Chapter 21: Time To Settle The Accounts

“Pfft—”

After Tang Wanning left, the surroundings were silent, no wind, no shadow. Zhao Cong covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed up blood.

The bloodstain instantly sullied the plain handkerchief, speckling it like little stars. Its color was dark and heavy. The man in the wheelchair was not only aloof in temperament, even his blood had lost its vitality, unlike that of ordinary people.

Eunuch Tian was distraught and immediately took down a long-necked porcelain bottle he carried, pouring out a brown pill. “Your Highness, quick!”

Such a large mouthful of blood. Who knew how long he’d been holding it in…

The pill was not small, about the size of a fingertip, and not easy to swallow, yet Zhao Cong swallowed it without changing expression and didn’t even ask for water. “Investigate the connections between Wang Kangbo and Li Hongsu. He must have accepted bribes from Li Hongsu, the amount won’t be small.”

“Yes!” Eunuch Tian’s heart tightened. Someone else was about to have bad luck!

“I recall the witchcraft case three years ago: two scepters disappeared, Minister of Rites Liu Ju died, and only then did Wang Kangbo have the chance to rise. Thoroughly investigate that matter, go now,” Zhao Cong squinted. “Remember, I want hard evidence.”

Eunuch Tian turned to leave.

“Wait.”

“Does Your Highness have any other orders?”

Zhao Cong lowered his gaze and dusted non-existent lint from his sleeve, as if casually, and said aloud, “That man from the Li family just now… is too hideous to look at. I don’t want to see him again.”

Eunuch Tian just stared at his master.

The Li Hongsu case implicated many. While it was true that the family was not in the best position right now, as long as the members themselves had not done anything wrong or committed any crime, they didn’t actually have to be too frantic about this situation. That Young Master Li clearly was covering up something, so the old eunuch did not feel bad killing him. It was just that his master’s reason for killing him was simply too ridiculous. What was this about the man being too hideous? So, it was alright to kill someone simply because they were too ugly? Most of the soldiers in the army were not good looking, yet Zhao Cong was happy to fight alongside them. There was nothing shameful about taking revenge for a woman! Why was he being so awkward about it!

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. This old servant will see to it properly.”

Eunuch Tian tiptoed away, and Zhao Cong, not wanting to wait in place, wheeled himself forward.

The bluestone path stretched long and quiet, only a faint breeze passed. Zhao Cong reached a moon gate and suddenly heard low talking. It was Wang Kangbo, head of the Wang family, and his steward.

Seeing who had come, Wang Kangbo’s expression changed. He dismissed his steward with a wave, bowed formally and greeted Zhao Cong with a smile. “…This place is rather secluded. Has Prince Xiangyang lost his way?”

Zhao Cong’s expression was cool and detached. “Spacious mansions, precious objects, splendid houses and secluded views. It’s indeed easy to get lost.”

Wang Kangbo narrowed his eyes. “Prince Xiangyang seems very curious about my house.”

“Lord Wang seems displeased that I came uninvited.” The wheelchair moved slightly. Zhao Cong’s eyes darkened. “Though deposed, I am still Prince Xiangyang, the emperor’s eldest legitimate son.”

Wang Kangbo immediately dropped to his knees. “Your servant would never dare to slight Your Highness!”

They’d sent invitations to nearly every noble circle in the capital, just not to him. It wasn’t an intentional slight or humiliation… After all, wasn’t that how everyone behaved? No one invites a deposed crown prince to feasts and a deposed crown prince never goes for such events. Who would have expected to run into an exception like this? And to actually run into Zhao Cong himself? If Zhao Cong wanted to blame him for such a thing, it was something he really couldn’t do anything about!

“Lord Wang, why so jumpy?” If his expression weren’t as sullen as ever, Zhao Cong’s words would have sounded gentle and considerate. “If there are secrets you can’t speak of, perhaps lay them out openly and make them clear, then others won’t be curious.”

Wang Kangbo said, “I have walked righteously and lived uprightly, a true man faces the world with composure. What secret could there be? Even if there were one or two slips, they would not be crimes deserving death. Your Highness worries too much.”

“Is that so… then I wish you a long life.” Zhao Cong did not intend to stay. After saying this he left.

But Wang Kangbo felt a chill and could no longer remain composed. Whether the deposed crown prince would die soon was uncertain, but everyone the prince had expressed curiosity about had died! The words “I wish you a long life” were definitely not a sincere wish. They were a death notice!

Thinking again, everything the man said today seemed to carry hidden meaning…

Wang Kangbo immediately sought his steward: the old things could not remain! All traces must be cleaned up!

At some point, Eunuch Tian had silently appeared beside the wheelchair. “Your Highness, I’ve ordered the traces to be cleaned over there.”

Zhao Cong nodded. “You know what to do.”

“Yes!”

Of course, they’ll investigate secretly. Once you tear open a seam, the truth will surface. If back then Wang Kangbo was really guilty… he must die.

When water is too clear there are no fish. The prince had commanded troops for years, so he was certainly not someone who didn’t understand shades of grey. But this fish was one the prince disliked. The river must be stirred up, the rules of the game had to be changed.

…

Tang Wanning was still worried about Guan Jia, so she ran to the bathroom to look around. A passing maid said she saw the county lady return already, so Tang Wanning hurried back. Just as she reached the well, she saw Guan Jia holding a beautiful woman’s arm, complaining to her, “We agreed to eat something delicious together, but Sister Tang didn’t wait for me. I don’t know who she went to play with. Sister-in-law, quickly post an invitation asking Sister Tang to come to our residence and play with only me! She won’t be able to play with someone else in that case!”

Tang Wanning nearly burst out laughing.

The little girl’s aggrieved look made her seem like a bullied young wife, while Tang Wanning herself was like the teasing flirt who’d cheated on her.

Tang Wanning was about to go over and explain when she noticed the beautiful woman’s expression was off. She seemed agitated, her eyes reddening, the hand stroking Guan Jia’s head trembling… Tang Wanning didn’t move.

Guan Jia noticed too. “Sister-in-law… what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, little Jia, be good.”

The beautiful woman’s voice comforting the little girl was gentle. But when she turned to look at Mrs. Wang by her side, her gaze sharpened. “Regarding today’s matter, shouldn’t the Wang family give an explanation to Princess Ruihua’s household?”

The place fell silent and the atmosphere turned strange.

Tang Wanning quickly recalled the dark-haired, red-lipped beauty’s name: Jiang Jingyan. She was Princess Ruihua’s daughter-in-law. She had an excellent relationship with her mother-in-law, a devoted marriage, and was very loving toward her sister-in-law. Except for not yet bearing children, she was practically perfect. She came from a martial family: her father and brothers were famed in the army for their strength and meritorious deeds. The most impressive part was that she herself hailed from the great Confucian Bai family.

The Bai family did not attend today’s feast. In fact, in the noble circles they never attended such feasts and held no offices at court, but the moment you mentioned them everyone knew them. The Bai family didn’t just produce one great scholar, they had generations of great scholars. The White Horse Academy they founded had three hundred years of history. Despite wars and worldly clamor, it remained calm and deep, shining with the light of wisdom, perfectly exemplifying what a truly clever person was. They believed intellect capable of crushing all. The White Horse Academy was a place every student longed to attend. More than seventy percent of court officials had studied there or consulted its masters.

As the Bai family’s notable cousin, Jiang Jingyan herself had considerable martial ability and the elegance of words. Her bearing was extraordinary. Most of the time she was gentle and tolerant and would not speak casually, but once she did, she shone brilliantly and no one could ignore her.

Mrs. Wang was a bit stunned. “This… what are you saying?”

Jiang Jingyan inclined her head slightly. Behind her, her maid pushed forward a man. Big and solid, wearing a russet servant’s uniform. He obviously belonged to the Wang household!

Tang Wanning’s pupils tightened. She knew this man all too well. He was the one she had seen earlier near the bathroom! So he really had intended to make a move on Guan Jia!

“Little Jia has a delicate constitution, I’m anxious even when she eats something cold, let alone when she disappears suddenly. I thought she’d be safe in your residence, but instead she went missing and we found this thing.”

As she spoke, the maid kicked the man on the ground and a small porcelain vial was revealed. Just from its packaging one could tell it was no respectable item. It made one’s eyes feel dirty to look at it.

Jiang Jingyan’s expression was clear and cold. “If we were not deliberately being careful and if Little Jia had come back safely on her own, do you think a filthy thing like this would have remained until now?”

Mrs. Wang’s face registered shock. “This…”

“Thanks also to Miss Tang,” Jiang Jingyan looked at Tang Wanning. “Had she not assisted and distracted the villain, Little Jia might not have escaped so quickly.”

Tang Wanning was somewhat surprised. So Jiang Jingyan already knew about this incident?

“So Sister Tang didn’t stand me up, she saved me…”

Guan Jia lifted her skirt and ran over, grabbing Tang Wanning’s hand. “Thank you, Sister Tang. I misunderstood you just now. Don’t be angry, okay?”

“It’s fine,” Tang Wanning patted her head and with her eyes gestured toward Jiang Jingyan. “Be good. We’ll play again later, okay?”

Guan Jia understood perfectly and dashed to Jiang Jingyan, throwing her arms around her. “Sister-in-law, you’re the best! Jiajia loves you the most! Don’t be afraid, Jiajia is clever, she knows which smells are dangerous and runs fast! Jiajia will protect you!”

Jiang Jingyan couldn’t help but hug the little girl, stuffing a packet of sunflower seeds into her hands, and then once more turned with a cool expression to Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang awkwardly said, “This… I didn’t know either. Today we held a feast, so with so many guests, it’s inevitable some ill-intentioned person would slip in. You know our family, our Bi likes the county lady very much and has long been interested… how could he be disrespectful to the county lady?”

She was implying someone had taken advantage of the fact that the house was holding a party and would be very crowded, that this servant wasn’t from her household.

But Jiang Jingyan wouldn’t accept that. “Just because one ‘likes’ someone, does that give them the right to set a trap? To make sure that things go beyond the point of no return, to force oneself on another, or to frame it as a hero rescuing the damsel in distress and claim inevitable physical contact? Does the Wang family think Princess Ruihua’s household is old-fashioned, or that a woman raised by the Bai family only knows virtue and rites and would be cowed by a single word about rules and chastity into complying with your wishes?”

Mrs. Wang hurriedly protested, “I would never say that!”

Jiang Jingyan’s eyes grew colder. “It’s already been done, so saying you wouldn’t dare now is a bit late, isn’t it? It seems our royal household has too kind a temper and everyone thinks they can scheme and bully. I hear Prince Xiangyang came today. Shall we ask him to step out and judge the matter, talk about proper conduct?”

At the mention of the deposed crown prince, the scene immediately quieted.

Tang Wanning remained silent. This was not the place to show off her bravery and her social standing was too poor, so she might just make more trouble than help. Yet gradually she noticed everyone’s gaze toward her beginning to change.

The earlier matter at the manor had sparked many rumors and few ladies had seen the truth with their own eyes, so even if they knew the truth, at most they’d offer a single word of praise. This time was different. From being seen as a woman who had a ‘sharp debate with the crowd’ to a woman who ‘saw injustice along the way and decided to help’, the ladies had seen Tang Wanning’s shining points: her intelligence, her quick thinking, her decisiveness… Stereotypes can be changed little by little after all.