Chapter 30: Male Version Of Xi Shi

After sending off the reluctant Princess De’an, Shen Yu only arrived at the Zichen Hall after a while.

Fang Rui had heard from the young eunuch who’d just reported that Princess De’an had stood waiting a long time in the palace alley outside Zichen Hall, and when Lord Shen arrived at the alley, Princess De’an had stopped him and talked with him for quite a while.

When Fang Rui heard this, he quietly looked at Rong Tai and asked, “Check among the sons of noble families who has good character and ambition. Make a list for me.”

Rong Tai almost blurted, *Your Majesty, that’s your own *sister…

Rong Tai wanted to put in a few kind words for Princess De’an, but felt powerless and could only reply, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

He then had Rong Tai send Princess De’an away and let Shen Yu come in.

Shen Yu bid farewell to Princess De’an, entered Zichen Hall, performed the formal court bow, then looked up to see the Emperor’s pale face and smelled a faint medicinal broth in the hall. A worried expression crossed Shen Yu’s face as she asked, “Your Majesty, are you all right?”

At that moment, Rong Tai averted his gaze slightly, glanced at Shen Yu, and thought to himself that Lord Shen and His Majesty both hid things well.

Could Fang Rui be fine? Did he look like someone who was fine? He had suffered last night’s ordeal, and early this morning he’d been startled by the fact that his own sister liked Shen Yu too. How could he be well?!

But Fang Rui, who was always able to play two roles, easily changed his expression. A faint smile appeared on his face. “I’m fine. My health is much better.”

Fang Rui hadn’t noticed the hall thick with the smell of medicinal broth before, but now that he did, he said to Rong Tai, “Open the windows, let the medicine smell out.”

Fang Rui hated that smell of medicine more than anything in his life, but since he had to act, he would commit fully. So during the days Fang Rui was absent, the medicines had been brewed and sent to Zichen Hall, and to avoid anyone noticing them being dumped, for the past half month the medicines delivered to Zichen Hall had all ended up in the stomach of perfectly healthy Rong Tai.

Not only did Zichen Hall reek of the medicinal broth, Rong Tai himself smelled even more strongly of it.

Hearing talk of airing out the medicine, the worried expression on Shen Yu’s face deepened. “Your Majesty, is your health really all right?”

“I’m fine… cough cough cough.” Having just said he was fine, Fang Rui suddenly covered his mouth and began coughing.

“Your Majesty!?”

Fang Rui waved weakly at Shen Yu and said in a frail voice, “I’m fine. My throat’s been dry and itchy lately but it’s nothing serious.”

Though he claimed it was nothing serious, His Majesty presented a sickly, male Xi Shi image (Xi Shi was essentially a femme fatale of ancient times). Having seen His Majesty perform without limits before, Rong Tai could say he was very used to the Emperor’s acting routine.

Whether it was because he had hurriedly changed clothes earlier, or because he deliberately loosened his collar after Princess De’an left, in any case His Majesty’s neckline was now so low it almost revealed his pectorals, and his hair…

Rong Tai was certain that before he had rushed out of the hall to snatch Lord Shen back from Princess De’an, the Emperor’s hair had been tied up, neat and meticulous. Now it hung loose, and with His Majesty dressed in black, his face looked even paler.

Rong Tai had never seen a seductively beautiful Xi Shi, but on His Majesty he saw a shamelessly sickly male version of one.

Shen Yu half believed the Emperor’s words and half doubted them. Worried about His Majesty’s health, Shen Yu said, “If not, shall I come to the palace tomorrow to report to Your Majesty on the details of this recent inspection?”

“No need, no need. I told you before that after you return from the Court of Judicial Review I’ll set a table of good wine and food to help you recover from the shock. I simply didn’t expect you to return so soon. Now, tell me in detail what happened at the Court of Judicial Review. I’ll have the Imperial Kitchen prepare the midday meal, and we can eat right after you finish.”

Fang Rui had never actually promised to offer Shen Yu a consoling feast, but yesterday in the Court of Judicial Review’s court Rong Tai had said those words on his behalf. Since Rong Tai had given him the chance, how could he miss such a golden opportunity?

Seeing His Majesty insist, Shen Yu made no further objections and replied, “I obey, Your Majesty.”

Shen Yu summarized the investigation at the Court of Judicial Review for Fang Rui, briefly mentioned the matter of “Jia Ming” without going into detail, and didn’t reveal that Chen Chi was not dead but had faked his death to escape custody.

Fang Rui was actually the person who knew each of the things Shen Yu mentioned best, but he acted as if not very informed and curiously asked, “Who is this Jia Ming?”

Shen Yu hesitated slightly before answering, “Just an ill-mannered man of the jianghu.”

Fang Rui rubbed his fingertip along the rim of his teacup, made a curious “oh” sound, and asked, “And how did my dear aide Shen come to know this jianghu fellow called Jia Ming? Could it be, like when you met me, that Jia Ming was being chased and you suddenly took pity and saved him?”

Shen Yu shook her head and replied, “It was just a chance encounter, a few extra words and we became acquainted.” She would have had to be incredibly capable to rescue the omnipotent Jia Ming. If he had been pursued, she might very well have handed a knife to those who chased him.

As if not very interested, Fang Rui didn’t press further and instead asked, “Were the incriminating evidences Chen Chi mentioned found?”

Shen Yu said, “I was only the inspector, so subsequent matters will be handled by Lord Cui, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”

Fang Rui hummed, set his teacup back on the table, and asked, “What does my dear aide Shen intend to do about Huyan Suoyun?”

Surprised the Emperor would bring up Huyan Suoyun, Shen Yu paused before replying, “Huyan Suoyun is Lord Cui’s man, so this matter should rightly be handled by him.”

Fang Rui shook his head and ordered Rong Tai, “Send a message to the Court of Judicial Review and say it was my order: Huyan Suoyun offended my beloved aide Shen. Bring Huyan Suoyun back to the capital so he can personally deal with him.”

“Your Majesty, that would be improper,” Shen Yu immediately objected. Punishing Huyan Suoyun harshly would invite gossip. After all, Jia Ming had already killed the Poison Scorpion Lady, and Huyan Suoyun only acted out of loyalty to protect his master. If the punishment were too light it would make them seem weak. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she would steer clear of it if possible.

But Fang Rui wasn’t pleased. Putting aside the fact that Huyan Suoyun had punched him in the Court of Judicial Review, the incident where Shen Yu was seen naked while bathing was indirectly caused by Huyan Suoyun. Whether it was a man or a woman who saw her, he was one hundred percent certain that Poison Scorpion Lady, aside from Shen Yu’s own mother, was the first to see Shen Yu unclothed. He…had dreamed of Shen Yu undressing before him but he never expected someone else to get there first. How could he possibly let Huyan Suoyun off easily!

If he could, he would quite like to have Huyan Suoyun stripped and thrown into a pile of women.

“My beloved aide Shen, you’ve put Lord Cui in a bind: Huyan Suoyun is his man, but you’re his colleague. Whatever he does you’re likely to be dissatisfied with, so it’s best to let you handle it yourself.”

Shen Yu thought for a moment and agreed that it did place Lord Cui in a difficult position.

“Since Your Majesty says so, I will take up handling Huyan Suoyun’s case.”

“All right, that’s about enough, let’s go have lunch.” Fang Rui stood and stretched out his hands and Rong Tai dutifully stepped forward to straighten His Majesty’s clothes.

As Rong Tai smoothed the garments he muttered in his heart: Your Majesty might be happy to expose himself, but Lord Shen might not be so willing to look.

After tidying his clothing, they left Zichen Hall together with Shen Yu.

At that moment a junior eunuch rushed over with a hurried expression. After bowing he panted, “Your Majesty: word just came from outside the palace that Deputy Minister Lu of the Ministry of War was found hanging in his house, apparently having taken his own life!”

Upon hearing this, Fang Rui narrowed his eyes slightly. Though his face showed no smile, inwardly he sneered. Suicide? This was clearly a murder made to look like suicide.

But that was exactly the direction he wanted things to go.

Now, their so-called “sacrifice of pawns to protect the chariot” tactic would plant the seeds for the Empress Dowager’s faction’s trust to begin to crumble.

Hadn’t the show only just begun? First Chen Chi of the Ministry of Personnel, then Lu Shangqing of the Ministry of War. Who would be next?

Fang Rui’s eyes were chilling and unnerving.