Chapter 59: Discovery Part 2

She walked out slowly and paused at the door for the time it took to brew half a cup of tea before opening it. Yuan Qingming happened to return from outside. She pursed her lips and gazed at the dark, misty night. “Did His Majesty come? What did he hear?”

Yuan Qingming realized he had underestimated this girl before. His Majesty had only come by coincidence, yet she knew. Unable to hide it, he said straightforwardly, “He just left. He heard what he needed to. But there’s something I don’t understand. Why save him? If he died, the Shao Family would be the culprits—wouldn’t that suit your plans?”

Xun Changqing turned her gaze and smiled faintly. “The Shao Family is no longer a threat. Would His Majesty still show mercy to those who murdered their father?”

Yuan Qingming still didn’t understand. “You mean you used Shao Lanheng to tie down the Second Imperial Prince. But His Majesty has always favored this legitimate son and won’t punish him. And you missed the chance to deal with the Shao Family—it’s a loss for no gain.”

“This matter must have a price. Xun Yiran can’t be touched, so His Majesty will make the Shao Family take the blame. That confession is the best evidence. He can’t kill his own son, but he can eliminate a major threat. His Majesty isn’t foolish.”

After the Empress incident, His Majesty had lost all patience with the Shao Family. Giving him a knife now, he would naturally strike at them first. His son might be wicked, but he’d spare his life.

But only barely.

Yuan Qingming suddenly understood. Under the thin moonlight, the girl before him seemed ethereal and indistinct, shocking him further. Such cunning thoughts were not to be underestimated. He pointed inside. “And that one in there won’t last long either?”

Xun Changqing nodded, her voice clear yet chilling like the night. “Uncle Yuan, before His Majesty grants him death, make sure he reveals which court officials are Shao Cheng’s secret spies. Hand them all over to His Majesty then—cut the grass and remove the roots.”

Watching Xun Changqing’s carefree departing figure—like the striking phoenix wood under the moonlight, blooming with vibrant red flowers, tall and straight toward the sky—Yuan Qingming stood stunned. This girl was refined and wise, a master of stratagems. He couldn’t help but sigh; perhaps it was indeed time for their generation to yield to the young.

………………………………………………………………

For half a month, Xun Changqing sent a letter to Shangrao every day. In idle moments, she counted the days on her fingers, hoping for a reply from Wei Lingci—even a single word or phrase would do. But each time, she was disappointed.

Xun Ziqian, after all, was an emperor who had reigned for many years. Somehow, he replaced the commander in Kang City, secretly arrested Ouyang Su, then swiftly captured Shao Cheng and raided the Shao Family. In an instant, a prominent clan spanning centuries fell.

From the imperial decree to Shao Cheng’s imprisonment, not a whisper leaked out. The entire court trembled, expecting a great purge. But after Shao Cheng’s arrest, no other officials were implicated.

From the Empress’s confinement to the Shao Family’s downfall, it took only a few months. No one in the court dared plead for them anymore. When the tree fell, the monkeys scattered—only those adding flowers in prosperity, none sending charcoal in adversity.

This made Xun Changqing feel the coldness of human nature. The Shao Family had once been immensely glorious, yet in mere months, they became street rats. Though self-inflicted, there was something pitiable about it.

She had no time for melancholy, for Xun Yiran had suffered no loss at all. The iron mine incident implicated only Shao Cheng, not him. After Mu Chen presented all the evidence, the emperor handed it to the Six Ministries without review, merely adding another charge to the Shao Family’s endless list of crimes.

She thought Mu Chen would return to the capital with Wei Lingci. But after waiting days without seeing her, and asking Mu Chen, he only said she had matters keeping her in Shangrao and knew nothing else.

What could have detained her?

She could clearly discern the shifting winds in the court, no matter how strange. Now, though Xun Yiran attended court daily, His Majesty no longer summoned him. It should have been good news, but the information from the Wise Noble Consort was dire: His Majesty had been vomiting blood for days, and medicines proved ineffective.

In the early morning, she pushed open the window. The cool early summer breeze brushed her face, refreshing her and clearing the tangled thoughts in her mind.

The Wise Noble Consort brought a guest to Radiant Benevolence Palace: the Ning’an County Princess, Wei Xiao.

Seeing Wei Xiao, Xun Changqing’s heart settled abruptly. The white jade steps were covered in the faint fragrance of lotus flowers. Finally, she had someone to confide in about the matters weighing on her heart these past days, and her mind grew a bit calmer.

She was delighted to see Wei Xiao, but Wei Xiao looked at her with indifference. The Wise Noble Consort knew Wei Xiao had entered the palace to find someone and must have words to say, so she took the palace servants to prepare tea.

Once they left, Wei Xiao’s gaze turned slightly stern, like a cold wind brushing into Xun Changqing’s heart, chilling her already cool chest further. Following etiquette, she invited her to sit.

But Wei Xiao made no move, her gaze fixed darkly on Xun Changqing’s pink cheeks and those captivating peach-blossom eyes. A faint coldness rose in her own eyes as she said bluntly, “I’ve arranged a betrothal for A’ci.”

The news was too shocking, like thunder rolling over. Xun Changqing was stunned for a moment, then blurted without thinking, “She won’t agree.”

Wei Xiao’s gaze deepened darkly. She stepped forward, gloom clouding her face, and slapped Xun Changqing across the cheek. “Xun Changqing, you act so brazenly in your unfilial defiance.”

So she knew. The slap wasn’t too heavy—women’s strength was limited after all. Xun Changqing’s head turned to the side, and she stepped back, smiling bitterly. “The County Princess arranged a betrothal for my master—why tell me? I guess Master disagreed, so you came to me to vent.”