Lei Shi only blamed Shen Lixue without reflecting on the fact that she had sent the nanny to deliberately cause trouble, which was why Shen Lixue had seized on her. If the nanny had not intended to bully her mistress, how could Shen Lixue have found fault with her and driven her away from the Prime Minister's residence?
"Granny Mi, go back to the Grand Commandant's mansion secretly and tell Father about my situation here. Let him think of a way to restrain Shen Lixue. I can take this opportunity to regain control of the household. Of course, if we can get rid of Shen Lixue, that would be even better!"
A fierce glint flashed in Lei's gloomy eyes. All along, she thought that Shen Lixue was powerless and incapable of causing much trouble, and she had never taken Shen Lixue seriously. She never expected that this insignificant, lowly, and unremarkable country girl would repeatedly scheme against her and her daughter, causing them to suffer great losses and leaving them speechless.
Shen Lixue is a dangerous person and cannot be allowed to live any longer. Getting rid of her quickly is the best option.
In the bamboo garden, Shen Lixue, unaware of Lei's plans, had lunch, read for a while, lay down on the bed, and drifted off to sleep.
In a daze, Shen Lixue felt a tingling sensation on her cheek, as if something was gently moving across her face. A shadow appeared above her head, as if someone was blocking the light from her. A faint scent of pine resin lingered in her nostrils. Startled, Shen Lixue suddenly opened her eyes.
Dongfang Heng, dressed in white, lay half-reclined beside her, leaning against the headboard, reading a book. The difference was that she was lying under the silk quilt, while he was half-reclined beside it, with a silk quilt separating them.
Hearing the noise, Dongfang Heng put down his book, looked back at Shen Lixue, and said in clear, dark eyes, "She's awake!"
"How did you end up here?" Shen Lixue frowned as she looked at Dongfang Heng. The book in his hand also came into view; it was the book of various countries' histories that she had placed on her bedside table before her afternoon nap.
Slowly sitting up, Shen Lixue looked at the lattice window with her cool gaze; it was already getting dark.
"I've come to tell you the latest news!" Shen Lixue glared at him unhappily. Dongfang Heng slowly got out of bed and walked to the table to sit down.
"What news?" Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. News that Dongfang Heng would personally deliver must be something special.
"Su Yuting secretly went to the Shuntian Prefecture prison to see Zhuang Kexin!" Dongfang Heng poured tea, and as the steam rose, he casually uttered this news, the expression in his eyes obscured by the steam.
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "When did this happen?"
"Before the incense stick burns!" Dongfang Heng replied leisurely, slowly sipping his tea.
"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Shen Lixue frowned and glared angrily at Dongfang Heng. Su Yuting and Zhuang Kexin had a close relationship. The Zhuang family had found Gu worms, and all the ministers in the court were trying to avoid them. Su Yuting actually dared to go against the wind and visit them. Was it because of sisterly affection, or was there something else going on?
"You were resting just now!" Dongfang Heng said calmly, his voice utterly unwavering.
"Then why didn't you wake me up?" She was sleeping; how could anything be more important than this? Shen Lixue threw off the covers, got out of bed, and quickly grabbed a silk dress from the side and put it on.
"Seeing you sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to!" Dongfang Heng glanced at Shen Lixue, who was quickly tying her sash. Her dark hair was slightly disheveled, with a few strands hanging down on each cheek, exuding a delicate and graceful beauty with an indescribable wildness.
Shen Lixue pouted. When did Dongfang Heng learn to be so considerate of women?
"I'm all ready, let's hurry to the Shuntian Prefecture prison!" After simply combing her hair and putting on a few pearl flowers, Shen Lixue was about to leave when she saw Dongfang Heng slowly stand up. A hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes, and she grabbed Dongfang Heng's arm, pulling him quickly out.
Su Yuting and Zhuang Kexin are like sisters. Does this mean that Minister Zhuang and Duke Wen have a close relationship? It seems that the matter of Minister Zhuang's Gu worm is not yet over.
Dongfang Heng walked slowly and unhurriedly, letting Shen Lixue pull him forward. His gaze fell on Shen Lixue's small hand that was tightly gripping his sleeve, and a beautiful smile appeared on his lips.
The prison was dark and damp. Zhuang Kexin, crippled and unable to stand, could only sit on the relatively dry, withered grass, leaning against the iron bars. She covered her mouth with her hand, crying bitterly, her small body trembling slightly. She was so lonely and helpless.
“Yuting, we grew up together, you know me best. I’m terrified of insects, how could I possibly raise those scary Gu… Someone is setting us up…”
"Kexin, don't worry, I believe in you..." Seeing Zhuang Kexin's tears flowing down her cheeks like broken beads, unable to be stopped no matter what she did, her beautiful face covered in tear stains, Su Yuting gently comforted her, handing her a silk handkerchief, her eyes full of tenderness and understanding.
"Thank you!" Zhuang Kexin took the handkerchief and gently wiped away the tears on her face. She had been crying so hard that even after she stopped, she couldn't calm down. She asked in a trembling voice, "Yuting, does the Qingyan Law have any provision that 'the disabled are punished less severely'?"
"This... I'm not entirely sure either. I'll go back and ask my father!" Su Yuting smiled gently, but her heart tightened. Minister Zhuang, Madam Zhuang, and Deputy Commander Zhuang were all normal people, without any injuries. Zhuang Kexin's question was for her own sake...
"Yuting, you are my best friend. I will never hide any secrets from you. I hope you can believe that our family is truly innocent!" Zhuang Kexin looked into Su Yuting's eyes, speaking each word slowly and deliberately, her eyes shining brightly.
"Of course I believe you have been framed. My father has already gone to the palace to request the Emperor to reopen the investigation into the Gu worm case at the Minister's residence. I believe that your family will be exonerated soon!"
Su Yuting smiled politely, a deep look appearing in her dark eyes. She and Zhuang Kexin were best friends, and they really had no secrets from each other. In other words, Zhuang Kexin knew everything Su Yuting had done, whether good or bad, and vice versa.
When Zhuang Kexin fell on hard times, he repeatedly brought up these secrets in front of her. Was it out of old feelings, or was he using them to blackmail her?
"Really?" Zhuang Kexin's eyes lit up, then dimmed again: "The Gu worms were found in our woodshed, and my brother has offended the Emperor. The possibility of a lenient sentence is probably slim..."
"Minister Zhuang has served as an official for decades. Even if he hasn't made any great achievements, he has certainly worked hard. I will persuade Father to try his best to protect you. A demotion and exile should be possible..." Su Yuting smiled reassuringly, took the pastry box from the maid, and handed it to Zhuang Kexin through the gap in the bars: "The food in prison is very bad. This is your favorite walnut pastry."
"Thank you. Now that things have come to this, only you, Yuting, don't look down on me and are willing to be so good to me!" Zhuang Kexin took the pastries, and the aroma wafted gently through the cracks in the box. She was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.
"Don't cry, you'll be alright!" Su Yuting took a silk handkerchief and gently wiped away Zhuang Kexin's tears with concern.
The old woman's voice came from behind her, and Su Yuting smiled apologetically: "Kexin, it's getting late, I'll go back to the manor now, I'll come see you again tomorrow!"
Zhuang Kexin nodded, watching Su Yuting leave with reluctance: "Take care on the road!"
Su Yuting's light blue dress turned the corner and disappeared. Zhuang Kexin stopped crying instantly, a mature and ruthless glint flashing in her bright eyes. She looked at the handkerchief in her hand that was wet with tears, pouted, threw it aside, and let out a long sigh of relief. Pretending to cry was really hard work.
A delicate aroma wafted into her nose, and Zhuang Kexin slowly opened the lid of the pastry box. A row of golden, crispy walnut pastries appeared before her eyes. The pastries were golden in color, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making her mouth water.
Zhuang Kexin had no appetite at all and slowly closed the pastry box. It wasn't that she didn't trust Su Yuting, but that special times required special treatment. As the saying goes, one can never be too careful. Su Yuting was now at her wit's end and had no use to her. It was not impossible that someone would try to harm her to prevent some secrets from being leaked.
Just then, four mysterious jailers dressed in official uniforms walked around the corner, each holding a prisoner. They were looking around warily as they walked.
One jailer opened Minister Zhuang's cell, another went into Madam Zhuang's cell, another went to Zhuang Weicheng's cell, and the third naturally unlocked Zhuang Kexin's cell, put the white-clad prisoner on the ground, tossed her a piece of clothing, and whispered, "Change into this quickly!"
"What are you doing?" Zhuang Kexin stared at the official uniform with the character "卒" (soldier) written on it in her hand, then looked at the prisoner lying unconscious on the dry grass, her eyes full of confusion.
"Substituting one for another, we'll secretly let you out and have these four death row inmates take your place at the execution ground." The jailer glanced at the stunned Zhuang Kexin and coldly urged, "Hurry up, the changing of the guard is about to begin!"
Zhuang Kexin was startled and instantly understood that they were to change into prison guards' clothes and leave the prison as guards during the shift change.
"Thank you!" Zhuang Kexin was overjoyed. Seeing that Minister Zhuang, Madam Zhuang, and Zhuang Weicheng were all changing clothes, she did not hesitate any longer and quickly changed into the loose prison guard uniform.
A moment later, Minister Zhuang, Madam Zhuang, and Zhuang Weicheng, having changed their clothes, came out of the prison and gathered at the entrance of Zhuang Kexin's cell. Minister Zhuang looked at his daughter, who had a disability in both legs, and whispered, "Weicheng, carry your sister on your back!"
Zhuang Weicheng frowned, remaining silent with a cold gaze. He leaned down to pull Zhuang Kexin closer, but she recoiled in fright, her eyes fixed on him warily. "Dad, my brother..."
"Don't be afraid. As long as no one controls the Gu in your brother's body, it won't take effect!" A sharp glint flashed in Minister Zhuang's deep eyes. After Cheng'er was infected with the Gu, the person controlling it was nearby!