When Yu Jin asked this question, Jiang Si couldn’t help but recall her previous life.
In her past life, the Crown Prince was deposed for the second time on charges of treason, but no one dared to discuss the specific circumstances. By the time she and Yu Jin returned from the Southern Frontier, the incident had already occurred some time ago, making it even more difficult to inquire about. They hadn’t thought to investigate either. At that time, neither she nor Yu Jin had any aspirations of becoming the masters of the cold imperial palace. Inquiring about such matters would only invite trouble, so they naturally refrained from meddling.
Had the Crown Prince experienced memory loss before his alleged treason? Jiang Si hadn’t heard anyone mention it back then. People wouldn’t openly discuss a Crown Prince who had been deposed for treason. As a result, she found herself stumped by Yu Jin’s question.
“I can’t figure it out,” Jiang Si answered honestly.
A playful glint flashed in Yu Jin’s eyes as he nudged Jiang Si. “Try to guess.”
“I really can’t guess.”
Seeing Jiang Si’s lack of cooperation, Yu Jin smiled helplessly. “What do you think?”
“I think he’s faking it.”
Jiang Si hugged a soft pillow embroidered with orchid grass patterns and looked at Yu Jin. “How so?”
Yu Jin pointed to his head. “Although I didn’t have the chance to test him today, I deliberately observed the location of the Crown Prince’s injury. I reckon it was caused by His Majesty striking him with the white jade paperweight from the imperial study…”
Jiang Si couldn’t help but laugh. “You can even guess what object was used to hit him?”
Yu Jin’s expression turned serious. “My dear, don’t underestimate me. I’m not just making wild guesses.”
Jiang Si still seemed unconvinced and said with a smile, “Yu Jin, hasn’t Master Zhen ever told you that solving cases requires evidence?”
Yu Jin’s mouth twitched. “You seem quite close to Master Zhen. Is there perhaps a Young Master Zhen as well?”
Jiang Si rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Yu Jin felt a pang of jealousy. To think that old Zhen had even proposed his son to her father-in-law. The mere thought of it made him angry. A divine being like Zhen should just focus on shining brightly, why bother taking a wife?
Seeing that Yu Jin had once again knocked over the vinegar jar (become jealous), Jiang Si felt both exasperated and amused. “Alright, enough of this nonsense. Quickly explain why you think the Crown Prince was struck by His Majesty’s white jade paperweight from the imperial study.”
Yu Jin sighed. “Ah Si, you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the imperial study, so you wouldn’t know. I’ve observed that every time His Majesty hears something displeasing, he habitually reaches for the white jade paperweight on his desk. I figured that one of these days when he’s truly angered, he might just throw that paperweight. The Crown Prince caused a scandal at the Imperial Treasure Pavilion, and then suddenly suffered a head injury. What do you think is the most likely cause?”
“Being struck by the white jade paperweight from the imperial study…” Jiang Si admitted, impressed.
Yu Jin glanced at her smugly and said, “So you see, solving cases not only requires direct evidence but also deduction. Of course, deductions can’t be baseless; they require the investigator to be meticulous, perceptive, and brilliant…”
Jiang Si, unable to bear his endless self-praise, interrupted him. “Alright, I get it. I’m well aware of all your strengths. Now, please explain why you think the Crown Prince is faking it.”
Yu Jin sneered, “How could it be such a coincidence that a blow to the head would cause memory loss?”
“Perhaps it is that coincidental? There are many folk tales of people’s memories being affected by head injuries,” Jiang Si said, thinking of her own reincarnation experience.
When she first opened her eyes, she had returned to when she was fifteen years old. And at fifteen, she had merely fallen ill.
Having experienced the extraordinary event of reincarnation, Jiang Si didn’t find the Crown Prince’s memory loss particularly strange.
However, Yu Jin insisted on his view. “Ah Si, how do you think a person with memory loss would behave?”
Jiang Si thought for a moment and said, “Confused, anxious?”
Yu Jin nodded. “Exactly. At least for a short period, such emotions would be unavoidable. Whether it’s the Crown Prince or a commoner, how could anyone lose their memories without feeling confused? But today, I didn’t see any such emotions in the Crown Prince’s eyes. He seemed quite at ease, casually mentioning his memory loss.”
Jiang Si nodded in agreement. “You have a point. Losing one’s memory isn’t exactly a good thing. Even if he didn’t want to hide it, there’s no need to bring it up so readily after just a brief exchange in front of so many people. His behavior seems more like—”
They exchanged a glance.
Yu Jin continued, “It seems more like he’s afraid people won’t know about his memory loss. Self-preservation is instinctive. Losing one’s memories is quite unsettling. When others know you, but you know nothing about them, how is that different from standing naked in front of others? A normal person would be in a hurry to cover up, not remind others to look at their nakedness, right?”
Jiang Si strongly agreed.
Setting aside everything else, even with someone as close as Yu Jin, she hadn’t revealed her reincarnation.
She thought to herself if she were to lose her memory, the first thing she would do would be to carefully observe and learn more about her past relationships with others, striving not to let anyone notice anything unusual.
“The Crown Prince caused such a scandal outside the palace and was bound to face severe consequences. Now, with this memory loss, His Majesty can only let the matter drop. After all, pursuing it further would be meaningless. I think this is the Crown Prince’s purpose in feigning memory loss.” In the quiet of the night, analyzing these matters with his closest confidant, Yu Jin’s thoughts became increasingly clear.
Jiang Si sighed, “If the Crown Prince is truly faking his memory loss, I must say I’m impressed.”
The Crown Prince didn’t seem like someone capable of such cunning.
Yu Jin smiled. “Even animals can do unimaginable things when faced with mortal danger. The Crown Prince is human after all; he’s bound to have moments of quick thinking. However, we still need to find an opportunity to test him and confirm our suspicions.”
Having already made a move against the Crown Prince, it was in Yu Jin’s nature to ensure his opponent couldn’t recover.
He had no intention of allowing a supposedly amnesiac Crown Prince to sit comfortably, only to find himself powerless when the Crown Prince eventually made a move against Ah Si.
In Yu Jin’s mind, if the Crown Prince could target Ah Si’s sister now, he would undoubtedly target Ah Si in the future. This was not even a matter for consideration.
The Crown Prince must be eliminated!
Meanwhile, the very Crown Prince being discussed by the brothers was spending the night with the Crown Princess in the same chamber.
This was a rare occurrence in the Eastern Palace.
Everyone in the Eastern Palace knew that the Crown Prince was quite dissatisfied with the Crown Princess. Even on the first and fifteenth days of the month, he would often leave the Crown Princess aside and chat with young palace maids instead.
The Crown Prince has changed—thought the newly appointed personal attendants with relief.
The turnover rate of the Crown Prince’s attendants had been alarmingly high, striking fear into their hearts. If the Crown Prince could behave more sensibly, they might live longer.
But had the Crown Prince truly changed?
The Crown Princess, lying beside the Crown Prince under the autumn-colored gauze canopy, turned slightly and silently questioned as she gazed at her sleeping husband.
For the past two days, the Crown Prince had spoken to her with proper etiquette, reminiscent of their early days of marriage before he revealed his true nature.
Indeed, every couple has their honeymoon phase. When she first married into the family, the Crown Prince had also spoken to her gently.
If the Crown Prince never regained his memories of the past, perhaps it would be for the best…
Suddenly, the Crown Prince opened his eyes, meeting the Crown Princess’s gaze.