Chapter 286: Chapter 286: I’m Not Helping You
This side,
A number of wild creatures scurried past Cui Yun’s eyes, none of their fur as fine as the mink on Shen Hua. Therefore, he quickly averted his gaze and did not raise the bow and arrow in his hand.
Xie Xun seemed in no hurry either.
Riding his horse leisurely, he took out something from his sleeve and threw it to Cui Yun.
"Some time ago, I visited Fengzhou. This is the incense Miss Shen used in earlier years."
Cui Yun caught it in one grab. After a calm glance, he said indifferently, "Ni Kang has checked, and one of the fragrances in the incense clashes with an ingredient in the medicine."
Xie Xun’s face darkened.
Shen Hua’s medicine was all personally collected by him from the prescriptions. Having got the prescription, he visited every pharmacy in Fengzhou, with dozens of doctors examining it one by one.
Only then he dared to let Shen Hua take it, and she had been taking it for several years. At first, it was effective, but later on, Shen Hua’s health deteriorated, and the effect gradually faded.
Suddenly, he felt a chill on his back.
The prescription had been there all along, but... the incense was added later.
That year, when Shen Wei returned from his business trip, he brought a number of items for the ladies, and the incense was originally for Ms. Shen Chun.
Later, Yangyang, fond of beauty, would often visit Ms. Shen Chun’s room.
Since the incense was rare and Ms. Shen Chun saw how much she liked it, she simply gave it all to her.
It was from that time on that the expensive incense Shen Wei brought back from abroad, along with a stream of tonics, were also sent to Shen Hua’s room.
During this period, was it a coincidence or someone’s doing?
Just as he was pondering this, he heard Cui Yun add softly.
"Calling it fragrance is indeed not quite appropriate. This item is not only more expensive than the most costly ambergris in the incense, but it is also extremely rare and even harder to cultivate. Ordinary workshops seldom add this item, and if the weight is not well controlled, it could be too pungent or too faint. A slight mishandling, and it would affect the unique scent of the incense."
Cui Yun looked at him and said very slowly, "It was deliberate."
Since there was going to be an investigation, he could not stop Xie Xun. It would be better to exchange information with each other. Intelligence sharing was the most effective way to proceed.
Xie Xun naturally understood Cui Yun’s intention.
His lips moved slightly.
"Your sources are indeed well-informed. I did indeed go to Fengzhou City to investigate another matter."
Cui Yun’s expression grew serious: "I know."
Xie Xun couldn’t help but be cautious.
Cui Yun: "It’s not you I was investigating, but I have many eyes left in Fengzhou City. Need help?"
Xie Xun’s actions have always been covert, which shows Cui Yun’s intelligence network...
Xie Xun is more eager than anyone to bring the truth to light.
However, while he has contacts in Shengjing and prestige in the military, he has no influence whatsoever in Fengzhou.
If he has to investigate, it would surely require a lot more effort. At least for now, he has no leads.
The matter of the incense has also become a mystery.
Cui Yun’s offer to help indicates his capabilities are not insignificant. Indeed, within just a few years, many notorious criminals became prisoners to his network of spies and informers, which is widely acknowledged to be formidable.
Xie Xun looked at him: "I need to know the real cause of the riding accident back then."
"Since things are out in the open, I trust you and there’s no need for secrecy anymore. As far as I know, there was no fog on the mountain road that day."
The horse was not startled either.
And the fall off the cliff was just a facade. He, Ms. Shen Chun, and a number of servants were stabbed several times before they and the carriage were pushed off the cliff together.
Cui Yun was also somewhat surprised.
"The second branch of the Shen Family has enough motive."
Xie Xun clenched his lips and stayed silent.
Cui Yun: "After the spring hunt is over, I will arrange for people to go down there. From then on, someone will be in touch with you for the investigation."
"Thank you."
Cui Yun merely said: "I am not doing this for you."
As they were talking, they heard horse hooves from behind. Both tacitly ceased their conversation.
Emperor He came chasing a deer to this place. Calming his mount, he held the bow in his left hand, hooked the string with his right, and aimed at a spot. A whoosh was heard.
The arrow shot out, striking the deer.
He quickly fired two more arrows.
The huge beast collapsed with a thud.
People catching up from behind lavished him with praise.
Emperor He, with a smile brimming across his face, remained modest: "I’m getting old, not as good as before."
As he spoke, he narrowed his thoughtful, deep-set eyes, glancing towards Cui Yun and Xie Xun.
Cui Yun and Xie Xun dismounted and came forward to pay their respects.
Emperor He waived the formalities: "Not in vain are you called the two gentlemen of Shengjing; your presence is indeed a sight to behold."
Prince Gong laughed out loud: "If it weren’t said that you, brother, are blessed with immense fortune, and that Da Qi is full of talented people, this younger generation would be impressive in literature and martial arts, and even in looks."
"I remember a few years back, when the envoy from Chaochen Country advised against us, their Grand Tutor’s son was known for his literary grace and wanted to compete with Da Qi. It was Mr. Cui who was sent to meet him."
As he said this, the officials nearby all burst into laughter.
The people of Chaochen Country are rugged-looking, and although the Grand Tutor’s son was a scholar, he was tall, with a square face—quite the burly man.
Back then, Cui Yun wore a simply elegant robe, his noble coldness made him resemble the clear moon, and as he moved, his red robe billowed with the wind.
Right then and there, the Grand Tutor’s son was dumbfounded. He stammered: "I came here for a poetry contest, not a beauty competition."
Remembering this incident, Emperor He also showed a hint of amusement.
"You’ve been in the hunting field for so long without any catch? Xie Xun, I must speak to you. As a general born on horseback, show your true ability, and do not hold back."
Xie Xun: "Understood."
Emperor He then turned to Cui Yun, his expression filled with approval and became much gentler
"Weizhen."
"Why don’t you bring the girl you’ve brought this time and let me meet her?"
Xie Xun’s heart tightened.
Yet Cui Yun remained calm and composed, replying: "She is shy and timid, I fear she cannot face Your Majesty directly."
Ji Huo almost ran out of breath.
He rolled his eyes in disbelief.
Prince Gong, who couldn’t stand to see this, scolded in a low voice: "What’s gotten into you again?"
Ji Huo pulled him aside and confided: "Father, do you really admire Cui Yun and Xie Xun that much?"
"Of course!"
Ji Huo: "Don’t be fooled by their polished appearance. In reality, they’re engaged in an open and secret struggle just for a girl."
"I saw with my own eyes yesterday, one overwrought with jealousy, the other showing humble yet comprehensive attentiveness."
A gleam of shrewdness flashed in the eyes of Prince Gong.
"Is that so?"
"Do I look like someone who spreads rumors wantonly?"
Prince Gong had an idea.
"Take advantage of their fierce competition to snatch the girl first. My son, your chance to prove yourself has come."
He patted Ji Huo’s shoulder: "Go and fight a beautiful turning battle! Outshine them both!"
Ji Huo: "I’ve tried before."
"It didn’t work."
"If I try again, I might end up playing in the mud with Ji Cong."
————
Meanwhile, Shen Hua learned of the poisonous snake incident from Yingwu.
Xie Yinong was scared pale.
Cui Rong stamped her foot in anger: "I knew she had no good intentions! Scaring you is one thing, but what if I got scared?"
Shen Hua pursed her lips: "Where’s the snake?"
"My subordinate threw it away."
Shen Hua never believed in repaying others with their own methods; she only knew that those who repay in kind must bear the consequences.
"Go pick it up, wake it with fire, then throw it back."