NOVPUBChang An quickly pulled out the items from his arms—a box and a letter.
Shen Roujia immediately recognized the familiar box of balm, her expression turning cold. “How does she have this?”
This box was identical to the one she had seen when searching through the late empress’s belongings. Without hesitation, Shen Roujia opened the letter, which confirmed her suspicions. The balm was made from a large amount of opium extract.
It turned out that Gu Zhi had found these items in her mother’s dowry but hadn’t had the chance to inform Shen Roujia due to the time it took to investigate. However, this matter was far-reaching; the formula for the balm came from the Northern Territory and was bought by a mysterious person in the martial arts world. It had been sold in many places in the capital for years.
The foreign merchant who sold it claimed that it gave the user great charm but also had severe side effects, causing hallucinations and affecting one’s mind.
Shen Roujia thought, could it be that the late empress hanged herself due to long-term use of this balm? If she had truly taken her own life, who had given her this substance? Or was the late empress not as virtuous as people believed, but rather greedy?
Shen Roujia shook off this unsettling thought, likely influenced by her own bias. Gu Zhi’s mother also had this substance, but since General Gu had been away from the mansion for years, who was she using it for? 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
After Shen Roujia finished reading, Chang An respectfully spoke, “The master said the engagement with Prime Minister Shen is just a formality, so you need not worry.”
Shen Roujia frowned. Why would she worry? Worry that she might become her sister-in-law?
She waved her hand, “What has Gu Zhi been busy with recently?”
Chang An replied simply, “The master has been taking on missions.”
Shen Roujia’s frown deepened, “Has she been in the Hidden Pavilion all this time?”
Chang An nodded, “She’s taken on a top-priority mission.”
Shen Roujia asked further, “Does the prince not intervene?”
Chang An hesitated but shook his head, “The prince doesn’t seem to care much.”
Shen Roujia frowned, but just then, a young attendant from the Library Pavilion suddenly rushed into her quarters, “Crown Princess! Your Highness!”
Shen Roujia, having spent many days in the Library Pavilion, recognized him, “What’s wrong?”
The young attendant anxiously said, “Aunt Yun Jin is in critical condition. She wants to see you one last time!”
Shen Roujia was startled, sitting up abruptly, her eyes wide, “What happened? How did this suddenly...”
The young attendant, nearly in tears, urged, “Your Highness, please come with me!”
Shen Roujia nodded and without delay, she instructed Xiao Fu, “If His Highness asks, tell him the truth.”
Xiao Fu nodded, “Should I accompany you, Your Highness?”
Shen Roujia shook her head and hurried after the young attendant to the Library Pavilion.
“Cough, cough, cough.”
Violent coughing came from the room. Yun Jin lived in a side hall of the Library Pavilion, and when Shen Roujia arrived, she saw blood everywhere, making her heart skip a beat.
“What... what happened here?”
Yun Jin was lying on the ground. Shen Roujia couldn’t help but rush over, “Aunt Yun Jin?”
Suppressing her confusion, Shen Roujia patted Yun Jin’s shoulder, “Aunt? Can you hear me?”
There was no response. Shen Roujia’s eyes widened in realization. The place she touched was already cold and stiff.
