Yukin received an early report from his subordinates, angering him to the point of crushing his cup.
If he hadn’t assigned someone to keep watch, wouldn’t Asi’s sister have fallen victim to this vile plot due to a moment of carelessness?
In that case, Asi would surely be heartbroken.
To Yukin, anyone who caused his wife sorrow deserved death.
He rose, intending to return home and inform Jiang Si when he suddenly halted his steps.
Wait, what was the Crown Prince thinking? He had previously harbored ill intentions towards Asi, so why had he suddenly shifted his focus to Asi’s sister?
This realization only fueled Yukin’s anger further.
Not only was the Crown Prince foolish and despicable, but he was also blind!
Hmm, perhaps there was no need to be angry. One less person coveting his wife was a good thing.
Yukin silently consoled himself. As he passed by the Treasure Pavilion from afar, he paused to watch an entertaining scene unfold before hurrying back to Prince Yan’s residence.
Jiang Si had just sent someone out when Achao came in to report that the Prince had returned.
Yukin strode in hurriedly, his eyes sweeping the room as he said coolly, “All of you, leave.”
Achao and the others silently withdrew.
“You’re back so soon,” Jiang Si said, somewhat surprised.
Yukin paused briefly before understanding Jiang Si’s meaning. He smiled, “So you sent someone to summon me.”
Jiang Si’s heart sank, further confirming her suspicion. “Does this mean the Crown Prince truly intended to harm my elder sister today?”
Yukin nodded.
“And after my sister left?”
Thinking of the lecherous Crown Prince and the unscrupulous proprietor of the Treasure Pavilion, Jiang Si gnashed her teeth in anger. She slammed her hand on the table and said, “Akin, give me some men. I’m going to demolish the Treasure Pavilion!”
Yukin pulled Jiang Si close, smiling. “Why is your temper even quicker than mine?”
Jiang Si replied seriously, “It’s not about having a quick temper. Some offenses can’t and shouldn’t be tolerated. The only satisfying response is immediate action.”
As for whether her leading people to destroy the Treasure Pavilion would implicate Jiang Yi, there was no need to worry. Jiang Yi had successfully left that place of trouble, and wouldn’t be involved afterward.
No matter how foolish the Crown Prince was, he wouldn’t admit to lusting after his brother’s sister-in-law, and the Treasure Pavilion wouldn’t dare to confess either.
In Jiang Si’s view, destroying the place was justified. Even using the reason of “it displeased me” would be enough. Let’s see if the Treasure Pavilion dares to make a sound.
What about ruining the reputation of Prince Yan’s wife? That was even less reason to hesitate. Reputation was far less important than the satisfaction of demolishing the Treasure Pavilion.
Jiang Si was a woman who could clearly distinguish between what was important and what wasn’t.
Yukin stroked Jiang Si’s hair, his eyes full of adoration. “Asi, I’m afraid you won’t need to lead anyone to destroy the Treasure Pavilion.”
“Why not?”
“There’s been a death at the Treasure Pavilion.”
Jiang Si raised an eyebrow.
She had only heard about her elder sister’s harrowing escape but wasn’t clear on the subsequent developments.
“After my men saw your elder sister safely away, they stripped the Crown Prince and his eunuch naked. Prince Qi had also arranged people at the Treasure Pavilion, who immediately spread the word of this scandal. The crowd of curious onlookers all rushed into the Treasure Pavilion. Later, I saw from afar that the place was in chaos. Reportedly, someone fell down the stairs and was trampled to death…”
Jiang Si sneered, “All because of that beast of a Crown Prince!”
Behind every lost life was a family’s misfortune, and ultimately, it was all due to the Crown Prince’s lack of virtue and shame.
“Indeed. Letting such a person ascend the throne to wreak havoc everywhere would be worse than killing him outright. Asi, shall we call this doing a public service by eliminating a menace?”
Jiang Si’s tense expression relaxed slightly. “Mm, it’s certainly eliminating a public menace.”
“Guess what happened to the Crown Prince afterward?” Yukin asked, a smile playing on his lips.
Jiang Si pondered briefly before saying, “The crowd must have trapped the Crown Prince in the Treasure Pavilion. Fearing his identity would be discovered, he would have needed to leave quickly. So… did he escape through a window?”
Yukin clapped his hands. “Asi, you’ve become even more clever.”
Jiang Si smiled. “It’s not that I’m clever, it’s that the Crown Prince is stupid.”
Yukin nodded in wholehearted agreement.
Come to think of it, neither of them was exceptionally intelligent; it was mainly that the Crown Prince was extraordinarily stupid…
“And then? Did he break his leg, perhaps?”
Yukin laughed. “Jumping from the second floor wouldn’t break his leg, but he did land right in front of the officers of the Five Cities Command. He was taken away by the authorities. This way, the Crown Prince can’t cover up the scandal, and what good fate could await the Treasure Pavilion that harbored the Crown Prince and his eunuch’s debauchery?”
Jiang Si was silent for a moment before asking, “The officers arriving at that precise moment, was that Prince Qi’s doing?”
Yukin smirked. “Naturally, my dear brother lent a helping hand.”
“He’s not helping; he’s eager to remove the Crown Prince as an obstacle,” Jiang Si said, her mood worsening at the mention of Prince Qi.
In her previous life, she had died directly at the hands of Prince Qi’s wife. Perhaps because of this, she was most wary of the couple.
It wasn’t because Prince Qi’s wife was particularly formidable, but having suffered a crushing defeat once, she couldn’t help but take them seriously.
“If the Crown Prince is deposed, will Prince Qi take his place…” Jiang Si murmured.
In her previous life, when she and Akin returned to the capital from the Southern Frontier, it was during the most intense period of the princes’ struggle for the position of heir. She hadn’t seen the outcome of who would emerge victorious.
Yukin said casually, “If the Crown Prince is deposed again, with Prince Jin guarding the imperial tombs, and Prince Qin being the eldest but adopted, that leaves Prince Qi. In terms of age, reputation, and maternal family background, the fourth prince has advantages. He can ascend…”
Jiang Si’s expression darkened.
Yukin noticed and squeezed her hand. “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Si pressed her lips together before saying, “I don’t care which of the other princes ascends, but I don’t want to see Prince Qi on the throne.”
Yukin smiled slightly. “If that’s the case, we’ll just have to hinder him when the time comes.”
Jiang Si was surprised. “Akin, you’re not going to ask why?”
“No need for a reason. Your wish is enough. Besides, since when do we need a reason to dislike someone? Sometimes you just purely can’t stand someone. Asking for a reason would be putting you in a difficult position, wouldn’t it?”
Jiang Si couldn’t help but laugh.
She remembered when Prince Qi’s wife had asked her why she was so cold towards her, demanding an answer. This was exactly how she had responded.
The saying “birds of a feather flock together” truly made sense. That’s why Prince Qi and his wife were a couple, while the man she favored was Akin.
“Do you think what I said was wrong?” Yukin asked, confused by Jiang Si’s laughter.
Jiang Si stopped laughing and looked into Yukin’s eyes, her gaze full of tenderness. “No, I think it’s right.”
Yukin’s mood immediately soared.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince’s mood could no longer be described as merely terrible.
He, the heir apparent, the dignified Crown Prince, had been thrown into prison!
“Your Highness, what are we going to do?” The eunuch, who had finally regained consciousness after fainting from his face-first fall, clung to the Crown Prince, wailing.
The Crown Prince kicked the eunuch. “Get away from me, you useless thing!”
“Waa waa waa, it’s all this slave’s fault, it’s all this slave’s fault!” The eunuch began slapping himself on both cheeks.
The sound of footsteps approached, and the cell door opened. A jailer with a grim face said, “Come out. It’s time for your interrogation!”