WMSG Chapter 83
by VolareYe Yueshen wasn’t sure if Marquis Ye wanted him to hear, but Gong Xunwu kept one hand on his leg, preventing him from leaving, and even turned back to instruct him, “You just woke up, it’s not good to get out of bed and wander around. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
Marquis Ye was trembling slightly due to excitement. He didn’t care whether his youngest son was listening or not. He raised his head, looked directly into Gong Xunwu’s eyes, and confessed everything he knew.
He had originally been an official in the court, holding the position of Secretariat Drafter. He shouldn’t have ruined his promising future, but he claimed to be in poor health and retired early due to illness.
Back then, when the First Prince, Gong Jin, was still studying, the Emperor highly valued Ye Daijin’s talent and upright character, and specially asked him to teach his eldest son.
Gong Jin originally had his own teacher, whose lessons had always been his tutor’s responsibility. His tutor was nearly sixty years old, and due to a persistent cold, he was delayed.
Gong Jin was a person who valued old relationships and feelings. He respected and trusted his teacher very much and was unwilling to change him easily, so the Emperor asked Ye Daijin to teach temporarily for a period of time.
“The First Prince did not accidentally eat stale rice.” Ye Daijin was already weeping, “That day, the First Prince had already vomited before leaving the palace. I went to deliver a travelogue that His Highness wanted. His Highness’s lips were pale. I asked His Highness if he was unwell. His Highness said he was just getting up too early, and he would be fine after breakfast.”
Ye Daijin lowered his head, his shoulders slumping, “I only regret not keeping His Highness back then, and immediately summoning the Imperial Physician. Now that I think about it, that was a sign of poisoning!”
Gong Xunwu clenched his fist tightly. His eyes were wide and red as he looked at Ye Daijin kneeling on the ground. He couldn’t care less about pleasing Ye Yueshen’s family. His mind was filled with hatred and a premonition of fear.
If he couldn’t catch the murderers who killed Gong Jin, perhaps Ye Yueshen would be the next to be in danger. Moreover, he had already seen what Ye Yueshen looked like when he was in danger.
Gong Xunwu closed his eyes to relieve the soreness. His voice was extremely cold, “Just because of dry heaving, you conclude that he was already poisoned. The Emperor won’t believe it.”
Ye Daijin raised his head, “I was just about to say this. Actually, the day before, after my lesson, when I was about to leave the palace, I sprained my foot while descending the steps, so I sat down nearby to rest by the grass. I heard people talking vaguely not far away…”
That day, he heard a voice with a croaking sound, “Has the summer heat relieving soup been switched?”
“It has been switched. Let the Empress be at ease.”
This shouldn’t have made Ye Daijin think of poisoning, but it was indeed the most regretful thing in his life. If he had known that the First Prince would die soon, he would have returned to tell the First Prince not to drink any summer heat relieving mung bean soup.
But the brief conversation between the two didn’t reveal anything. Ye Daijin thought it was the Empress showing concern for her son, so she had people switch to a summer heat relieving soup that was better for the body.
As a result, the next night, the bell rang in the palace. The Junzhu hurried into the palace and sent news back home that the First Prince had accidentally eaten stale rice at the manor and had already died.
Ye Daijin inexplicably thought of the conversation he had overheard. Seven days later, he entered the palace. Amidst the weeping, a small eunuch ran out in a panic, shouting that something was wrong.
Ye Daijin suddenly raised his head and looked over, only to see a eunuch running and shouting in his croaking voice, “The Noble Consort is heartbroken over the First Prince and has fainted from excessive grief. Quickly summon the Imperial Physician! Our lady loved His Highness so much…”
The little eunuch cried as he shouted. Flattering officials were already praising the Noble Consort’s kindness, while a small number of upright officials coldly watched the little eunuch using the First Prince’s death to put on a show.
But except for Ye Daijin, no one thought that the little eunuch and the Noble Consort were just trying to cover things up.
Because Ye Daijin stared at the little eunuch for too long, the little eunuch felt his gaze and looked over in confusion.
Ye Daijin was not the kind of person who could give everything for righteousness. He cared about his own life, the safety of his family, and the glory of his clan.
So he retreated in fear, afraid that the Noble Consort had already listed him as an enemy who needed to be silenced. He quickly met with the Emperor, claiming illness and resigning from his position.
After evading for so many years, he watched Gong Xunwu being scolded by the Emperor for investigating, and the Junzhu would also mention at home that the Empress Dowager had persuaded Qi Wang many times, but Qi Wang insisted on investigating.
But Ye Daijin never had the thought of being a witness for the sake of those few days of teacher-student affection. He was a weak person who couldn’t bear to part with his Junzhu wife and promising sons.
Everything he had obtained was not easy. There was no need to take risks for the Emperor’s son.
Fate entangled Gong Xunwu with his youngest son. His youngest son was repeatedly involved in danger. Ye Daijin finally couldn’t help but want to come forward to testify, hoping to eliminate future troubles forever.
Gong Xunwu almost trembled as he asked, “Who is the servant colluding with the Noble Consort?”
Ye Daijin had already investigated this matter, so when Gong Xunwu asked, he understood who he was talking about, and quickly replied, “The person who spoke to the Noble Consort that day was Liujin, who served by His Highness’s side, usually taking care of His Highness’s writing brush…”
“I know.” Gong Xunwu vaguely remembered a person, who could be considered a relatively presentable eunuch by the First Prince’s side.
Ye Daijin crawled forward on his knees, looking up at Gong Xunwu, “Your Highness, please have mercy on this official who has a wife and children, and forgive me for the crime of knowing but not reporting…” He sobbed as he prostrated on the ground.
Ye Yueshen didn’t say a word. The things they were talking about had nothing to do with the plot mentioned in the original book. He and Gong Xunwu were hearing about this for the first time, because he was even more surprised than Gong Xunwu.
He was surprised that his father was actually a witness to this matter, and had resigned early because of it.
Gong Xunwu was originally somewhat angry and regretful that Ye Daijin, who could be considered half a teacher to the First Prince, had been a coward for so many years.
But when Ye Daijin mentioned his wife and children, Gong Xunwu’s temper dissipated, turning into a sour emotion. He turned back to look at Ye Yueshen.
Ye Yueshen’s eyes were shimmering with tears, looking at him expectantly, the worry in his eyes was obvious.
Gong Xunwu pulled him into his arms and hugged him tightly. Ye Yueshen didn’t push him away, because he felt that Gong Xunwu’s expression just now really needed a hug.