Emperor Chunde frowned, thinking the Empress was making a mountain out of a molehill. The Crown Prince going missing within the palace was too absurd—probably just a mischievous boy hiding somewhere for peace.
But considering Tang Shi had just taken the blame for him days ago and now appeared haggard and melancholy with worry for her son, he felt some sympathy.
So he waved over the imperial guards and ordered them to search all the palaces to find where the Crown Prince had gone.
Song Ao felt relieved upon hearing this.
The Empress had already searched the imperial garden thoroughly without finding Feng Qiyuan who had jumped into the water. As for other places, like the Western Palace or Second Prince’s chambers, those were beyond the Empress’s reach.
The fake’s corpse had been packed into a chest and cleared out last night, then stripped of clothing, her face slashed, and buried in a mass grave.
Now, with the Crown Prince missing, they had an excuse to search. By borrowing His Majesty’s authority to search the palace, they would surely terrify whoever was hiding Feng Qiyuan.
If the hidden Crown Prince were discovered in the Western Palace, Madam Shang’s schemes would come to nothing!
Song Ao relaxed, and seeing His Majesty tell the Empress to return and rest, prepared to help the Empress rise.
But just as the Empress had achieved her goal, she remained firmly kneeling, still with a dazed expression. When she heard His Majesty tell her to leave, she suddenly widened her eyes in anger and shouted at Emperor Chunde: “It’s that slut Shang who’s hiding the Crown Prince, it’s her! Why doesn’t Your Majesty arrest her yet?”
Emperor Chunde frowned: “Nonsense! As the leader of the inner palace, how can you make such baseless accusations?”
This act had gone too far!
Song Ao grew anxious and used more force to pull the Empress up, supporting her as they walked out.
But Tang Shi found a sudden burst of strength, breaking free from Song Ao, and laughed loudly: “Haha, you all bully me! What crime have I committed to deserve such treatment? Fine! The person is dead! Already carried out of the palace! I’m not afraid! Search, quickly search for me!”
Song Ao was so anxious that her old eyes nearly bulged out! What was Her Majesty rambling about? How could she bring up matters of life and death?
His Majesty, hearing the impropriety, asked gravely: “What’s dead? Empress, what are you saying?”
Just as Song Ao was about to give up and forcefully pinched Tang Shi, the Empress finally gave a start and managed to come to her senses. She vigorously shook her head as if waking from a dream, suddenly becoming aware, looking around in confusion, then at His Majesty, glaring at her, muttering: “I… how did I come to His Majesty’s study?”
She didn’t know what had happened. Last night while sleeping, she had experienced chaotic dreams.
When she woke this morning, her memory was fragmented. Now, she was surprised to find herself somehow in the imperial study talking to His Majesty. Feeling disoriented, she could only hold her head and make excuses: “This concubine’s head aches terribly. I’ve spoken improperly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty…”
Emperor Chunde sighed. The Crown Prince was troublesome, causing his mother to suffer along with him.
He couldn’t be bothered to quibble over her words and merely told Tang Shi to return quickly.
Tang Shi finally mustered some energy and allowed Song Ao to support her as she crossed the threshold of the great hall and reached the steps.
But just as she was about to descend, someone behind her softly called out, “Mother Empress.” When she turned to look, a familiar face suddenly appeared before her—the girl who should have died last night was now before Tang Shi, pale-faced, with traces of crimson blood at the corners of her mouth, eyes stained with bloody tears, and disheveled hair.
As the ghost appeared, the tragic spirit muttered: “Mother Empress, what wrong have I committed for you to treat me like this? Am I not good enough?”
Song Ao was frightened speechless, her eyes wide. Tang Shi was also terrified, blinking, unable to contain herself any longer. She screamed shrilly, her body falling backward, tumbling down the steps with hairpins scattered and hair in disarray.
Emperor Chunde was also startled by the piercing scream. He rose and walked out, staring in astonishment at the Empress who had rolled down the steps and the disheveled Feng Qiyuan, angrily demanding: “What… nonsense is going on here!”
At this point, Song Ao was also frightened out of her wits, stumbling down the steps with a fearful expression, cowering together with the Empress.
Tang Shi, just recovering from the drug’s effects and still in a daze with her spirit not fully returned and her mind foggy, was so frightened by this that her courage shattered. She could only scream miserably: “I didn’t harm you! Go away quickly! Don’t come after me!”
Emperor Chunde glared at the disheveled Yan Xiaoying: “You rascal, what mischief are you causing?”
Yan Xiaoying, tears in her eyes, replied with an innocent face: “Reporting to Father Emperor, this son doesn’t know either. Last night, Mother Empress sent people with a chest, asking me to lie inside, saying I only needed to hide for a day. But the chest was too stuffy. I couldn’t bear it and secretly crawled out. Afraid Mother Empress would see and blame me, I climbed to the back garden to pick fruits. Unfortunately, I fell from a tree and was discovered by guards who brought me here…”
As she spoke, she wiped the corners of her mouth, cleaning off the bright red fruit juice from her face and lips.
The Crown Prince spoke with childlike innocence, but the youth’s words fell like a thunderbolt, stunning all who heard.
Empress Tang and Song Ao were so frightened that they lost their spirits and hadn’t regained their senses yet, unable to refute Xiaoying’s fabrications in time.
But His Majesty understood the implication and glared fiercely at Empress Tang.
She had hidden the Crown Prince, then made a fuss before him, using this as an excuse to search the various palaces, clearly harboring some intention.
There was no need to search elsewhere; they should go to the Western Palace, she so insistently wanted to search!
Just then, Song Ao finally recovered her senses.
This… this Yan Xiaoying didn’t seem to be a spirit. So she… hadn’t died? But if she hadn’t died, who was in the chest carried out of the palace last night?
She had opened the chest to verify last night and indeed saw a girl dressed in the Crown Prince’s attire! The darkness was too deep, and the corpse’s face was covered in blood, its deathly appearance ghastly and unrecognizable. Under the candlelight, with an eerie air about it, she hadn’t seen clearly…
But even if this fake Crown Prince were alive, so what? Would she tell His Majesty that the Empress wanted to harm her son?
Song Ao barely managed to compose herself, softly consoling the Empress to calm down as well, urging her not to lose control again.
But at that moment, a palace servant came to report that near the wall of the Western Palace, in the direction of the Crown Prince’s Study Hall, there were signs of freshly turned earth. A wooden box had been dug up.
Inside were voodoo dolls with the Crown Prince’s birth date attached, pierced with numerous needles!
At these words, Emperor Chunde angrily slammed his teacup down hard.
He had thought such crude tactics from the court and harem wouldn’t appear in his inner palace, but he never imagined something so clumsy and foolish would emerge!
Emperor Chunde suddenly recalled how Consort Shang had offended Tang Shi at the banquet to protect his face.
And now the Empress was making a fuss about the Crown Prince’s disappearance, demanding a search of the palace, and lo and behold, this filthy object was just so conveniently discovered outside the Western Palace!
Did she take him for a fool who would be easily manipulated into directing his anger at Consort Shang in the Western Palace?
What was going on in Tang Shi’s mind? As the mother of the palace, she dragged the heir apparent down with her, engaging in this stupid plot to frame Consort Shang in the Western Palace!
Thinking of this, Emperor Chunde looked at Tang Shi with disgust and snorted coldly.
Just then, Tang Shi finally shook off the drug’s effects, gradually regaining some rationality, looking at Yan Xiaoying, who had been casually fabricating with shock and anger.
How… how had she died and come back to life? And what did those voodoo dolls buried outside the Western Palace have to do with her?
In her urgency, she fell to the ground, crawling toward Emperor Chunde, wanting to explain: “Your Majesty, this concubine… this concubine never asked the Crown Prince to hide in a chest…”
But before she could finish, Emperor Chunde could no longer contain himself and raised his hand, delivering a slap to Tang Shi’s face.
A foolish woman beyond remedy! Everyone in the palace knew that the gentle-natured Crown Prince obeyed his mother in everything.
If she harbored vicious intentions to frame the palace concubines, it would be one thing if she employed tactics herself!
But now, she had dragged a prince down with her—no wonder Feng Qiyuan had been raised so improperly!
Tang Shi lacked virtue! First, she mistreated the son of a deceased wife without repentance, and now she was instigating her son to engage in such base conspiracies!
If she continued as Empress, the inner palace would never know peace!
Thinking of this, Emperor Chunde didn’t want the family disgrace to continue spreading and coldly ordered Li Quan: “The Empress has been exhausted these days, unsettled in spirit, and is suffering from hysteria. Send her back to her chambers immediately and seal the palace doors. Without my decree, she is not to leave or receive any visitors!”
With this imperial decree, everyone’s expressions varied. The mother and son from the Western Palace, who had arrived late to plead their case, exchanged glances, secretly revealing looks of joy.
This was truly a windfall from heaven—what had happened to Empress Tang? Had being confined in the Buddhist hall for too long addled her brain?
She made such a foolish move that completely backfired on her!
Song Ao was also beyond explanation, weeping bitterly and asking His Majesty to investigate clearly, saying the Empress was truly being wronged.
But when the Emperor coldly asked who had wronged her, Song Ao was speechless again.
After all, if she implicated Yan Xiaoying, it would lead to another outrageously bold secret of the Empress. If that were exposed, it wouldn’t be as simple as confinement.
So she hesitated, unable to speak, and was dragged away by the guards.
Throughout, the Crown Prince maintained a face of innocent confusion and fear, stained with fruit juice, looking helplessly at his Mother Empress and Father Emperor.
When Tang Shi staggered to her feet, the filial Feng Qiyuan hurried over to support her.
Tang Shi, perhaps truly gone mad, delivered a harsh slap to the Crown Prince’s face, then hysterically cried out that he was an impostor, not her son Feng Qiyuan…
Hearing this, the Crown Prince seemed on the verge of tears, chokingly falling forward to embrace Tang Shi, enduring her blows without letting go.
The frail youth wept profusely, calling out to his Mother Empress, begging her to forgive him, saying he would immediately return to the chest and not emerge for days.
Li Quan couldn’t bear to watch and quickly supported the Crown Prince, preventing him from approaching to receive more blows.
All this drama caused Emperor Chunde to begin rubbing his temples.
Just then, Mu Hanjiang arrived with the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards.
He had received news of the Crown Prince’s disappearance and brought people to assist in the search, only to find the drama already concluded upon his arrival.
After greeting His Majesty, Mu Hanjiang discreetly observed the pitiful, helpless Crown Prince, unable to discern what kind of scheme this cunning heir apparent had set up.
However, he did speak up for the Crown Prince, saying the Crown Prince was pure of heart and, as a son, couldn’t interfere with his mother’s actions. He likely had no connection to the framing of the Western Palace, and requested His Majesty to investigate clearly and dispense justice evenly.
The words of the Mu family’s young master carried some weight. Moreover, the Crown Prince’s simple nature was clear to Emperor Chunde, who knew he wouldn’t be involved in voodoo matters in the palace.
Emperor Chunde had cried at graves by night and judged cases by day—he was tired. Looking at Feng Qiyuan silently shedding tears, he merely waved his hand, telling him not to overthink. As long as he hadn’t participated in the Empress’s sordid affairs, it didn’t concern him.
When Yan Xiaoying left His Majesty’s study, Mu Hanjiang followed her out.
After descending the steps of the great hall, Yan Xiaoying turned to thank Young Master Mu.
Mu Hanjiang lowered his gaze to look at the youth before him with tear stains, disheveled hair, and a fair face stained with fruit juice and teardrops—appearing so frail he seemed unable to withstand wind or rain.
If the Third Prince were here, he would probably make his Fourth Brother look in a mirror again…
Mu Hanjiang appropriately lowered his eyes, taking out a clean handkerchief to offer to the Crown Prince for wiping his face, then asked casually: “This subject thought Your Highness was missing, so I inquired at both the Crown Prince’s palace and Fengming Palace. When counting people, I discovered a palace maid from the Empress’s chambers had disappeared after going to the Eastern Palace. Does Your Highness know her whereabouts?”
Yan Xiaoying sighed despondently, looking up at the floating clouds in the sky, not answering the question asked: “Too many people disappear without reason in this palace. Does Master Mu want to inquire about each one? Since this isn’t someone from the Eastern Palace, how would I know where Mother Empress’s palace maid has gone?”
Mu Hanjiang said mildly, “It’s not that this subject wishes to interfere with Eastern Palace personnel matters, but I can’t understand why, when Your Highness’s recent prospects were good, the Empress would burn her bridges with such a commotion?”
Xiaoying pressed the handkerchief to the corner of her eye, turning to Mu Hanjiang: “Your question troubles me as well. Mother Empress rarely discusses her affairs with me. Even many of the Eastern Palace staff are arranged by Mother Empress—their coming and going are not under my control. If I had known Mother Empress’s plans, wouldn’t I have stopped her? Such a foolish move, even I… couldn’t bear to watch! Would Master Mu like to investigate whether someone has cast a spell on my Mother Empress?”
At this moment, the youth’s reddened eyes had not faded, and coupled with the disheveled hair at his temples, he resembled a fragile, exquisite porcelain—if pressed too hard, it would shatter beyond repair…
Mu Hanjiang discreetly averted his gaze. He instinctively felt today’s drama was suspicious, and that Crown Prince Feng Qiyuan likely knew the hidden truth.
But even if the Crown Prince wanted to protect himself, there was no reason to harm his mother in this way, leaving him no escape route.
Looking at it this way, it could probably only be explained as jealousy and infighting among the women of the inner palace.
Just then, the Crown Prince suddenly spoke: “The inner palace is a cesspool of corruption, and I feel suffocated. Moreover, I’m too ashamed to face Second Brother and Consort Shang… I hear Master Mu has an elegant villa outside the city. Might I borrow it for a few days to escape for some peace?”
That villa was indeed outside the city. If Mu Hanjiang agreed, she would have an opportunity to leave the city.
Xiaoying decided to seek fortune amidst danger by directly proposing to the head of the Shadow Guards that she wanted to stay outside the city.
Because she was certain that while the city gates could stop anyone, they couldn’t stop the carriages of the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards’ leader.
Mu Hanjiang hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to suggest staying at the Mu family villa and frowned hesitantly.
His relationship with the Crown Prince had been hostile for a long time. Although they had temporarily cooperated on the Jiangsu and Zhejiang accounting matter, achieving some slight improvement, they weren’t close enough for him to invite the Crown Prince to stay at his villa.
The Crown Prince’s request clearly showed a lack of propriety.
Seeing Mu Hanjiang’s expressionless face, suggesting reluctance, Yan Xiaoying half-lowered her head, sounding somewhat dejected: “In the past, even if you had invited me, I wouldn’t have dared accept. Now that Mother Empress is confined, no one controls what I do anymore. Since that’s the case, going to the villa doesn’t matter much. If it’s inconvenient for you, I might as well be unrestrained for once and go to the brothels in the capital to pass the time. You needn’t bother pretending to limp anymore or fabricating various accusations—just submit a memorial saying I’m immoral and dissolute, and you’ll have what you want.”
This outrageous talk nearly made Mu Hanjiang’s eyebrows stand on end!
“Your Highness, please show some restraint!”
If the Crown Prince were to visit prostitutes, would it be because he, Mu Hanjiang, had coerced him? Just because he was being stingy and unwilling to accommodate the Crown Prince at his family villa?
Throughout his life, Mu Hanjiang had associated either with military warriors or upright, disciplined individuals in court—people who measured their words with propriety.
Moreover, being naturally aloof, those who interacted with him all spoke with restraint.
Mu Hanjiang had truly never encountered such a brat who, despite his innocent face, was so unreasonable and difficult.
Yet this troublemaker bore the title of heir apparent and couldn’t be dragged to the torture chamber to correct his behavior!
Amid his considerable headache, he thought that even if one wanted to depose the Crown Prince, there was no need to be so sordid, causing a citywide scandal and giving His Majesty a reputation for poor parenting.
So, amid the Crown Prince’s sighs and lamentations, the refined gentleman, worn down by his persistence, finally nodded in agreement: “If Your Highness wishes to change your mood, then this subject will clean the courtyard and respectfully welcome…”
“Didn’t the Crown Prince say he admired General Ye’s reputation and wanted to visit his military camp the day after tomorrow to learn about horsemanship and archery? That military camp and the Mu family villa are in opposite directions—not very convenient, is it?”
At this moment, a cold, deep voice interrupted Mu Hanjiang’s words.
Xiaoying raised an eyebrow and looked back to see the Grand Prince in a dark robe with a golden crown and jade belt, his features cold, standing behind the two of them—she didn’t know when he had arrived.
When had she arranged with Feng Yuan to visit the military camp together?
Just as Xiaoying was about to object, she suddenly remembered that when she had visited the Grand Prince with the lamb leg, she had indeed asked if he could take her to the military camp, seeking an excuse to leave the city.
But Feng Yuan, not on good terms with his uncle, had completely ignored her suggestion.
Now that she had finally coaxed Mu Hanjiang into agreeing, this madman came to disrupt!
In her anger, she could only turn her back on Mu Hanjiang and desperately wink at Feng Yuan.
Feng Yuan, however, pretended not to see, calmly stepping forward, bowing to Yan Xiaoying: “General Ye heard that Your Highness wished to visit the military camp. He has already informed the troops to clean the training grounds, wash the saddles, and adjust the bowstrings, awaiting Your Highness’s arrival to boost their morale!”
Hearing this, Mu Hanjiang’s eyes flickered slightly, his gaze moving between the Crown Prince and the Grand Prince.
He wasn’t surprised that the Crown Prince wanted to practice archery at the military camp, as the autumn hunt was approaching, and all eligible youths in the capital were practicing with targets.
The palace archery range was occupied by princes and their retinues, indeed making it difficult to practice properly.
However… when had the Grand Prince become so close to the Crown Prince?
As if guessing Mu Hanjiang’s doubts, Feng Yuan provided a timely explanation: “General Ye has also invited other princes to join… Since I happened to see Your Highness here, I wanted to inform you first.”
This explanation seemed more reasonable.
The Grand Prince had returned from his ordeal, and General Ye, as his maternal uncle, knew nothing of Feng Yuan’s suffering all these years and likely felt guilty.
Seeing that the Grand Prince had been isolated for ten years and didn’t fit in with the people in the palace, his uncle had become somewhat anxious.
Now, with the autumn hunt approaching, General Ye inviting all the princes to the military camp for target practice was a way to give the Grand Prince an opportunity to ease tensions and build relationships with his brothers, helping him make friends more quickly.