Chapter 44: The Emperor in Peril

Li Ning’an was living quite well.

She waited for a few more days for things in the capital to ferment before voluntarily moving into the Criminal Ministry’s jail, so her father wouldn’t have to worry.

When Yan Ziqi received the news, Li Ning’an was already chatting casually with the jailer.

“This Princess Ning’an is really easy to get along with. She doesn’t seem at all like the bloodthirsty monster people say she is.”

The jailer returned home and sat at the table in the main room. His wife hurriedly handed him a cup of hot water.

“What benefits did you gain today? Princess Ning’an is not short on silver; you must have asked for more.”

The jailer accepted it, nodding in agreement. “I wish I could! It’s not every day you meet such a noble person.”

Princess Ning’an’s life in jail was comfortable, but it was only because the emperor allowed it.

He helped deliver messages for her, which didn’t feel like a betrayal.

Li Ning’an lived in the spacious and bright cell at the innermost part of the Criminal Ministry, complete with a bed draped in curtains and new pillows and blankets.

The room was filled with fragrant incense, though the jailer couldn’t quite identify the scent.

He took out one hundred taels from his pocket. “If I do a few more favors for Princess Ning’an, we can buy this house.”

In the capital, where land was as precious as gold, he normally wouldn’t be able to afford it, but thanks to Princess Ning’an’s generosity.

All he had to do was casually ask when Young Master Wen would return, which was an easy task.

His wife happily took the silver note and stored it in a small box in the cupboard.

“By the way, there’s a rouge shop that opened on Songhe Street, and the quality of their products is excellent. I want to buy some.”

Since marrying and having children, she hadn’t acquired any jewelry, and having a bit of silver now made her eager to beautify herself.

The jailer felt the name Songhe Street sounded familiar.

“Why does that name ring a bell?”

He thought about it all night but couldn’t remember. As for rouge, he was well-off enough now to let his wife buy whatever she wanted.

The next morning, after breakfast, he headed to the Criminal Ministry jail for duty.

Only when he reached the prison where Princess Ning’an was held did he suddenly slap his thigh. “I remember now!”

Xing’e and Hongxiu wanted to accompany her, fearing someone might harm the princess.

Moreover, the jail was filthy and foul-smelling, with numerous prisoners. What if there was an incident involving the princess?

Li Ning’an figured Xing’e wasn’t as attentive as Hongxiu, so she left Hongxiu outside and only brought Xing’e along.

Though she was alone in the cell, she could still hear the occasional wails of pain.

Li Ning’an guessed it was the Criminal Ministry questioning some prisoner and applying extra punishment.

When Xing’e heard the jailer speaking, she immediately scolded, “Can’t you see our princess is still sleeping? Keep it down!”

Li Ning’an had overestimated her own ability to sleep; especially at night, she had just lain down when she heard the noise.

A screen stood in front of her bed, so the jailer couldn’t see her, only Xing’e standing outside, looking quite displeased.

“My apologies for disturbing the princess. Please forgive me.”

Even though he was being paid for his services and had exchanged a few words with Princess Ning’an, it didn’t mean they could be considered friends.

The jailer hurriedly knelt, bowing his head twice, asking the princess not to hold his minor offenses against him.

Li Ning’an’s voice came from inside, “Xing’e, let it go.”

Only then did Xing’e turn to enter behind the screen, seeing the princess had already risen and rolled up the bed curtains.

“Princess, would you like to eat?”

Li Ning’an shook her head; she had little appetite.

“The jailer seems to have remembered something and is neglecting this princess.”

The jailer remained kneeling, too afraid to rise, and quickly replied, “It’s my wife who likes those rouge powders. She received your reward yesterday and wants to buy some.”

“I think the address of that rouge shop sounds familiar. It must be related to a case sent from the Criminal Ministry to the Dali Temple.”

“A case?” Li Ning’an asked out of boredom while in jail. “What case? Can you tell this princess?”

The jailer didn’t know much, just that someone had become increasingly addicted to the products from that rouge shop.

This shop also had branches in other states and was quite popular among the locals, having only arrived in the capital a few days ago.

Both nobles and commoners liked their rouge.

It even led to fights, hair-pulling, and torn clothes.

Eventually, it reached the Jingzhao Prefecture.

“Since that’s the case, let everyone compensate one another. How did it go from the Criminal Ministry to the Dali Temple?”

“It’s quite the coincidence; those who couldn’t buy the rouge ended up looking sickly, as if they were poisoned.”

Yesterday, the Jingzhao Prefecture handed over the case, and Lord Guo sent it to the Dali Temple.

With Lord Qiu, known for his miraculous judgments, Lord Guo didn’t want to get involved.

Li Ning’an hadn’t recalled this matter, but the rouge shop seemed to be next to Manyuan Building.

“How did the Dali Temple handle it?” Qiu Li’s father was renowned as a detective, so the resolution speed should be swift.

The jailer, eager to please, asked, “Should I find out for you?”

Li Ning’an nodded, and Xing’e stepped out from behind the screen, giving the jailer one hundred taels.

He quickly stepped forward to accept it, beaming with joy, and knelt to bow again before heading out.

It seemed Princess Ning’an enjoyed peculiar happenings, and he needed to find a way to gather more cases to show her at the Dali Temple.

However, the case files couldn’t be revealed.

He’d have to coax the clerks instead.

The jailer hadn’t been gone long before he returned.

He was carrying a brocade box containing meals prepared specially for Princess Ning’an from her courtyard.

Old Master Nie, thinking of the news from his granddaughter, had hidden a note in the bun.

Even if someone tested for poison, they couldn’t crush the bun, so by the time it reached Li Ning’an, she could eat it safely.

The note simply said everything was fine.

“Nie Rou is truly a treasure.”

Li Ning’an instructed Xing’e to burn the note.

It seemed Manyuan Building was unaffected.

She wondered if Wen Di had arrived in Xitong County yet.

Hopefully, her uncle hadn’t noticed anything unusual and wouldn’t relocate his hidden soldiers.

On September 21st, Wen Di arrived at the old residence, insisting on going out to play. “Father isn’t here; who can stop me?”

“Yesterday, Grandmother visited me in a dream and said she wanted to eat chestnut cake from Xitong County. I must fulfill my filial duty.”

Wen Di caused quite the stir at the old residence. Those left behind couldn’t manage him, so they had no choice but to send a guard to accompany him.

Once Wen Di reached Xitong County, he invited the local magistrate to dine and enjoy performances, asking him not to report to the capital about his father.

Local officials, like magistrates, typically served three to five years before being reassessed.

They were selected by the Ministry of Personnel and reported to the emperor.

The magistrate of Xitong County had long desired a promotion. Knowing Wen Di’s status, he aimed to connect with Wen Taishi.

Naturally, he spent a couple of days following Wen Di around.

Seizing the opportunity, Wen Di expressed his desire to visit Prince Jing. “After all, he’s a royal relative; my father must have taught him. I can’t just ignore him.”

“Of course, of course.”

The magistrate sent someone to deliver a message to the Prince Jing’s residence.

Wen Di attracted the prince’s attention, while those who came with him quietly investigated.

On October 9th, the guards from Wen Taishi’s residence discovered the hidden soldiers of Prince Jing, and the magistrate happened to witness it as well.

Right under his nose, Prince Jing had such ambitions.

The magistrate didn’t expect a promotion; if he could keep his head, he’d consider himself lucky.

Wen Di moved first, borrowing soldiers from the magistrate’s residence to surround Prince Jing’s estate, confining the prince and his associates within.

The soldiers hidden by Prince Jing dared not act.

Wen Di enjoyed himself thoroughly, relishing the power he wielded.

The magistrate obtained an official seal and requested assistance from the stationed troops outside the area to keep watch over those soldiers.

He accompanied Young Master Wen back to the capital to report, and Emperor Mingde summoned Ji Jian. Upon learning the truth, the emperor flew into a rage.

“Prince Jing… how could he… how could he do this?”

Emperor Mingde was so enraged that he coughed up blood.

This news reached Li Ning’an in the Criminal Ministry’s jail.

“Father, how could you cough up blood?!”

In her previous life, her father hadn’t erupted in anger at this time.

Li Ning’an wanted to go out but was stopped by the jailers.

“Princess, we cannot defy the emperor’s orders.”

They were merely following orders and couldn’t allow Princess Ning’an to leave.

Especially knowing that she had a penchant for taking swords, they kept all weapons far from her reach.