Chapter 9: The Heavenly Secret

Then let me dedicate myself to you

Wei Yu, however, fell silent, merely gazing at the scattered wood powder, lost in thought.

Shu Zhen stood in front of Zhu Wen, the two of them very close together. The cold fragrance lingered uncertainly at Zhu Wen's nose, and Shu Zhen's voice was ethereal, like a dream.

In this incident, who is the ultimate beneficiary? After careful consideration, the answer is... Your Excellency.

Zhu Wen was not wearing a jade crown and purple robe, but rather a set of ordinary clothing, which made him appear quite elegant, diminishing the cold and stern atmosphere of the battlefield significantly

Seeing her unsteady on her feet, Shu Zhen raised an eyebrow, and a cold glint instantly flashed in her dark eyes. Zhu Wen quietly watched her and said, "Nothing happened, she is just scared."

Amidst the perplexing and elusive circumstances, she fell into deep contemplation

Your Excellency

This is the red lacquer of the court staff

Let us go outside to talk

After the venerable matron Shunxian returned to the back hall of the Buddha hall, she received a report from the imperial physician, stating that Madam Yuan had successfully passed the critical period after undergoing medication. However, she did not feel at ease and called the physician over to inquire in detail once more, her brow furrowing deeper with each question.

Zhu Wen's outstretched hand froze in place, under the silent pine forest, the sparse sounds were like thin ice striking each other, creating endless ripples

A bitter smile appeared on Yan Ji's beautiful face—after the incident, Zhu Wen only came to her palace once, yet he seemed indifferent to her tearful lamentation, merely inquiring in detail about the circumstances of Madam Yuan's poisoning, and then he let it go—how could this be compared to the tenderness and affection of their usual interactions, which were worlds apart

This night is destined to be an unsettled one in the palace of the night.

What are you thinking about

Zhu Wen's black eyes gazed at her, calm and profound, as if they were about to draw in a person's very soul

Zhu Wen said in a deep voice: "Moreover, Ah Yuan was personally bestowed by Father King. If she were to die, it would be a tremendous insult to Father King—no one would believe that it was that foolish woman Yan Ji who did it; everyone would suspect me."

A night of fright left Hongling's lips still trembling, yet she forced a smile to comfort her sister, saying: "As a servant, who hasn't been beaten and scolded? This time, it was just my bad luck"

She murmured softly, then continued: "This matter is not the doing of Yan Ji; she is not foolish enough to go this far, and besides, those little girls have been interrogated thoroughly... Apart from this, who else would scheme against A Yuan?"

... ...

The voice of Shu Zhen is deep, as if it possesses a captivating magic that enchants the heart.

Shu Zhen stepped forward and pulled her closer, taking a moment to examine her before finally feeling relieved. Immediately, she noticed three red marks on the back of Hong Ling's white garment.

Her personal maid, though looking quite disheveled, could only gently advise: "Madam, please do not worry; the lord will surely investigate thoroughly and restore your innocence."

I have exerted my heart and effort for you, and this is all I receive in return, a mere thank you

Madam Shunxian was both astonished and doubtful, and soon she was horrified by her own conjecture

It would have been fine if they had fought to the death among themselves in the royal city, but they actually set their sights on me!

Zhu heard a profound remark from Shu Zhen echoing in his ears, yet his heart was filled with extreme anger. Beside him, Wei Yu tapped on the table with his fingers and suddenly realized, "So that's how it is... If Madam Yuan were to die, and Yan Ji were punished, affecting one or two palace maids, our informants here would be nearly wiped out. At this critical juncture of vying for power and position, if you were to eliminate the spies, it would certainly be a significant scheme. Overnight, the princes, who are already on edge with their swords drawn, would become alert and direct all their hostility towards you."

Wei Yu furrowed his brow and said with some annoyance: "I am truly an incompetent strategist... I actually failed to discern the intricacies in time... However, your Miss Shu Zhen, with a single remark, has astonishingly unveiled the hidden truths, which is indeed quite remarkable"

If it is indeed the case that the lord is secretly taking action... then we must quickly send word to the queen and the king

If A Nuo is truly deceased, and Yan Ji is unjustly accused, who would benefit from this ... the concubines? Or the other princes ...

He glanced around the shabby environment, frowned slightly, but said nothing. He merely ordered someone to assist Hong Ling in.

At this point, she could no longer sit still, her eyes peering out of the gauze window, anxiously awaiting the appearance of someone.

Hmm?

In an instant, a flash of inspiration struck my mind

... ...

At this thought, the handkerchief between her fingers was twisted tightly, as if she wanted to tear something to shreds

Could it be him

She waved her hand to indicate that she should not speak further, then turned to Zhu Wen and bowed, "Thank you, Your Excellency!"

Only ... ... can tell you a truth

At the moment when the first light of dawn appeared, Shu Zhen, who had not slept all night, welcomed an unexpected guest into her room

He teased with a smile, his gaze both affectionate and laced with a hint of jest

Zhu Wen murmured to herself, smiling with a hint of laziness, her features revealing an even more striking elegance and charm.

You should go lie down and rest first

How infuriating! Who on earth did this good deed, yet I am the one left to take the blame?

Sister ... ... I am fine

He laughed in extreme anger, slamming his palm on the table, and silently, the sandalwood table turned to dust

... ...

At this point, she waved her long sleeves, sending the blue and white porcelain bowls on the sandalwood table crashing to the ground, shattering into pieces. "How outrageous! The vision of these servants is truly detestable!"

Those within the Yanji Palace, as long as they have any connection, however slight, to this matter, are all placed under soft confinement in one location, awaiting the slow interrogation by the Minister of Justice. As for the several maidservants who delivered tea and food, they are even more certain to suffer physical punishment.

A subtle smile appeared on Shu's face, with a touch of crimson glimmering at the corners of her lips, which left Zhu Wen feeling parched and his heart fluttering

In her eyes, a brilliance surged, and an imposing aura immediately manifested. Soon after, she suppressed the anger within her—though no bones were broken, this child had still been humiliated

The two individuals stepped outside, where the remaining snow weighed heavily on the green pines, and the pale golden sunlight cast a layer of golden edges even on the dark shadows of the trees

I truly have no way to repay you for this rescue, thanks to Junhou this time

This so-called poisoning is merely a setup; the true target is you

Upon the command of the venerable Lady Shunxian, all the attendants in the Yanji Palace were replaced with new ones. Although their demeanor was respectful, it incited the furious wrath of Yanji—every move and gesture was under scrutiny, which was hardly the appearance of serving a master

This medicine is extremely dangerous; Ah Yuan almost lost her life— the person who poisoned her truly wanted her dead