With matters having reached this point, the Empress could only first go seal others’ mouths.

She had someone take thirty thousand taels in banknotes and deliver them to Prince Gongxi’s manor, but she knew this was merely the beginning.

If she didn’t handle this matter cleanly, she would be forever threatened by Chu Mo.

There was also the Duke’s wife—that matter also required her planning and consideration…

“Go carefully investigate the Gui family’s affairs.”

The Empress commanded coldly. The Gui family was Chu Mo’s maternal family. If she could grasp any major error of the Gui family, Chu Mo would not dare act rashly again.

“Additionally, arrange two death warriors to go to the Eastern Palace. Once the Crown Prince relaxes his vigilance, take that little vile woman’s life.”

“Yes!” Nanny Yin paused. “How should Xie Yuan Shi be handled?”

The Empress’s fingers tapped. “Before executing that little vile woman, keep her well confined.”

Those below received their orders and went to carry them out.

Xie Ping moved out of the side room she had originally lived in and moved in with the Crown Prince. However, the Crown Prince had to attend court and handle affairs, so there were always times when she was alone.

Whenever she was alone, she felt surrounded entirely by the Empress’s people, each person seemingly wanting to kill her.

She knew the Crown Prince’s protection was only temporary. Sooner or later, she would die at the Empress’s hands.

What could she do? What could she possibly do…

As she felt uneasy, she saw the Crown Prince finally return from court and hurriedly went to greet him. “Your Highness has finally returned…”

The Crown Prince touched her hair and sighed. “At court today, second brother accused me before Father Emperor of mistreating palace servants. I’ve always been generous toward servants, so I spoke in my defense. That dog second brother actually brought up the Xie family matter. Sigh, I could only swallow my pride and admit fault.”

Xie Ping’s tears flowed continuously. “It’s all because your subject has implicated Your Highness. Her Majesty the Empress was right—your subject shouldn’t be alive. Let your subject die.”

The Crown Prince hurriedly said, “It has nothing to do with you. Second brother is just too insidious and crafty. Next, I plan to find third brother and join forces with him to give second brother a show of strength. You just stay well in the Eastern Palace. Don’t leave the main hall. Rest assured, Mother Empress won’t make a move in the main hall.”

Originally, he didn’t need to worry about these matters—Mother Empress would naturally handle them.

But because he was wholeheartedly protecting Linglong, he had angered Mother Empress. For several days now, Mother Empress had refused to see him, so he could only handle this matter himself.

Xie Ping’s fingers paused. “Can Your Highness take your subject along to Prince Pingxi’s manor?”

The Crown Prince frowned. “What would you go for?”

“Princess Consort Pingxi was your subject’s former legitimate mother,” Xie Ping spoke. “With your subject mediating, Your Highness and Prince Pingxi should be able to join forces more effectively.”

Only now did the Crown Prince remember this relationship existed.

He nodded. “Fine, then come along.”

Two hours’ carriage ride from the capital in the suburbs, there was an estate with excellent scenery—a property under Chu Yi’s name.

In the height of summer, vegetation flourished, flowers bloomed in profusion, birds flew about. Being immersed in it brought tremendous mental relaxation.

Yun Chu and Chu Yi had brought the children for two or three days. Chu Yi’s injuries were rapidly recovering—at least walking and sitting were no longer problematic.

“Mother, come quick and look—there are so many ants here.” Chu Hongyu led Yun Chu to crouch in the grass. “What are they going to do?”

Dense masses of ants formed a line crawling in one direction. From a distance, they looked like a black thread.

Yun Chu smiled. “This should be ants moving house. It might rain soon, which is why the ants are behaving this way.”

Chu Changsheng looked up at the bright sun in the sky. “It’s not raining. The ants are silly.”

“The cloud layer in the sky is getting thicker and thicker. It really is going to rain,” Chu Yi said standing nearby.

The two little ones didn’t believe the weather would change so soon and began debating with Chu Yi.

“If it doesn’t rain, then Father will agree to one request from you both,” Chu Yi spoke. “If it rains, each of you will compose a poem about rain. How about it?”

Chu Hongyu’s eyes lit up. “Great, great! It’s a deal!”

Father made him sleep alone to the side every day. He’d been unhappy about it for a long time. In a moment, he’d make this request.

The family had just made their agreement when they saw the cloud layer slowly block the sun. The sky suddenly darkened, and the little one’s mouth corners drooped down.

At that moment, a servant from outside came to report. “Your Highness, Your Highness Consort, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Chu Yi went to see the Crown Prince. Yun Chu continued observing the ants with the two children.

“Third brother.” The Crown Prince patted Chu Yi’s shoulder with a face full of smiles. “Seeing you’re fine puts my mind at ease.”

Chu Yi had someone serve tea and spoke indifferently, “For Crown Prince eldest brother to come from so far away, there must be some important matter?”

This place was two hours’ journey from the capital—half a day’s time. Without something significant, he would never make a special trip.

“Regarding Consort Fang’s miscarriage, I know it had nothing to do with your princess consort,” the Crown Prince’s gaze revealed a sharp light. “After thinking it over, it should be second brother’s doing. He used this matter to sow discord between us two while he himself reaps the fisherman’s profit.”

Chu Yi took a sip of tea.

The Crown Prince was indeed still this simple. So many days had passed, yet he still didn’t know this matter was actually related to the Duke’s wife.

“He wants to sit securely on the fishing platform, but we cannot let him have his way,” the Crown Prince said word by word. “Third brother, why don’t we two join forces?”

Chu Yi shook his head. “After distancing myself from the capital’s court, I feel this carefree life is quite good. I won’t get involved in those court matters.”

The Crown Prince became somewhat anxious. “Do you think by staying out of it, second brother will spare you?”

“Eldest brother need not say more,” Chu Yi said indifferently. “Before long, I’ll take my wife and children south. From now on, these matters will have nothing whatsoever to do with me.”

While the two were talking, Xie Ping, dressed as a young male servant, slowly walked toward the back of the estate. She was someone the Crown Prince had brought, so no one stopped her from walking around.

She saw from a distance Yun Chu playing with the two children in the grass and took steps to approach, but was stopped by a servant.

She took out a letter she had prepared early from her sleeve and said to the woman, “Please trouble yourself to deliver this to Princess Consort Pingxi.”

The woman received the order and delivered it.

Yun Chu saw the letter and immediately raised her head to see Xie Ping dressed in men’s clothing standing outside the entrance to the back courtyard.

She somewhat admired Xie Ping—she had actually managed to escape from the Empress’s grasp to come here.

Yun Chu handed the two children to Nanny Zheng, then had someone lead Xie Ping to the guest reception hall.

Once inside the room, with servants still attending, Xie Ping directly knelt before Yun Chu. Her voice was hoarse. “Mother, save me!”

A blade hung suspended above her head, ready to fall at any moment. She didn’t know how long the Crown Prince could protect her. She could only seek her own way to survive.

However, she truly didn’t know if this desperate path could still offer a way to live.

She could only come beg Mother.

In her heart, Mother was intelligent and calm, able to handle any matter cleanly. She believed Mother definitely wouldn’t watch helplessly as she died like this.

“The Empress wants to kill me!” Xie Ping’s voice trembled. “The Crown Prince favors me now and is willing to protect me, but a man’s favor can disappear at any time. I don’t dare gamble… The only person I can turn to now is Mother. Please, Mother, have some pity on me. Help me… give me a clear path forward! I will certainly repay Mother’s great kindness and virtue in the future. I beg you, Mother!”