What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 427 - 423: Dawn to Dusk—Empress Side Story (Part 2)
Tang Xiaobai stared at the empty throne in a daze and asked Yu Jun, who was sorting memos, "Has Your Majesty gone to the Forbidden Garden again?"
"Yes."
Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment and asked, "Has he been going there every afternoon these days?"
Yu Jun also pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "He didn’t go yesterday."
Tang Xiaobai found it both funny and exasperating.
Of course not. How could he go while there was a county magistrate examination yesterday?
No wonder these past few days when she woke from her nap, Li Mu still hadn’t finished the memos. Turns out he sneaked out.
What exactly was he up to?
His Majesty the Emperor doesn’t seem like someone who would toss aside memos just for horseback riding, does he?
Tang Xiaobai thought about asking him when he returned, but unexpectedly, today His Majesty the Emperor returned half an hour later than usual.
Moreover, he seemed a bit off.
He had changed into different clothes, as usual, groomed meticulously from head to toe, stood straight and looked normal, but Tang Xiaobai felt there was something listless about him.
"What’s wrong?" Tang Xiaobai asked.
"I lost track of time for a moment and came back late." He sat down as usual and explained in a faint tone.
After Yu Jun presented the memos and retreated, he pursed his lips, quietly saying, "Got injured accidentally..." His head slightly drooped like a dejected big puppy.
Tang Xiaobai, who should have been concerned about his injury, couldn’t help but laugh out loud, which provoked a resentful glance from His Majesty the Emperor. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"How did you get injured?" Tang Xiaobai asked with a smile, examining him, "Fell off a horse?"
While saying, she glanced at his lower body.
His Majesty the Emperor felt insulted: "How could I possibly fall off a horse!"
Tang Xiaobai, holding back laughter, examined his upper body: "Then where are you hurt?"
From his demeanor upon returning, although there seemed to be an air of nonchalance about it, it probably wasn’t too serious.
Based on her understanding of His Majesty, along with his subtle hints, Tang Xiaobai quickly focused her gaze on his right arm.
Sure enough, he rolled up his right sleeve, revealing his upper arm.
Tang Xiaobai instinctively gasped.
His entire upper arm was bruised, swollen into a large lump!
"What happened?" Tang Xiaobai asked in shock.
Li Mu had practiced martial arts since childhood and was talented, accompanied by top experts like Mo Ji and Mo Huan.
Other than the dangers of the battlefield, it was almost impossible for him to get injured at other times.
"Were you attacked?" Tang Xiaobai asked, then shook her head to deny it.
An attack wouldn’t cause bruising without bleeding; it looked more like a blunt force injury, like... a wooden stick?
Tang Xiaobai gave him a glance, "Could it be a brawl?"
"No!" His Majesty the Emperor immediately denied it sternly.
After denying, he deflated again: "It was..."
"Your Majesty—" The voice from outside interrupted Li Mu’s confession, "Prince Su and Heir of Prince Su request an audience!"
Li Mu’s expression changed instantly: "Not seeing them!"
"Wait!" Tang Xiaobai stopped the messenger and turned to examine Li Mu curiously, "Why are they here?"
Annoyance flashed in Li Mu’s eyes.
Tang Xiaobai suddenly realized: "Did Li Xiao cause your injury?"
"How could that be?!" To His Majesty, this was even more insulting than falling from a horse, "I accidentally took a blow from him while vying for the ball!"
"Vying for the ball?" Seeing the guilty look in His Majesty’s eyes, Tang Xiaobai understood, "You’ve been playing polo? So you’ve been going to the Forbidden Garden these days to play polo?"
Li Mu nodded with a hint of dejection.
Polo, also known as "kicking field".
This was a noble sport.
While the nobles of the Central Plains also enjoyed it, it wasn’t as popular as in Tibet.
Due to the visit of the Tibetan envoys, both she and Li Mu had looked into the current situation in Tibet.
After learning that many Tibetan nobles were skilled in polo, Li Mu had specially organized a polo match to observe.
She saw the young emperor’s eyes light up with passion back then.
Tang Xiaobai didn’t understand: "If you wanted to go, why sneak around?"
Li Mu discerned something from her expression: "You don’t disapprove of me playing polo?"
Looking at the undisguised excitement and anticipation in his eyes, Tang Xiaobai smiled: "Why would I disapprove?"
The charm of competitive sports, what hot-blooded youth could resist?
Besides, her emperor had always been too calm and composed since childhood, seeing him passionate about a sport like this, how could she possibly object?
"You said that day playing polo was too dangerous." Li Mu said quietly.
At his mention of it, Tang Xiaobai recalled.
That day, when they watched the match together, she did indeed say that.
Polo demanded high riding skills, with its competitive nature, it indeed was dangerous.
"Is it more dangerous than going to battle?" Tang Xiaobai laughed, "Polo is indeed dangerous, which is why we should take precautions, such as proper venue, equipment, trained mounts, and having a doctor on standby to prevent accidents. There’s no reason to ban it due to fear of danger."
His Majesty the Emperor listened intently, eyes shining: "Ah Jiao is right!"
"Then let them in first, Prince Su and his son?"
...
Prince Su Li Qing was of high rank and was Li Mu’s great uncle.
But Prince Su had been especially favored by the former emperor; with a change of ruler, he’s more cautious before Li Mu.
Unfortunately, his only son clearly did not agree with his cautious approach.
Li Xiao was almost dragged in by Prince Su, entering Liangyi Palace while still putting on airs, chin raised—
His raised chin met eyes with Tang Xiaobai’s, causing some inexplicable contraction of the gaze, followed by a slight withdrawal of his chin.
Tang Xiaobai hadn’t thought much of it when His Majesty next to her snorted, beginning to exude cold air.
Seeing the emperor’s displeasure, Prince Su pulled Li Xiao down to kneel, repeatedly acknowledging guilt.
Li Xiao sneered in defiance: "If you can’t bear getting a minor injury on the polo field, why play at all? If Your Majesty is that fragile, just say so, and I’ll personally escort the ball into the net for you!"
Tang Xiaobai’s temple twitched, she rose sharply and commanded: "Someone, arrest the rebellious Li Xiao!"
The Xuan Yi Guard swiftly entered, seizing Li Xiao.
Prince Su was stunned by the turn of events, quickly groveled and shouted, "Mercy, Your Majesty! Mercy, Your Grace!"
Li Xiao made a loud protest: "Li Mu! If you can’t afford to lose, don’t play polo! If you’re capable, arrest all the world’s polo players!"
Li Mu acted as if he hadn’t heard, calmly watching his formidable yet adorable Empress.
Hmm... Ah Jiao is standing up for him...
Tang Xiaobai hadn’t noticed his gleeful thoughts.
Giving a nod, she signaled for them to gag Li Xiao, then addressed Prince Su’s pale face in a more lenient tone: "No need to be alarmed, Prince Su, your act of righteousness in disciplining and bringing the rebellious to justice will surely earn you recognition from His Majesty!"
Prince Su quickly kowtowed: "Your Grace sees clearly! Li Xiao only accidentally injured His Majesty, not an assault! Not an assault!"
Tang Xiaobai frowned immediately: "Not an assault?"
"Not an assault! Not an assault! Please, Your Majesty and Your Grace, ascertain the truth!"
Tang Xiaobai’s expression darkened, and her tone instantly grew cold: "If not a deliberate attack, then what crime did you come to confess in the Palace?"
Before Prince Su could answer, she smirked coldly: "His Majesty returned from playing polo without mentioning the origin of his injury, I thought it happened accidentally on the field, seeing you confess at court made me think His Majesty and I overlooked it, and thanks to Prince Su’s loyalty, you acted in justice. Now what? Was Prince Su deliberately provoking His Majesty and I?"
Prince Su was speechless for a while.
The Empress’s aggressiveness gave him the illusion, amidst his panic—
That the overly composed His Majesty seemed somewhat kinder, promptly turning his head to beseech: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I had no such intention! Your Majesty sees clearly!"
