Chapter 89
Qin Sang thought Xie Sui'an would decline, but to her surprise, he bowed and kowtowed without hesitation: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
The emperor said nothing more, and after a while, the large crowd and entourage left the courtyard, leaving behind a group of kneeling officials.
"Did you understand His Majesty's meaning?" After the emperor left, the two officials standing closest to Qin Sang began to whisper to each other.
The other one snorted: "What do you mean? Didn't you understand the obvious meaning?"
The one who spoke first fell silent, and after a long while, sighed.
Then the person behind him also sighed.
These people were all seasoned veterans of officialdom, so naturally they wouldn't say a single straightforward word in this setting. Qin Sang was too lazy to listen to their cryptic remarks, so she went with Xie Wu and the other women to help fold yellow paper and copy Buddhist scriptures.
However, the two civil officials who had been speaking in riddles resumed their conversation after leaving the Prime Minister's residence and seeing that no one was eavesdropping.
The heavy rain had turned into a drizzle. The two men each held an oil-paper umbrella, with their servants following far behind.
One person said, "This decree is clearly a slap in the face to that person in the east. This matter won't be easily resolved."
Another said, "Before we could even get a clear picture of this matter, the Emperor's decree has already defined it. In my opinion, it's not a slap in the face, but rather a way out. Who knows what will be uncovered if we investigate further? The Emperor wants to save face for some people, and also wants to give the Right Chancellor a chance to save face... Our Emperor is still wise."
The first one sighed, "But that person has to be able to understand the way the Emperor is offering; I'm afraid they'll become arrogant because of the Emperor's favor..."
That makes sense.
Both of them fell silent.
Only the sound of rain dripping from the eaves of the houses along the street remained, a constant, incessant patter.
***
With the imperial decree issued, the funeral rites at the Prime Minister's residence, aided by the inner court, became extravagant and lavish. Mourners came in an endless stream, and the servants of the Prime Minister's residence were busy yet orderly.
The crisis has temporarily passed. The Emperor has granted the Prime Minister leniency and dignity, and the heads of his entire family are temporarily spared. Wang Huiwen has hidden the gold and silver he had previously sent away, and has begun searching for another residence.
“My mother said that she had previously bought a large house in the south of the city. If the Prime Minister’s residence is no longer habitable, our whole family will have to move there.”
Qin Sang and her grandchildren don't have to worry about anything. They just need to copy some Buddhist scriptures and fold some paper pagodas for blessings. Xie Wu said this as he folded the paper pagodas.
Qin Sang: "The First Madam is a master at managing the household."
"Otherwise what? We should prepare in advance. The reason we can stay in the Prime Minister's residence is because of Grandfather. We should find a backup place to live. Otherwise, with a change like this, wouldn't we be homeless? Fortunately, the Emperor is wise. If he finds out something, he will confiscate our property. Then all our houses will be useless."
Qin Sang nodded and hummed in agreement.
Xie Wu looked up at her: "What are you thinking about? You seem distracted."
Qin Sang: "Hmm? Oh, it's nothing. I just feel that it's too fast that we haven't found anything yet."
"Sigh," Xie Wu sighed, "The matter of Aunt Tan's family hasn't been settled yet, and now we don't know if this outcome is good or bad. However, the Emperor will definitely have people continue to investigate secretly; it won't just end like this."
Qin Sang nodded: "You're right, we will definitely continue our covert investigation."
She thought of Prince Ning'an.
If it's a covert investigation, will it be conducted by Prince Ning'an? Will his previous words, and the non-existent letter he blurted out in his desperation, stir up further trouble?
I'm a little excited, but also a little annoyed.
Qin Sang sent Lingding to gather information. When Lingding returned, she knelt beside her and whispered, "The officials from the Three Departments are still interrogating him. All those who worked for the Prime Minister have been locked up. They are questioning them one by one. The eldest and second young masters have been listening in, but I can't find out what exactly they found out."
Qin Sang asked again, "Is Prince Ning'an still alive?"
Lingding: "Yes, I am."
Xie Wu said with a hint of pride, "See? I told you the Emperor would let it go on the surface, but in private, he still wanted to give Grandpa justice."
Qin Sang smiled faintly.
After a while, she suddenly sighed again: "My family will have to rely on you from now on."
Qin Sang: "...??"
Xie Wu didn't look up, folding paper in his hand, his tone flat: "Grandpa betrothed you to Prince Ning'an. When we heard the news last night, we were all shocked and a little surprised. When did Grandpa come up with this plan?"
After he finished speaking, he looked up at Qin Sang.
Qin Sang: "..."
Xie Wu suddenly looked at him with pity: "Born into families like ours, it's commonplace for daughters to be used as tools for political marriages. We have no say in who they marry or what kind of life they lead after marriage. Prince Ning'an..." She sighed softly, "Qin Sang, I don't want to hide it from you, but do you know about Prince Ning'an's situation?"
Qin Sang didn't know what she was going to say, so she tentatively replied, "I've heard some of it."
Xie Wu leaned closer to her, speaking mysteriously: "He has already married two princesses, and both of them died suddenly."
"..." Qin Sang: "This..."
"But you're smart and beautiful, I believe you should be able to protect yourself, right?"
"..." Qin Sang thought to herself, "It's a good thing you met me. If you had met someone a little more timid, after your reminder, they would have run away before even getting married."
She looked up at me: "What do you mean by telling me this?"
Xie Wu blinked: "It doesn't mean anything." After a while, he added, "Actually, I know the previous wife of Prince Ning'an. She was the eldest daughter of the Minister of Revenue."
She thought for a moment, her tone tinged with regret: "She was a simple and kind girl, about my age, good at polo, and had a spirited personality. But only half a year after marrying into the Ning'an Prince's mansion, I heard she fell seriously ill. I even went to see her; she was pale and thin, her hair dry and yellow, no longer the girl she once was..." She sniffed, her tone indifferent, "Qin Sang, you really have no connection with our family. If you can escape, why don't you run away? I won't tell anyone. I don't want to see you become like Cao Yun'er, first seriously ill, then dying inexplicably. We may be daughters, but we are also human beings, not tools for anyone. It's perfect that Grandpa is no longer here, you..."
Qin Sang coughed lightly to interrupt her. Xie Wu looked up and saw Xie Lin walking over with a long face.
The two stopped talking about it.
After hearing so much from Xie Wu, Qin Sang was both moved and amused, because Xie Zhongxu had never intended for this to happen; it was all orchestrated by the Prince of Ning'an.
Escape? Impossible. No pain, no gain. He walked right into the tiger's den, which is quite good. A prince, and one who might even be involved in the struggle for the throne, is there anyone closer to the center of power? Isn't he even better than Tan Bi?
I must marry him! I must marry him as soon as possible!
***
At night, Qin Sang returned to her courtyard. According to custom, she could not bathe for three days before the mourning period. She let her maidservant do a simple routine, and then lay down to sleep.
From last night to tonight, it's been a long and tumultuous journey, from the heart-stopping moments to the temporary calm that's settled. She was exhausted and fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.
In a daze, she had a dream. In the dream, Xie Sui'an seemed to be standing outside her bedroom window under the grape trellis, dressed in plain white clothes, with slightly drooping eyes, looking sad and desolate, as if someone owed him something. He didn't forcefully ask for it back, but just stared at her with red eyes, making her feel guilty and realize that she was wrong.
When Qin Sang was woken up, she had already forgotten the dream she had last night.
She was still half asleep in front of the dressing table when she sensed something was wrong. She turned to look at Ying'er, who gestured to her, "Something happened at the Prime Minister's residence again last night."
"..." What else could have happened? Did they catch the murderer or uncover the truth behind Xie Zhongxu's death?
Lingding came over with a wrung-out towel and said, "It was Aunt Jiang who went there; she committed suicide."
Qin Sang recalled the stunningly beautiful woman she had only met once yesterday. She had actually... committed suicide? Died for love?
Lingding said, "Before she died, she had her personal maid deliver a letter to the court officials where they were trying cases. In the letter, she confessed that she had poisoned the Prime Minister."
? ? !! !
Qin Sang was wide awake: "Why? She lives a life of luxury, without any mistress to discipline or bully her, and she even has a son. Isn't it said that she and the Prime Minister have a very close and respectful relationship? Why would she do such a thing?"
How could they possibly throw out a widow to take the blame? That's just unbelievable.
Qin Sang felt there was more to the story, a lot more to it.
What kind of woman would poison her husband when she has no worries about food and clothing? Someone with a grudge.
"What happened? Did the adults believe it? What exactly is Aunt Jiang's identity?" she asked instinctively.
Lingding shook her head: "I don't know. I haven't been able to find out more. You'll probably have to ask around yourself."
Yes, I should go and find out.
She had someone quickly wash up, eat breakfast, and then go to the mourning hall.
Along the way, she tried to find out who to ask about the grudges and entanglements of the previous generation. She thought it would be better to ask Xie Sui'an, but then she remembered the dream she had last night and decided to go find Xie Jingze instead.
When they arrived at the mourning hall, Xie Wu and her daughters were all there, but they didn't see any elders or people who could help with the funeral arrangements.
As soon as Xie Wu saw her, he pulled her aside and started talking: "Have you heard about it?"
Qin Sang nodded: "I heard that Aunt Jiang turned herself in... So what's the situation inside the Prime Minister's residence now?"
Xie Wu said sadly, "Everyone was shocked and panicked. They didn't know how to deal with Aunt Jiang's body, nor did they know what conclusion the adults had reached. Mother wouldn't let us go over to join in the fun."
"You won't allow it?" Qin Sang raised an eyebrow.
Xie Wu also raised an eyebrow.
The moment their eyes met, they instantly felt like kindred spirits.
They immediately got up and walked outside.
The youngest, Xie Xiao, was mischievous and shrewd. She slammed her hand on the table and shouted, "Where are you all going?!"
Xie Wu: "Yeah, I need to relieve myself."
Xie Xiao stood up: "I want to go too."
Xie Wu gritted his teeth: "Are you sure you want to go too?"
Qin Sang smiled and said, "Let's go together."
So the group lined up and loudly announced that they were going to relieve themselves. Once inside the backyard outhouse, they slipped away along the path in the adjacent garden.
As Xie Xiao made her way through the jungle, she said, "I knew you weren't here to relieve yourselves."
Xie Wu: "You know everything. You're so young, yet you come with us to see dead people. Aren't you afraid of having nightmares?"
Xie Xiao: "Aunt Jiang was very good to me when she was alive. I don't believe she poisoned Grandpa. I want to go and see for myself!"
Qin Sang then asked, "Where did Aunt Jiang come from?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
