What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 329 - 325: I’ll Wait for Him to Return

"Your Majesty summons the legitimate eldest daughter of Duke Yan!"

The words fell, and the inside of the carriage was momentarily deathly silent.

"For what reason does His Majesty summon?" Princess Ji asked with a pale face.

"Miss Tang will know upon entering the palace." The palace attendant delivering the message didn’t answer, his words exceedingly arrogant.

Tang Xiaobai smiled coldly and said loudly, "There is a distinction between men and women, and only the Empress Dowager or Empress ever summons a minister’s daughter. His Majesty has always adhered to propriety, serving as a model to the citizens of the world, so how could he summon a minister’s daughter without cause? Since you have no proof and can’t give a reason, could it be that you’re falsely delivering an imperial decree and incriminating His Majesty unjustly?"

"Someone come! Arrest this madman for falsely delivering the imperial decree!" Princess Ji commanded fiercely.

Outside the carriage, calls and shouts were heard, accompanied by sounds of scuffling and struggling.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere relaxed slightly.

The carriage started moving again.

Tang Jiaojiao glanced at her sister, half-smiling, "Look at our Second Miss, how many years have you studied? You speak with such eloquence now. It’s good that you’re not as soft as you used to be, or when would others give you a chance to argue?"

Princess Ji laughed, "Speaking of softness, your mother used to be the soft one. Everyone thought they could bully her a bit, but no one ever succeeded."

Gu Ning smiled subtly, leaning against Princess Ji, "Why tell the children these things..."

Her voice was gentle, still like a young girl.

Tang Xiaobai watched enviously, "When I reach my mother’s age, it’ll be great to be as beautiful as she is."

Tang Jiaojiao knew what she was thinking and chuckled, "Our house is pure and clean. Mother doesn’t have those worries. Look at those with big families, can they be so good? Don’t be fooled by the Eastern Palace’s current compliance—"

"Ahem, ahem!" Suddenly, two light coughs were heard from outside the carriage window.

Everyone in the carriage’s face changed, "Who’s outside!"

They were riding in the carriage of Princess Ji, surrounded by numerous attendants, how could anyone have mixed in and eavesdropped by the carriage?

Tang Xiaobai was also startled, but quickly thought of someone.

"Mo Huan?" She asked tentatively against the window.

Though she didn’t know how it was done, Mo Huan often hid himself among people, boldly, and wouldn’t be discovered, like an enforced setting.

Sure enough, a low "hmm" was heard.

"The Young Master asks Miss Tang to enter the palace without worry," came a low voice from outside through the curtain.

"Still entering the palace?" Tang Xiaobai asked in confusion.

But there was no answer anymore.

Apparently, the person had already left.

Tang Xiaobai turned back to explain to the others, "It’s the Crown Prince’s man."

Just about to speak ill of the Crown Prince, and got caught by the Crown Prince’s man.

Embarrassment, unease, these emotions are impossible for Miss Tang.

Tang Jiaojiao snorted and continued, "Don’t be fooled by his current compliance, who knows how much trouble he’ll leave you with in the future!"

As soon as she finished, the sound of galloping hooves was heard again from outside.

"By imperial decree, summon the legitimate eldest daughter of Duke Yan to Liangyi Palace for an audience!"

...

This time, although there was still no imperial decree or reason given, Tang Jiaojiao followed along.

Because this time, it was not a eunuch who came, but today’s on-duty Minister of Communication, Pei Xuan.

Tang Jiaojiao followed behind Pei Xuan, heading towards Liangyi Palace.

Liangyi Palace is the inner court, the place where the Emperor summons ministers and handles state affairs.

An audience at Liangyi Palace also signified formality.

As they approached the palace doors, they could hear the Emperor’s voice.

She suddenly thought of why the Emperor summoned her and guessed whom the Emperor was speaking with.

Under Pei Xuan’s indication, she waited at the steps in front of the palace, watching as Pei Xuan ascended, when a second person’s voice echoed inside Taiji Palace, "Regarding the matter of abducting the legitimate eldest daughter of Duke Yan, I confess—"

...

"It should be about Prince Li’s abduction of my sister," outside the palace gates, Tang Xiaobai speculated.

The current Emperor is actually someone who cares a lot about face.

When Tang Jiaojiao was in the palace, he didn’t take action, and now that she was out of the palace, he wouldn’t summon her without cause.

Employing the Minister of Communication and summoning her to Liangyi Palace could only be related to the Li Xingyuan case.

It is also because the matter involves Li Xingyuan that the message from the Eastern Palace came so quickly.

"If the case isn’t resolved today, will Jiaojiao be kept in the palace?" Gu Ning worriedly asked.

"It should be resolved..." Tang Xiaobai mumbled, eyes fixated on the palace gates, not blinking.

Not long after, Tang Jiaojiao came out.

"It’s about the matter I accused Li Xingyuan of back then—"

Her response was rather indifferent, which made Tang Xiaobai uncertain, "Did he confess?"

Tang Jiaojiao glanced at her, chin slightly raised, "Of course!"

"The matter of entering the capital without an edict, the Crown Prince took responsibility for it, saying he entered the capital by the Crown Prince’s orders, and with a guarantee from the Crown Prince, there naturally wouldn’t be any matter of assassinating the Crown Prince—" At this point, Tang Jiaojiao paused, as if gritting her teeth, before continuing, "He confessed to the abduction of us sisters!"

Gu Ning frowned, "Previously, when the Crown Prince was in repose, Li Xingyuan was suppressed and couldn’t inherit the title. Now... if he admits it, he will surely receive a severe punishment. Why would he confess?"

Tang Xiaobai glanced at Gu Ning, then at Tang Jiaojiao.

When she was in the Northwest, Li Xingyuan had secretly entered the capital to look after Duke Yan Mansion.

Unexpectedly, this "secretly" was so concealed, even mother didn’t know.

Don’t know how sister will explain—

"Because he fancies me!" Tang Jiaojiao said matter-of-factly.

Her lovely chin was slightly raised, and her proud little face made Tang Xiaobai burst into laughter.

Tang Jiaojiao glared at her.

Tang Xiaobai quickly stopped laughing and put on a worried expression, "If he confessed, what punishment will there be?"

...

Commandery Prince Changshan, Li Xingyuan, the crime of abducting the two daughters of Duke Yan was conclusive. Considering his merit in subduing Mosen, his Commandery Prince title is revoked, demoted to Marquis of Luanquan.

Additionally, he is ordered to remain in the capital to study and cultivate virtue.

This was the originally determined penalty.

Tang Shigong listened, without changing expression, said, "Doesn’t the Changshan Prince Mansion have books for him to read? For committing acts of banditry, he is just to read books?" Bowing to the Emperor, "In my opinion, the national law should not spare insiders, please impose exile!"

It was originally a severe punishment, yet Duke Yan stepped on it hard again.

But to say it was unexpected, upon careful thought, it was in line with reason.

How could Duke Yan let go of the villain who abducted his two precious daughters?

This stomp hit many right where it pleased them.

Even if the Crown Prince opposed, he was blocked by Tang Shigong’s remark, "Does Your Highness want to consider Li Xingyuan, an abductor of women, a confidant?"

Having made a grand appearance in the court, when Duke Yan returned home, he explained kindly to his daughter, "Staying in the capital to study is yielding while being lightly confined. Being exiled out of the capital will allow more room for maneuver, and since he holds a title, he won’t suffer hardship outside."

Tang Jiaojiao’s eyes were red, but her voice was calm, "I understand."

"Is the place of exile decided?" Tang Xiaobai asked.

"The Crown Prince will definitely strive for it," said Tang Shigong, glancing at his eldest daughter, "You all better not be unable to resist secretly seeing him off."

"I won’t see him off," Tang Jiaojiao said, "I’ll wait for him to return!"

...

Seven days later, outside the city gates.

Tang Xiaobai rode around Tang Jiaojiao on a horse.

"Didn’t you say you wouldn’t see him off?"