Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 53 Assassination Truth

Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Assassination Truth

Elder Lin remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Stay out of court affairs—so long as I am in court, the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion will be safe."

"Understood, Zhixu will listen to you," Xie Xun replied with a faint smile. "Grandfather, I forgot to mention something: the palace is cutting expenditures, yet the Eastern Palace has been amassing wealth through its subordinate officials, even resorting to murder to cover their tracks. What should be done about this?"

"Do you have evidence?"

"Before my sister-in-law left the Capital City, she entrusted me to take care of the Feng Mansion. That day, Fengyu went to Yiling Village to collect rent, which triggered a riot. The Land Office official deceived both sides, inflated grain prices, and sold high after buying low. His son works as an attendant in the Eastern Palace, and the money flowing from these schemes ends up in the Eastern Palace. Fearing exposure and damage to its reputation, the Eastern Palace sent assassins that night to the manor to silence witnesses. That group of Hidden Guards was secretly trained by Minister Lin to obey only the Eastern Palace. Coincidentally, Lin Xiao happened to be at the manor that day; the assassins feared injuring Lin Xiao and failing their mission, so they aborted the attack. The Gaoping County Magistrate dared not intervene, and Fengyu, desperate, turned to the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion for help. Investigations led to ties between the Eastern Palace and Minister Lin." Xie Xun chuckled. "Both are family; I truly don’t know how to handle this. I appeal to you, Grandfather, to make a decision."

Elder Lin’s gaze darkened with anger. "Understood."

Though curt, Xie Xun refused to leave matters vague. "Ningzhou faces relentless turmoil, Jiangnan is plagued by military strife, Yanyang has just weathered natural disasters—families everywhere are skimping on food and clothes. Meanwhile, the Eastern Palace is hoarding wealth, manipulating courtiers, and committing murders to cover its tracks. The Third Miss of the Feng Family narrowly escaped calamity; if the Eastern Palace continues to entangle itself, the Marquis Mansion will intervene, and this matter will escalate."

"Zhixu, the Crown Prince is your elder cousin-in-law by blood," Elder Lin sighed helplessly. "Your cousin is eight months pregnant and nearing childbirth."

Xie Xun smirked devilishly. "Even a prince should face the same punishment as a commoner for crimes."

Elder Lin’s expression grew solemn. Xie Xun, sensing it was time to step back, entrusted his grandfather with handling the affair—strategically ideal, as the Crown Prince feared the Lin Family and would hesitate to act recklessly.

Before leaving, Xie Xun respectfully bowed to Elder Lin and said earnestly, "Grandfather, I implore you to negotiate for Ningzhou in court. If Ningzhou falls, none will be spared under a collapsing empire—we shall all meet the blade firsthand, none left alive!"

Xie Xun, accompanied by Nuanyang, exited the Lin Residence through the side, which stood just a street away from Minister Lin’s Mansion. Lin Yu Yan, refusing to be sent to a manor at the outskirts, kicked up a fuss at the door, wailing and causing a scene. Lin Cheng and Mrs. Lin reprimanded her, but she cried pitifully and still accused Fengyu of stabbing her and framing her. Arrogant and deceitful as ever, often hiding behind lies, neither Lin Cheng nor Mrs. Lin believed her.

Passing by, Xie Xun glanced briefly at the commotion and dismissed it from his mind. Lin Yu Yan’s disgraceful conduct at the archery banquet had already drawn public disdain—her leaving the Capital City was in everyone’s best interest.

"Nuanyang, go to the Feng Mansion. I need to meet her."

"Yes!"

Everything had been settled, and it was time for Fengyu to fulfill her promise of fifteen thousand dan of grain. To prepare supplies for Ningzhou, Xie Xun had raided major noble families’ granaries—though they were grieved, they dared not voice opposition. Ever since Fengyu agreed to give him five thousand dan, Xie Xun discovered she was a walking granary.

Nuanyang had meticulously investigated Fengyu’s granary operations; Fengyu was obsessed with gold, silver, and treasures, enjoying profit-making as her life’s passion. True to her love for wealth, she amassed immense fortunes; under her management, Su Yuejiao’s industries in the Capital had multiplied in profit. She avoided holding bank notes—converting them exclusively to gold, silver, or grain.

Feng Shu had been collecting military provisions for Ningzhou, building granaries in Jiangnan, a land renowned for its rice. Xie Xun managed to stockpile three months’ worth of provisions for Ningzhou by looting noble families’ granaries and capitalizing on Feng Shu’s years of storage in Jiangnan.

Unexpectedly, Fengyu’s Capital granaries alone held reserves equivalent to two months’ provisions for Ningzhou’s army. Despite the summer drought and government relief efforts, the Third Miss hadn’t touched her granary—reserved, presumably, as emergency stock for Feng Shu.

Having such a resourceful, crisis-ready young sister who prioritized grain over all, it was no wonder Feng Shu trusted her industries to her. Xie Xun decided it was time to press the Third Miss for grain supplies.

Fengyu, ostensibly recovering from injuries, couldn’t meet outside, so their meeting was set in the Plum Garden. Zhang Da guarded the courtyard, and Feiying kept watch on the roof. True to schedule, Xie Xun arrived at midnight with the truth about the assassination attempt.

"The Crown Prince?" Fengyu hadn’t expected that this entire deadly ordeal stemmed from the Crown Prince himself, the man internationally hailed for his virtue and benevolence as heir-apparent. "Just for silver, fearing ruined reputation—he tried to have me killed?"

Xie Xun explained, "The assassins came from the Lin Mansion. Luckily, Lin Xiao was present, forcing their restraint—else you’d already be in Huangquan. Dying, you’d likely drag me in as your scapegoat, wouldn’t you?"

Fengyu smiled gently yet cleverly. "Little Marquis, you overthink. Even facing death, I wouldn’t pull you into disaster."

"Only because you’ve yet to reach Ghost Gate. If you knew you’d certainly die, facing no repercussions, you would absolutely make me die in your place." Well-acquainted with Fengyu’s nature, Xie Xun added, "The Third Miss is astute—she wouldn’t act against her own interests. But if that unavoidable moment came, you’d surely drag me to die with you."

"The Crown Princess Consort is your elder cousin; you could’ve fabricated a tale to deceive me—why tell me the truth?"

Surrounded by fragrant air in her boudoir, a beauty glowed under the lamp, her delicate hues captivating, yet her seemingly tender words held hidden daggers. Xie Xun glanced from the golden hairpin in her coiffure to the gold-threaded, silver-embroidered garments she wore, a dark flicker passing through his eyes.

"Fengyu, no matter how dominant you are in the business world, in his eyes, you’re still but an ant. The Emperor rules—his ministers follow. Even knowing the truth, what can you possibly do?" Xie Xun laughed coldly. "Besides, having received your grain, I won’t be two-faced."

"If the Little Marquis honored ministerial loyalty, you wouldn’t have struck the Third Prince or disclose the truth to me," Fengyu quipped, lifting a wine pot from the stove and pouring him a warmed cup. She observed Xie Xun’s frosty stare and smiled. "Then I’ll trouble the Little Marquis to ensure the Crown Prince cancels his plans to kill me."

Xie Xun smirked faintly, gazing at the cup of wine before gulping it down. "Don’t worry—he won’t send anyone after you again. Now, your promised fifteen thousand dan of grain—it’s time you hand it over."

"The grain is ready and can be collected at any time," Fengyu replied, summoning Zhang Da. "Zhang Da, coordinate the transfer of grain with the Little Marquis."

"Understood!"

Xie Xun, aware of Fengyu’s vindictive nature, warned her, "Your status is far beneath the Crown Prince; I advise prudence—don’t act recklessly, lest you provoke disaster."

"Should a ruler demand a servant’s death, the servant must comply—especially someone as insignificant as me. Rest assured, Little Marquis; if the Crown Prince spares my life, I’ll be eternally grateful, praying for him daily."

Xie Xun scoffed, then softened, speaking warmly. "If the Third Miss ever requires assistance, send a message to the Marquis Mansion. As long as there’s grain involved, this Marquis will help you—even at the cost of my life."

"How delightful," Fengyu responded playfully, her smile flower-bright. "I’ll certainly trouble the Little Marquis plenty in the future."

Dream on if you think you’ll trick me out of my money!