Statement
Prince Bao returned to the palace, but his expression still did not improve.
The princess carefully helped him change his clothes and asked tentatively, "The Marquis of Xichang has been convicted. Your Highness should be happy. Why are you so unhappy?"
Prince Bao changed into his casual clothes, sat at the tea table, shook his head and sighed, "This is only treating the symptoms, not the root cause."
If Marquis of Xichang is the symbol, then who is the root is self-evident.
Princess Bao said cautiously, "Your Highness, please be careful. If anyone hears this, it will be disastrous."
Prince Bao said angrily, "He dared to silence such a serious criminal openly, and he is still afraid of the officials and the people's gossip?"
Princess Bao was shocked and said, "Marquis Xichang...is dead?"
Prince Bao nodded. "Besides the charges impeached by Minister Jian, there are still many old cases that need to be reexamined. But the Emperor had the Marquis of Xichang executed, a clear warning to us not to investigate. When he first ascended the throne, his foundation was still weak, and he was wary of important officials like me. He actively supported his own factions, even using secret medicine on me, which I understand. But he is the Son of Heaven, how can he treat truth and justice so lightly? Acting so unkindly and unfairly will sooner or later lose the support of the people, and my Liu family's empire is in danger!"
"Your Highness!" Princess Bao's heart trembled as she rushed forward and asked, "Do you want to..."
Prince Bao shook his head. "Don't worry, Madam. I'm not that confused yet. Well, why bother telling you about all these worries and making you worry in vain?"
"I feel at ease only now that Your Majesty is willing to tell me this."
Prince Bao remembered that he had not paid attention to the palace's internal affairs for a long time, so he asked, "It's been cold recently. Is Brother Xiang okay?"
When Xiang Ge'er was mentioned, Princess Bao became worried. She said distressedly, "The cough has come back. I can't sleep at night because of the discomfort. I see the weight I just gained falling back."
"Miss Sang, is there nothing you can do?" asked Prince Bao.
The princess said, "She prescribed a cough suppressant that works immediately, but she warned me not to drink too much. She told me straight away that the root of Xiang'er's illness is in his lungs and there's no cure. I just hope the child suffers less..."
After saying that, he called out to Nanny Ban, who immediately brought in two bowls of hot medicine.
"Your Highness, this is medicine for both of us, and we must continue to take it."
Prince Bao took the shiny black medicine, looked at his own reflection in the solemn eyes, and thought, this child of theirs is not good, as long as he and the princess are healthy, they can have another one, but what about Shengguo?
After Emperor Sheng returned to the palace from Bailu Terrace, he was a little frightened. Whenever he closed his eyes, he thought of the Marquis of Xichang with his mouth full of flesh and blood before his death. He was so scared that he couldn't fall asleep.
Baili Hongyuan was ordered to stay with the emperor until he drank the tranquilizing soup and fell asleep, and then he could leave.
It was already late at night, but he still wanted to bring the news of Xichang Hou's death to Qin Yousi as soon as possible, so he rode his horse to Yuan's Medical Clinic.
The clinic had closed long ago, but laughter and chatter could be heard from behind the closed door, as if there was a banquet going on.
Baili Hongyuan raised his hand and knocked on the door. Soon, Qin Yousi came to open the door himself.
Seeing it was him, Qin Yousi said, "When you knock on the door at this time, I guess it's you."
The case of Marquis Xichang will be settled in the next few days, and Qin Yousi has been waiting for him.
Baili Hongyuan was invited into the house, and the two sat down to talk in the consultation room in the front yard.
Baili Hongyuan told her what happened in prison and said apologetically, "The emperor personally questioned and tortured her. I was there and couldn't stop him, so Duan Weiming died like this."
Qin Yousi did not seem very surprised, nor did he look too moved.
"I had anticipated this, and I had no hope of overturning my family's case with the Marquis of Xichang. My Lord, I have told you before that I seek revenge, not redress. You need not feel sorry."
Baili Hongyuan observed her expression and saw no trace of the relief and joy of revenge. He knew her "revenge" wouldn't stop there. So he asked, "What are your plans next?"
Qin Yousi said carefully, "Investigating the Marquis of Xichang is a matter of public concern to you, sir. But what I will do next will be very difficult for you. Do you still intend to help me?"
Baili Hongyuan felt a little disappointed. Qin Yousi had never fully trusted him. But he didn't mind. To build trust, he could take more initiative. So he lowered his voice and said, "On the way back from Yangcheng, you mentioned the case of Concubine Fu. After returning to the capital, I also secretly investigated. Although everyone involved is dead, the elders in the palace must remember what happened, so I went to meet with Concubine Xian."
The virtuous concubine was born in an ordinary official family. She was not good-looking when she was young and was a transparent person in the harem.
She behaved according to the rules and always listened to the Queen Mother. She did not dare to get pregnant until the Crown Prince came of age and gave birth to Prince Yi. When Prince Yi was four years old, she sent him to his fiefdom to prevent him from attracting attention in front of the late Emperor.
She endured for nearly thirty years, and finally became the fourth concubine when the late emperor passed away. Now she still lives in the West Palace with the empress dowager.
"It's really not easy for your Excellency to have a friendship with the virtuous Concubine Dowager."
Baili Hongyuan said, "Prince Yi has been in his fiefdom since he was young and has always needed someone to take care of him. I am the only one who can lend a hand without restraint."
He is the cousin of Prince Yi, and no one cares about him, so he can do whatever he wants.
Qin Yousi nodded, it was indeed true.
"Did the virtuous concubine tell you anything useful?"
Baili Hongyuan smiled bitterly and said, "She is the one who dares not to overstep the line. In such a dangerous case, what would she dare to ask about? But she mentioned someone who I have some impression of."
"Former Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Xia Rongyun. Your grandfather's most admired student."
Xia Rongyun was the senior brother of Qin Yousi's father and was regarded as the most talented disciple by his grandfather. When Qin Yousi was a child, he affectionately called him "Uncle Master".
The Qin family treated Xia Rongyun as their own son, and cultivated and supported him all the way, allowing him to take the position of Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
When Qin Yousi heard this person's name, his face turned cold, and he even couldn't hide his anger.
Baili Hongyuan observed the doctor's expression, and after verifying the identity of the person, he continued, "According to the records of the Imperial Medical Bureau, during the years that Xia Yuanshi was in charge of the hospital, there were almost no mistakes. The emperor was born after a prolonged labor and died, and it was he who personally saved his life. However, such a skilled doctor died in the palace from carbon fumes the month after Your Majesty was crowned Crown Prince at the age of twelve. Also killed that year was Zhao Jintong of the Jinwu Guard, who was in charge of the palace gates on the day of the emperor's birth. I have reason to suspect that what Concubine Fu said is very likely true, and that your grandfather gave false testimony in Concubine Fu's case. Therefore, rather than helping you, I must investigate thoroughly for the sake of the royal family's legitimacy."
Qin Yousi admired: "My lord, you have found out so much just because of my words."
Ordinary officials could not access the records and archives of the Imperial Medical Service and the Imperial Palace, especially those related to the Emperor.
Baili Hongyuan was able to find out without leaving any trace, which shows that he has sufficient connections and means in the harem.
Baili Hongyuan came today not to ask anything from her, but just to express his attitude: even against Emperor Sheng, he can be an ally.
His words had already reached the point that whether Qin Yousi would continue to cooperate with him was up to her.
He was not in a hurry to get an answer, so he pointed to the backyard and asked, "Are there any guests today?"
Qin Yousi nodded, his tone a little more relaxed. "It's Fuying who's here. The Oujiang Boat Gang has a lot of people and is very efficient. The Sang family's assets are almost in order, and he came to discuss with me how to run them going forward. You deserve half the credit for what's going on with the Sang family. You've come at the perfect time. The Sang family has a large hunting ground and some stock shops, and I think it's perfect for you."
Baili Hongyuan shook his head: "Don't count me in, keep it for yourself."
"How can that be?" Qin Yousi tried to persuade him, but Baili Hongyuan stopped him, saying, "I shouldn't accept these, lest they give me any evidence against me."
Qin Yousi competed for these properties as a daughter of the Sang family, so it would be understandable even if it was discovered.
But if someone finds out and it falls into Baili Hongyuan's hands, they will accuse him of embezzling money.
Qin Yousi did not force it, thinking that it would be the same if he exchanged it for cash in the future.
Since he had guests, Baili Hongyuan didn't want to sit for long. He stood up and said, "It's late, don't play too late. You've just recovered, so don't be careless."
Qin Yousi said: "Let's just talk about the eldest brother and not the second brother. My Lord, please take care of yourself too!"
Fuying saw Qin Yousi had been away for a long time in the backyard, so he went to the front to look for her, but only saw Baili Hongyuan's back.
"Heyue, is Lord Baili here? Why don't you invite him in to sit down?"
Qin Yousi had a worried look on his face and said, "What I'm about to do is very dangerous. I don't want to implicate him, so it's better to keep my distance."
Fuying seemed to see through him and said, "You didn't think this way before, but now you do, it's probably because you care more about Lord Baili. If you're really deliberately distancing yourself, not only will you be sad, but he'll be sad too. In my opinion, it's better for the two of you to discuss things together. Even if there are dangers or problems, solving them together is better than worrying about each other and being tied up. Worrying too much will only lead to mistakes."
Qin Yousi felt that what he said made sense: "You are really insightful."
Fuying said seriously, "Lord Baili's Supervisory Office was established to protect the Emperor, and he cannot stay out of it. If you can't win him over, you will choose to push him to the side of the enemy. My brothers and I on the boat gang all come from poor families, and I have witnessed too much suffering and injustice. Since the current ruler ascended the throne, harsh taxes have increased threefold, and corvée labor and conscription have become increasingly frequent. Their lives are getting worse every year. What you are planning may be due to personal reasons, but if it can improve the world, I believe Lord Baili is willing to lend you a hand, regardless of personal feelings."
Qin Yousi felt heavy-hearted. She didn't dare to label her selfish act of revenge as a noble act of changing the world.
But she is not unaware of the poor people at the bottom of society. She has traveled with her master to study and gone to the public with her brother to provide free medical treatment. If what she does can really help the people, it will be worth it that God has given her the opportunity to live again.
Qin Yousi said, "I'm not as great as you think, but I'll do my best. Speaking of governing the country, Lord Baili should know more. I might ask him more."
After all, Emperor Sheng is the ruler of a country. If Qin Yousi wants to take revenge on him, he cannot let the people of the world be buried with him. He should indeed minimize the impact on the country.
Fuying said happily: "Hey, you listen to advice better than before. You are not a stubborn little bull anymore."
Qin Yousi pouted and said, "How am I stubborn? I used to be very reasonable!"
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