Free Web NovelChapter 410: Chapter 410: Implicated
The carriage stopped in front of the Ye Mansion.
The snow had stopped by now. The servants were diligent and had already swept the snow from the entrance.
They seemed accustomed to the sight of the familiar carriage, bowing respectfully in greeting.
The Dingbei Marquis Mansion was on close terms with their own mansion. It wasn’t the first time the Young Master Heir had escorted the Second Miss home, so no one thought anything of it.
Ye Chutang alighted from the carriage and bid Shen Yanchuan farewell.
"The roads are slippery on a snowy day. Be careful on your way, Princely Heir."
Shen Yanchuan gave a slight nod and lowered the curtain. The carriage then gradually drove away.
Ye Chutang turned and went back into the mansion. It was only when she reached the courtyard that she realized she was still holding Shen Yanchuan’s hand warmer.
’...Oh well. It won’t be too late to return it to him another day when I have time.’
Walking along the corridor, a maid saw her return and quickly held up the door curtain to welcome her in.
"Second Miss, you’re finally back!"
The Second Miss had gone out alone that morning, and with the unexpected snow and freezing weather, the maids had been worried she might catch a chill.
Ye Chutang stepped inside and was greeted by a rush of warmth.
She raised her eyebrows in slight surprise. "You lit a charcoal fire in here?"
"Yes. The Third Young Master specifically instructed us. He said it was windy and cold today, and the sky was overcast, so he had us servants light the stove first to keep you from getting cold when you returned."
’That explains it, then.’
Yan had always been meticulous and thoughtful, handling even small details like this perfectly.
Ye Chutang set down the hand warmer. Her fingertips were still faintly red, like a thin layer of rouge on white jade.
She said, "Bring me a brush and ink."
...
「Several days passed in a flash.」
After the snow, the weather in the Capital City grew even colder.
But beneath the seemingly calm surface, countless undercurrents surged.
Several high-ranking court officials had jointly impeached and reported him. Xu Jie was investigated. The governor, who had been basking in glory just last month, had become a prisoner in the blink of an eye.
Unearthing this one case implicated many others, and for a time, everyone felt they were in danger.
Everyone knew His Majesty was furious. At a time like this, even the smallest mistake could land one in deep trouble.
The gates of the Prince Qi Mansion were shut tight, as if things had returned to how they were when Prince Qi was under house arrest.
However, unlike the frantic Xiao Chengxuan, the injured and recuperating Xiao Chengqi had conveniently avoided this storm, enjoying his peace and quiet in the mansion.
In the study, Xie Anbai sized up Xiao Chengqi from top to bottom.
"Seriously, are you really not worried about this poison? If the people you sent can’t find the antidote, that arm of yours will be useless!"
An ordinary person would find that hard to accept, let alone the distinguished Third Prince.
But Xiao Chengqi just smiled. "I appreciate your concern. But I don’t think finding the antidote will be difficult. We just have to wait."
Xie Anbai clicked his tongue, leaned back in his chair, and fanned himself with one hand.
"You’re all so laid-back. One by one, none of you seem to value your own lives. The air outside is thick with paranoia, yet you two still have the leisure to drink tea."
Xiao Chengqi, of course, knew who he was talking about.
"Oh? The Princely Heir is at leisure as well?"
After Xie Anbai found out what happened at the court session that day, he immediately went to the Heir’s Mansion.
He originally thought Shen Yanchuan would be incredibly busy, but who knew the man would be leisurely tasting wine instead.
Xie Anbai was burning with anxiety, but before his butt could even touch a chair, Shen Yanchuan drove him out with a single sentence.
"There’s none for you."
Xie Anbai left in a huff and came here.
And as it turned out, Xiao Chengqi, with his arm wrapped in gauze, didn’t look the least bit worried either.
"Isn’t it normal for him to be at leisure?"
Indeed, very few things on a normal day could ever truly concern Shen Yanchuan.
"The Ministries of Justice are handling it. Why would he trouble himself?"
But Xiao Chengqi raised an eyebrow, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
"Oh? And here I thought that since this matter involves Ye Zheng, he would be sure to investigate it thoroughly himself."
