What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 414 - 410: A Man Dies for a Friend Who Truly Understands Him
After Prime Minister Wang Maozhao’s death, all his descendants resigned from their official positions and returned home to observe mourning.
Although there are still members of the Wang family in the court, overall, the influence of the Wang family has waned.
In such a situation, painstakingly targeting the Eastern Palace doesn’t benefit the Wang family at all.
If not for profit, then it must be for resentment.
Although Wang Maozhao died an unnatural death, only those close to him would seek revenge.
Luo Xiong used to be one of Wang Maozhao’s men, and after Wang Maozhao’s death, the person who could inherit his connections became apparent—
"I’ve always seen him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing! Not a good person!" As the victim, Tang Jiaojiao gnashed her teeth in anger whenever she mentioned the person who kidnapped her, coldly snorting in disdain.
Despite this, Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but tease her: "Didn’t you choose him back then—"
"Pah!" Miss Tang nearly jumped, "Did I choose him? Was it him I chose? I chose the Wang family!" Upon reflection, she felt embarrassed, "I guess I misjudged!"
Tang Xiaobai sighed.
Wang Maozhao’s connections would naturally fall into the hands of his eldest legitimate son.
Everyone could anticipate this, so both the legitimate son and the eldest legitimate grandson were watched closely.
What was unexpected was that another legitimate grandson secretly took over Wang Maozhao’s connections.
Wang Jian.
The same Wang Jian who almost became engaged to Tang Jiaojiao, was the one who kidnapped her.
Tang Xiaobai and Wang Jian had crossed paths often, having traveled to Liangzhou together and conversed along the northern bank of the Yellow River.
Back then, when discussing their families’ positions, Wang Jian’s words "all roads lead to the same destination" touched her deeply.
However, reality proved that divergent paths ultimately could not converge.
"Oh!" Tang Jiaojiao suddenly remembered something, fished out a brocade bag from her sleeve, and thrust it into Tang Xiaobai’s hand: "Wang Jian said this is evidence of you murdering Wang Maozhao!"
Tang Xiaobai: ???
When did she ever murder Wang Maozhao?
Upon opening the brocade bag, she was stunned.
A small jade seal, with a tiger button, something only the Emperor and Empress could possess.
It was hers.
Back then, to persuade Wang Maozhao to verify Li Mu’s identity, she took this seal to him.
The Tiger Button Seal could only be used by the Emperor and Empress, not by the Crown Prince, and certainly not by the Crown Princess Consort.
Especially since at the time she was not yet the Crown Princess Consort.
She had actively left this seal with Wang Maozhao as a token, promising to look after the descendants of the Wang family after his death.
Unexpectedly, it had become evidence against her for murdering Wang Maozhao.
In hindsight, it was her fault for not verifying things after Wang Maozhao’s death, leading Wang Jian and others to see the seal and believe that Wang Maozhao had a hold over her and was silenced.
Seeing her complex expression, Tang Jiaojiao quietly asked, "Is it really you?"
Tang Xiaobai gave her a look, telling her to figure it out herself.
"I’m saying, who among us at Duke Yan Mansion would kill her grandfather?" Miss Tang immediately changed her tone, "Ha! I used to think he was smart-looking..."
Tang Xiaobai remained silent.
Whether they had the time was debatable, but Wang Maozhao was indeed killed by someone from the Duke Yan Mansion...
"That Wang family really conflicts with us," Miss Tang suddenly became more irritated, " After Wang Jian’s antics..." but trailed off, not finishing her sentence.
Tang Xiaobai was about to ask, when suddenly she swayed.
The carriage had stopped.
Getting off the carriage, they saw a small house.
At the entrance stood seven or eight people, waiting to welcome them.
These were ordinary people, and knowing the Crown Princess Consort was arriving, they were understandably nervous, except for a pale-looking woman at the front, who remained calm.
She was Cheng Zi’s mother.
Tang Xiaobai stepped forward, intending to support her.
However, as soon as she extended her hand, the woman stepped back slightly: "Thank you, Crown Princess Consort."
In that instant, Tang Xiaobai thought of Cheng Zi, quiet and measured, never wanting to trouble anyone.
The only time she ever went against convention was when she defied her parents’ wishes and chose Luo Xiong.
Tang Xiaobai withdrew her hand, somewhat silent.
At the time, Cheng Zi’s mother opposed it, while she supported it.
Cheng Zi’s mother looked at her, saluted again, and gently said, "Thank you, Crown Princess Consort, for returning my child."
Tang Xiaobai’s eyes grew warm: "It’s what I should do."
She had wanted Cheng Zi’s funeral to be held from the Eastern Palace, but Cheng Zi’s mother, through Tang Jiaojiao, requested to bring Cheng Zi’s body back.
"Fallen leaves return to their roots; it’s only natural.
Today, she and Tang Jiaojiao were there to send Cheng Zi off on her final journey.
In the mourning hall, the white mourning garments hung long, and the remains seemed alive.
Tang Jiaojiao took one look and frowned: "Back at Duke Yan Mansion, her face was still round. How long has it been since she left, and she’s become so haggard?" She then cast a glance at Tang Xiaobai.
Tang Xiaobai dared not speak.
Tang Jiaojiao continued: "You said Luo Xiong drugged her mother during childbirth; how could he have done it?"
Everyone knew Luo Xiong had no chance of approaching Duke Yan Mansion on his own; he must have used Cheng Zi.
"He switched out the sachet Cheng Zi was wearing." Tang Xiaobai replied.
That day, she returned to the Luo family and saw an old sachet left by Cheng Zi.
Cheng Zi was skilled in needlework, and over the years, Tang Xiaobai had worn countless embroidered pieces made by Cheng Zi, so she was quite familiar with Cheng Zi’s embroidery.
It was immediately apparent that this sachet was not embroidered by Cheng Zi, though its pattern matched those meant for a wedding.
Cheng Zi would never wear someone else’s embroidery at her wedding, and certainly not at Tang Xiaobai’s wedding.
Thus, this sachet could only have been prepared by Luo Xiong.
Tang Jiaojiao’s face showed anger: "How many times did her mother and Cheng Zi meet on your wedding day? And yet they fell for it—a sachet, an item worn all day!"
Her anger escalated, "Have the County Government sever ties between Cheng Zi and the Luo family!"
"It’s already being done." Tang Xiaobai replied.
Although unprecedented, as the grand Crown Princess Consort, she could easily exploit her privilege.
Tang Jiaojiao glanced at the memorial tablet, confirming that there was no "Luo" character, and nodded in satisfaction, asking, "Have the relics left in the Luo family been brought back yet?"
This time, Cheng Zi’s mother answered: "Not yet."
"Go fetch them right now; leaving them there is ominous!" The authoritative Miss Tang immediately issued orders, "Bring the Luo family genealogy too! Cut Cheng Zi from it right here, to prevent her from being unable to rest in peace!"
Attendants hurried to carry out her orders.
Having taken care of matters here, Tang Jiaojiao asked again: "Has the sacrificial text from the Ministry of Rites arrived? Who did you ask to write it?"
Tang Xiaobai shook her head.
What did shaking her head mean? Tang Jiaojiao furrowed her brows in confusion.
Tang Xiaobai gestured to Tao Zi, who indicated towards the door, and shortly, a maid entered carrying writing tools, preparing them for use.
"I’ll write it," Tang Xiaobai said.
She was the first person Tang Xiaobai met in this world, accompanying her for nearly six years.
She cared for her like family and accompanied her like a friend.
They studied together in the south of the city and discussed politics together in the Eastern Palace.
No one understood her cautious dreams better than Cheng Zi, and no one understood Cheng Zi’s subtle ambitions better than her.
This sacrificial text, only she should write it.
Tang Xiaobai rarely wrote articles, but this sacrificial text flowed beautifully.
With emotion flowing through, it poured onto the paper.
It wasn’t long before it filled the page.
Tang Jiaojiao watched on, frowning in confusion, unable to resist asking: "Why didn’t you mention her loyalty and protection of her master?"
Tang Xiaobai finished writing a word, paused with her pen, and a smile touched her lips: "She’s not—"
The pen resumed its motion, ink flowed.
As a woman, she held the ambitions of a scholar.
A woman does not adorn herself for those who admire her, but a scholar dares to die for a confidant.
Cheng Zi’s regard for her was never that of a loyal servant to a master.
Just as she was about to review her writing...
Suddenly, the sound of horses like muffled thunder, hooves shaking the ground, swept through the street outside like a storm.
As the house was small, the noise felt close, causing Tang Xiaobai’s heart to race.
"What’s going on?"
A eunuch came running in, low and hurried—it was Mo Huan, a master of disguise and deception—
"Left Brave Guard, people from the Palace!"
Straightaway, Tang Xiaobai recalled the words Miss Tang hadn’t finished before they got off the carriage.
With Wang Jian causing such a commotion, the news of Li Mu and Li Xingyuan’s return to the capital could no longer be kept secret.
