Chapter 86: The Game of Strategy

The last few words were spoken by Shen Yingjue almost directly into Tan Qingjiu’s ear.

Tan Qingjiu, too, held her own bargaining chip in her hand. “Previously, I mentioned to Prince Duan that the poison in his body can be cured by no more than three people in this world. In truth, to thoroughly eradicate the poison from his body—not to suppress it periodically with some so-called antidote, but to extract it completely—I am the only one capable of doing so.”

“And as for curing Prince Duan’s illness, I am the sole person in this world who can.”

“Moreover…” Tan Qingjiu lowered her gaze. “I spent six years plotting before finally returning to the capital for revenge. Before this, I had already placed people throughout the city. If I were to disappear, all the things I know would be spreading through the capital in less than three days.”

Shen Yingjue’s eyes remained fixed on Tan Qingjiu’s face for a long while before he suddenly released her chin from his grasp.

“Very good. My interest in Divine Physician Tan only grows.”

Tan Qingjiu smiled, letting go of the hidden weapon case in her hand. “And I, too, find Prince Duan increasingly intriguing.”

Shen Yingjue lowered his eyes, concealing the darkness within them, the corners of his mouth curving ever so slightly.

Soon, Shen Yingjue’s demeanor had returned completely to its usual calm. “In fact, my reason for calling on Divine Physician Tan tonight concerns Lord Shen.”

Tan Qingjiu straightened. “Lord Shen?”

“Did you not visit Lord Shen today? And you must also have learned of what happened between Lord Shen and Tan Yun in the palace today, haven’t you?”

“Did you send someone to inquire about it, but failed to uncover the details?”

Tan Qingjiu narrowed her eyes. How did Shen Yingjue know?

“I’m here to pass on a warning,” Shen Yingjue said with a faint smile. “Rest assured, Lord Shen suffered no loss in the palace.”

“Lord Shen met Tan Yun before His Majesty. In His Majesty’s presence, Lord Shen questioned Tan Yun, saying that he had left the capital nearly twenty years ago, and because of their enmity, he and his daughter had severed contact all that time. At first, he’d still received letters from her, but eventually, even those ceased.”

“He asked Tan Yun how his daughter fares now, and when he might be allowed to pay a visit, to see his daughter whom he has not seen in so many years. He had heard that Tan Yun’s daughter married the Heir of Prince Ding, so the one married to the Heir must be his own granddaughter, correct?”

Tan Qingjiu arched her brows slightly. She had imagined countless possibilities, including the chance that Shen Changan would feign ignorance and question Tan Yun.

But nine times out of ten, Tan Yun would say that Shen Nianqing had been indiscreet, that she had an illicit affair and become pregnant.

If, when Tan Yun spoke, his tone was the least bit harsh, her notoriously quick-tempered grandfather would likely be provoked to anger.

As Tan Qingjiu pondered this, she heard Shen Yingjue continue, “Tan Yun told him that Shen Nianqing had long since passed away. She was discovered to be with child by another man, and, unable to bear the shame, hanged herself.”

“Shen Changan, unable to accept this, insisted he did not believe Tan Yun’s words, and clung to the emperor’s leg, begging His Majesty to order a new investigation into his daughter’s death.”

Tan Qingjiu was surprised. The turn of events was not quite as she had envisioned.

As she was thinking, Shen Yingjue laughed. “You probably don’t know, Divine Physician Tan, but Lord Shen—Shen Changan—was always notoriously difficult back in Jingcheng, a master of making trouble.”

“He insisted that his daughter was of excellent character, incapable of such an affair, and threatened Tan Yun, saying that if Shen Nianqing had indeed willingly disgraced herself and was not framed, he would come to the Tan residence and end his own life in apology.”

“But if there was any suspicion surrounding his daughter’s death, he would never let Tan Yun off.”

“On the golden steps of the palace, Shen Changan wept and made a scene, even declaring that if the emperor would not order a new investigation, he would lead the entire Shen family to the palace gates and take their lives there.”

Tan Qingjiu could not help but raise her hand to her forehead. It truly was outrageous.

“But Shen Changan has returned to the capital this time because of the merits he earned in Qizhou. If he really took the Shen family to the palace gates, even if they did not take their lives, just waiting there would cause no small stir.”

“So the three of them—emperor and ministers—remained at an impasse…”

Tan Qingjiu could not quite imagine such a scene, but the corners of her mouth curled into a faint smile.

How true—the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

And with Shen Changan’s age and his recent merits, the most likely outcome was that the emperor would grant his request to re-investigate the case from years before.

But so many years had passed, and neither the emperor nor Tan Yun would likely take it to heart.

All that remained was to guard against any underhanded move Tan Yun might make against Shen Changan.

Yet Shen Yingjue seemed to know what was on Tan Qingjiu’s mind. “Rest assured, Divine Physician Tan. Though Lord Shen is aged and has not been in the capital for years, he is no fool and not so easily harmed.”

Twice now, Shen Yingjue had seen through Tan Qingjiu’s thoughts. She looked up at him, “Thank you, Prince Duan, for telling me all this. It’s getting late—you should be on your way.”

Shen Yingjue narrowed his eyes at her. “Use and discard—Divine Physician Tan, you truly are ruthless.”

Though he spoke thus, he nevertheless turned and strode away.

Tan Qingjiu watched his retreating figure in silence. Only when he had disappeared from view did she suddenly close the window and return to her bed.

Tan Qingjiu bit her lip in frustration. She really ought never to have gotten involved with Shen Yingjue.

She could not see through him at all.

On the surface, she appeared to be holding all the cards, wielding threats against him.

But just now, she had laid out every single one of her own cards, yet Shen Yingjue was still as calm as ever, as if nothing could threaten him.

It left her with an inexplicable sense of uncertainty.

Ever since the Heir of Prince Ding failed to recognize her, Shen Yingjue’s behavior towards her had grown increasingly strange, as though he were probing her at every turn.

He must have begun to suspect her.

If she did not bring everything into the open soon, he would likely make a move against her.

She had already intended to find an opportunity to reveal everything, and now, she could only proceed one step at a time.

Lying back on her bed, Tan Qingjiu pressed her lips together. But there was no need for her to fear.

After all, she could not fathom Shen Yingjue’s depths.

But then, could he fathom hers?

The more composed she appeared, the less Shen Yingjue could discern her true strength or intentions, and the more cautious he would be.

This… was a contest of wits.