Chapter 929 - 883: Finale Arc (9) Opportunity Arises
Chapter 929: Chapter 883: Finale Arc (9) Opportunity Arises
On the way back to the mansion, Wen Wan rubbed her temples and fell into deep thought.
She could actually enter the palace directly and inform Emperor Xuanjing about this affair, asking him to investigate thoroughly.
However, she was being watched by Prince Cheng’s men, so even if she managed to enter the palace to see Emperor Xuanjing and lodge her complaint, there was not enough evidence to prove that those children were killed by Prince Cheng. Gathering evidence would take time, and during the investigation, more murders could occur.
In other words, if she seeks help externally, more children might die.
Prince Cheng was clearly not afraid of her complaints, but Wen Wan was scared; she feared that due to her momentary mistake, her hands would be stained with blood.
Prince Cheng had promised her that as long as she could change Zhao Shuo’s fate, he would stop killing.
...
To prevent Zhao Xunyin from noticing anything unusual, Wen Wan tried her best to chat with Lu Yanli during dinner. After the meal, she claimed to be tired, saying she had walked around the garden of Prince Cheng Mansion all day, her feet hurt, and she would return to her room to rest.
Zhao Xunyin glanced at her, hesitating to speak.
Wen Wan paused in her steps as she was about to leave, "Mother, what’s wrong?"
"Are you hiding something from me?" Zhao Xunyin asked sternly.
"No, of course not!" Wen Wan feigned lightheartedness, "Didn’t I tell you everything? That recent case, after investigating it, I’m still at a loss, and my mind is quite unsettled."
Zhao Xunyin said, "I have a few men at my disposal. If you need them, use them. Don’t always worry about bothering me; I’m your mother, who else would I help if not you?"
Wen Wan silently complained; her mother’s men were indeed capable, but they couldn’t compare to Prince Cheng’s batch. She wondered where Prince Cheng managed to find so many experts.
She smiled, "Rest assured, if something happens, you’ll be the first person I turn to."
Afterward, she returned to the west wing.
The next day, Wen Wan went out early, specifically bringing along the bottle of medicine sent by Xu Jia.
Upon reaching Prince Mansion, she went straight to the study to see Prince Cheng.
Yesterday’s concubine selection banquet ended with Zhao Shuo’s illness. Upon hearing the news, Princess Cheng found an excuse to dismiss the young women and went to Yilan Courtyard to care for her son, without conclusively selecting anyone.
At the moment, Prince Cheng was half-leaning against a Taishi Chair by the window, with dark circles under his eyes, evidently not having slept well.
Last night, Zhao Shuo was startled awake by nightmares and fell ill again, and Prince Cheng felt it was all caused by that Wen. He wanted to send her away, but Shuoshuo wouldn’t allow it, insisting on keeping her.
He raged the whole night and barely slept.
Hearing footsteps, Prince Cheng didn’t even turn his head, "You’re here?"
"I’ve made up my mind." Wen Wan gazed at his somewhat collapsed back, "Give me the bracelet, and I’ll first look into the Princely Heir’s fate."
Prince Cheng stood up, went to the treasure cabinet, and took down the colorful lacquer box.
Last time, Wen Wan didn’t have the chance to examine it closely, but today she could see it clearly. It used fifty-four Lu Ban locks. Fortunately, she hadn’t tried to steal it yesterday; otherwise, it would have been in vain as she wouldn’t have opened it.
After taking out the bracelet, Prince Cheng handed it to her.
Wen Wan accepted it, placed it on the table, took out the Glazed Medicine Bottle she brought with her from her sleeve, and poured two drops of liquid, rubbing it on her temples.
Seeing this, Prince Cheng frowned, "What are you doing?"
Wen Wan replied frankly, "I’ve said before that this bracelet has adverse effects on me, so I prepared medication to relieve the pain, nothing more."
Prince Cheng eyed her suspiciously but saw no sign of deception, guessing she wouldn’t play any tricks, and returned to the Taishi Chair by the window. He turned the chair around, sat down, and fixed his gaze sharply on her.
Wen Wan applied the medicine, took the bracelet, and slowly slipped it onto her wrist, waiting for the anticipated pain that felt like many images rushing into her mind, ready to burst her head. However, this time, she neither saw anything nor felt the expected pain.
Everything was very calm.
Prince Cheng noticed her odd expression and quickly asked, "Did you see anything?"
Wen Wan suddenly cried out in pain, clutching her head with an expression of agony, soon falling limp over the table.
Prince Cheng was startled and stood up from the Taishi Chair with a jump, ready to call for the household doctor, when he heard a soft moan from Wen Wan on the table, showing signs of awakening.
Prince Cheng leaned down with a frown, watching her.
Wen Wan was still holding her aching head, her small face scrunched up.
Prince Cheng squinted, "Did you not bring medicine, yet still felt such pain?"
Wen Wan lowered her gaze, "If not for the medicine, I’d fear I’d be dead by now."
As for the bracelet from the Yun Family, Prince Cheng had heard that wearing it could predict the future. Yet none of the previous Family Head’s wives from the Yun Family had any reaction to it. When they managed to extract from Master Xuyun that Princess Yong’an could drive it, he was somewhat shocked. But today, witnessing it firsthand, it turned out to be like this.
Sitting beside, Prince Cheng stared at Wen Wan, "What exactly did you see?"
"I saw the Princely Heir will die soon."
Prince Cheng grasped the armrest of the chair, a chill emanating from him.
Ignoring his reaction, Wen Wan continued, "The Princely Heir will see the medicine lead himself, press the servant who brewed the medicine for the truth, and immediately fall ill, collapsing and never getting up again."
Listening, Prince Cheng’s face grew colder, "Anything else?"
"That’s all." Saying too much would risk exposure.
"How to change it?"
Wen Wan thought to herself, the most direct and effective way would naturally be to send the Princely Heir to the temple; temples are tranquil, devoid of troubles. As long as he can remain quiet, with no one to disturb him, he is less likely to fall ill, perhaps living for a few more years.
But she knew well that Prince Cheng would go mad when the word "temple" was mentioned.
"Did the person I asked the Prince to find yesterday get found?"
"Who?"
"Someone to become a monk in place of the Princely Heir."
Originally, Wen Wan didn’t want to say these things, but Prince Cheng’s nature was not only sinister but also suspicious, forcing her to create confusion.
"If no one becomes a monk on behalf of the Princely Heir, then he can only go himself."
As her words fell, unsurprisingly, Prince Cheng slammed his palm heavily on the table, his face darkened, "Is there no other way than to find someone to take his place as a monk?"
"There is one other way," Wen Wan said, "the Life-extending Thread, also known as the longevity thread, in our hometown, is generally tied to children on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and removed on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month to be burned together with golden paper, hoping to bring good fortune to the child. If the Prince invites someone to make a Life-extending Thread, has a master consecrate it, and then invites His Majesty, with boundless longevity, to personally tie it on the Princely Heir, it should be eighty percent effective."
After making up all this, Wen Wan felt like a swindler from Jianghu.
Actually, she had absolutely no idea how to change fate, or rather, there was no way to change the fate of Zhao Shuo; Zhao Shuo was born with an illness from which his death was inevitable.
Song Wei was truly bizarre, living for over thirty years of continuous misfortune since birth.
Furthermore, Master Xu Yun had advised Prince Cheng Mansion over ten years ago to send Zhao Shuo to the temple, but Prince Cheng didn’t listen. Now, realizing the seriousness and trying to change fate, what a joke?
Wen Wan’s first method darkened Prince Cheng’s face, and the second infuriated him further.
Not to mention Master Xu Yun, who could consecrate, had already passed away, just asking His Majesty to personally tie the longevity thread on Shuoshuo was absolutely impossible!
Letting His Majesty know the Princely Heir who would inherit the title from Prince Cheng Mansion in the future has a heart disease, how could that be acceptable?
Wen Wan feared he might ask her for more solutions, so she said ahead of time, "Only these two methods, nothing else."
Prince Cheng’s eyebrows furrowed intensely.
He still had significant responsibilities on his shoulders, naturally couldn’t become a monk, if the Princess suddenly ran off to become a monk, it would certainly cause a huge uproar within the Imperial Family, then it would be like hiding a silver ingot in a conspicuous place.
Thinking and considering, he asked Wen Wan, "Must someone become a monk? Can’t I just send him to the temple for quiet recuperation for a while?"
"As you wish."
"As I wish?"
Seeing this madman showing signs of anger, Wen Wan had to elaborate a bit more, "When I asked Master Xu Yun about Song Wei’s fate back then, he told me Song Wei was born to undergo tribulations, to use Buddhist terms, encountering troubles frequently is part of undergoing tribulations. If I can help His Majesty unify Bei Yan triumphantly, it would be equivalent to helping Song Wei overcome all tribulations, achieving perfect merit. It implies that my staying is doing what he was supposed to do, and the same goes for the Princely Heir, someone must do what he ought to do, otherwise this fate cannot be changed."
"Did you succeed in changing it?"
"Naturally succeeded," Wen Wan said, looking calm, "Haven’t you seen Bei Yan is about to be consumed by Chu Country?"
A thought crossed her mind, and she added, "My husband is under the Prince’s control, why don’t you ask him for a clear understanding?"
Prince Cheng reached out to support his forehead.
Over the years, he sought so many doctors, prescribed so many remedies, yet Shuoshuo’s illness showed no signs of improvement; he long lost hope in medical practitioners.
But changing fate, why is it so difficult?
"To prevent the tragedy I’ve foreseen from occurring, the Prince should first send the Princely Heir to the temple for quiet recuperation for a while!" Wen Wan suggested.
Being threatened by this madman was truly infuriating!
...
Zhao Shuo is to be sent to the temple for quiet recuperation.
Upon hearing this news, Song Wei’s brows relaxed, he said to Jinbao, "Opportunity arises."