Yuan Fuyu asked, “After the Princess died, Lu Pingxuan, the Marquis of the Northern Army who was exterminated along with three generations of his relatives, was one of the Princess’s people. Among the other officials allegedly involved who were executed and had their families executed and properties confiscated, nearly thirty percent were also the Princess’s people. Were they truly traitors, or were they silenced?”
“At that time, the prisoners were taken over and guarded by Pei Du personally with his men. I couldn’t intervene,” He Yichen replied.
Yuan Fuyu asked again, “Is Anping Princess Yuan Fuqu under house arrest, or is she truly secluded in her manor, devoting herself to Buddhist prayers?”
He Yichen pressed his lips together.
“Which prominent family is Xie Huaizhou and his family currently closely associated with?”
He Yichen still did not answer.
Yuan Fuyu didn’t know whether He Yichen truly knew nothing about her questions or if he was wary of her.
She asked again, “Now that Pei Du is by Xie Huaizhou’s side, does he still visit Xian Wang Manor every month?”
He Yichen hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Before I returned to my hometown, Pei Du was still going. Moreover, I infer that behind Xie Huaizhou’s back, Pei Du is still searching for the successor of the Cheng Style Reviving Spring Needles, and he seems to be in a hurry.”
Yuan Fuyu raised her eyebrows slightly. Behind Xie Huaizhou’s back?
Before Yuan Fuyu died, she had absolute trust in Pei Du; otherwise, she wouldn’t have entrusted her safety to him.
If Pei Du had betrayed her to join Xie Huaizhou, and now that Xie Huaizhou already held great power, why would Pei Du still search for the successor of the Cheng Style Reviving Spring Needles behind his back?
Not even He Yichen knew that she had confined Prince Xian because he suffered from the same ailment as her, both with limited time left.
And the confined Prince Xian was actually in his manor, testing medicines for Yuan Fuyu.
Did Pei Du join Xie Huaizhou with ulterior motives?
That night at the estate in the outskirts of the capital, besides Pei Du, only Xie Huaizhou was left alive.
To uncover the truth, she needed to see Pei Du.
Yuan Fuyu’s gaze fell on He Yichen. Moreover, judging by He Yichen’s attitude, he didn’t completely distrust Pei Du either.
“He Yichen, although you followed the Princess’s lead unquestioningly, you also had the courage to defy convention and advise her. That was what the Princess admired most about you. You have talent and ambition, but you’re not clever enough, and your martial skills are average. Yet you excel in unwavering loyalty—that’s why the Princess entrusted Xiaoshi Bureau to you. But look at you now. With the Princess dead, you’re like a ship that has lost its navigator, willingly relinquishing power, drowning yourself in alcohol, and spending your days in despondency. Where is the quality the Princess valued in you?”
He Yichen had gained her appreciation and promotion along the way, his path too smooth. So when he encountered obstacles, the death of his sovereign, and the betrayal of his subordinates, he collapsed completely.
“I’ll leave the letter with you. With your ability, you should be able to discern whether this letter is genuine or not.” Yuan Fuyu placed the letter on the stone table beside her. “If you still have the ambition to uncover the truth behind the Princess’s death and avenge her, pull yourself together and return to the capital. By then… I hope to receive answers to all the questions I asked you today.”
“Why come to me instead of Pei Du?” He Yichen asked.
“To investigate the Princess’s death, I need assistance, and I have no one reliable around me. The Princess wrote in her letter that there were two people she trusted and valued: one was you, and the other was Pei Du. Now Pei Du is with the powerful Xie Huaizhou, while you… because of the Princess’s death, have been stripped of power and demoted. You didn’t benefit from the Princess’s death, so I trust you more.”
“When the Princess was still alive, you and Pei Du often clashed, yet I see you don’t entirely distrust him in your heart. Since that’s the case…” Yuan Fuyu rose, her calm eyes resting on He Yichen who knelt soaking wet by the water jar. She tapped her finger on the letter. “After verifying its authenticity, make haste to the capital and arrange a meeting with Pei Du for me.”
“You want to question Pei Du face-to-face about what happened the night the Princess died?” He Yichen asked.
Yuan Fuyu didn’t deny it. “What faster way is there to learn about that night’s events?”
“But what if…” He Yichen hesitated. “What if Pei Du truly betrayed Her Highness?”
Yuan Fuyu’s expression remained detached, her voice soft. “A dog that bites its master deserves to be beaten to death.”
Under He Yichen’s astonished gaze, Yuan Fuyu walked toward the door of his home.
“Wait! I don’t even know your name!”
“Fourth Lady of the Cui Family, tribute lacquerware merchant from Wu City.”
He Yichen watched as the black lacquered wooden door of his home, its paint already peeling, was pushed open by the female guard waiting outside. He hurriedly called out, “Wait! How should I contact you after I enter the capital? Wait… Cui Siniang!”
Despite shouting at the top of his lungs, He Yichen couldn’t stop Yuan Fuyu from leaving.
His legs and arms were tightly bound, making it impossible to stand. He simply rolled over to the stone table where the letter was placed.
It took He Yichen quite some time to struggle free from the ropes. Carefully picking up the letter, afraid to soil it, he quickly returned indoors, lit a candle, washed his hands, and unfolded the letter.
From the stroke order, penmanship, writing style, and the Princess’s customary taboos in composition, He Yichen confirmed the letter was indeed written by the Princess herself. He could no longer hold back his tears. The stalwart seven-foot man choked with sobs, deeply feeling he had failed the Princess’s trust.
Fourth day of the twelfth lunar month.
The Cui family’s carriage arrived at the capital near dusk.
Before Tonghua Gate, carriages and pedestrians bustled about, the queue to enter the city extremely long.
The Cui family steward stepped forward to present the travel pass. While the gate guards verified the seals from checkpoints along the journey, he smilingly slipped silver into a guard’s hand.
If each of the Cui family’s carriages were inspected one by one, they likely wouldn’t reach Chongren Ward for lodging before the curfew.
The guard tucked the silver into his sleeve, made a show of walking past the carriages, then waved for them to proceed.
Yuan Fuyu lifted the curtain of the elmwood carriage…
Golden sunset light poured over the capital’s well-developed roads and dense population.
The broad, bustling main street teemed with continuous streams of carriages and pedestrians. Rows of tall buildings and spacious structures stood shoulder to shoulder, their glazed black tiles and layered eaves soaring elegantly.
The carriage slowly entered the city, its wheels rolling over the bluestone pavement laid beneath the majestic city gate. Emerging from the gate’s shadow, it crushed the lingering sunset glow beneath its wheels, formally stepping into the magnificent, grand capital—as if crossing into a dazzling painting of a prosperous era.
After an absence of three and a half years… she had finally returned.
Just as the Cui family’s procession reached Chongren Ward, the profound evening drumbeats from Chengtian Gate sounded, followed closely by the street drums. The rhythmic drumming spread through the capital like ripples on green waves.
When the six hundred drumbeats ceased, the ward gates closed one after another, and pedestrians on the street quickened their steps.
The Cui family steward had gone ahead to Xingsheng Tavern to make arrangements. As soon as Master Cui, Second Master, and Yuan Fuyu arrived, they could enter and rest.
Xingsheng Tavern was already full by early dusk.
Inside, carved balustrades and jade inlays adorned the space, gold and jade filling the hall. Stepping into this brilliantly lit establishment was like entering a world of extravagant splendor.
Guests clad in fine silks and adorned with pearls and jade sat around the tavern’s winding stream and mountain scenery. Amid the murmuring flow and musical melodies, they raised cups, wielded chopsticks, composed poetry, exchanged toasts, and engaged in lofty discussions.
This was the drinking and conversation area of the Prosperous Tavern. To reach the guest quarters, one had to follow the winding stream adorned with floating lotus lanterns into the serene bamboo-shaded rear courtyard.
While the main hall of the Prosperous Tavern was packed with esteemed guests, the rear courtyard—though less bustling than the front—still saw constant comings and goings.
Lotus lanterns drifting along the winding stream from the tavern’s “floating cup” game clustered densely upon the misty warm waters. Their cozy, flickering candlelight rose with the steam, gleaming brilliantly in the night and transforming the rear courtyard’s corridors and buildings into a scene reminiscent of an ethereal paradise.