Chapter 59 Jinling Cangyue (Part 5) "If the Crown Prince really intends to silence them..."
Zhu Yongxing went to meet with the magistrate of Changshu County.
The previous magistrate had been dismissed and executed for his crimes. Now, the new magistrate happens to be an old acquaintance of Zhu Yongxing, making it easy for him to make private dealings with Zhu Yongxing and avoiding a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Zhu Yongxing wanted to check the files related to Lin Zhan, and the magistrate ordered someone to fetch them. He casually remarked, "When I took office, he was already in the prefectural jail. I heard he was convicted and his case closed along with others. Logically, the evidence should have been collected by now. But more than half a month has passed, and recently it seems to have suddenly resurfaced. Several places are checking his resume..."
Zhu Yongxing's forehead twitched suddenly, his expression changed, and he abruptly looked up and asked, "Who has come to investigate?"
"It's still the Ministry of Justice in Nanjing and the Suzhou Prefecture. The people from Nanjing came saying they were ordered by the Grand Secretary to investigate old cases, but the people from Suzhou were several days late. They only said they wanted to investigate in detail," the county magistrate handed him the case file, a hint of worry on his face. "Does Your Excellency know anything about the hidden story? Could it implicate us?"
The fact that a low-ranking official was suddenly and quietly exposed made him quite suspicious.
Zhu Yongxing glanced through it and, having made up his mind, returned the scroll to him, saying, "Don't worry, there's no need to fret."
Since he was determined to protect Lin Zhan, he must have been prepared in advance.
Since the founding of the nation, the system of officials in charge of agriculture has been constantly changing and being added to and reformed. The positions of vice-prefects and county magistrates in charge of agriculture in local prefectures and counties are usually not valued and have a low status. However, once there is a problem with agriculture or water in the prefectures and counties, they are very easy to be pushed out to take the blame.
Only someone like Lin Zhan, who is often suppressed and targeted, is forced to take on such a difficult task.
During his years in office, Lin Zhan diligently supervised agricultural affairs regardless of whether the weather was favorable or there were droughts or floods.
He was honest and kind, and because of his low official rank, he was very approachable. In his spare time, he often consulted and exchanged ideas with the common people, and even farmed himself. Over time, he accumulated a lot of experience in agricultural management and water management. He also tried his hand at writing agricultural books, and gained a high reputation among the people.
It's a pity that this pearl has been covered in dust and buried for so many years, and now it has almost suffered another disaster.
Zhu Yongxing had heard about his deeds by chance and had long intended to recommend him. However, he could not avoid the Ministry of Justice. Moreover, an imperial envoy was sent from the capital. He originally thought it would be even more difficult, but unexpectedly, the Crown Prince also intended to protect him.
Zhu Yongxing knew perfectly well that the Crown Prince's desire to protect Lin Zhan must have some hidden reason, and it probably wasn't because of his talent.
To put it bluntly, it's all about favoritism.
In any case, Lin Zhan now has a way out.
As for the feud between the Crown Prince and Grand Secretary Li in Nanjing, he originally did not want to get involved. However, the magistrate's unintentional remarks made him vaguely feel that he might have already brought trouble upon himself.
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Zhuoyuan.
Lady Cui had been trapped here for several days and was in a state of great anxiety when she finally received news from the eunuch.
Liang Lu informed her of the result and repeatedly warned her not to divulge the matter. Cui felt relieved and readily agreed. She then asked to express her gratitude to the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness is busy with official duties and may not have time to see Madam. Please take good care of yourself, Madam. That would be the best way to repay Your Highness."
"Madam has just recovered from her illness, so His Highness has ordered us to escort her back to the Lin family. The carriage and guards are ready, and we hope Madam will make preparations as soon as possible."
Slightly surprised, Cui declined a few times but could only express her gratitude.
Liang Lu said no more, and after giving his instructions, he took his leave.
Cui followed her out and stood under the eaves. Looking up, she saw that the house was surrounded by corridors and that the courtyard was covered with summer trees. Vines silently wrapped around the low-hanging eaves, creating a deep and secluded atmosphere that blocked out the sun every afternoon.
Servants were moving about in the courtyard, their urgent instructions mingling with the sounds of their comings and goings. For some reason, the fear and unease that had been weighing on Cui's mind for days suddenly resurfaced, and the slight relief she had felt earlier vanished instantly.
If the Crown Prince really wants to silence her, what should she do?
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When the news of Lin Zhanguan's reinstatement arrived, Li Shihuai was surprised.
"I originally thought that at most his life would be spared, but I didn't expect that he would even be exempted from all other crimes. The Crown Prince is really loyal. However, such a high-profile action is really not like the Crown Prince's usual style."
He stroked it gently, his expression somber: "The spies said that the Lin family seems to have people from the Crown Prince secretly monitoring them. It seems he has already noticed."
The clerk whispered, "Hasn't your Excellency already suspected something was amiss? Why not start with the Cui family..."
Li Shihai remained noncommittal, only pondering to himself: The Crown Prince, unafraid of public opinion, openly used the pretext of redeeming himself through meritorious service to protect Lin Zhan. He wondered how confident he was, and for a moment, he couldn't tell whether he was being forced into this situation or had some weakness, or whether he was truly confident. Removing the spies now would certainly ensure everything went smoothly, but it would be a real pity to lose a good opportunity because of it.
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Cui's carriage set off at dawn, and in the afternoon a guard suddenly returned to report that assassins had ambushed it on the way. The assassins had initially come with great force, heading straight for the carriage, but after the guards intervened, they realized the situation was not good and quickly retreated.
Yan Chao had just finished a meeting in the front hall when she heard this. She was not surprised. All the speculations she had made over the past few days had finally been confirmed, and her heart sank.
“In the name of the Cui family, send the remaining prisoners to the government, and send our people to keep an eye on them secretly in case of any accidents. We must pry something out of them.” She paused, then added, “As soon as possible.”
"Yes, I understand."
"How is the Cui family?"
"Your Highness, Madam Cui was frightened and has been sent back to Zhuoyuan."
Cui was already unsettled when she left, and the attack on the way made her even more terrified. She still couldn't figure out what was going on, and thought that the Crown Prince wanted to do something to her, and wanted to use this as an excuse to stage a charade with the assassin to get rid of her. Therefore, she was so anxious and uneasy after returning to Zhuoyuan that she could not even answer the questions of the eunuchs.
Liang Lu had no choice but to give up and try to calm her down first, suppressing his impatience as much as possible: "...If His Highness really wanted Madam's life, he wouldn't have spared you on the first day, and there would be no need to go through so many days and go through such a long detour. Madam, think about it carefully. You were able to beg His Highness and have something on him, so naturally many people will be eyeing you."
Lady Cui's face turned pale: "I swore on my life before His Highness, and I have never mentioned that matter to anyone."
Upon hearing her mention this, Liang Lu's face finally turned cold: "Your Highness has always been impartial and upright. This sudden favoritism towards your husband naturally arouses suspicion."
He thought bitterly that if only he had killed her from the beginning. There were plenty of ways to do it without anyone noticing; a mere woman would have been enough, avoiding any further complications and preventing His Highness from being in this predicament.
Regarding the leak of His Highness's identity, last time it was Lan Huaien, and this time it's Madam Cui; far too many people already know. Lan Huaien is one thing, after all, he's extremely useful; but Madam Cui is merely a burden and a hidden danger.
Is the Crown Prince destined to be constantly threatened by these lowly people?
Having served Her Highness for so many years, he knew she was not a weak or indecisive person. Especially given the gravity of the matter, how could she have acted so foolishly? Or perhaps, Her Highness had other plans?
Liang Lu glanced at Cui Shi with a complicated expression; he dared not make a decision on his own.
Madam Cui lowered her head, clutching the handkerchief in her hand, remaining silent. She suddenly realized the gravity of her decision, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on her brow.
As a powerless woman, she naturally dared not risk implicating her entire family by revealing the Crown Prince's identity. The Crown Prince, however, could eliminate this potential threat at any time.
This wasn't her threatening the Crown Prince; it was clearly the Crown Prince controlling her, or rather, her life or death was utterly insignificant.
And why is she still alive and well at this moment?
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The capital city, the imperial palace.
The Eastern Palace had been deserted for a long time since the Crown Prince left the capital, while Zhaojian Palace, which served as a secondary palace behind Shaopu Gate, had temporarily become the liveliest place in the entire Eastern Palace. Residing in the palace was Xu, the Crown Prince's newly chosen concubine. Although she came from a humble background and held a low rank, she was currently the only proper mistress in the Eastern Palace.
The story of the Crown Prince and Consort Xu had already spread throughout the palace. When the palace servants recounted it privately, they inevitably embellished it, turning what was originally a twist of fate into a romantic tale, transforming it into a match made in heaven. It was just a pity that the Crown Prince was not present, leaving Consort Xu alone in her empty room.
Because she rose from a palace maid to a high-ranking official, and was truly eye-catching, the palace servants, while envious, couldn't help but be more attentive to her.
Shuying, who had been supported and trusted in Zhaoyang Palace, now entered the Eastern Palace alone, feeling both fearful and lonely. Coupled with the constant exposure to unfamiliar faces, she feared becoming overwhelmed by the complexities of the palace and grew increasingly lost. Fortunately, the Crown Prince was not present, and she decided to take some time to adjust. She diligently tried to familiarize herself with the palace's people and affairs, but a sudden cold extinguished all her fighting spirit.
This disease is serious.
It was one thing for the imperial physician to come and treat her, but even Consort Ning of Yongning Palace sent someone to take care of her. Later, one afternoon when she was delirious with fever, Shuying opened her eyes and found Consort Ning outside the curtain, carefully instructing the palace servants to take good care of her.
Shuying, a mere palace maid, was deeply troubled by the presence of Consort Ning. How could she possibly accept such an honor? She was immediately at a loss for words. However, Consort Ning was kind and gentle, and her words were full of sincerity and compassion. Shuying felt grateful and her guard gradually lowered.
However, within the palace, there were differing rumors circulating about Shuying's illness. When these rumors reached Shuying's ears, half her face flushed, and she coughed and spat, "...I've never had any interaction with His Highness before, how could I be lovesick!"
Xiao Jiu took the medicine brought over by the palace maid, carefully blew on it to cool it down, and chuckled, "People outside love to gossip, we don't need to pay attention to them! We just need to know what's going on in our hearts. It would be bad if we really tried to argue about it."
Shuying tilted her head, half annoyed and half reproachful: "I'm not stupid. I only dare to talk nonsense when you're here."
She took the medicine, pouted, and looked up to see him magically produce several candied fruits. Shu Ying's eyes lit up, and a smile immediately bloomed on her face. Just as she was about to thank him, she suddenly choked on a mouthful of cold air, coughing until her cheeks turned red.
Xiao Jiu quickly patted her back, but Shu Ying pushed him away. Gradually recovering, she still took the candied fruit to eat. Finally, she shook her head seriously, lowered her head and said softly, "After all, we are in the East Palace. Actually, our behavior is very improper."
"Don't worry, I'm here. No one will spread rumors," Xiao Jiu realized something was wrong and comforted her. "You're sick, and I'm someone close to His Highness the Crown Prince, so it's only right that I take care of you. Besides, Consort Ning just told me to take good care of you before she left yesterday; it's just to help you administer your medicine..."
Seeing that Shuying remained silent, he paused and stood up: "Just now, I overstepped my bounds and offended the Consort. I hope you will forgive me."
Shuying stared blankly at him, the sweet taste of the candied fruit still lingering on her lips and teeth. She clutched the hem of her clothes, her eyes clear: "I didn't mean to blame you."
"These past few days, I've been so grateful for your help. Otherwise, I would have been so afraid all by myself, and I wouldn't have known how to survive in this huge Zhaojian Palace. Thank you, Eunuch Jiu."
Shuying looked at Xiao Jiu, who still refused to lift his head, and suddenly felt a strange sense of loss. But she wanted to finish what she was saying: "Empress Sun is my savior. I originally planned to serve Empress Sun and His Highness for the rest of my life, but I ended up in the Eastern Palace. Before I left, Empress Sun told me to live well and take care of myself, so I must try to be strong. The Eastern Palace is not like Zhaoyang Palace; I cannot afford to make a single mistake. Everything in this palace is very unfamiliar. I only trust Eunuch Xiao Jiu, which is why I am telling you all this."
“Xiao Jiu is different from everyone else in Shu Ying’s heart. So you don’t need to apologize. I don’t want you to distance yourself from me too.” She rubbed her sore nose and mumbled the last sentence: “Just don’t be too…”
Xiao Jiu finally looked up and interrupted her, "Don't worry, I understand."
Shuying felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders, and when she looked at him again, she was as relaxed as ever. She was a frank person and believed that as long as she spoke sincerely, there would be no misunderstandings, and the ending would surely be innocent and beautiful.
I'm now quite familiar with the area inside and outside Zhaojian Palace, and I occasionally go for a walk there when the morning sun isn't too strong. But whenever I walk through the empty palace, I can't help but feel a sense of melancholy and loneliness. Zhaoyang Palace is larger, but with the Empress and the young prince there, it's always lively and bustling.
She missed the chattering little prince and wondered if he was happy these days.
It would be so much fun if there were a child playing and laughing here.
The thought suddenly popped into her head, and Shuying was jolted awake.
Why would you think of children?
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The baby let out a weak cry, which sounded particularly shrill in the sweltering summer afternoon. It pierced Lin Jieyu's heart like a thorn.
She gasped for breath and almost instinctively tried to jump up to snatch the swaddled baby from the wet nurse's arms, but Consort Ning had already held her shoulders down.
Lin Jieyu's face was pale, clearly in a daze, and she trembled as she stammered, "Sister, I've been having nightmares these past few days. I dream that someone snatched my daughter away, and I chased after them desperately. Then I watched helplessly as my child drowned in the pool, was thrown off a high building, and was smothered in her swaddling clothes. She was so small, and her whole body was covered in bruises..."
Consort Ning took her hand reassuringly: "Don't be afraid, it's just a dream. The little princess has already been born, and the palace is heavily guarded, so nothing will happen."
Lin Jieyu's palms, though cold, were covered in sweat. She shook her head anxiously, "I always feel like someone deliberately caused my fall. They wanted me and the baby to die. But I'm carrying a princess, and I haven't gotten in anyone's way..."
The child, born from a frightened accident, was born with a weak constitution, and even the imperial physicians could not guarantee her survival. Consort Lin's emotions also became increasingly out of control; she was easily frightened and anxious, and could not bear not seeing her daughter for even a moment. Coupled with insomnia and nightmares, a tense atmosphere pervaded the palace.
As for Consort Lin's suspicions about the incident, they weren't entirely unfounded. Consort Ning even reported it to the Emperor, and the Palace Attendants investigated for several days but found nothing unusual. Perhaps Consort Lin was simply being paranoid.
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