They had identified the suspect before Shen Xihe. The perpetrator was not from the acupuncture department but a medicinal gardener from the medical division, responsible for planting, transplanting, and harvesting herbs in the city's medicinal gardens.
"Bian Dajia, you must leave quickly. They will likely arrive soon." After administering the final acupuncture treatment to Bian Xianyi, the gardener urgently advised.
Fortunately, they had endured three sessions. Fearing unforeseen changes, Bian Xianyi insisted on receiving an additional treatment on the night of her relapse, despite the risk of lasting health complications. Later, he took advantage of transporting medicinal materials to swap her with a corpse. He administered another treatment the following day and the final one today.
It was too swift—they had uncovered the truth too quickly. He no longer had time to prepare more restorative medicines for Bian Xianyi.
"Let us leave together. If you fall into their hands, they will not spare you." Bian Xianyi's lips were pale and bloodless as her weak hand clutched his arm.
"Bian Dajia, I cannot go with you. I owe my survival these years to Her Highness's mercy in saving my life long ago. I have been living on borrowed time, and today, I wish to repay this debt. Only by ensuring your escape can my heart find peace."
The gardener slid open a row of medicine cabinets, revealing a hidden compartment large enough for two people to stand side by side. "I will wait outside now. I will drive a carriage and pretend to flee to draw them away. Fearful they may have backup plans, hide here. There are dry rations, water pouches, and medicines. The day after tomorrow, herb farmers will deliver some medicinal materials—they will help you leave the city."
"A Xi!" Bian Xianyi lacked the strength to resist and could only watch helplessly as she was pushed into the hidden compartment, seeing A Xi slide the cabinet shut.
A Xi changed his clothes, hurried to the back, leaped onto a carriage, and drove off at a frantic pace, narrowly passing the men brought by Cui Jinbai. Cui Jinbai dispatched a few men to pursue him while leading the rest into the medicinal garden.
This was the imperial medicinal garden reserved for royal use. Cui Jinbai had come under the pretext of official business and addressed the garden guards: "We were pursuing a fugitive and observed him fleeing into the garden. I will lead a small team to investigate."
"Your Honor, please proceed. But I must remind you to exercise caution—the medicinal herbs are precious." The guards stepped aside but offered a word of warning.
Cui Jinbai personally led the search but found nothing. After all, this was a medicinal garden—without proper justification, they could not act recklessly, and the delicate herbs could not withstand rough handling.
Though Cui Jinbai failed to locate Bian Xianyi in the garden, his men captured A Xi. Instead of sending him to the Supreme Court, he privately bound him and brought him to the Princess Manor, delivering him to Shen Xihe.
"Minister Cui truly lives up to his title as the Chief Minister of the Supreme Court. Your investigative and capture skills are beyond ordinary capability." Shen Xihe sighed with genuine admiration.
She had thought herself remarkably swift, having spent a day deciphering Bian Xianyi's motives with Xie Yunhuai's assistance to uncover this lead. She had only just identified this gardener named A Xi and had not yet instructed Mo Yuan to investigate when Cui Jinbai had already apprehended him.
In truth, only she and Xiao Huayong had deduced Bian Xianyi's plan. However, in terms of manpower, she still fell far short of Xiao Huayong, who had been cultivating his influence for over a decade.
"Entrusted by another, I fulfill my duty with loyalty." Cui Jinbai responded solemnly.
At this moment, Shen Xihe had no time to ponder who had entrusted Cui Jinbai. She could not afford delay—every moment wasted increased Bian Xianyi's chances of escaping.
"Will you speak voluntarily, or shall I use Bewitching Incense to pry open your mouth?" Shen Xihe gazed calmly at the refined, slender gardener.Shen Xihe's Bewitching Incense gained fame during its use at the Jingzhao Prefecture, becoming highly coveted by institutions like the Jingzhao Prefecture, Dali Temple, Imperial Clan Court, and even the Ministry of Justice—all places that needed to extract confessions from prisoners.
This substance, capable of making people divulge the truth without harsh torture, even piqued the interest of the Youning Emperor. However, with one incident after another occurring, the emperor had not yet found the opportunity to inquire about it. Other departments desired it as well, but since Shen Xihe held the prescription, their requests for an audience were denied, leaving them with nothing but sighs of regret.
"Princess, although I am of lowly status, I am still a ninth-rank herbalist at the Imperial Hospital's medicinal garden. May I ask why Cui Shaoqing had me privately detained?" A Xi showed no panic upon seeing Shen Xihe, his expression puzzled and his words clear.
"Biyu," Shen Xihe had no intention of wasting words with him and directly instructed Biyu to light the incense.
Unexpectedly, this unassuming herbalist turned out to be a person of strong will. Even after inhaling Shen Xihe's incense, when Bian Xianyi was mentioned, he endured extreme struggle and pain without uttering a single word. The Bewitching Incense was not all-powerful; it only worked on ordinary people. Those with some training or strong willpower were largely unaffected.
In the end, A Xi inhaled a large amount of the incense and passed out without revealing Bian Xianyi's whereabouts.
"Cui Shaoqing, describe the process of capturing him today," Shen Xihe asked.
Cui Shaoqing naturally recounted the events: "I personally led a search of the medicinal garden under a pretext."
After listening, Shen Xihe pondered for a moment. "I do not doubt you, Cui Shaoqing, but the Imperial Medicinal Garden is not the Dali Temple, where you can search freely. I believe Bian Xianyi must still be in the garden."
If it were an ordinary residence, A Xi's diversionary tactics might have allowed an escape after Cui Jinbai's departure. However, the Imperial Medicinal Garden was guarded, making it impossible for her to leave during the day.
"I must go there myself," Shen Xihe immediately instructed Hongyu to send a message to the palace, stating that she wished to visit the garden to select herbs for developing medicinal incense.
Having done his part, Cui Jinbai entrusted the remaining matters to Shen Xihe with confidence, as he had other urgent affairs to attend to.
He had arrived quietly, but as he left, he was spotted from behind by Female Historian Sun. Shen Xihe, observing Sun thoughtfully watching Cui Jinbai's retreating figure, approached her from behind. "What is Female Historian Sun looking at?"
Female Historian Sun lowered her head and bowed. "Princess."
"I asked a question. Why does Female Historian Sun not answer?"Princess, this humble servant just saw a man's silhouette." As a lady of the inner chambers, destined for great fortune, you ought to cherish your reputation," Female Historian Sun replied with downcast eyes and submissive demeanor.
Shen Xihe gazed at her coolly for a moment. "Female Historian Sun, you are a palace official appointed by His Majesty. Out of respect for that, I have shown you courtesy. But remember, I detest being lectured on propriety. In the Princess Manor, I am the propriety."
With that, Shen Xihe stepped around her and walked away.
When Shen Xihe expressed her desire to visit the medicinal garden, the Youning Emperor dispatched a eunuch to return with Hongyu and personally escort Shen Xihe there.
The Imperial Medicinal Garden was abundant with herbs. Shen Xihe indeed picked the ones she needed and inspected some that had been processed. Using fatigue as an excuse to rest briefly, she let her cat, Duanming, slip away unnoticed. Shen Xihe then busied herself having others search for her cat.
Duanming was eventually found in A Xi's room, scratching at the corner of a medicine cabinet.Shen Xihe gave Moyu a look. Moyu went to pick up Duanming and, in one swift motion, pushed over the medicine cabinet, revealing a hidden compartment against the wall. But it was empty. Shen Xihe stared at some food crumbs, his gaze gradually turning cold.
OpenNovel