Su Shunqing’s face was quite normal at first, including when he heard her sentence; his expression was still normal.

But suddenly, he thought of something, and his face changed, his eyes sharply looking at her: "What does Second Miss want to say?"

"How long has it been since you last received a handwritten letter from your princely heir?"

Su Shunqing remained silent, but his face turned increasingly ugly.

Tang Xiaobai watched, her heart sinking.

In the original plot, Li Xingyuan would inherit the title next year, meaning Prince Changshan, Li Mingyi, would die next year.

She’s not the only one who knows the original plot in this world.

Previously, Zhao Jing joined Zhenzhou. On what basis did he gain Li Mingyi’s trust?

Why did Li Mingyi bypass Li Xingyuan, who was in the Capital City, and send Zhao Jing into the Capital?

Given Li Mingyi’s age and health, it might not have been a natural death in the original plot.

Between this father and son, there must be conflicts that even Li Xingyuan was unaware of.

But if Zhao Jing said something, and if Li Mingyi realized the irreconcilable conflict between them, could it be, he would strike first?

"I will send someone back to take a look!" Su Shunqing said with a dry voice.

"I think you should go back in person!" Tang Xiaobai suggested.

Su Shunqing was Li Xingyuan’s person because in the book, after Li Mingyi died, Su Shunqing was still Li Xingyuan’s confidante.

But at this moment, Su Shunqing clearly did not believe in the seriousness of the matter: "I am the Zhenzhou Envoy, I cannot leave the Capital at will—"

"Envoy Su!" A subordinate clerk hurriedly bowed outside the door, "A letter from Zhenzhou!"

Su Shunqing’s eyes flickered.

A letter from Zhenzhou, if it were presented directly.

Without being presented directly, it meant it was a verbal message.

Tang Xiaobai sensibly took her leave.

After she left, the subordinate clerk quickly brought in a person.

His clothes were covered in grass and mud, face weathered from the elements, at a glance, like a beggar.

That person tremblingly took out a seal from his bosom, engraved with bamboo hiding the moon.

Upon seeing the seal, Su Shunqing’s eyes suddenly shrank.

"The Princess Consort... was murdered!"

...

"... All of the Princess Consort’s belongings have been sorted through, missing a personal seal, the one with bamboo hiding the moon." The woman spoke softly, gently arranging the man’s clothes.

"Have you looked in Yue’er’s place?" The man asked, eyes lowered, voice relaxed.

"Not yet, the County Mistress has been accompanied by Mrs. Su, it’s inconvenient..."

"I will have someone look for it, you should not act rashly." The man opened his eyes, his gaze deep and restrained, without a trace of emotion, "Manage the people in the mansion, the Su Family and Liang Family are still here."

The woman lowered her hand and responded softly in agreement.

The man turned his head, gazed at her for a moment, raised his hand to stroke her hair, and said in a low voice: "I’ll go see Li Xingyuan."

...

The emperor establishes an Eastern Palace for the Crown Prince, and both officials and civilians often place their firstborn sons in the eastern part of their residences.

For example, Tang Ziqian lives in the East Garden of the Duke Yan Mansion.

The East Garden of the Changshan Prince Mansion is also where Li Xingyuan resides, though Li Xingyuan has been stationed at Jingxing Pass for years, making the East Garden seem relatively deserted compared to other parts of the Prince Mansion.

Previously, Li Xingyuan secretly entered the Capital, bringing only several dozen trusted martial experts, leaving his soldiers at Jingxing Pass.

Afterward, he rushed back from Hedong to Zhenzhou, leaving most of his men to Li Mu, taking only ten with him.

Hence, the current East Garden, both inside and outside, is filled with people personally assigned by Prince Changshan Li Mingyi.

Li Mingyi entered with large strides, asking as he went: "Has anyone come to visit the Princely Heir today?"

"Liang San came but was turned away at the door."

Li Mingyi nodded, entered the room.

During the bitterly cold winter in Zhenzhou, enough to freeze many poor people.

Li Xingyuan’s room had no charcoal burning, the walls were stark white, almost without furnishings.

It wasn’t that Li Mingyi purposely mistreated him, but because he was in mourning for his mother, a modest residence was customary filial piety.

If Li Xingyuan were frailer, a winter like this could take half his life.

But he knew it wouldn’t.

His legitimate firstborn son had been trained in martial arts by famous masters since childhood, not easy to defeat, he deliberately increased the medication by fifty percent to ensure Li Xingyuan remained peacefully in bed.

Li Mingyi glanced at the face on the bed, seven or eight parts similar to his own, yet much younger, his eyes darkened, ordered: "Wake him up."

Incense burned for a moment, Li Xingyuan slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze moved with difficulty, seeing Li Mingyi at the bedside, he let out a low laugh.

Li Mingyi, expression indifferent, took a hairpin from his sleeve, a golden sparrow, wings spread, luxurious and bright.

Li Xingyuan’s lazy, self-mocking gaze sharply contracted.

The golden sparrow hairpin was raised before him—

"Crack!" It broke in two.

Li Xingyuan suddenly leaped up, lunging toward him.

He took a step back, quietly watching as Li Xingyuan fell to the ground, struggling for a long time without rising.

"Is there a girl you fancy?" Li Mingyi looked at the golden sparrow hairpin in his hand, loosened his grip, and the broken hairpin fell to the ground.

He folded his hands behind his back, watching as Li Xingyuan crawled to seize the hairpin, smiled slightly, and said: "Which family does she belong to? Zhenzhou? Or the Capital?"

Li Xingyuan clenched the golden sparrow hairpin in his hand, taking a deep breath, spoke in a low voice: "Why?"

"Who told you to kill Zhao Jing?"

Li Xingyuan paused, his voice betrayed disbelief: "You... just for Zhao Jing... just for Zhao Jing?"

Father and son, could they truly not withstand a single Zhao Jing’s manipulation?

"Why kill Zhao Jing?" Li Mingyi squatted down in front of him, eyes cold, "What are you afraid he’ll say?"

The broken end of the hairpin pierced into his palm, Li Xingyuan laughed painfully: "What am I afraid he’ll say?"

Li Mingyi did not answer, standing up, indifferently said: "Help the Princely Heir lie down properly."

Li Xingyuan was helped up, and finally saw his father’s face once more.

In the past, they had a kind father-son relationship; why had they become so unfamiliar?

"I ask you," he stared intently at Li Mingyi, "how did my mother die?"

Mother, though weak, was not so frail, otherwise, how could he have been at ease leaving for so long?

But Li Mingyi didn’t answer, calmly giving the order: "Take good care of the Princely Heir." and left.

Li Xingyuan lay quietly on the bed, rubbing the golden hairpin with his injured palm, the pain making his mind clearer.

He was ambushed with knockout incense at his weakest moment while keeping vigil, leading to long stretches of unconsciousness, and when he occasionally awoke, he was powerless.

Escaping on his own was nearly impossible.

The men he brought back must also have been controlled.

Members of the Su and Liang families close to him have visited, but were dismissed with "the Princely Heir is too grief-stricken," and if his father intended to deal with him, the Su and Liang families would be the first targets, likely under close watch now.

So, his only hope probably lies with the Crown Prince, soon to arrive near Taihang Mountain...

...

"The group suppressing bandits in Hedong should soon reach Taihang Mountain, and they might send someone over," Li Mingyi said slowly as he walked out of the East Garden, continuing to talk to his trusted aide, "Among the people coming this time, there might be someone from Crown Prince Li Mu—"

"Be cautious in dealing with them."