What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 54: How Do You Know So Much?

"Isn’t it just a matter of having the emperor appoint the chosen one as the top scholar, making him the young top scholar?" Princess Ji said this naturally, as if she had done so before.

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but ask, "Was my grandfather the top scholar back then?" Her grandfather had passed away many years ago, and she didn’t know much about his life stories.

Unexpectedly, this question made Princess Ji blush with embarrassment. She lightly slapped Tang Xiaobai’s hand back, as if punishing her, and said, "What nonsense are you talking about! During your grandfather’s time, they hadn’t yet started the imperial exams!"

Tang Xiaobai: ...

No imperial exams, so why are you blushing?

"In any case, if it’s a mistake made by men, ask the men, why focus on a weak woman?" Princess Ji probably didn’t want to answer any more questions from her and shifted the topic again.

After saying this, she suddenly remembered something, and her tone became serious all of a sudden.

"Jiaojiao’er and Xiaobai should remember, if your husband is not good in the future, you are free to beat or scold him, and at worst, find another one. Don’t follow the behavior of those small families who only bully weak women!"

"Grandmother is right!" Tang Xiaobai almost clapped for her and thought for a moment, then winked at Tang Jiaojiao, "Sister should remember grandmother’s teachings!" Don’t go against the heroine because of that scumbag Li Shu!

Tang Jiaojiao suddenly raised her hand to strike, scaring the little girl into hiding in Princess Ji’s arms, feeling somewhat at ease, she snorted lightly and asked, "If Pingyang Princess calls off the engagement, will His Majesty still protect Zhao Jing?"

Compared to the love entanglements of Pingyang Princess, she was more concerned about whether her grievances could be avenged.

To this question, Princess Ji replied with an "It’s hard to say."

But the next day, everyone knew the emperor’s stance.

That day at noon, when Tang Xiaobai returned home, she saw the household servants carrying small boxes and large chests out of the main hall.

She couldn’t tell the material of these chests, but they all had copper corners and exquisite carvings, clearly not ordinary items.

Of course, the key point was that all the chests had bright yellow seals with the bold words "Imperial Gift" stamped on them.

"Why is there suddenly a reward?" Tang Xiaobai frowned at the pile of things, feeling no excitement at all.

The one handling these rewards was Zhou Xun, who smiled slightly at the question, hiding his mockery subtly: "It’s a reward for Miss Tang, Your Majesty said it was a misunderstanding that frightened Miss Tang, he’s already reprimanded Prince Consort Zhao, fined his salary, and ordered him to apologize in person with the central envoy."

Tang Xiaobai felt uneasy: "And that’s it?"

Zhou Xun chuckled and said, "Miss Tang is too frightened and bedridden right now, so Prince Consort Zhao will visit another day."

"What if he comes another day?"

Zhou Xun stroked his beard and said, "Gu Third Son, your cousin, is the only one practicing martial arts in this generation, yesterday His Majesty appointed Gu Third Son to the Imperial Guard."

A matter of interest exchange...

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but sneer, "They really don’t mind Zhao Jing having someone outside?"

The tone and words coming from a nine-year-old girl made Zhou Xun slightly uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and said, "As long as Zhao Jing admits his mistake, the Yue Girl is insignificant and can be dealt with."

Tang Xiaobai was alarmed: "Dealt with? How?"

...

After parting with Zhou Xun, the little Miss Tang walked slowly along the corridor to the main room.

Her steps were sluggish, carrying a heaviness inappropriate for her age, her figure somewhat dazed, as if her soul had wandered to another realm.

Li Mu watched from behind, recalling her detailed questioning with Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun probably didn’t expect her to ask so meticulously, and in the end, he could only give a perfunctory answer, saying "she will be sent back to her hometown."

But that certainly wasn’t the answer.

If the emperor insisted on protecting Zhao Jing, the Yue Girl would just be an easy-to-exploit leverage, naturally handled as cleanly as possible.

This little girl was always bright, perhaps she had thought of it too. Being kind-hearted, how could she bear seeing such a thing? She must be distraught because of this.

Originally, the Yue Girl’s life did not matter to him, in fact, if the Yue Girl died, it could even provoke a rift between Zhao Jing and the emperor, which would be good for him.

But——

"Ah Yuan, Ah Xiao, head back, we’ll meet at the usual time at the bamboo grove pavilion for study!" The little Miss Tang reached the main room, as usual, instructing them as she looked back.

Except today, her tone was unusually subdued, her expression somewhat absent-minded and despondent.

Li Mu took note of this. He fell behind a few steps as they departed and stopped by a tree.

"Get the Yue Girl out of the Capital City." He murmured.

Upon hearing the branches and leaves rustle by his ears, he quickly caught up with Ah Yuan...

...

"Escaped?" Zhou Xun put down his chopsticks, surprised.

"Yes! When the rogues broke in, the Yue Girl had already left, she didn’t even take her valuables, as if she fled in haste."

"Fled hastily?" Zhou Xun was more surprised, "Who tipped her off?"

The servant couldn’t answer this question either.

Zhou Xun thought for a while but couldn’t figure out who had tipped her off. He shook his head, "You may leave!"

Suddenly, he thought of Second Miss Tang’s pale, frightened expression when she left.

"Go see where Second Miss is—"

...

Tang Xiaobai was in the bamboo grove pavilion.

At this hour, she would usually be taking a nap, but today she felt troubled and couldn’t sleep, so she came early to do her homework.

Since it wasn’t the scheduled study time yet, she didn’t bring the other four with her.

She practiced writing alone, to calm her mind.

However, after writing only a few characters, she heard footsteps approaching.

As soon as she heard them, she knew who it was. She asked without looking up, "Why are you here?"

"Is Second Miss worried about the safety of the Yue Girl Zhen Su?"

The pen tip suddenly stopped.

She stared at the half-written words on the paper for a long time, then lowered her voice, "Why is it that those who do bad things remain untouched?"

"How does Second Miss know he remains untouched?"

Tang Xiaobai looked up, her eyes filled with confusion.

Li Mu sat down on her left side and said, "Those holding high positions in the court, either aristocratic families or with distinguished achievements, but Zhao Jing, from a humble background and young age, only rose rapidly due to connections. How many would willingly align with him, and how many are waiting to kick him when he’s down?"

The young girl’s eyes were wide open, her small mouth slightly agape, a mixture of shock and bewilderment.

Li Mu thought she didn’t understand, so he explained more simply: "There are few in the Capital City who climb the ranks as easily as Zhao Jing did. If he slips and gets caught, even with the emperor’s protection, it won’t be smooth sailing, he won’t come out of this unscathed, Second Miss need only wait." At least Wang Maozhao won’t miss this good opportunity.

"How do you know so much?" What surprised Tang Xiaobai was this.

Li Mu wasn’t afraid of her question and replied, "I’ve heard some things from people, then made deductions."

Tang Xiaobai didn’t doubt him either. After all, her own family’s little ancestor was so gifted, it’s not surprising he knows a bit of everything. She just sighed, "He deserves what’s coming to him, but it drags the innocent... " She wasn’t overly concerned about what would happen to Zhao Jing, she just felt Zhen Su was innocent.

Li Mu smiled slightly, about to speak—

"Second Miss!" someone called nearby.