CHAPTER 350: CHAPTER 350: AUNT LOST HER COMPOSURE UPON SEEING THE PRINCESS

"So before we fully uncover the truth, I hope you can trust me. Together we’ll seek out the truth. If the facts are truly as stated on that note, by then we’ll also find a way to clear your parents’ names. If it’s false, we’ll be prepared and not worry about being used meaninglessly."

Princess Zhuyu nodded, "I trust you."

Qu Fulan asked for the first time the question that had always troubled her, "Why do you trust me so?"

As if it had been this way from the start.

Princess Zhuyu said without a second thought, "I just instinctively feel that I can trust you."

Qu Fulan was speechless; is this what’s called intuition?

Then the two went out casually for a stroll, for Princess Zhuyu’s intention of leaving the palace was to wander around anyway.

Qu Fulan always suspected there was a spy among the people around Princess Zhuyu, at least one overseer, so they only discussed matters when alone in the carriage.

Her four maids, including the princess’s four maids, were in another carriage.

Anyway, when facing others, they just acted normally as usual.

"The last time I had the pig’s foot noodles from your place, after returning to the palace I kept thinking about it and even had someone go outside the palace to pack it back."

"Really, I’m grateful for the patronage."

"Not just the pig’s foot noodles, but also the snail noodles, and I’ve been to ’Flower Garden Ode,’ ’Burning Immortal Grass,’ ’Coffee House,’ and every time I order a takeaway a lot, sending them back to my brothers and sisters in the palace. They said it tasted good, and then they couldn’t help but sneak out to try it themselves. If they couldn’t go out, they’d have it packed. The snail noodles were complained about being too smelly but after trying it, they found it smelly but delicious."

"I didn’t expect you would bring me so much business, next time I should treat you properly in thanks."

"No need to be polite, I just liked it and recommended it to others."

"You have an advantage in this respect. When you get married in the future, you won’t have to worry about promoting your dowry."

"Can I really?"

"Yes, you have influence here, others trust your promotion."

"Hahaha, being praised by you, it feels so great, but apart from promoting, I can’t do anything else, unlike you who can cook and do all those things; besides eating, I can’t do anything."

"That’s not difficult, by then we can partner up, I handle the cooking, you manage the sales."

"Good idea, good idea, it’s a deal!"

After wandering around for a while, Qu Fulan needed to visit the embroidery workshop, and Princess Zhuyu wanted to tag along, so Qu Fulan let her come.

Princess Zhuyu was dressed like any ordinary young lady, and the people in the workshop thought she was Qu Fulan’s friend, paying no mind.

Mrs. Li and Jinxiu were each committed to their roles, so much that they didn’t notice her arrival until someone nudged Mrs. Li beside her, and she reacted.

"Young Madam." In front of outsiders, Mrs. Li addressed Qu Fulan as ’Young Madam’ like everyone else, calling her by name only in private.

"Don’t mind me, carry on, I’m just here to have a look," Qu Fulan said.

Mrs. Li nodded, instinctively glanced at the person next to her niece, got a bit stunned, and looked again.

Princess Zhuyu noticed being stared at and looked back, hmm, seemed like an easygoing elder.

Qu Fulan noticed her aunt’s slip and asked, "What is it?"

Aunt returned to her senses, "Nothing, is this your friend?"

"Yes."

"Where is the young lady from?"

Princess Zhuyu gave an address.

Mrs. Li responded with an "oh" and said no more.

No one took this episode to heart.

Later, Qu Fulan and Princess Zhuyu went to Li Niang’s bun shop to buy some buns, praising Li Niang’s exceptional skill that even Qu Fulan couldn’t replicate.

Li Niang and Shi Yi’s relationship still seemed indefinitely prolonged, though it was said that Shi Yi, when off duty, would still come over to help, showing real commitment.

In the evening, Qu Fulan talked to Pei Ji’an about the note.

"Is there a way to verify the truth on the note?"

"We can try, but the results might not satisfy us," said Pei Ji’an.

The other party chose this method to lay things out, obviously unafraid of investigation, and with only a few words and no extra hints, it’s hard to track down.

Qu Fulan had expected this, sighed, "Let’s see if more information comes forth."

But it wouldn’t be easy. Who would blatantly put evidence on the table? Even the words on the note had undergone special disguise, preventing source identification.

Which shows the caution of the person behind it, yet—

"What does the person behind the scenes mean by this? Even if using psychological warfare, a delay of six months is too long."

"Perhaps something occurred, causing the delay. After all, a seed has already been planted in Princess Zhuyu’s heart. With six months passed and Princess Zhuyu causing no disturbances, this pawn can continue to be used."

If Princess Zhuyu were a ruthless character and told the emperor, this pawn would no longer be usable. Yet Princess Zhuyu played it as if she knew nothing, appearing guilty to others, making her easier to exploit.

It remained a mystery who was manipulating Princess Zhuyu from behind.

Previously, there’d been suspicions that King Jie had an inside man, but that hadn’t been discovered and now a half-year had passed, making it even harder to investigate.

There needed to be a way to test this, and Pei Ji’an, after some thought, came up with a good plan.

The next day, at the Imperial Study Room.

"You suggest making King Jie believe he has an incurable illness and not much time left?"

"Yes, although King Jie is in prison, he still has doctors attending to any injuries or illnesses. He knows we won’t let him die so easily since we still need what’s in his hands. However, if he indeed has an incurable illness, that’s beyond what we can manage. If King Jie has any objectives or desires, he might hasten to fulfill them, as no one leaves without regrets."

One must admit that Pei Ji’an’s idea was brilliant, even the emperor was tempted, but after a moment’s thought, he still said, "But suddenly giving him an incurable illness, he surely would be suspicious."

Pei Ji’an said, "From what I understand, King Jie is currently merely not at risk of immediate death. But after being confined to prison long-term and frequently beaten, even someone robust would show symptoms. We can add some medicine to his food to worsen the symptoms, allowing the doctor to ’diagnose’ it as an incurable disease."

"But our doctor is our man, and King Jie won’t trust him easily." Indeed, the emperor always asked on-target questions.

Pei Ji’an chuckled, "Master Huideng has a kind of medicine that, once taken, induces bodily changes, as if one is indeed nearing death. Moreover, our doctors wouldn’t plainly say he has little time left, they’d merely give psychological hints. If King Jie truly has insiders, seeking confirmation, he might arrange for a doctor to be sent in. Then we just turn a blind eye."

Sometimes, to make someone despair, it’s not necessary to overtly tell them they don’t have long left. Often, it’s the very act of concealing it generates more doubt.

If Qu Fulan knew of Pei Ji’an’s strategy, she’d admire his shrewdness. In modern times, this isn’t uncommon; doctors never directly tell cancer patients they have limited time, but the expressions and attitudes they display make cancer patients sense something is amiss.

Should Pei Ji’an’s plan work, it would determine if Princess Zhuyu’s issue is connected to King Jie.