Meanwhile, Elder Teng had made several unsuccessful attempts to see the Crown Prince and was consumed with worry.

It was said that the Crown Prince had greatly angered His Majesty this time.

His Majesty had already summoned the cabinet ministers and begun to carefully draft an imperial decree to depose the Crown Prince.

After all, since the Crown Prince had personally requested it, Emperor Chunde’s removal of the Crown Prince could be framed as consideration for his son’s health condition—a justification that would be accepted anywhere.

This made Elder Teng extremely anxious, and he had gone several times to plead with His Majesty.

Each time, His Majesty rebuffed Elder Teng, using the excuse that “rotten wood cannot be carved; he shows no initiative and doesn’t want to be Crown Prince.”

As it happened, yesterday Elder Teng had overheard his daughter-in-law chatting with young ladies from other households.

When he heard that the Grand Prince’s future princess consort looked identical to the Crown Prince, and that rumors suggesting the Crown Prince was a woman were spreading, Elder Teng became unsettled.

So on his day off today, Elder Teng personally came to the prince’s mansion to investigate.

Coincidentally, Xiaoying was just seeing Madam Chu off, and the two were laughing at the entrance when a thin old man rushed over, staring at Xiaoying’s face with distress: “Aiya, this… this is utter disgrace, a desecration of familial bonds!”

Xiaoying pretended not to recognize the old man, widening her eyes to ask: “Who might you be, sir?”

Elder Teng felt that when this young woman widened her eyes, those bright, sparkling, round eyes looked even more like the Crown Prince’s!

Elder Teng’s heart felt as if a basin of hot coals had been poured into it, ready to explode.

He couldn’t speak properly with a mere young woman, so he stood at the gate and shouted with full vigor: “Grand Prince, come out here!”

Xiaoying, seeing the veins bulging on Elder Teng’s forehead, kindly reminded him: “Respected sir, the Prince has gone out. Perhaps you’d like to come back and call on him another time?”

Elder Teng looked her up and down, scowling as he said: “You cannot marry the Grand Prince!”

“Why not?”

“Do you know that your face looks exactly like the current Crown Prince’s?”

Xiaoying smiled calmly: “Of course I know. You’re not the first to mention it. I’ve even dined at the same table with the Crown Prince and the Grand Prince. Even the Crown Prince laughed and remarked on this strange coincidence.”

Elder Teng was momentarily speechless and could only say angrily, “If the Grand Prince marries a woman who resembles the Crown Prince, he will surely face criticism. If you understand propriety, you should avoid this marriage!”

Xiaoying leaned against the stone lion by the gate, flicking the small braid by her temple as she said casually: “Sir, I understand what you’re saying, but you’re being unreasonable. The Grand Prince and the Crown Prince share a brotherly bond of mutual respect, with no ulterior motives. His love for me has nothing to do with others. But now you’ve come to the prince’s mansion shouting and obstructing a marriage approved by His Majesty. Those who don’t know the situation might think you’re trying to slander the Grand Prince and the Crown Prince!”

Elder Teng was momentarily at a loss for words, panting as he said: “A mere merchant’s daughter like you, what talents or virtues do you possess to captivate the Grand Prince? If it’s for your beauty, how could your face entice… The Grand Prince’s actions are vicious indeed, attacking one’s spirit—you’re trying to drive the Crown Prince to his death! If your engagement isn’t canceled, this old man will… will jump into the city moat!”

Well, when it came to threatening to jump into rivers, Elder Teng was an old hand. During his time in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, he had jumped into the Lianjiang River numerous times.

As he spoke, he lifted his robes and started marching with determined steps toward the city moat three streets away.

Xiaoying quickly called for people to stop him. This farce eventually ended when the Grand Prince returned home and sent people to escort Elder Teng back to his children’s care.

However, after this disturbance, rumors that the Crown Prince had requested his own removal due to humiliation by the Grand Prince spread rapidly.

Emperor Chunde had heard something of this and asked Feng Yuan: “The criticisms in the capital are growing. If you’ve changed your mind, I… could find a solution for you.”

Among his sons, the one showing the most promise now was this eldest son.

Emperor Chunde had never expected that this son, who had nearly gone mad in captivity, would handle state affairs so methodically.

A few days ago, when discussing tax matters in Jiangsu and Zhejiang with the Ministry of Treasury officials, Feng Yuan showed quick thinking and dealt with problems skillfully, demonstrating expertise in financial matters that earned high praise from the Treasury officials.

Thus, Emperor Chunde had come to place more hope in Feng Yuan.

But his intention to marry a woman of humble birth was highly inappropriate.

Of course, Emperor Chunde didn’t know that Feng Yuan’s insightful tax policies came entirely from the low-born salt merchant’s daughter from Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Having been immersed in the Treasury for so long and having made a circuit of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Xiaoying was comparable to an experienced official. Naturally, she could help Feng Yuan identify key points and give those old foxes at the Treasury a good surprise.

Upon hearing Emperor Chunde’s words, Feng Yuan repeated his stance: “In this life, I will marry no one but this woman!”

Emperor Chunde became genuinely curious—what was this woman who supposedly resembled the Crown Prince and had captivated Feng Yuan really like?

Thinking this, he said: “Tomorrow happens to be Consort Yi’s birthday celebration. Let this young woman enter the palace so I can see her for myself.”

Seeing Feng Yuan seemingly about to speak but then hesitating, Emperor Chunde raised an eyebrow and said: “What? Are you going to make up another excuse about her not being in the capital?”

Feng Yuan replied: “Your son dares not deceive Your Majesty. The person… has already arrived in the capital.”

Emperor Chunde nodded: “Even an unattractive daughter-in-law must meet her parents-in-law. Since she’s here, let her come and see me.”

Regarding the matter of entering the palace to meet the Emperor, Xiaoying was not surprised when she heard about it.

Someone had been stirring up the matter of her resemblance to the Crown Prince, making it a topic of heated discussion, waiting for just this day.

The imperial command had been given, and she could not disobey. Naturally, she had to enter the palace.

Currently in the court, with the Western Palace’s Noble Consort’s sudden death, the Second Prince had completely lost his foundation and could no longer compete for the position of heir.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince was suffering from a distracted mind, crying and begging His Majesty to remove him.

Now, the Grand Prince’s influence was rising, so various households were curious about his future princess.

As a result, Consort Yi, who had not originally planned to hold a grand birthday celebration, found herself with several times the number of guests as people sought connections and invitations.

The originally simple birthday celebration had to be moved from the small hall to the grand hall.

By count, this would be Xiaoying’s third entry into the palace, but the first time she would enter in women’s attire, with her true identity, into this high and imposing imperial residence.

Just as she reached the palace gate, Xiaoying looked up and saw Mu Yanyan dressed in magnificent ceremonial clothes, standing at the palace entrance, seemingly waiting for someone.

Xiaoying had limited interaction with this young lady and knew she didn’t like her, so she planned to just nod and smile as she passed by.

Unexpectedly, Yanyan came over and whispered, “Lady Xiaoying, the Third Prince specifically instructed me to wait for you here. You can enter the palace with me.”

It seemed the Third Prince thought this was her first time entering the palace, so he had specifically asked Yanyan to take care of the woman who had saved his life.

Xiaoying raised an eyebrow, feeling that the Third Prince didn’t seem like such a considerate person.

Hearing her comment, Mu Yanyan snorted coldly: “Of course it was the Grand Prince who asked the Third Prince to do this. You’re quite impressive, having two princes take such care of you.”

Since men couldn’t appropriately attend a palace lady’s birthday celebration, the Grand Prince had asked the Third Prince to find people to look after her.

Xiaoying smiled: “If you don’t like me, why wait at the palace gate?”

Yanyan was silent for a moment, then said softly, “Mother has already arranged my marriage. In the future, I won’t be able to respond to the Third Prince’s requests… very often…”

As she said this, Mu Yanyan suddenly began to cry. Afraid of being noticed by the palace attendants not far away, she could only cover her nose with a handkerchief as she sobbed.

These feelings of hers were something she couldn’t even share with her closest friends.

But the Third Prince had said that Lady Xiaoying knew about their relationship, so she took the opportunity to unburden her heart.

Xiaoying knew why Princess Anqing didn’t want her daughter to marry the Third Prince.

The affair between Anqing and the Emperor years ago, though long past, had become a persistent source of anguish.

If she were to become in-laws with her former lover, the Mu household would never know peace.

But a mother couldn’t tell her daughter the true reason, so she could only make excuses that Yanyan and the Third Prince weren’t suitable, that the Mu family didn’t want to get involved in the struggle for succession, thus breaking up the couple.

As for the Third Prince, although he had gone to His Majesty to argue his case, Emperor Chunde, likely considering this hidden history, absolutely refused to permit the marriage.

Now, Mu Yanyan could only use palace celebrations like this to secretly meet with the Third Prince before her wedding.

As for the Third Prince’s request to look after Xiaoying, she couldn’t bear to refuse.

So even though she didn’t particularly like Lady Xiaoying, Yanyan had readily agreed.

Xiaoying looked at Mu Yanyan’s swollen eyelids that even makeup couldn’t conceal, knowing the young woman had been distressed for days.

The Mu household was in chaos, with Mu Hanjiang already causing Princess Anqing enough trouble, leaving her little energy to comfort her daughter.

Thinking of this, Xiaoying sighed slightly for the unknowing Mu Yanyan, suddenly feeling that perhaps marrying the Third Prince might not be bad for her. At least it would allow her to avoid being implicated by her family’s troubles or being looked down upon by her husband’s family.

At the very least, the Third Bull was never one to trample on the weak and flatter the strong—he would likely treat her with genuine sincerity.

With this thought, she reached out and tugged at Mu Yanyan’s collar: “That’s enough. If you cry any more, you won’t look like the Yanyan I know. Isn’t there still time before you have to get into the wedding sedan? Grieving so early leaves you no energy to devise solutions.”

Mu Yanyan replied lifelessly: “Mother has already changed my betrothal document and engaged me to the eldest son of the Marquis of Zhongzhi. What solution could there be?”

After asking the name of this eldest son, Xiaoying said, “I’ll think of something for you. Now you must cheer up. I’ve made quite a few enemies in the capital recently and need you to help me navigate some difficult situations.”

Hearing this, Mu Yanyan was half skeptical. Though the Third Prince often boasted about how capable this woman was, whenever she asked for specifics, Feng Qiwu would suddenly fall silent, then frantically adjust his belt as if afflicted with some mental disorder.

So Mu Yanyan had stopped asking. Now this woman was saying she could help find a solution.

Even street fortune-tellers weren’t as boastful as this woman!

But it was true that Lady Xiaoying had made numerous enemies.

Last time at Princess Anqing’s birthday celebration, Lady Xiaoying had verbally sparred with the wife of Duke Jing, infuriating her. Moreover, many court officials were unfriendly toward this woman who resembled the Crown Prince, due to the Crown Prince’s tearful request to be removed.

So this palace entry would not be easy for Lady Xiaoying.

Just then, two palace maids approached, saying they had been sent by Consort Yi to escort the future Princess Ruixiang.

The two palace maids, seeing Mu Yanyan accompanying Lady Xiaoying, looked slightly surprised and quickly exchanged glances.

One of them said to Mu Yanyan: “My lady, Consort Yi wishes to meet Lady Xiaoying in her chambers first. Please proceed to the grand hall.”

This was the imperial palace, and if Consort Yi had given an order, Yanyan couldn’t refuse. So she whispered: “Then I’ll wait for you in the grand hall.”

With that, she was guided by other palace maids toward the grand hall.

Xiaoying looked up at the two palace maids and realized they were unfamiliar, not among Consort Yi’s usual attendants.

She smiled meaningfully and followed them as they urged her forward.

There wasn’t a place in the imperial palace, inside or out, that Yan Xiaoying hadn’t been. So when she saw the two palace maids leading her toward the long-abandoned Youhuang Palace, she roughly guessed these maids’ intentions.

If she truly entered Youhuang Palace and the doors were closed, who knew how many people might be lying in ambush?

So before they even left the Imperial Garden, when they reached a stone bridge, Xiaoying turned and grabbed one palace maid’s arm, throwing her with a swift movement into the cold palace lake.

The palace maid immediately began flailing in the water, crying desperately for help.

This wasn’t according to the original plan.

The other palace maid suddenly called out toward Youhuang Palace, then lunged at Xiaoying, trying to grab her arm and drag her into the abandoned palace.

Xiaoying used a single hand with force, skillfully dislocating the palace maid’s shoulder, then nimbly twisted and kicked her to the ground, asking: “Speak! Who sent you to ambush me?”

“I… I am Consort Yi’s palace maid. How dare you treat me disrespectfully?”

Just then, two burly eunuchs appeared from nowhere, their faces fierce as they rushed toward Xiaoying.

Seeing that it was getting late and she might miss the hot dishes at the banquet, Xiaoying simply raised her foot and, with two quick, precise kicks, knocked the jaws off both eunuchs.

“Stop at once!” With these clear words, an elegantly dressed woman shouted at Xiaoying.

Xiaoying looked up to see that it was Consort Yi.

It turned out that when Xiaoying entered the palace, Consort Yi had used the excuse of greeting the wife of Duke Jing to personally go to the palace gate.

But halfway there, she was detained by someone who engaged her in casual conversation, causing her to miss Xiaoying.

When she met Mu Yanyan, she learned that Xiaoying had been taken away by someone.

Consort Yi immediately sensed something was wrong.

Knowing the palace was full of unsavory affairs, she feared Xiaoying might meet with misfortune if left alone, so she came searching and happened to witness Xiaoying kicking the men.

Seeing her arrival, Xiaoying withdrew her foot and asked with a smile: “May I ask who this lady is?”

Always staying in character, since this was supposedly her first time in the palace, she naturally wouldn’t recognize Consort Yi.

Consort Yi, seeing her mischievous demeanor, didn’t relax but instead asked tensely: “Who are you to behave so disrespectfully in the palace?”

As she spoke, she subtly shifted her eyes, warning Xiaoying, glancing slightly to the side.

Xiaoying used her peripheral vision and noticed a flash of imperial yellow from the bamboo grove, immediately understanding that someone was watching the commotion from the side.

So she respectfully reported her name.

Consort Yi then said, “So you’re the future Princess Ruixiang. I am Consort Yi, who invited you to the palace.”

Xiaoying feigned surprise: “If Consort Yi invited me, why would you have palace maids and eunuchs ambush me here?”

Consort Yi said, “Guards, seize these people, and pull the one from the lake as well. Interrogate them, and we’ll find out who impersonated me to deliberately harm the future princess.”

At that moment, the person in the bamboo grove finally emerged, walking slowly to Consort Yi’s side. His gaze fixed on Yan Xiaoying, his expression growing increasingly grim.

The newcomer was none other than Emperor Chunde.

He had been strolling in the Imperial Garden with nothing particular to do. When he saw Consort Yi walking hurriedly, he called to her, asking what she was doing.

As they were talking, he heard the sounds of fighting not far ahead. Upon approaching, he witnessed Xiaoying disciplining the two eunuchs, so His Majesty had Consort Yi go forward to inquire.

This young woman, though wearing makeup and appearing exceptionally vivacious, truly had facial features remarkably similar to his fourth son!

But Emperor Chunde knew this woman absolutely couldn’t be Feng Qiyuan—judging by her skillful movements alone, and those two kicks that could knock off people’s jaws, these weren’t abilities Feng Qiyuan could have developed.

How could a salt merchant’s daughter be so formidable?

Xiaoying looked him up and down with a feigned expression of ignorance, asking: “Respected sir, may I ask who you are?”

Emperor Chunde narrowed his eyes, speaking before the nearby eunuch could admonish her: “I am the palace ceremonial official. Young lady, your behavior just now does not conform to palace etiquette! Why don’t… We—I take this opportunity to teach you some etiquette.”

As he spoke, he waved his hand, signaling Consort Yi to leave, then gestured for Xiaoying to follow him as he continued walking.

Though Consort Yi was concerned for Xiaoying, she dared not disobey His Majesty. She turned to leave, intending to inform the Grand Prince, lest Xiaoying offend His Majesty and face consequences.

The palace walls were too high and imposing; the sudden death of a person or two wasn’t particularly remarkable.

Seeing Emperor Chunde setting up this charade, Xiaoying didn’t expose him. She thanked the “ceremonial official” and calmly walked beside him.

When they sat down in a pavilion, Emperor Chunde asked Xiaoying: “How did you come to know the Grand Prince?”

Regarding these matters, Xiaoying and Feng Yuan had already aligned their stories. Following their prior agreement, she said: “I met the Grand Prince when he was investigating corrupt officials and merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.”

Emperor Chunde took the tea handed to him by a eunuch, his eyes continuously fixed on this face that resembled his fourth son’s. With seeming casualness, he asked: “Oh, so the Grand Prince fell in love with you at first sight, captivated by your beauty?”

As he spoke these words, Emperor Chunde’s expression remained unchanged, but those familiar with him would know that His Majesty had already harbored murderous intent.

Previously, when he heard people saying this woman resembled the Crown Prince, Emperor Chunde hadn’t taken it to heart—after all, people sometimes have similar facial features, which isn’t particularly strange.

But to resemble someone to this extent, it was like they were cast from the same mold. No wonder the Western Palace had raised the absurd claim that the Crown Prince was female.

If Feng Yuan had been attracted to this woman because of her appearance, wouldn’t that be a scandal for the royal family? This woman… could not be allowed to live!

Xiaoying immediately recognized Emperor Chunde’s murderous intent, but she remained calm, gesturing for the eunuch to pour her a cup of tea as well, then said: “What love at first sight? Are you suggesting the Grand Prince is some dissolute young man blinded by lust, who can’t walk straight when he sees a girl?”

Emperor Chunde curled the corner of his mouth: “Oh, is that not the case?”

Xiaoying picked up her teacup and said: “The Grand Prince doesn’t seem to particularly like the Crown Prince, so when he first saw me, aside from being surprised by my appearance and considering hiring me to impersonate the Crown Prince, there was nothing else. But later…”

Emperor Chunde rarely wasted much time on women’s trivial matters. That he had already spent this much time conversing with this salt merchant’s daughter from Jiangsu was exceptional.

He didn’t want to hear more. He stood up and waved for his guards to approach.

That lake from earlier was suitable—an inexperienced palace visitor mistakenly taking a wrong turn and accidentally falling in would be a perfectly reasonable explanation.