Taking advantage of the situation

Zhao Tieshou handled matters with extreme prudence. The secret letter, a "request for assistance" forged by Lu Qinglan and bearing Su Yueming's personal seal, was quickly delivered to Miss Liu through the hands of a bribed servant in the Liu residence. The letter, written in Su Yueming's voice, exaggerated the "panic" and "pressure" within the Seventh Prince's residence, claiming that the Shuntian Prefecture governor was buckling under the Seventh Prince's pressure and showing signs of weakening. He pleaded with Miss Liu's backers to either silence Chen Xing or find a scapegoat to close the case, lest the Shuntian Prefecture investigate further and risk widespread repercussions.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jingche followed the plan. While he remained firm in the face of the censor's continued criticism in the court, his words betrayed a certain weakness. He even privately sent messengers to several influential princes of the imperial clan to "complain," claiming that someone was deliberately framing him and attempting to undermine his position. These actions were observed by the Third Prince's spies, who reported them back.

This performance that combined the real and the imaginary really worked.

Two days later, Zhao Tieshou reported back that Miss Liu's nanny had gone to the side gate of the Third Prince's residence late at night, stayed briefly, and then hurriedly left. Then, the Shuntian Prefecture Governor, who had previously maintained a tough stance, suddenly changed his tone. During his second interrogation of Chen Xing, he no longer pressed the source of the Jile Powder and instead began to inquire about the details of Yunshang Pavilion's daily operations, seemingly hoping to find other "faults" to convict and close the case.

"They want to find a scapegoat and close the case as quickly as possible." Xiao Jingche sneered and informed Lu Qinglan of the latest developments in Shuntian Prefecture. "It seems that they don't intend to confront them head-on for the time being. Instead, they want to confirm the Yunshang Pavilion case as soon as possible and cut off the clues."

Lu Qinglan pondered, "This shows they're also wary and don't want to make a big fuss, lest they get burned. For us, this is an opportunity. As long as Chen Xing doesn't plead guilty and the Yunshang Pavilion case drags on, we'll have time to find irrefutable evidence to overturn the verdict, or even... turn the tables."

"What do you think, Princess?"

"They put the Bliss Powder into the Yunshang Pavilion warehouse. No matter how secretive their methods were, there must have been traces." Lu Qinglan's eyes were sharp. "The guy Zhao Tieshou captured is the key witness. But he alone is not enough. We need to find the true source of the Bliss Powder, find the person who handled it, and find direct evidence of its connection to the Liu Mansion and even the Third Prince's Mansion."

She paused and continued, "Besides, Su Yueming can't be arrested for nothing. She has close ties with Miss Liu and must know other things. I'd like to meet her."

Xiao Jingche frowned slightly: "That slave girl is cunning and won't tell the truth easily."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I have my own way." Lu Qinglan's tone was calm, but with unquestionable confidence.

That night, Lu Qinglan found Su Yueming chained in the torture chamber of the palace's dungeon. In just a few days, this once delicate and beautiful woman had become emaciated, her hair disheveled, her eyes cloudy, and a faint smell of blood about her, clearly indicating she had endured hardship.

Seeing Lu Qinglan coming in, Su Yueming grabbed at a life-saving straw and struggled to rush over, but was held back by the chains. She could only scream, "Princess! Princess, spare my life! I know I was wrong! I'm willing to tell you anything! Please spare my life!"

Lu Qinglan waved her hand, forcing the guards to retreat outside. She walked up to Su Yueming and looked down at her with a cold gaze. "Su Yueming, I gave you a chance. It was you who chose this path of no return."

"I was bewitched! I was blinded by greed!" Su Yueming burst into tears. "I shouldn't have listened to Miss Liu's instigation and betrayed the princess! I beg the princess to forgive me this time for the sake of our past friendship!"

"Past affection?" Lu Qinglan chuckled, but there was no warmth in her laughter. "What kind of affection do you have between you and me? It's just that you cling to power, and I'm using you to stabilize the poetry club. Do you really think that I'm unaware of your little tricks with Miss Liu?"

Su Yueming trembled all over and looked at Lu Qinglan in disbelief.

"I'm keeping you here because I think you might still be of some use." Lu Qinglan said indifferently, "Now that you've committed such a heinous crime, you're doomed. If you want a quick death, or... a chance for your family to live, then answer my questions honestly."

She leaned forward, her voice low, but every word struck Su Yueming's heart like a knife: "Besides Miss Liu, who else do you work for? Where did that Bliss Powder come from? What is its connection with Yongquan Temple and Prince An's Mansion?"

Su Yueming's pupils suddenly constricted, the color drained from her face, and her lips trembled, as if she were in a fierce inner struggle. Lu Qinglan didn't urge her, but just looked at her coldly.

The only sounds in the dungeon were Su Yueming's heavy breathing and the subtle rustling of chains. After a long moment, as if all her strength had been drained from her, she collapsed to the ground, her voice hoarse, "I'm saying... I'm saying... I only ask Princess, please keep my family safe..."

"explain."

"It's...it's Steward Hu..." Su Yueming closed his eyes and said in despair, "Miss Liu got the Bliss Powder from Steward Hu through a steward in her mansion... Steward Hu said that this...this is the intention of 'the higher-ups', to use this opportunity to completely overthrow the princess and severely damage the Seventh Prince..."

"Above? Which above?" Lu Qinglan pressed.

"I...I don't know who it was specifically. I only vaguely heard Miss Liu mention it. It was...it was the idea of ​​a noble in the palace. Even His Highness the Third Prince had to obey..." Su Yueming said tremblingly. "Steward Hu also asked me to keep an eye on the palace's movements, especially...the news from His Highness's study, and your interactions with the families of the border generals..."

A noble in the palace! Lu Qinglan was shocked. Sure enough, the palace was involved! Was it Consort De? Or... someone of higher status?

"What else? Where's Yongquan Temple? Where's Prince An's Mansion?"

"Yongquan Temple... I don't know the details, but I heard it's... a crucial place for alchemy, and it can't be lost. Prince An's Mansion... Steward Hu is from Prince An's Mansion. He's responsible for delivering news and items to Prince An and... to that noble person in the palace..."

The clues are becoming clearer and clearer, but they are also pointing to an even more alarming direction. The nobles in the palace, Prince An, the Third Prince, Yongquan Temple... these forces are actually so deeply connected!

"Write down what you just said in detail and sign your name." Lu Qinglan ordered someone to bring paper and pen.

After receiving Su Yueming's detailed and signed confession, Lu Qinglan felt a sense of relief. Although it was still a solitary piece of evidence, it at least pointed out the direction of the investigation.

She walked out of the dungeon. The night wind was chilly, but it made her confused mind much clearer.

Back at Hengwu Courtyard, Xiao Jingche was still waiting for her. After reading Su Yueming's confession, his face was so gloomy that water could drip out of it.

"The noble lady in the palace... The noble lady in the palace..." He chewed on these four words over and over again, his eyes filled with shock, anger and murderous intent. "Good! Very good! You actually extend your hand so far!"

"Your Highness, we now have Su Yueming's confession, which points to Steward Hu and the Liu Mansion. Our most urgent task is to obtain irrefutable evidence that the batch of Bliss Powder came from Steward Hu, so as to prove the conspiracy between the Liu Mansion and the Third Prince's Mansion." Lu Qinglan analyzed calmly, "As long as we can drag Minister Liu into this, the Third Prince will be implicated, and at least one of his arms will be cut off!"

Xiao Jingche took a deep breath and suppressed the anger boiling in his heart. "What the princess said is absolutely right. I will immediately send more people to track down Manager Hu and the manager in charge of the Liu Mansion. We must find evidence that they handed over the Bliss Powder!"

"There's also Yongquan Temple," Lu Qinglan added. "Although Su Yueming doesn't know the details, he mentioned that it's a major alchemy center. With our supply of Khaki medicinal herbs, they must be eager to replenish it. Perhaps... we can start from there."

The two discussed late into the night and decided on their next course of action. On the one hand, they would continue to put pressure on Shuntian Prefecture to delay the Yunshang Pavilion case and protect Chen Xing. On the other hand, they would mobilize all available forces to track down evidence of Hu Guanshi's collusion with the Liu Mansion and closely monitor all movements at Yongquan Temple.

By taking advantage of the enemy's strategy, we have successfully disrupted the enemy's deployment and obtained key information.

Now, the offensive and defensive momentum is quietly reversing.

Lu Qinglan knew that the next battle would be a more intense one, closer to the core. She had to seize this fleeting opportunity and deliver a fatal blow to her opponent!