Chapter 57
The implication was that seeking help from Xiao Yang was useless; they needed to find the Crown Prince.
Everyone looked at Zhao Lian.
Someone laughed and said, "Everyone knows that your father-in-law is Guo Zheng, the Vice Minister of Rites and the Crown Prince's teacher. Brother Zhao, you can just say a word about this."
"That's right. Guo is the only official under the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince won't disrespect him."
"In my opinion, only Vice Minister Guo can speak on this matter, and we will all listen to Brother Zhao."
"..."
Zhao Lian smiled and shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this, "It's not easy. You all know my father-in-law is always stubborn. He won't listen to me on this matter."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Duan Kaizhi and asked, "What are your thoughts, Brother Duan?"
"I'm not a member of your club, so I don't need to offer my opinion."
Duan Kaizhi clearly didn't want to get involved in the mess and simply avoided the issue.
Zhao Lian frowned slightly, his face showing displeasure. After a moment of silence, he said, "Brother Duan, why refuse? We're all good brothers; helping one is helping the other. Besides, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Wang Zhen, is your relative..."
"so what?"
Duan Kaizhi interrupted him, "Governor Wang has nothing to do with this matter."
"How can it be unrelated? The Crown Prince is reorganizing the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The first thing he will do is seize power. At that time, Governor Wang will not have an easy time."
Duan Kaizhi was amused. He looked at Zhao Lian, his expression turning serious, and asked, "Who exactly are you on?"
Wei Luo was also curious, as his teacher's son-in-law's political stance seemed rather ambiguous.
Zhao Lian curled his lip, saying nonchalantly, "I'm not on either side. I'm doing all this for one thing—to cause trouble!"
Duan Kaizhi scoffed, "Then you can cause trouble, but I won't participate."
He wasn't stupid. Zhao Lian was just trying to drag him into this mess and use his family's connections in the Embroidered Uniform Guard to do things. But the Crown Prince was already reorganizing the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and they already had enough troubles. If they got involved in the banned book incident now, were they tired of living?
Duan Kaizhi resolutely refused.
Zhao Lian's face immediately darkened, and his group of underlings behind him also fell silent. Someone suggested, "It's more reliable to find Xiao Yang. We can get the book back by paying him some money. We don't need to find Minister Guo or ask the Embroidered Uniform Guard for help."
"With over nine thousand books and so many eyes watching, it's not an easy task."
"I think we should just accept our bad luck and forget about the book."
"Shut up." Zhao Lian stood up angrily, pointed at the nose of the person who was backing down, and shouted on the spot, "You are a coward yourself, and you want everyone else to be cowards. Let me tell you, I'm going to take care of this."
After Zhao Lian finished speaking angrily, he immediately turned his head away, slammed the door, and left, leaving a group of people in the room looking at each other in bewilderment.
With the leaders gone and the group leaderless, there was no point in staying any longer, so everyone quickly dispersed.
Once there was no one else in the room, Wei Luo got up and went to the window, coldly watching Duan Kaizhi's figure disappear into the snowstorm, and asked, "Have the arrangements been made?"
Liu Heng said, "I have already sent several guards to follow them."
Wei Luo gave a soft "hmm," turned around and saw Liu Heng hesitate, so he frowned and said, "Say what you have to say."
Liu Heng then stated frankly, "This servant feels that Your Highness's actions are...inappropriate."
Wei Luo slightly curled the corners of his mouth, not wanting to say anything more, and got up to go find Shen Yao.
*
After Shen Yao had eaten and drunk her fill, she watched as the wind and snow grew heavier, but Wei Luo had not yet returned. Just as she was becoming impatient, the door to the pavilion opened.
"You're finally back. If you hadn't come, I would have gone home."
Shen Yao pouted and stepped forward, swinging her fist to smash his chest.
Wei Luo pretended to cry out in pain, then grabbed her hand and kissed it. In a cheeky tone, he said, "You already miss me after just a short time apart? Well then, I'll serve you well tonight as an apology, how about that?"
Shen Yao blushed, pushed him away forcefully, and shouted, "No!"
Wei Luo smiled, then took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders, saying gently, "I'm going back to the palace tonight. Would you like to go back to your own place?"
"Huh?" Shen Yao looked up, her eyes filled with surprise. "With such heavy snow, why are you going back to the palace?"
She blinked, her eyelashes fluttering occasionally, and Wei Luo couldn't help but gently pinch her nose. "There's still something to do."
"oh."
In an instant, Shen Yao lowered her head, suddenly feeling empty inside. She didn't know when it started, but she had become accustomed to having Wei Luo by her side and didn't want to be separated from him.
However, he was busy... Shen Yao then adjusted her cloak, her eyes crinkling with a smile, "Since Your Highness is busy with official duties, then hurry back, the palace gates will be locked later."
"good."
Noticing her slightly disappointed mood, Wei Luo smiled and said, "I've been so busy lately. How about I take you to a hot spring when I have some free time... just the two of us."
Shen Yao: "...You should leave right away."
Outside the brothel, two carriages traveled in different directions, getting further and further away, until the wind and snow blurred their vision. Wei Luo reluctantly lowered the curtain and turned to ask Liu Heng, who was sitting in the corner of the carriage, "How much longer until we arrive?"
"A quarter of an hour."
Wei Luo closed his eyes, and the hustle and bustle of the city gradually faded away, leaving only the howling north wind in his ears, like a roaring lion displaying its majesty.
In a dark alley, Diamond Road was covered with a layer of white snow. A few drops of dazzling blood were splattered on the snow. Next to it, a man with a black cloth bag over his head was curled up on the ground, looking extremely disheveled.
"Tell me, where is the tiger?"
The palace guards were using torture to extract a confession from the prisoner, who was none other than Duan Kaizhi.
Duan Kaizhi's voice was hoarse, and his body was trembling uncontrollably. "I don't know."
He didn't know who he had offended, but on his way home, several tall, burly men suddenly rushed out, grabbed his head, and began punching and kicking him, especially at his face. Outnumbered and outmatched, he could only feign pity and beg for mercy.
"Gentlemen, I really can't remember. May I try to think?"
"Still thinking about it? I'll think about it with you."
Another round of howling and wailing ensued.
When Liu Heng arrived, the guards had already pried open his mouth and forced him to reveal the exact location where the tiger was hiding.
Under the oil-paper umbrella, Liu Heng approached. The guard nodded to him, and Liu Heng asked, "Have you finished the interrogation?"
"yes".
Liu Heng looked down at the person on the ground and smiled, "Young Master Duan."
Duan Kaizhi's body trembled instantly. He wanted to tear off the black cloth covering his head, but he immediately dismissed the idea. The other party had come prepared, and he couldn't act rashly. "You know who I am. What do you want to do?"
"It's simple, just stay away from Miss Chen."
"Chen Yao?"
Duan Kaizhi was greatly surprised and was about to ask when Liu Heng interrupted him, "Shen Yao is a married woman. Young Master Duan should be clear about what she should and shouldn't do."
"And who are you?"
I already had a vague suspicion in my mind.
"Think for yourself."
Liu Heng threw a few wintersweet blossoms at him, saying, "You can be spared this time, but if you do it again, you might not be able to keep this leg."
After slowly uttering a single sentence, Liu Heng led his men away quickly, leaving two tracks on the snow-covered ground as they drove off into the distance.
The surroundings quieted down. Duan Kaizhi ripped off the black cloth from his head, gritted his teeth, and clenched the plum blossom in his hand, enduring the pain. "...Xu Xuan."
*
Amidst the swirling snow, a carriage traveling north suddenly turned around.
Inside the military command post, Xiao Yang intended to leave the office early and go home, but unexpectedly, he was greeted by Wei Luo as soon as he stepped out of the office.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
No need for formalities.
Wei Luo strode into the government office, while Xiao Yang, following behind, cursed his bad luck. Oh well, more overtime.
Xiao Yang asked, "Your Highness, has come so late because of something important?"
"The tiger's location has been found. You must take men and capture it now, and make sure it is captured."
Xiao Yang was surprised, "At this time?"
He glanced towards the door and asked with difficulty, "Your Highness, the roads are slippery with the heavy snow. Where are you taking the tiger?"
"Take him here and lock him in the room where the forbidden books are kept."
Wei Luo told him the address, "If you don't have enough manpower, borrow people from the Ministry of Justice or the nearest Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard). Any more questions?"
"It's gone."
"Alright, go ahead."
Wei Luo urged him to leave and sent two more Eastern Palace Guards to accompany him before he could finally feel at ease.
Liu Heng, standing to the side, said, "Your Highness, Zhao Lian wants to take back the book. Shouldn't we destroy it as soon as possible?"
Wei Luo stood up, patted Liu Heng on the shoulder, and laughed, "No rush, let's play the long game. By the way, has the Shen family made any moves?"
The question was directed at Mr. Shen.
Liu Heng hurriedly said, "The spies from Hua Manlou have sent word that a few days ago, Master Shen had a secret meeting with Wang Zhen and the Prime Minister's son. They talked for a long time before returning home. There's another matter..."
Liu Heng stammered, and Wei Luo, impatient, said, "Just say what you have to say."
"On the day Miss Shen entered the palace, His Majesty came to deliver velvet flowers, and that very night Master Shen went to a brothel."
"So you mean, Shen Yao went to the palace to deliver a message?"
Liu Heng lowered his head in acquiescence, and Wei Luo's expression immediately turned sour. Seeing this, Liu Heng realized he had spoken inappropriately and quickly said, "Perhaps it's just a coincidence, Your Highness, please don't take it to heart."
They said they didn't want Wei Luo to overthink, but anyone who heard that would inevitably start to wonder, especially Wei Luo. He already lived in a state of suspicion, and once the seed of doubt was planted, it would quickly take root and sprout...
Moreover, according to his observation, despite his love for Shen Yao, Wei Luoke never truly trusted her.
*
At the entrance of the Dashilan Bookstore, Shen Yao stepped down from the carriage.
She came to see if Xu Xuan was still alive.
The wooden door creaked open a crack, and Shen Yao peeked inside. Xu Xuan was lying quietly on the bed, without any reaction.
The doctor said he was very likely to develop a high fever tonight. Shen Yao was filled with anxiety. She quickly pushed open the door, went to the bedside, and called out, "Xu Xuan, Xu Xuan~"
No response.
Shen Yao had a bad feeling and reached out to touch his forehead; it was burning hot.
"He really does have a fever."
Shen Yao slumped into the chair, muttering with a long face, "You brought this on yourself. Who told you not to take your medicine? You deserved to be burned to death. It's good that you're burned to death. The Shen family will have one less enemy. What am I afraid of? It's not like I stood by and watched you die."
Thinking this, Shen Yao stepped away. When she reached the gate and was about to get into the carriage, she couldn't help but turn back to look at the second floor. She hesitated again.
After struggling with the decision for a long time, I finally gave in to my conscience.
Shen Yao sighed, suppressing her frustration, and squatted by the charcoal fire to decoct the medicine.
After the medicine was brewed, Shen Yao brought it to Xu Xuan. She glanced at him and realized that he had woken up at some point and was staring at her.
Shen Yao then said, "You have a high fever. I have already prepared the medicine. It's up to you whether you drink it or not."
Shen Yao placed the bowl by the bedside and then poured a bowl of boiled water.
Where did you go just now?
Xu Xuan asked her.
Shen Yao's hand trembled as she poured water. She quickly turned to look at him, took a breath, and said, "Let's go out for dinner."
Xu Xuan was silent for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice, "I'm hungry too... Buy me something to eat, anything is fine."
He then coughed violently.
Shen Yao frowned, wanting to say something but holding back, and finally said, "Then you drink your medicine first, I'll go buy it now."
After putting on her cloak and opening her oil-paper umbrella, Shen Yao went for a stroll around the streets.
Because it was dark and snowing heavily, many shops in Dashilan were closed. Chen Yao walked through the snow for a long time before she saw a vendor selling sweet potatoes and an old lady selling steamed buns next to him.
Shen Yao bought some to take back with her.
"This is all we have, so please make do with this."
Shen Yao handed it to Xu Xuan.
"Thanks."
Shen Yao was shocked and almost doubted that she had heard correctly.
Xu Xuan actually thanked her.
Are you alright?
Shen Yao blurted out that she suspected he had lost his mind due to a fever.
Xu Xuan glanced at her indifferently and didn't answer. Her well-defined fingers broke open the steamed bun and put it into her mouth piece by piece. "Thank you, could you also pour me a bowl of water?"
Shen Yao then noticed that both bowls were empty.
"OK."
One bowl wasn't enough, so Shen Yao poured two bowls and handed them over.
"The food and hot water are here... I'm going back."
Xu Xuan looked up at Shen Yao and nodded slightly.
As she was leaving, Shen Yao asked again, "Are you feeling any better? Are you okay here by yourself?"
She thought that she had to bring Liu Ru over tomorrow no matter what, or even have a servant come if necessary, it would be better than him being alone.
Xu Xuan said, "I'm fine. Be careful on your way back."
Xu Xuan didn't look at her when he spoke, but Shen Yao still felt a chill run down her spine.
What happened to Xu Xuan in just one hour?
Her gaze involuntarily fell on the medicine bowl. Could the medicine prescribed by the doctor also treat the brain?
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