"Youyou, had I met you earlier, perhaps..."
"Perhaps you wouldn't have lived to see this day," Shen Xihe cut her off.
Bu Shulin:...
Had it not been for the additional lifetime memories of Gu Qingzhi, Shen Xihe wouldn't possess such broad-mindedness. Back when Bu Shulin went to kidnap Linglong, her purpose was to draw the attention of Kang Prince Manor onto Shen Xihe, making them target her instead, while Bu Shulin herself remained on the sidelines to observe Shen Xihe's capabilities.
Only then would she decide how to deal with Shen Xihe, who knew her deadly secret.
Though Shen Xihe could figure this out, given her lack of experience with major storms, she wouldn't have thought too far ahead. Had she and Bu Shulin become enemies from their first meeting, Bu Shulin might not have been her match. When it came to dealing with people, Shen Xihe was even more ruthless than Gu Qingzhi.
However, she wouldn't have possessed her current sophistication and efficiency, and it might have caused rifts between Father and the Prince of Shunan.
"My father sent a letter saying His Highness the Crown Prince intends to intervene in matters between Shunan and the Northwest," Bu Shulin sought confirmation from Shen Xihe. "What do you think?"
"My father also sent word. He has no objection to the Crown Prince's involvement."
After all, from the moment Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong were betrothed, the Shen family became tied to the Eastern Palace. They needed to fully support Xiao Huayong's ascension to the throne. Once Xiao Huayong became emperor, having this matter officially acknowledged by him would be better, saving future suspicions about collusion between Shunan and the Northwest.
Xiao Huayong knew about Bu Shulin's true gender as a woman. Even without Shen Xihe as a connection, for Bu Shulin to survive, she had no choice but to temporarily trust Xiao Huayong. However, without Shen Xihe, the Bu family would have been more deeply guarded, fearing Xiao Huayong might discard them after use.
With Shen Xihe involved, while they still couldn't rely entirely, they could at least harbor more hope.
"By the way, Youyou, Cui Shitou said he wants to move into my residence for lodging!" Bu Shulin brought up a troublesome matter, looking pleadingly at Shen Xihe. "Help me think of a way—how can I let him come stay at my place?"
"Cough, cough, cough..." Shen Xihe had just taken a sip of tea and nearly spat it out upon hearing Bu Shulin's words. Her upbringing made her swallow it forcibly, causing her to choke. Zhenzhu immediately stepped forward to pat her back.
Her throat hurt from coughing, so she took a pear syrup lozenge handed by Zhenzhu to soothe it. Feeling somewhat relieved, she lifted her head to look at Bu Shulin, who wore an expression of both worry and self-blame. "Why would he need to lodge at your residence? The Cui family is vast and prosperous—how could there be no place for Cui Jinbai, the most promising of the younger generation?"
"Apparently, his younger brother has been crying frequently and facing misfortunes lately. His stepmother consulted a mystic who suggested that Cui Shitou clashes with her young son this year. She wants to take her children back to her maiden home to temporarily avoid Cui Jinbai." Bu Shulin had investigated the reason and was equally furious.
What temporary avoidance—it was clearly a threat: either they mother and son stayed, or Cui Jinbai had to go.
"What did Cui Shaoqing's father and clan say?" Such a significant matter couldn't possibly be left to a woman's whims.
Cui Shitou's father did allow the mother and son to return to her maiden home to avoid him, but opinions among the clansmen were divided." Bu Shulin was well-informed. "However, Cui Shitou himself wants family harmony above all. He said that to maintain peace at home, he would move out for a year..."After listening, Shen Xihe pursed her lips and smiled. Cui Jinbai was a prodigy since childhood, having ascended to the position of Dali Temple's Junior Minister in his early twenties. Throughout the entire court, there was no other young man more accomplished than him.
How could his intellect and methods be compared to those of an ordinary person? If not for Bu Shulin—someone he desperately wanted to stay with—he had countless ways to sway the Cui family to his side. The reason he had to "compromise and show magnanimity" this time was simply because the situation played right into his hands.
Shen Xihe even suspected that the so-called guidance from a master and the clash of destinies might all have been orchestrated by him.
Cui Jinbai was convinced that Bu Shulin was a man and had fallen for this "man." However, Bu Shulin was merely using him to avoid trouble and didn’t seem to genuinely favor men. Cui Jinbai was determined to make Bu Shulin accept him—he refused to suffer alone.
Seeing Shen Xihe’s amusement, Bu Shulin grew even more distressed: "Youyou, Cui Shitou has truly gone mad. I told him I’m the only heir of the Bu family, and he actually suggested I find a woman to bear a son, present the child to my father, and fulfill my duty as a descendant. After that, he said I would belong entirely to him!"
When Bu Shulin heard this, she was utterly stunned, completely sensing Cui Jinbai’s madness.
"He’s willing to compromise to such an extent for you—such devotion is truly rare," Shen Xihe sighed.
"Youyou, stop with these irrelevant remarks and quickly think of a solution for me," Bu Shulin said, exasperated.
"I suspect his intention to stay at your residence is twofold: to get closer to you and to prove he isn’t afraid of gossip," Shen Xihe said seriously. "Cui Shaoqing is fixated on you. Even if I devise a plan for you, he’ll find another way. You can’t expect me to constantly contend with Cui Shaoqing on your behalf, can you? You must figure this out yourself—it’s a matter between the two of you, and I don’t wish to interfere."
"Youyou..." Bu Shulin felt utterly hopeless.
Hongyu came to announce Xue Jinqiao’s arrival, so Shen Xihe forcibly dismissed Bu Shulin. She handed Xue Jinqiao the gift her brother had sent with instructions to give to her. Xue Jinqiao was delighted and, as always, opened it in front of Shen Xihe, asking about any items she didn’t understand.
As Shen Xihe had anticipated, the investigation into Meng Chang’s case hit a dead end—there was no evidence at all.
On the fifth day of the third month, Xie Yunhuai visited to bid her farewell, as he intended to journey to the Western Regions. Shen Xihe personally saw him off at the city gates. Three days after Xie Yunhuai’s departure, news spread that Xie Ji was taking a concubine.
However, this matter attracted little attention. Xie Ji had no heirs, and Xie Yunhuai was estranged from him. Taking a concubine to continue the family line was considered a common practice.
On the twelfth day of the third month, the imperial examination results were announced. The streets and alleys of the capital were filled with the sounds of messengers reporting results, celebratory cheers, and the clamor of gongs and drums, creating an atmosphere of joy. Yet, this joy lasted less than two days before candidates began beating the drum at the Capital Magistrate’s office, accusing someone of obtaining exam questions in advance and committing fraud in the examination hall.
The newly appointed top scholar was revealed to be a man of shallow talent, stirring up a storm.
The imperial examination system had only flourished in this dynasty, and fraud had never been heard of before. Among all pursuits, scholarship was held in the highest esteem, and scholars were deeply respected. Ordinary people dared not tarnish this reverence.
"Is the accuser Guo Daoyi?" Shen Xihe asked Zhenzhu.
Zhenzhu nodded. "It is indeed."Shen Xihe recalled Xiao Huayong's earlier statement about paving the way for Tao Zhuanxian to contend for the Grand Secretary position vacated by Xue Heng. He had mentioned having other plans for the Minister of Rites, who happened to be the examiner setting the questions for this metropolitan examination, while the Vice Minister of Rites served as the chief invigilator.
If the imperial examination fraud were substantiated, the Minister of Rites would at minimum lose his official position, and at worst, pay with his life.
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