After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 812 - 810: Request for an Audience

The Empress Dowager had never seen Duke Chong’s face so grim.

Her heart was pounding.

Prince Qi felt a bad premonition rise in his heart and asked, "What happened?"

Duke Chong reported the exposure of the secret weapon manufacturing in Zhangzhou to the Empress Dowager.

The blood drained from the Empress Dowager’s face, leaving only paleness.

She suddenly looked at Prince Qi, "You must return to your fief immediately."

Prince Qi’s face turned pale, and his expression became ominous, intimidating those who saw him.

He looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "I just returned to the Capital and leaving hurriedly doesn’t make sense."

Prince Qi had endured for over a decade, and he wouldn’t do anything reckless to alert his enemies now.

But the exposure of the Zhangzhou matter...

Staying in the Capital was truly dangerous.

Did Marquis Dongxiang lure him to the Capital to hold him there, unable to stir trouble for the court?

The Empress Dowager wanted Prince Qi and Duke Chong to protect Princess Duanhui.

Duke Chong looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "Illegal mining and manufacturing weapons is a serious crime."

"I have a plan that might save the Princess’s life."

Her face turned ashen.

As Empress Dowager, she understood the severity of the crime in Zhangzhou.

To preserve just one life would be no small feat.

If the green hills remain, there’ll be no lack of firewood.

...

In front of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Marquis Dongxiang returned from the military camp to the mansion.

As he was about to dismount, he sneezed.

Rubbing his nose, he entered the mansion, and Uncle Lin approached him, saying, "Marquis, Prince Qi is in the Capital."

Marquis Dongxiang was startled for a moment, then smiled, "That letter was indeed meant for Prince Qi."

Ever since Young Master Su spotted the servant training from the ladder and inadvertently picked up a white dove.

Marquis Dongxiang had someone watching Duke Chong’s Mansion.

For the convenience of catching pigeons, Marquis Dongxiang bought the house closest to Duke Chong’s Mansion and built an Observation Tower.

Every pigeon entering and leaving Duke Chong’s Mansion couldn’t escape the servant’s eyes.

While it was difficult to catch pigeons flying in, those flying out were easier to catch.

After the Zhangzhou incident, two pigeons flew out in succession, in different directions.

The servant only managed to catch one.

The letter was vague, and the servant didn’t know whom it was for, so he gave it to Marquis Dongxiang to look at.

Marquis Dongxiang suspected it was for Prince Qi.

The unique paper was something only the insiders would recognize.

Fabricating it was easy for Marquis Dongxiang.

Don’t forget, this Dongxiang Marquis Mansion used to be Duke Chong’s Mansion.

Duke Chong’s Mansion moved in a hurry, leaving many items in the study.

Marquis Dongxiang had been managing Duke Chong’s Mansion for so long that every corner of the study had been thoroughly explored.

Marquis Dongxiang found the letter paper, then the handwriting of Duke Chong. Copying a few words wasn’t a challenge for him.

Duke Chong’s handwriting, Duke Chong’s exclusive correspondence paper, Duke Chong Mansion’s pigeons, and Duke Chong’s reputation...

Who would suspect the letter had been swapped?

Prince Qi returned to the Capital, which was proof he believed it.

Duke Chong’s previous letter for Prince Qi was still in Marquis Dongxiang’s possession.

At that time, he considered Mrs. Tang, hoping Prince Qi wouldn’t return to the Capital to keep her from gossip.

Now, with Madam Wen Yuan’s confession and testimonials from the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and government officials, Prince Qi’s crisis was resolved.

With Prince Qi and his wife back in the Capital, he could avenge Mrs. Tang.

Marquis Dongxiang stepped down the stairs.

After a few steps, he said, "Tell the servant watching Duke Chong’s Mansion to return."

"Yes, Marquis."

...

Prince Zhenbei Mansion, Agarwood Pavilion.

After lunch, Su Jin found the weather pleasantly cool, with large white clouds adorning the sky, and went for a stroll in the garden.

Xingxing held a Beauty Fan, fanning Su Jin.

As they walked, she talked about the Heir of Marquis Beining and Miss Zhou Qi’s wedding date.

Their wedding date was set, for the twelfth of next month.

Counting the days, it was just about half a month away.

Xingxing meant nothing else by it, merely urging Su Jin to get pregnant soon.

Lest Miss Zhou Qi conceives and her own lady hasn’t.

The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion had always been ahead, and the lady shouldn’t hold them back.

However, Xingxing’s indirect suggestion went unnoticed by Su Jin.

She never imagined that straightforward Xingxing had learned to coax after her prohibition on mentioning pregnancy.

Looking at the garden full of flowers, Su Jin felt an itch in her palm.

"Bring a flower basket," Su Jin ordered.

Xingxing, "...."

Why a flower basket?

Was everything she said a waste of breath?

With a glance, the little maid quickly fetched a flower basket, thoughtfully bringing scissors along.

Su Jin took the scissors, snipping an open begonia blossom off.

Xingxing recoiled slightly, asking, "Why pick flowers, my lady?"

"Weren’t you just reminding me to prepare a gift?" Su Jin replied.

"...."

Xingxing was weary.

When would her poor Young Master Su finally get to meet him?

Xingxing resignedly carried the bamboo basket, following wherever Su Jin went.

Being a Princess had its perks.

No one dared scold her for wrecking the garden full of flowers.

Previously, she’d have been reprimanded countless times.

Only after filling an entire flower basket, did Su Jin raise her hand.

Just as she returned to Agarwood Pavilion, a maid approached from behind, saying, "Heir’s wife, Princess Qi seeks your audience."

Princess Qi?

Su Jin’s eyebrows furrowed.

"Let her in," Su Jin said.

The maid turned to relay the message.

Xingxing looked at Su Jin.

Why would her lady see Princess Qi?

Did Madame forget it was Princess Qi who incited Madam Wen Yuan to give poison to the lady?

Xingxing shook her head.

That’s impossible.

She remembered it; how could the lady forget?

Princess Qi came to the door, surely intending to teach her a lesson.

Su Jin stepped into the main hall.

Xingxing followed, saying, "Madam, I’ll take the flower basket to the backyard."

Before Su Jin could reply, Xingxing had already run far.

Xingxing dashed to the backyard, put the flower basket down, and rummaged through the boxes’ corners for a porcelain bottle.

It was her cherished poison.

Ever since her concocted poison nearly incapacitated Su Jin, Su Jin hadn’t allowed Xingxing to make more.

Xingxing was obedient; Su Jin threatened to sell her if she didn’t listen.

She dared not defy her.

But what Su Jin hadn’t been told was, she had brewed more than one kind.

Afraid of confiscation, Xingxing had always kept it hidden.

Avenge the lady, how could she not take part?

This poison remained untested, so why not use it on Princess Qi?

Brimming with excitement, Xingxing wanted to test her poison’s potency.

She snatched the little maid’s task of brewing tea.

Planning to pour the poison into the cup.

The Hidden Guard in the rafters was taken aback.

This maid truly feared nothing.

The Heir’s wife’s poison was just for scaring; hers might not be.

She was remarkably confident.

The Hidden Guard prepared to toss silver ingot to topple the cup.

Better get a maid’s glare than let a maid get the Heir’s wife in trouble.

Ultimately—

The Hidden Guard silently pocketed the silver.

For Xingxing struggled to pour the poison from the bottle.

Try as she might, the poison wouldn’t pour.

Her treasured poison had clumped at the bottom.

Xingxing, "...."