What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 410 - 406: No Other Choice

The clouds were low and thick, pressing down on the city as if to crush it.

The Taiji Palace stood majestically in the north, yet it felt desolate and lonely due to the emperor’s absence.

Amidst this desolation, a few who had lost the emperor’s favor remained.

For example, Beauty Shu.

The once-favored Beauty Shu suddenly fell from grace shortly after her "accidental" miscarriage, and she didn’t even accompany the emperor to the Hot Spring Palace.

However, a team of Imperial Guard remained stationed outside the Liluo Palace, and Tang Xiaobai had yet to find an opportunity to see her.

But today, no matter what, Tang Xiaobai had to see her.

She needed to know more about the Wang Family’s whereabouts.

The horse stopped at the palace gate.

Tang Xiaobai was about to dismount when she heard someone call, "Crown Princess Consort, please wait!"

She turned around and saw a young man in official robes, elegantly poised, with a face like jade.

It was Xue Shaojian.

Xue Shaojian bowed, "I have something to report—" He looked up at the solemn Imperial Palace, "Perhaps it’s also something the Crown Princess Consort wishes to know at this moment..."

...

A quarter of an hour later.

The Xuan Yi Black Cavalry, like dark clouds, thundered from the palace gate straight to the city gate.

Amidst the dark mass of the Eastern Palace Xuan Yi Guard, a single rider in a red cloak and red garments was surrounded at the forefront of the formation, dazzling like the sun.

The guards at the city gate saw them from afar and felt their hearts leap in their chests.

For military movements, a permit was necessary.

The Imperial Guard also counted as military.

Should they stop them or not?

Just as this thought flashed through their minds, they heard the commanding officer order, "Let them pass!"

At the command, they separated to the sides.

Soon, the clouds enveloped the sun, passing through the gate.

Just as they exited the city gate, the formation halted abruptly, so neatly not a sound could be heard.

Tang Xiaobai gazed forward into the distance, her hand tightening incrementally on the reins, though no emotion showed on her face.

A disheveled man stumbled along the road ahead.

After another stagger, he looked up, as though he had only just recognized Tang Xiaobai, and reacted as if he had seen a lifeline: "Crown Princess Consort! Save me, Crown Princess Consort!"

As he drew nearer, he stumbled again, nearly falling.

"What are you doing here?" Tang Xiaobai asked indifferently.

After the man steadied himself, he suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Someone has kidnapped Ah Cheng, threatening me to deliver this letter to the Crown Princess Consort!" He trembled as he retrieved a letter from his chest and presented it with both hands, "Please save Ah Cheng, Crown Princess Consort!"

The letter was presented and opened.

The handwriting was exceptional.

Elegant and forceful, possessing the style of a master.

Such handwriting was rare in the world.

Thus, Tang Xiaobai must have encountered it before.

Had she not been forbidden, she might even have tried to emulate it.

Such outstanding handwriting, she had never imagined would be used to write a ransom note.

Tang Xiaobai quickly scanned the letter’s contents and looked at Luo Xiong, who had quieted with his head bowed, "Lead the way!"

An unquestionable trap, yet she could not hesitate.

If knowing the mountain held tigers, why venture toward it?

Because there were people she could not abandon there.

Under the oppressive expanse of clouds, the wind already carried the icy chill of snow.

Some forgotten plot details slowly seeped back in with the cold wind.

The protagonist’s brother was being held hostage by the antagonist, forcing the protagonist to walk into a trap.

Then...

Qin Xiao died.

The Qin Xiao in the book died.

To avoid implicating his own family.

Now it was her sister being held hostage...

"Drive!"

With a crack of the whip, the horses neighed and raced forward.

A snowflake suddenly landed on her brow, freezing the sudden surge of heat in her eyes...

...

The horses halted, snow obscuring the withered grass.

At the end of the withered grass lay a dilapidated manor.

Tang Xiaobai dismounted, raising her face to look at the manor.

The manor’s gate was ajar.

The plaque above was covered in cobwebs, and even the characters were no longer visible.

"Miss Tang is inside. It’s best if the Crown Princess Consort enters alone." Luo Xiong’s voice was hoarse, perhaps from braving the wind and snow.

Tang Xiaobai didn’t move, squinting at the characters on the plaque for a while before speaking slowly, "I haven’t seen or heard anything, so how do I know if my sister is truly inside?"

Upon finishing, she glanced at Luo Xiong.

Luo Xiong lowered his head, avoiding her gaze.

Tang Xiaobai was not in a hurry once she arrived, continued to stare at the plaque as if she were trying to discern the writing.

She didn’t have to wait long before something flew out of the manor.

The Xuan Yi Guard caught it and presented it to her.

Tang Xiaobai’s eyes narrowed sharply.

A pair of pointed leather boots, adorned in red and embroidered with gold, decorated with precious pearls, radiantly luxurious.

They were indeed Tang Jiaojiao’s boots. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

After a prolonged silence, Luo Xiong finally couldn’t resist and looked up.

The Crown Princess Consort was staring at the beautiful little boot, her lips pressed pale.

Evident stress, yet no panic showed.

Noticing Luo Xiong’s gaze, she redirected her words with a hint of sarcasm: "Such boots are rare in the Capital City, but not entirely unique."

Luo Xiong paused for a moment and softly replied, "But the Crown Princess Consort has no other choice."

It was a game of strategy from the start.

As long as Tang Xiaobai didn’t want the next item thrown out to be something more than just a boot, she had to choose to believe.

Tang Xiaobai twitched her lips: "Luo Xiong—" Her tone was calm and cold.

"I am here." Luo Xiong’s voice was also completely steady.

"Is Cheng Zi well?"

Luo Xiong hesitated, then calmly answered, "If the Crown Princess Consort wishes her well, she will be, just like Miss Tang."

Tang Xiaobai snorted, raising her foot, and walked towards the manor gate.

Luo Xiong immediately followed.

She wasn’t walking fast initially and stopped seven or eight paces from the gate.

Luo Xiong’s face showed impatience, "Crown Princess Consort, there’s no need—"

"Did you know she was pregnant?" Tang Xiaobai asked softly.

"What?" Luo Xiong’s expression suddenly blanked.

Tang Xiaobai turned, seriously looking at him, "Did you know Cheng Zi is carrying your child?"

Luo Xiong’s mouth hung open, eyes blank, seemingly unable to comprehend the meaning of her words.

Tang Xiaobai suddenly felt a pang of sorrow: "Did she not tell you?"

"On October 25th, she was diagnosed with pregnancy at the Eastern Palace. I wanted her to stay there, but she said she needed to go home and tell you the good news..."

She thought Cheng Zi might use the child to mend things, yet it was never mentioned.

Whether she mistrusted herself or Luo Xiong, she couldn’t tell.

But dropping this news now, it left Luo Xiong at a loss.

Luo Xiong didn’t move, and neither did Tang Xiaobai.

She silently observed Luo Xiong, simultaneously calculating the time consumed by the standoff.

It wasn’t enough... not enough...

After not much more waiting, sounds emerged from the manor gate.

Footsteps, like a fierce rush.

It seemed a signal, stirring countless breezes in the shadows.

Suddenly, the ajar door was pulled open, and a figure darted out.

In a faint green, speckled with orange, reflected in Tang Xiaobai’s panic-widened eyes.

Simultaneously reflected, behind the figure, was an immense aura of death.

The Xuan Yi Guard, long on alert, sprung into action.

Still, it was too late.

Between the opened gates, the woman’s slender and fragile form, one foot raised yet not over the threshold, was pinned to the ground by several long arrows launched through the doorway.

"Ah Cheng—"