Shen Yun’s rare display of emotion was witnessed by Su Xiaoqi as she entered. She came forward to help him change his clothes and then had hot water brought for him to wash his face. Only then did she ask, "What's wrong, husband?"
Shen Yun had always been reserved, preferring to keep his thoughts and emotions to himself and plan in secret.
He rarely showed his feelings, making his slight aberration today all the more noticeable.
Shen Yun recounted how Zhao Xiaohua had invited him out today and revealed that the matter of Bazhou had been exposed.
Lu Mingyang had now been summoned to the East Palace.
With the man in the Crown Prince's hands, he was like meat on a chopping block, at the mercy of others.
"Mr. Lu is the head of the Imperial Hospital. Even with great courage, he wouldn't dare openly harm him.
Furthermore, the investigation into the person who beat the Dengwen Drum is still ongoing.
At this time, the Crown Prince certainly wouldn't dare act rashly.
Otherwise, wouldn't that solidify the Bazhou affair?"
Su Xiaoqi's analysis was remarkably insightful.
Regardless of the situation, Liang Xinran dared not kill casually for now.
The matters he had committed had been frequently presented to Emperor Xingzhao in the past two days.
And the ones orchestrating all of this were precisely Shen Yun and the people under Mr. Gu.
Among them, some had been continuously monitoring Liang Xinran's movements, prepared to catch him out at any moment.
However, the incidents in Jiangning Prefecture and the treatment of the epidemic in Bazhou were cases where Liang Xinran had personally handed over his weaknesses to them.
It would be foolish not to use them.
Hence, the matter of beating the Dengwen Drum to file a complaint arose.
Moreover, at this moment, many of Prince Duan's faction in the court were quietly waiting for Liang Xinran to commit more misdeeds.
Thinking this way, Shen Yun suddenly felt less anxious.
If the Crown Prince were to kill Lu Mingyang, it would be of no consequence, merely providing them with another minor slip-up to catch.
And if he recalled correctly, Lu Mingyang was currently treating Prince Zhuang for his recurring ailment.
Emperor Xingzhao had summoned all the imperial physicians to attend to Prince Zhuang, but none could cure him, save for Lu Mingyang.
If the Crown Prince were to kill him now, Prince Zhuang's illness would have no cure, and the pain and suffering involved were self-evident.
Prince Zhuang was the imperial clan's Zong Ling, commanding respect among the royal lineage.
If the Crown Prince dared to lay a hand on Lu Mingyang, it would be an act of defiance against him.
Their established friendly cooperation would be affected, and with proper maneuvering, Prince Zhuang could even abandon the Crown Prince and support Prince Duan instead.
This would further facilitate their actions.
"We acted so discreetly, and those arrested were not released. How did the Crown Prince know that matter was related to them?
No, did she only tell you that it was related to Imperial Physician Lu and Wang Enze? What about you?"
Su Xiaoqi keenly caught the loophole in Zhao Xiaohua's words.
"She said she deliberately concealed it for us," Shen Yun said with a cold laugh.
"So, we should be grateful for her confession?" Su Xiaoqi began to re-evaluate Zhao Xiaohua.
In the past, seeing her instigate this person and provoke that person against her, she had only thought it was the petty nature of a young girl, that her little schemes were harmless.
But seeing her recent actions, which were numerous and forceful, from when she became involved with Misty Rain Pavilion until now, she seemed more formidable than she had imagined.
She voiced her long-held suspicion: "Is Xiao Xin still the current head of Misty Rain Pavilion?"
Shen Yun nodded, stating that he had already sent people to investigate.
Xiao Lin had just found a backer and was preparing for a major confrontation with Xiao Xin.
"Do you think it's possible that Zhao Xiaohua has truly done what she said and found help from Misty Rain Pavilion?"
Otherwise, how could she, a weak woman, know so many things she shouldn't know?
Shen Yun nodded, saying it was possible, and he would have Zhang Feng investigate further.
"And the woman who jumped into the Yuan River during the Dragon Boat Festival last time, have her remains been found?" For some reason, Su Xiaoqi felt that matter was also related to Zhao Xiaohua.
She had no evidence, only her sixth sense.
She didn't want to say too much to Shen Yun, lest it disrupt his judgment.
Shen Yun replied, "No, she must have drowned."
Meanwhile, at the Wang family, Wang Enze was in his study, in a huspired conversation with his father, Wang Chengyi.
"Who just sent the message about this matter?" Wang Chengyi sat by the window, his back to the light, his face half in shadow, half in light.
Wang Enze sat facing the setting afternoon sun, tilting his chin slightly, his eyes squinting directly at the glaring sunlight.
"Shen Xuzhi."
"Are you close with him?" Wang Chengyi seemed very familiar with the Shen Xuzhi his son mentioned.
This suggested he had done his homework and thoroughly understood the man's past deeds.
"Not close, nor not close," Wang Enze replied ambiguously.
Meeting Wang Chengyi's gaze, he stated firmly, "He is a person who can be used."
He spoke of the Jiangning Prefecture weaving case and the current matters in Tongzhou and Bazhou.
It was evident that his talent and ability were not inferior to his own.
"Oh, to receive such a comment, this father would like to see for himself." Wang Chengyi was somewhat curious.
He had two sons.
Both were born of his principal wife.
The eldest son, Wang Enlu, was greedy for wealth and lustful, and mediocre in his achievements.
The younger son, Wang Enze, however, had been intelligent and sharp since childhood, surpassing most others.
Moreover, his disposition was always cold and proud; he rarely praised anyone.
This occasion was an unexpected turn of events.
However, since he said so, coupled with his understanding of Shen Yun, it indicated that Shen Yun was indeed a capable individual.
"He is Old Gu's student, and our paths are likely the same. There is no need to worry about major matters," Wang Chengyi said.
Wang Enze shook his head and smiled without speaking.
Wang Chengyi raised an eyebrow, "Is that not so?" The information he had gathered about Shen Yun indicated he was a student of Mr. Gu.
After arriving in the capital, the people he visited were also old friends of Old Gu.
Including himself.
However, his son had always made his own decisions, and he wanted to hear him out.
"Although Scholar Shen is not part of the Crown Prince's faction, I fear he is not of the same mind as us."
Looking at Wang Enze's expression, Wang Chengyi pondered for a moment and understood.
The father and son exchanged words, and they likely had a clear understanding of the situation.
Regarding Shen Yun, they should not alienate him, but neither should they delve too deeply into interaction.
Meanwhile, Liang Xinran had begun to tentatively shift blame following Zhao Xiaohua's methods.
The Jiangning Prefecture case was still in the interrogation phase.
Although the evidence was complete, due to the severe drought and the sudden outbreak of pestilence, the matter had been put on hold.
Only after both Shen Yun and Wang Enze returned, and under the suggestion of the cabinet, did Emperor Xingzhao assign the case to the Ministry of Justice for review.
Liang Xinran successfully shifted the blame for the Jiangning Prefecture affair onto the former Prefect of Jiangning, Liu Qiaosheng, making him bear all the accusations. He also promised to spare the lives of his family members.
The one who came to persuade him was his own elder brother, Liu Lusheng, the current Assistant Minister of Revenue.
Liu Qiaosheng dared not disobey and reluctantly agreed with a pained expression.
Wang Enze and Shen Yun were appointed by the Grand Secretariat to assist the Minister of the Grand Court of Revision in the retrial of the case.
Although both intended to conduct a thorough investigation, they were obstructed by Song Wenyuan, the Minister of the Grand Court of Revision at the time.
Using the excuse that the prisoner had already confessed and signed the confession, he prevented them from further investigation.
Upon leaving the Grand Court of Revision, Wang Enze angrily flicked his sleeves and said, "Hmph, Song Wenyuan is of the Crown Prince's party. This matter must be the Crown Prince's doing."
Shen Yun glanced at him. Wang Enze was not as tall as him, but he was truly too beautiful.
If he wore powder and pearl hairpins, perhaps most beauties in the world would be inferior to him.
Even in his anger now, his cheeks were flushed red, making him more radiant than flowers.
He softly cautioned, "Brother Wang, be mindful of your words."
Wang Enze was not truly angry. When they took over the case and knew of the Crown Prince's involvement, he had already accepted the outcome.
His outburst was merely to gauge Shen Yun's reaction.
The result was disappointing; Shen Yun's demeanor was far too steady, so steady it unnerved him.
He looked up at the distant palace roofs with layered eaves and suddenly felt a trace of unease:
If Shen Yun was not of the same mind as them, he would undoubtedly become their most formidable adversary in the future.