Chapter 28
Wei Rong's situation was the complete opposite of Li Jin's. She was brought before Gu Rushuang by Zhiqiu, feeling terrified and not daring to say a word. Sitting beside Gu Rushuang was Ying Yuan.
"Your Majesty, this subject is truly wronged. this subject truly did not know that child Li Jin would be unable to endure such a minor punishment," Wei Rong pleaded her injustice, shifting all the blame onto Li Jin. "Furthermore, if he hadn't deliberately provoked this subject, this subject would not have done this."
Gu Rushuang curled his lips into a meaningful smile. "Oh? How strange. This Palace knows that child Jin'er is one who understands propriety. Tell This Palace, how exactly did Jin'er provoke you?"
"Uh... This..."
Wei Rong was stumped. After all, the reason was truly disgraceful, and even quite far-fetched. How could she say it?
At the same time, Wei Rong felt very wronged. She believed that since she was Li Jin's grandmother, punishing Li Jin was completely justified. Even if he died, it was Li Jin's own fault and no one else could be blamed. So why, when it came to Li Jin, were there so many complications?
Of course, Wei Rong only dared to think these words in her heart and did not have the courage to say them out loud.
Gu Rushuang raised an eyebrow. "What? Can't provide a reason? Then that means..."
"No... that's not it," Wei Rong interrupted Gu Rushuang, her face pale. "He... he deliberately insulted this subject with his words. Yes, that's it. That's why this subject, in a fit of anger, locked him in the Buddha hall. Your Majesty, you don't know, he..."
Wei Rong, desperate to extricate herself, went all out, even beginning to distort right and wrong by forcibly attributing some incidents she had encountered in the inner household to Li Jin.
"So... You believe everything is Jin'er's fault?"
Gu Rushuang laughed, but the laughter did not reach his eyes.
"Yes, that's right," Wei Rong nodded, bracing herself. "Your Majesty, this subject knows you may not believe it, but every word this subject says is true. Yes... yes... furthermore, this subject's daughter-in-law can serve as a witness."
In her panic, Wei Rong dragged Wei Shiwan into it as well. It was fortunate Wei Shiwan wasn't present, otherwise she would have been furious with Wei Rong for not only seeking death herself but also dragging her into it.
Ying Yuan sneered and directly exposed Wei Rong's lie. "Why don't you say that Li Jin provoked you because you forced him to call that Successor Princess Consort 'mother,' which is why Li Jin was discourteous to you?"
"How do you know..." Oh no.
Realizing she had accidentally let it slip, Wei Rong immediately fell to the ground in fear, cold sweat pouring from her forehead.
"Lady Wei has finally told the truth."
A cold glint flashed in Gu Rushuang's eyes.
Not only had Gu Rushuang already sent people to secretly investigate the matter and seen through Wei Rong's tricks early on, but he also knew from past experience that Wei Rong was dishonest. Back when Gu Rulan was alive, Wei Rong had been very troublesome. Therefore, he didn't believe a word of what Wei Rong had just said.
Wei Rong hurriedly admitted her fault. "this subject knows her wrong. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy."
"Lady Wei, you ask This Palace for forgiveness now, but will you turn around and try to force Jin'er to call that Successor Princess Consort 'mother' again?"
"This subject... this subject wouldn't dare."
Just because of the Buddha hall kneeling incident, Li Jin had stirred up so much trouble and alerted Gu Rushuang. How could Wei Rong dare to repeat the offense?
"Good. Since Jin'er is already fine, This Palace will not hold you responsible, Lady Wei, out of consideration for the Prince of Dingbei's face. But this is the only time. If a similar event happens again in the future, This Palace will definitely not let you off lightly. You may kneel and take your leave."
[跪安 (guì ān): lit. to kneel in peace; fig. a command, historically used by an emperor or empress, granting a subordinate permission to leave the audience by kneeling one more time before departing.]
"Thank you, Your Majesty. this subject will take her leave now, will take her leave now..."
Having barely saved her life, Wei Rong dared not stay any longer and immediately scrambled away.
Gu Rushuang turned to look at Ying Yuan. "Yuan'er, you were impulsive earlier."
Gu Rushuang hadn't originally planned to reveal the truth of the investigation so early, wanting to torment Wei Rong mentally a bit more to prevent her from causing trouble again out of boredom.
"Your Son did not want Li Jin to be wronged."
Ying Yuan's words earlier were an instinctive reaction. He did not want Li Jin to be falsely accused, so even if things happened again, Ying Yuan would still say the same.
Heaven knew how anxious Ying Yuan felt the moment he received the news of Li Jin's critical illness. Ying Yuan thought about immediately leaving the palace to see Li Jin and even acted on it, but Gu Rushuang stopped him every time.
Gu Rushuang made it very clear to Ying Yuan that he could not leave the palace.
The laws of Da Xia explicitly stated that imperial sons who had not reached the age of dancing with a ladle were not permitted to leave the palace.
[舞勺 (wǔ sháo): lit. to dance with a ladle; fig. a boy between the ages of 13 and 15, representing the age of learning rites and music.]
Ying Yuan was not an impulsive person. After realizing he couldn't leave the palace, he waited quietly for news of Li Jin, not leaving for a moment. The clothes he was wearing were only changed after he learned that Li Jin was safe.
Gu Rushuang sighed silently. "Never mind. Yuan'er, you may also kneel and take your leave. This Palace is tired."
"Your son takes his leave."
Ying Yuan bowed to Gu Rushuang and then turned and left.
Gu Rushuang's gaze remained on Ying Yuan until his figure completely disappeared, then he murmured to himself, "Jin'er's judgment of people is very good. I hope Ying Yuan can grow to meet my expectations."
It must be said that Gu Rushuang's decision to adopt Ying Yuan was influenced not only by Li Jin's words but also, more importantly, by having listened to Gu Cunmo's opinion, intending to use this opportunity to dispel Ying Zhengjing's suspicions towards the Gu family. But he never expected that Ying Yuan would turn out to be a malleable talent, able to remember many things after being taught just two or three times.
There upon, Gu Rushuang, who had originally planned to observe Ying Yuan for a while, changed his mind and began to cultivate Ying Yuan intentionally or unintentionally. For instance, he had Ying Yuan sit in during the audience with Wei Rong.
____
Xuanqing Palace.
Imperial Physician Wang bowed towards Ying Zhengjing, who was seated directly ahead. "Your Majesty, this subject discovered that someone added some inappropriate medicinal ingredients to the prescription for the Heir Apparent, which caused the drug's properties, originally supposed to remain latent for many years, to be prematurely activated."
Ying Zhengjing narrowed his eyes slightly. "Does it affect Our plan?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject has temporarily suppressed the poison. Afterwards, by altering the prescription slightly, it will not affect Your Majesty's original plan. However, before this subject arrived, another physician came to see the Heir Apparent. This subject is afraid this might lead to complications."
"Dead men tell no tales."
Ying Zhengjing said this faintly, thus deciding the fate of the physician who had previously treated Li Jin.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Imperial Physician Wang nodded, as if this was commonplace.
Ying Zhengjing asked abruptly, "You went to the Empress's side first and spoke earlier?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Imperial Physician Wang did not dare to conceal anything and truthfully reported everything he had said earlier in Gu Rushuang's palace to Ying Zhengjing.
After listening, Ying Zhengjing nodded.
After a long while, he finally said, "You may withdraw."
"Yes."
Imperial Physician Wang withdrew.
Ying Zhengjing slowly closed his eyes. "Li Jin, do not blame Us for being cruel."
Tell me, how can someone who will not live long securely hold the position of Heir Apparent?
In fact, the prescription Imperial Physician Wang had previously devised was not anything good—on the surface it was a mild tonic, but secretly it contained drugs that could slowly poison Li Jin. Otherwise, Ying Zhengjing would not have so easily allowed Li Jin to become Ying Yuan's study companion.
"Yang Shaochuan."
Ying Zhengjing suddenly called Yang Shaochuan's name.
Yang Shaochuan, standing outside the door, immediately entered and inquired respectfully, "What are Your Majesty's instructions?"
"Go on Our behalf to visit the Heir Apparent. Tell him We await his speedy recovery. Also, write a letter in the Empress's name to the Prince of Dingbei, informing him of this matter."
Ying Zhengjing's purpose in doing this was to warn certain interested parties to rein in their schemes, lest they kill Li Jin prematurely and disrupt Ying Zhengjing's original plans.
"Yes, this servant will go and handle it immediately."
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