The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 592: Chapter 592: Timely

Draped in a black cloak, Shen Yanchuan approached the crowd, his stride steady and firm.

He gave a slight nod. ”Mr. Chen.”

Seeing Shen Yanchuan and Chen Songshi stop to speak, many of the surrounding ministers glanced their way, their expressions varied.

Chen Songshi smiled and asked, ”On a day as cold as this, why have you come to the palace instead of resting at the Marquis Mansion?”

”I have an urgent matter to report to His Majesty,” Shen Yanchuan said.

”Oh?”

Mr. Chen was inwardly surprised. ’The Wazhen affair just concluded. What urgent matter could Shen Yanchuan possibly have?’

”Is it news from the Northern Border?”

Shen Yanchuan shook his head. ”No. It’s about Qingzhou.”

”Qingzhou?”

Mr. Chen froze for a moment before his mind caught up.

”What a coincidence. His Majesty just issued a decree ordering men to be sent to Qingzhou to continue the investigation—”

”There’s no need for you to worry, Mr. Chen.”

The corners of Shen Yanchuan’s lips lifted, and a faint, languid smile appeared on his cool features.

”I’ve already brought back the answers His Majesty seeks.”

”Truly!?” Mr. Chen could hardly believe it. His Majesty had just announced an investigation into Qingzhou, and now Shen Yanchuan had returned with news. It was far too coincidental!

”But... I recall you saying that you had matters to attend to here in the capital and couldn’t spare the time to investigate. That’s why it was delayed...”

As Mr. Chen spoke, he suddenly realized something.

”You sly dog! You did this on purpose!”

Shen Yanchuan chuckled. ”It wasn’t intentional deception. I truly did have a very important matter that required my personal attention, which is why I remained in the capital. My original plan was indeed to go to Qingzhou myself after handling things here. But then, a number of unexpected incidents occurred in the capital, and I had a bad feeling about it, so I sent my men ahead. This way, we avoided alerting our quarry, making it easier to uncover certain things. That’s why...”

”So that’s how it was!”

Mr. Chen stroked his beard, smiling as he pointed a finger at him.

”You! You’ve always been one to plan for every contingency. This time, you even managed to keep the Eldest Princess and His Majesty in the dark!”

He wasn’t angry. In fact, he felt Shen Yanchuan’s reasoning was perfectly sound.

With His Majesty’s health failing and the political situation in the capital unclear, handling certain matters in secret was the best way to catch people off guard.

This also saved Mr. Chen a great deal of trouble, so he was naturally quite pleased.

”His Majesty should still be in the Imperial Study Room. You should go on ahead!”

Mr. Chen had initially thought of accompanying him, but then he reconsidered. ’Shen Yanchuan is certain to be deeply invested in the Qingzhou affair. He doesn’t need me getting involved.’

With this spare time, he might as well go to Yunlai Tavern for a drink.

Mr. Chen clapped Shen Yanchuan on the shoulder. He gave a meaningful glance at a few of the surrounding ministers and laughed. ”This news of yours couldn’t have come at a better time!”

He didn’t lower his voice, so everyone present heard him loud and clear.

In an instant, everyone knew that Shen Yanchuan had returned with news from Qingzhou.

The crowd’s expressions were a mixture of reactions.

Shen Yanchuan impassively followed his gaze and gave a faint smile.

”It is merely my duty as a subject.”

With that, Shen Yanchuan didn’t linger, continuing on toward the Imperial Study Room.

As soon as his tall, upright figure departed, people immediately crowded around Mr. Chen, inquiring with a mix of curiosity and astonishment.

”Mr. Chen, is it true what the Heir of Duke Dingbei said just now? That he’s brought news from Qingzhou?”

”But hasn’t he been in the capital this entire time? How could he have suddenly received word from Qingzhou?”

”Exactly! The Eldest Princess had intended for him to investigate personally, but he refused. So how is it that now... Could it be that he secretly dispatched men to Qingzhou beforehand?”

”If-if that’s the case, what will you do, Elder? His Majesty’s word is law, and he ordered you to send men to investigate. We all heard it!”

”That’s right!”

”...”

Mr. Chen stood there with one hand clasped behind his back, looking completely at ease as he let the crowd murmur amongst themselves.

Only when their chatter began to die down did he finally speak, his voice unhurried.

”And so what if he did? Does it really matter who did the investigating, or when?”

The crowd fell silent.

Mr. Chen let out a laugh. ”What’s important is that His Majesty wants to know what’s happening in Qingzhou, and as it happens, someone is here to tell him. You and I are both well aware of Shen Yanchuan’s capabilities. He would never seek an audience unless he had irrefutable proof. In other words, he has already thoroughly investigated the entire truth from beginning to end. And for him to be the one to clearly explain it all to His Majesty—especially the parts involving Xiao Chengxuan—isn’t that the perfect way to resolve His Majesty’s doubts?”

He spoke with such righteous conviction that even those who had previously harbored criticisms of Shen Yanchuan were left speechless.

Mr. Chen scanned the crowd and said cheerfully, ”I don’t think any of you need to worry. His Majesty will be the one to judge what is true and what is false, won’t he? Now, go on! All of you, back to your duties!”

Some had intended to follow Shen Yanchuan to pry for more information, but his words stopped them. In the end, they could only reluctantly acquiesce.

”...Mr. Chen is right.”

A glint flashed in Mr. Chen’s eyes before quickly disappearing.

...

「In the Imperial Study Room.」

Emperor Muwu let out a few low coughs, an unnatural flush coloring his otherwise pale face. Eunuch Li, carefully holding a bowl of dark brown medicinal soup, said cautiously, ”Your Majesty, the medicine has been prepared. Won’t you drink it?”

After a long moment, Emperor Muwu’s coughing finally subsided. He let out a long breath, glanced at the soup, and gave a wry smile. ”This stuff is certainly bitter.”

Eunuch Li advised with earnest persistence, ”Bitter medicine is the most effective. Miss Ye’s prescription has clearly been working; Your Majesty’s spirits have been much improved these last few days! She also gave strict instructions that not a single dose should be missed, so Your Majesty, please...”

”I know.”

Emperor Muwu, feeling a bit exasperated by the eunuch’s nagging, picked up the bowl and drank the medicine in one go.

An intensely bitter taste filled his mouth, causing Emperor Muwu’s brow to furrow tightly.

”...There.”

He waved his hand, dismissing Eunuch Li with the empty bowl.

The congested feeling in his chest seemed to clear, and even his breathing became easier. Color returned to Emperor Muwu’s face, and his spirits lifted.

He smacked his lips.

’Ye Chutang’s medicine may be bitter, but its effects are immediate.’

’If only he had met her years earlier, she might have actually been able to cure these chronic ailments of his.’

At this thought, Emperor Muwu couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret.

Once the tightness in his chest subsided, he finally raised his eyes to the patiently waiting Shen Yanchuan, a thoughtful expression on his face.

”...You’re saying someone is hoarding grain in Qingzhou?”

Shen Yanchuan bowed his head slightly. ”More than that. According to our investigation, the same grain merchants who were buying in Qingzhou have also appeared in places like Qi Yang and Fuxi. Their goal was always the same: to purchase grain at high prices. By a rough estimate, they have acquired a total of eight hundred thousand *shi* over the past few years. However, for some unknown reason, the merchants never appeared last year, and a great deal of grain was left to rot in the fields.”

Emperor Muwu’s brow slowly knitted together.

Hoarding such a massive quantity of grain... this was by no means the work of ordinary merchants!

”Have you identified the person behind these merchants?”