With the testimony from Qing’er and the palace maid, the motive behind Cuihong’s assassination of the Crown Princess was crystal clear.

The Crown Princess had instructed Cuihong to monitor Jade Attendant, promising Cuihong she would become the Crown Prince’s concubine.

But after Cuihong exposed Jade Attendant, she was sent to an even worse place to continue serving Jade Attendant.

Cuihong harbored resentment toward the Crown Princess for not honoring her promise, and in her bitterness committed the shocking act of attempting to assassinate the Crown Princess.

Wei Qiang’s face was so dark it could drip ink.

On one hand, he was angry at Cuihong’s audacity; on the other, he was angry at the Crown Princess’s narrow-mindedness.

For several years, the Crown Princess had never troubled Yu Niang, so he had thought the Crown Princess was magnanimous. Who would have thought she could be so intolerant?

Though his treatment of Yu Niang differed from others, he had still given the Crown Princess the respect she was due. How could a woman with such lack of forbearance manage the Eastern Palace and be a proper consort to the heir apparent?

He was only the Crown Prince now—if he later ascended to that position, as Empress would she only be satisfied after killing off every palace concubine one by one?

The more Wei Qiang thought about it, the angrier he became at the Crown Princess. His gaze swept over Chaohua kneeling silently, and the anger generated by the contraceptive medicine dissipated by a couple degrees.

Yu Niang was someone Luo’er had left behind. Even if what she had done had wounded his heart, if he didn’t protect her at all, she would probably be devoured without even bones remaining.

“You may rise first.”

Chaohua stood up, kept her eyes lowered, and retreated to the side.

At this moment, an inner attendant hurried in.

“Your Highness, Cuihong has been found!”

“Where is she?”

“In… an abandoned well…”

The sound of suppressed gasps arose.

Wei Qiang was silent for a moment before asking: “How was she discovered? Has the body been retrieved?”

The inner attendant replied: “We servants divided into several teams to search. When passing by an abandoned well in a remote area, we found a handkerchief dropped on the ground. We looked into the well and vaguely saw something floating… The body has been retrieved and identified as Cuihong.”

Noble Consort Xiao spoke: “It seems Cuihong acted impulsively and injured the Crown Princess, then threw herself into the well out of fear of punishment. Since the matter is now clear, this consort will take her leave first.”

“Your Grace Noble Consort—” Wei Qiang called out, somewhat helpless at Noble Consort Xiao’s immediate departure.

With such an incident occurring in the Eastern Palace, His Majesty the Emperor would likely be displeased.

Noble Consort Xiao smiled faintly: “This consort will only report the truth we’ve uncovered to His Majesty. As for the matter of the Crown Princess, Your Highness should go speak to His Majesty personally.”

“May Your Grace Noble Consort go slowly.” Wei Qiang saw Noble Consort Xiao off, his expression gloomy.

The Crown Princess was chosen by His Majesty the Emperor. No matter what wrong she had committed, he had no authority to punish her—everything depended on His Majesty’s will.

Wei Qiang pressed his brow, lifted his foot to walk out two steps, then stopped and stared at Chaohua with displeasure: “Why are you still standing here?”

Chaohua’s eyelashes trembled as she walked step by step toward Wei Qiang.

When she drew near, Wei Qiang said coldly: “Let’s go.”

“Yes.” Chaohua responded, then stumbled forward.

“Attendant, be careful!” Qing’er, who was following behind Chaohua, was quick-eyed and quick-handed in supporting her.

Wei Qiang’s hand, which had reflexively reached out, hung suspended in mid-air, rather awkwardly.

Soon the awkwardness was replaced by puzzlement.

“Where is your bracelet?” Wei Qiang’s gaze fell on the arm that Qing’er was supporting.

The wrist was bare.

Chaohua lowered her eyes without speaking.

“Answer me—where is your bracelet?”

Chaohua still didn’t make a sound.

Qing’er knelt down: “Your Highness, the Attendant’s bracelet was taken away by the Crown Princess this morning!”

Hearing this, Wei Qiang’s brows furrowed tightly as he said sternly: “What exactly happened this morning? Tell me in detail!”

Qing’er boldly recounted the sequence of events.

Wei Qiang’s expression shifted between dark and light as he listened, then asked Matron Gui: “Where is the bracelet the Crown Princess took?”

Matron Gui was still kneeling on the ground, trembling as she said: “The Crown Princess ordered this servant to put it away.”

In reality, the Crown Princess had casually tossed it to her and told her to put it away so it wouldn’t offend her eyes.

The Crown Princess’s concern had never been about a gold bracelet.

“Return the bracelet to Jade Attendant.” Wei Qiang said coldly.

At this point, how would Matron Gui dare to resist? She hurried to fetch the bracelet.

“Attendant, your bracelet.” Shortly after, Matron Gui presented the bracelet to Chaohua.

Chaohua reached out to receive it and put the bracelet back on her wrist.

Her wrist was slender and fair, the bracelet brilliant and magnificent—they complemented each other perfectly.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” She bent her knees slightly toward Wei Qiang.

Wei Qiang gave a cold hum of acknowledgment and lifted his foot to walk out.

Chaohua gently stroked the bracelet and silently followed.

Wei Qiang went directly to the Qianqing Palace.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

A dignified man set down his scroll: “Invite the Crown Prince in.”

Shortly after, Wei Qiang entered, knelt, and said: “Your son begs forgiveness from Imperial Father.”

Emperor Yong’an stared at Wei Qiang for a moment, then said flatly: “Rise and speak.”

Wei Qiang stood up.

“Qiang’er, for what do you beg forgiveness?”

Wei Qiang looked utterly ashamed as he spoke of the Crown Princess’s matter: “For such an incident to occur in the Eastern Palace—it’s all because your son failed to properly supervise. To have alarmed Imperial Father over this, your son is truly ashamed…”

Emperor Yong’an made no comment on the Crown Princess’s actions, only asking: “How serious is the Crown Princess’s facial injury?”

Wei Qiang paused briefly before saying: “The imperial physician said the wound is too deep and the skin damaged—it will likely leave a scar.”

Emperor Yong’an was silent for a long while before saying flatly: “I understand. You may withdraw.”

Wei Qiang’s heart jumped—he couldn’t determine Emperor Yong’an’s intention.

The Crown Princess’s schemes against a concubine leading to an assassination attempt could be viewed as lacking in virtue and magnanimity when seen in the worst light.

Viewed charitably, it wasn’t really much at all.

His Majesty the Emperor had asked about the Crown Princess’s facial injury—could it be he was waiting to see whether the Crown Princess would be disfigured before deciding her fate?

Wei Qiang left the Qianqing Palace with these thoughts, his mood complicated.

The next several days were not peaceful in the Eastern Palace.

After the Crown Princess awoke and learned that the matter of her instructing Cuihong had already been discovered by the Crown Prince, combined with the burning pain in her cheek reminding her of the possibility of disfigurement, she remained on the edge of collapse.

Batch after batch of broken porcelain was swept out from her chambers.

In contrast, that remote small courtyard was much calmer.

“Attendant, why does the Crown Prince still have you living here? He clearly already knows the Crown Princess instructed Cuihong to harm you.” Qing’er asked, puzzled.

Chaohua smiled: “Because I truly did commit a wrong. Having committed a wrong, naturally there must be punishment.”

Qing’er still didn’t quite understand. Looking at the stone bench in the courtyard where Cuihong had once sat, she asked uneasily: “Will we be living here forever then?”

“No.” Chaohua gave her answer calmly.

The art of disguise was not divine magic. Disguising oneself as someone who didn’t exist in this world wasn’t difficult, but to disguise oneself as a specific person required similar build and facial structure.

Take Cuihong, for instance—her build was similar to hers, and their face shapes were alike.

The reason she had disguised Qing’er as Lianfang rather than one of the other palace maids serving the Crown Princess was for the same reason.

The palace prohibitions were strict. Even the eunuchs responsible for outside purchases traveled in groups and needed special tokens to be allowed passage. Trying to sneak out of the palace through such methods was nothing but a pipe dream.

Her chance to leave the palace would still have to rest with that man.

Fortunately, she had endured for twelve years. If she lacked anything else, she had patience in abundance.

The Eastern Palace affair wasn’t particularly glorious and hadn’t spread beyond the palace.

On this day, Luo Sheng was preparing to go to the tavern when Grand Commander Luo sent someone with a message: Luo Chen had arrived.