Shu Fei dared not reveal their schemes to the Youning Emperor, for doing so would first plunge her into an abyss of ruin.
As for her own affairs, Shu Fei at most knew that she treated Shen Yingluo well, but she had never mistreated Shen Yingluo. The Emperor also understood her attitude toward Shen Yingluo, and she was not foolish enough to use this matter to curry favor with His Majesty.
Back then, when Shu Fei chose the Emperor, she thought Shu Fei possessed at least the courage to burn her bridges and a deep affection for Tubo.
Now, upon reflection, it seemed she hadn’t misjudged her back then either. It was just that people cannot enjoy smooth sailing for too long, especially when accompanied by the smooth sailing of power. The taste of being high above, with every command obeyed, is too easily intoxicating.
If Shu Fei still had a shred of sense, she would not come to oppose her.
While things were going smoothly for Shen Xihe, Xiao Changmin was overwhelmed with anxiety. The Chief of the Imperial Clan Court and the Chief of the Dali Temple were jointly investigating the matter, and he could only follow along. What caught him most off guard was Cui Jinbai’s involvement, taking advantage of his position in the Dali Temple.
The aphrodisiac spices were not personally taken by him to seek evaluation from a perfumer, but he had sent his own people. Fortunately, those he sent were privately trained individuals. Although Cui Jinbai found the perfumer who evaluated them and, based on their descriptions, sketched portraits and posted notices, he could not locate the person immediately.
However, Cui Jinbai was determined to get to the bottom of the matter. He brought the spices to the Living-Alone Pavilion, where Shen Xihe personally analyzed them. The incense formula quickly became clear, and Cui Jinbai began investigating along the pharmacy trail.
Many of the spices in the formula were medicinal herbs. At the time, he had not anticipated this step and had purchased them all at once from a single pharmacy. Pharmacies keep records of their sales, so by checking which day these herbs were purchased in bulk and by whom, they could trace who prepared the spices.
Fortunately, the purchase was made last month, so it would take some time to uncover. But given Cui Jinbai’s determination in gathering account books from major pharmacies and bringing them back to the Dali Temple, it wouldn’t be long before he found out.
“I sent a servant from the prince’s residence to buy the medicinal herbs…” Xiao Changmin paced anxiously, as if fire were licking at his heels.
Once discovered, if he couldn’t account for the whereabouts of these herbs, it would confirm that the aphrodisiac incense belonged to him, leaving him with no defense. The ironclad evidence of him drugging Bu Shulin to win him over would also be established, directly implicating him in the grave crime of harboring rebellious intentions.
For a prince to curry favor with a vassal king was a major taboo for the Emperor!
Originally, he only wanted to test whether Bu Shulin was a woman and casually sent a maid. Even if Bu Shulin were a man, sleeping with his maid would force him to take her away, allowing him to plant an informant.
He never expected Bu Shulin to turn the tables on him, bringing in Yu Sangning’s distant cousin.
“At this point… there is only one way.”
Yu Sangning sat before the mirror. Last night was supposed to be their wedding night, but because of this matter, she and Xiao Changmin had yet to consummate their marriage. Gazing at her beautiful reflection in the mirror, her meticulously drawn eyebrows appeared particularly sharp: “Your Highness, seek out my sixth uncle and sixth aunt.”
The sixth uncle and sixth aunt Yu Sangning referred to were the biological parents of the cousin Bu Shulin had brought in.
This couple had only one son and one daughter, and the son was an idle, unpromising man. As long as Xiao Changmin could offer his patronage, the sixth uncle and sixth aunt would surely be willing to sacrifice this cousin. After all, her attempt to seduce the Shunan Prince Heir could not be concealed, and her reputation was already ruined.As long as her cousin took the blame—admitting to bribing the servants of Zhao Wang's residence and claiming full responsibility for everything—others' opinions didn't matter. The priority was overcoming the immediate crisis and ensuring no evidence could implicate Zhao Wang's household.
Xiao Changmin had considered this approach himself, but he couldn't voice it openly. After all, she was his newlywed principal wife. Thus, he deliberately feigned panic in front of Yu Sangning.
Wasn't an understanding and virtuous wife meant to share her husband's burdens and solve his troubles?
Only if this idea came from Yu Sangning would Yu Xiang hold no grievances against him.
"My lady, perhaps you should handle this personally. Both the Court of Judicial Review and the Imperial Clan Court are watching my every move," Xiao Changmin stated truthfully. Any rash action on his part now might lead others to trace the clues or disrupt his plans prematurely.
Yu Sangning obediently agreed, "Your Highness, rest assured. I will certainly resolve this matter."
News of Zhao Wang's marital discord spread swiftly. It was said that he and his princess consort had not consummated their marriage, leading to her tantrum. A fierce argument erupted in Zhao Wang's residence, ending bitterly with the princess consort storming off to her parental home in a huff.
Within an hour, this gossip reached Shen Xihe, who responded with a scornful laugh but no comment.
She understood Yu Sangning's intentions perfectly. Since Cui Jinbai had taken charge of the case, things would not go as Yu Sangning hoped.
True to expectations, after returning to the Yu residence, Yu Sangning disguised herself and visited her sixth uncle and aunt. Through a mix of threats and incentives, she persuaded them to visit the prison that very day. Although Fifth Miss Yu was detained in the Court of Judicial Review, she had committed no major crimes—merely harboring vanity and attempting to drug Bu Shulin unsuccessfully. Thus, she couldn't be tortured or denied visitors.
After the family of three conversed in the cell, Fifth Miss Yu tearfully confessed. Cui Jinbai personally conducted the interrogation, repeatedly asking if she admitted guilt. She never wavered and even signed the confession.
However, upon returning to her cell, she discovered that the food container brought by her parents had been knocked over by rats. Some of the spilled food had been nibbled, and several rats lay stiff with bloodshot eyes. Terrified, Fifth Miss Yu screamed, "Cui Shaoqing! I must see Cui Shaoqing!"
She never imagined her parents would be so cruel as to poison her. They had promised that if she took full responsibility, they would bring her home later and let her marry the man she loved. Yet now, they had betrayed her...
In truth, the poison wasn't her parents' doing. Cui Jinbai had staged the scene to frighten her. Fifth Miss Yu adored a painter. Though her scandal at Zhao Wang's residence was known among nobles, commoners remained unaware. Her parents had relented, allowing her to be with her beloved, which was why she agreed to shoulder the blame.
Since Bu Shulin remained unharmed and her actions didn't involve treason like Xiao Changmin's, the punishment wouldn't be severe. Thus, she had consented. However, as a sheltered young lady with little life experience—and aware of her parents' favoritism toward her elder brother—she couldn't help but believe the worst. Immediately, she spilled everything about her parents pressuring her to confess.
Naturally, her parents were arrested next. Cui Jinbai had ample means to extract confessions, and they pointed fingers at Princess Consort Zhao, claiming she had offered benefits to instigate the plot. Consequently, both Xiao Changmin and Yu Sangning were summoned to the palace for His Majesty to personally interrogate.Facing the Youning Emperor's accusation, Yu Sangning readily admitted her guilt: "Your Majesty, it was I who drugged Bu Shulin."
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