What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 311 - 307: I Can Make Commitments on Behalf of the Crown Prince
Tang Xiaobai’s carriage was parked just outside Anfu Gate.
Qin Rong sat at the front of the carriage, watching the direction of the palace gates from afar. Prime Minister Wang Maozhao was striding out, looking calm and composed.
Inside the carriage, the young girl spoke in a low voice: "Very few people have actually seen the Crown Prince. If Wang Maozhao refuses to acknowledge him, who else can prove his identity?"
Qin Rong smiled: "Though not many have seen the Crown Prince, there are quite a few. It’s just that most are like me, with insufficient status, and what they say carries no weight."
"Then... what about the Empress Dowager?" Tang Xiaobai asked.
...
As the sun rose above the treetops, it illuminated the threshold of Zhaoren Hall with crisp clarity. The mark left by the Imperial Physician’s hurried stumble not long ago was still visible.
Six noble ladies accompanying the Empress were waiting outside the sleeping quarters, each with a different expression.
Tang Jiaojiao stood closest to the door, opposite her was Yan Jingjing.
Both lowered their eyebrows and eyes, with cold expressions.
"Jiaojiao," someone beside Tang Jiaojiao asked nervously, "should we go in to serve?"
Tang Jiaojiao lifted her eyelids to glance at her: "If you want to go, then go. Why ask me?"
She withdrew her gaze, glancing at a maidservant standing a short distance away.
The maidservant subtly retreated.
"Stop—" Yan Jingjing suddenly raised her eyes, looking directly at the retreating maidservant, "Where are you going?"
Tang Jiaojiao sneered: "My person, what does it have to do with you where she goes?"
Yan Jingjing continued to stare at the maidservant: "The Empress Dowager is still resting inside. Zhaoren Hall should be under lockdown, no entry or exit allowed!"
"Who do you think you are?" Tang Jiaojiao disdainfully looked at her. "Are you a Princess or a Consort now? Since when can you issue orders at Zhaoren Hall?" With that, she gave the maidservant a signal with her eyes, "Go to the Princess’s Courtyard and say that the Empress Dowager is ill!"
...
"The Empress Dowager is ill?"
"Yes, early this morning, the Empress Dowager didn’t get up. Later, the Imperial Physician said it might be wind chill..."
Tang Xiaobai suppressed the anger in her heart, saying: "Tell the Eldest Miss, I understand!"
The best proof of the Crown Prince’s identity would be Wang Maozhao and the Empress Dowager Wang.
Wang Maozhao has already broken with the young master, no need to consider him anymore.
The Empress Dowager, Tang Xiaobai had anticipated might cause trouble.
Perhaps she was threatened, or perhaps she chose to side with her own family.
But unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill.
So suddenly, it was even a stroke.
It’s long heard that the Empress Dowager cares deeply for the Crown Prince; one wonders if the young master would be worried upon hearing this...
"Whether it’s real illness or feigned," Qin Rong said, eyes again glancing towards Anfu Gate, "Li Shu has been inside for nearly half an hour."
Half an hour had passed, yet no one had come out to summon Qin Rong into the palace to testify.
What does this imply?
Tang Xiaobai was deep in thought, when suddenly, a man dressed as a servant ran close, bowing: "Mr. Wang requests to see Second Miss Tang!"
...
When Tang Xiaobai met Wang Maozhao, he had also just arrived home not long ago, having changed out of his official robes into a dark green Taoist robe, his demeanor relaxed, like a retiree in seclusion.
"Second Miss, please sit." He smiled slightly, a mixture of warmth and a subtle superiority.
Tang Xiaobai greeted him and took her seat, asking: "I wonder what Mr. Wang wishes to teach me?"
Wang Maozhao smiled, glancing at Mo Huan behind her, "Isn’t this a Shadow Guard from the Mo Family?"
Tang Xiaobai looked back in surprise, also glancing at Mo Huan, and shook her head: "A Shadow Guard? I only know him as Qin Xiao’s personal soldier."
Wang Maozhao sighed: "Mo Family’s Shadow Guards only recognize the royal line. The current ruler wasn’t appointed by the late Emperor, so they didn’t swear allegiance. But surprisingly, the Crown Prince assigned a Shadow Guard to Second Miss. That certainly shows thoughtfulness!"
This statement of "thoughtfulness" was indeed thoughtful.
Tang Xiaobai’s heart was cautiously alert, she responded, "I am naive and don’t understand Mr. Wang’s meaning."
Wang Maozhao chuckled and said, "Second Miss is a clever child, well-read, should understand, once the birds are gone, the good bow is hidden."
Tang Xiaobai lowered her eyes and remained silent.
"Back when the Crown Prince left the Crown Prince Mansion, three people shielded him: your father, Prince Changshan, and I;
"Now, Prince Changshan is dead, I am disgraced, does Second Miss think your father qualifies as a good bow?"
The words were clear enough.
Wang Maozhao smiled as he looked at the girl opposite him.
The girl suddenly lifted her eyes to look at him, then lowered her gaze, looking at her own hands.
Her small hands held a brocade bag tightly.
She opened her hand and took out a small item from the brocade bag, placing it on the ground in front of her.
The moment Wang Maozhao saw the item clearly, his eyes abruptly narrowed.
This is—
The girl looked up at him again, smiled slightly, and said: "Mr. Wang, a prime minister across two reigns, well-rooted in the court, undefeated for fifteen years, yet today, the Crown Prince has presented a handle—who might it bother?"
Wang Maozhao smiled faintly at her, saying nothing.
Tang Xiaobai initially wasn’t very sure of her judgment, but hearing Wang Maozhao’s words, she felt more confident.
Wang Maozhao was anxious.
A Prime Minister coming to a girl to sow discord, isn’t that anxiety?
The young master handed them Wang Maozhao’s flaw, the Emperor and the Zheng Family will undoubtedly accept. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
In their eyes, Wang Maozhao was much more formidable than the Crown Prince; they would seize any opportunity to eliminate him.
That’s why Wang Maozhao hastens to allied with Duke Yan Mansion.
Being anxious is good.
She too is anxious.
Li Shu threatened Qin Rong, demanding Qin Rong to prove the young master wasn’t "Qin Xiao."
Now Qin Rong isn’t required, implying verification isn’t needed.
Therefore, it’s time for the young master to verify his identity.
The Empress Dowager fell ill, he can’t be denied by Wang Maozhao again.
Right now, it’s a matter of who’s more anxious.
Or, who has more leverage.
Tang Xiaobai lowered her eyes, looking at the Tiger Button Seal in front of her, said: "The case of Empress Xiao’ai, it must proceed, but I can promise on behalf of the Crown Prince, the Wang Family shall not be implicated."
Wang Maozhao forced Empress Xiao’ai to death, and to silence witnesses, he sent people to kill Xin Yi.
These grudges will definitely be avenged.
But, without implicating others.
Wang Maozhao laughed: "Little girl, how can you promise anything? Are you certain the Crown Prince didn’t just give you a seal to appease you?"
Tang Xiaobai returned the seal to the brocade bag, saying indifferently: "Whether the Crown Prince appeased me or not is unrelated to this matter. If Mr. Wang believes me, I will strive for the Wang Family; if not, then the Crown Prince and your position will be destroyed together."
Wang Maozhao gazed silently.
At this moment, a servant rushed in from outside with a report: "Mr. Wang, Your Majesty summons!"
Wang Maozhao looked at Tang Xiaobai for a moment, stood up, dusted off his robe sleeve, and said: "I have a grandson who supervised the construction of three cities at the Northern Border."
"The Crown Prince also greatly appreciates Imperial Censor Wang."
Wang Maozhao nodded and walked out.
Tang Xiaobai breathed a sigh of relief. With Wang Maozhao willing to confirm the Crown Prince’s identity, everything becomes easier.
Summons from the palace, the carriage waited outside the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
Tang Xiaobai couldn’t afford to be seen and followed Wang Maozhao from afar.
She had just stepped out from the side of the shadow wall when Wang Maozhao reached the main gate.
Tang Xiaobai paused, intending to wait until Wang Maozhao got on the carriage and left.
But at that moment, she heard a familiar whistling sound.
Breaking through the air, sharp and filled with murderous intent.
However, Mo Huan didn’t lead her to dodge.
Because this time, it wasn’t aimed at her.
"Mr. Wang!"
Amidst the cries, Wang Maozhao fell from the steps.
Face upward, eyes wide open.
The arrow was lodged directly in his heart.
