What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 360 - 356: Xue Shaoqin’s Fiancée
"...Some say that the three sons of the Xue Family offended Lord Zhong by calculating the Tianhe Calendar, which led to reprimands. Such claims are utter nonsense—"
Liangyi Palace is the Inner Court where the Emperor summons high ministers, yet at this moment, it resounds with the crisp voice of a young girl.
Once a precedent is set, everything that follows becomes much easier.
Historically, the Crown Princess Consort had never submitted a memorial on state affairs, but even before Tang Xiaobai was officially titled Crown Princess Consort, she submitted proposals, presenting a detailed argument on the Xingzhou earthquake disaster.
Not long ago, she also presented her personally crafted maps, ensuring her presence was felt in front of the court officials.
This time entering Liangyi Palace, she encountered little obstruction.
Of course, it was also because at this time, her father, as well as the Crown Prince, were present in Liangyi Palace.
While she had entered, afterward, she couldn’t rely on men.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had to come here personally.
Rumors about the death of Xue Shaoqin and the other two are not confined merely to the street gossip.
The most direct evidence is the suspension of investigations into the three homicides by the Wannian County Government.
More crucially, it’s about today’s court debate in Liangyi Palace.
They are discussing whether to halt the revision of the new calendar.
The girl’s words were firm, yet the Emperor remained impassive, and the two Prime Ministers half-lowered their eyes, showing no reaction.
This was a gesture of disdain.
Even as the Crown Princess Consort, she was but a little girl, not worthy of their direct confrontation.
Tang Xiaobai observed their expressions and calmly stated, "If the Emperor still values accepting advice, and the Zhong Family is renowned for virtue, is dissent not tolerated?"
At this point, Zheng Shidao lifted his eyelids, "The virtuous are humble at heart, yet they cannot tolerate insolence from juniors—"
Zheng Shidao was different from Wang Maozhao.
Wang Maozhao had a kind demeanor and often viewed people with an elder’s attitude;
Zheng Shidao was often expressionless, very distant in demeanor, possessing an aura of a master.
"Lord Zhong too had once overturned the old calendar, experiencing seventeen years of real measurement, calculation, traveling across the world, with countless manuscripts, before achieving the Tianhe Calendar. The three scholars of Chongwen Hall, in their early twenties, took less than two months to claim errors in the Tianhe Calendar;"
"If it were just youthful arrogance, it wouldn’t lead to such disaster—" Zheng Shidao said this while giving Tang Xiaobai a glance.
That glance was cold, carrying an air of lofty overlook and mockery.
"It seems young people are eager for quick success, seeking fame and glory, leading to divine wrath." After saying this, his gaze leisurely turned to Li Mu.
This glance awakened all of Tang Xiaobai’s blood and vigor.
The phrase "young people eager for quick success" referred not only to Xue Shaoqin and his peers but also implicitly mocked the Crown Prince.
It wasn’t the revision of the new calendar that provoked "divine punishment", but the deceitful calculations that received retribution.
He was not only throwing dirt on Xue Shaoqin and the others, but also aiming to slander the young lord!
Tang Xiaobai, angry to the point of laughter, loudly stated, "Mr. Zheng, as Prime Minister, advises before Your Majesty, how can you speak ’it seems’ and ’if’, without a word of truth?"
Zheng Shidao replied blandly, "Oh? What truths does the Crown Princess Consort have?"
Tang Xiaobai lifted her chin slightly, feeling exceptionally lucid in her thought process: "This incident boils down to two main questions: first, were the deaths of the three scholars of Chongwen Hall divine punishment or man-made? Second, did Xue Sheng and the other two truly find errors in the Tianhe Calendar—"
She then turned and bowed to the throne.
"I petition the Ministry of Justice to investigate the cause of death of the three scholars of Chongwen Hall, and also to gather experts for a re-calculation to verify the validity of the Tianhe Calendar!"
After Tang Xiaobai finished speaking, someone among the court officials looked up coldly questioning, "Re-verify? If someone else perishes, what then?"
The one speaking was Prince Jin, Li Shu.
Just as Tang Xiaobai was about to stiffen her neck to reply, she was interrupted:
"I can oversee—"
Tang Xiaobai moved her gaze to the Crown Prince beside the Emperor.
His skin was as pale as jade, wearing a crimson robe, splendid and exquisite, and appearing extraordinarily noble.
The sharpness between his brows was unabated, and when he looked up, it was cold and piercing.
"Although the manuscripts are damaged, it’s not impossible to re-calculate. This time, I will personally oversee each verification of the Zhong Family’s calendar. I wish to see whether the Zhong Family dares to punish me!"
"A mere official of the Zhong Family dares to punish the Crown Prince?" Li Shu coldly said, "However, others may not have the same fortune as the Crown Prince."
Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but laugh coldly, "So is the divine wrath of the Zhong Family bullying the weak and fearing the strong?"
Li Shu looked at her coldly and remained silent.
"If the Crown Prince wishes to verify, so be it," the Emperor finally spoke, "However, those assistant secretaries at Chongwen Hall are ultimately too inexperienced. Replace them with another group to verify!"
Replacing, but where is there another group?
At present, aside from those recruited at Chongwen Hall, only the original Observatory staff remain.
In the Observatory, only Lin Xujiji can still be trusted.
But with only Lin Xujiji alone, how long will it take?
Tang Xiaobai’s mind raced, already considering the feasibility of taking action herself.
At this moment, a voice rang out in the hall: "I request to enter Chongwen Hall to verify the calculations of the Tianhe Calendar."
The voice was warm and elegant, its owner seemingly radiant like jade. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
In today’s Liangyi Palace, aside from the attendant on duty, all were high ministers of the Third Rank and above.
Only one person was an exception.
Xue Shaojian.
He was the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, a position unrelated to today’s discussion, possibly accompanying his father, Assistant Minister of the Secretariat, Xue Qiao, as a family of the victims.
But for him to say this, Tang Xiaobai did not expect.
She did not expect Xue Shaojian to be knowledgeable in astronomy and calendar systems.
"Tenth Son also knows astronomy and calendar systems?" Even the Emperor did not expect it.
"Though only slightly versed, my late elder brother often discussed various aspects of the Tianhe Calendar with me;"
The gentleman was gentle and courteous, speaking with measured words, yet every word was like a needle, causing others to subconsciously change focus.
"The Xue Family remains upright, and I too wish to know if my brother’s calculations violated the ancestral teachings—"
...
"Does Xue have the manuscripts of Xue Seventh Son?" Once out of the palace, Tang Xiaobai urgently grabbed Xue Shaojian and asked.
Xue Shaojian shook his head, "Only that my brother mentioned some things, and I still remember."
"Then... can you reconstruct the calculation process?" Tang Xiaobai asked expectantly.
Xue Shaojian smiled slightly, but the smile carried some melancholy, "My brother was fond of the Huntian School since childhood, often pleading with me to find books for him. Whenever he finished reading, he would always explain it to me—"
Tang Xiaobai was speechless.
Although it’s a sad story, at this moment, it’s hard not to be pleasantly surprised.
She is well aware of Xue Shaojian’s capability.
He learns just by listening to others explain!
It’s just that these were not used in the imperial examinations, so he remained modest and unassuming.
"In that case, the verification task is entrusted to Minister Xue!"
Xue Shaojian nodded, his tone cooling, "I certainly won’t let my brother’s death remain unexplained."
Tang Xiaobai felt a pang in her heart and softly said, "My condolences," then suddenly remembered someone: "Is your brother’s fiancée doing well?"
Xue Shaojian was a courteous, graceful aristocratic young man, who, even facing a shift from a beloved to a sibling, never lost composure.
But now, he slightly furrowed his brows, a hint of darkness flashing in his eyes.
