What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 86: Strike First for Advantage

"I trust what Second Miss Tang says—"

As the young man’s calm and gentle voice uttered these words, the snow pressed upon the bare branches suddenly crumbled, gently landing on his still somewhat frail shoulder.

The sound of the falling snow was particularly soothing, and in an instant, Tang Xiaobai felt a coolness in her heart, dispelling the restlessness and anxiety that had been unspoken moments ago.

"Why do you trust me?" Tang Xiaobai regretted the question as soon as she asked it.

The words were likely said to comfort her; by asking, she risked exposing the intention behind them.

"Prison break is no easy feat, and Zhao Jing’s whereabouts after his escape remain a mystery, suggesting he has allies; otherwise, he’d not be in hiding so deeply. Although Zhao Jing never overtly showed ties with Prince Jin, his repeated misdeeds had hints of the prince’s influence. While it’s unclear what Zhao Jing means to Prince Jin, Second Miss’s suspicions aren’t without grounds."

Tang Xiaobai looked at him dazedly for a moment, feeling somewhat touched.

She hadn’t thought this far herself...

"I wish my brother could think like you do!" Tang Xiaobai sighed.

Li Mu’s lips curved slightly upwards.

How Tang Ziqian thought, he didn’t know; after all, he had thought through many things before finding reasons for Second Miss Tang’s suspicions.

Even if the young lady’s reasons for suspecting Li Shu were insufficient, since she suspected him, if even he didn’t believe her, the young lady might be heartbroken.

Sure enough, after he stated why he trusted her, the young lady’s eyes brightened like stars, and her manner towards him became even more affectionate, almost as if Tang Ziqian, her own brother, wasn’t as dear to her as he was.

Li Mu felt slightly buoyed by this, his expression still calm: "The eldest son is older, so he might think the second miss is too young to be believed; unlike me, anything she says always holds some rationale."

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but laugh. Was he really teasing Tang Ziqian?

This attitude wouldn’t do!

Tang Xiaobai tiptoed and patted the snow off his shoulder, smiling: "Alright, you should go back; behave for the next few days, take good care of my brother—" Thinking of Ah Yuan being ordered around, she added a couple of words, "My brother’s injured, he might be a bit temperamental, but given his status, endure what you must. If you gain his favor, it might be good for your future."

Li Mu responded with a simple "hmm," and said, "I understand my position."

Watching the furry little figure of the young girl disappear behind the inner courtyard door, Li Mu turned and went back to the Yuanxiao Courtyard.

He walked to Ah Yuan’s door and saw Ah Yuan kneeling by the bed, massaging Tang Ziqian’s legs.

Tang Ziqian, who had been lounging against the bedhead with eyes half-closed, opened his eyes immediately when he saw him, lazily saying, "No strength in your hands, get out; let Ah Xiao come!"

Ah Yuan silently stood up and retreated to the doorway.

Tang Ziqian further instructed, "Don’t just stand there idle, go pick a plum blossom and take a vase from the eldest miss to put it in!"

"Yes," Ah Yuan replied woodenly.

Li Mu gave him a glance.

Humble and submissive, his manner almost failing to hide his inner endurance.

"Does the young master know about Ah Yuan’s background?" Li Mu asked as he walked towards the bed, his gaze falling on Tang Ziqian’s leg.

Tang Ziqian quickly withdrew his leg, sitting cross-legged: "What background? I don’t know!" He patted the bed edge, signaling Li Mu to sit, "I asked him, he wouldn’t say."

Li Mu stood with hands behind his back at the foot of the bed, saying, "I had someone investigate him, found nothing unusual, so you needn’t stress about it."

Though he often found Ah Yuan obnoxious, he was always around Second Miss, and she was always kind to her servants; if she found out Ah Yuan had a rough time with Tang Ziqian, she’d be heartbroken.

He didn’t want to see her heartache over others.

Tang Ziqian, of course, didn’t know of the turmoil in his heart, dismissively saying, "Whatever his origin, he’s a servant in my house now, what’s wrong with me ordering him around?"

"Just don’t push him too hard, else he might speak out."

"Naturally!" Tang Ziqian nodded, scrutinizing him, asking, "Has the poison in His Highness been neutralized?"

Li Mu answered a question with a question: "What are the Duke’s plans in bringing you back?"

Tang Ziqian laughed, "Father ordered me to assist His Highness as best as I can."

"How will you assist?"

"However His Highness instructs."

Li Mu paused for a moment, then asked, "Have you sent someone to investigate Cheng Zhidu’s side? When do you plan to return?"

"Zhou Xun will send someone to investigate," Tang Ziqian smiled, "Regardless of any issues with Vice General Cheng, I plan to loitering at the residence for a few days, wait until they reach the outskirts of the Capital City, then return."

Li Mu nodded, "This time, no matter who attempted to assassinate you, it won’t end so easily."

At his words, Tang Ziqian straightened his back, his eyes brightening, "Playing dirty?"

Li Mu looked steadily at him, "Strike first."

Tang Ziqian smirked, "Would Your Highness lend me a few hands?"

...

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, three thousand elite soldiers from Tingzhou, led by imperial command to the Capital City, reached Xianyang, adjacent to the capital.

That night, they lodged at Lingao Posthouse outside Xianyang.

Spring had not yet arrived; the night was still deep.

Just after the hour of Xu, the lights extinguished, save for the sound of the patrolling soldiers’ footsteps echoing across the solitude.

In such a silence, a sudden shout arose: "Assassins!"

The patrol soldiers swiftly moved towards the source of the shout.

As they arrived, several dark figures emerged from a small courtyard at the rear of the posthouse, scattering in different directions.

By then, the shout had alarmed the officials resting inside the rooms, and they emerged from all directions, rushing towards the small courtyard.

Upon reaching the courtyard gate, they were blocked by the first squad to arrive.

"Vice General Cheng!" The Ministry of War clerk, responsible for welcoming the Tingzhou army, stepped forward angrily, "I heard the shout calling for an assassin; it seemed to come from Little General Tang’s room. Vice General Cheng, instead of checking on Little General Tang’s well-being, why do you block us here?"

Cheng Zhidu’s eyes showed uncertainty.

He too had rushed over upon hearing the cry of an assassin, even witnessing the fleeing assassins.

But—

"Why has Vice General Cheng repeatedly obstructed us from seeing Little General Tang these past few days? Is Little General Tang so unwell that he can’t even be visited? Tomorrow, the Ministry of Rites officials will greet them at the outskirts; will Little General Tang remain invisibly aloof?" The Ministry of War clerk sneered, pressing the issue.

Cheng Zhidu frowned and unconsciously glanced towards the courtyard behind him.

Just as he looked that way, the door suddenly opened—

Out came a personal soldier from Tang Ziqian’s side, his sharp gaze swept the crowd, saluting Cheng Zhidu with clasped fists, saying, "Vice General Cheng, there was just an external assault; the Little General dispatched me to ask if the captives are secure!"

Cheng Zhidu nodded, "I’ve increased manpower for the guards. How is the Little General?"

The personal soldier’s gaze sharpened, "The Little General is injured by an assassin, I will go call for the military doctor," stepping aside, "Please—"

The courtyard gate swung wide, lights inside illuminated brightly.

Cheng Zhidu was taken aback.

Had they just returned?

...

The charming and handsome young general leaned against the bedhead, his left hand, pressing the wound, bled profusely, his gaze gently sweeping over the assembled officers, with a sigh: "I’ve always been kind to others, never made enemies. Only scores of Turkic lives under my command;"

"This group of assassins came too inexplicably, likely someone colluded with the defeated Turkic army—"