The morning light enters the hall, casting a gentle halo on the young man kneeling inside,
His cyan-green official robe, like green leaves, highlighting a face as beautiful as a peony.
The face is full of a well-behaved expression, with neither grievance nor anger, as if accepting things as they are.
Quite scheming, thought Tang Xiaobai.
Being scheming is one thing, but it also evokes pity.
Tang Xiaobai sighed inwardly and said, "This case has been unsolved for many years with no conclusive evidence, at most it can bring Yan Bo down, but it’s hard to convict him."
Speaking of Yan Bo’s case of abuse and murder.
Princess Ji and Zhen Su have dirt on Yan Bo being a homosexual, but what they don’t know is that Yan Bo not only has a penchant for n but also so perverse hobbies, even committing murder.
And Yu Jun is a witness to that murder case.
Back then, when Yu Jun was wandering outside, he was taken in by a young man nad Yue Sheng.
Yue Sheng was the victim who was forcefully taken, privately detained, violated, and abused to death by Yan Bo.
To evade Yan Bo’s search, Yu Jun hid in the human market and was eventually sold to the Duke Yan Mansion.
Yue Sheng had no family or support in the Capital City, and he died unnoticed.
Yu Jun kept quiet about the matter for several years until the Eastern Palace planned to deal with the Yan Family, then he spoke up.
Upon hearing Tang Xiaobai say it’s difficult to convict, he wasn’t disappointed, smiling harmfully yet harmlessly: "As long as he’s brought down, whether he’s convicted is unimportant."
Tang Xiaobai imdiately felt goosebumps on his arms: "You—" He wanted to advise but didn’t know what to say, "Too skinny, eat more."
Yu Jun smiled like a flower: "Ah Wu thanks the Crown Princess Consort for her concern!"
Tang Xiaobai smiled helplessly and was about to let Yu Jun leave when a long-awaited ssage was delivered—
"Princess Runan has entered the palace!"
...
After Consort Zheng took charge of the six palaces on behalf of the Empress, Princess Runan, as the Consort’s only daughter, was highly favored.
For instance,
Princess Runan once had a feud with the Duke Yan Mansion, so despite being a princess, Miss Tang never showed her respect.
But once when they t by chance on the road, although Miss Tang still didn’t show friendliness, she consciously gave way.
This incident had a significant impact.
Tang Xiaobai even went to the Duke Yan Mansion specifically for this.
Yet Tang Jiaojiao ntioned the matter with an air of domineering pride: "Not everyone is destined to be soone whom Tang Jiaojiao will yield to!"
No matter what, even fearless Miss Tang yielded, leading the prestigious won in the Capital City to view Princess Runan with awe.
Once the arrogance reached a peak, it was the right ti to expose Yan Bo, the Prince Consort.
Princess Runan originally disliked the Prince Consort, who turned out to be homosexual as well.
Not only homosexual but also involved in a jealous fight in a brothel, ending up with a broken leg.
This was intolerable even for ordinary won, let alone the most distinguished Princess Runan.
Thus, the day after the incident, Princess Runan entered the palace.
The demand was clear: divorce!
And the Emperor’s stance was equally clear: impossible!
The storm surrounding Yan Bo lasted only a day before it was suppressed, let alone the inadequately evidenced Yue Sheng case.
Even Princess Runan, who went to the palace to complain, was reprimanded and forcibly sent back to be a wife in na only.
Even though Tang Xiaobai disliked Princess Runan, hearing this news made him furious.
"Why does Your Majesty favor the Yan Family so much?" Tang Xiaobai asked.
They were still eting at Hua Jian’s place in Yongchang Village, and Zhen Su had smoothly left the palace.
Upon hearing this question, Zhen Su seed unsurprised: "There is a reason for it."
"What reason?" Tang Xiaobai pressed further.
Zhen Su hesitated: "The Yan Family holds a secret of the current ti."
Probably not wanting Tang Xiaobai to inquire further, Zhen Su imdiately changed the topic: "The matter of Yan Third Son cannot be suppressed like this, we must start with Princess Runan!"
Tang Xiaobai gave her a deep look: "I understand."
It’s ti to act as the malicious supporting character again!
...
As the sun shifted, people gradually dispersed in the West Market.
At this ti, however, a carriage moved in reverse and entered.
The wheels rolled, making a dull, muffled sound.
Soone recognized the carriage and quickly moved a little further away, watching with a mixed look of fear and schadenfreude.
The carriage finally stopped in front of Wenren Bookstore.
Once a renowned bookstore in the Capital City, it declined after the departure of its owner, Wenren Jia, of peerless elegance.
Initially taken over by Pei Xuan, he rely treated it as his private study, not managing it well;
And after Pei Xuan left, no one knew who took over the bookstore.
Even Princess Runan didn’t know.
She sat in the carriage, looking through the veil at the bookstore, familiar yet unfamiliar.
After Pei Xuan left, she tried to buy the bookstore but failed.
She guessed, maybe soone else from the Pei Family took over the bookstore.
Today, it’s still called Wenren Bookstore, still opening and closing daily, but the man as gentle as the breeze and bright as the moon would never walk out again.
He was soone she held in her heart for eight full years, yet ultimately missed.
Thinking of the imperial marriage three years ago, Princess Runan clenched her hands, her hatred surging.
If not for Tang Ziqian! If not for the Tang Family!
How could she have ended up like this?!
Princess Runan’s grip tightened, so much that her whole body trembled.
At that mont, several people walked out leisurely from Wenren Bookstore.
Princess Runan’s eyes suddenly lit up, like a flaring fire.
At the bookstore entrance, the scene was as colorful as clouds.
A young girl, with her waist adorned, her figure graceful and slender, stood tall and elegant.
Without extravagant clothes or jewelry, just her smile adorned her exquisite brows and captivating presence.
As she walked out, she turned to talk with the storekeeper, smiling.
Her gaze casually glanced, spotting Princess Runan’s carriage.
She stopped, her brilliant eyes assessing the carriage, then said with a smile: "Your visit, Princess, is a great honor!" Her tone was not friendly.
How could the Crown Princess Consort, born of the Duke Yan Mansion, befriend Princess Runan?
Princess Runan abruptly lifted the carriage curtain, her eyes already glaring red: "Why are you here?" The bookstore keeper’s attentiveness towards Tang Xiaobai suddenly stung her eyes.
The Crown Princess Consort Tang smiled charmingly: "Why can’t I be here? Wenren handed the bookstore over to ."
"Impossible!"
"Why not?" Tang Xiaobai seed to smile, "Before Wenren left the Capital, he entrusted the bookstore to , but as Pei Jiu needed it, I temporarily lent it to him; in fact, the bookstore has always been mine."
This wasn’t the truth; in reality, after Pei Xuan left, the bookstore was handed to Tang Xiaobai.
But even if she lied, who could expose her?
Seeing Princess Runan’s jealousy grow, Tang Xiaobai approached a few steps closer, speaking softly: "Why is the Princess visiting my bookstore? Didn’t His Majesty ask the Princess to accompany the Prince Consort properly?"
Thinking of Yan Bo, Princess Runan’s face twisted for a mont.
Tang Xiaobai’s eyes showed a hint of pity: "Back then, Princess Pingyang...one would think it was because she had no mother and brothers to protect her, that she beca abandoned, now...no different..."
Her voice grew softer, yet in Princess Runan’s ears, it beca ever clearer.
Everyone knew that Princess Pingyang was once the Emperor’s favorite daughter, even the daughter of the Consort, Princess Runan, couldn’t compare.
When Princess Pingyang was abandoned, Princess Runan had both glee and fear.
At that ti, her mother comforted her, saying Pingyang’s mother died early and she had no brothers to rely on, unlike her.
But that day, when she was ordered out of the palace, didn’t it seem the sa as Pingyang?
Her mother, her brothers, they neither stood up for her nor were she able to lean on them.
And what of her Pri Minister uncle, who wielded power over the court?
"A princess like you, in so people’s eyes, isn’t more important than a limping Yan Third Son," Tang Xiaobai sighed lightly, "What a pity..."
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