Chapter 146: Failing to Teach One's Daughter

Tan Yun could not help but feel a surge of joy in his heart.

Splendid, simply splendid! Tan Qingjiu truly did not let him down. She had only entered the Prince Duan's Estate a few days ago, and she had already managed to move in with Prince Duan.

Tan Yun curled the corners of his lips. He was a man himself, and naturally understood very well what it meant for a man and a woman to live together—it meant that it was simply impossible for nothing to have happened between them.

No wonder.

No wonder Prince Duan was so furious when something happened to Tan Qingjiu.

Tan Yun's thoughts raced. He had never heard of Shen Yingjue having any involvement with other women before, and it was rumored that only attendants, not maidservants, served in Shen Yingjue's courtyard.

Tan Qingjiu must have been Shen Yingjue's first woman. Having just tasted the forbidden fruit, he was hooked, and since Tan Qingjiu had fallen victim to an incident at this very moment, Shen Yingjue naturally would not be pleased.

However, precisely because Shen Yingjue and Tan Qingjiu were currently as close as glue and paint, they could not afford to let Shen Yingjue have too much idle time.

Otherwise, what if Shen Yingjue desired her, yet Tan Qingjiu was unconscious from poison and unable to respond? If Shen Yingjue could not be satisfied and went looking for other women, wouldn't the losses outweigh the gains?

At this thought, Tan Yun could not help feeling annoyed once more. Tan Yunge really knew nothing about considering the bigger picture.

No, he had to find a way to go to Tan Yunge, get the antidote, and cure Qingjiu's poisoning as soon as possible.

As long as Qingjiu was well, the next time he came, he would give her a gentle hint to serve Prince Duan properly. Wouldn't his own soaring up the career ladder be just around the corner?

With this thought, Tan Yun's expression grew even milder: "Living together is good, living together is indeed good. Qingjiu is a physician, after all. By living together, she can guard Prince Duan day and night, notice the very first moment Prince Duan's illness flares up, and take good care of him."

Shen Yingjue nodded, his face behind the mask filled with mockery: "Indeed. When the Princess Consort first entered the estate, that was what she said as well."

Tan Yun became even more delighted. He had not expected Tan Qingjiu to be so sensible, and her methods of captivating a man were really quite good—marvellous indeed.

Shen Yingjue slightly raised his chin: "Lord Tan can rest assured. With this prince looking after the Princess Consort in the estate, it will certainly never happen that anyone is bullied within Prince Duan's Manor."

"This time, the Princess Consort being poisoned was entirely beyond this prince's expectations. This prince has kept the servants in the estate quite well disciplined, but despite guarding against every possible threat, I never expected that the one to strike would be the Princess Consort's own elder sister."

Tan Yun hurriedly knelt down: "This official has failed to discipline his daughter properly, and begs Prince Duan to forgive him."

With a face full of remorse, Tan Yun let out a deep sigh: "This official has just been to see Yunge and has already given her a severe reprimand. Your Highness, rest assured, although Yunge is also this official's daughter, Qingjiu is as well. This official will certainly not be the least bit partial and let Qingjiu suffer any grievances."

"If it is investigated and proven that Yunge truly administered the poison, this official will absolutely not spare her lightly. I will deal with her however she deserves, and this official will not intercede for her. Moreover, if she really is the one who poisoned her, this official guarantees that I will personally go find her and make her hand over the antidote so that Qingjiu can be cured in time."

Shen Yingjue nodded, and his voice softened slightly: "Naturally, this prince trusts Lord Tan. After all, the Princess Consort herself has mentioned to this prince more than once that after returning to the capital, Lord Tan let bygones be bygones and treated her exceptionally well, for which she is very grateful. This prince believes the Princess Consort would not misjudge a person."

Tan Yun was overjoyed: "Naturally, naturally. Qingjiu is my daughter, after all, so I naturally must treat her better."

Just as they were speaking, the steward hurried over: "Your Highness, the physicians ask Your Highness to go over for a moment. They say they have formulated some antidotes based on the symptoms of the Princess Consort's poisoning, and wish to know whether they should be administered to her."

Shen Yingjue's voice instantly turned icy cold: "Those good-for-nothings cannot even figure out what poison the Princess Consort has contracted, yet they dare to give the Princess Consort those random concoctions? What happens if something goes wrong because the Princess Consort takes their medicine? Will they pay with their lives?"

"Even if they dared to pay with their lives, this prince would not want them."

Shen Yingjue raised his eyes to look at Tan Yun: "Lord Tan, this prince has matters to attend to, so I will not escort you out."

"The poison in the Princess Consort's body is truly too bizarre. This prince has sought out many physicians with superb medical skills, but none of them yet know what poison she has contracted. If Lord Tan has a way to make Tan Yunge speak, then I will have to trouble Lord Tan with everything."

Hearing this, Tan Yun hurriedly agreed: "Your Highness, rest assured. This official will go think of a way right now."

"Hmm."

Shen Yingjue's voice was cold and stern: "Of course, if Tan Yunge is unwilling to speak, then this prince will simply have to find other methods. I have already sent people to the Heir's Manor to arrest all the servants who served Tan Yunge."

"Although Tan Yunge had others procure the poison and orchestrated the act, where the poison came from and where the antidote is located—her personal servants should know."

"If they refuse to speak, this prince will simply have them all killed."

"I will not spare a single person who tried to murder my Princess Consort."

Having said that, without paying any heed to the reactions of the couple Tan Yun and Chen Yueru, Shen Yingjue strode directly toward the inner courtyard.

The steward hurriedly said: "Lord Tan, apologies for the poor reception. It is truly because of the incident involving the Princess Consort that Your Highness's mind is entirely focused on curing her poison, leaving no time to attend to other matters."

The steward sighed softly: "To be honest, this old servant has served Prince Duan for so many years, and this is the first time I have ever seen His Highness so furious."

"After the incident with the Princess Consort, His Highness's appearance was simply... three parts more terrifying than when his illness flares up."

Tan Yun hurriedly said: "Understandable, understandable. Although Prince Duan's health is poor on ordinary days, he has always been a man of deep loyalty and affection. I am relieved that Qingjiu was able to marry such a man."

The steward nodded, but could not help sighing again: "This old servant has no other wish now, only hoping that the Princess Consort recovers soon. Otherwise, all the servants in our entire Prince Duan's Estate will likely be killed by His Highness."

Chen Yueru had been hiding behind Tan Yun, and hearing the steward say this, she finally could not help speaking out: "When Prince Duan is like this, does His Majesty not care at all? Those servants... how innocent they are."

The steward merely glanced at Chen Yueru: "Prince Duan is a Prince, and the son of His Majesty."

"Those servants are slaves who voluntarily signed deed contracts to enter Prince Duan's Estate to serve."

"If killing a few slaves can make Prince Duan happy, what of it?"

"His Majesty is burdened with affairs of state; how would he have the leisure to meddle in such trivial matters? Even if he knew, he could hardly reprimand Prince Duan over a few insignificant slaves, could he?"