This time, Ren Zhong had really harmed the Imperial Grandson’s maternal family badly.
With a single coffin, he gained fame for himself, yet at the same time dealt the Lu family a fatal blow. It was said that the censors and remonstrating officials were all preparing to follow his example, willing to risk their lives to rid the country of traitors.
Logically speaking, such a person ought to have been Qi Yuan’s enemy.
And Xie Ying had seen Qi Yuan’s attitude toward enemies very clearly.
Back when they had gone after Ling Chuhan, Qi Yuan had clearly relied on her superb riding skills to deliberately force Ling Chuhan to change direction, causing him to panic and fall into the mountain ravine, where he died instantly.
And that still was not the end of it.
Afterward, not a single person in Duke Cheng Residence was left alive.
Yet now, Qi Yuan actually wanted to write a storybook for Ren Zhong?
Rarely, he found himself stunned.
Qi Yuan raised her brows and asked lightly, “Young Master Xie, is it not possible?”
Only then did Xie Ying come back to himself. Nodding firmly, he said, “Since Miss Qi has spoken, how would I dare refuse?”
He immediately agreed, and according to Qi Yuan’s requests, first recorded several key events.
The more Qi Yuan spoke, the more shocked Xie Ying became.
He truly had not expected Qi Yuan to understand court affairs to such an extent.
As for the matters she spoke of, Xie Ying had practically never even heard whispers of them before.
To the point that he could not help asking in alarm, “Miss Qi, where… where did you hear all this?”
Even if he was merely writing a storybook, if it became too wildly imaginative and fabricated, the publishing houses would never approve it.
Besides, for a famous minister like Ren Zhong, most of the upright scholars stood on his side.
The moment they realized the storybook was alluding to Ren Zhong, they would definitely strike immediately.
At that point, writing it would amount to writing it in vain.
Qi Yuan laughed softly. “Young Master Xie may write without worry. These are all things that truly happened. Since the Ren family produced such a famous loyal minister, no amount of praise would be excessive.”
Xie Ying fell into thought, then nodded in acknowledgment and began writing furiously.
During this period, many major events happened one after another in the capital.
For example, both the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson fell ill in succession.
Naturally, everyone could not help but speculate, ultimately concluding that Ren Zhong’s death remonstrance and memorial impeaching the Lu family had frightened both the Crown Prince and Imperial Grandson into illness.
Because of this, the Eldest Princess specifically went to see Qi Yuan and sighed quietly, “Yuan Jie’er, should I ask your aunt-in-law to enter the palace and help speak on this matter?”
She stood on Xiao Yunting’s side, so naturally she considered everything for Xiao Yunting’s sake.
As for that cowardly Crown Prince, could anyone possibly expect him to stand up for Xiao Yunting?
They might as well expect the sun to rise from the west.
Qi Yuan took a sip of tea and shook her head. “No need. If the Eldest Princess truly wishes to help His Highness the Imperial Grandson, then there is no need to drag Liu Wangfei into the palace to plead for him. He does not need it.”
The relationship between Xiao Yunting and Emperor Yongchang was extremely good. He knew exactly how to grasp Emperor Yongchang’s temperament.
Otherwise, Emperor Yongchang would never have allowed Xiao Yunting to investigate the Lu family’s case.
Now, the most crucial matter was not Xiao Yunting or the Lu family.
It was the Crown Prince.
Qi Yuan smiled as she looked at the Eldest Princess. “Has Your Highness not gone to visit the Crown Princess?”
At the mention of the Crown Princess, the Eldest Princess sighed even more deeply.
She knew better than anyone how difficult the Crown Princess’s life had been. Marrying someone like the Crown Prince, surviving without dying but losing half one’s life was already fortunate.
Hearing Qi Yuan say this, something stirred in her heart. “Yuan Jie’er, are you hinting at something to me?”
Qi Yuan lowered her eyes. “I merely mean that elders and juniors have their proper order. Does the Crown Prince not speak every day about heaven, earth, ruler, parent, and teacher? To him, Your Highness is likewise an elder.”
The Eldest Princess immediately understood. Patting Qi Yuan’s hand, she narrowed her eyes. “This Princess understands. Don’t worry.”
She hurriedly rose and left.
As she passed through the Qi family garden, she happened to see several groups of servants carrying curio shelves inside.
The Eldest Princess immediately became curious. “Is the Qi family preparing for a wedding banquet?”
For a family with deep foundations like the Qi family, it was relatively rare to suddenly purchase furniture in such large quantities.
Especially curio shelves, those were usually not replaced often, because they were made from excellent materials such as purple sandalwood and golden-thread nanmu.
Now they were bringing in so many. Was the Qi family preparing for some happy occasion?
She had heard nothing about it!
Qi Yuan’s gaze also landed on the curio shelves. Thinking about how her grandfather had knocked over the objects on the shelf at Mingyue Tower, she coughed lightly. “The curio shelves at home broke, so we’re replacing them with a new batch.”
The Eldest Princess nodded.
Only after the Eldest Princess left did Old Madam Qi specifically ask Qi Yuan, “Yuan Jie’er, did Her Highness come this time because of the Crown Princess’s suicide attempt?”
Naturally, to outsiders they could not say the Crown Princess had attempted suicide. Officially, it was only said that the Crown Princess had fallen ill.
But they and the Eldest Princess all knew the truth.
Qi Yuan acknowledged softly. “Yes. Her Highness wanted to ask whether I could help His Highness the Imperial Grandson.”
Old Madam Qi was worried as well when speaking of this matter. “Speaking of which, I also wanted to ask, you went out this time, and nothing happened…”
Old Madam Qi was simply not used to it anymore.
Every time Yuan Jie’er went out, didn’t she usually bring back at least a few deaths?
Yet this time there had not been the slightest disturbance.
This did not seem like Qi Yuan’s style at all!
Qi Yuan immediately understood what Old Madam Qi meant and smiled at her. “It seems Grandmother is very disappointed?”
Old Madam Qi instantly lowered her head and coughed a few times. “Not exactly… it’s just… somewhat strange.”
“Grandmother need not worry. Your guess was not wrong. I really do intend to kill people, it’s simply that this time, I changed methods.” The smile on Qi Yuan’s face gradually vanished as she said coldly, “Aren’t scholars most proud of gaining fame throughout the world? Then I shall fulfill their wish.”
Old Madam Qi’s heart began pounding violently.
Thinking of the Duke Cheng Residence, where not a single person had been left alive, she secretly felt those people truly lacked judgment.
She did not know what exactly they had been thinking. The pile of dead people before them was already enough to fill an entire street.
Yet they still rushed forward one after another, practically lining up to seek death.
She stopped asking further questions. Thinking of the Eldest Princess, she instead asked, “Then the Eldest Princess…?”
“Killing people takes several days. Her Highness the Eldest Princess can first collect some interest.” Qi Yuan smiled faintly. “Did they think getting sick was so easy?”
Could pretending to be sick really let someone escape?
The Crown Prince actually was not pretending to be ill. He truly had become sick.
After Emperor Yongchang harshly berated him, he ordered him to interfere less in Xiao Yunting’s affairs in the future. He also had Xiao Yunting moved into Taiji Hall to recover!
The side hall of Taiji Hall, Little Noble Consort Liu had once lived there, and only Little Noble Consort Liu had ever lived there.
But now, Xiao Yunting had moved in to recover from his injuries!
What did that mean? The implication could not have been more obvious!
Shocked and furious, the Crown Prince collapsed from illness on the spot.
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