The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits-Chapter 193

HI! Its been a while! Im terribly sorry for the unannouced hiatus. I admit I was preoccupied with my other novel and promptly ignored this. At some point, I contemplated just ignoring this novel altogether. But your feedbacks and your persistent questions about the continuation of this novel made me want to finish this once again lolol. I might update once a week every monday together with the other novel I have. Its not actually fixed sched because work sometimes takes over my time and I cannot update within the day. Ehem, anyways, as a welcome back compensation, I will update 5 whole chapters for this week. Ciaos~

Additionally, some previous chapters will be edited. I find it unpleasing to read in my eyes, especially some terms that I havent known back then that I know now.

"Your Majesty, why are you concerning yourself with who gets to see what I wear?"

"Because this fabric is most suitable for making undergarments worn close to the skin. Naturally, only I am allowed to see them," Shang Junlin replied with utter seriousness.

Shen Yu pinched his arm. "Why doesn't Your Majesty just have the Imperial Household Department's Clothing Department1Throughout the translation of this, you may have noticed that the name of the clothing deparment have different names XD Just searching it and Im gonna use the Qing Dynasty name for this particular department. Lololol make some for yourself to wear?"

"Ah Yu reminds me. I shall have the department make a matching set for us to wear together."

"Your Majesty would wear red as well?" Shen Yu looked up at Shang Junlin.

He rarely saw Shang Junlin wear any color other than profound black. In truth, black suited him well. The man was tall and imposing, with stern, handsome features. Draped in the profound black imperial robes, his aura was overwhelming. Shen Yu adored Shang Junlin in such attire.

But that didn't stop him from wanting to see Shang Junlin in other colors.

Different colors evoked different impressions. Shen Yu imagined Shang Junlin clad entirely in red. It was bound to deliver a wholly different sensory impact.

"Ah Yu wishes to see me in red?"

Shen Yu nodded.

"I shall grant your wish."

Shen Yu was stunned for a moment before realizing Shang Junlin meant wearing red garments.

"In common folk weddings, both parties wear red. It's only natural Ah Yu would like it."

"Why is Your Majesty suddenly speaking of this? I merely thought you would look splendid in red too. What does it have to do with common folk weddings?"

Shang Junlin merely smiled without answering.

Shen Yu raised his hand. "Speaking of which, on the day I entered the palace, Your Majesty was also wearing black."

Shang Junlin caught his hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. "Indeed. An emperor's attire is mostly profound black, with slight variations in detail. That day, my robes bore patterns embroidered with interwoven red and gold threads."

Shen Yu, having just entered the palace that day, hadn't paid close attention to such details. Later, fainting had further prevented him from noticing. Remembering this, he asked, "That day I entered the palace and suddenly fainted... Was it related to those who orchestrated the assassination attempt?"

A year had passed since that incident. Shang Junlin hadn't spoken of it, and Shen Yu hadn't pressed. It wasn't until he encountered a similar situation again at Mount Cangqi that he wondered.

"I initially believed they targeted you because of me. Now it seems that's not entirely the case or perhaps not solely the case. I've already identified the perpetrators from that day. Based on their confessions, the prime suspect is the figure behind King Yue. But the possibility you raised cannot be entirely dismissed."

Shang Junlin remembered that night with particular clarity. After replacing most of the servants in the Yuzhang Palace, nothing similar had occurred again.

"Perhaps I'm overthinking. Unless they could foretell the future, predict my entry into the palace, and plant agents there early on. The imperial palace isn't like other places—if arrangements were made hastily, it would surely attract attention." Shen Yu dismissed his own conjecture.

"The person behind King Yue has been captured. I handed him over to Fang Jun. We should have results within a few days."

"This New Year celebration has truly been... chaotic."

The ministers not only failed to enjoy their rightful holiday but were also kept constantly busy with various affairs. Among them, the three Grand Secretaries bore the heaviest burdens.

The Prime Minister and Fang Jun, needless to say, were assigned tasks by Shang Junlin for everything. The other Grand Secretary, hailing from an aristocratic family, was also swamped with diverse responsibilities. Virtually all court affairs passed through the hands of the Grand Secretaries, including King Yue's rebellion and the palace banquet assassination.

Although Shang Junlin delegated matters to the Prime Minister and Fang Jun, that didn't mean Minister Duan could remain completely aloof. He had to stay informed and follow up on everything, without exception.

Because these two incidents involved extensive ramifications, aristocratic and commoner-born officials in the court had to set aside their grievances and collaborate to resolve them first. Political strife could wait—once these troubles were settled, they could resume their leisurely infighting.

With the high-ranking officials colluding with the Subei people removed, and the officialdom in the Beimo completely restaffed, the bureaucratic atmosphere transformed from its former state. Though minor frictions occurred, overall harmony prevailed.

He Chengyu, Fang Jiayi, and others quickly established themselves in the Beimo. Jiang Huaiqing should have been there with them, shining in the Beimo. But upon receiving a secret imperial decree, he had no choice but to alter his appearance, conceal his identity, and head to the Subei.

Aside from He Chengyu, no one else knew of this for the time being.

News of the assassination hadn't reached Beimo yet, but King Yue's rebellion had spread throughout the Da Huan. The court's movements were too significant for any region to remain unaware.

Especially after King Yue and his backer were captured, the court acted without restraint, issuing orders everywhere to hunt down remnants of the rebels. If encountered, they could be executed on the spot.

Beimo also harbored surviving forces of these rebels. He Chengyu borrowed a small detachment from the Beimo Army generals and conducted searches within the region. Through his collaboration with Jiang Huaiqing, they successfully eliminated many forces targeted by the court's eradication orders.

Sometimes, He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing would act alongside the Beimo Army. Beimo officials grew accustomed to their periodic disappearances and reappearances days later.

Assuming the pair sought to accumulate more merits, officials friendly with them often teased them about it.

Yet no one knew their true purpose: to plausibly make Jiang Huaiqing disappear from public view for a period.

Jiang Huaiqing hadn't been in Beimo long and hadn't done anything particularly attention-grabbing. Others might not pay much heed if such a person vanished suddenly, but it was different for the officials who had come north with them especially those with some camaraderie.

Jiang Huaiqing's departure wasn't for a day or two. A short absence could be concealed, but if prolonged, it could easily arouse suspicion.

Thus, they staged a play.

A play of severe injury and substitution.

As usual, He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing set out with the Beimo Army. In less than two days, He Chengyu appeared at the government office gates, cradling a blood-soaked Jiang Huaiqing.

"What happened?!" A young official, just getting off duty, wasted no time wondering. He quickly called others over to help lift Jiang Huaiqing from He Chengyu's arms. Several people supported He Chengyu as they moved into the government office.

"Call for a physician, quick!"

After a flurry of activity, the two were settled. The officials learned the whole story from He Chengyu, who remained conscious.

Their judgment had been wrong; they were injured by the rebels.

He Chengyu's injuries were relatively light. After being bandaged, he could still work without hindrance. Jiang Huaiqing's injuries were more severe. After the doctor examined him, he remained unconscious.

"Huaiqing is so badly hurt because he took a blow meant for me..."

For the first time, the ever-stable man showed a side of himself lost in distress. The officials who knew them well felt deeply uncomfortable seeing this.

"Official Jiang is protected by fortune; he won't come to harm."

"That's right. We'll summon the best physicians in Beimo. If necessary, we'll petition His Majesty to send imperial physicians."

"Don't worry too much. He'll be fine. You're injured too; take good care of yourself."

"I know," He Chengyu wiped his face, the usually image-conscious man unable to conceal his despondency. "Since Huaiqing was injured because of me, it's only right that I take good care of him until he recovers. I will take him to my residence to care for him until he is fully healed."

Everyone knew he and Jiang Huaiqing were close. After such an event, he must be deeply upset. Seeing he intended to take Jiang to his home, no one tried much to dissuade him.

Besides, if the man himself was willing, what use was their dissuasion? It would only breed resentment for no reason.

And so, He Chengyu brought Jiang Huaiqing back to his residence. The physician treating Jiang followed them there.

No one noticed that a few days later, an inconspicuous carriage drove out from a side gate of the He residence. Inside, riding in the carriage, was none other than the severely injured, unconscious Jiang Huaiqing.

The carriage traveled all the way to an unremarkable house outside the city before stopping.

Jiang Huaiqing dismounted. Inside was a guide who had been waiting for him for some time.

"Sir, the travel passes and other relevant documents are all prepared."

Jiang Huaiqing changed clothes and altered his appearance. After about half an hour, he looked at himself in the bronze mirror. Familiar, yet strange.

"Sir, once you reach Subei, take this token and go to this place. Someone will be waiting for you there. If you have any needs, you may command the people there. This is a map of Subei. Locations where our people are stationed are specially marked."

Jiang Huaiqing memorized the marked locations on the map. When he departed, he did not take it with him. Some things were far safer kept in the mind than carried on the person.

News from Beimo was transmitted back to the capital via the Hidden Dragon Guard.

Shen Yu also received news of Beimo from the "Yinghuo" messenger.

"Who came up with this method? First, letting others see the severely injured condition to create a preconceived notion, then using the need to recuperate as an excuse to live in seclusion, greatly reducing the possibility of suspicion."

"It was He Chengyu. He submitted a memorial himself to ask for punishment." Shang Junlin took a memorial from a stack he had already reviewed and handed it to Shen Yu.

"Did Jiang Huaiqing tell him about the plan he was to carry out?" Shen Yu opened the memorial, scanning it rapidly. "He didn't explicitly say, but He Chengyu guessed a little."

"Indeed. I had the Hidden Dragon Guard keep an eye on him. If there was any suspicious activity..." Shang Junlin's voice turned cold.

Shen Yu had no doubt that if He Chengyu made any improper moves, Shang Junlin would directly order the Hidden Dragon Guard to deal with him.

Shen Yu placed the memorial back on the table. Thinking of another matter, he said, "Since Your Majesty sent Jiang Huaiqing on this mission, you must have already verified that his identity is without issue. Can Your Majesty tell me what you found?"

"His background is quite simple, not much different from what was previously discovered. If one must mention something, his teacher seems to have once served as an official. During the reign of the previous emperor, the court was too chaotic—many officials resigned or were dismissed. It's temporarily unclear which category his teacher falls into."

"Hmm..." Shen Yu lowered his gaze in thought. Although Jiang Huaiqing had been his capable subordinate in his previous life, Shen Yu didn't know much about his past. He never forced others to speak of things they preferred not to mention; he didn't possess such intense curiosity. He asked today simply because Shang Junlin had investigated and it was convenient to inquire.

"Speaking of this, the identity of the person behind King Yue has been uncovered. Ah Yu, care to guess?" Shang Junlin grasped Shen Yu's wrist, pulling him to sit beside him.

"It must be someone with a certain connection to the previous emperor. I'm not familiar with the officials from his reign. Having me guess, I truly can't think of anything."

"It is the former Grand Tutor, Zeng, who was demoted by the previous emperor over a minor matter. I suspected so many people, but never once suspected him."

"Wasn't this Grand Tutor killed on the way to his demotion post?" Shen Yu asked, surprised.

He had heard of this incident because it caused such an uproar. After Grand Tutor Zeng was killed, the previous emperor flew into a tremendous rage, unusually sobering up from his decadence. He thoroughly purged the court, imprisoning and confiscating the property of the officials who killed Grand Tutor Zeng out of personal grievance, bringing temporary stability to the court.

"I now strongly suspect whether the previous emperor in his later years was truly muddled or merely pretending to be." If he was truly muddled, why would he arrange such meticulous contingencies? If he was pretending, what was the purpose?