As the Crown Prince, even if the imperial mausoleum explosion was an unfavorable situation, he still had to make an appearance and take a stance. While a stand-in could feign unconsciousness in the Eastern Palace, appearing in public was out of the question—he needed to return to the palace swiftly.
Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong parted ways in Liyang Commandery—one headed straight for the capital, while the other detoured into Henan Prefecture. Xiao Huayong traveled alone on horseback at breakneck speed, whereas Shen Xihe led a grand procession with a large entourage.
The day before her arrival in Henan Prefecture, Shen Xihe received a message from Bu Shulin, written in his usual playful and jesting tone. Yet, on the very day she entered the city, news broke that Bu Shulin had been caught red-handed—accused of being the mastermind behind the tomb-raiding case.
"What did you say?" Shen Xihe shot to her feet.
She had just arrived at the courier station. Unlike her previous trip to Linchuan Commandery, where she carried rewards from His Majesty, this time she was merely passing through Henan Prefecture. The prefect naturally didn’t come to greet her, especially since the situation in Henan Prefecture was far more turbulent than in Liyang. That the prefect had sent a close aide to welcome her was already a gesture of respect.
Thus, she settled at the courier station and dispatched Zhenzhu to inform Bu Shulin, requesting his presence. Instead of returning with Bu Shulin, Zhenzhu brought back news: early that morning, at daybreak, Bu Shulin had met with the pawnbroker of Fenghai Pawnshop, poisoned him, and was caught red-handed by the Henan Prefect. He was now imprisoned, awaiting the prefect’s report to His Majesty for a final decision.
"Worldly Son Bu is in the death row of Henan Prefecture," Zhenzhu reported with a grave expression.
"Let’s go to the prefect’s office," Shen Xihe declared, taking the imperial Golden Decree. She immediately requisitioned horses from the courier station and, accompanied by Zhenzhu and Moyu, rode at top speed to the prefect’s office.
The Henan Prefect, surnamed Tang and given name Juan, was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations in the eighth year of Youning. After twelve years in office, he had risen to become the prefect of Henan. Hailing from a humble background, he enjoyed His Majesty’s deep trust and had always served as a loyal minister.
Upon reaching the government office, Shen Xihe’s heart raced violently, causing her great discomfort. Though she had largely recovered and appeared no different from an ordinary person, her lack of exercise left her constitution weak. She instructed Zhenzhu to first present a visiting card as a courtesy to Prefect Tang.
Instead of the prefect, she was met by his registrar, who respectfully invited her in, offering tea and pastries with great attentiveness. "My apologies, County Princess. The prefect is occupied with the tomb-raiding case and is not at the office. If you have any matters, you may direct them to me."
"I wish to see Worldly Son Bu," Shen Xihe stated bluntly, taking him at his word.
The registrar’s eyes flickered. "County Princess, Worldly Son Bu is implicated in the tomb-raiding case as a prime suspect. With public outrage spreading, the prefect has ordered that no one be allowed to visit him."
Shen Xihe raised her hand, the gleaming Golden Decree resting in her palm. "I will see Worldly Son Bu now."
The registrar dropped to his knees, kowtowing respectfully and hailing, "Long live the Emperor!" before trembling as he rose. "This humble servant will make arrangements at once."
Shen Xihe breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Bu Shulin. She had feared he might have been subjected to harsh interrogation. Instead, he lay on the stone bed of the cell, legs crossed and swinging casually, humming a tune. At the sound of the cell door opening, he turned and, upon recognizing Shen Xihe in her cloak, rushed over tearfully. "My Youyou, you’ve finally—"
Shen Xihe sidestepped neatly, avoiding his embrace. Bu Shulin, left grasping air, pouted and looked back at her with an expression full of grievance.
"You seem quite at ease," Shen Xihe remarked coldly.
"I nearly lost my life," Bu Shulin whined pitifully.Zhenzhu entered, wiped the long bench clean, then went out to fetch silver and dismiss the jailer.
Shen Xihe gracefully took a seat: "Speak. What act are you performing this time?"
"What act?" Bu Shulin sat down beside Shen Xihe, curling her lips disdainfully. "I was genuinely framed. If Prefect Tang hadn't owed my father a life-saving favor from years ago, you'd only be collecting my corpse by now."
"Start from the beginning." Shen Xihe glanced at her.
"Wasn't I carrying out orders? I've been investigating openly and covertly all this time without any leads. Just two days ago, I discovered something suspicious about the pawnbroker at Fenghe Pawnshop. I found their hidden stolen goods and planned to infiltrate his residence for further investigation. Little did I know he was waiting for me."
Bu Shulin gritted her teeth in fury at the memory: "He exchanged a few words with me, drank a cup of tea himself, then collapsed vomiting blood. Suspecting a trick, I went to check his breathing when I heard a crowd breaking in. I was caught red-handed."
Under those circumstances, escaping would have made her look guilty beyond doubt, and hiding would have been unwise. She could only open the door to await the intruders, then reveal herself as the special envoy investigating the case.
"You have no idea - Prefect Tang and the Commandant nearly came to blows over who would take me. Ultimately, as the chief administrative official, Prefect Tang rightfully took charge and forcefully brought me here. Otherwise..."
Had she fallen into the Commandant's hands, she would certainly have faced death.
"Were numerous undisposed stolen goods found in that pawnbroker's residence?" Shen Xihe asked.
Bu Shulin nodded vigorously: "Caught with the evidence! How miserable is my situation?"
"Miserable?" Shen Xihe sneered. "Be grateful I arrived before the Provincial Inspector from the Capital Region."
While the Prefect handled administrative affairs and the Commandant military matters within the prefecture, Tang Kuan could seize the person. But when the Provincial Inspector arrived to claim jurisdiction, Tang would have to surrender her to his superior - the Provincial Inspector controlled all administrative affairs within the province.
"I know, I know. Youyou is my lifesaver." Bu Shulin gazed sparklingly at Shen Xihe, blinking rapidly.
"It's only half a day's journey from the provincial office. The Inspector should arrive shortly." Shen Xihe lowered her brows in contemplation.
She couldn't let the Provincial Inspector take Bu Shulin away - Shulin would never make it back to the capital alive. Even with her imperial Golden Decree, she couldn't detain someone caught red-handed with conclusive evidence unless there were doubts about the case.
With this realization, Shen Xihe's gaze steadied, her smiling eyes settling on Bu Shulin.
"You... Youyou, why are you looking at me like that?" Bu Shulin felt unnerved by the stare.
Shen Xihe produced a green porcelain bottle and placed it on the table: "This is poison - the kind that takes several days to become fatal. As a martial artist, you should find it easy to force yourself to vomit blood. After taking this, feign poisoning symptoms. The doctor will confirm you've been poisoned. I'll leave the antidote with you - take it after two days."
"Won't they claim I poisoned myself out of guilt?" Bu Shulin worried.
"Don't worry. As long as you're poisoned, with me here, he won't get to dictate the narrative." Shen Xihe declared imperiously.
Tears of gratitude shimmered in Bu Shulin's eyes: "Why am I not... To not marry Youyou in this lifetime would make me unworthy of being a man!"Shen Xihe let out a contemptuous sneer: "So foolish, and you still want to marry me? Unless I go blind and lose my mind, you're just daydreaming."
If not for the consideration that the Northwest and Southern Shu should stand united, Shen Xihe wouldn't even spare Bu Shulin a single glance.
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