How Much Did the Princess Consort Drink?

The case of the female corpses had finally been fully solved.

A few days later, Lu Jingsi presented all the evidence and exhibits at the palace.

Inside Qianzheng Hall.

The same people were present, except that this time, Lin Yonghong was there as well.

After spending all those days in prison, his hair was disheveled, his eyes were vacant, and he was filthy.

But there was no blood on him. Clearly, Lu Jingsi had not tortured him.

The emperor glanced at Lin Yonghong, who was kneeling below, then lowered his eyes to the confession on the table, bearing Lin Yonghong's own signature and thumbprint.

The tight furrow between his brows finally eased a little.

Now that the evidence was conclusive, the emperor spoke in a deep voice. "What does Prince Jin think?"

Prince Jin swept aside his robes and knelt, performing a formal bow. "I have failed to raise my son properly. I beg Your Majesty to deal with him according to the law."

Hearing his voice, Lin Yonghong, who had been dazed for a long time, finally showed some reaction.

It was one thing to hear Lu Jingsi say in prison that Prince Jin had never intended to save him. Hearing it for himself now was another matter entirely.

His back hunched and his hair hanging loose, he shuffled forward a few steps on his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face. "Father, save me..."

"I don't want to die..."

No one in the hall answered him. He burst into wild laughter.

"My father is Prince Jin. He must have a way to save me... He must have a way to save me..."

At that, Prince Jin did not even look at him. Still kneeling and facing the emperor, he looked determined to put righteousness before family.

Things had reached this point. Even if Lin Yonghong did not die, he was no different from a cripple as far as Prince Jin was concerned.

Prince Jin straightened on his knees and repeated in a clear voice, "I have failed to raise my son properly. I beg Your Majesty to deal with him according to the law."

The emperor gave him a sidelong glance, a complicated look in his eyes. After a moment, he spoke.

"Lin Yonghong wears a human face but has the heart of a beast. He has slaughtered innocent people by the most cruel means, in defiance of the laws of heaven—"

He paused briefly, his voice deep and solemn. "According to the law, he is sentenced to beheading."

It was midsummer.

A gentle breeze blew outside the hall. Half a shichen later, only the emperor, Zhou Xuheng, and Lu Jingsi remained in Qianzheng Hall.

Lin Yonghong's sentence had been decided. From beginning to end, Prince Jin had maintained an upright, unyielding manner, leaving the matter entirely to the emperor's judgment.

But the less he argued, the more suspicious the emperor became.

Thus, Zhou Xuheng and Lu Jingsi were asked to stay behind to discuss other matters.

Prince Jin's fief was in Central Shu, and he had previously been ordered to come to the capital.

Now, this visit had cost him a son, yet his expression remained perfectly composed.

The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his thoughts growing ever more weighty. He looked at Crown Prince Zhou Xuheng. "Keep a close watch on developments in Central Shu."

The emperor had already been wary of Prince Jin. Now that Lin Yonghong had been convicted and sentenced, there was no guarantee Prince Jin would not make a move.

Zhou Xuheng bowed and answered, "Your son obeys."

After discussing Prince Jin, the emperor shifted his gaze to Lu Jingsi. "How are things with the Su Family?"

Lu Jingsi lowered his eyes. "Everything is normal."

"Mm." The emperor nodded slightly. "The Su Family has a vast household and business. Becoming imperial merchants has instead placed more constraints on them."

Lu Jingsi said, "Merchants have their own ways of doing business, but they must still remain within the law. If the Su Family wishes to prosper in the long run, they should understand that."

His words struck a chord with the emperor, who laughed heartily. The look in his eyes softened a little, and he asked the eunuch beside him what time it was.

The attendant replied that si hour had passed.

The emperor waved a hand. "The two of you stay and have lunch with me."

"Yes."

After lunch.

Lu Jingsi left the palace and went straight back to the Prison Administration. It was not until halfway through you hour that he stepped out through its gates.

The sun sank in the west, and the last rays of evening light faded. Lamps were lit throughout Prince Cheng'an's Residence.

As soon as Lu Jingsi entered the residence, Fulin came up to him and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the princess consort went to pay her respects to Peilan today. She was in low spirits when she returned, and she is alone in the waterside pavilion in the main courtyard now."

Lu Jingsi's brows remained cool and composed as he glanced at Fulin.

Fulin kept his eyes lowered and said nothing more.

They were a young married couple. When a wife was in low spirits, it was only proper for her husband to show her more concern.

Fulin had once served the grand princess and had naturally seen how lovingly she and Prince Consort Lu had treated each other.

But looking at Prince Cheng'an now...

Lu Jingsi ignored his words and headed straight for the study. "Prepare dinner."

Fulin dared not urge him further and hurriedly told the servants under him to be quick about it.

After dinner, Lu Jingsi read in his study for a while. It was not until halfway through xu hour that he rose and headed toward the main house.

Fulin carefully carried a lantern. A moment later, he heard his master speak.

"Is the princess consort still at the waterside pavilion?"

"Your Highness, I believe so. I just heard that Zelan asked the small kitchen to prepare a sobering soup for her."

"Sobering soup? Has she been drinking?"

"Yes."

Lu Jingsi turned and headed for the waterside pavilion.

The moon was bright tonight, and the season was just right. A few lotuses had bloomed beside the pavilion, fresh and unworldly in the moonlight, each with a charm of its own.

Zelan stood by in the pavilion and asked softly, "Your Highness, it is already xu hour. Shall we return to the main house?"

Su Luoqian wore an apricot-white gauze dress, her slender fingers lightly holding a cup. The corners of her eyes were flushed with drink, making her look both alluring and charming. Her voice was soft and melting. "No... I'm not going back. A little more to drink."

She was sitting on a stone stool, but her body swayed. Seeing that she was about to fall, Zelan hurried forward.

Before she could get close, however, she caught sight of a tall figure passing beside her.

In an instant, Lu Jingsi strode to Su Luoqian's side and swept her securely into his arms with one long arm.

Seeing this, Zelan hurriedly curtsied. "Your Highness."

The faint fragrance of green plum wine lingered in the pavilion, mingling with the fresh sweetness of the woman herself. Lu Jingsi's sword-like brows furrowed slightly. "How much has the princess consort had to drink?"

Zelan nervously pinched her clasped hands and answered cautiously, "Not... just one small pot."

Lu Jingsi shifted his gaze slightly and glanced at the nearly empty little wine jar on the stone table.

"Leave," he said coldly.

Zelan hurriedly curtsied and rushed out of the pavilion.

Your Highness...

I couldn't hide it. Please don't get so drunk that you lose all awareness.

Su Luoqian lay against Lu Jingsi's chest, hazy with drink. She lifted her eyelids slightly and watched Zelan's retreating figure.

"...Mm... why did she leave?"

Lu Jingsi loosened his hold on her slightly and gripped her chin with his long fingers, forcing her to look up. "Can you still walk by yourself?"

Su Luoqian's eyes were bleary, her cheeks as rosy as if stained with rouge, endearingly innocent.

She suddenly giggled, her lips curving into a lovely smile. "...Oh, Zelan didn't leave... Zelan is right here..."

Lu Jingsi: "..."

The man's face darkened terribly. Just as he was about to pull away, she suddenly raised her arms and hugged him.

Su Luoqian buried her head in his chest and nuzzled against him. "...A little more... just a tiny bit..."

The woman's delicate fragrance stole ever more clearly into his nose, along with the feel of her willow-slender waist in his arms and her snow-soft, impossibly supple, fragrant body.

Lu Jingsi's expression darkened slightly, a threat in his voice. "Su. Luo. Qian."