Ink Burns

Chapter 242 Secret Meeting (Part 2)

Cui Bainian took a sip of tea and said, "The matter of Prince Rong taking over the family is not something to be rushed. Since Xu Quyan has already amassed power, this matter must be handled with caution and patience. However, in the future, Your Highness should also listen to good advice and not allow yourself to rule alone, lest you repeat the same mistakes!"

His tone was somewhat dismissive and casual.

Jing An's gaze turned cold as he avoided looking directly at him.

Cui Bainian rose with a smile, bowed, and took his leave with his son.

Jing'an called out to Cui Yulang, his voice hoarse: "Linniang, how have you been these past few days?"

Cui Yulang clasped his hands in a respectful bow: "It's all good—it's just that after returning to my residence from your place a few days ago, I buried my head in my hands and cried several times, and I didn't quite understand you when I spoke to you." He seemed to be carefully choosing his words: "But now I've figured it out, and I don't have much of a sorrow anymore."

Fu Mingjiang is a kind-hearted and easygoing child; it would be best if she could understand.

Jing'an felt relieved of a heavy burden on his mind. He waved his hand, signaling Yuan Wenying and Zhou Fangniang to leave as well.

Yuan Wenying went first.

Zhou Fangniang stood in the hall, head bowed, stroking the soles of her shoes for a long time, timid but not taking her leave.

Jing'an frowned deeply: "Is there anything else?"

Zhou Fangniang's voice choked with sobs: "There's something I haven't been able to understand."

"explain."

"How come Lin Mingming, who had never taken 'Qianji Yin', started taking effect after only nine days in the Censorate?"

Jing'an rubbed the bridge of her nose wearily. She thought it was something serious, but it turned out to be some silly questions.

“If that doctor can diagnose ‘Qianji Yin’, how can he not prepare it? The core ingredient in the prescription is that highly poisonous Qianji. It may have been recorded in unorthodox medical books. He can just give Chang Lin some, and it will have the effect of triggering the following events—” Jing’an squinted and waved his hand: “You go first and go to Guan’anzhai to take a look. Don’t leave any more evidence for Xu Quyan.”

The attempt to drive the people away failed.

Zhou Fangniang sobbed, weeping as she hesitated, "...It might be in medical books, but how did that doctor ever get his hands on the actual plant? I remember that the *Qianji* plant is located outside Yumen Pass, which is heavily guarded. Besides, 'Qingfeng' needs *Qianji* in her medicine, so all the *Qianji* plants on the cliffs are guarded by the Northern Frontier Army."

Jing An slowly lowered his hand from his forehead, raising his deep, solemn eyes: "You mean the person who drugged Chang Lin is someone our 'Qing Feng' knew about the existence of 'Qian Ji Yin'?"

He Qingshu, who was holding pastries beside Jing'an, paused, her gaze fixed on the gap between two blue bricks.

Zhou Fangniang cried and sobbed, then lowered her head and rubbed the soles of her shoes.

"Stop rubbing against me!" Jing An's anger flared up, and he shouted loudly, followed by a violent cough that squeezed his chest.

He Qingshu quickly got up and gently patted Jing'an on the back.

Jing'an gradually calmed down, his face flushed with anger: "Speak your mind, don't play tricks." Zhou Fangniang was startled, then two lines of tears streamed down her face, her sobs choked and chaotic: "The day before Chang Lin was arrested and taken to the Censorate, the Right Battalion Commander of the Xishan Camp came to the manor! He, he and the Marquis dismissed everyone and talked for a long time, drinking tea and wine. The next day the Marquis was arrested and taken to the Censorate! I, I suspect it was him!"

"Him?" Jing'an wondered who this minor character was. "How could he possibly possess the 'Tethering Technique'?"

“He didn’t! But Cui Bainian behind him did!” Zhou Fangniang cried out, “He was originally Cui Bainian’s deputy general. After the Marquis was promoted to captain of the Xishan Camp, Cui Bainian planted him in the camp! Cui Bainian has wanted the Marquis dead from beginning to end! If it wasn’t him, who was it! Who was it!”

Zhou Fangniang was weeping uncontrollably, as if she were making a grief-stricken accusation.

Jing'an seemed to be deep in thought.

Zhou Fangniang stole glances at Jing'an's expression, but inwardly she felt a surge of admiration for Shanyue: indeed, Shanyue's advice was right. The best way to clear herself was to implicate others—Chang Lin's "Tethering Inducement" was administered by her. Now that "Qingfeng" was preoccupied with her own problems, she naturally wouldn't investigate immediately. But once "Qingfeng" was free, Jing'an would definitely investigate why Chang Lin was poisoned. Wouldn't she then become the meat on the chopping block?
Instead of doing that, let's strike first and let Cui Bainian take the blame!
Zhou Fangniang secretly took a few deep breaths, feeling a strange sense of pride: Who could have guessed that she, who was ignored by everyone, who was small and of lowly birth, would one day be able to manipulate these high-ranking ministers and imperial relatives, and even take revenge on Chang Lin!
Jing'an's lips were tightly pressed together, but the hand clenched tightly in her sleeve betrayed her emotions.

He Qingshu lowered his head and hid in the shadows behind the wooden box, his eyes darting around twice, but it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Zhou Fangniang wanted to take her leave.

But then Jing An's deep voice called out to her from behind: "The situation is tense right now, so this matter can only be handled by you. Thoroughly investigate all the women who have joined 'Qingfeng' in the last two years."

These days are not peaceful.

One after another.

First the Liu family, then the Zhu family, then Xue Chen, then the Chang family, and now even the Cui family, an unbreakable ally, has its own agenda.
unusual.

This is not normal.

and many more.

Jing An narrowed his eyes.

The Liu family, the Zhu family, and Xue Chen.
Everything revolves around one person.

“Especially the Liu family.”

Jing'an's voice was deep and heavy, like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, plummeting straight to the bottom: "Investigate Liu thoroughly, investigate her background, her true relationship with the Liu family—"

Jing'an paused, then said, "Now that Liu Huan is out of mourning and retired, and no one in the Liu family is holding an official position, you should have Liu Shi bring her nominal 'father' and 'mother' to the capital as soon as possible. If her maternal family comes, how can they not stay at Xue Nan's residence?"

Upon hearing the name "Liu Shi," Zhou Fangniang's heart skipped a beat.

But she couldn't say anything.

She and Liu Shanyue were in the same boat. From Su Ge'er's disappearance to Chang Lin's poisoning, they were closely linked. Once Shanyue was implicated, what she had done would also be exposed—the account books of Guan'anzhai, poisoning Chang Lin, and slandering Cui Bainian. That was enough to kill her many times over!
Zhou Fangniang responded meekly, "Yes, yes."