A few months ago, the incident of Princess Runan murdering the Prince Consort Yan Bo caused quite a stir.
Later, because Yan Bo’s reputation had already been ruined, the Yan Family didn’t want to further escalate the situation and temporarily shelved the "pursuit" of Princess Runan.
Despite this, Princess Runan was still under house arrest in the Princess Mansion, having lost the Emperor’s favor as well as her freedom.
Li Shu did not follow the imperial entourage to the Palace, largely because of Princess Runan.
Actually, even if Li Mu had agreed imdiately, Tang Xiaobai wouldn’t have thought much of it.
The matter of Princess Runan seed insignificant at the mont.
But since Li Mu respected her wishes, she still gave it serious consideration.
The Eastern Palace isn’t a place for charity, and when Li Shu proposed terms, the Crown Prince didn’t budge—
"Why does Your Majesty favor the Yan Family?" Tang Xiaobai asked.
Li Shu’s expression tightened, he was silent for a mont, then shook his head: "I don’t know—"
...
"Do you think Li Shu truly doesn’t know or he just dares not say?"
Li Mu got up and moved his seat to sit facing her, saying lightly, "If it’s for the reason we’re speculating, whether he knows or not, he wouldn’t speak of it."
Tang Xiaobai laughed uncontrollably, "Which reason are we speculating about?"
At that ti, she did write to Li Mu ntioning the issue with the Yan Family, but since mail correspondence isn’t completely safe, she only ntioned her suspicion that the Yan Family held a secret of the Emperor, without specifying the secret itself.
Yet the Crown Prince replied confidently, stating they had "a mutual understanding," and their suspicions must be "nearly the sa."
So the question arises, what exactly is the reason they are speculating about?
With no one else around at the mont, Li Mu no longer held back: "The death of Emperor Hui Zhao."
Tang Xiaobai’s smile faded.
Indeed, she too suspected that the unspeakable understanding between the Yan Family and the current ruler might be related to Emperor Hui Zhao’s death.
Before his death, Emperor Hui Zhao had been bedridden for many years, and his passing was not suspicious.
But once, Li Mu had also been bedridden for years, nearly passing away.
"Zhen Su also ntioned the Yan Family’s secrets; perhaps she knows quite a bit," Tang Xiaobai said as she was about to get up. "I’ll go ask her again!"
Just as she rose, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back down.
"I don’t care about those things," he said.
The clear voice of a young man was lowered, tinged with a slight hoarseness, like the sound of strings plucked across a midnight lake, inadvertently revealing a hint of allure.
Tang Xiaobai felt a sudden bewildernt like being enchanted, lifting her face slightly, staring blankly at him.
His Adam’s apple bobbed once, and he continued, "I’ve never t my biological parents; their deaths don’t hold much weight for —"
Tang Xiaobai suddenly recalled the relics of Emperor Hui Zhao that he had shattered years ago and nodded unconsciously.
"Would you think I’m... heartless?" he asked, his tone suddenly changing, seemingly sowhat uneasy.
Tang Xiaobai shook her head, "How could I? It’s only human nature; never having t them, it’s naturally different from the feelings towards parents and children of other families. Without being swayed by emotions, you’ll handle this matter more calmly—" Saying this, Tang Xiaobai understood what he ant by those words.
She chuckled softly, squeezed his hand, and with a smile said quietly, "Then I’m relieved!"
The young master, roundabout as he was, was actually trying to comfort her!
How obedient!
Tang Xiaobai tugged at his hand again.
He leaned slightly forward, the darkness of his eyes carried a trace of confusion, appearing sowhat innocent.
That kind of innocence that could arouse the evil in people’s hearts.
Tang Xiaobai pressed her slightly dry lips together and said, "I should still go talk with Zhen Su; if she knows a lot but keeps it hidden, it clearly ans she doesn’t trust us, and we probably shouldn’t trust her either."
Li Mu nodded.
After she finished speaking, she didn’t move.
Li Mu also maintained his slight lean towards her, not moving, staring unwaveringly at her.
"Li Mu..." she called softly and quickly, whether intentionally or unintentionally, holding his hand, her little finger gently brushing over the back of his hand.
Her almond eyes like spring water, filled with tender emotions unspoken.
The young man’s eyes seeming suddenly lit with fireworks.
He swiftly leaned closer.
And captured her slightly parted lips...
...
After the snow, the skies were clear, and the eaves shimred bright with ice.
When Tang Xiaobai was stopped by the guards outside Liluo Palace, the glazed tiles on the roof had just lted a corner, and with a "thud" the snow fell, like a secret signal.
The palace gates then opened.
"Beauty requests the Crown Princess Consort to enter the palace," said the palace maid.
But the Imperial Guard said, "By order of His Majesty, no one is allowed to enter Liluo Palace!"
Before the words fell, there were several "clangs" as all the Xuan Yi Guards behind the Crown Princess Consort drew their weapons.
The Xuan Yi Guards, forr bandits with battlefield experience, revealed their fierce nature as soon as they drew their weapons, causing so of the guards of Liluo Palace to cower and retreat in fear.
Tang Xiaobai wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and walked gracefully inside, and no one dared to stop her.
The fragrant grass in Liluo Palace’s courtyard had withered during winter.
Beneath the remaining snow, decay was hard to hide.
From favored to out of favor, it hadn’t even been a year.
When Tang Xiaobai entered, Zhen Su was sitting on a swing in the courtyard.
The vines entwining the swing’s ropes were also shriveled, yet the beauty on the swing was still dressed all in white, with a face like ice and snow.
Upon seeing Tang Xiaobai, her eyes, like glazed stones, moved slightly, as though a lifeless puppet abruptly ca to life.
"You’ve co," she said softly, as if she’d been waiting for Tang Xiaobai for a long ti.
Tang Xiaobai’s eyelid twitched.
Why did these words sound so much like the prelude to a video ga NPC triggering a plot?
"I heard the Crown Prince returned to the capital without imperial permission, and the Palace has already sent ssengers to enquire."
Tang Xiaobai smiled, "Beauty Shu has quick access to information."
With so many guards outside the palace, they couldn’t stop her ears and eyes.
"I can send a letter to testify on behalf of the Crown Prince," Zhen Su raised her eyes, her gaze cold, appearing devoid of any human emotion.
Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but recall the first ti she t her, that tender and gentle beauty from Jiangnan, which had also appeared in the sa person.
"Testify about what?" Tang Xiaobai asked.
"Testify that the Crown Prince did not commit treason."
"Then why did the Crown Prince return to the capital without permission?"
Zhen Su seed a bit surprised, "Haven’t you thought of a reason?"
Confirming Zhen Su’s information, Tang Xiaobai smiled and asked, "With such a quick access to information, who told you?"
Zhen Su lowered her eyes and remained silent.
"Xue Tenth Son?"
Zhen Su’s expression slightly tightened, then she gently nodded.
"Does he know your background?"
"The first ti I t him with Seventh Son, he recognized ," Zhen Su said softly.
ntioning Xue Shaoqin, Tang Xiaobai felt a bit dazed.
"The day Seventh Son left, I t Xue Tenth Son once; he arranged for soone to send away, to avoid encountering those I shouldn’t... But we all know, Seventh Son’s revenge is a must!"
The light in her eyes suddenly steadied, her entire being instantly cald.
"To be honest, sending a letter to the Palace is both to testify for the Crown Prince and to regain favor!"
Tang Xiaobai’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Was the child... not wanted by you?"
Zhen Su lowered her eyes and nodded.
"The Emperor also guessed, didn’t he? Otherwise, why would Zhen Su suddenly fall out of favor?"
"I know how to bring things to an end," Zhen Su said blandly.
Tang Xiaobai looked at her for a mont and said, "The Crown Prince doesn’t need a concubine from a cold palace to testify; you just write your letter to regain favor."
Even if Zhen Su wrote a letter to testify for the Crown Prince, in the Emperor’s eyes, it would be seen as coerced by the Crown Prince.
Zhen Su stepped down from the swing, just about to head inside when Tang Xiaobai called out to her again.
"Can you speak of the Yan Family’s secrets now?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)