What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 397 - 393: The Problem Lies in the Eastern Palace
In the sixteenth year of Taixing, on June 20, Crown Prince Li Mu personally led a campaign against the Turkic.
...
After bidding farewell to the Crown Prince, Tang Xiaobai returned to the Eastern Palace, looking up just as the sun bathed the golden rooftops, the palatial buildings splendid in their beauty.
It seemed like nothing special, yet she began to feel a longing.
She didn’t know how long they would be separated this time...
Tang Xiaobai gazed at the sky, lost in thought for a moment, then rubbed her sore eyes and lowered her head.
The attendants around her all showed expressions of sympathy.
Indeed, the Crown Princess Consort and the Crown Prince had a deep and enduring love; as soon as the Crown Prince left, the Crown Princess Consort was overcome with longing and sorrow, shedding tears in sadness.
"His Highness is so skilled in battle, he will surely return soon!" Tao Zi comforted softly.
The Crown Princess Consort lifted a pair of slightly reddened eyes, gently replied "Mm," and then instructed Cheng Zi, "Go fetch the records from the two halls for me."
By the two halls of the Eastern Palace, she was referring to Chongwen Hall and Chongren Hall.
Tang Xiaobai would send Cheng Zi daily to collect the compiled volumes from the previous day for review.
She had just been tearful from missing the Crown Prince, but now forced herself to be strong, planning to use work to distract herself.
Tao Zi couldn’t help but feel more pain for her: "The weather is fine today, would the Crown Princess Consort like to take a walk in the Mountain Pool Courtyard?"
Tang Xiaobai shook her head.
What is there to "take a walk" for, does she appear to be a person with the leisure for romantic pursuits?
"Then how about archery in the North Garden?"
Tang Xiaobai replied with amusement: "I just asked Cheng Zi to fetch the records for me!" Having stood a while earlier bidding farewell to Li Mu in the morning, she had already had enough physical activity for the day, better to get to work now.
Tao Zi was reluctant to give up: "Then—"
"Is there nothing else to do today?" Tang Xiaobai countered.
Her two close maidservants, after entering the palace, both took on roles as female officials of the eighth rank.
Cheng Zi assisted her with governance matters, while Tao Zi managed the internal affairs of the Eastern Palace for her.
"Has the new batch of tribute silk been reviewed from yesterday? Go select some to send to Madam and the young lady!"
With a few words, Tang Xiaobai dispatched Tao Zi, then as usual, entered Lizheng Hall.
Upon reaching the hall’s entrance, she paused momentarily and said, "Ah Kui, follow me inside."
After marrying into the Eastern Palace, Tang Xiaobai had almost brought all her previous maidservants with her into the palace.
Besides Tao Zi, who entered the palace earlier to familiarize herself with the environment, there were also Ah Song and Ah Kui, while Cheng Zi stayed with Tang Xiaobai, entering the palace on the same day as her.
Ah Song was somewhat muddle-headed in nature, and though Ah Kui was the youngest, she was extremely clever.
Tang Xiaobai summoned her to her side, asking, "Who prepared my bridal gown on the day of my wedding?"
Ah Kui was shocked, glanced at her, and replied, "It was Sister Tao."
Tao Zi held the position of Mistress of Adornment, in charge of jewelry and clothing; the bridal gown was of utmost importance, so Li Mu specifically entrusted this responsibility to Tao Zi.
Tang Xiaobai knew this, which is why Ah Kui was surprised and puzzled by her question now.
Tang Xiaobai’s gaze remained steady: "Besides Tao Zi, did anyone else handle the bridal gown?"
Ah Kui shook her head: "Sister Tao said the bridal gown of the Crown Princess Consort could not afford any mistake. Once delivered to the Eastern Palace, she managed it alone—" she paused, glancing at Tang Xiaobai cautiously, "When the gown arrived at the Eastern Palace, Sister Tao personally inspected it inch by inch, which took her half an hour."
Tang Xiaobai nodded, continuing to ask, "Was the incense also her doing?"
Ah Kui carefully recalled, then nodded: "Sister Tao took those incense ingredients to consult Imperial Doctor Feng."
Implying that the incense was also not problematic.
Tang Xiaobai pondered for a moment, then said, "Do not mention this to Tao Zi," after a pause, "Do not mention it to anyone."
She didn’t know whom to suspect now, but was seventy to eighty percent certain that the issue originated within the Eastern Palace.
On the night of her wedding, she felt that something was amiss with both her and Li Mu, which Feng Hua attributed to intoxication.
But neither of them were that weak in alcohol tolerance, and on that day, they had only drunk a single cup each.
Last night, she had also drunk a single cup, yet felt different, without that uncontrollable surging of vital energy and blood.
However, Feng Hua had already examined the drinking cups, finding nothing wrong with the alcohol, making her suspect she was being overly sensitive. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Yet last night, her suspicions arose again.
Could it be possible that on the day of their wedding, she and Li Mu, along with Madam, were drugged?
Since the Duke Yan Mansion found nothing, could the drugs have been brought from the Eastern Palace?
But how could they have been brought out of the Eastern Palace?
It was unlikely through food, for she, Li Mu, and Madam did not consume anything in common that day.
It should have been something like incense.
Yet, her gown was guarded and inspected, just as Li Mu’s should have been, and the Eastern Palace had already conducted a round of investigations without finding anything.
Where exactly was the problem?
Tang Xiaobai’s mind was entangled in confusion.
"Crown Princess Consort—" it was Cheng Zi who had returned.
She stood quietly outside the hall with a pile of scrolls, her profile illuminated against the morning light, her sleeves draped gracefully without a twitch, showing excellent poise.
Having received Tang Xiaobai’s nod, she stepped inside with elegant steps.
No doubt Cheng Zi was the one most adept at embodying the role of a lady official beside Tang Xiaobai, especially putting much effort into etiquette and rules, never allowing anyone to find a fault.
In terms of documents as well, she had never let Tang Xiaobai down.
She knelt at one side, taking the document from the top, slowly unfolding it before Tang Xiaobai: "The report from Chongwen Hall yesterday..."
Cheng Zi had already done some preliminary sorting and organized the documents into a suitable sequence for review before bringing them back, all very appropriate.
Once her report was complete, Tang Xiaobai nodded, pointing to a pile of official papers on the side: "Review these for me and draft a summary of points."
Cheng Zi’s face immediately showed surprise.
Those were documents of the Eastern Palace’s governance sent by Yu Jun, though they were not classified, they were still not something an inner palace lady official like Cheng Zi should be reading.
Tang Xiaobai gave her a slight smile.
Since the Crown Princess Consort could handle the Eastern Palace’s affairs, naturally her lady officials would also have the opportunity to access official documents.
Cheng Zi’s gaze, initially frozen in shock, gradually warmed and brightened.
Finally, she straightened her posture, giving a solemn bow.
It was not the graceful bow of a palace lady but the solemn bow of a minister.
Observing her dignified posture, Tang Xiaobai felt a moment of illusion.
Once she gathered her thoughts, suppressing the sigh forming at her lips, she smiled: "I’ve always felt capable, and I’ve always believed in your capabilities. Let’s hope we meet each other’s expectations."
Cheng Zi bowed again: "Tang Cheng will never betray the trust of the Crown Princess Consort in this lifetime!"
Tang Xiaobai smiled with curved eyes: "Quick, get to work!"
Invigorated by these words, Cheng Zi, as if infused with vigor, took the documents to the side and buried herself in work.
Glancing at her occasionally, Tang Xiaobai noticed her writing with an unusual intensity.
Fueled by this intensity, Cheng Zi completed the task in less time than Tang Xiaobai had anticipated, placing the concise summary cautiously yet solemnly on Tang Xiaobai’s desk.
Tang Xiaobai picked it up, skimming through each point.
Cheng Zi understood her well enough to organize the points according to her interest and urgency of the matters.
However, there wasn’t much of pressing urgency today, and Tang Xiaobai skimmed through them without pause.
Until the final point, where her gaze froze—
