[Fengyin Hall]
"Minister Li, why are you here?" Shen Ruihua asked.
It was obvious that her mood was not very bright. She looked a bit tired and stressed.
"Your Highness seems quite stressed", Li Changsheng observed.
"The inner palace has been busy. Why did you suddenly come to see me?" she asked again.
"Your highness, I will not beat around the bush. I have found out about the progress of the investigation regarding the Prime Minister's case", he started.
Shen Ruihua did not interrupt but slowly drank her tea.
"With your highness's connection, you must have also found out that Lord Shen is related to the case", he continued.
Shen Ruihua paused on her tea but still said nothing.
"Second prince has also been eager to solve the case and your highness knows better than me that he does not care about familial connections. Also, his faction has constantly been at war with our faction"
Shen Ruihua finally set her teacup down. She looked straight at him and asked with a calm voice, too calm, "so?"
"If Lord Shen is found guilty, that would not look good"
"Minister Li, what are you suggesting we do then?" she asked.
"I can help you but I have a request"
"You want your daughter to marry He Yan, don't you?" Shen Ruihua read his thoughts.
Li Changsheng heaved a sigh. Even now, Shen Ruihua was not ready to budge.
"Minister Li, do you really think I don't know about your involvement in the Prime Minister's case? You are trying to use my son to save your family and if it turns out for the worse, your daughter can at least be saved, right?" she said.
Li Changsheng gave a short smile, "that's the more reason your highness must accept my offer. If I'm involved in this case, you should also know that I have more than enough evidence to prove Lord Shen's guilt. Then, no matter how eloquent he is, he won't escape and that may affect your highness's grand plan, right?"
"Minister Liu, are you threatening me?"
Shen Ruihua was still surprisingly calm.
"I am merely reminding your highness of the consequences. I have helped His Highness gain the Wu army. I hope your highness can also fulfill your end of the bargain"
There was a long pause.
"Minister Li, how did you drag my brother into this?"
Li Changsheng stood up, "After Li Min and His Highness have tied the knot, I'll explain clearly to your highness", he bowed, "I'll take my leave now".
Shen Ruihua's grip tightened on the teacup as she watched him leave.
"Your highness, what are we going to do?" the nanny by her side, Lady Mao asked.
Shen Ruihua took a deep breath, "If Cheng'an is found guilty, my position will weaken and He Yan's power might get unstable. But if I agree to Li Changsheng's request, there might be a chance to save everything and the Li family might also prosper", Shen Ruihua calculated.
"This Minister Liu is truly ruthless", Lady Mao commented.
Shen Ruihua stood up with her help, "that is the least of my concerns. What is bothering me is how Cheng'an got entangled in this mess"
[Weizhong Teahouse, Wei City]
"Your highness, to what do we owe this pleasure?" Xu Yicheng asked pouring He Rui tea.
"Recently, we've been investigating a certain medicine and I would like to have your insights on it", He Rui answered.
"What medicine could Your Highness invite all three of us for advice?"
"The medicine is very rare. I couldn't find it anywhere...not even your pharmacies"
"That's impossible. My Hall of Hundred Herbs has any kind of medicine you want", Fang Jinghe said with pride.
Xu Yicheng couldn't help but wonder how there was such a foolish person that couldn't read the room.
"Master Fang seems to have knowledge of every medicine. I'm glad I invited you", He Rui said.
"I'm just average, just average. If you want someone with extensive and deep knowledge, Master Lin is the one you should consult", Fang Jinghe shifted the attention to Lin Yaotang.
"Master Fang, you flatter me. I'm just an ordinary man with basic knowledge. Your highness, when it comes to matters of rare medicines, Master Xu is well read and has inherited his father's legacy", he also shifted the attention from himself.
Xu Yicheng was the youngest of all three of them. His parents had passed and he had gotten the Hall of Benevolent Healing via inheritance as the only son. He also had a younger sister.
Unlike the others, he did not evade but spoke up, "Your Highness, you may tell me the name of the medicine. If I know it, I'll gladly offer my advice"
"This medicine is known to render someone fully paralyzed but retains consciousness. A simple dose can render someone immobile for a few minutes", He Rui said looking at him to study his reaction but there was none.
"Your highness must be talking about 'dust sleep'", he said naturally.
"You know it?" Liu ying asked quite surprised that he admitted it so quickly.
"My father told me about it. His majesty had banned it after an overdose killed his favorite consort", he explained.
"Master Xu is quite knowledgeable at a young age", He Rui commented.
"Of course, as the saying goes - The new shall surpass the old", Xu Yicheng said gently fanning himself with his fan.
He Rui and Liu ying watched the expressions of the three masters before them. Who was guilty?
[Deputy Magistrate's Residence]
"I don't remember", Shen Cheng'an answered.
"You don't remember? How can you not remember?" Lv Chi was not looking very happy with his answer.
"I'm getting old. Isn't it normal to forget some things?" he asked before turning to Lu Qian, "wouldn't you agree, Official Lu?"
"The mind indeed gets foggy with age. Since that is the case, I'll help Lord Shen remember", Lu Qian said and paused before continuing.
"At the hour of Si, you left your residence and your carriage was seen passing through the back gates of the western market. I wonder if that rings a bell"
Shen Cheng'an paused for a while before answering, "I seem to remember such a day. That day, I had been ordered by the magistrate to investigate those holding businesses illegally in the west market. Those with shady businesses usually carry out their activities in the back of the west market"
"That's a good explanation. I have also confirmed that before coming", Lu Qian paused again then asked the next question, "at the hour of Wu, your butler was seen taking a horse down the exit gates of Wei City, why is that?"
"Unfortunately, we were late for work that day. Many of those traders were already headed for the city gates. I had my butler stop them at the gate", Shen Cheng'an answered his question.
He thought for a while and added, "I heard from my butler that Lord Gu was among the carriages leaving that day. Is this question related to him?" he asked in feigned concern.
They both locked eyes fiercely and it was unsure who would win the challenge.
[Channing Palace]
He Yu was standing before a long table filled with different ingredients. He was brewing tea.
"His Highness and Miss Liu have gone to visit to visit the three masters. They are trying to figure out who sells the medicine", Jun Jie reported.
He Yu did not look up from what he was doing, "and the others?"
"Official Lu and Official Lv are trying to get the truth out of Lord Shen"
There was a long pause as He Yu kept doing his work without a word.
"Your highness, do you think they'll find out anything?" Jun Jie asked.
"Fang Jinghe and Lin Yaotang have been in the business world for years. Their footing is as solid as a rock. Xu Yicheng, on the other hand, although young is smart and witty. They won't get anything useful", He Yu answered as he softly fanned the flames of the teapot.
"What about the others?"
"Lu Qian and Lv Chi make a great team but Shen Cheng'an isn't someone they can actually handle", He Yu said as he added another ingredient to the teapot.
"Shen Cheng'an is the empress's older brother. Instead of using that identity to gain a foothold in court, he chose to stay in Wei City and be a deputy magistrate and quietly accumulate power. He is Shen Ruihua's eyes in Wei City and the magistrate is just a puppet placed there for balance. Such a man cannot be easily fooled or frightened", he said.
"So they won't be able to get anything out of him?" Jun Jie asked.
"They won't", He Yu said as he gently poured the tea in the teacup. He proceeded to inhale the fragrance, "since both sides are not capable enough, I'll help them out a little", he said and looked up at Jun Jie, "Xiao Huan should be free now"
Jun Jie nodded, bowed and left while He Yu sat down and gently took a sip of the tea. The game was on.