Volume One, Chapter 19: Ah Yan, Please Calm Down

The emperor’s gaze was overwhelmingly commanding.

Yue Mingyue’s legs went weak, and she quickly lowered her head.

She denied, “I don’t know, I…”

The empress, frustrated by her stubbornness, stepped forward to defuse the situation. “Mingyue’s reasoning makes sense. It’s hardly possible; how could poisonous mushrooms have found their way into the palace? And of all people, the princess happened to eat them.”

Yue Mingyue’s sweaty palms relaxed slightly as she pointed accusingly at Wen Shiyan. “Exactly. That’s what I mean. The palace is heavily guarded. Could it be a staged affair by you? Who can prove the princess was truly poisoned? Isn’t it all just your baseless slander?”

Liang Nianci stepped forward, blocking Yue Mingyue’s finger. “Miss Yu, who knows better than you whether Doctor Wen is lying?”

Wen Shiyan looked at the ‘little rabbit’ before her with disdain, shifting back slightly.

She now understood where Liang Jiang’s description of her ‘cleverness’ came from; beneath the pure exterior lurked the same cunning as her brother.

“What do you mean by that?” Yue Mingyue’s steps faltered.

Liang Nianci pouted. “The palace is tightly secured; everyone below obeys orders cautiously. Such poison could not have entered the imperial kitchen unnoticed. And coincidentally, on that day, only Miss Yu came to Qi Qiu Hall to chat with me for no reason. That very night, I vomited blood. How could such a coincidence exist?”

“No, I didn’t.” Yue Mingyue shook her head, her jeweled hairpin swaying. “I have no grudge with the princess. There’s no reason for me to harm you.”

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. This woman was actually allied with Wen Shiyan; together, they had set a trap within a trap for her!

Wen Shiyan sneered. “Exactly. The princess holds no grudge against you, but Miss Yu used the innocent princess to try to kill me. Though my status is low, I serve the emperor and cannot allow you to falsely accuse me before His Majesty at will!”

“Shut up!” Yue Mingyue’s nails dug painfully into her flesh.

The situation shifted in an instant.

Seeing the accusation turn back on herself, she could no longer stand and collapsed before the empress. “Your Majesty, I am innocent!”

Liang Jiang, bored with the spectacle and feeling sorry for Yan who had knelt too long, said, “Not accusing you falsely. Bring the evidence for Miss Yu to see, and have the prime minister keep a copy. Let him taste the delicacy his daughter traveled so far to find.”

The latter was clearly a joke, but it shook the prime minister deeply.

He knew his daughter was capable of such foolishness and looked pleadingly at the crown prince, who sat upright and solemn.

The evidence must not be presented!

Though the crown prince had to maintain a fair and firm image, he was also bound by the betrothal to the prime minister’s family.

He knew well that if the third prince produced solid proof today, it would be a disaster for both the prime minister’s household and himself.

He whispered instructions to the maid beside him, who immediately slipped away behind the scenes.

These subtle moves did not escape Liang Jiang’s eye. He raised his cup toward the crown prince.

The crown prince lifted his cup in return, his sharp gaze flashing coldly like an axe.

The empress sensed the tension and quickly smoothed things over. “Tonight’s Spring Festival feast is meant for everyone to enjoy with the people. What’s all this about? Why does it feel like a criminal trial? Since the princess is unharmed, let us all take our seats. As for these unpleasant matters, we shall discuss them later. Your Majesty, what say you?”

The emperor rubbed his temples. “A perfectly good meal ruined by your fussing. Very well, let the crown prince investigate thoroughly.”

Having spoken, he glanced at Liang Jiang and swept his sleeves, leaving.

“Yes, Father.” The crown prince took the order and left as well.

Passing by Liang Jiang, he silently mouthed a respectful “Thank you.”

Everyone from the prime minister’s household exhaled heavily and hurried after him. Leaving this matter to the crown prince was a safeguard.

As the key figures departed one after another, soon only Wen Shiyan and three others remained in the hall.

The atmosphere felt as if the air had been sucked away. Liang Jiang sat still, gently rubbing his fingers together, eyes closed, lost in thought.

Wen Shiyan dodged Liang Nianci’s attempted assistance and stepped back, only to bump into Zhu Fenghua’s embrace.

“Young Master Zhu, you’re still here?” She bowed politely and subtly created space between them.

Zhu Fenghua returned the gesture. “I was worried about you.”

His words made Wen Shiyan slightly embarrassed. “It’s alright. There won’t be any follow-up. I doubt the crown prince will summon me for questioning.”

She glanced at Liang Jiang and continued, “It’s like a game of chess: if the black pieces are overturned by the cat before they can capture the whole board, the white pieces wouldn’t bother to reset and start over.”

Zhu Fenghua was slightly surprised, then smiled brightly. “Doctor Wen is insightful. How about a game someday?”

“Certainly.” Wen Shiyan’s brows curved. “Also, thank you for speaking up for me today.”

“Just telling the truth.”

Knowing this was no time for idle chat, Zhu Fenghua exchanged a few casual words before politely taking his leave.

Liang Nianci wanted to say something but looked around and hesitated. “Doctor Wen, it happened so suddenly, and I didn’t inform you earlier. I hope I didn’t scare you. I apologize.”

Wen Shiyan lightly supported her arm. “A princess’s delicate constitution must avoid such troubles that would burden me.”

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The fact that they caught Yue Mingyue off guard suggested this revenge plot had long been planned.

Liang Nianci tugged at her sleeve, looking pitiful. “After tonight, I won’t be able to come out again…”

If one wanted to see her, it would no longer be possible…

Wen Shiyan just wanted to leave this place of trouble quickly. “Take care, Princess.”

“Eh?” Liang Nianci chased after her a few steps, then turned back to Liang Jiang. “Brother, he…”

But unexpectedly, Liang Jiang ignored her and strode away with the wind, vanishing from sight.

Outside the palace gates.

Wen Shiyan, walking quickly in a huff, was suddenly lifted onto someone’s shoulder from behind and shoved into a carriage.

She didn’t need to guess who it was. She tried to get down, but the carriage was already speeding away.

Jumping down was clearly unwise, so she folded her arms and stared up at the carriage roof.

Liang Jiang sat unusually proper and silent.

The cramped space was increasingly suffocating with awkwardness, forcing Wen Shiyan to lift the curtain for air.

The next moment, her hand was grasped, the curtain lowered again, and their eyes met.

Wen Shiyan felt dizzy. His expression, lonelier than the moonlight, flickered briefly before vanishing. When she tried to look again, it was gone.

The young man remained defiant, a bright voice bursting out, “Yan, calm down.”

As he spoke, his other hand rested on her right knee.

With her back against the wall and nowhere to avoid, Wen Shiyan could only let him gently knead.

“The Third Prince is meticulous. If you were willing to kneel and seek justice for the princess, I would not refuse. But you deliberately concealed the truth. Aren’t you afraid that I, who know nothing, might say the wrong thing and ruin everything?”

Liang Jiang slid beside her without a trace, the corners of his mouth curling into a helpless yet sly smile.

What he said next made Wen Shiyan furrow her brows in disbelief.