Chapter 31

Chapter 31

The nighttime assassination at Cining Palace, the medical apprentice who fell into the palace pool had only entered the palace a few years prior. On the surface, his record was clean, but in reality, his distant cousin was a palace maid of Weiyang Palace. After Consort Ning’s poisoning of the prince was exposed, Weiyang Palace dismissed a batch of palace staff, among whom was this medical apprentice’s cousin.

As someone who had access to the imperial pharmacy, it was easy for him to secretly store poison and harm the prince. Later, the imperial guards found the same drug in his residence. First the Suihongzi, then the medical apprentice—both incidents were presented before the emperor. The emperor, in a rage, ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to thoroughly investigate all related personnel, adding further guards to Cining Palace and the Sixth Prince.

In the Eastern Palace, the crown prince looked at the chessboard before him. The endgame left by Grand Secretary Xu lay ahead, but he couldn’t stand to look at it any longer.

It was just a bowl of non-lethal medicine, yet his father made such a big deal, ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to act twice. Ying Fusheng seemed to have lost everything, yet which prince in the palace had ever received such favor? Even the eldest prince, his elder brother, had never experienced this.

If the Xiao family behind the Empress Dowager also stepped in… At this thought, the crown prince told himself to calm down. His father’s favor had its limits. The Xu family would help him, and others would too. As long as he sat firmly on the position of crown prince.

“What has Mother been doing these past few days?” the crown prince asked.

The palace attendant replied, “Her Majesty the Empress is in Kunning Palace, but she has sent people to the Imperial Hospital several times recently.”

“Is she ill?” The crown prince grew tense.

The attendant explained, “It seems not.”

So Mother was indeed investigating the matter of Suihongzi. The chess pieces before the crown prince grew increasingly chaotic. Consort Ning had gone mad at this time, already arousing his mother’s suspicions. “Inform Mother that I have been feeling dizzy lately and wish to stay at Kunning Palace for a few days.”

The attendant immediately became nervous—if the crown prince fell ill, Her Majesty would worry. “Your servant shall report to the empress.”

No further news came from Cining Palace. The crown prince’s heart was in turmoil. If his mother discovered anything, the problem would change entirely. He couldn’t let his mother find out. The crown prince stood up and, turning, knocked over a decorative piece on the table.

It was a gift from Consort Ning on his birthday two years ago, and he had kept it here ever since.

In the past, he could still place it here without issue, but now it was no longer possible.

The crown prince, inexplicably nervous, casually put away the ornament.

After Consort Ning’s incident, he had received something from a palace maid. He had seen that maid before—she was from Consort Ning’s palace. He had disposed of the letter without reading it, and the maid had not been seen again two days later. Yet even so, the crown prince remained flustered.

“Your Highness, a palace maid seeks an audience outside,” an attendant reported.

The crown prince said coldly, “I am not seeing anyone!”

Just then, a piece of paper was found wedged among the books where he usually stored them.

Seeing the note, his expression changed slightly. It bore no name, only four words: “Keep calm.”

The crown prince’s heart tightened. He quickly looked back, but there was no one else in the palace.

This note had been placed there at some unknown time. After reading it, he immediately threw it into the brazier and watched it burn to ashes.

“Don’t tell Mother anymore. I won’t go to Kunning Palace.”

The crown prince gave the order, watching the note vanish. His heart gradually settled… It was fine. Someone was still helping him.

-*

The unrest in the palace over Suihongzi had not subsided. The Embroidered Uniform Guard’s detailed investigation revealed anomalies regarding the drowned medical apprentice. The coroner’s autopsy found no signs of struggle on the body, and no marks were left around the pool. Given the Guard’s inspection capabilities, the death was suspicious—either suicide or someone had killed him in advance.

The matter of the medical apprentice seemed logical at first glance, but the incident of the court-contraband Suihongzi had just occurred. For someone to act at this time, holding no regard for the imperial family, angered the emperor and led him to order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to handle the matter.

Consort Ning had just been dealt with when someone targeted the Sixth Prince. There must be something suspicious.

“We can’t find anything… too clean,” the deputy officer said. “You arrived early enough, so some clues hadn’t been fully erased. But this corpse is too coincidental.”

Qi Hanzhou’s gaze lowered. It was more than coincidental. According to the testimony of Song An, the close attendant who delivered medicine to Ying Fusheng, the footsteps he heard were exactly those of this medical apprentice. The person who delivered the medicine had martial arts skills, but the drowned individual showed no evidence of any martial arts background, despite having the same face as the medicine deliverer.

If Consort Ning truly suffered from hysteria, who was manipulating her and the Sixth Prince from behind?

“The Suihongzi is not a bad thing for us,” Qi Hanzhou said, lowering his gaze, returning the items presented by his deputy. “We initially thought only court figures were involved. Now it seems the harem is also not clean. There are too many places around His Majesty where someone could tamper.”

The assassination could be made into a big or small matter, but Ying Fusheng deliberately exposed the drugged bowl, bringing the matter before the emperor. Once the palace was deemed unsafe, the emperor would grant the Embroidered Uniform Guard the convenience of movement.

Right after discussing cooperation, Ying Fusheng had given the Guard an opportunity.

“But I don’t understand, sir,” the deputy frowned. “The person who drugged Consort Ning erased so many traces to prevent us from investigating. Yet now they make such a blatant move—doesn’t that make them more exposed? They could have kept things quiet and hidden it all. But now everyone knows someone wants to harm the Sixth Prince, and His Majesty has increased guards…”

Qi Hanzhou sensed something unusual from his deputy’s words. “Xuan Jiu, what did you just say?”

“I mean, I don’t understand the purpose of the one who delivered Suihongzi. Now everyone knows someone wants to harm the Sixth Prince…” Deputy Officer Ye Xuanjiu repeated, “Is there something wrong with that statement?”

“Everyone is watching the Sixth Prince,” Qi Hanzhou repeated his words. “His purpose.”

…

Inside Cining Palace, security was tight.

Due to the assassination, the Empress Dowager ordered a thorough review of all palace staff, resulting in the replacement of several attendants.

Song An watched his master. Since the night of the assassination, the prince had suddenly grown very quiet.

After Consort Ning was sent to the Cold Palace, she fell silent. Countless eyes were watching her there. Ying Fusheng had visited her a few times. Without the stimulation of calming incense and clearing tea, her mind had returned to normal. But in a place like the Cold Palace, where everyone believed she was mad, the more she tried to prove her sanity, the more the imperial physicians would administer strong doses.

“The imperial physicians will still come by in the next few days. From now on, the decoction will be handled by the small pharmacy instead of the Imperial Hospital,” the Empress Dowager said, looking at Ying Fusheng beside her. Noticing his slightly dazed expression, she called, “Xiao Liu.”

Ying Fusheng came back to his senses. “Grandmother.”

“It’s nothing. Go rest,” the Empress Dowager said.

Ying Fusheng took his leave. Outside, he saw patrolling attendants. The Cining Palace had informants and was not clean—Ying Fusheng knew this well. As long as the “person” behind him was not exposed, someone would continue testing him.

But there was no one behind him.

That was the advantage he always held in this chess game.

The matter of the medical apprentice aroused the Empress Dowager’s suspicion. She had successively examined everyone in Cining Palace, dealt with a few attendants connected to Weiyang Palace. The palace investigation into Suihongzi was not yet over. Song An was sharp and was well-informed about palace affairs; the Suihongzi investigation ultimately identified two old matrons, who were then taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, never to be heard from again.

This matter had been handed over to Qi Hanzhou, so Ying Fusheng no longer needed to deal with it.

In his previous life, the Qi family had been able to uncover so many things. This time, it would only be faster.

“Your Highness,” Song An asked.

Ying Fusheng looked at the Empress Dowager. “Has Grandmother’s cough been better recently?”

“The Empress Dowager is fine. These past few days, Lady Yu has been busy with your matters,” Song An said.

Would she be fine? In his previous life, Ying Fusheng’s memories of the Empress Dowager were very few, or at least the memories of his youth were few… What he remembered clearly were the affairs of the court and the country. At that time, his mind was full of wanting to throw the court into chaos, to turn everything upside down. When his illness was severe, he had even thought of more extreme things.

In his previous life, the Empress Dowager had died of illness. It seemed to everyone that she was advanced in age and gravely ill. But now, knowing that someone had executed the medicine-delivering palace maid right after his rebirth and erased all traces, this matter took on a different light.

The Empress Dowager fell gravely ill, the empress neglected the harem, which gave Consort Ning an opportunity. His grandmother had died a few years later. At present, she was still relatively healthy, rarely falling ill. Such a person quietly dying of a serious illness was itself suspicious.

If his grandmother died, and the empress was still in the palace, only when both had problems could one plant informants around his father, leading to the future palace coup.

Either the Xu family had issues, or someone around the Xu family harbored ill intentions.

The person hiding deep within the palace runs deep; such a massive matter could even be concealed from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It wasn't until ten years later that the Qi family uncovered clues, and the opponent's web ran deeper than he had anticipated.

Thus, it was impossible to guard against every eventuality.

"In the future, if any new palace attendants enter Cining Palace, keep a sharp eye out for them," Ying Fusheng instructed. "Especially those around Grandmother."

Song An, hearing the gravity in his words, grew cautious, for he could tell how much the prince cared about this.

"Do not draw attention in the palace. Keep an eye out for a specific palace attendant. This person should now be over forty, deaf and mute, working as a menial servant. A few years ago, she may have been punished and sent to the Laundry Bureau, but her current whereabouts are unknown," Ying Fusheng said, his memory slightly fragmented. "She is a female official. If you find anyone matching the description, watch her."

In his past life, this person was the one who revealed his origins to Ying Fusheng.

Song An rarely saw the prince speak to him in such a manner, so he replied solemnly, "Your servant remembers."

In the side hall of Cining Palace, many new items had been added.

Ying Fusheng bypassed them and walked to the chessboard. The pieces were in chaotic disarray, no wonder someone said this game had no strategy.

The Ning family had been removed off this chessboard, and this move was neither winning nor losing. Several days passed with no movement from the Eastern Palace. His elder brother, the Crown Prince, had rarely shown such patience.

Ying Fusheng paused, his fingertip resting on one of the pieces. But he could no longer restrain himself from wanting to dispose of these people.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Guard has arrived."

Ying Fusheng returned to the present, the gloom in his eyes vanished instantly.

Qi Hanzhou was faster than he had anticipated.

A voice came from outside as a palace attendant announced, "Commander, His Highness needs to take his medicine in half an hour. Please do not delay."

When Qi Hanzhou entered, Ying Fusheng was half-leaning against the bed, his gaze lightly falling on him.

Song An dismissed the other palace attendants, and in no time, only Qi Hanzhou and Ying Fusheng remained.

"You arrived earlier than I expected, Commander," Ying Fusheng said as he sat up from the couch. His complexion was no different from that night of the assassination.

Qi Hanzhou keenly noticed a subtle difference.

From the military pay case, to the Huguo Temple incident, to the Ning family case, Ying Fusheng had never concealed his intelligence in front of him. Moreover, he knew the secrets of Youzhou City, which was why Qi Hanzhou had taken an interest in him and tested him multiple times.

But these matters—others did not know, not even the Emperor.

Originally, after the Ning family affair, with his frail and cowardly demeanor, Ying Fusheng posed no threat to anyone. Now, with the assassination attempt and the Emperor's attention, he—who in everyone's eyes was harmless—had, by a twist of fate, become conspicuous.

The assassination attempt appeared reckless, drawing even more of the Emperor's attention, but it also placed him under heavy surveillance.

A chill ran down Qi Hanzhou's spine. If Ying Fusheng had not been so open with him, he would now be like everyone else—focusing on Ying Fusheng, investigating all his connections, uncovering the full story, and even planting informants around him.

If the assassin's initial target was Ying Fusheng, then the medical apprentice's risky move last night was likely related to his presence.

When he visited at night, this person had mistaken him for the mastermind behind Ying Fusheng.

Qi Hanzhou said, "Your Highness knows his target is you."

By turning their scheme against them, with everyone watching, Ying Fusheng's moves would become more obvious.

"Then can we continue our unfinished cooperation?" Ying Fusheng asked. "Junior General can investigate the person behind this through me. Our goals are aligned."

Qi Hanzhou frowned. This person knew full well that he was the target, yet he was remarkably calm.

As if being in the crosshairs of public attention was something he enjoyed and willingly accepted.

"Ministry of Rites," said Ying Fusheng.

Before Qi Hanzhou could speak, Ying Fusheng already knew the purpose of his visit: "What's your take?"

"The Ning family was indeed ostentatious, easily making enemies at court. I did previously use the Crown Prince's faction to deal with the Ning family. But if someone had moved ahead of me, the situation would be different," Ying Fusheng said softly. "The Minister and Vice Minister of Rites fell simultaneously, which seems like killing two birds with one stone. But think from another perspective—losing two high officials of the Ministry of Rites at this time leaves the Ministry short-staffed."

The new Minister of Rites would be appointed from outside the capital. It would take time for the new official to fully control the Ministry of Rites.

With insufficient time, the Ministry of Rites would become a 'sieve'.

"The spring imperial examination has been postponed this year," Qi Hanzhou's eyes narrowed slightly.

In recent years, the Emperor had been on military campaigns, returning with a great victory only last year. Combined with heavy snow across the regions, the spring examination, originally scheduled for February, had been repeatedly postponed and finally set for May. The spring examination was organized by the Ministry of Rites. This year, the Ministry had a new minister and was short one vice minister. If someone wanted to plant their people into the court, the spring examination was a prime opportunity.

"You are more familiar with court affairs than I am, Junior General," Ying Fusheng smiled. "The examiner for the spring examination was originally the Minister of Rites."

He nodded meaningfully: "Now, the new minister is unfamiliar with state affairs. If I were His Majesty, I would select from suitable candidates."

"Some time ago, the Chief Attendant who impeached the Minister of Rites..."

Ying Fusheng sat quietly, his hands hidden in his sleeves, giving him an inexplicably docile look. He said softly, "If my memory serves me right, his name is Chen Yuanli."