“Then what did you mean earlier by ‘resolve’?”

This was also the true purpose of Marquis Pingyang’s visit to the Third Prince’s residence.

His expression remained unchanged, maintaining a calm yet extremely solemn demeanor. He cupped his hands and bowed, saying, “This matter is already beyond salvation! So what Your Highness must do is not only distance yourself completely from Gong Shilin, but also take decisive action… personally resolve this matter.”

Personally?

Resolve?

Natuo sat there stunned, his shocked gaze staring straight at Marquis Pingyang before him.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Rather than letting the Second Prince take advantage of this opportunity to gain power, it would be better for Your Highness to personally report this matter to the King and execute Gong Shilin.”

The moment the last word landed—

“Bang!”

Natuo slammed his palm on the tea table beside him.

The teacups on it clattered with crisp sounds.

He stood up abruptly, furious beyond measure.

“You can actually say such words.”

“I’m thinking of the bigger picture.”

“Thinking of the bigger picture, you want this Prince to personally watch Gong Shilin die? Marquis Pingyang, have you gone senile?”

“Your Highness, do you still not understand even now?” Marquis Pingyang said. “The King wants to balance the court’s power, so he needs to control Your Highness. He’s taking advantage of Gong Shilin’s situation to strike at Left Chancellor Gong. When that time comes, Left Chancellor Gong will definitely turn against the King. Throughout the court, everyone knows Left Chancellor Gong is your man, Your Highness. If he’s dissatisfied with the King, tracing it to the source means rebellion! Once such a charge is placed upon him, it’s a death sentence, and who will be implicated in the end? Isn’t it still you, Your Highness? Rather than that, it would be better for Your Highness to personally supervise Gong Shilin’s execution. First, it demonstrates Your Highness’s strict adherence to Huyi’s laws. Second, since Your Highness personally supervised the execution, it naturally proves your resolute attitude on this matter. Even if Left Chancellor Gong rebels in the future, it will have nothing to do with Your Highness!”

He analyzed the stakes one by one.

It wasn’t without reason.

Once Gong Shilin died, Left Chancellor Gong would definitely harbor resentment.

First, resentment toward the Li family’s actions.

Second, resentment toward the King of Huyi. After all, he had risked his life for the King of Huyi in his youth. During the civil war back then, he was the one who led troops to break through the city gates. Such great merit couldn’t even save his own son’s life—how could he swallow this grievance?

In the future, he would definitely rebel.

Even if he didn’t rebel, he would certainly cause great turmoil throughout the court and the public.

So it would be better to distance himself in advance!

Cut off this chess piece.

Sacrifice the small for the greater cause!

Natuo’s brows remained furrowed.

He was truly hesitant.

For a long time, he couldn’t make up his mind.

“For the throne, you want this Prince to personally supervise Gong Shilin’s execution… How can I do such a thing?” He slumped back into the chair again.

His eyes filled with sorrow.

Marquis Pingyang had stated his meaning clearly. The final decision on what to do still depended on Natuo’s own choice.

He said nothing more!

Until Natuo, hanging his head, waved his hand dismissively, “Leave first. This Prince wants to be alone and think quietly.”

Marquis Pingyang withdrew from the room and left through the heavy snow.

Natuo sat there, his gaze wandering, having lost its light.

Little did he know—

Just outside a window nearby, Jing Xuan had been standing there for a long time.

So she had heard the conversation inside the room clearly.

She knew Gong Shilin was in trouble. After struggling internally for a long time, she came with a death-defying determination to ask Natuo about the situation.

But unexpectedly, she heard these words!

Her ten fingers twisted tightly together, her palms sweating coldly.

Finally, she turned and left.

After returning to her courtyard, several young maids rushed over anxiously.

“Princess Consort, where did you go?”

After what happened last time, everyone was still somewhat frightened, afraid of losing the Princess Consort again. Otherwise, they would be in deep trouble.

Jing Xuan walked toward the room while saying calmly, “I didn’t go anywhere, just wandered around the Prince’s residence.”

“Next time you go anywhere, you must tell us. Otherwise…” The maid’s voice stopped abruptly.

“I know.”

She entered the room and lay down on the beauty couch beside the heating stove.

She turned on her side.

“I’m a bit tired and want to rest. You all go out.”

The maids looked at each other but still went out.

When evening came, several maids pushed open the door and saw the Princess Consort still lying on the beauty couch.

They inquired, “Princess Consort, are you feeling unwell?”

Jing Xuan responded with a sound, “Mm, my head hurts a bit.”

“This servant will fetch a physician.”

“No need.” She slowly sat up and instructed, “Help me to the bed to rest.”

“Yes.”

The maids helped her into the inner room, loosened her clothing, and assisted her onto the bed to rest.

She turned over again, her back facing everyone.

She spoke out, “Alright, all of you go out. No need to attend to me.”

The gauze curtains by the bed were lowered, blocking the carved wooden bed.

A moment later, she heard the sound of footsteps retreating outward.

Jing Xuan got up and looked through the pink gauze curtain in front of her. The maids were no longer in the room.

She quickly got up, took a black cloak and draped it over herself, put on a hat, then stuffed pillows into the bedding to make it look like someone was lying in the bed when viewed from outside.

After preparing everything, she climbed out through the window in the inner room.

When she was in the Great Lin Imperial Palace before, she had done this sort of thing more than once. Climbing through a window was naturally no problem, though recently her health hadn’t been good, so it was somewhat strenuous.

She avoided the guards patrolling the residence and quietly made her way to the back gate. Taking advantage of when no one was around, she opened the door and left.

The maids attending to her remained completely unaware.

During this time, several maids had looked into the room. Through the gauze curtain, they could vaguely see someone lying on the bed.

Naturally, they felt reassured.

“The Princess Consort is sleeping inside, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”

“Hard to say. Better to keep a close watch.”

“The room is only so big—where could she run to?”

“That’s true, but being careful is never wrong.”

“Alright, I’m tired too. Going to rest a bit. You watch carefully.”

The two maids spoke softly.

Completely unaware that the Princess Consort inside had already run away.

After leaving the Prince’s residence, Jing Xuan followed the address Jingrong had told her before and made her way to that pitch-black alley entrance.

Inside, it didn’t look at all like a place where people lived.

She hesitated for a long time but still took steps inside.

Complete darkness all the way.

Walking further in, she suddenly saw a sliver of light.

Someone was standing ahead holding a lantern.

But she couldn’t make out the person’s appearance.

Song Zhi had been moving some unwanted items out of the house, planning to move them outside the alley the next morning, when he unexpectedly heard the sound of soft footsteps coming from the distance.

His heart tightened.

“Who’s there?” he asked, raising his lantern.

Jing Xuan’s heart was suspended as she replied, “It’s me.”

“Me? Who’s me?”

Pfft—

This person’s brain had short-circuited!

Song Zhi asked while moving closer with his lantern.

Jing Xuan couldn’t help but take a step back, “I came to find someone.”

“Find someone? Find who?” Song Zhi kept asking endlessly.