Crazy
Cui Shenzhi did not agree to the change of dynasty. After all, if he had such intentions, he would not have announced to the world that he was a son-in-law emperor.
However, in Ping An's eyes, his behavior was merely the beginning of his repeated refusal and concessions.
In this situation, Ping An certainly wouldn't sit idly by and wait for death. She sent a message to Lin Yimo outside the palace, asking him to rally the ministers to oppose the change of dynasty. However, the message Lin Yimo sent back was telling her not to act rashly.
Lin Yimo meant that Ping An didn't need to do anything; Cui Shenzhi would naturally step in and resolve the issue. Even if he couldn't resolve it, Cui Shenzhi would still protect Ping An after the change of dynasty. However, in Ping An's eyes, this action was seen as Cui Shenzhi using Lin Yimo to warn her.
—I know you have ties to Lin Yimo, but don't expect Lin Yimo to do anything for you in court.
Just then, Cui Lingxian and Lu Fengping returned to the capital.
*****
When Cui Lingxian and Lu Fengping heard about those strange phenomena, they sensed something was wrong. However, they didn't think it was Ping An, but instead assumed that someone was trying to deal with Cui Shenzhi. They immediately rushed to the capital.
On their journey, they heard the ministers urging Cui Shenzhi to change the dynasty. The two of them were no longer in such a hurry. However, they were not far from the capital and had been away for three months, so they decided to go back to the capital first.
Upon arriving in the capital, their carriage headed straight for the palace, but when they reached the palace gate, Cui Lingxian refused to disembark.
She dared not enter the palace.
Although Lu Fengping had tried to persuade her, she still couldn't let go of it.
After enjoying all the benefits, she, the perpetrator, simply walked away, leaving Ping An and Cui Shenzhi, the two victims, to make amends for the mistakes her family had made. She was too ashamed to face them.
Lu Fengping had been with Cui Lingxian for so long that he could tell what she was thinking at a glance, but he had said everything he could and should say. Cui Lingxian just couldn't let go, and he couldn't force her.
“Ling Xian,” Lu Fengping thought for a moment and said softly, “Why don’t you go see your mother? You haven’t seen her for three months, she must miss you very much.”
Cui Lingxian nodded.
Lu Fengping then carried his medicine chest and headed towards the palace.
*****
Upon hearing that Lu Fengping had returned, Cui Shenzhi was overjoyed and went out to greet him without saying a word.
Looking at the undisguised smile on Cui Shenzhi's face, Ping An couldn't help but think of Cui Lingxian, who had left with Lu Fengping, and his expression became somewhat ambiguous.
As soon as the news of a change of dynasty broke, Lu Fengping and Cui Lingxian returned. What a coincidence! It was clearly Cui Shenzhi who called them back.
What are we coming back for?
Of course, this was after the change of dynasties, when Cui Lingxian was given a clean and high position.
After all, the two had been together for over a decade, and were like siblings who were closer than family. Although Cui Sugong and Shen Meiwu had developed some rifts, after three months apart, Cui Shenzhi probably only remembered the good things about Cui Lingxian.
Moreover, Cui Sugong and Shen Meiwu's daughter, Cui Lingxian, is already dead. The one who is alive is the commoner Shen Lingxian. Cui Shenzhi has no other relatives. It's just a small matter of recognizing a commoner as his sworn sister. Who would say anything more about it?
As for her?
It seems that when Cui Shenzhi exposed Cui Sugong's crimes to the world, faked Cui Lingxian's death, and announced to the world that she was the real princess, he had already determined her fate.
As Cui Sugong's only daughter, she naturally had to bear the sins of the previous dynasty with him and be buried with the dynasty under the yellow earth.
*****
Upon hearing the news of Cui Lingxian's arrival, Shen Meiwu rushed out in a panic.
"Ling Xian? Why did you come back to the capital?! You shouldn't have come back, you should leave! Leave! Let Lu Fengping take you far away!"
"Mother, why?" Cui Lingxian's face was full of confusion. "Why shouldn't I have come back? This is right under the emperor's nose. Could something have happened here? Or do you know that someone wants to harm Shenzhi and Ping'an?!"
"No one wants to harm them, they want to harm you!" Shen Meiwu said urgently, pulling Cui Lingxian's hand. "Lingxian, listen to your mother and leave quickly. Ping'an grew up in the Cold Palace, she's already gone mad! She's just like those deposed concubines, a madwoman!"
“Cui Shenzhi already has a grudge against us, and since you like that madwoman, she will definitely help her deal with you. It’s too dangerous for you in the capital! Listen to me and leave immediately. Have Lu Fengping take you away at all costs, the farther the better!”
After saying that, Shen Meiwu suddenly shoved Cui Lingxian.
Cui Lingxian was stunned.
Ping An and Shen Zhi are going to deal with her? Impossible.
Not to mention that she kept receiving letters from Shenzhi during her travels, which were full of concern for her, she was now powerless and just a commoner. If Ping An and Shenzhi wanted to deal with her, they would have plenty of ways and opportunities. Why hadn't they made a move yet? There must be some misunderstanding.
However, no matter how Cui Lingxian explained, Shen Meiwu insisted that there was no misunderstanding and kept pushing her away. Helpless, she could only decide to go to the palace first to meet with Cui Shenzhi and Ping An and ask them what had happened in the capital while she was away.
*****
After meeting Lu Fengping, Cui Shenzhi asked about Cui Lingxian, and then the two chatted and laughed as they arrived at the Qianqing Palace.
Upon seeing Lu Fengping, Ping An remained calm.
“Shenzhi, I remember you said that Lord Duan had something to discuss with you today. Since state affairs are of utmost importance, I will take Young Master Lu to the side hall first. You can come find us after you’re done.”
Cui Shenzhi, without suspecting anything, agreed.
Upon reaching the side hall, Ping An dismissed everyone around him and looked at Lu Fengping coldly, saying, "Why are you alone? Where's Cui Lingxian? Shouldn't she have come back with you? Or is she about to make it big again and dump you?"
Hearing this, Lu Fengping glared at Ping An and said angrily, "You're scheming and full of dark thoughts. Don't think Ling Xian is like you!"
Ping An smiled.
"Yes, I am scheming and cunning, because if I didn't scheme, I would have nothing, and even survival would be a problem. Cui Lingxian is simple and kind, because she doesn't need to scheme like I do to have everything. Everyone eagerly brings her good things to please her."
"Chen Meiwu plotted against Cui Sugong for her sake and even guided Cui Sugong to kill Fu Yunjin; Cui Sugong gave her treatment far exceeding that of a princess and exchanged me, his biological son, for Cui Shenzhi, who was not related to him by blood; Cui Shenzhi spared the life of his family's enemy for her sake; and you risked your life to threaten Cui Shenzhi, the emperor, for her sake."
"You all try your best to be good to her, take care of her, and like her, just like..."
—Just like everyone likes Fu Yunjin.
Ping An's heart skipped a beat. After a long pause, she finally laughed because she found it too absurd.
Shen Meiwu harmed Fu Yunjin, yet she also longed for Fu Yunjin, so she raised Cui Lingxian to be a second Fu Yunjin, treating her with utmost care and privilege.
Although she clearly had Fu Yunjin's bloodline, she only inherited Fu Yunjin's resentment before her death, which resulted in her growing into a second Shen Meiwu.
How ridiculous, so ridiculous! How could there be such a ridiculous thing in the world? How could there be such a ridiculous person as her?
Lu Fengping was puzzled by Ping An's alternating crying and laughing. Recalling the excessive worry he had diagnosed when he took Ping An's pulse earlier, he suddenly felt a little worried.
Just then, Ping An grabbed Lu Fengping's collar, leaned close to him, and whispered threateningly, "Lu Fengping, you have to do two things for me."
Upon hearing this, Lu Fengping felt that his worries were somewhat unnecessary.
He frowned, pushed Ping An away, straightened his clothes, and said with some dissatisfaction, "Do we know each other that well? Why should I help you?"
Ping An chuckled and started talking about something that seemed unrelated.
Have you seen Cui Sugong?
Lu Fengping didn't know what to say, his eyes full of doubt, but he still honestly shook his head.
"Cui Shenzhi promised Cui Lingxian to spare his life, so he is still alive, but he is barely breathing. Do you want to guess who did it?"
Lu Fengping's breath hitched, and he immediately stood up, pointing at Ping An and saying, "Are you crazy! He is still your biological father!"
Ping An replied with a charming smile, "Yes, I'm crazy. I'm so jealous of Cui Lingxian that I'm insane! Why can she have everything without doing anything, while I've tried so hard but still have nothing and my life is in danger? So you have to help me, otherwise, I don't even know how a madman like me will deal with Cui Lingxian."
"you…!"
Lu Fengping clenched his fists, his face so black it seemed like ink was about to drip out. He wished he could just poison him to death and be done with it, but he couldn't.
Not only was Cui Shenzhi deeply in love with Ping An, but Cui Lingxian also felt guilty towards Ping An, inquiring about her well-being in every letter she exchanged with Cui Shenzhi. If he were to kill Ping An like this, there would be absolutely no future for him and Cui Lingxian, and their friendship with Cui Shenzhi would likely be impossible to continue even in the next life.
He glared at Ping An hatefully and said, "What do you want me to do?"
Ping An ignored his resistance and whispered in his ear, "I need you to give me a fake death pill and prepare enough money for me to live the rest of my life freely. Then I will obediently leave and go far away, and never come back in this lifetime."
“I’m just a barefoot doctor, how could I possibly have that much money? Besides, why should I believe you would leave?”
“Then there’s no other way. I can only reluctantly stay in the palace, taking advantage of the fact that Cui Shenzhi can’t touch me now to stir up trouble, make the world restless, ruin his reputation and destroy his empire, and then take advantage of Cui Lingxian’s closeness to me to take her life and hang her head on the city wall to be exposed to the wind and rain.”
Lu Fengping was furious.
He narrowed his eyes and said maliciously, "Fine, I'll give it to you. You dare to eat it, so what wouldn't I dare to give you?"
Ping An chuckled softly.
"Of course I dare to eat it. If you had the guts to kill someone, you wouldn't have just had someone kidnap me when you wanted to expose my true colors back then. You would have had someone kill me and then found someone who was hostile to Cui Shenzhi or Cui Lingxian to take the blame."
Lu Fengping, who had failed to feign ruthlessness and whose true nature had been seen through, froze.
He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down before taking a packaged pill from the medicine box and throwing it at Ping An with a displeased expression.
"After taking it, you will fall into a coma after an hour, and enter a state of suspended animation. As long as I give you the antidote within five days, you will come back to life. I will give you the money then."
Ping An immediately hid the medicine in his sleeve after receiving it.
"Young Master Lu actually keeps this kind of medicine on hand at all times."
"Because people as insidious, ruthless, and heartless as you are rare in the world, they still exist. I naturally have to prepare some things just in case."
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