Chapter 64

When Feng Yuexian mentioned leaving the palace for medical treatment to Song Pianxian, she sensitively perceived that Song Pianxian was not enthusiastic about it.

Feng Yuexian instinctively found reasons for Song Pianxian—it must be that she had not been cured in recent years, and Song Pianxian had lost hope.

But deep down, Feng Yuexian felt a sense of discord, which she immediately denied. Who isn’t afraid of death? Song Pianxian must be no exception, especially when her great cause is not yet accomplished.

Although saying this, facing Song Pianxian’s calm expression and tacit agreement, the unusual vigilance lingered in Feng Yuexian’s heart, unable to be dispelled.

From Song Pianxian’s perspective, this was a task, a job, and until she completed her work, the working hours should be ample. She was not worried.

As for after the work was completed…

She could apply to the Quick Transmigration Bureau to have Feng Yuexian accompany her to the next world.

For her, this was not a permanent farewell, but a temporary separation, perhaps only three to five days, and they would meet again in another way and identity.

Song Pianxian agreed to see the doctor, partly because of Feng Yuexian’s wishes, and also…

“I intend to pay respects to my Elder Brother.”

On the way to the Prince Li’s Mansion, Song Pianxian said so, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

Song Yu was a respectable man. If he hadn’t suffered a fatal blow in his childhood, he would have been an upright and admirable man.

Feng Yuexian paused slightly, nodding in agreement.

As the true identity of the Crown Prince was unknown, he couldn’t be buried in the imperial mausoleum. In order to let the Crown Prince rest in peace, they had to use someone else’s identity and bury him in Taolin.

The Taos were an aristocratic family that had been in the capital for hundreds of years. In a Feng Shui treasure land not far from the capital, there was a family graveyard. Over time, that place came to be known as Taolin.

Taolin was not far from the capital. If they moved quickly, they could return to the palace within a day.

When they arrived at the Prince Li’s Mansion, they were greeted by one of Jin Lingzhi’s trusted aides.

Since the purpose of the visit couldn’t be hidden from the gender, and to prevent any mistakes, Song Pianxian came as a woman.

The excuse was easy to come up with. She and the Crown Prince were siblings, poisoned in the same manner. As the Crown Prince was too busy, she came instead.

In a secluded courtyard in the corner of the mansion, the famous doctor entered with a blindfold and began to diagnose.

Except for Jin Lingzhi and her people, nobody, not even Prince Li or the steward of the mansion, knew about the whole process.

“I trust my master, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. If he found out, it would be a great sin if he accidentally mentioned it someday,” Jin Lingzhi explained.

Song Pianxian smiled, “The princess thinks carefully.”

Jin Lingzhi exchanged a few polite words and couldn’t help but notice Song Pianxian’s translucent pear blossom face and her clear, tea-colored eyes. She was truly beautiful, with delicate features that evoked sympathy even from a woman like her.

Her eyes then fell on Feng Yuexian.

No wonder her niece’s personal maid always had her eyes on her little sister-in-law. A person like her naturally drew attention and care from everyone.

It was customary to avoid taboos when diagnosing an important person. Jin Lingzhi waited outside and suddenly noticed her niece’s personal maid constantly looking at her, as if wanting to say something but hesitating.

“Yin Xue, what’s the matter with your behavior?”

Yin Xue clenched her handkerchief, hesitated to speak.

Having endured so much in the palace for so long, she finally met a relative from her maternal home, who happened to be the “intimate friend” of her mistress. She really wanted to complain about her mistress’s affection for the Princess, but she didn’t dare.

She hesitated and said, “You see, my mistress and that person…” Her eyes glanced inward. “How do they look?”

Jin Lingzhi fanned herself and sighed, “Yuexian really cares about the court lady.”

Yin Xue’s eyes lit up. She said, as expected, she wasn’t the only one who could see it. Everyone could see her mistress’s extravagant and unrestrained behavior.

“If it were me, I’d have to be even more careful than her.”

“?”

“Before, I thought the pampered court lady was just a delicate beauty, but today I realized she’s like a fairy incarnate. Even if she’s carefully taken care of, it’s not excessive.”

“… “

Yinxue wanted to refute, but upon careful consideration, wasn’t the Prince Li’s wife right?

Jin Lingzhi’s tone was full of admiration and seriousness. She even instructed the maidservant, “A few days ago, didn’t the inspector send some herbs from the deep mountains? Pick the best ones and put them on the carriage for the court lady.”

“But… the prince said he wanted to make medicinal wine…”

“Don’t waste good stuff. Leave some inferior ones for him.”

The Prince Li’s family status wasn’t very good, perfectly showcasing the dynamics of an older husband and a younger wife. Jin Lingzhi continued, “Especially that old Lingzhi. It grows so beautifully, after all the hard work and absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, to be given to Prince Li to use is simply an insult to the decades of effort of the Lingzhi.”

Jin Lingzhi sighed, “Being eaten by such a beauty, I bet the Lingzhi is happily bubbling in the pot.”

“… “

Yin Xue’s expressionless face turned away.

She couldn’t listen anymore.

Compared to Prince Li’s wife, her mistress never flattered anyone. Her behavior was so restrained and discreet. She should be content.

Outside, the atmosphere was light and cheerful, but inside, the faces of the folk doctors were extremely serious.

Several elderly doctors with white hair examined the pulses one by one, and even a young doctor who looked like a young prodigy. Regardless of who it was, after examining the pulses, they remained silent and solemn.

Under Feng Yuexian’s gaze, they were led by the maidservant to gather together and whispered for a while. Finally, led by the most respected elder, they said:

“Miss’s illness… I am powerless to cure it.”

Feng Yuexian’s eyes rolled in misty turbulence, her voice carrying the authority of a superior:

“Truly powerless?”

“Well…”

The physicians stuttered, only able to repeat that the medicine was ineffective.

Unable to see the reaction of the noblewoman due to her blindfold, and unable to hear her speak again, the atmosphere grew even colder. Like dark clouds pressing down on a city, everyone involuntarily held their breath, sweating profusely.

“Enough.”

Just when the senior physician felt he was about to lose his footing, a gentle female voice sounded.

It was like a handful of warm spring water sprinkled onto frost and snow, instantly dissipating half of the cold and oppressive atmosphere.

People subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but still didn’t dare to wipe their sweat.

“Someone, escort the physicians out properly,” Song Pianxian ordered.

After everyone left, she gently brushed Feng Yuexian’s hand back, comforting her:

“My condition has always been like this. Even the imperial physicians find it difficult. You know this, don’t worry too much.”

It was Song Pianxian who was ill, yet she was comforting herself and relieving Feng Yuexian’s hidden pain.

But at the same time, another small voice in her heart asked: Why is Song Pianxian not the least bit anxious or disappointed?

Why?

Song Pianxian patted Feng Yuexian’s hand:

“Searching for medical treatment is like trying to find good fortune. If we don’t find it, it’s normal.” Song Pianxian spoke softly, “It’s getting late, we should move on to the next place.”

Perhaps because Song Pianxian had known early on that the possibility of a cure was very small.

Her suspicions were acting up again.

She should learn to trust Song Pianxian more.

Feng Yuexian promptly extinguished that voice.

After leaving Prince Li’s Mansion, they headed to Taolin.

Luo Chen personally drove the carriage, while Yin Xue and Yin Bing served inside. During this time, the two of them discussed the arrangements for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

Three days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival.

On that day, there were two banquets, the first being the courtiers’ banquet, followed by the family banquet.

And these days, Song Pianxian managed to persuade the Emperor to lift the ban on Song Duan under the pretext of family reunion.

After all, he was an old child and the only remaining healthy and lively son. Almost as soon as Song Pianxian mentioned it, the Emperor agreed, as if he had been waiting for someone to suggest it so he could do it.

When it came to discussing official business, time passed quickly.

Upon arriving at Taolin, it was already late afternoon.

It was already September, and there was a hint of autumn wind outside. Feng Yuexian carefully wrapped Song Pianxian in a water-green cloak before letting her out of the carriage.

Taolin was planted with evergreen pines and cypresses, symbolizing longevity.

Surrounded by bamboo groves and scattered plum trees, all were resilient and noble.

There were caretakers at Taolin, who, upon seeing the tokens presented by Yin Xue, respectfully welcomed the two women inside.

Both women wore black gauze veils that reached their ankles, obscuring their features, but their extremely luxurious demeanor was unmistakable. The servants couldn’t help but glance at them a few more times, but they were blocked by tall and sturdy guards.

The servants nodded and bowed as they walked away, not daring to look more, but as they glanced back, they seemed to see the two women choosing a secluded path, perhaps heading towards the desolate side of the cemetery…?

The Ta family’s title given to the prince was that of an inconspicuous branch descendant, but accordingly, the cemetery was also very small and simple.

For such a lowly grave owner, the servants were not very attentive, and the grave was covered with tall and short green grass.

Looking at this messy scene, who could imagine that buried here was the esteemed Crown Prince of the current dynasty.

Whether it was the emotions of the original body or Song Pianxian’s nostalgia for the “older brother” she saw that day, and the regret that he couldn’t fulfill his ambitions, her eyes welled up with a hint of warmth.

After paying their respects, Song Pianxian stepped forward to personally remove the weeds from the grave.

“I’ll do it,” Feng Yuexian stopped her.

The little Princess had never done such a thing before, fearing she might hurt herself.

Feng Yuexian respected Song Yu greatly, but that didn’t mean she was particularly fond of him. Apart from other things, when Song Yu decreed to marry her, she was unwilling. His actions were not straightforward and upright.

But when she learned that Song Yu had passed away and entrusted Song Pianxian to form an alliance with her, everything took on another interpretation.

Song Yu used the marriage contract as an alliance, as the Crown Prince, resorting to such a method just to stand together with a subject, truly showing he had no other choice.

Pressured by the circumstances, but more so by his health.

What made Feng Yuexian unable to resist him anymore was…

“He always wants me to do something for my elder brother.”

Song Pianxian is naturally gentle, but when it comes to persisting in something, no one can persuade or stop her.

She removed the obstructing veil herself, personally bent down, and pulled out clusters of weeds.

Feng Yuexian didn’t stop her again; she knew she shouldn’t.

She said nothing, tossed the veil into Yin Xue’s arms, gathered her skirt, and began cleaning from the other side.

Song Pianxian smiled slightly.

Next moment—

“There’s something wrong.”

Song Pianxian, holding a grass twig in her hand, suddenly looked up.

Feng Yuexian frowned, staring at the roots of the weeds in her hand, reaching out to untangle the tangled roots, examining them carefully.

“The roots are broken, the base is dry, and the soil is uneven.”

Feng Yuexian quickly concluded, looking up to meet Song Pianxian’s gaze, her eyes flashing with severity.

“This grave… has been dug up.”

Song Pianxian took a deep breath.

Who would go to such lengths to dig up the grave of a collateral relative and then make an effort to restore it, risking being discovered?

The answer is obvious—

In the villa under the name of King Chu.

“… After your instructions, I have been searching for weaknesses in the Eastern Palace, but unfortunately, the Eastern Palace is well guarded.”

Li Zi bowed, his tone brisk, his face full of pride and joy, as if he had made a major discovery.

King Chu also looked eager:

“Li Xiang’s intelligence is extraordinary, and there must have been great progress.”

Li Zi, who usually loves to be modest, this time readily agreed:

“That’s indeed significant!”

“The security in the Eastern Palace is tight, but after all, there’s always a loophole in the tightest defense. I instructed someone to bribe a person from the Tao Family and pried open their mouth with gold coins from the old lady’s head maid, obtaining a shocking secret.”

“What is it?” King Chu seemed truly eager.

“According to this maid, when she was on night duty, she heard the old lady shout in her nightmares, ‘Prince, my grandson, why did you leave?’ The Prince was fine in the palace, so she thought the old lady was talking nonsense and didn’t dare to ask.”

“But under the thorough questioning by my men, she finally confessed, saying that during that time, the old lady often shed tears.”

King Chu seemed to have a premonition, his eyes getting brighter and brighter, like a jackal smelling meat.

Li Zi smiled:

“So, I sent someone to investigate the Taolin in detail and examined all the bones sent out by the Tao Family during that time—”

“The Prince was indeed lying there in Taolin.”

“Excellent!”

Before Li Zi’s words could even hit the ground, King Chu couldn’t wait to praise him.

Having been suppressed by the Eastern Palace for so long, the pent-up frustration finally vented freely.

“To avoid disturbing your great plan, I restored the grave back to its original state. By then…” Li Zi paused, “I’m sure it will be dug up by the emperor’s people personally, which will be quite spectacular.”

“Haha, this move is like pulling the rug out from under them. Li Xiang, you truly are my right-hand man.”

“I only hope for the King’s success.”

King Chu nodded at the table and lifted a seemingly humble smile:

“So it seems that the ‘Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace’—”

“Is my good niece.”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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