My Husband Became the Most Powerful Minister - Chapter 61

Preface:

There was a mistake when I uploaded chapter 60. The content uploaded was just half of what should have been. I ‘ve fixed it. You can read it again, I’m sorry. (,,>﹏<,,)

Helan Ci had expected she might encounter some problem. However, she hadn’t thought that Xiao Nanxun would come in person.

In the dream, at least, he had waited until her father had been convicted before making a move against her when she fled overnight. Moreover, Xiao Nanxun is still somewhat constrained by the previous rumors, so Helan Ci thought he might not act rashly…

Regarding the rumors, she had also heard some of the aftermath. Later, the court had specially assigned an experienced coroner to examine the body of the deceased concubine, claiming she had died of frailty. They even arrested several people spreading these rumors. Although this silenced some of the commoners and officials, there were still plenty who held a negative opinion of the Ninth Prince. If he were the crown prince, there would be nothing to be done, but he wasn’t. Above him stood the famously mild-tempered Eldest Prince, senior in age and rank, and it was hard not to lean in his favor.

The Eldest Prince and his consort were deeply affectionate. He didn’t even have a concubine.

At the same time, the daughter of Anding Marquis seemed to have caught a sudden illness—seriously ill. The imperial physicians were sent to see her, but they were at a loss, saying that the young lady seemed to have worries and troubles in her heart, which caused her to cry and laugh all day, appearing mentally disoriented. Someone suggested finding a new candidate for the Second Prince’s consort, so that the Second Prince could marry soon.

Helan Ci thought Xiao Nanxun would be too preoccupied to concern himself with her. She hadn’t expected he’d be even more deranged than in the dream.

And yet now, when she sees Xiao Nanxun again, her first reaction is not fear or dread, but rather amusement.

She truly couldn’t understand why he was so obsessed.

Xiao Nanxun’s dark gray eyes cast a chilling gaze that made people extremely uncomfortable. As he dismounted, the silver chains and emerald ornaments on his body clinked softly with each step. He walked toward her.

Helan Ci remained composed, but the eunuch beside her was shaking like a leaf.

She loosened her grip on the eunuch’s neck a bit. It was clear that Xiao Nanxun really didn’t care about his life. The threat had lost its effect. After a quick thought, Helan Ci simply let him go.

The eunuch fled, clutching his throat, running with all his might, while Helan Ci calmly put away the dagger.

Her gentle voice rang out: “Your Highness, why are you here? This humble woman is merely out to visit her husband—why would Your Highness call it an escape?”

Helan Ci still sat sideways on the carriage shaft, her long legs neatly aligned beneath her skirts. Her white robe was immaculate, untouched by dust. The girl herself seemed equally untouched, like she belonged to the heavens. The sunlight shone brightly down the road, casting her in a clear glow. Her fine black hair shimmered slightly as it fell over her shoulders—an intense contrast of black and white. Her lips were a striking rosy red, vibrant and enchanting, making her entire presence stand out,

Xiao Nanxun stopped a few steps in front of her.

After not seeing her for a long time, this time her seemingly delicate face showed no signs of fear or worry, as if she were truly just visiting family.

He spoke slowly, “Your husband is already dead. Who are you going to visit?”

There was a bow and arrow in the carriage. If Helan Ci could ignore the consequences, she would have liked nothing more than to shoot him right there. But now was not the time.

She calmly replied, “Your Highness, please be cautious with your words. There is still no confirmation of my husband’s death.”

Xiao Nanxun laughed, as if she had said something very funny: “Helan Ci, is there any point in this self-deception?” He took two steps closer, gestured for the people around to step back a bit, and lowered his voice, “You two got married just because spending one night together. And now you’re trying to play the part of a devoted wife in front of me? Even if you escape now, what then? If not me, there will be someone else. Are you going to remain chaste for him your whole life?”

Although he is close, he is obviously always on guard.

Helan Ci didn’t dare to act recklessly like she did with that eunuch. Her mind was racing, but she suddenly realized something: “Your Highness, how can you be so sure that my husband is dead?”

Xiao Nanxun’s cold smile deepened a bit more: “He courted death himself—of course he’d die.”

In an instant, Helan Ci recalled what Lu Wuyou had once said about the Provincial Governor of Yizhou and Noble Consort Li’s connection. That means Lu Wuyou encountering life-threatening danger in Yizhou might not only be about investigating the case, but also due to the instigation of the person in front of her.

She paused for a moment and asked, “Does Your Highness have someone in Yizhou?”

No wonder the case had been so difficult to investigate.

Her slightly dazed expression made her appeared particularly fragile and pitiful in others’ eyes.

But even as she maintained that look, her mind was working furiously. She thought how to escape without angering the other party, while also trying to gather some information about Yizhou and Lu Wuyou’s situation.

Because she knew that she had Lu Wuyou’s men now, she was confident she could escape eventually. She wouldn’t fall into Xiao Nanxun’s hands—and that helped steady her. She was afraid, yes, but far more clear-headed.

Xiao Nanxun smiled faintly without answering. He took another step closer, just as he was about to grab her wrist, suddenly Helan Ci lifted her head. Her clear eyes were faintly shimmering with tears.

“Your Highness, is he really dead?”

Her soft voice trembled slightly, her lower lip tightly bitten, as if in the next moment, those eyes were about to shed tears of sorrow.

Xiao Nanxun was taken aback.

Helan Ci, hidden under her sleeve, desperately pinched her thigh. She really couldn’t cry on command, but Mu Ling inspired her. If fears weren’t enough, then sorrow should to fill the gap.

Then she heard Xiao Nanxun say:

“He’s dead, I didn’t expect you to be this heartbroken.”

Helan Ci wiped away nonexistent tears with the back of her hand, her voice still trembling: “Your Highness, have you heard of the saying ‘the rabbit dies and the fox grieves¹‘? He… he was a good person… but now he’s dead, what am I supposed to do…”

While speaking, she covered her face with her hands, and her slender shoulders trembled as well.

Xiao Nanxun placed a hand on her shoulder.

Helan Cí forced herself to endure the discomfort, shrinking further into herself, and sobbed quietly for a while.

Then Xiao Nanxun chuckled softly, seemingly pleased. “He can’t protect you, no one can protect you—except me. Helan Ci, I thought you should have understood this by now.”

Helan Ci put down one hand, then pinched her thigh again until her eyes glistened, before lifting her face and asking softly,

“Can… can I at least know how he died? Was it really a fire?”

Xiao Nanxun changed the subject: “You should worry less about him and worry more about yourself.”

Helan Ci wanted to try harder, but when the words came to her lips, she felt a little disgusted and couldn’t say them out.

Finally, after pretending to cry for a while and boosting her own spirits, she thought to herself that since Lu Wuyou could say any nonsense without shame, it wouldn’t hurt to let go of her pride a bit. Then, in a somewhat dazed manner, she softly asked, “…Can…can Your Highness really protect me?”

…After saying it, she still feel a wave of nausea.

Xiao Nanxun actually smiled.

“Your father might not hold that position much longer. What will you do then? With your looks, can you really be a chaste widow? And as for remarrying, I fear you won’t find a good family either.” Xiao Nanxun gently lifted Helan Ci’s chin, saying, If you had any sense left, you should know that there is no better choice than me. Although I can’t marry you now, in the future…” His words carried a tone of coaxing, “…there will be no shortage of riches and honor. And who knows, I might even protect your useless father and brother.”

He seemed to remember something and scoffed, “Serving with beauty? Helan Ci, you should believe that with your beauty, affection will not fade.”

Helan Ci shrank away like she was afraid, her voice lowered:

“Your Highness… let me think about it.”

Xiao Nanxun was quite patient, speaking slowly: “It’s alright, the road to Yizhou is long. I have a house nearby where you can rest for a while and think it over slowly.”

As soon as she returned to the carriage, Helan Ci’s expression instantly faded.

Shuangzhi asked with a hint of fear, “Are we really going?”

Helan Ci answered calmly,

“One step at a time. I’ll handle it for now and think of a way to escape tonight. For now, try not to confront them directly.” After a moment of thought, she added, “Go and tell Zizhu and the others…” She whispered several instructions.

The carriage passed through a peach grove and slowly came to a stop before house.

Helan Ci looked up at the plaque above the entrance—“Cangyuan.”

It was exactly the same as the one from her dream.

At this moment, however, her state of mind was completely different.

From the outside, the residence looked rather ordinary, but the moment one stepped inside, it felt as if a dazzling golden light rushed right at them. In the dream, it had been night, so she might not have seen clearly, but who would have thought—even the walls of the courtyard pond were built with gold. A few koi swam within. The pillars were coated in golden lacquer, the window lattices carved from jade, and between the winding corridors, crystal-glass windows sparkled, reflecting the glow of the setting sun. All around, various types of pearls, jades, and golden curios were casually displayed.

Helan Ci found this style unbearable—just like the time she saw the palace of the Princess of Shao’an. All she could think about was how much silver this must have cost, and how many bushels of grain it could buy instead.

She wondered how things were now that the Qinglan River dikes burst.

Though Lu Wuyou lived with a taste for refinement, he was never extravagant. After she once brought it up, he had toned it down quite a bit. In the past, he’d throw away dirty clothes without a care, but later on, he would actually collect them and have someone wash them clean. He also became less picky about food. When going out, there probably won’t be many opportunities for him to be picky…

While Helan Ci was lost in her thoughts, she heard Xiao Nanxun’s chilling voice at her ear: “Isn’t this overwhelming wealth quite eye-catching?”

He was just one step away from asking if she was tempted.

Helan Ci froze for a moment before forcing out a response: “It’s… impressive.”

Once they stepped into the inner courtyard, Helan Ci discovered something even more terrifying.

Right at the center stood a massive golden birdcage, as tall as three grown men. It was called a birdcage not just because of its shape, but because even its base mimicked a bird’s nest—lined with layers upon layers of snow-white brocade and soft, fluffy white feathers that looked exceptionally delicate and luxurious.

The inside of the cage were cold iron shackles, while the outside was adorned with thorn-like long spikes, rugged and jagged, all gleaming in a bright yellow.

It was a prison cage like none she had ever seen.

Seeing her stare, Xiao Nanxun said, “It’s prepared for you. Do you like it?”

Helan Ci shivered.

Xiao Nanxun mistook her reaction for surprise. A cold smile flickered across his face as he said, “It took three full months to make. I had them melt and recast it several times until I was satisfied.” He seemed quite proud of his masterpiece. “When it rains, the water will trickle down from the top through the holes in the spikes and slowly pour out. It’s beautiful.”

Helan Ci just wanted to run away.

But Xiao Nanxun seemed to believe she was now like a turtle in a jar and didn’t rush. He even had lunch prepared for her.

Helan Ci looked at the array of delicacies laid out across the long table but dared not touch a single dish.

Xiao Nanxun picked up a bite with his gold-inlaid jade chopsticks and said, “Why aren’t you eating? Are you worried I…” 

Helan Ci shook her head. “No appetite.”

As she spoke, she sniffled, switched to another thigh to pinch. After a while, finally managed to squeeze out a few tears.

Xiao Nanxun didn’t believe her. He raised the chopsticks toward her lips. “Do you want me to feed you?”

Helan Ci looked at the chopsticks, which had just been in his mouth, and truly felt a bit nauseous.

In a flash, she remembered what Lu Wuyou had told her before. She steadied her heart and sorrowfully shook her head. “I don’t eat this.”

Xiao Nanxun paused. “Then what do you eat?”

Helan Ci said, “…… flower petals, dew.”

Xiao Nanxun turned to look at her, then chuckled. “Fine. I’ll have someone prepare it for you later.”

Helan Ci steadied herself again and continued sorrowfully, I… my monthly visitor has come, I have a stomachache and no appetite, I just want to rest alone for a while.”

This time, Xiao Nanxun was genuinely stunned. After a moment, he gave a cold laugh. “Fine. Rest, then.”

As soon as she entered the room, Helan Ci saw the bed was lined with seven or eight different sleeping robes—all in different styles, some long, some short, some skirts, some robes. All of them were like the gown Xiao Nanxun had gifted her—extravagantly adorned with intricate and luxurious embellishments, yet extremely tight-fitting.

The dresses Lu Wuyou had bought her were still packed away at the bottom of her chest.

She still prefers to wear her usual white dress, only occasionally wearing something brighter on special occasions.

He actually never cares much about what she wears. Even when she wore rough brown short clothes, he didn’t mind.

Thinking of this, Helan Ci casually swept the sleeping robes aside.

It was only when the evening sky was about to darken that Xiao Nanxun came to see her again.

Helan Ci dabbed tea under her eyes to mimic tear stains, then posed as though she had just woken up from sleep. Recalling her own reaction upon dreaming of Lu Wuyou that day, she tried to appear frightened. “Your Highness, I dreamt… I dreamt that his ghost came to find me! His body was on fire, saying he died a terrible death and wanted revenge. He also said that if I… if I followed Your Highness, he would come to find you.”

Xiao Nanxun’s expression shifted slightly, but soon he scoffed, “Ghost stories and nonsense.”

Helan Ci shrank back again. “My birth characters are light—I’ve always been able to see strange things others can’t, like…” She trailed off, eyes drifting toward Xiao Nanxun’s side.

Xiao Nanxun glanced sideways, then lightly clicked his tongue and said, “Even if he came, it’d be for me. What are you afraid of?”

Upon hearing those words, Helan Ci seemed to calm down a bit, but then she pressed her trembling eyes and said with a quivering voice, “If I weren’t afraid, why else would I leave the capital…”

As she spoke, Xiao Nanxun suddenly saw a flash of white pass by the window lattice behind her. The air carried a faint scorched smell, and the temperature around them seemed to rise.

Xiao Nanxun stiffened for a moment and didn’t say anything.

Helan Ci was still murmuring, “Your Highness is right—I’m just lying to myself. Before I left, I already saw his spirit in my dreams, but I didn’t want to admit it…”

“He looked like he was on fire, it was really terrifying…”

The burnt smell seems to grew stronger.

Like burnt chunks of meat.

Xiao Nanxun suddenly frowned and said, “Someone!”

But outside, there was only silence.

He jerked his head around—and saw a pale, thin man in white with long hair covering his face standing behind him. He blinked, and the next moment, the figure vanished without a trace.

Like a hallucination.

Xiao Nanxun leaned against the table, somewhat unsteady on his feet.

Helan Ci was still covering her eyes, voice low: “He even asked me who killed him, but I don’t even know how he died…”

“Helan Ci.”

Xiao Nanxun suddenly raised his voice.

Helan Ci lifted her head blankly and asked, “Your Highness, what is it?”

Xiao Nanxun’s voice turned cold and hard. “Did you see something just now?”

“See what?”

“A man in white.”

Helan Ci said, “You mean my husband?” She hesitated, “I’ve always been able to see him.”

Xiao Nanxun: “……”

The next moment, that white shadow actually appeared beside him.

Xiao Nanxun took a step back and almost fell.

Helan Ci said softly, “I thought that Your Highness couldn’t see him.”

The surroundings were empty and silent, except for the soft-voiced girl in white sitting on the couch.

At ordinary times, her voice sounded gentle and ticklish to the heart, but now it was slightly chilling.

That face not only looks like a fairy but can also resemble a demon.

He stared fixedly at Helan Ci, trying to steady himself. “It wasn’t me who killed you. Lu Wuyou, if you want revenge, you should go to Yizhou. You’re looking for death by investigating, not just the accounts but also the embankments. You, a mere fifth-rank Hanlin. The Inspector is third-rank, the Provincial Administrator is second-rank, and the Riverway Supervisor is second-rank official. Could you really investigate all that? Even if it’s true that hundreds of thousands of taels ended up in my hands, so what? You threw an egg at a rock—sought death of your own accord—don’t blame me. The one who laid hands on you had nothing to do with me. Go find those stone merchants instead. As for Helan Ci, could you have married her without me? I took care of her for you, you should be grateful to me—how dare you, a commoner, accuse someone of royal bl00d like me!”

Helan Ci listened quietly and remained very calm.

She moved her fingers again, and over there, Zizhu in white floated over once more. The smell of scorched flesh in the air grew stronger, with a faint smoky, burning scent.

Xiao Nanxun watched that white robe drift closer. He finally couldn’t sit still, half suspecting he might be dreaming. Instinctively, he wanted to leave the room, but when he glanced again at Helan Ci sitting calmly on the couch, an ominous feeling surged within him.

Always feel like she will disappear, or maybe…

In a flash, he suddenly reached out and lunged toward Helan Ci.

Helan Ci, deep in thought, saw Xiao Nanxun’s face contorted with malice as he suddenly lunged at her.

Instinct made her feel a surge of panic.

In an instant, her heart raced, and Helan Ci’s body reacted before her brain.

Without thinking, she stood, grabbed Xiao Nanxun’s arm, twisted his elbow, pressed down his wrist, and used her shoulder to forcefully flip him—taking advantage of his own momentum and using all her strength to throw him down.

Bang.

Xiao Nanxun had been completely unprepared. He didn’t even realize what had happened—or maybe he did, but found it too unbelievable. His body suddenly lifted off the ground, the world spun in front of his eyes—

A sharp pain at the back of his head.

The next moment, he fainted.

Helan Ci panted lightly, looking at Xiao Nanxun, who had hit the back of his head on the bed frame. Her arms trembled slightly, but thanks to repeated practice on Lu Wuyou and her own physical training, there was no pain from overexertion.

Snapping back to her senses, she even felt a delayed sense of satisfaction.

Heaven knows how badly she had wanted to give Xiao Nanxun a good beating.

Zizhu drifted over, flipping his long hair aside uncomfortably. “Everything outside is taken care of. No one will find out. Young Furen, let’s go.”

This scene somehow looked oddly familiar.

Helan Ci shook her head and said, “Take care of this first. Get him back onto the bed, check the back of his head for any wounds. If there’s bl00d, clean it up. Make it look like… like nothing ever happened. In the end, make him believe he just got confused from sleep, dreamed it all.”

Zizhu was a bit surprised. He thought that this was like a demonic sect’s style of doing things. Their Tingjian Manor had never stooped to such troublesome affairs. But…

She finally said, “Fine.”

Helan Ci watched as Zizhu clumsily dealt with Xiao Nanxun, and for a moment, a certain someone came to mind again.

That certain someone always handles this kind of thing very skillfully.

It had also been a while since she’d seen him burn something in the small charcoal stove.

She actually… felt a touch of nostalgia.

Helan Ci hesitated and said, “If you really don’t want to do it, let me give it a try.”

Zizhu: “……” 

T/N: 

I always feel that Xiao Nanxun is a bit stupid ┐(´～｀ˇ)┌