Two hours later, Mo Yuan had searched everywhere but failed to find a second Cui Jinbai. He even began to suspect that Shen Xihe was overthinking things.
Who would dare impersonate a court-appointed official under the Emperor's very nose, especially a fourth-rank minister of the Dali Temple!
"Your Highness, I've verified that Minister Cui reported to the Dali Temple from his residence this morning before riding directly to the courier station," Mo Yuan reported cautiously. "Based on the distance and timing, Minister Cui couldn't have been delayed along the way."
This meant it was impossible for him to have been replaced mid-journey, especially since Cui Jinbai had been accompanied by two Dali Temple attendants the entire way.
Unless he had been replaced at home - but who would dare be so brazen?
Shen Xihe remained calm upon hearing this, having anticipated this outcome ever since sending Mo Yuan to investigate.
This man was clearly no reckless fool. Since he had come, he must have made thorough preparations.
"Moyu," Shen Xihe called out. As Moyu entered, she asked, "Is he still conducting interviews?"
"Yes," Moyu replied. "Ziyu, Hongyu, and Biyu have all been summoned for questioning, including myself."
"What did he ask about?" Shen Xihe felt she was beginning to understand why this man had come disguised as Cui Jinbai.
If he was trying to gather information about her through roundabout means, he would be disappointed.
She was no longer the same Shen Xihe from before.
"He asked about how Linglong usually served you, how you treated Linglong, and how much Linglong knew about you..." Moyu faithfully recounted everything, including her own responses.
Just as expected. While seemingly focused on investigating Linglong, every question ultimately circled back to her. Though Biyu and the others were clever, they hadn't noticed this subtlety.
After all, Linglong had been her chief maid, privy to all her affairs. The minister's official tone during questioning would make anyone think nothing of it.
By now, through investigating Linglong's case with her four maids, he had likely gathered a complete picture of Shen Xihe's temperament.
Shen Xihe's misty eyes gazed outside where golden blossoms bloomed in layers around sturdy pine trees. She fell deep into thought.
Why was this man going to such lengths to investigate her?
If it was for the Bone Shedding Pill, he shouldn't be making his move only now. Nor would he use such methods, much less gift her the Fairy Ribbon.
But aside from the Bone Shedding Pill, they had no other connections.
What was his true purpose?
"Your Highness, Minister Cui is taking his leave," Hongyu reported urgently just as Shen Xihe was pondering the man's motives.
"Go invite Minister Cui back. Tell him I have some questions and would appreciate his guidance."
After instructing Hongyu, Shen Xihe had Moyu close all the windows. She changed the fragrant spices in the delicate incense burner, sealed it, and placed it on the table before lifting the bead curtain to enter the inner chamber. She settled on the daybed, leaning against its edge.
When Cui Jinbai entered the inner chamber, he saw Shen Xihe through the bead curtain supporting her head with one hand, appearing frail as she leaned against the bedpost. "Your Highness."
"All of you may leave. I have some matters to discuss privately with Minister Cui." After dismissing Moyu and the others, Shen Xihe covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief and coughed several times.
Cui Jinbai watched as everyone withdrew, even closing the door behind them.
Just as he grew suspicious, Shen Xihe whispered weakly, "My constitution is too delicate to bear the wind. I hope you'll forgive me, Minister Cui."
Everyone among Kyoto's nobility knew about Shen Xihe's frail health - all consequences of the Kang Prince Manor's misdeeds.
"Please speak plainly about what you require, Your Highness," Cui Jinbai responded with measured respect."Please have a seat, Cui Shaoqing... cough cough cough..." Shen Xihe gestured toward the round wooden table with a raised hand before covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief to cough for a while.
Seeing this, Cui Jinbai bowed with clasped hands before taking a seat at the table.
He happened to sit beside the incense burner, where wisps of smoke curled upward, and an extremely faint fragrance slowly dispersed.
The scent was light and lingering, unlike anything Cui Jinbai had ever smelled before. He subtly took a deep breath.
"I have been master and servant with Linglong for many years..."
Shen Xihe recounted some past experiences with Linglong,
her tone filled with nostalgia and sorrow. She spoke of trivial matters, pausing every few sentences to cough, rambling on for who knows how long. Cui Jinbai, being a man of great composure, listened with immense patience, especially since Shen Xihe's words revolved entirely around Linglong, and he had come precisely to investigate Linglong's case.
"Cui Shaoqing serves as the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, overseeing trials and punishments." Shen Xihe lightly covered her lips with her handkerchief and suddenly shifted the topic. "I would like to ask Cui Shaoqing, what punishment should be given to someone who impersonates a court official?"
Cui Jinbai raised an eyebrow faintly and answered earnestly, "The sentencing for impersonating a court official depends on their actions. If they detain an official and impersonate them without committing any evil deeds, the punishment ranges from caning to imprisonment. If they kill an official and impersonate them, regardless of whether they commit further evil deeds, they should be executed."
"Which type are you, Cui Shaoqing?" Shen Xihe suddenly asked.
Cui Jinbai remained unperturbed. This humble official does not understand what the princess means."
Shen Xihe slowly rose to her feet, her slender, soft fingers parting the beaded curtain as she glided forward with graceful steps.
Today, she wore a light purple gauze shawl embroidered with silver ruyi patterns, draped over her shoulders and trailing to the floor. Her milky-white long skirt, adorned with scattered purple daylilies, flowed elegantly, and the jade pendants at her waist swayed gently as she moved, as if dancing with the wind.
"Cui Shaoqing... do you feel dizzy?" Her voice was clear and ethereal, like the chime of jade stones, pleasant to the ear.
Cui Jinbai looked up at the pearl-embedded Hua Dian on her forehead.
The pearl was small yet lustrous and radiant, exquisitely set against the red Hua Dian, much like Shen Xihe herself.
Gradually, however, he began to see double images of the tiny pearl.
His body went limp, and he barely managed to brace himself against the table with one hand to keep from collapsing.
Shen Xihe walked over to him, still covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief soaked in medicine. "It seems my Turmeric Soft-Bone Incense is quite effective."
This was the first time Shen Xihe had used the Turmeric Soft-Bone Incense, which was primarily made from turmeric flowers.
Cui Jinbai tilted his head to glance at the Xing kiln white porcelain lotus incense burner beside him, from which thin wisps of smoke still drifted, and raised a hand to cover his mouth and nose.
"Caning, imprisonment, execution." Shen Xihe's gaze, veiled by the slowly rising incense smoke, fell upon Cui Jinbai. "Cui Shaoqing, which one do you think suits you?"Princess, you..."
Shen Xihe paid him no mind. "Moyu!"
The moment Shen Xihe called out, before Moyu could even push the door open, Cui Jinbai suddenly sprang up, his figure darting forward as he forcefully pulled Shen Xihe into his arms.
Release the princess!" Moyu pushed the door open and saw the scene, immediately drawing her sword and pointing it at Cui Jinbai.
"You're unaffected?" Shen Xihe couldn't believe it.
A person must breathe, and the fragrance entering the lungs is unavoidable. Moreover, this was not a poison—even someone immune to all toxins could not escape it!
I thought the princess would personally come to peel off the mask on my face." Cui Jinbai's voice had changed. "So I pretended a little to amuse the princess." It would have been nice... to have a chance to get close to you, but unfortunately, the princess didn't give me that opportunity."When he said the last sentence, he sounded quite regretful.
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