Substituting one thing for another
Lin Wanru's secret letter reached the border at top speed through the Lin family's special channels. Meanwhile, Xiao Jingche, facing the growing calls for a marriage alliance from the pro-peace faction at court, argued forcefully and unyieldingly. On the one hand, he lamented the humiliation of the marriage alliance, reciting the lessons of previous dynasties, stating that it was tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst and would only embolden the northern barbarians. On the other hand, he lavishly praised the heroic deeds of Wei Zheng and other border soldiers, blaming the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue for their inadequate management of food and munitions shortages, and even hinted at collaborators and traitors intent on destabilizing the country.
The court was abuzz with turmoil, with verbal attacks and sharp wit flying everywhere. Beneath this chaotic surface, another silent war, led by Lu Qinglan, was also raging.
Zhao Tieshou kept a close eye on Yongquan Temple and Manager Hu. Sure enough, at the height of the border fighting and the most heated debates in the court, a humble carriage with a blue cloth draped over it emerged from Yongquan Temple's back gate late at night. After circling the city several times, it headed straight for Prince An's Mansion. A moment later, the side gate of Prince An's Mansion opened, and an even more ornate carriage bearing palace markings quietly emerged. Flanked by a team of elite guards, it headed towards the Imperial City.
"They're moving!" Zhao Tieshou quickly relayed the news, "The elixir is ready and on its way to the palace!"
The time has come! Lu Qinglan took a deep breath, suppressing her nervousness. She had already, through Xiao Jingche's spies within the palace, figured out the fixed route and contact person for the elixir. The person responsible for receiving the elixir was Feng Bao, an inconspicuous yet deeply trusted eunuch close to the emperor, who had once received favors from Prince An's mother.
"Act according to the plan!" Lu Qinglan said in a deep voice to Fu Yu and Zhao Tieshou who were waiting for orders.
A gate on the west side of the Imperial City was reserved for palace purchases, menial tasks, and designated personnel. The carriage, bearing palace markings, underwent routine inspection and was allowed in. It stopped at a secluded palace road, the driver and guards observing their surroundings warily. A moment later, a slightly plump old eunuch in dark blue eunuch uniform hurried in with two younger eunuchs. It was Feng Bao.
Without further ado, the messenger in the carriage respectfully handed Feng Bao a palm-sized, tightly sealed vermilion brocade box. Feng Bao weighed it and carefully examined the special wax seal on the box. After confirming that it was correct, he gestured to the young eunuch to take it and turned to leave.
At this moment, something strange happened!
Suddenly, there was a commotion at the corner of the palace road. Several young eunuchs were seen running towards them in a panic, chasing a colorful parrot and shouting, "Catch it quickly! That is the most beloved treasure of the imperial concubine!" The parrot flapped its wings and rushed straight towards Feng Bao and his group!
The scene was in chaos. Feng Bao subconsciously dodged to the side, but his hand slipped and the scarlet brocade box flew out of his hand!
"Ouch!" Feng Bao was frightened out of his wits. This was the "magic pill" presented to His Majesty!
At the critical moment, a figure as swift as a leopard rushed out from the side and steadily caught the brocade box that was about to fall to the ground! Everyone looked closely and saw that it was an unfamiliar young man wearing the uniform of a low-ranking guard (Zhao Tieshou's men pretending to be him).
The "guard" handed the brocade box back to the frightened Feng Bao with both hands, lowered his head, and said in a steady voice: "My lord, you are frightened."
Feng Bao snatched the brocade box, held it tightly in his arms, and checked it carefully. Seeing that the sealing wax was intact and the box was undamaged, he breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and said to the "guard": "You...you are good! I will reward you later!" He was concerned about the elixir and did not dare to stay any longer. He glared at the eunuchs chasing the parrot, then hugged the brocade box and hurried to the deep palace with his men.
After Feng Bao left, the eunuchs chasing the parrot and the "guard" who caught the brocade box also quickly disappeared into the complex palace alleys. The whole process took only a few dozen breaths, so fast that no one had time to think deeply.
Inside Hengwu Courtyard, Lu Qinglan received the "success" signal from Zhao Tieshou. She slowly unfolded the vermilion brocade box in her hand, identical to the one in Feng Bao's. Inside lay a longan-sized, golden-hued pill emitting a strange, misty aura. This was the so-called "immortal elixir" that Yongquan Temple had painstakingly crafted, using medicinal ingredients that might have been contaminated with unholy substances like Jile Powder!
The one in Feng Bao's hand had been instantly swapped by Zhao Tieshou's skilled craftsmen in that carefully planned "accident." The one now presented to the emperor was a "replacement pill" made by Lu Qinglan, who had secretly collected precious tonics and had a trusted pharmacist secretly replicate it. It looked and smelled almost like the real thing, but in reality, it strengthened the body and replenished its vital energy, without any harmful effects.
"Princess, what should we do next?" Fu Yu looked at the real "immortal pill" with disgust and worry in his tone.
Lu Qinglan carefully closed the brocade box and resealed it with a special medicinal solution. He said in a deep voice, "Take a copy of this genuine pill, along with all the evidence we've collected regarding Yongquan Temple, Prince An's Mansion, Western Region medicinal herbs, and Manager Hu, and keep it secret. As for the originals... have Zhao Tieshou find the most reliable channel to deliver them to the border as quickly as possible and hand them over to General Wei Zheng."
Fu Yu was stunned: "Send it to the border?"
"That's right." Lu Qinglan's eyes were far-reaching. "The capital is a turbulent place. The Third Prince and Prince An are deeply rooted. With our current strength, even if we expose them, they may not suffer any serious damage. On the contrary, it may alert the enemy and force them to take desperate measures. But it's different at the border. General Wei Zheng commands a large number of troops, has made great military achievements, and has a very high prestige in the army. If he can expose this matter at the right time, with solid evidence, it will be like a thunderbolt! By then, no one in the court or the army will be able to protect them anymore!"
This is a risky move, but also a decisive one! Handing the final judgment power to Wei Zheng, who is far away from the vortex of the capital and holds military power, will allow him to use the power of the military to purge the emperor's side!
"I understand!" Fu Yu understood and went down to make arrangements immediately.
After completing all this, Lu Qinglan finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his nerves remained tense. While the elixir had been swapped, temporarily ensuring the emperor's safety, the real storm lay ahead. If Prince An and the Third Prince discovered the elixir's ineffectiveness, or if Wei Zheng launched an attack at the border, then the final straw would be revealed!
She walked to the window and gazed toward the Imperial Palace. There, Feng Bao must have already presented the "elixir" to the Emperor. She wondered how the Emperor, obsessed with immortality and increasingly suspicious in recent years, would react after taking this "replacement pill."
Far away on the border, on Falling Eagle Plain, has Wei Zheng's injuries been brought under control after receiving Lin Wanru's secret letter and Lu Qinglan's gift of elixir? Has he gained insight into the internal conflicts within the Northern Di? And is he prepared for the final storm in the capital?
Everything is still unknown.
But Lu Qinglan believed she had already laid out the most important chess piece. Next, she just had to wait and see what kind of storm this deceptive act would eventually unleash under the bright lights.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
