Chapter 44 Empty Greenery and Gentle Breeze (Part 4) "Lan Huai'en is much bolder than her..."
Prince Xin had just left the palace, and his complexion was not particularly good the whole way. Before he even reached his residence, a servant reported that a eunuch had arrived from the palace.
After a moment's thought, he realized it was related to Ji Weixian. Prince Xin was troubled, but he also knew the matter was of great importance, so he had no choice but to have someone lead him into the mansion.
When he went to see the eunuch, he found that the man was covered in blood and looked weak and disheveled.
The attendants beside Prince Xin recognized him first: "Eunuch Cheng?"
Cheng'an, lying on the ground, was barely breathing. She struggled to lift her head and said, "Your Highness, Prince Xin... This servant, Cheng'an, has come to report to Your Highness on the orders of my benefactor..."
The rest of the conversation was fragmented and difficult to understand. When Prince Xin heard him mention Ji Weixian, he frowned, leaned slightly closer, and asked in a deep voice, "What did he say?"
"The Crown Prince is going after my benefactor and you... but he's targeting me..." His head drooped again, as if he were exhausted. The first sentence didn't connect to the second, but he still didn't say the second half.
But Prince Xin had already roughly guessed what he meant. He frowned, his eyes darkening. Looking at the unconscious Cheng An, he ordered someone to fetch a doctor to treat his injuries as soon as possible.
When Cheng'an was helped away, his consciousness was indeed blurred, but he had not completely lost consciousness. After the doctor gave him a few acupuncture treatments, his mind quickly cleared.
Therefore, he was fully aware of what was happening in the room.
He lay flat on his back, feeling a chill run through him. It was not only from the severity of his injuries, but also from the depravity of human nature.
Having served Ji Weixian for many years, he knew his benefactor's character all too well. Seemingly loyal and righteous, he was actually extremely hypocritical. Ji Weixian had two adopted sons; one was used and framed, dying under a hail of blows, while the other was banished from the capital and has never returned.
So he wanted to find a way to survive, but he couldn't place all his hopes on Ji Weixian.
The reason he felt panicked about this incident wasn't because he feared the clerk would implicate him, but because Ji Weixian was eager to get rid of him to prove his innocence. While those below could be coerced and bribed, those above would be completely different.
If he didn't want to be a fish on the chopping block, he had no choice but to fight his way out. He walked on thin ice, extremely cautiously, and didn't even dare to drink Ji Weixian's cup of tea.
After he finished crying, he stole a glance at Ji Weixian's face. His cunning eyes were full of calm and calculation, and his determination might have already been in the tea.
However, as soon as he left the palace, he was assassinated. Fortunately, he was prepared and managed to evade the assassins all the way to Prince Xin's residence.
He endured the excruciating pain all the way, even rehearsing his words. He had to find a way to make Prince Xin realize the seriousness of the situation, to bind himself tightly to Ji Weixian, and to ensure that even if he hated him to the core, he couldn't easily let him die. He would take this step first and then think things through carefully.
That half-sentence was a chance for him to heal and recover; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to hold on before he finished speaking.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Cheng An's injuries had been treated. As for his continued unconsciousness, the old doctor examined him several times, only to frown and say that the injuries were too severe, and could not find any other cause.
As night deepened, Prince Xin grew increasingly uneasy. He stood at the door, lost in thought for a long while, before finally instructing his attendant, "Go and contact the palace spies. Find a way to get in touch with Ji Weixian and find out the situation. As for the hidden agents…"
"Cough cough..."
A weak cough could be heard coming from inside the room at that moment.
Prince Xin paused, raising his hand to signal the man not to move. He then strode in and saw Cheng An, who was indeed awake but still resolute in his loyalty.
He struggled to get out of bed, but Prince Xin stopped him and asked, "Explain yourself first."
Cheng An took a deep breath and lay back down. He dared not look directly at the prince. Looking down, he could see Prince Xin three steps away, his dark blue robe embroidered with delicate silver patterns, and a pair of black boots pointing directly at him.
He spoke with great difficulty after a long pause, his voice somewhat hoarse. This time, however, he did not speak haltingly, only pausing occasionally.
"...The Crown Prince already knows that Lu Yan is colluding with his benefactor. The next step should be to take advantage of the situation to gather evidence and implicate Your Highness."
The April night breeze was gentle, and a blooming magnolia outside the courtyard subtly filled every corner with its delicate fragrance. Prince Xin's face was solemn, his breathing was light, yet there was no peace in his nostrils.
He lowered his eyes, gazing intently at Cheng An. Cheng An rested one hand on the edge of the bed, her fingertips trembling slightly, and calmly uttered her last words: "This servant thanks Your Highness Prince Xin for saving my life."
Prince Xin neither agreed nor disagreed, and turned to leave. Someone behind him immediately instructed the servants of the Prince's residence to take good care of him.
Cheng An breathed a sigh of relief.
For the time being, Ji Weixian couldn't do anything to him. If something happened to him, it would ruin Prince Xin's plans.
.
The Eastern Palace.
Yan Chao remained seated at her desk. Just as Xiao Jiu entered, she finished writing a sentence. She picked up her pen and looked up, her gaze meeting Xiao Jiu's deliberately light footsteps.
Her eyelashes fluttered unintentionally, her hand loosely gripping the pen, and she asked him softly, "Has the person gone into the Prince Xin's residence?"
Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement, and then said, "Our people arrived a step too late. I saw from the shadows that it was Ji Bingbi and Lord Lan's men. But it was Ji Bingbi who tried to kill Cheng An. Lord Lan's men were involved and caused trouble, but they still spared his life."
Liang Lu walked past Yan Chao, stepped forward, turned up the candlelight on one side of the desk, and then quietly retreated.
Yan Chao slowly placed the brush on the brush holder, withdrawing his hand as if waiting for the ink on the paper to dry. His fingertips inadvertently touched the paperweight beside him, and the light struck the fine jade patterns, creating a few sparkling specks.
"Cheng An hasn't come out again, has he?"
"No."
“That’s good,” Yan Chao said, blowing on the ink stains as he began to organize the documents on his desk. He selected a portion of them and instructed Liang Lu, “Liang Lu, send these to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices tomorrow morning.”
Liang Lu responded and was about to take it when he saw her get up and ask, "What time is it now?"
Xiao Jiu hurriedly replied, "Around 7 PM."
The curfew is from 3 AM to 1 AM.
Less than two quarters of an hour later.
Yan Chao's brows furrowed, and his lips pressed tightly together. After a moment, he pushed back his chair and stepped out, turning his head to look out the window, only to realize that the window was already closed. He then looked away, clasped his hands together, and spoke in a deep voice.
"Xiao Jiu, go find Duan Shou. Take my token and go out of the palace to remind the Five City Garrison Command near Prince Xin's residence that thieves have been appearing in the capital recently. Tell them to increase their patrols during curfew. As for the spies we have placed near the residence, make sure they guard every corner. If Cheng An leaves the residence, act immediately, but remember, our people must not show themselves."
In any case, it will require the intervention of the Five Cities Military Command.
Xiao Jiu accepted the order, but before leaving, she added, "What if Cheng An doesn't come out tonight?"
"Now that Lan Huai'en knows Cheng An is not here, he will be more vigilant. If the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs cannot find him tonight, they will have to conduct a large-scale search."
If the Eastern Depot or the Embroidered Uniform Guard were to personally search Prince Xin's residence and find a missing eunuch, then it would depend on how Prince Xin would explain it.
Xiao Jiu suddenly realized, and muttered to herself, "Without an imperial order, who would dare to search the Prince's mansion..."
Yan Chao's solemn expression softened, and he suddenly chuckled: "Qiu Cong may not dare, but Lan Huai'en does."
Lan Huaien was much bolder than her. Besides, this was his best opportunity. He deliberately let Cheng An go to see if the dog would do something desperate, a classic case of playing hard to get.
But she herself did have her doubts. Admittedly, this move could help Lan Huaien resolve his own predicament, but as a high-ranking official in the imperial court and in charge of the Eastern Depot, if he were to become entangled with a prince, he would inevitably be attacked by court officials, regardless of the outcome.
She wasn't sure. However, asking her to go see Lan Huaien would be too conspicuous. The two of them were already too entangled, and she had been unable to extricate herself from the beginning, not to mention that she had always felt the relationship between them was very delicate.
Sometimes she could clearly feel that he was deliberately leading her, yet he was so nonchalant that she couldn't find any clues.
It gave her the illusion that the two of them were on the same wavelength.
It's hard to tell if she's real or fake.
She sighed inexplicably. Watching Xiao Jiu turn and take her leave, she then stepped out of the study.
The corridor was brightly lit, and clusters of emerald-green leaves were lush and verdant. The petals that had bloomed so vibrantly during the day had already closed, with only a few clusters of tender red and pink adorning the leaves. She breathed in the delicate fragrance and the coolness unique to the spring night. After standing for a while, she simply leaned against the railing and sat down.
She slowed her breathing, trying to recall the names of those fragrant flowers, but her thoughts drifted aimlessly. It was still the same old matters concerning the court; not exactly troubling, but something she couldn't let go of.
Liang Lu advised, "Your Highness should go to bed early," but seeing that she still did not react, he sighed inwardly and ordered the eunuch beside him to fetch her cloak.
The silence was broken by an announcement: "Your Highness, someone from Consort Ning's side at Yongning Palace has arrived."
Yan Chao snapped out of his daze, looked up, and slightly raised his chin, signaling for someone to come in. However, he did not move to get up, and even refused the cloak that Liang Lu was about to put on him, remaining firmly against the wall.
Liang Lu assumed she was still confused, so he put away his cloak and softly called out, "Your Highness?"
Yan Chao didn't even look at her, and said softly, "Your Majesty has not sent anyone to the East Palace at this time."
Consort Ning goes to bed early, and unless there is something important, she will not send anyone to her bed at this time. Furthermore, there are regulations governing the movement of palace servants at night.
Judging from the current situation, it doesn't seem like anything serious has happened.
Liang Lu suppressed his surprise and was about to ask again when the palace maid had already reached the foot of the steps. Before the ceremony was finished, Yan Chao spoke first: "Working as a messenger so late at night, thank you for your hard work."
The man insisted on finishing the greeting, coughed, adjusted his hat to reveal a familiar face, and then bowed his head with a humble smile: "I dare not, I dare not."
Liang Lu stood vigilantly to the side; he couldn't let his guard down when his master wasn't on guard.
"I was ordered to deliver some things to Consort Ning. When I left, she asked me to pass on a few words to Your Highness."
Yan Chao remained silent, his eyes flickering slightly as he glanced at him sideways. Then, he adjusted his robes and rose to his feet.
Just as I stood up, I suddenly heard him recite a line in a melodious voice: "Spring is waning, do not lean on the railing alone."
She straightened her sleeves, and after a long pause, her lips moved slightly, clearly uttering a few words: "I'll speak my mind."
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