Prime Minister

Chapter 221, Section 220: [Trying to Cover Up the Truth Only Makes It More Obvious]

Shen Garden in Yangzhou.

Since the beginning of the year, Shen Bingwen has been busy outside most of the time, and this has been the case recently. He has handed over some of the affairs of Guangtai Company to Shen Qingluan and four loyal general managers, while he himself is busy with various affairs of the Salt Industry Association.

Although Shen Bingwen was not present, Shen Garden remained peaceful and harmonious. After all, most of the guards, both inside and outside the garden, were trusted confidants trained by Shen Bingwen, and their loyalty and abilities had stood the test of time.

In the southeast corner of the inner courtyard, there is a small kitchen specifically for providing food for Shen Qingluan, who lives in the East Garden. The cook is named Chen Erniang, and her husband and son both work at the Guangtai Company's shops.

Chen Erniang was cheerful and had excellent cooking skills. She was very popular in the inner quarters, and even the kitchen servants were very close to her.

As the sun rose high in the sky, the kitchen became bustling with activity as Chen Erniang personally prepared lunch for Shen Qingluan.

A maid named Aunt Liu approached with a basin of freshly washed vegetables, her face beaming with a familiar yet slightly ingratiating smile: "Second Madam, are you preparing something delicious for Miss again? The aroma smells so good, it's making my mouth water!"

Chen Erniang was deftly stirring the stir-fried shrimp in the wok, replying without looking up, "That's right! Our young lady is now in charge of such a large family business, so we have to take good care of her. Here, today we have her favorite Longjing shrimp and steamed shad, as well as a stir-fried three delicacies dish, and a bowl of old hen soup that has been simmering for two hours!"

Aunt Liu peeked at the several delicate dishes laid out on the stove, then glanced at the fresh ingredients in the basket next to her, which were clearly more than enough for one person. Her eyes darted around, and she clicked her tongue seemingly unintentionally: "Oh my, Miss is eating quite a feast all by herself!"

Chen Erniang paused slightly, then deftly scooped the shrimp into a white porcelain plate, wiped her hands with her apron, and lowered her voice: "Oh, Sister Liu, you don't know, but a few days ago, for some reason, Miss's appetite suddenly shrank a lot. I was so worried about her then, I tried all sorts of different dishes, but she would only touch her chopsticks, it was heartbreaking to see!"

Aunt Liu's heart skipped a beat, but her face showed deep sympathy: "Miss has a lot on her mind, it's no wonder she's tired. But looking at the dishes now, have you recovered?"

A relieved smile finally appeared on Chen Erniang's face. She nodded and said, "Ah, that's right! I don't know if it's because of some happy occasion or what, but Miss's appetite has suddenly improved. You didn't see it, but yesterday at noon, the four dishes and soup that were sent over were almost all gone, with the soup and all. She ate even better than before!"

"really?"

Aunt Liu's heart pounded, but she pretended not to hear clearly. She simply followed Chen Erniang's lead, praising her with a beaming smile, "Erniang, your cooking is truly impeccable! Just the smell of this soup is making my mouth water. Speaking of which, it must be quite lonely for Miss to live alone in such a large place as the East Garden, right?"

Chen Erniang put the lid on the casserole and quickly packed the dishes into a heavy red lacquered food box. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Miss doesn't seem to feel bored. Lately, she seems to be very busy reading and practicing calligraphy. Sometimes she even has people send her snacks and late-night meals, not just to her room."

"Not just to her room?"

Aunt Liu's heart leaped into her throat. Feigning ignorance, she pressed, "Where else is it being sent? To the maids who serve the young lady?"

Chen Erniang waved her hand, then leaned closer mysteriously, lowering her voice to a whisper, "They're not maids! Maids have their own rations and meals; they can't be as refined as the young lady's. A while ago, a guest came, I think he was a distant cousin of the young lady? I didn't quite catch it. He's not in good health and has been resting quietly, rarely going out. The young lady is kind-hearted and specifically instructed that his food be extra carefully prepared, with light and mild flavors. Look at this congee and side dishes; they were prepared for him."

Aunt Liu suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. Second Aunt, you've really worked hard, making two different elaborate meals by yourself and running back and forth like this. I wonder how that distinguished guest's appetite is now?"

Chen Erniang picked up the food box, weighed it in her hand, and casually said, "It's alright, much better than when I first arrived. I asked Chun Tao, who was in charge of cleaning up, about the breakfast I sent over this morning. She said the porridge and steamed egg custard were all eaten, and the bok choy had been touched quite a bit. I have to hurry and send it over, or it will get cold."

"Hey, Second Aunt, slow down!"

Aunt Liu quickly stepped aside to make way, watching as Chen Erniang hurriedly left the kitchen carrying a food box that was clearly heavy and contained two servings of exquisite food, heading towards the main courtyard of the East Garden. A glint flashed in her eyes, and a greedy smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

On the other side, Chen Erniang carried a food box into the main courtyard and immediately saw Shen Qingluan's personal maid, Yun'er, and a young woman in her early twenties.

"Miss Qi, Miss Yun'er."

Chen Erniang greeted them with a smile.

This young lady named Qi Hui learned considerable martial arts skills from her father, Qi San, from a young age. Now, Qi San is one of the leaders of the Shen family's guards, and Qi Hui leads a group of people to protect Shen Qingluan closely.

Qi Hui stepped forward and asked, "Second Sister, did you find anything today?"

Chen Erniang quickly recounted her conversation with Aunt Liu, and added, "These past two days, I've been waiting as instructed by the two young ladies. In the kitchen, only Aunt Liu has been specifically inquiring about the guests from the East Garden; the others haven't done anything strange."

Yun'er stepped forward and took the food box, smiling as she said, "Second Aunt, you've worked hard. For now, don't disturb Aunt Liu. Just pretend you know nothing."

"Don't worry, Miss Yun'er, I understand."

Chen Erniang bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Yun'er and Qi Hui exchanged a few words, and the latter went to find her father, Qi San, and Yue Ping, another guard commander in the garden, while Yun'er carried a food box to the main room.

Inside the room, besides Shen Qingluan, who was dressed in a spring gown and lightly made up, there was another young woman whose appearance was no less than Shen's, and whose cold and elegant temperament was even more outstanding. She was none other than Xu Zhiwei, the divine physician whose death news had spread throughout Yangzhou three days ago.

Yun'er took out the food from the food box one by one, told the story of Aunt Liu, gave Xu Zhiwei a meaningful look, and then said to Shen Qingluan, "Miss, Sister Qi has gone to inform the people outside that someone will be keeping an eye on that traitorous Aunt Liu."

"understood."

Shen Qingluan smiled slightly and looked at Xu Zhiwei, saying, "Sister Xu, the fish has taken the bait." Xu Zhiwei, sitting at the table, was still thin, but compared to her withered and haggard appearance when she was imprisoned in the official residence by Xue Huai, there was a sense of calm in her eyes.

Her slender fingers unconsciously caressed a plain handkerchief resting on her lap, her gaze drifting to the courtyard outside the window where flowers and trees were just beginning to sprout.

"Ah."

After a long while, Xu Zhiwei responded softly. She turned to look at Shen Qingluan and said calmly, "Lord Xue is indeed a master strategist."

Based on her understanding of Liu Ying and others, she would certainly not believe that she was dead. She would then easily suspect that the funeral at Daming Temple four days later was a trap. Xue Huai had made several contingency plans for this. Daming Temple was a trap, and Shen Garden was also a trap. In short, as long as the forces behind Jiming Hall dared to show themselves, he would wipe them out this time.

Xu Zhiwei's tone was neither praise nor criticism, but Shen Qingluan keenly sensed a subtle hint of admiration hidden beneath the calm surface.

Yun'er had already set out the meal and then tactfully retreated to the outer room.

Only the two of them remained inside.

Shen Qingluan picked up the silver chopsticks, but did not rush to eat. Instead, she looked at Xu Zhiwei with concern and said, "Sister Xu, have you been getting used to it here these past few days? If there is anything I've done wrong, please let me know."

"Everything is fine, thank you for taking care of me, Sister Shen."

Xu Zhiwei's gaze fell on the bowl of chicken soup in front of her, and she said softly, "Shen Garden is quiet and well-guarded, much more comfortable than... much more comfortable than that official residence. But such disturbances are not a long-term solution, and dragging the Shen family into this mess makes me uneasy."

"Sister, please don't say that!"

Shen Qingluan put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Brother Xue clearly stated that you are not a criminal, but merely a pawn who had no choice in the matter. Moreover, you have already revealed everything you know to help the government investigate the forces behind the scenes, which is a righteous act. It is only right and proper for the Shen family to do its best to protect you. Please do not mention the word 'implicate' again."

Xu Zhiwei's fingers tightened slightly as she held the porcelain spoon, revealing everything she knew... Behind these simple words lay the collapse of her nineteen years of beliefs and a complete break with her aunt who raised her, shaped her, and ultimately abandoned her.

Shen Qingluan felt a pang of sadness as she looked at Xu's eyes, which dimmed instantly. She softened her voice and said, "Sister Xu, I know that you must feel extremely sad when you think of that aunt."

Xu Zhiwei lowered her eyes and silently stirred the soup in her bowl with a spoon. After a long while, she said in a low voice, "She gave me the grace of life. She taught me to read, asked someone to teach me medicine, and taught me the way of benevolence and helping the world. Every old doctor in Jimintang was once my teacher. Old Meng taught me to distinguish the properties of medicine as if they were the properties of a person's heart, and Old Wang taught me to have compassion when administering acupuncture. In those years, I followed them to provide free medical consultations and medicine. Seeing the smiling faces of patients when they recovered and hearing them call me a little miracle doctor, I thought that was the value of my life, the path my aunt hoped I would take."

Shen Qingluan listened quietly, not daring to interrupt.

"But……"

Xu Zhiwei's tone suddenly turned cold, still maintaining that bone-deep aloofness, but with a deep sorrow and despair permeating the coldness. She looked at Shen Qingluan and said, "Sister Shen, if someone spends more than ten years carefully building a world full of kindness for you, making you sincerely believe and practice it, only to find in the end that it was nothing but a gorgeous but cold deception, just to mold you into a handy tool, what is that?"

Shen Qingluan was captivated by the unfathomable pain in her eyes and was momentarily at a loss for how to comfort her.

Xu Zhiwei took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions, and her eyes regained their clarity and resolve: "So when that food box with the Returning Dust pattern appeared, I wasn't surprised. Tools should be discarded when they're no longer needed. I originally intended to repay her for raising me and turn to dust with all my secrets. I don't even hate her; I just feel that we are both pitiful."

Shen Qingluan shook her head and said, "Sister Xu, this is not your fault. Moreover, Brother Xue said that once this matter is settled, he will return a clean and tidy Jimin Hall to you."

Xu Zhiwei's heart stirred. She recalled the young official who was using her as bait in his scheme, and her tone became tinged with complex and unspoken emotions: "Lord Xue is indeed different from many officials. He has shown me that not all high-ranking officials in this world are cruel bureaucrats who disregard human life, and not all power brings oppression. He is using his own methods to cleanse the corrupt and establish order, even at the risk of his own life, just to expose the mastermind behind the control of Jimintang and the chaos in Jiangnan. This sense of responsibility and courage is something I have never seen before."

After hearing her confession, Shen Qingluan was filled with mixed emotions and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Xu Zhiwei looked at her and asked, "Sister Shen, did I say something wrong?"

"No."

Shen Qingluan shook her head and smiled, "I was just wondering if my brother has seen Her Highness the Princess yet."

Princess?

Xu Zhiwei looked puzzled, so Shen Qingluan explained, "Princess Yun'an is on the Emperor's orders to go south to Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou to pray for blessings. She arrived in Yangzhou today, and Brother Xue is representing the government to welcome her."

Her tone was calm, but Xu Zhiwei keenly sensed a subtle ripple in her voice.

Shen Qingluan said no more, lowered her head to eat, and unconsciously tightened her grip on the silver chopsticks.

The rising steam blurred her lowered eyelashes.

The room became extremely quiet. The two women, each preoccupied with their own thoughts, faced each other in silence for a long time.

(End of this chapter)