Not Your Typical Villianess

The Duke's residence.

Lu Yingjie and Lu Yaozhu went straight to the Duke's study when they got back to the Manor. While the women returned to their rooms, Madam Lu was worried by the events of the banquet, she sent everyone away including Lu Yiling.

Zhu Fengyin and Su Liya on the other hand returned to the main courtyard. Su Liya Instructed the servants to send over some water for Zhu Fengyin to wash her face. After washing up, Su Liya handed a towel to Zhu Fengyin to dry her face.

They waited for the other servants, Tian Tian included leaving the room before having any conversations concerning the banquet. It would put the royal family in a bind if the information was somehow made public.

Su Liya looked out the window and door to ensure that there was no one listening in Before she brought up the incident. This incident wasn't surprising since it was in the original plot. However, the author never revealed who arranged everything.

Su Liya was curious about the mastermind behind this mess. She walked back to the bed and lying halfway on her back with her feet still on the ground. "Well talk about an eventful banquet. What is up with that?"

"I don't know but I suspect that we will find out soon enough", Zhu Fengyin replied.

"Do you know something that I don't?", Su Liya asked turning her head to Zhu Fengyin.

Zhu Fengyin didn't give her a response and instead grinning, she laid down next to Su Liya.

Su Liya's eyes narrowed slightly as she rolled to her side and whispered "what are you hiding Fengyin".

To which Su Liya received no answer, She sat up and holding Zhu Fengyin's hand tight said firmly "You know who was the mastermind don't you? That's the only reason you are acting this way" she hit Zhu Fengyin on her arm and asked, "Who is it?".

Zhu Fengyin smiled and shook her head twice "uh uh uh, not so fast".

"Tell me or face the consequences" Su Liya threatened which once more got her no response from Zhu Fengyin. Su Liya nodded "so you want to be stubborn, okay see if I won't get you to reply" she began tickling Zhu Fengyin.

Zhu Fengyin rolled over laughing, when she finally couldn't take it again she cried out in between giggles. "Okay okay, Yaya hole on..I will answer that".

Su Liya laughed soft and raised her hands high reassuring Zhu Fengyin "Well let's hear it".

"Isn't it funny how out of all the princes available, this is happening to the one prince as much a strong backing as the Crown Prince and the sixth prince? When you get stuck in a situation like this, you should always ask yourself 'who is the most to benefit from this".

Su Liya eyebrows furrowed, "who would gain more from this scandal", she mumbled.

Zhu Fengyin watched her and laughed "no need to wreck your brain, it was the sixth Prince".

Su Liya looked at her in shock "wait what?"

"Yes, I am surprised you even considered the crown Prince for a moment. These types of underhanded moves aren't his style" 

After some thought, Su Liya finally nodded "you are right".

"I am always right"

Su Liya rolled her eyes "oh be humble Fengyin". Zhu Fengyin smiled and rested her head on Su Liya's Shoulder. While Su Liya understood that the sixth Prince must have gotten Zhongshan Zuo drunk. She was bothered by a few things, after thing for some time, everything finally clicked.

"But... Fengyin isn't it a little suspicious that the Fifth Prince would get drunk during a major state event like this".

"How do you mean".

"Even if the fifth Prince was an alcoholic, I don't think he would get drunk knowingly during a state banquet"

"Do you mean to imply that he was drugged"

"Yes!, Well at least not knowingly"

"How do you mean".

"While I went out to call the carriage around, I overheard two palace maids talking in hushed tones about the fifth Prince meeting with an imperial physician frequently. I didn't find that suspicious until now, I don't know if you are aware but a few drugs when mixed with alcohol can make a person high".

"It has been established that the sixth Prince drugged the fifth Prince, how does that have to do with an imperial physician paying a lot of visits to the fifth Prince palace"

"Everything Fengyin. What if the Sixth Prince never drugged him directly?. What if it was the fifth Prince that took the drugs? The fifth Prince frequents a few gambling dens in the capital, gambling dens that are popular for selling drugs. He could be a drug addict, the sixth Prince may have gotten access to his starch by bribing his supplier which is the imperial physician to twerk the dosage"

"....." Zhu Fengyin wanted to dismiss Su Liya's claims but for some reason, she just couldn't. 'Even if what you said was true, how would an imperial physician have access to drugs?".

"From the Shi family of course"

"What!!" Zhu Fengyin looked at her eyes wide.

"Fengyin the Shi family has an exclusive right of importing drugs. Imperial consort Shi is a highly favoured consort, the Shi clan and the Emperor are in league with each other. If they wanted to do some business on the side, no one will be the wiser.

"Although Opium is an addictive drug, it is still imported into the country and since it is used as a pain reliever in special cases. The Shi could import a few and sell them to the masses for money"

"If what you said is true such a piece of news would cripple the Shi family. I r that we should investigate this before letting anyone know"

"Okay," Su Liya nodded. Meanwhile, in her mind, she rejoiced for successfully drawing Zhu Fengyin's attention to the Shi family's bright job. Su Liya had done this to prevent the Shi family from using this against Lu Yaozhu.

In the book, the Shi family drugged Lu Yaozhu with opium after he got injured on the battlefield and got him addicted to the drug. The military doctor had convinced Lu Yaozhu that he was only giving him one because of the pain.

When Lu Yaozhu became addicted to opium, the Shi family reported it to the court. As punishment, the Emperor took away the Lu family's military tally, which marked the fall of the Lu family. Su Liya was drawing Zhu Fengyin's attention to this to prevent that from happening in the future.