Volume 1, Chapter 9: Why Must You Poison Me

Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Lin Shaoxuan’s life was not easy. He had originally thought that yesterday’s incident would at most result in a scolding from his father, but to his surprise, the moment his father returned home and saw him, he grabbed a rod and gave him a brutal beating. His father had even cursed at him for a long time, calling him an unfilial son.

Today, he was in so much pain that he could barely get out of bed. However, the thought of being betrothed to his true beloved filled him with joy. Yet, recalling that yesterday’s events had not gone according to plan and had instead tarnished his beloved’s reputation, his expression darkened once more. He summoned a servant, "Go to the Pomelo Garden and investigate exactly what happened yesterday!"

It was all the fault of those sisters, Song Shuning and Song Shuyun, for ruining Qingya’s reputation!

No sooner had the servant left than Lin Shaoyan walked in. She signaled for a maid to bring a stool and sat down by Lin Shaoxuan’s window. "Brother, are you alright?"

Lin Shaoxuan cast a sidelong glance at her and said in a low voice, "So you still know how to come over?"

"Father was in a fit of rage yesterday; I didn't dare to come, did I?" Lin Shaoyan said with a smile, poking the back of Lin Shaoxuan’s hand. "Congratulations, you finally got your wish."

Lin Shaoxuan’s tense mouth relaxed slightly. "What exactly happened yesterday?"

"I am certain that we knocked Song Shuning unconscious and fed her the aphrodisiac at the time. Who would have thought she would simply vanish?" A trace of guilt flashed in Lin Shaoyan’s eyes as she spoke. If she had left a maid to watch over the area, Song Shuning wouldn't have escaped, and Qingya’s reputation wouldn't have been compromised. "I didn't expect it would implicate Sister Qingya."

Lin Shaoxuan frowned. "Could it be that the people from the Star-Picking Pavilion were helping Song Shuning?" Otherwise, how could he and Qingya have ended up unconscious on the same bed, while Song Shuning remained perfectly safe—and, due to the appearance of that maid yesterday, had become the talk of the capital's young ladies?

"The Star-Picking Pavilion?" Lin Shaoyan frowned, her tone full of disdain. "That pavilion has been in the capital for nearly ten years. We’ve all heard that it might have been built by a noble from the Grand Princess’s mansion. Song Shuning has only been in the capital for a few days, so how could she have become an honored guest there? It’s impossible!"

Lin Shaoxuan narrowed his eyes. "What if the Star-Picking Pavilion wasn't helping Song Shuning, but was simply targeting our two families?"

"Targeting our family and the Jiang family?" Lin Shaoyan asked, confused. "Why?" Why would the Grand Princess’s mansion have a grudge against them?

***

Rui Prince Mansion.

On a chilly spring day, Shen Qiyuan lay on a soft couch, his robes open to reveal his chest, listening to Mo Feng’s report on the rumors circulating throughout the capital.

Before Mo Feng could finish, the corners of Shen Qiyuan’s mouth curled into a faint arc. Once the report concluded, he remarked languidly, "A Marquis of Dingyuan with military power and a Minister of Personnel at the head of the Six Ministries—with the two families joining in marriage, the Emperor must be so angry his liver is trembling."

When he heard Song Shuning mention this yesterday, he had felt it was a perfect opportunity to make the Emperor anxious. A Marquis mansion that had only established its merit in the last two years, and a Minister who controlled the appointments, evaluations, promotions, and transfers of officials across the country—with them allied by marriage, the Emperor would surely plant countless spies around them. Perhaps then, the Emperor would have no time to worry about his crippled younger brother.

Moreover, this served two purposes at once: it would not only frustrate the Emperor but also do that young girl a favor.

Thinking of the Emperor’s current state of mind, Shen Qiyuan felt the congestion in his chest clear. Perhaps because he was in such a good mood, he began to cough. Though the coughing was violent, his eyes held a smile. He waved at Mo Feng, "Invite her over tonight. I want to ask her myself what she wants."

Mo Feng replied with an "Understood." Even if his master hadn't ordered it, he had already decided that until Miss Song found the antidote to fully neutralize the master’s fire poison, he would have her come every night to perform acupuncture so that his master could sleep peacefully.

At that moment, the mansion’s steward hurried in. After paying his respects, he whispered, "Your Highness, someone has arrived from the palace."

The smile on Shen Qiyuan’s face vanished, and his brows furrowed slightly. "From the palace?"

The visitor was Chang Gui, the chief eunuch by the Emperor’s side. As he walked in, he saw Shen Qiyuan lying on the couch with his robes open, feigning sleep. Hearing footsteps, Shen Qiyuan propped his head up and turned to look at him. His loose hair cascaded over his cheeks and rested on his chest, making him look bewitchingly seductive.

Chang Gui was stunned for a moment before quickly regaining his composure. He bowed to Shen Qiyuan, "Your Highness, Prince Rui, the Emperor invites you to the palace to discuss a matter."

"What has happened? My Imperial Brother actually wants to discuss something with a shut-in like me?" Shen Qiyuan lay back down and sighed. "I am nothing but a cripple now; how could I offer any advice to His Majesty?"

"Your Highness, you are the Emperor’s own brother. Naturally, he wishes to consult you when he is troubled. You are brave and resourceful; do not belittle yourself." Chang Gui glanced at Shen Qiyuan, then bowed again. "I will wait for you outside."

Shen Qiyuan sighed. "Since the Emperor wishes to see me, I suppose I shall go." He looked himself over. "If I go to see him like this, will he blame me for my lack of decorum?"

Chang Gui smiled. "Your Highness, you are the Emperor’s own brother. Between brothers, there is no need to worry about appearance. His Majesty certainly will not mind."

Shen Qiyuan nodded. "Then let us go." He called for Mo Feng, who immediately understood and brought over the wheelchair, helping Shen Qiyuan into it.

Shen Qiyuan sat slumped in the wheelchair, looking at Chang Gui with a half-smile. "I have suffered the torture of ice and fire for years, and now I must rely on this wheelchair to survive. I am completely ruined..."

"It was because of the Emperor that you were poisoned and harmed, Your Highness. Over the years, His Majesty has been searching for a cure," Chang Gui said as he stepped forward to push the wheelchair. "It has been hard on you, Your Highness. The Emperor remembers the debt he owes you."

Shen Qiyuan raised his eyebrows, his eyes turning cold, though his words were filled with lament. "My poisoning was the work of treacherous villains with wolfish ambitions; it has nothing to do with my Imperial Brother. You must comfort him as well, Chang Gui."

Unable to see Shen Qiyuan’s expression, Chang Gui sighed along with him. "They only harmed you because they were trying to kill the Emperor. How could he not blame himself?" He added, "Now that the internal threats have been removed, the courtiers are still not letting the Emperor rest, which is why he wishes to consult with you."

Hearing this, a mocking curve appeared on Shen Qiyuan’s lips.

Two quarters of an hour later, Chang Gui pushed Shen Qiyuan into the Emperor’s imperial study. Seeing them enter, the Emperor raised his brows and stood up, an expression of worry immediately crossing his face. He hurried toward Shen Qiyuan. "What is the meaning of this? You were fine a few months ago; why are you suddenly in a wheelchair today?"

Shen Qiyuan struggled to rise to pay his respects, but the Emperor pressed him back into the seat. "We are alone; why bother with such hollow formalities?"

Shen Qiyuan sat back and sighed. "My Imperial Brother, you know the state of my health. That I have managed to hold on until now to even require a wheelchair is already a mercy from the heavens."

Hearing this, the Emperor flicked his sleeves in anger. "It is all the fault of those villains! I could kill them a thousand times over and still not be satisfied!"

Watching the Emperor, a cold sneer flashed in Shen Qiyuan’s heart, though his face remained impassive. He smiled, "Since you have already killed them, you have avenged me, Imperial Brother. As for satisfaction, I fear I can only seek that myself when I die and descend to the underworld to confront them."

"You are my own brother, a Prince of the Qi Kingdom, and a Highness to the people! Do not speak such ominous words; you shall surely live a long and healthy life," the Emperor said, looking at him with a stern, disapproving face.

Shen Qiyuan’s mouth curled into a mocking smirk. "Imperial Brother, do not deceive yourself. My body is merely dragging on; no one knows when I might draw my final breath."

The Emperor looked at him with pain. "They should have come for me if they wanted the throne! Why did they have to poison you?"

"Yes, why indeed?" Shen Qiyuan lifted his gaze to the Emperor. "I fear that is a question only to be asked when we meet them in the underworld."