As the last month of spring passed, the early summer finally arrived. Duke Zhenguo’s army moved south, clashing fiercely with the rebelling troops of Prince Xingnan in Jiujiang Prefecture. Both sides launched aggressive assaults, neither willing to give an inch. Military reports, filled with vivid descriptions, were hurriedly delivered to the capital, painting an increasingly alarming picture of the situation.
At the same time, a ridiculous event occurred in the capital.
Governor Wen, who was responsible for defending the capital, went out drinking one day. While drunk, he missed a step and tumbled down the long, winding stairs. Though he didn’t die, he broke his leg. He was now undergoing acupuncture treatment, but whether he would fully recover was uncertain.
This incident became the talk of the town among officials. Despite the laughter, the position of the commander of the Imperial Guards could not remain vacant. Before the court could even discuss a replacement, Wen Hui sent a letter, recommending his younger brother, Wen Bin, for the position.
Wen Bin had no idea such a thing would happen. As Huo Xian had anticipated, Marquis Xuanping did not inform Wen Bin immediately and chose to wait and see. It wasn’t until Wen Hui was seriously injured and bedridden that he believed Huo Xian’s words. Surprisingly, the bedridden Wen Hui quickly summoned Wen Bin back home, actively supporting his ascension to the commander’s position, which Marquis Xuanping had not expected.
But Ji Yuluo knew exactly what had happened.
Huo Xian didn’t directly kill Wen Hui because that would have been too conspicuous. Instead, he found a way to make Wen Hui bedridden, incapacitating him. Then he deliberately arranged for rumors to reach Wen Hui, making him believe that Huo Xian intended to install his own people in the Imperial Guards. This prompted Wen Hui to call back his only brother, Wen Bin, regardless of the consequences.
Wen Hui didn’t want the Imperial Guards, which he had controlled for years, to fall into someone else’s hands. The physician had also said there was hope for his leg to heal, so Wen Hui planned to temporarily hand over the command to Wen Bin. After all, it would be much harder to reclaim the position if someone else took it.
The key point was that Wen Bin, who had repeatedly refused the position, was not eager to take it, which reassured Wen Hui.
One party was unwilling to accept, while the other insisted on giving.
Thus, Wen Hui wrote the letter recommending Wen Bin.
Ji Yuluo thought Huo Xian had a remarkable grasp of people’s minds, even choosing Wen Bin as a pawn after studying his character.
His scheming was likely more intricate than the combined wits of all the concubines in his household.
Chaolu finished recounting the story in detail and added, “Additionally, Miss had people keeping an eye on the Ji household and Xiao Yuanjing. Ji Xianyu caused quite a scene, which seemed to have an effect. Ji Chongwang and Xiao Yuanjing’s interactions have decreased. However, there’s no significant change with Xiao Yuanjing. He goes to and from his duties as usual, seemingly unaffected.”
Ji Yuluo lifted her gaze slightly, “Xiao Yuanjing is really that compliant?”
Chaolu nodded, “It seems Xiao Yuanjing isn’t that keen on marrying Ji Xianyu either.”
Ji Yuluo raised an eyebrow, looking pensive.
This matter likely had the backing of Xiao Cheng. It wouldn’t be surprising if Xiao Yuanjing was unwilling to marry, but his strict adherence to duty was somewhat peculiar.
Setting this matter aside, Ji Yuluo asked, “What about the other thing I asked you to investigate?”
With so many daily tasks from the young lady, Chaolu took a moment to recall that it was about the Xiao family matriarch.
Clearing her throat, she said, “I looked into it. There were indeed vague rumors about an illegitimate child in the Xiao family in the past, but no one has ever seen him. Nowadays, even the servants in the Xiao residence haven’t heard of this. However, based on the timeline of the rumors, if this illegitimate child really existed, he would be around sixty years old now, roughly the same age as the Xiao family matriarch.”
Sixty years old…
Ji Yuluo frowned and fell into a daze.
She snapped out of it when she heard Chaolu mutter “Sheng Lanxin” and turned her head to see Sheng Lanxin gracefully walking down the path towards her.
She was heading straight for Ji Yuluo. The steps led up to the towering pavilion, the highest structure in the Huo residence, offering a panoramic view of the estate. Whenever Ji Yuluo wasn’t in the main courtyard, she was usually here.
Sheng Lanxin approached, gave a gentle bow, and said, “Miss Yuluo.”
Now that nothing was being hidden, things were much more convenient.
Ji Yuluo dismissed Chaolu and looked at Sheng Lanxin, “Does Yiniang Sheng need something from me?”
Sheng Lanxin smiled, “Huo Xian and I consider each other old friends, so you don’t have to address me like that.”
Hearing this, Ji Yuluo nodded and then said, “Second Miss Shen.”
Sheng Lanxin froze, a look of slight surprise and nostalgia crossing her face. It had been many years since anyone called her that.
The second miss of the Shen family of Pingbo Manor.
The second miss who was once related by marriage to the Eastern Palace.
After her initial shock, Sheng Lanxin understood. Since Huo Xian had told Ji Yuluo about this, she naturally felt a greater trust in her. She handed over a box of pills and said, “These are newly formulated antidotes. I can’t guarantee their effectiveness; he needs to try them out. However, he’s been out of the residence frequently lately, so I’ll have to trouble you to deliver them.”
It seemed Sheng Lanxin was unaware that Huo Xian hadn’t informed Ji Yuluo about the gu poison.
Ji Yuluo took the box, opened it, and saw a blood-red pill inside. “Does he need to test each antidote? How confident is the person making them?”
Sheng Lanxin nodded, “You’ve probably heard of the person making the medicine—it’s Abbess Jingchen from Chengyuan Temple. She studied under a famous physician and is particularly skilled in detoxification. She owes Huo Xian her life, having once been saved by the Jinyiwei. If anyone can attempt to cure Zhao Yong’s gu poison, it’s likely her.”
She added with some relief, “According to Abbess Jingchen, she’s quite confident in this antidote’s formula.”
Ji Yuluo was slightly surprised, “Abbess Jingchen?”
When she had impersonated Ji Yunyao, she had taken possession of two boxes of miscellaneous items, including several medical books given by Abbess Jingchen. Ji Yunyao was practically her half-disciple.
But when she went to offer incense at Chengyuan Temple with Lin Chan, she avoided meeting Abbess Jingchen to minimize the risk of exposure, as she didn’t want any trouble before successfully marrying into the Huo family.
Unexpectedly, it was she who detoxified Huo Xian.
Ji Yuluo nodded and accepted the item, saying, “He should be at the Zhenfu Division now. I will personally deliver it shortly.”
Sheng Lanxin thanked her and was about to leave.
Ji Yuluo suddenly called her back, saying, “I heard that the Shen family had a marriage agreement with the Eastern Palace in the early years. You must also know who is behind Cuixue Tower. If you want to meet him, I can arrange it.”
Sheng Lanxin, with her sharp mind, easily detected the probing intent in Ji Yuluo’s words.
The Crown Prince and Huo Xian were fundamentally different people. Since the Crown Prince was not dead, would his fiancée harbor any second thoughts?
She lowered her head and chuckled.
When Sheng Lanxin smiled, it was like a sweet, clear spring, truly beautiful. Even Ji Yuluo couldn’t help but be moved. Sheng Lanxin said, “Times have changed; there’s no need to meet.”
Someone like the Crown Prince, when he was young, no girl could help but be captivated by him. Sheng Lanxin had indeed admired him since childhood.
But to be honest, after so many years of precarious living, that little bit of affection had long faded to the point of being negligible. Now, hearing news of him, beyond the joy of an old acquaintance, there was more melancholy and regret.
Moreover…
Sheng Lanxin lowered her gaze and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Miss Yuluo.”
Ji Yuluo nodded slightly, “That’s a pity… I heard the Shen family also had an elder son?”
Sheng Lanxin was silent, lowering her eyes and said, “My elder brother passed away many years ago.”
After saying this, she bowed and left.
Even her departing figure seemed somewhat sorrowful.
Ji Yuluo watched that hem of the skirt move away until it disappeared.
Sheng Lanxin, Shen Lanxin…
She suddenly thought of the unreliable Shen Qingli.
It seemed that more than once she had heard “Lanxu” from Xie Subai’s mouth. She thought it was a name, but it turned out it wasn’t.
Over there, Sheng Lanxin slowed her pace after turning past a flowerbed.
The wind, carrying the scent of flowers and grass, brushed her cheeks. She suddenly stopped and closed her eyes.
Back then, Pingbo Manor was implicated in the Eastern Palace case and faced the heavy crime of having the entire family executed. Her father fought desperately, and the Jinyiwei executing the order on the spot resulted in a bloody and chaotic scene, which gave her nanny the chance to switch her with her own child, saving her life.
Everyone else died, including her thick-browed, big-eyed brother, who always smiled and made her happy.
She alone survived, but living felt worse than death.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps grew closer. Sheng Lanxin opened her eyes and saw a graceful figure in pink walking towards her. Disgust flashed in her eyes, and she wanted to turn away to avoid it.
The person behind her called out, “Why are you avoiding me?”
Sheng Lanxin stopped, and Ye Linlang stepped forward.
Feeling quite helpless, Sheng Lanxin remembered how she had desperately studied music and vocal performance in the palace to get close to Zhao Yong, hoping to be chosen to perform in front of the emperor. Her efforts had made her quite popular, which had irked Ye Linlang, who was also vying for the opportunity to perform before the emperor.
Back then, Ye Linlang’s goal had been the emperor, but by a twist of fate, she ended up being bestowed upon Huo Xian along with Zhao Yong.
Later on, Huo Xian pretended to “favor” Sheng Lanxin exclusively, driving Ye Linlang mad. Though she dared not act openly, she loved to cause trouble behind the scenes, making her schemes particularly troublesome.
Now, seeing that Sheng Lanxin had “fallen out of favor,” Ye Linlang became more brazen.
Ye Linlang covered her mouth and smiled, saying, “I saw you talking with the madam just now. What, do you have to rely on flattering the madam to get by now?”
Sheng Lanxin, eyes downcast, used a handkerchief to wipe the pollen from the back of her hand, remaining silent.
Ye Linlang sighed, “That Ji Yuyao, claiming to be frail and having spent years recuperating in a temple, is actually someone I investigated. She was born under an unlucky star and was disliked since childhood, hence she was sent to the temple to avoid attention. Her family doesn’t support her. Do you think she’s someone important?”
Sheng Lanxin responded perfunctorily, “So what?”
Ye Linlang continued, “We sisters can manage, but the master used to pamper you, giving you whatever you wanted. How can you accept being overshadowed by someone like her? I overestimated you.”
Ye Linlang’s intentions were clear, trying to sow discord and reap the benefits. If Sheng Lanxin were an ordinary concubine, her current situation might indeed make her lose her head and act rashly.
But unfortunately, she wasn’t.
Neither loved by the master nor truly fallen out of favor.
Usually, Sheng Lanxin would humor her, but today she was genuinely tired and said, “If you can’t stand her, why use me as a tool? After all, you said she’s weak and easy to bully. Show a bit of your skills that you used to deal with me and give her some trouble, it shouldn’t be hard.”
Ye Linlang pursed her lips and looked at Sheng Lanxin, her expression somewhat serious, as if she was truly considering Sheng Lanxin’s words.
Sheng Lanxin sneered and brushed past her.
Outside the Northern Zhenfu Office, the supposedly weak and easy-to-bully Ji Yuluo was carrying a food box and knocked on the back door of the large courtyard.
Previously, many had seen her appearance when Huo Xian had forcibly brought her there. The Jinyiwei who opened the door was stunned, then said, “Madam?!”
Ji Yuluo replied gently, “Your master hasn’t been home for a few days, so I came to check on him. It’s time for dinner. Is he free now?”
The Jinyiwei said, “The master went to the palace. He’s been gone for a while, he should be back soon. Would you like to wait inside?”
“Sure,” she said.
