"Watch her closely. If she escapes, none of you will live!"
The guards at the entrance shivered and immediately lowered their heads to answer respectfully.
Although the Crown Prince’s wife seemed gentle and sophisticated, she was actually a ruthless character who hid a knife within her smile. They all had seen how harshly she dealt with the Prince’s favored concubines, so everyone in the Mansion, from top to bottom, dared not underestimate her...
Helan Xue took a few steps forward, then suddenly turned as if she had thought of something, and asked the housekeeper’s daughter-in-law standing next to her, "Where is the Crown Prince? Why hasn’t he returned yet?"
The housekeeper’s daughter-in-law replied obediently, "The Crown Prince went out early this morning to investigate the case of Empress Mo and Duke Li Guo’s Mansion assisting Princess Zhao Yang’s escape. He planned to return at noon, but before he could return to the mansion, a letter arrived from the Palace. Consort Jin summoned him for a meeting, so he had no time to inform you and went straight to the Palace."
Helan Xue simply hmm’d in response, then turned to a maid standing next to her and said, "You in the green dress, go, order the kitchen to make a pot of ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ for the Crown Prince to eat when he returns."
"Yes, the servant will get on it right away," Green Dress bowed and left to carry out the task.
Helan Xue then said to the housekeeper’s daughter-in-law, "Go tell your husband to wait at the palace gate for the Crown Prince. When the Prince comes out, tell him to come home for dinner; tell him I have something to discuss with him."
The housekeeper’s daughter-in-law also agreed and left.
Helan Xue twisted the handkerchief in her hand, looked in the direction where Luo Tong’s family had disappeared, and pursed her lips tightly.
It was rumored that the Crown Prince had recently taken a liking to a young dan role from a theater troupe, even purchasing a house for her in Mao’er Alley. After removing concubines from the Mansion with great difficulty, she was finally able to enjoy a few days of peace. To her surprise, the Crown Prince had secretly maintained a hidden love affair outside. She must keep a closer eye on him and not let other women steal his heart!
After Luo Tong’s wife left, she found her husband and relayed the Crown Princess’ words verbatim. Luo Tong, without uttering a word, ordered a boy to prepare the carriage. He headed straight for the palace gate to await the return of his master.
Meanwhile, inside Brocade Palace, the residence of Consort Jin...
The Crown Prince furrowed his eyebrow, speaking once again to his equally baffled mother, "I have verified that those people killed all of Saknu’s guards then pretended to be Liaodan people and slipped right under our noses while Saknu chased after Zhao Yang. And regarding that naughty Princess Zhao Yang, no one saw her from beginning to end."
Consort Jin gritted her teeth, her face full of resentment. She was so close to capturing them all. If only she had caught those people, she could have completely taken down Empress Mo and dealt with Duke Li Guo’s Mansion all at once. She had been so close to a grand success, only to have them escape right under her nose. She thought, surely Empress Mo must be very pleased now?
Although the Emperor had begun to suspect her and Duke Li Guo’s Mansion, without proof, they could not do anything to her. She was still the Empress under house arrest, and Duke Li Guo remained Duke Li Guo. How could she accept this?
Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but complain to her son.
"Why did you let Saknu go in the first place? Why didn’t you urge him to make a fuss with the Emperor? As long as he caused a scene, the Emperor, under pressure, would have sent people to aggressively investigate Duke An’s Mansion directly, instead of using this unending investigation as he does now."
Crown Prince Nangong Shi gave a wry smile, "Mother, don’t you know Saknu’s temperament by now? Who could possibly influence him? He insisted on leaving, and I couldn’t stop him!"