Chapter 17

Mei Xue

Yang mama hurriedly responded, “To answer Second Madam, she is currently at the dance troupe.”

Before she could finish speaking, Wan Shi turned to Steward Lin and ordered, “Go, immediately take her to the dungeon, and torture her severely. Make sure to get the identity of the assassin and the forces behind her. Such a thing must never happen again.”

“Understood.” After Steward Lin left, not long later, the door opened, and Xia Houduan stepped out, looking exhausted. Wan Shi quickly stepped forward and asked, “Lord Xia Hou, how is the governor? Is he alright?”

After handing over the prescription to a servant, Xia Houduan said solemnly, “Second Madam, the poison that both the governor and Third Young Master were inflicted with is a rare poison from the Western Regions. It is extremely uncommon in the Central Plains. I only encountered it once in my youth. Fortunately, we treated them in time, or else even a deity could not have saved them.”

Li Jiancheng anxiously asked, “So, has Father and Third Brother’s condition improved?”

Xia Houduan sighed, “The poison is temporarily under control, but whether it can be fully resolved depends on the effectiveness of the prescription I just administered. I hope it works.”

Li Jiancheng clenched his hands at his sides, gritting his teeth, “Once I catch that vile woman, I will have her torn apart!” Xia Houduan was not only skilled in divination but also in medicine, far surpassing an ordinary doctor. If even he couldn’t save them, their fate would truly be grim.

They waited well into the night. After two hours of administering the medicine, both Li Yuan and his son began to show signs of improvement. Their pulses became more stable and no longer as dangerous as before, though it would still take some time for them to fully wake.

Once they were certain there was no immediate danger, Li Jiancheng and the others left the Songtao Residence. After walking a few steps, Li Jiancheng stopped, turned around, and stared at Li Shimin, saying, “Second Brother, you’ve always been cautious and careful in your actions, so why were you so careless this time? Luckily, Uncle Xia Hou was here; otherwise, Father and Third Brother would be in serious danger!”

Li Shimin lowered his gaze and replied, “At the time, I just thought Wu Mei Xue seemed pitiful and wanted to give her a chance. I never expected her to harbor such malicious intent.”

Li Jiancheng scoffed, “You sympathize with her, and she repays your kindness with harm. Second Brother, in terms of talent and martial ability, you are outstanding among us brothers, but you have one major flaw—your unnecessary sympathy and trust in others, your indecision. Remember, unless it’s someone extremely close to you, you don’t need to care about the lives of others. Even friends or trusted subordinates shouldn’t be fully trusted. Treat them as pawns; that would be better. Do you understand?” In fact, Li Shimin’s temperament was humble, and he treated others sincerely, but in the eyes of Li Jiancheng, who prioritized power and benefit above all, it appeared as indecisiveness and weakness.

Li Shimin cupped his hands and said, “Thank you for the advice, Big Brother. I will remember it well.”

Li Jiancheng nodded and said, “Although Second Mother doesn’t often have good intentions, she was right about one thing—this can never happen again! We must capture the assassin and uproot her and the forces behind her. I will continue pursuing Shen Yun Yi, but Wu Mei Xue will be your responsibility.”

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then said, “I understand. I will personally interrogate Wu Mei Xue until she confesses everything.”

After Li Jiancheng left, Li Shimin walked toward the dungeon. As soon as he entered, he saw Mei Xue tied to a pillar, her body marked with several whip scars. When she saw him, she hurriedly said, “Second Young Master, save me! I really don’t know anything!”

After signaling for the servants to step back, Li Shimin walked up to her, his expression dark, and coldly asked, “Why did you lie to me?”

“No, I didn’t lie to you!” Mei Xue shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her delicate face, which was now filled with fear. “I really didn’t know Shen Yun Yi was the assassin. She never mentioned anything like that to me.” She continued desperately, “Second Young Master, please believe me. This has nothing to do with me.”

Li Shimin’s eyes flashed slightly. “Yang mama said it was you who asked her to let Shen Yun Yi go to the Songtao Residence with you.”

“Yes, I did ask Yang mama,” Mei Xue admitted quickly, “but that’s because Shen Yun Yi told me she had been in the residence for so long and had never seen the governor. She wanted to know what he looked like, so I asked Yang mama for her. If I had known she wanted to assassinate him, I would have done everything to stop her. I would never have let her harm the governor. I… I always thought she genuinely cared for me and considered me a friend. I never expected she had been using me the whole time. She deceived everyone!” Mei Xue was heartbroken and terrified. Attempting to assassinate the governor was a serious matter. If she was found to be an accomplice, not only would she not survive, but her father, who had worked so hard to raise her, would also suffer. If her father died because of her, even if she died, she would never forgive herself.

Li Shimin carefully studied her expression and found no signs of deception or lying. Could it be... that this matter truly has nothing to do with Mei Xue? As he pondered this, he asked, “How did you come to know Shen Yun Yi?”

Mei Xue recounted the events that had taken place when she was waiting outside the residence to be selected. Li Shimin listened intently, and when she mentioned one particular detail, he interrupted, “You said Shen Yun Yi has a brother in the governor’s residence as well? What’s his name?”

“Yes, he was also selected at that time. His name is...” Mei Xue hesitated, trying to recall. She had only met him on the day she entered the residence and hadn’t seen him since. Just as Li Shimin was about to order someone to investigate all the people with the surname Shen in the residence, she suddenly remembered. “His name is Shen Mo Ping!”

“Immediately investigate this person. Also, send someone to Xiao Yang Village to look into their backgrounds.” After the servants left to carry out the orders, Mei Xue once again pleaded, “Second Young Master, you must believe me. This matter with Yun Yi truly has nothing to do with me. I was also harmed by her!”

Li Shimin thought for a moment and said, “I will get to the bottom of this. Until then, stay here.”

“But...” Mei Xue looked fearfully at the servant standing nearby with a vine whip. Li Shimin understood her meaning and turned to the servant, saying, “Lock her up for now.”

The servant hesitated, saying, “Second Young Master, Second Madam instructed that unless she reveals the assassin’s identity and connections, no punishment should be spared.”

Li Shimin’s face darkened, “Didn’t she already explain everything just now? What more is there to be unclear about?” Before the servant could speak, he added, “If Second Madam asks, I will explain to her myself.”

Seeing that he had spoken, the servant dared not say more and untied Mei Xue from the pillar. As soon as her restraints were released, Mei Xue nearly stumbled and fell, but Li Shimin caught her. As she was being locked into the cell, Mei Xue called out to Li Shimin, biting her lip. “Second Young Master, will... will I die?”