So Her Letter Was Not Written to You
“Let’s go.”
As Song Chengyu’s wife and the daughter of Chief Astronomer Jiang, she naturally had to follow them into the palace. The Song clan leader also accompanied them.
After all.
She wanted Clan Leader Song to witness this scene with his own eyes, then bring his son’s corpse back to Madam Song. That would surely be quite interesting, wouldn’t it?
“Zhaoying.”
Clan Leader Song’s voice rang out. Jiang Zhaoying turned and performed a respectful bow. Clan Leader Song stepped forward and nodded.
“Be careful in the palace. Do not offend any nobles.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Seeing her obedient demeanor, Clan Leader Song finally breathed a sigh of relief. He gestured for her to board the carriage, then got in himself.
The curtain fell.
A flash of heartache passed through Xu Zhiyan’s eyes before he withdrew his gaze, instantly replacing it with a layer of cool detachment.
“Zhiyan, this matter happened too suddenly. We simply had no time to plan or prepare. Zhaoying dragged The Emperor into this situation, and you brought the Crown Prince into it. But if anything goes wrong, you know how severe the consequences could be.”
After reading the letter, Xu Zhiyan’s expression changed drastically. He then rushed off like the wind to make preparations, leaving Wei Jiuzhao no time to ask what had happened.
Fortunately, Xu Zhiyan had left the letter with him. The moment he finished reading, Wei Jiuzhao had already run through all the possible consequences in his mind.
Ying’er must be helped, but not in such a hasty, impulsive manner. If Song Chengyu’s Heart’s Blood fails to cure The Emperor’s heart condition, and blame is assigned, the entire Imperial Astronomer’s Bureau—even the entire Jiang household—could face execution. The price would simply be too high.
Zhiyan entered the Jiang household at age five, just when Ying’er was born. Since then, he had guarded and protected her every day. Eighteen years had passed. All these years, he had hidden his feelings flawlessly. But as the senior disciple, and as a man himself, how could Wei Jiuzhao not see through it?
Yet even these feelings could not compare to everyone’s lives.
Listening to his senior disciple’s reproach, Xu Zhiyan lowered his long, curled lashes. His cool, handsome face showed not a trace of fear. After a long while, he finally spoke.
“That’s why Ying’er entrusted her letter to me, her second senior disciple, and not to you, her first senior disciple!”
Wei Jiuzhao was stunned.
He gazed deeply at Xu Zhiyan, his exquisite face gradually paling to a faint pallor.
Indeed.
Ying’er had always shown great respect toward him, her first senior disciple. But with Xu Zhiyan, she often revealed a charming, girlish demeanor. They had always been close.
Previously, he had felt somewhat jealous, saying Ying’er favored one over the other. Ying’er had only smiled without responding. Now it seemed he understood why without needing her answer.
Helplessness flickered in his eyes. A bitter smile touched Wei Jiuzhao’s red lips.
“You blame me for not considering her first, but as the senior disciple, I must also consider the bigger picture. Besides, when it comes to Ying’er’s matters, I would never stand idly by.”
“I know, Senior Disciple. Ying’er understands too.”
Xu Zhiyan patted Wei Jiuzhao’s shoulder as if in comfort. To Wei Jiuzhao, however, it felt like a fishbone stuck in his throat, only deepening the bitterness.
He wondered if Ying’er would blame him after this matter. If he continued citing the bigger picture, it would seem especially feeble in Xu Zhiyan’s presence.
For the rest of the journey, the atmosphere grew heavy. No one spoke.
Xu Zhiyan sat upright, his eyes lightly closed. Wei Jiuzhao lowered his gaze, his expression somber, lost in thought.
The closer they got to the palace, the more unsettled their hearts became. Everything had happened too suddenly, leaving no time for planning, so no one knew what uncontrollable events might unfold next.
The body was carried directly into the Dragon Hidden Hall. The Emperor leaned against a soft cushion, strands of hair slightly disheveled, his face pale with a bluish tint—likely having just suffered a bout of heart pain.
A faint scent of medicine lingered in the hall. Eunuch Wu still held the medicine bowl, while a palace maid gently wiped the fine beads of sweat from the Emperor’s forehead with a handkerchief.
Eunuch Chen’s eyes were filled with concern. He glanced at Eunuch Wu, who presented the medicine bowl slightly. Eunuch Chen nodded and hurried forward to bow, reporting the matter in detail to the Emperor.
The Emperor then turned his gaze to Chief Astronomer Jiang, who stood nearby with lowered eyes and a respectful demeanor. After bowing, Jiang Jianzheng approached Song Chengyu’s body.
When he lifted the white cloth covering the body, his expression abruptly changed.
“His breath is impure, his body unclean.”
Pinching Song Chengyu’s wrist, Jiang Jianzheng took a silver needle, drew a drop of blood, and tasted it himself. With a darkening expression, he turned and glared sharply at Jiang Zhaoying.
“Kneel!”
Jiang Zhaoying seemed startled. She hurried forward and obediently knelt, her knees barely touching the ground before her father’s stern rebuke echoed above her head.
“Everything I taught you has been wasted! How could you be so wanton and shameless, engaging in such disgraceful acts before marriage, breaking his purity!”
“Father?”
Jiang Zhaoying’s small face turned deathly pale, tears of grievance welling up instantly. She looked up at Jiang Jianzheng and pleaded urgently.
“I have never been intimate with anyone!”
Without another thought, she rolled up a section of her fair, jade-like arm, pointing to the Chastity Sand as she choked back sobs.
“From leaving the bridal sedan to entering the Song residence, it was only three hours. Because of the wedding, I was anxious and hadn’t slept for days and nights. I was utterly exhausted and fell asleep. I don’t know when Song Chengyu entered the room, but when I opened my eyes again, he was already dead.”
“What is it?”
The Emperor’s brow furrowed tightly, a dark, turbulent look surging in his eyes like a massive wave.
Clan Leader Song quickly grasped the implication of Jiang Jianzheng’s words, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. Song Chengyu was certainly not pure—he had been involved with Shen Yuefu for two years now.
Shen Yuefu was the daughter of Madam Song’s younger sister. Madam Song adored her, but unfortunately, her family background was not particularly distinguished, nor was she wealthy, far inferior to Jiang Zhaoying.
If not for this incident, the one marrying Chengyu should have been Shen Yuefu!
Previously, they thought it didn’t matter how they carried on, as she was to be taken into the household anyway. But they never expected it would lead to such a disaster.
If they couldn’t save the Emperor, the entire Song clan would face even heavier punishment.
“Your Majesty.”
Jiang Jianzheng returned to the Emperor’s side.
“Song Chengyu is no longer pure. The effect of the Heart’s Blood may be diminished, but it will still be effective.”
After speaking.
Jiang Jianzheng’s gaze swept over Jiang Zhaoying from the corner of his eye, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Zhaoying was right.
Only this way could they avoid the impending danger. If the Heart’s Blood proved ineffective, the blame could be shifted onto Song Chengyu.
Of course.
There was another, deeper reason, but Zhaoying hadn’t explicitly stated it, only saying that Madam Song would have to resolve it.
So.
He was also curious about what method Madam Song would use to unravel this feigned death situation.
He pursed his lips slightly.
Jiang Zhaoying turned to look at Xu Zhiyan. His cold expression remained unchanged, yet his eyes held a trace of warmth as he gave an almost imperceptible nod.
He had already arranged for someone to interfere. At this moment, Song Qinghuan was frantically rushing toward the palace with Madam Song, and he believed they would arrive soon.