Chapter Forty-Eight: The Gift

“What poison?”
“It has yet to be identified.” Song Yongnian pondered for a moment before saying, “But the source has already been determined.”
“What is it?”
“Sweet-scented osmanthus lotus root with glutinous rice.”
Li Yunjie pressed further, “Did it come from Orchid Osmanthus House?”
Yesterday, Li Yunjie had gifted the old man of the Zhang family lotus root with glutinous rice, indeed sourced from that establishment.
Song Yongnian nodded, his tone grave. “Precisely.”
Li Yunjie’s heart trembled; this attack was clearly directed at him!
Noticing Li Yunjie’s dark expression, Song Yongnian waved his attendants away, then leaned in to whisper,
“Your Highness need not worry. I have already dealt with the matter.”
“All you need do is pretend you never met the old man of the Zhang family.”
With those words, he flashed a sly smile.
“So you’ll find some scapegoat to take the fall for me?” Li Yunjie grinned wickedly.
Song Yongnian nodded in tacit agreement, his smile growing broader.
“So does that mean I can swagger out of this cell right now?”
“By all means!” Song Yongnian extended his hand, indicating Li Yunjie was free to leave.
Li Yunjie slowly lifted his foot, stepping half outside. “Really leave?”
“Please!”
Suddenly, Li Yunjie’s face darkened. He kicked Song Yongnian hard.
“Go to hell!” Li Yunjie cursed angrily. “Without clarifying the whole affair, I’m not going anywhere!”
Song Yongnian stumbled out of the cell, falling awkwardly to the ground.
“You!”
A fierce look flashed across Song Yongnian’s face, but he quickly realized his mistake, replacing it with a sycophantic smile.
Bristling, he brushed off stray grass and straightened his disheveled official cap.
“Prince Li, what is the meaning of this?”
Li Yunjie closed the cell door, fastening it with a thick iron chain, then securing the lock.
“Song Yongnian, yesterday’s lotus root with glutinous rice was indeed given by me to the old Zhang.”
“But I assure you, it was not poisoned.”
“If I step out of this cell today, wouldn’t that ruin my reputation, leaving a handle for you to grasp?”
With that, Li Yunjie lay down, looking relaxed. “Song Yongnian, did you really think I wouldn’t see through your petty schemes?”
“You ordered those constables to arrest me, didn’t you?”
“They play the villain, you play the savior.”
“Let me go now, and I’ll owe you a favor?”
“In your dreams!”

Song Yongnian’s face turned ashen; he’d run into a stubborn opponent. A barely detectable murderous intent flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly concealed.
“Your Highness flatters me.” Song Yongnian forced a smile. “Even if I’d eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall, I wouldn’t dare harm you!”
He sighed lightly. “Well, since Your Highness insists on staying, I’ll say no more.”
“Farewell.”
......

The next day at noon.
Riverside Inn.

“Teacher.”
In Gong Qingfeng’s room, Lin Mao dragged in a young man with a bruised face.
“This man is Zhang Shen, the only son of the old Zhang.”
Gong Qingfeng frowned. “Why have you brought him here?”
Lin Mao bowed. “I’ve uncovered most of the case’s details.”
“Oh?” Gong Qingfeng sipped his tea calmly. “Tell me.”
Lin Mao stepped forward and narrated, “Zhang Shen is addicted to gambling, and owes the gambling house considerable debts.”
“As he cannot repay them, he set his sights on the family estate.”
“But the old Zhang refused to settle his son’s debts and hid the deed.”
“Zhang Shen then harbored murderous intent and poisoned his father.”
Gong Qingfeng glanced sidelong at Zhang Shen, his expression full of disgust.
“Wretch! Patricide is a crime that must be punished!”
With those words, the term ‘wretch’ transformed into two golden rays from the heavens, striking Zhang Shen and knocking him unconscious.
“However,” Lin Mao’s brow furrowed thoughtfully, “I still feel there’s something odd about this case.”
Gong Qingfeng arched a brow, smiling lightly. “What seems odd?”
Lin Mao spoke gravely, “This case is not complicated.”
“If someone cared to investigate, the truth could be easily found.”
“By rights, Zhang Shen should have been arrested long ago; why is he still strutting about the gambling house?”
“Good, you’ve improved.” Gong Qingfeng’s face showed a hint of pride, and he continued, “What do you make of it?”
Lin Mao fell silent for a long moment, then shook his head. “I ask Teacher to enlighten me.”
Gong Qingfeng’s rising interest was dampened by this reply, and he cursed inwardly.
Sighing, he said in a low tone, “The truth behind this case is well known to Prefect Song.”
“The reason Zhang Shen has not been apprehended, while Prince Li was arrested in the dead of night...”
“Can you guess why?”
Suddenly enlightened, Lin Mao exclaimed, “Could it be that Prefect Song was acting under orders from the Crown Prince, deliberately making things difficult for Prince Li?”
Gong Qingfeng nodded. “It won’t truly harm Prince Li, but it’s a show of position, at least.”

As he spoke, Gong Qingfeng let out a mocking laugh. “Song Yongnian, oh Song Yongnian, you’ve not changed a bit these years.”
“Still ever eager to curry favor with power.”
Lin Mao asked, puzzled, “From Teacher’s words, it seems you know Prefect Song well.”
Gong Qingfeng looked at Lin Mao, meaningfully. “Now that the culprit is caught,”
“You should go meet your disappointing senior brother.”
“It might spare Prince Li some suffering.”
Lin Mao understood, nodding in agreement.
......

Prefect’s Office.
Main Hall.

“Master, there’s a student from Taihu Academy outside seeking an audience.”
A junior clerk hurried forward to report.
“Taihu Academy?” Song Yongnian was puzzled. “What business brings him here?”
“He says he’s bringing a gift,” replied the clerk.
Song Yongnian grew more perplexed. “Let him in.”
The clerk obeyed and withdrew.
Beside Song Yongnian, a man in gray whispered, “Taihu Academy has never had dealings with you, Master. Why would they suddenly bring a gift?”
“Master Pan, you may not know,” Song Yongnian sighed, “Before entering officialdom, I too was a student at Taihu Academy.”
“It’s been years since I’ve seen my teacher.”
As he finished speaking, Lin Mao appeared before Song Yongnian.
“Lin Mao of Taihu Academy, pays respects to the Prefect!”
Song Yongnian glanced at Zhang Shen beside Lin Mao, his brows faintly furrowed.
“Junior Brother Lin, we studied under the same master. There’s no need for such ceremony,” Song Yongnian said with a gentle smile.
He then fixed his gaze on Zhang Shen, feigning surprise. “And this is?”
Lin Mao bowed. “This is the old Zhang’s only son, Zhang Shen.”
“I see.” Song Yongnian continued to play dumb. “Why have you brought him here bound?”
Lin Mao didn’t answer, but instead removed the cloth from Zhang Shen’s mouth.
He then pressed two fingers together, drawing a golden talisman in the air.
“A truth-telling charm…” Song Yongnian murmured in astonishment.
As the words fell, the talisman pierced Zhang Shen’s body.
Zhang Shen instantly lost control, revealing the entire process of poisoning his own father.
“Outrageous!” Song Yongnian thundered, slapping the table. “Guards! Take this man to the dungeon! Prepare for his execution!”