LF Chapter 11

Chapter 11: This is tolerable, what is intolerable?

The drowsy coachman, leaning lazily against the carriage, heard the noise. He peeled open his heavy eyelids and saw his master carrying a girl, staggering and panting as he rushed over.

The honest coachman was dumbfounded. In his thick voice, he loudly asked, “Master, how can you secretly abduct a girl? This violates the law and is punishable by exile!”

Yan Wanzhi was so out of breath that he couldn’t catch it, but he still refused to hand Jiang Yinghua over to the coachman. He stumbled along, carrying her onto the carriage. With his hands on his hips, he took a few rough breaths before snapping out of it and glaring at the coachman.

The coachman tiptoed, looking at Jiang Yinghua’s flushed face as she fainted, and chuckled. “I must say, this young lady is beautiful. You have a good eye, master!” He even gave a thumbs up.

Yan Wanzhi cursed inwardly. The reason he chose this big, simple guy was because he was a bit slow-witted but honest. Who knew he wasn’t just honest, but stupid!

Annoyance flickered in Yan Wanzhi’s eyes as he stared at the coachman, about to say something. The coachman added, “Master, your face is too red. Don’t be shy, I’ll go outside and keep watch for you.” With that, he lifted his foot and headed for the door.

“Come back!” Yan Wanzhi shouted angrily, then continued, “This is an honored guest of the manor today. Take her back as quickly as possible and hand her over to the housekeeper. Have someone fetch a doctor, and don’t delay for a moment. Do you hear me?”

“Oh, okay. I’ll handle it, master, don’t worry. I guarantee I’ll get her back safely.” Hearing this, the coachman turned back, hopped onto the carriage, and drove Jiang Yinghua away in a cloud of dust.

Watching the silhouette of the departing carriage, Yan Wanzhi raised a hand and touched his face. It was indeed burning hot. It seemed the coachman wasn’t joking earlier; his face was probably extremely red.

More than just his face, Yan Wanzhi’s heart had been pounding wildly when he held Jiang Yinghua.

He could still comfort himself earlier, saying it must be because Jiang Yinghua was too heavy, and his physical strength was failing. But now that she had been safely sent away and his fatigue had subsided, why was his heart still jumping around like a rabbit, the feeling of palpitations undiminished?

As the sun set, the nearby pond reflected the sky, clouds, and colorful rosy clouds. Yan Wanzhi hurried over, saw his face in the pond was as flushed as the sunset.

He bent down, stirred the reflection in the pond, and splashed several handfuls of icy water on his face, then turned and jogged back to the restaurant.

The patrol battalion and the constables of the Capital Prefecture, along with patrol soldiers, were already in position. Seeing this, Yan Wanzhi thought, “That vice-minister naturally recognizes Jiang Yinghua’s identity and appearance.” Fortunately, this person was a direct subordinate of Your Majesty, and his personal relationship with him wasn’t bad.

He turned and hurriedly went up to the third floor to investigate the private room where Jiang Yinghua had been.

Opening the door and entering, he saw several constables searching for clues. The window was wide open, obviously the culprit had already fled.

“How is it?” Yan Wanzhi asked with a serious expression.

“Who might this official be?” A constable, hearing this, looked at the fair-faced young man with some suspicion.

“Fourth-rank Imperial Scribe, Yan Wanzhi. Any leads?” Yan Wanzhi looked around the room, responding casually.

Hearing this, the constables immediately became respectful, bowing deeply. “This humble one’s eyes failed to recognize Mount Tai. Scholar Yan, please forgive us.”

“It’s fine, the investigation is important, tell me about the progress.” Yan Wanzhi waved his hand, asking seriously.

One constable brought over the incense burner, opened the lid, and pulled out a piece of incense that hadn’t completely burned, saying, “I wonder if you recognize this, sir?”

Yan Wanzhi took it and examined it. It seemed no different from ordinary incense, and the scent wasn’t strong, but it was indeed a different scent from what he had smelled in the private room downstairs.

“The incense was switched?”

“Master, not only was the incense switched, but it was switched to an aphrodisiac incense used in brothels. Smelling this incense alone isn’t a problem, but if you drink alcohol, the effect is immediately apparent.” The constable showed off his erudite knowledge, talking non-stop.

“Impudent!” Yan Wanzhi became increasingly annoyed, slamming the table in anger. The constable, not understanding why, took a half-step back, bowing with cupped hands, frightened.

Yan Wanzhi then realized he had lost his composure, waved his hand and said, “I’m not talking about you.” He sighed, “Who is so bold as to make a move here? Aside from this, are there any other clues?”

“In the room across the way, a bodyguard’s corpse was found. His neck was broken by brute force. The person who did it must have excellent martial arts skills,” the constable continued.

Hearing this, a layer of frost instantly covered Yan Wanzhi’s dark eyes. He turned abruptly, went downstairs, and rode away.

In front of the Tai Zhang Palace gate, Yan Wanzhi galloped over on horseback. Seeing that the palace gate was about to be locked, Yan Wanzhi shouted loudly, “Hold on!”

Hearing this, the gate guard immediately drew his long saber, shouting, “Who is trespassing on the palace? Dismount immediately!”

“Whoa~” Seeing this, Yan Wanzhi immediately reined in his horse, shouting back, “I am Imperial Scribe Yan Wanzhi of the Hanlin Academy. I have important business to see Your Majesty. Please report to the inner court immediately.”

Hearing this, the guard calmed down slightly, asking, “Do you have any proof or seal? The palace gate is about to be locked, if there is no important matter, we dare not let you pass.”

Yan Wanzhi urged his horse forward, dismounted, and trotted to the guard’s side, taking out a golden token from his bosom.

Seeing this token, the guard sheathed his saber and saluted, “I didn’t know it was Commander Yan himself. Please enter.”

Yan Wanzhi hurried through the palace gate. As dusk approached, even the palace servants were wearily changing shifts. Seeing his hurried appearance, they stopped and began to discuss him.

Before long, Yan Wanzhi rushed to Your Majesty’s palace, out of breath, he asked the old eunuch guarding the door for permission to see the Emperor.

The old eunuch vaguely heard what he said, turned and entered the hall, saying, “Your Majesty, something bad has happened. Imperial Scribe Yan is outside requesting an audience, saying that the Ninth Princess is in trouble.”

Jiang Jingche slammed the table and stood up, “What? Summon him quickly!”

Yan Wanzhi walked into the hall, about to bow, but Your Majesty hurriedly stopped him, asking right away, “What’s wrong with Hua’er? Speak!”

“Your Majesty, please rest assured, Prince Zhao is fine. The matter is rather complicated and thorny, your subject had to come quickly to request your command. Please listen to your subject’s detailed report.” Yan Wanzhi cupped his hands and replied.

“Go on.” Your Majesty, hearing this, restrained her earlier agitation, clasped her hands behind her back, calmed her emotions, and waited for Yan Wanzhi to speak.

“Today, while your subject was in the Star Plucking Tower, I encountered Prince Zhao falling from a private room on the third floor. Prince Zhao fell victim to… to the Prince of Yun’an’s scheme…”

Before Yan Wanzhi could finish, Your Majesty interrupted, “Falling? Was she injured? Where is she?”

“Due to the urgency, your subject had no choice but to send her to my residence. I have ordered the housekeeper to take care of her, she should be fine.” Yan Wanzhi knelt down and replied.

“Mm, continue.” Your Majesty’s face was somewhat gloomy.

“When your subject returned, the Prince of Yun’an and his accomplices had already fled. The patrolmen found clues, Prince Zhao’s guard was killed with a broken neck, and in the private room of the princess, there was… aphrodisiac incense.” Yan Wanzhi lowered his eyes and replied.

“Yan Wanzhi, is this how you handle affairs? People caused trouble right under your nose, and you still let them all escape without any clues?” Your Majesty’s voice was so cold that it could drop ice shards.

Yan Wanzhi kowtowed on the ground, saying, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger, your subject is incompetent. Your subject dares to ask Your Majesty, how should the people of Star Plucking Tower be dealt with?”

“What do you think?” Your Majesty asked back.

“Your subject understands, I will go and do it.” Yan Wanzhi, hearing this, kowtowed again, and after replying, he rose to leave.

“Stand there. You’re too anxious, too impetuous. Explain the matter of the Prince more clearly.” Your Majesty looked at him faintly, asking.

“Yes, when Prince Zhao fell, she must have been poisoned, her mind was unclear, she only told your subject to kill the Prince. According to the restaurant’s investigation, Prince Zhao should have only brought one guard with her, without making any announcements. There were only two wine cups in the private room, so it seems only the Prince was meeting with her at that time. At the time of the incident, there were two or three people on the third floor acting suspiciously, possibly accomplices.”

Yan Wanzhi lowered his eyes, revealing all the information he knew.

“In your opinion, should the Prince be killed?” Your Majesty walked to the window and asked.

“If something happens to the Prince, the King of Yun’an will surely rebel.” Yan Wanzhi thought for a moment and said.

“Then, we’ll strike first.” Your Majesty’s voice was very soft, as if talking to herself. Yan Wanzhi’s eyes flickered, but he did not respond.

“How did you come?” Your Majesty turned back, walked up to him, and asked.

“Ah? Your subject, your subject came on horseback.” Yan Wanzhi was stunned for a few breaths, answering with some confusion.

“I will send you back.” Jiang Jingche said quietly.

Hearing this, Yan Wanzhi understood that Your Majesty was going to his residence. It seemed that Jiang Yinghua weighed extremely heavily in her heart.

About half an hour later, an imperial guard led a luxurious carriage towards the Yan residence. The wide carriage could not enter the narrow alley where the Yan residence was located. Your Majesty stepped out of the carriage with some distaste, and Yan Wanzhi helped her into the residence.

“Change your residence.” Your Majesty’s voice was without much inflection.

“Your subject obeys.” Yan Wanzhi’s hand, supporting Your Majesty’s, was covered with a thin layer of sweat.

Inside Yan Wanzhi’s bedroom, Jiang Yinghua was sleeping dazedly. Beside her, an old man with white hair and beard was taking her pulse and applying acupuncture.

When he clearly saw the noble woman in casual clothing who had entered, he hastily knelt down, “This old minister kowtows to Your Majesty.”

As soon as these words came out, the maids and servants standing in the room all prostrated themselves on the ground, truly frightened.

Your Majesty ignored the people in the room, heading straight for the bedside.

Seeing this, Yan Wanzhi waved her hand, signaling everyone to leave.

Your Majesty said quietly, “Doctor Chen, you stay.”

Sitting down at the bedside, Your Majesty immediately spotted a long cut on Jiang Yinghua’s pale arm, turning to Yan Wanzhi, she said, “Is this what you call fine?”

Yan Wanzhi lowered her eyes and said nothing, standing extremely properly.

The person on the bed heard the familiar voice, and dazedly rubbed her head against Your Majesty, “Umm, sister, sister, someone bullied me…”

Your Majesty’s hand touched her forehead, the temperature was somewhat hot, turning to Doctor Chen, she asked, “How is Hua’er now, has a prescription been written?”

“In response to Your Majesty, this minister has already ordered someone to decoct the medicine. This poison is slightly damaging to the body, but it is not difficult to alleviate. With three medicines, the body will be much better.” Doctor Chen replied respectfully.

“You are also an old servant who has served for many years, today’s matter…” Your Majesty lowered her eyes and looked at him, deliberately slowing her tone.

“This old minister is only here to treat Imperial Scribe Yan for a cold.” Doctor Chen quickly knelt down and replied.

Your Majesty did not make things difficult, waving her hand to dismiss them. Seeing them walk away, she said to Yan Wanzhi, “The people in your residence are very reliable, remember to reward them well.”

“Your subject, obeys.”

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the housekeeper brought the medicinal soup. Your Majesty took it, but did not know how to feed the dazed girl, glancing at Yan Wanzhi with some uncertainty.

“If Your Majesty does not mind, your subject will serve Your Highness with the medicinal soup.” Feeling Your Majesty’s gaze, Yan Wanzhi cupped her hands and requested instructions.

Your Majesty got up and handed over the medicine bowl to her, sitting aside herself.

Yan Wanzhi very carefully blew the medicine to cool it down, raised the pillow under Jiang Yinghua’s head a little higher, scooped up half a spoonful of medicinal soup, and gently held it against Jiang Yinghua’s lower lip. With a slight lift of her hand, the medicinal soup was fed in, and the few drops that flowed out were gently wiped away by Yan Wanzhi with a handkerchief.

Your Majesty watched from the side, teasing, “These serving skills are truly skilled.”

Yan Wanzhi, hearing this, smiled and said, “In the past, when your subject and my mother were fleeing from disaster, I learned it.”

Your Majesty, hearing this, did not open her mouth to reply.

After swallowing the medicinal soup, Jiang Yinghua was still sleeping dazedly, showing no signs of waking up.

Your Majesty paced anxiously back and forth in the small bedroom, ultimately unable to wait any longer. She walked to the bed, saw that the flush on her face had subsided, and shook the person’s body, saying, “Hua’er, Hua’er, don’t sleep, it’s time to go home.”

“Hmm?… Hmm, go home.” Jiang Yinghua didn’t even open her eyelids, vaguely responding.

Your Majesty helplessly asked Yan Wanzhi, “Do you have a cloak?”

Yan Wanzhi was stunned for a moment, then found a cloak from the wardrobe at the end of the bed, handing it over with both hands.

“Go, put it on her.” Your Majesty gave a look. Yan Wanzhi dared not disobey, sitting down by the bed and putting the cloak on Jiang Yinghua, then quickly retreated.

“I’m taking the person away. Today’s matter, credit to you.” Your Majesty said as she walked forward, picked up the person horizontally, and walked towards the door.

Watching Your Majesty’s steady steps, Yan Wanzhi’s mind was full of doubts. Why, when she held this person, did she feel like she would lose strength and drop her on the ground at any moment, while Your Majesty could walk so calmly, striding along?