Am I just a pawn in his game?
The coachman acknowledged and gently flicked his whip, and the carriage started smoothly, driving away from the suffocating imperial city.
Inside the carriage, there was a moment of silence. The only sounds were the rhythmic thud of the wheels rolling over the road and the gradually rising hustle and bustle of the city outside the window.
The vibrant hustle and bustle that belonged to ordinary people seemed like a distant memory compared to their brush with death they had just experienced.
Jiang Wanzhi lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the silk sash tied around her waist so tightly that the fine Suzhou embroidery thread was almost broken by her fingernails.
She could feel her father's scrutinizing gaze, a gaze so heavy it almost suffocated her.
After a long silence, Prime Minister Jiang finally spoke, his voice tinged with barely concealed weariness, but even more so with a solemnity born of weathering many storms: "Today's events are intricately linked, and no coincidence could be accidental. Zhi'er, you must carefully recall every detail, from entering the palace, taking your seat at the banquet, to the incident itself, leaving no stone unturned. Did you notice anything unusual? Did you come into contact with any special people or things? Did you hear any unusual words?"
Jiang Wanzhi did as instructed, forcing herself to calm down, closing her eyes, and carefully reviewing her experiences of the day.
The scene of clinking glasses and elegant attire in Lanyue Pavilion, the kneeling and bowing of everyone when the Empress Dowager arrived, the exquisite yet tasteless imperial cuisine, the critical gazes of the imperial family members, and Su Yuyue's seemingly friendly but actually witty greetings... all replayed in her mind frame by frame.
She slowly opened her eyes, her delicate brows furrowed, her voice tinged with uncertainty: "After taking my seat, knowing my sensitive status, I only exchanged a few necessary pleasantries with the other young ladies of noble families nearby, and didn't say much else, nor did I leave my seat. I didn't drink much of the pastries or tea served, only lightly touching my lips as a sign of courtesy. The only special thing..."
She paused, trying to capture that fleeting, vague feeling: "It was the scent of the 'Cleome salina'. My daughter remembers that its scent seemed particularly strong, even a bit domineering. At first, it smelled strange, but after smelling it for a while, she felt her head getting heavy and her chest feeling stuffy."
"My daughter thought it was just because there were too many people in the hall and the air was stuffy, so she didn't think much of it. Now that I think about it, the fragrance of the flowers does seem a bit strange, able to disturb one's mind and make people inexplicably irritable."
A clear sense of lingering fear flashed in her eyes, her fingertips were icy cold: "It's just that I'm ignorant and have never seen such exotic flowers before, let alone know that they are poisonous and can be mixed with other things to enhance their effects."
Prime Minister Jiang listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the small sandalwood table beside him, producing soft, rhythmic sounds that resonated with Jiang Wanzhi's taut heartstrings.
"'Cleome salina'... This plant grows in the miasma-ridden lands of the southern frontier. It is not a regular tribute item for the Great Shang court, nor can it be easily found in the flower markets of the capital." He pondered, his gaze sharp as a knife.
"To get this item into the palace undetected and place it precisely beside your seat, there are far more than just one or two connections that need to be made."
"Purchasing, inspection, and arrangements... each step requires someone. The person who can accomplish this must have extraordinary connections and be incredibly shrewd and ruthless, which is truly astonishing."
He looked at his daughter, his gaze deep, as if trying to see into her heart: "If it weren't for His Highness Prince Heng today... you would know the consequences."
Mentioning Zongzheng Hengyu, Jiang Wanzhi's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, then quickened again.
The image of that cold, indifferent face, seemingly unmoved by anything, clearly appeared before her eyes. She recalled the cold wind stirred up by his black robes when he stood up, and his steady yet piercing voice that easily shattered Su Yuyue's attempts to make things difficult.
“Daughter…daughter never expected…” she murmured softly, her fingertips curling, “His Highness…he actually intervened. And the way he spoke…”
She couldn't find the right words to describe the feeling of hearing thunder in silence.
"So logically rigorous, so incisive, is that it?" Prime Minister Jiang replied, his tone carrying a subtle and complex meaning. "Prince Heng was enfeoffed at a young age and is in charge of the defense of the capital. He enjoys great favor from the emperor but never forms cliques or engages in private affairs. His character and methods are unfathomable. His actions today may not be entirely for your sake."
Jiang Wanzhi looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"The poisonous flower has entered the palace, and the palace servants have lost their manners. This matter seems to be directed at you, but in reality, it has touched upon the safety of the palace and may even involve court infighting. It may even imply a failure of palace management." Prime Minister Jiang analyzed calmly, as if he were dismantling a complex game of chess.
"He merely seized this opportunity to divert the trouble to your side, thus resolving your crisis while also dealing a heavy blow to those who were secretly plotting against you. On the other hand, he also demonstrated his ability and loyalty to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager once again. Killing two birds with one stone, or even three birds with one stone, is just his style."
"He is taking advantage of the situation today..." Prime Minister Jiang paused, looking at his daughter, "With His Majesty's decree of marriage, you are already the rightful future Princess Consort of Heng. If you are disgraced today, it will first damage the reputation of his Heng Prince's Mansion, and only then will it affect the Prime Minister's Mansion. For both public and private reasons, he will not sit idly by."
"However, after this incident, the Ming King's faction and the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion probably regard you and my daughter as thorns in their side that must be removed."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanzhi's heart tightened. The indescribable emotion she had felt towards Zongzheng Hengyu, a mixture of gratitude and excitement, was extinguished by her father's cold and analytical analysis.
Yes, that's the vortex of power, where every step could lead to an abyss.
His seemingly helpful action today might just be a precise move by that high-ranking player to protect his own interests and maintain the balance of the game.
Chess player... chess piece... She felt a pang of sadness; in the end, she was just a chess piece with no control over her own destiny.
"I understand, daughter." She lowered her head, her voice slightly hoarse, filled with a resigned weariness. "From now on, I will be more careful with my words and actions, and will never give anyone a handle to use against me again. During my confinement, I will focus on copying books and cultivating my mind, and will never step out of the mansion."
"The storms outside will be weathered by your father." Prime Minister Jiang looked at her eyes, which dimmed instantly, and sighed inwardly, his tone softening slightly.
"This experience may not be all bad. At least it has made me realize that some people are already impatient and have begun to show their claws. We... can no longer just keep avoiding them."
The carriage entered the side gate of the Prime Minister's residence. The heavy vermilion gate slowly closed, making a dull sound, temporarily isolating the outside world from disturbances and prying eyes.
…………
The study of Prince Heng's residence.
The night was deep and all was quiet. Yet, the study was brightly lit by candlelight, and Zongzheng Hengyu's tall figure was cast against the huge rosewood bookshelves behind him, making him appear even more aloof and cold.
He had changed out of his princely attire and was now wearing a dark-colored brocade robe with subtle patterns, a jade belt around his waist, and his dark hair tied up with a simple jade hairpin. He had lost some of the imposing and dignified air he exuded in the court and gained a more relaxed and casual demeanor, but his overall cold aura remained undiminished.
He stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the deep night outside and the bamboo shadows swaying in the night breeze in the courtyard. His eyes were even more profound than the night itself.
In the shadows of the study's corner, a guard dressed in black reported in a very low voice, "Your Highness, we have thoroughly investigated the records of the Inner Court's flower workshop. All the flowers used in the Hundred Flowers Banquet are clearly listed, and their origins, quantities, and placement are all documented. There is definitely no 'Cleome' flower in the records. That pot of flowers seems to have been inserted out of thin air; everyone involved claims to know nothing about it."
"Appeared out of thin air?" Zongzheng Hengyu did not turn around, his voice flat and emotionless, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the window frame. "Whose man is Li Duode, the eunuch in charge of the flower room?"
"Your Highness, on the surface, Li Duode appears to be someone promoted by the Empress, and he is always cautious and seemingly neutral. However, after a thorough investigation, I discovered that his most capable deputy, the one surnamed Qian, is his godson. He used to work in the outer courtyard of the Ming Prince's mansion and was highly valued by the steward Li Duode. Moreover, just two days before the banquet, Deputy Qian took half a day off and his whereabouts were kept secret."
Zongzheng Hengyu's lips curled into a cold, faint smile, yet chilling to the bone.
"Has the background of the palace maid who made the mistake been investigated?"
"It has been determined. The palace maid's name is Qingzhu. She has been in the palace for five years. She was originally in the laundry department, but was transferred to Lanyue Pavilion three months ago through connections. She is timid and has no history of misconduct. She has an elderly mother and a younger brother at home, and they live in poverty."
"But just ten days ago, his mother's chronic illness, which had been difficult to cure, was suddenly treated by a famous doctor, and a lot of expensive medicines were used. His younger brother was also sent to a well-known private school for his early education. The expenses were considerable, far beyond what his family could afford."
"Very good." Zongzheng Hengyu said calmly, "How is the interrogation going with the Inner Court?"
The black-clad guard lowered his head even further: "I just received news. Qingzhu couldn't withstand the torture from the Inner Court and committed suicide by biting her tongue half an hour ago. She didn't utter any useful confession before she died."
"Dead?" Zongzheng Hengyu finally turned around. In the candlelight, his face was handsome but cold as jade. There was no surprise in his eyes, only a thin layer of chilling cold that was enough to freeze a person.
"Silenced? That's swift and clean. The trail has ended there..."
"Your subordinate is incompetent! Please punish me, Your Highness!" The guard trembled and knelt on the ground with his head bowed.
"Get up." Zongzheng Hengyu's tone remained calm. "Death itself is the most important clue. To be able to so quickly reach into the Inner Court prison to silence witnesses, and to seize the moment so precisely... it seems that my good brother has truly gone to desperate measures this time."
He strolled back to his desk, sat down slowly, and ran his fingers over a cold, black iron weapon talisman on the desk.
“Night Hawk Pavilion…” he murmured the name, a hint of extreme killing intent flashing in his eyes. “It seems it’s time to give them something to do, so they don’t keep targeting the wrong people.”
A brief silence fell over the study, broken only by the crackling of the candlelight.
After a moment, the black-clad guard hesitated before speaking: "Your Highness, what about... Miss Jiang? Today's events were clearly aimed at her. If the attack fails, they may cause further trouble. Although the Prime Minister's residence is well-guarded, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow."
Zongzheng Hengyu's hand holding the brush paused slightly, and a drop of ink almost fell onto the snow-white Xuan paper.
He recalled the scene at Lanyue Pavilion earlier that day, when Jiang Wanzhi looked up at him, her clear eyes filled with astonishment and panic, as well as a subtle, almost imperceptible, dependence and gratitude, like that of a frightened little animal.
He lowered his gaze, concealing all emotion within, and his voice returned to its usual coldness: "Dispatch an additional team of guards to infiltrate the vicinity of the Prime Minister's residence and keep watch in secret. They will be on duty in shifts for twelve hours a day to ensure that no one can disturb her during her confinement. If any suspicious persons approach or if there is any unusual activity at the Prime Minister's residence, report it immediately."
"Yes." The guard accepted the order.
“Remember,” Zongzheng Hengyu added, his tone indifferent, “there’s no need for her to know.”
"Understood."
The guards, just as they had arrived, silently disappeared into the shadows and left the study.
Silence returned to the study. Zongzheng Hengyu did not continue with official business; he simply sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight, his deep eyes shifting with uncertainty.
At the Hundred Flowers Banquet, Su Yuyue eagerly jumped out to make accusations, and the palace maid's timely slip-up and immediate silencing...
Jiang Wanzhi was merely the most innocent pawn, pushed out first in this power struggle and infighting among brothers.
His slender fingers slowly closed, gripping the black iron weapon talisman tightly, the icy touch reaching deep into his heart.
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