Chapter 29: There is only a Tuberose and a Hosta

Upon hearing this, Min Shian paused her hand that was playing with the wine glass, put it back silently, and then returned to normal. She turned her gaze to Song Sheng, but saw the mutton-fat jade hairpin in his hair emitting a soft luster.

It's still there?

What on earth is this guy trying to do?

Her thoughts flew away in just a moment, and she met Song Sheng's deep and smiling eyes. There was no sign that there had been any rift between the two of them before.

The Minister of Personnel arrived. He strode to the outside of the pavilion, bowed, and saluted in turn, saying, "Greetings to Your Highness, Sir, General, and Madam."

Min Shian raised his eyebrows, watching the Minister of Personnel talking to Song Sheng soberly, and then he remembered that the Minister of Personnel had quit drinking since the last Wenqing meeting.

It was a joke at the time.

It is said that Song Sheng ordered people to bring thirty jars of wine and personally supervised them, forcing the Minister of Personnel to drink them within half an hour, otherwise his head would be left behind.

The Minister of Personnel fell to his knees with tears streaming down his face. He begged for mercy and promised not to drink alcohol again. Only then did Song Sheng let him go.

"I thank you all for your kindness in attending this banquet. The banquet is about to begin. Please move to the table."

Min Shian supported Song Tinglan and walked behind them, talking in low voices about what had just happened.

"Why did you put your brother's wine glass in front of me?" Min Shian poked her face and continued, "Are you deliberately trying to make me look bad?"

Song Tinglan glared at her and lowered her voice, "Brother sat there for a moment while he poured me wine, then left the glass there. How could you have been so quick?"

Many familiar faces came forward to greet each other at the banquet, and after exchanging greetings, several people took their seats.

The Minister of Personnel then walked to the main seat, raised his teacup, and walked around in a circle, saying loudly, "I'll use tea instead of wine. Let me offer a toast to everyone. Enjoy your meal!"

"good!"

There were immediate responses and cheers from below. Since he was a third-rank official and had Song Sheng's favor, many people rushed to curry favor with him. After he finished speaking, many people became restless.

Min Shian waited and waited but the Minister of Personnel showed no intention of communicating or exchanging ideas with her. She sighed softly, turned her head to look at Song Sheng, and then covered her lips with her sleeve to block out the noise from the outside world.

She asked softly, "You went through so much trouble to ask me to come here, just to let me see that you are reluctant to part with the jade hairpin?"

Song Sheng chuckled upon hearing this, tilted his head towards her, and replied, "This is a gift from Your Highness as your junior sister to me. If I were to throw it away, it would be too disheartening for my fellow disciple."

Min Shian couldn't guess what he was thinking, so she simply stopped thinking about it. After all, she wasn't the one who was poisoned.

Just a white lily hairpin.

She remembered the scroll Empress Xie had shown her, and an idea came to her mind. She turned around and asked directly, "My mother showed me something a few days ago. Someone impeached me for forming a clique for personal gain. However, I have always been close to Tinglan and you, my lord. What do you think?"

Song Sheng pondered for a moment before slowly asking, "How did Her Majesty know the contents of the memorial?"

The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. This is an iron rule that has been tacitly accepted since ancient times. Even though the power of aristocratic families has increased greatly today, capable women in their harem can be involved in power with the tacit consent of the family.

But this has never been made public, especially since Empress Xie's identity is sensitive and no mistakes can be made.

Min Shian hadn't expected to be tricked by him. She chuckled twice and replied, "How did you know it was a memorial and not something else?"

"As the Queen Mother, the head of the six palaces and the mother of the world, she will naturally not interfere in state affairs."

She insisted on the matter and continued, "Then, Your Excellency, can you answer my question?"

Song Sheng nodded and swore a solemn denial, "I have never reviewed such memorials. I guess the Empress must have listened to someone's slander."

Min Shian knew she wouldn't be able to get anything out of him, so she said a few perfunctory words and then sat up straight, admiring the delicious food in front of her, thinking about which dish to indulge in first.

As the actual ruler of the Xie family, Empress Xie is an intelligence hub because of her extensive family connections. The intelligence she provides will never be wrong.

She didn't believe that Song Sheng hadn't considered this matter, but he had still prepared a memorial first. So she wanted to use this opportunity to ask something from him, but unfortunately, this man was not easy to fool, and he sent her away with a few words.

Min Shian picked up the steamed fish fillet in front of her and tasted it, constantly guessing Song Sheng's intentions in her mind, and putting herself in Song Sheng's shoes to think about what she would do if she were him.

After a while, she came to a conclusion.

If she were Song Sheng, she would not let herself go out safely in the study at that time. She would definitely feed the person some long-term poison that only she had the antidote for, so that she could ensure that the person was completely under her control.

Before you do anything weird, you should also consider how long you can survive without the antidote.

The fish fillet in front of her was almost gone, so she turned to another delicacy, but after a quick taste, she gave up decisively.

Seeing this, Song Tinglan poured her some fruit wine and recommended it to her: "Shi'an, this fruit wine is good, would you like to try it?"

Min Shian took it and took a small sip. The mellow fruity aroma lingered on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes lit up and she drank it all in one gulp.

This fruit wine was prepared for each table. She nodded repeatedly and praised, "Very good! As expected, if Tinglan likes it, it must be good."

She was never like Song Sheng, who controlled the amount of food he ate precisely, making it impossible to guess his preferences.

Although it is right to be cautious, life this way would be too boring.

After the banquet, Song Sheng stayed to discuss government affairs with the Minister of Personnel, and then ordered someone to escort them back first.

Min Shi'an declined his kindness and took the sedan chair back to the mansion by herself.

Chun Tao came forward with a serious expression. She said in a deep voice, "Master, we have a clue about the assassin at Tianxian Tower that night."

"I have found out that the assassin is from the Western Regions and is now affiliated with the assassin organization Tuberose, which originated in Cangzhou and has spread throughout the Jin Dynasty."

"When the Tuberose Assassin kills, he will first spray his target with a scent that knocks them unconscious or restricts their movements. If they are unconscious or their movements are restricted, the assassin will immediately attack. If they are not affected at all, the assassin will decisively retreat."

“That’s why tuberose has been able to develop to this day.”

Min Shian nodded. She had heard of tuberose. Some people in Shangjing City would hire assassins made of tuberose to do shameful things.

Chun Tao lowered her voice, feeling somewhat ashamed, and said, "As for who the assassin is and the employer behind him, I have not yet found out. I hope the master will punish me."

Half a year had passed since the incident, and she had only managed to find out the general identity of the assassin, which was really inappropriate.

Min Shian threw her his jade pendant, but he didn't care much about it. The Tuberose Organization attached great importance to the information of employers and assassins, and would never reveal any information to the outside world, even if the king of heaven came.

"It's okay. Just do your best to investigate. Things in the underworld are often inconvenient. You have a badge, and it might be useful to you."

According to Queen Xie, the several masters who taught her seemed to have some status in the martial arts world. I wonder if they can find out any clues.

She paused and then warned, "Chun Tao, check it after the New Year. There's no rush in the next few days."

"yes."

At the beginning of the 20th year of Tianchong, on New Year's Eve, a general amnesty was declared throughout the country.

Min Shi'an wore a pure gold step-shaking crown inlaid with red jade fragments, a golden hairpin on the top of the snake bun, and a vermilion brocade dress embroidered with gold cloud patterns. The cuffs and neckline were decorated with polished Hetian jade beads, showing solemnity and magnificence.

Today, a grand sacrificial ceremony will be held, and Emperor Tianchong will lead the royal family and all civil and military officials to participate. She looked at herself in the mirror, quite satisfied, and then went to the sacrificial ceremony.

Although today's sacrificial ceremony is just a formality, Min Shi'an still takes it seriously. It not only represents the royal face, but also symbolizes the arrival of the new year.

The sacrificial ceremony was not complicated. After welcoming the gods, there were offerings, reciting prayers, music and dance, and burning firewood. The ceremony ended there. After sending off the gods, the offerings were shared with all civil and military officials.[1]

Afterwards, they would go to the palace for the grand banquet held there, where the emperor, his concubines, princes and princesses, nobles and ministers would gather together. Various delicacies from land and sea were presented continuously, and the atmosphere was lively and bustling with singing and dancing.

As a princess, Min Shian naturally sat in a seat separate from Song Tinglan and others. She was talking absentmindedly with He Jingxin beside her, but in fact she glanced at Song Tinglan from time to time.

She concealed it very well, and He Jing didn't notice at all and continued to chat with her enthusiastically.

"Sister, look, the dancer over there is so beautiful, and the zither player over there is playing a melodious and graceful zither, which blends with the plaintive and mournful flute music, creating a unique atmosphere."

Min Shian looked in the direction of the voice, but only glanced for a moment before looking away. She smiled faintly and replied, "These dancers and musicians are all top-notch. The music and dance they compose must be superb."

"Sister, don't just admire it. Eat something too. The party will last for a while."

He Jing nodded obediently upon hearing this, picked up the jade chopsticks and chose some from the dazzling array of food in front of him.

Min Shi'an had some free time, so he held up his wine glass and clinked it with Song Tinglan from a distance. They smiled at each other and drank at the same time.

Emperor Tian Chong stood up from the dragon throne, the music stopped abruptly, the scene suddenly became quiet, and everyone's eyes were focused on Emperor Tian Chong.

"Today is a festive occasion, and all officials are celebrating together. My dear ministers, please speak freely without being bound by formalities."

His eyes were peaceful and his voice was powerful. He then winked at the young eunuch beside him. The eunuch immediately understood, took a half step forward, and shouted loudly: "Come in—"

A group of maids came in one after another with their heads lowered and their hands holding high the rosewood boxes. They stopped in front of their corresponding seats in an orderly manner, put down the boxes and left one after another. The whole process took no more than half a quarter of an hour.

"I am deeply pleased that you, my dear ministers, have fulfilled your duties conscientiously, and I have bestowed upon you countless precious gifts."

Everyone bowed in unison and thanked him, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"May Your Majesty live forever and your country be forever secure. We, your subjects, will do our utmost to live up to your grace."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Tian Chong's eyes, as deep as a dry well, began to ripple. The corners of his lips rose slightly, and he spread his arms and said in a loud voice: "My dear ministers, please stand up."