Chapter 41: Are You Threatening Me?

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On the carriage outside the palace, Tan Qingjiu’s gaze lingered on the medicine bottle Shen Yingjue was idly turning in his hand. “If His Majesty discovers this and misunderstands me, thinking I intended to harm you, what will happen then? If he issues a decree to kill me, what should I do?”

“No need to feign madness or foolishness with me. Since I’ve given you this bottle and asked you to help me play this part, I will certainly ensure your safety.”

“If you use this medicine for me, the emperor won’t kill you; he’ll only think you’ve done well.”

Hearing Shen Yingjue say so, Tan Qingjiu raised her brows slightly. Wasn’t Shen Yingjue the emperor’s own child?

Why did they seem less like father and son and more like enemies?

Could it be that the poison afflicting Shen Yingjue truly came from the emperor himself?

“I’m risking my life to help you this time, Prince Duan. How will you thank me?”

Shen Yingjue raised his eyes, a hint of amusement flashing within them. She was the first to dare demand gratitude from him.

“What do you want?”

“I’ve heard that in a few days, it is Princess Ding’s birthday. I want you, Prince Duan, to take me to the Ding Prince’s residence to wish her a happy birthday.”

Shen Yingjue’s gaze settled on Tan Qingjiu’s face. Interesting.

Tan Qingjiu must be doing this to trouble Tan Yunge.

It seemed there would be some excitement at the Ding Prince’s residence.

“Very well.”

Tan Qingjiu’s eyes darted mischievously. “By the way, there’s something else I wish to ask you, Prince Duan. That National Priest from Qingning whom we saw in the side hall earlier—what kind of person is he?”

Shen Yingjue’s gaze deepened as he looked at Tan Qingjiu. “It seems you’re quite interested in him?”

Indeed, she was.

Tan Qingjiu laughed. “Such a handsome man, and yet he became a monk. Even the shaved head and monk’s robes don’t diminish his beauty. The contrast between the bald head, the robes, and his face is striking. I imagine anyone who sees him would be utterly amazed.”

“Handsome?” Shen Yingjue narrowed his eyes, scoffing. “Don’t be fooled by his face. Priest Li Xiao is a thoroughgoing traitor. You’d best stay far away from him.”

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A traitor?

Tan Qingjiu was stunned, finding it hard to believe.

“Yes, a traitor. His hands are stained with countless blood, and he holds many lives in his grasp.”

Tan Qingjiu blinked. “Then why does His Majesty let him be National Priest? He doesn’t seem very old.”

“Because he uses his monk’s identity to deceive people, naturally.”

Tan Qingjiu glanced at Shen Yingjue; she didn’t much believe his words.

How could Li Xiao be a traitor with blood-stained hands?

Tan Qingjiu said nothing further, and soon the Tan residence appeared.

She bade farewell to Shen Yingjue and, alighting from the carriage, went straight inside.

Shen Yingjue watched from the carriage window as Tan Qingjiu entered the Tan residence, his gaze gradually chilling. He lowered his voice: “Investigate whether Tan Qingjiu and Li Xiao’s movements have overlapped in recent years.”

A faint response drifted in from outside the window.

Shen Yingjue shut the window and removed his mask, revealing an incomparably handsome face.

He narrowed his eyes. When Tan Qingjiu met Li Xiao earlier, her demeanor wasn’t that of a first meeting. Most likely, she already knew Li Xiao, though she probably didn’t know his true identity.

How intriguing—Tan Qingjiu seemed to harbor many secrets, becoming ever more interesting.

Tan Qingjiu, unaware of Shen Yingjue’s thoughts, went straight to the rear garden of the Tan residence. As she reached the garden, she saw Chen Yueyu and Tan Yunge admiring flowers along the path.

They appeared to be enjoying the blooms, but more likely, they were waiting for her.

Indeed, the matron beside Tan Yunge was the first to spot Tan Qingjiu, whispering something to Tan Yunge and Chen Yueyu, who then raised their heads and walked toward her.

“You’ve returned from the palace after meeting His Majesty?”

“Yes.” Since leaving the Tan residence earlier, Chen Yueyu must have sent someone to follow her and knew exactly where she’d been.

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Chen Yueyu’s hand tightened slightly around her handkerchief, her expression awkward. “Prince Duan said earlier that His Majesty intends to bestow a marriage between you and Prince Duan—is it true? Are you really… going to marry him?”

Tan Qingjiu curled her lips. All this waiting was indeed for this matter.

“I don’t know.” She lowered her eyes. “Prince Duan said I could cure his illness. He’s suffered from that strange malady for years, and now that someone can ease his pain, he won’t let go no matter what.”

“His Majesty only asked about my situation and Prince Duan’s illness today; he didn’t mention any marriage.”

Tan Yunge couldn’t contain herself, sneering coldly. “Look at yourself—a woman who’s pregnant before marriage and so shameless, who would want to marry you? Especially when it’s Prince Duan.”

“But Prince Duan is mad, and you’re wanton—truly a fitting pair.”

Tan Qingjiu turned to look at Tan Yunge, frowned, and took two steps back. “Oh my, sister, why do you smell so awful?”

“What a stench—are you passing gas?”

Tan Yunge’s face turned livid, and she glared at Tan Qingjiu, gritting her teeth. “Wretch, what did you say?”

Seeing the tension between the two, Chen Yueyu hurriedly pulled Tan Yunge back, stepping forward to block Tan Yunge’s gaze.

“Qingjiu is our second young lady. Speaking of such things isn’t very proper.”

“We’re family; we can understand you spent years outside with rough people and became coarse yourself. But now you’re back, representing the Tan family’s reputation. You can’t speak that way anymore, or others will mock our young lady’s lack of upbringing.”

Tan Qingjiu scoffed. “Is that so? I simply speak to people as they deserve. This noble heir’s wife calls me shameless and mad, yet I see no refinement in her. When speaking to those without manners, naturally, I must speak without manners as well.”

“And besides…” Tan Qingjiu glanced nonchalantly at Tan Yunge, whose face was flushed red. “Counting by seniority, as the heir’s wife of Prince Ding, you ought to call Prince Duan ‘uncle.’ If I tell Prince Duan you called him mad behind his back, what do you think he’ll do?”

Tan Yunge was secretly alarmed. The wretch dared to complain?

Prince Duan was eccentric, but no one dared insult him to his face. When his madness flared, he was truly terrifying.

Tan Yunge shrank back, though her heart was full of resentment. “Tan Qingjiu, are you threatening me?”