Zhou Jiayang, having been chilled all night and thoroughly frightened, developed a high fever.
When Duke Zhou heard about his son’s condition, the usual concern was replaced by annoyance. If only he had married Liu Yanlu back then, rather than bringing the Zhou family to such ruin. Though he outwardly disdained such a common woman, he knew in his heart that Liu Yanlu possessed both talent and beauty, and was also a formidable martial artist. Any family that married her could expect prosperity for generations.
Fearing the Ouyang couple, he painstakingly managed to scrape together twenty thousand taels of silver each day. The pawnbrokers throughout the capital grew increasingly puzzled. How desperate had the Zhou family become to pawn so many items daily, some of which were clearly heirlooms passed down through generations? Despite their confusion, the shopkeepers were shrewd. They recognized a rare opportunity, as many of these items were unavailable on the market. Consequently, numerous shopkeepers began frequenting the Zhou family’s doorstep, soliciting business. Watching their excited expressions, Duke Zhou felt his heart bleed.
This situation could not continue. After much deliberation, inspiration struck: he could divert the blame. Lately, whenever he went out, he felt unseen eyes upon him. He had even sent men to tail those individuals, who, as Wu Caiwei had suspected, eventually made their way to the imperial palace. What else could be inferred?
The first time Wu Caiwei appeared before him, he had dispatched men to the border to investigate her and her husband’s actions over the past few years, looking for any vulnerabilities. The investigators returned yesterday. Reading their report, if he hadn't witnessed Wu Caiwei's capabilities firsthand, he would never have believed a single woman could be responsible for such deeds. He wondered who would prevail in a confrontation with the Emperor.
That same day, a rumor spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys. Astonished, people discussed its veracity. Under the guidance of those with vested interests, the rumors naturally reached the Emperor's ears. The Emperor's eyes reddened as he produced the Empress's hairpin from his robe, caressing it with great care. Tears streamed down his face. Though he didn’t know if the story was true, he was determined to investigate thoroughly. If Madame Ouyang had indeed stood idly by, he would make her taste a similar kind of pain.
When a servant informed Wu Caiwei of the rumor, she knew trouble was brewing. If given another chance, she would still choose to ignore it.
“Master, we’ve found him. It’s that old scoundrel from the Zhou family,” Wu Caiwei’s dispatched investigator reported back, filled with indignation.
“I underestimated him. I intended to retrieve more from the Liu family, but instead, he’s turned the tables. If he doesn’t want me to have peace, then I’ll stir up trouble,” Wu Caiwei said with a cold laugh.
Subsequently, another wave of rumors emerged. The rumor claimed that Princess Chang was poisoned by Zhou Jiayang. Fearing he would be divorced by the Princess and become the laughingstock of the capital, he had struck first. The captured maidservant was, in fact, his old flame. Ten years ago, he had passed by a small village and encountered two sisters about to be sold into prostitution by their parents. Moved by a moment of compassion, he had rescued them and kept them in Beihua Village outside the city, visiting them occasionally. Seeing how beautiful the sisters grew, he harbored ulterior motives. Three years prior, they had staged a play, and arranged for the two to enter the manor under natural circumstances, with one going to Princess Chang’s household and the other to the Zhou family. The young maid, grateful for her rescue, shouldered all the blame alone, never once implicating Zhou Jiayang.
“Father, you’re going to kill me. Everyone knows now that I killed Princess Chang. The Emperor will never forgive me, nor will he forgive the Zhou family,” Zhou Jiayang, who had been gathering news in the streets, rushed back upon hearing the rumors, glaring at his father. He felt his father had only worsened matters.
Duke Zhou stared at him intently, until Zhou Jiayang, feeling guilty, lowered his head. In his childhood, he had endured so much unfairness and wanted to give his son the best of everything. He thought his son was perfect in every way. But stepping back, he realized how truly foolish he was. If this were not his own son, he would have kicked him out onto the street long ago.
“What is that tone? Are you blaming me?” Duke Zhou asked, somewhat exasperated.
“No… no, I just thought there might have been other ways to resolve this. We sought revenge against the Ouyang family, but we’ve dragged ourselves down with them. It’s not worth it,” Zhou Jiayang said, his voice unconsciously lowering as he saw his father’s anger. He didn't feel he was wrong, but he sensed his father’s displeasure.
“Do you think I don’t know the risks of this method? Who forced me to do this, if not you? Did you think you could get away with it if no one found out you did it? Haven’t you noticed the tails following you whenever you go out? The Emperor has been watching you for a long time. Whether you did it or not, the Zhou family is doomed. By bringing the Ouyang family into it, we can at least divert his attention.”
“How is that possible?” Zhou Jiayang saw the look of disappointment on his father’s face and knew he wasn’t lying. The situation was likely true, and a sense of despair washed over him.
“How is it impossible? With that brain of yours, how could you have handled things so flawlessly? If others had investigated you thoroughly, just like Wu Caiwei did, they would have discovered many issues.”
Meanwhile, the secret guards presented their findings to the Emperor. The investigation concluded so quickly because two of Ouyang Chenxi's female disciples had discovered their presence. Knowing they were the Emperor's men, they voluntarily surrendered and revealed the truth.
“How is the investigation into the Zhou family progressing? Are the rumors true?” the Emperor inquired, feigning calmness.
“The rumors were deliberately spread by the Ouyang family. The other party didn't hide their tracks and openly sought revenge. However, the investigation requires time; results are expected tomorrow,” the secret guard replied truthfully, reporting the information they had gathered.
The Emperor waved his hand, dismissing them. Without the investigation, he already suspected that what the Ouyang family was saying was largely true.
Ouyang Chenxi and Wu Caiwei were chatting and eating as usual. As food was brought to their mouths, they both paused, exchanging glances. They realized both the rice and the dishes were problematic. The situation was unusual. If they intended to poison them stealthily, they would have haphazardly sprinkled some powder into a few dishes and fled in haste. However, the dosage in the present dishes was similar and evenly distributed.
“There’s only one possibility: they put the medicine in the water,” Ouyang Chenxi voiced his suspicion first. Wu Caiwei quickly went to the table and sniffed the water in the pot, nodding with a grave expression. He immediately ordered that no one eat the food. Unfortunately, it was too late. Almost half the people had already partaken. He hastily instructed everyone to hide in the secret passage before the effects of the medicine took hold.
That night, they were awakened by thick smoke. Everyone coughed incessantly, as if trying to expel their lungs. Wu Caiwei told them to proceed through the secret passage while she went to assess the situation.