one around him spoke of sincerity, and Xiao Yunlang didn’t keep people based on emotions either. As long as everyone shared the same goal and worked together through thick and thin, it was a good ship.

What about Jiang Yanzhou? What else did he want from him? As long as it didn’t violate the nation or betray righteousness, Xiao Yunlang could give it.

Jiang Yanzhou was talented, just in poor health. After all, being an official was mentally taxing and exhausting. That was likely why he had never entered government service.

But if he truly wanted to join the court, once Xiao Yunlang held real power, it wouldn’t be impossible to grant him a special exception—

Jiang Yanzhou seemed to finally hear, but his reaction was slow. After a moment, he murmured sluggishly, “No…”

His voice was too soft. To hear clearly, Xiao Yunlang had to lean closer.

Jiang Yanzhou hung his head and, before closing his eyes to sleep, mumbled indistinctly and muffledly, “It was just… for you.”

He closed his eyes and slept, having endured severe pain all night, finally able to relax completely, letting himself sink down.

Completely unaware that the Crown Prince had frozen in place like a statue.

Xiao Yunlang doubted his own hearing.

What did Jiang Yanzhou just say?

Not for himself, not seeking any exchange of benefits, but simply… for me?