Chapter 5: He still didn't kill with an arrow.
Although the Spring Equinox has passed, the temperature has not improved. The howling wind in the square is like a cold, blunt knife, scraping away the little body heat that people have left.
More than an hour had passed, and Shen Hegui still hadn't appeared. The civil and military officials began to whisper among themselves.
Lu Wensheng looked at the Grand Secretary opposite him and couldn't help but ask, "Lord Zhang, do you know where His Highness has gone?"
She had a bad feeling that she was about to catch a cold, and sure enough, Shen He Gui was her nemesis! Nothing good ever came of it.
The Grand Secretary, with his eyes downcast and seemingly oblivious to the cold wind, didn't even lift his eyelids, his expression and tone perfectly calm: "I know nothing."
These two exchanges, though spoken softly, were like a casual pluck on a musical string, instantly shattering the long-maintained facade of calm. The whispers abruptly amplified, becoming a clearly audible conversation. The long-suppressed suspicions and unease finally spread completely in the cold wind.
Scholars are typically aloof, concerned with their image, and willing to criticize anyone and complain about anything.
"The palace banquet was scheduled for 1-3 PM, but Your Highness is already more than an hour late. Not only have you not sent any word, but you have also left us, your trusted ministers, waiting in this cold wind. What kind of behavior is this!"
"Your Excellency, be careful with your words!" someone immediately chimed in, but their tone was more like stirring up trouble. "Your Highness has always been diligent and courteous, and is by no means the type to neglect his courtiers. Unless... unless he has encountered an urgent matter that he must handle personally." He emphasized the word "urgent," which drew knowing glances from the surrounding ministers.
“What could be so important right now? His Majesty is seriously ill. His Highness is probably just asking for the abdication edict and can’t wait to sit on the throne.” These words were spoken by the Minister of Revenue, a staunch supporter of Prince Su.
His gaze swept across the room, finally settling precisely on Lu Wensheng, his eyes carrying a hint of seeking approval.
Lu Wensheng quickly lowered her head, took a sip of the cold soup to cover herself, and pretended not to have seen anything. The chill from the soup seeped into her stomach, and she couldn't help but shiver.
She guessed that the Minister of Revenue wouldn't live much longer because he was loose-lipped.
Seeing Lu Wensheng engrossed in drinking her soup, the Minister of Revenue simply walked towards her.
Seeing this out of the corner of his eye, Lu Wensheng felt a sudden alarm bell ring in his mind.
If you want to die, don't drag her into it!
She quickly considered how to handle the tricky situation that was about to unfold.
Unexpectedly, the next instant, a soft whooshing sound swept through the air. The Minister of Revenue, who had been spouting nonsense just moments before, collapsed straight down in front of her desk, twitching slightly uncontrollably.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
Lu Wensheng was stunned for a moment before he could see clearly that a sharp arrow had pierced through the back of his head and exited through his forehead. Warm blood and pinkish-white brain matter spurted out instantly, splashing all over the exquisite cups, plates, and tables, and also staining parts of Lu Wensheng's cheeks and official robes red.
A strong, nauseating smell of rust and fishiness immediately filled the air.
Feeling the unusual heat on his face, Lu Wensheng froze in place, mechanically raising his hand to touch the sticky, smooth substance on his face.
The fingertips, which had turned bluish-white from the cold, were stained with red and white brain matter, and the texture was like tofu pudding.
"vomit!"
The combined visual and tactile shock shattered Lu Wensheng's defenses. After a violent vomiting fit, a pool of filth appeared beside the Minister of Revenue's corpse—her undigested last meal.
Her left hand trembled as she reached for the teacup, intending to rinse her mouth, while her right hand instinctively dragged her stool upwards.
She would rather sit next to a sunken crane than next to a corpse!
During the banquet, the stools closer to the front were of better quality and heavier. She was cold and flustered, still feeling nauseous, and it was extremely difficult to drag them with one hand. She had to bend over and use all her strength to move them.
Just as she bent over and struggled to move the block, she unexpectedly bumped into a thick wall that was both bouncy and hard.
Lu Wensheng rinsed her mouth with cool water and turned to look back. She noticed that she and the person behind her were in a rather ambiguous position, and her gaze moved upwards.
"puff!"
What sprayed out was her mouthwash.
Shen Hegui dodged the attack very quickly.
"Your Highness...?" Why did Shen Hegui appear behind her without any warning? It's been over a year since they last met. What would she say to sound friendly? "Good afternoon...?"
Oh dear! She's so clumsy with her tongue; noon is way past!
Shen Hegui held a beautifully decorated double bow in his left hand, glanced at her indifferently, and ordered, "Set up a table next to me and invite Editor Lu to take a seat."
Lu Wensheng: "..." She would never speak her mind again.
Shen Hegui used a single arrow to kill the chicken as a warning to the monkey, silencing all the officials.
The soldiers acted swiftly and quickly prepared a clean table for Lu Wensheng.
Lu Wensheng silently emboldened himself with the imperial edict establishing the heir hidden by the outhouse at home, and with firm steps and bold movements, sat down two arm spans away from Shen Hegui.
"I see that none of the food on your tables has been touched. Are you afraid I will poison it?"
Lu Wensheng lowered his eyes and stared at the table, pretending to be dead.
She felt that Shen Hegui today was completely different from the Shen Hegui of the past. He still looked the same, but the sense of oppression and inhumanity emanating from him had increased several times over. He was like a wild beast that had been completely unleashed, cold and dangerous, as if he would rush forward at any moment, grab the necks of everyone present, and tear their flesh apart.
Shen Hegui coldly swept his gaze across the entire room: "What, is everyone mute?"
Lu Wensheng wiggled her hips slightly, trying to relieve the churning sensation deep in her lower abdomen. She had a bad feeling after eating too much pickled radish at noon.
Several dozen breaths later, Shen Hegui was still waiting for the first person to speak, showing great patience.
In the suffocating oppression and silence, a long, drawn-out sigh of relief abruptly broke the stalemate.
The "bu~" was still trembling.
Lu Wensheng's mind went blank: Damn it, I couldn't hold it in! Of all times, why did he have to come right after I sat down next to Shen Hegui? Is he here to take revenge?
Feeling the intense gaze from Shen Hegui beside her, she forced herself to remain calm and braced herself to speak, trying to divert this deadly attention to anyone present: "Your Highness, the dishes on that table are all cold. Eating them will... will cause diarrhea. Besides, I've tried them, and they're not poisonous. If you don't believe me, ask Chief Minister Zhang. He's highly respected and would never lie."
Shen Hegui raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and leaned slightly towards her: "Oh, Editor Lu actually tried it?"
Lu Wensheng nodded frantically, his lie so convincing that even he himself believed it.
Below him, Zhang Mianzhi's cheek twitched slightly. Directly in front of him was the corpse of the Minister of Revenue.
“It was I who failed to think things through. Shoubai, quickly serve the gentlemen hot soup and dishes.” Shen Hegui put on a seemingly easygoing expression. He maintained his posture and said to Lu Wensheng, “It just so happens that I have acquired some good articles. They will arrive in a while. I would appreciate it if Editor Lu could offer some suggestions for revision.”
Lu Wensheng forced a smile, "Your Highness is too kind. It is only right for a subject to share the burdens of his ruler."
"Oh? You still consider me your lord?" Shen Hegui's few words were full of profound meaning.
Lu Wensheng was terrified by Shen Hegui's words, thinking that he was about to attack her at any moment.
If this damn system hadn't come sooner, she would have been an official for three or four years before it finally arrived. If she had known earlier that Shen Hegui was the male lead, why would she have tried to curry favor with Prince Su? She didn't understand the ways of the emperor; she only knew that most of the people on Prince Su's side were corrupt officials. If it weren't for the desire to amass more wealth through corruption, she would have resigned long ago.
For her, being an official was something she desperately wanted before she became one, but once she did, she found it to be nothing special.
Moreover, from the first time she met Shen Hegui, her sixth sense told her that Shen Hegui was not someone to be trifled with. Initially, she was somewhat afraid of Shen Hegui, but as important officials, princes, and the emperor all became her backers, this fear gradually disappeared. Now that all her backers are teetering on the brink of collapse, this fear has inexplicably taken root in her heart, sprouted, and slowly grown stronger, drawing blood from her.
As a genuine man, Shen Hegui was considerably taller than Lu Wensheng, and his upper body was naturally much longer than hers. In addition, with the highest seat in the room, he could easily see Lu Wensheng's unease and unease.
The minor officials who used to covet his looks have become cautious and timid, which Shen Hegui finds quite amusing. He also notices that Lu Wensheng's features have fully matured, making him much more handsome than before. He is young and talented, with a promising future. The only imperfections are his overly white neck, slender wrists, and a tantalizing fragrance about him, like a woman's perfume, the origin of which is unknown.
He had originally planned to kill Lu Wensheng, but now he suddenly changed his mind. Being coveted by someone so talented and handsome felt pretty good. Since he needed someone at the right time, he would teach Lu Wensheng a lesson.
Lu Wensheng knew that Shen Hegui was watching her, and cold sweat gradually spread from her back to her face, making her feel slightly itchy.
Just as she was struggling with what to say, the new dishes were served, delivered by soldiers in armor as always.
Shen Hegui withdrew his gaze from her, and Lu Wensheng silently let out a long breath.
"I have prepared a play for you gentlemen. You may enjoy it while you are at the banquet."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"
A series of echoes followed. Lu Wensheng lowered his head, wanting to raise his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, but found that his green sleeve was covered with deep stains.
It was the blood that had splashed on her earlier that had congealed.
This... is disgusting!
As she was struggling with her decision, a snow-white handkerchief with a subtle fragrance appeared in her peripheral vision. Lu Wensheng eagerly reached out to take it, repeatedly expressing her gratitude: "Thank you, thank you!"
"You're welcome!" Shen Hegui replied.
Lu Wensheng's hand had already touched the handkerchief, and he was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to extend it or retract it.
I forgot to mention, there wasn't a single palace maid or eunuch present at the entire banquet, so this white and fragrant handkerchief could only have come from Shen Hegui.
The melodious sounds of traditional opera drifted from below.
The song tells the story of Emperor Taizu of Song's Chenqiao Mutiny, where he was forced to wear the yellow robe and later visited the prime minister with his brothers at night to discuss the grand plan for unification.
This perfectly describes the current situation. However, Shen Hegui is not rebelling; he is of legitimate blood.
This play expresses the idea that Shen Hegui's return to his hometown is ordained by fate, and that he is eager to find talented people.
Lu Wensheng pursed her lips, unsure whether to cry or laugh. She was probably alright now, but from now on, the imperial court would still be the same old court—corrupt, bloated, and slowly leading the suffering people of the present day into an abyss of pain.
One person's efforts cannot change the status quo, and innovators will inevitably not have a good ending. Lu Wensheng only wants to protect herself and live the rest of her life well.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" After thinking it through, she respectfully accepted the snow-white handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. The bloodstains had dried on her face, and she dipped her handkerchief in some tea to clean her face.
Shen Hegui propped his forehead up and watched silently.
From her fair and delicate hands to her clean and tidy face, I could only feel that Editor Lu was a little too pampered.
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