Chapter 433: Chu Lan was testing the situation (1)
A Blessed Daughter
Chapter 433: Chu Lan was testing the situation (1)
Translator : Virichime
This translation made by Moonlight Teatime.
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At that time, given the situation, Chu Lan couldn’t easily trust anyone— not even Yuan Zhengqin, the prefect of the region.
By comparison, Fan Chengxu was actually more trustworthy.
Fan Chengxu was considered half an outsider. Chu Lan didn’t know what plans the Fan family had, but Fan Chengxu himself was a peculiar one. Back when the two of them studied together, he was someone who spent all day thinking about how to do business and make money.
Although Fan Chengxu had studied alongside several princes, he had never gotten close to any of them. He refused to get involved in any political disputes and wasn’t particularly close to Chu Lan either.
Once, Chu Lan, Fan Chengxu, and the other princes had played a poetry game called Feihualing. Each took an alias: Fan Chengxu used “Qingyuan,” while Chu Lan used “Zongyu.”
Since the letter only mentioned borrowing money, Fan Chengxu thought for a while and quietly sent the banknotes over, along with whatever assistance he could provide.
Just as Chu Lan had expected, Fan Chengxu didn’t tell anyone, not even his influential uncle.
After some thought, Fan Chengxu accepted the chest of jewels that Chu Lan brought.
“This humble subject thanks Your Highness for your grace.”
Having accepted the gift, Fan Chengxu quietly waited for Chu Lan’s next question.
He knew that if Chu Lan had come just to repay a debt, he wouldn’t have made the trip himself, so there must be something more behind it.
But since Chu Lan didn’t bring it up, Fan Chengxu didn’t ask either.
After a long silence, Chu Lan finally spoke, “About the ambush I suffered— have you heard any news?”
“Forgive me, Your Highness,” Fan Chengxu immediately replied, distancing himself. “All I know is what others have said that you were attacked and went missing. Before receiving your letter, I knew nothing more.”
“As someone with deep roots in Taizhou,” Chu Lan said, “surely you must have some informants.”
“I’ve lived in Taizhou for several years,” Fan Chengxu replied calmly, “but my attention has been focused on business matters. I’m not familiar with other affairs.”
His words were watertight, leaving no gaps to question.
“Then who do you think might have sent the assassins after me?” Chu Lan asked again.
He stared at Fan Chengxu sharply, trying to see if he was lying.
“Your Highness, this is a grave matter—how could I dare to make wild guesses?” Fan Chengxu replied with a polite smile, his words still watertight.
“Then, are you aware,” Chu Lan suddenly said, “that someone recently presented His Majesty with the late Duke Xu’s handwritten testament—one that could clear the Duke’s name?”
He had brought up a name that few dared to mention in public anymore.
“The Duke Xu’s handwritten testament? That’s impossible. It’s been eighteen years already. The Duke’s mansion was completely searched and confiscated back then—if such a letter had existed, how could it only surface now?”
Fan Chengxu’s face showed genuine surprise.
He continued, “Besides, after eighteen years, everyone connected to the Duke’s household is long dead. Who would still dare to appeal for a retrial on his behalf?”
“Don’t forget,” said Chu Lan, “the late Empress Xu gave birth to a child at Jing’an Temple.”
“Your Highness must be joking. The Ninth Prince was buried in Longhuan Mountain, west of the capital. His Majesty even had a prince’s tomb built for him.”
That kind of honor was unique to the Ninth Prince. There had been other princes who died young, but none had received such treatment.
“But recent rumors claim that he’s still alive,” Chu Lan said quietly.
“That seems… highly unlikely.”
“Whether it’s likely or not,” Chu Lan replied, “certain things have already begun to happen.”
“This humble subject knows nothing of that,” Fan Chengxu said with an awkward laugh.
Seeing that he would get no further answers, Chu Lan rose and left.
By comparison, Fan Chengxu was actually more trustworthy.
Fan Chengxu was considered half an outsider. Chu Lan didn’t know what plans the Fan family had, but Fan Chengxu himself was a peculiar one. Back when the two of them studied together, he was someone who spent all day thinking about how to do business and make money.
Although Fan Chengxu had studied alongside several princes, he had never gotten close to any of them. He refused to get involved in any political disputes and wasn’t particularly close to Chu Lan either.
Once, Chu Lan, Fan Chengxu, and the other princes had played a poetry game called Feihualing. Each took an alias: Fan Chengxu used “Qingyuan,” while Chu Lan used “Zongyu.”
-Feihualing (飞花令) is a traditional Chinese poetic game that tests players’ knowledge of classical poetry.
Since the letter only mentioned borrowing money, Fan Chengxu thought for a while and quietly sent the banknotes over, along with whatever assistance he could provide.
Just as Chu Lan had expected, Fan Chengxu didn’t tell anyone, not even his influential uncle.
After some thought, Fan Chengxu accepted the chest of jewels that Chu Lan brought.
“This humble subject thanks Your Highness for your grace.”
Having accepted the gift, Fan Chengxu quietly waited for Chu Lan’s next question.
He knew that if Chu Lan had come just to repay a debt, he wouldn’t have made the trip himself, so there must be something more behind it.
But since Chu Lan didn’t bring it up, Fan Chengxu didn’t ask either.
After a long silence, Chu Lan finally spoke, “About the ambush I suffered— have you heard any news?”
“Forgive me, Your Highness,” Fan Chengxu immediately replied, distancing himself. “All I know is what others have said that you were attacked and went missing. Before receiving your letter, I knew nothing more.”
“As someone with deep roots in Taizhou,” Chu Lan said, “surely you must have some informants.”
“I’ve lived in Taizhou for several years,” Fan Chengxu replied calmly, “but my attention has been focused on business matters. I’m not familiar with other affairs.”
His words were watertight, leaving no gaps to question.
“Then who do you think might have sent the assassins after me?” Chu Lan asked again.
He stared at Fan Chengxu sharply, trying to see if he was lying.
“Your Highness, this is a grave matter—how could I dare to make wild guesses?” Fan Chengxu replied with a polite smile, his words still watertight.
“Then, are you aware,” Chu Lan suddenly said, “that someone recently presented His Majesty with the late Duke Xu’s handwritten testament—one that could clear the Duke’s name?”
He had brought up a name that few dared to mention in public anymore.
“The Duke Xu’s handwritten testament? That’s impossible. It’s been eighteen years already. The Duke’s mansion was completely searched and confiscated back then—if such a letter had existed, how could it only surface now?”
Fan Chengxu’s face showed genuine surprise.
He continued, “Besides, after eighteen years, everyone connected to the Duke’s household is long dead. Who would still dare to appeal for a retrial on his behalf?”
“Don’t forget,” said Chu Lan, “the late Empress Xu gave birth to a child at Jing’an Temple.”
“Your Highness must be joking. The Ninth Prince was buried in Longhuan Mountain, west of the capital. His Majesty even had a prince’s tomb built for him.”
That kind of honor was unique to the Ninth Prince. There had been other princes who died young, but none had received such treatment.
“But recent rumors claim that he’s still alive,” Chu Lan said quietly.
“That seems… highly unlikely.”
“Whether it’s likely or not,” Chu Lan replied, “certain things have already begun to happen.”
“This humble subject knows nothing of that,” Fan Chengxu said with an awkward laugh.
Seeing that he would get no further answers, Chu Lan rose and left.
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