Chapter 134 The Eastern Palace

"Okay, then you can watch for a while. If you don't want to watch anymore, just leave."

He nodded: "Okay, I'll do as you say."

Tao Tao and Qi Heng walked in one after the other.

She walked to the middle of the bed, which was covered by a white sheet, and yanked it off, revealing a mangled corpse. The pale skin was covered with wounds, and there was a clear suture line between the limbs and the body.

The head on the body lay neatly on the headboard, waiting to be sewn on.

Everything looked extremely shocking.

She clasped her hands together, raised them high, closed her eyes, and made some noises, muttering to herself.

They were devout and very solemn.

After a while, she put it down and started working.

Qi Heng frowned and looked at it, then, as if remembering something, she looked worriedly at Tao Tao, who was sewing up the corpse's arm.

Tao Tao remained expressionless, her eyes focused intently, concentrating on her task without the slightest slackening. The terrifying scene before her seemed to have vanished from her sight.

Only with responsibility and enthusiasm for work.

Indeed, he saw passion for the job in her face.

The light from the oil lamp flickered in the wind, and she stood half in the shadows. Her face was half-closed, her eyebrows sometimes furrowed and sometimes relaxed, her red lips pursed, giving her a unique charm in the eyes of others.

He stared blankly, not even noticing when Tao Tao called him several times.

"An inkstone gift? An inkstone gift?! Your Highness."

His eyes cleared instantly, and a hint of embarrassment flashed across his face: "Excuse me, what did you just say?"

"I mean it's getting late, the shop should be closing."

"I'm sorry to have taken up your time."

His humble and polite manner, and the fact that the dignified Crown Prince would apologize to a commoner like her, truly surprised her.

"No, I just happened to be going home around this time too."

The two walked down the deserted street, the soft silver sunlight casting long, overlapping shadows on the ground, making the street seem less dark.

"I've arrived, goodbye?" This time she went through the back door.

He glanced at the wooden door with two lanterns hanging on it, nodded, and said, "Okay, get some rest."

Tao Tao smiled and said, "You too." Then she closed the door.

After she went inside, he stood at the door for a while before leaving.

Upon returning to the East Palace, the Crown Prince's Chamberlain hurriedly approached and cautiously said, "Your Highness, Qiu Baolin accidentally fell into the water this afternoon and has now died."

A concubine surnamed Qiu? She was a collateral relative chosen by the Empress Dowager from the Qiu family.

Qi Heng stopped in her tracks. "Then send it to Tao's shop on Chengnan Street and have it given a proper burial."

"Your Highness, in my opinion, there is something unusual about Qiu Baolin's drowning. Should we investigate this thoroughly so that we can give Her Majesty the Empress an explanation?"

"No need. I am not unaware of the sordid affairs in the backyard. Send someone to warn them that if they cause any more trouble, don't blame me for not considering the Empress Dowager's feelings and executing them one by one."

As he said this, his usually gentle face revealed a coldness that was quite different from his usual demeanor.

It sent a chill down one's spine.

The Crown Prince's Chamberlain bowed his head respectfully: "Yes, Your Highness."

Late at night, in the study.

Qi Heng sat at the table sorting out the mountain of cases that had piled up in the Dali Temple in recent years, while Shen Lin stood by and waited.

"Your Highness, should we have someone investigate the Cai family? Perhaps it really is the Cai family that took in Ding Yunxiang."

Upon hearing this, he looked up from his book and gazed at Shen Lin.

“Cai Jiuwen isn’t that stupid, and he certainly wouldn’t get himself into trouble at this crucial moment. We still don’t know where Ding Yunxiang went.”

Shen Lin was somewhat puzzled: "However, why doesn't Ding Yunxiang stay in the Tao family? Doesn't she know how dangerous it is outside? She's just a weak woman, where can she go?"

"Then only Ding Yunxiang herself knows."

Seeing that Qi Heng never mentioned the young lady from the Tao family, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Does His Highness the Crown Prince really believe what Tao Tao says?

He couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Your Highness, I think it might be related to Tao Tao. She knows the truth, but she keeps quiet and deceives you with lies."

"Shut up!"

Qi Heng slammed her hand on the table, unusually becoming angry.

Shen Lin was immediately shocked and knelt on the ground: "Your Highness, please forgive me, it was my slip of the tongue."

The shock in my heart surged and boiled like a turbulent sea.

His chest heaved as he calmed his volatile emotions: "She wouldn't lie to me, I believe her."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Your Highness, your concubine, Chen, requests an audience."

The eunuch stood at the door and knocked cautiously. Behind him stood a beautiful woman wearing a pink and blue cross-collar dress embroidered with butterflies, and a maidservant beside her was carrying a midnight snack.

Chen Baolin was somewhat uneasy, his hands clasped tightly together.

Since the Empress bestowed them upon His Highness the Crown Prince and moved them into the inner courtyard, she has not seen His Highness set foot in the inner courtyard for a month. If it weren't for the Qiu Baolin incident, she would not have thought of taking the initiative.

Qiu Baolin deserved to die; who told her to carry the gifts bestowed upon her by His Highness the Crown Prince and dare to flaunt them?

Moreover, she was from the Empress's family, making her more likely to gain the Crown Prince's favor compared to them.

Since that's the case, it's better to eliminate this biggest enemy first, and then let the three sisters rely on their own abilities to deal with the rest.

Fortunately, she was farsighted and worked tirelessly every day to manage the money and bribes.

Especially the little eunuch by the Crown Prince's side, she finally seized the opportunity. She believed that as long as His Highness the Crown Prince remembered her, she would definitely be able to rise to prominence.

Moreover, there is currently no Crown Princess or Consort in the Eastern Palace.

If she can give birth to the eldest grandson of the emperor first, even if she doesn't become the crown princess, she can still become a concubine by virtue of her son.

The door was pushed open from the inside, and she peeked out with great excitement, only to be disappointed by the person who appeared.

Shen Lin said expressionlessly, "His Highness is busy with official duties and does not see anyone. Madam Chen, please leave."

"this……"

Concubine Chen's eyes widened in disbelief; she had arrived all this way, yet His Highness the Crown Prince still refused to see her.

No, she was determined to see His Highness the Crown Prince tonight. The Crown Prince was kind and benevolent; even if she barged in, he wouldn't do anything to her.

Thinking this, Concubine Chen strode forward and barged inside.

Shen Lin hadn't expected her to act this way, and since she was the Crown Prince's woman, he didn't dare to lay a hand on her.

She actually managed to break in.

"Your Highness, I, Chen Lufu, greet you. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

"go out."

The smile on her face hadn't lasted long when a cold remark instantly froze her expression.

He didn't tell her to get up, and she didn't dare to get up rashly. She just raised her eyes slightly and saw that the man sitting high above her was noble and incomparably handsome.

Even if he weren't the crown prince, she would still be captivated by such a man.

"Your Highness, I was bestowed upon you by the Empress, and you have never entered the inner courtyard. When the Empress sent people to inquire, I did not know how to answer."