Chapter 148 We Both Understand

"Then I will still bestow this fiefdom upon your Murong family as the inheritance of the county princess's fiefdom. This will reduce a lot of trouble."

Murong Huaishi was overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty. I am grateful to Your Majesty on behalf of my daughter."

He never expected that the Yingzhou fiefdom would return to the Murong family in this way. It seems that taking Tao Tao as his goddaughter was definitely the right decision.

He hadn't taken it seriously before, but now he really had to treat this adopted daughter well.

Perhaps in the near future, this peach will bring him unexpected results.

"However, the Qiu family jade pendant found on the assassin indicates that this matter is inextricably linked to the Qiu family. Immediately surround the Qiu family's residence and order the Imperial Guards to guard it. In addition, the Ministry of Justice is to conduct a full investigation, with the Privy Council providing assistance."

"Until the matter is thoroughly investigated, the Qiu family will only take in money and not give it out."

The Eastern Palace.

The girl lying on the bed was pale and covered in cold sweat from excessive blood loss. Her slightly open clothes revealed the bandage on her right shoulder.

Murong Yan sat on the chair, feeling extremely uncomfortable, peeking inside every now and then, looking very anxious.

Only after Granny Sun came out did he go up to her and ask, "How is she? Is my sister alright?"

He looked down at the blood and bandages in the copper basin, and his breath hitched. He disregarded the proper separation between men and women and ran inside, bypassing Granny Wu.

"Hey? My lord?"

Granny Wu handed the copper basin to a palace maid and hurriedly went in to stop them.

"Madam Murong is resting. Why don't you wait outside?"

His Highness instructed her to take good care of Murong Tao, and she naturally obeyed. Moreover, she could tell that His Highness had a special affection for this woman; the level of nervousness he showed clearly indicated that he liked her.

His Highness has finally come to his senses, so she must take good care of this young lady, otherwise something might happen to her.

Murong Yan glanced at her impatiently and said irritably, "She's my sister. What's wrong with me looking after my own sister?"

Granny Sun smiled and said, "Young Master Murong, that's not what I meant. It's just that Madam Murong needs to rest now, and you wouldn't want her injuries to worsen, would you?"

After speaking, he thought it over again and again, but still did not go any further.

Suddenly, a faint whimper came from inside. Murong Yan heard it and hurriedly shouted, "Little Peach, how are you? Are you alright? Should we send someone to help you?"

Seeing this, Granny Sun quickly went inside and saw Tao Tao about to get up, so she hurriedly went to help her up.

"Madam Murong, be careful not to touch the wound."

Tao Tao weakly looked up and found that the person in front of her was someone she had never seen before. Not only that, the room was also unfamiliar, but it was very luxurious.

Is she still in the palace? Or...?

"Thank you, but I... I'd like to have some water."

Her voice was a little dry and carried a hint of weakness.

With the slightest movement, she felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder near her heart, so painful that she couldn't help but scrunch up her face and hiss.

"Come on, drink slowly."

Granny Sun handed the water to her, preparing to feed her.

Tao Tao was a little unaccustomed to it and quickly took it away: "Thank you, I can do it myself."

"You're not feeling well right now, so let me help you."

Instead of following Tao Tao's suggestion, she pushed her hand away and held the teacup to her lips.

After drinking the water, Tao Tao remembered that Murong Yan was still outside.

"Come in, I'm still alive."

Hearing the sound, Murong Yan lifted the tassel and rushed in. The moment he entered, she saw the worry and anxiety on his face.

"How did you get so badly injured? Look at you, what were you trying to do? You've gotten yourself into this state. The Emperor will naturally send someone to save you, but what about you? If you die, you're really going to die."

Listening to his seemingly scolding but actually caring words, Tao Tao raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.

"Granny, I'm a little hungry. Could you get me something to eat?"

Granny Sun looked up at her, then turned to look at Murong Yan, nodded with a sigh, and turned to leave.

Everyone's already out, so there's nothing to hide anymore.

"I survived, didn't I? Fortune favors the bold, you surely understand that."

Because we're all doing the same thing, aren't we, Murong Yan?

The girl still had a bright, sparkling look in her eyes as she gazed at him, her smile both charming and adorable, yet strangely tinged with a naive cruelty.

Murong Yan was stunned, his expression gradually calming down, and the deliberately nonchalant attitude he had been displaying vanished at this moment.

He looked down and chuckled. "You're right."

He just didn't expect that she was doing it willingly, voluntarily getting caught up in this vortex of power.

"I'm very curious, how did you come to know the Crown Prince?"

Even her father wasn't someone she could just see whenever she wanted, so how did she, a commoner, become acquainted with the Crown Prince?

"Hmm... it was a coincidence..."

She only said that one sentence and then said nothing more.

"Madam Murong, I've had the kitchen prepare some chicken porridge for you. Please try it and see how it tastes."

Granny Sun walked in with a tray, and the aroma of meat immediately wafted over, whetting her appetite.

Just as she was having her meal, she heard footsteps outside the door again.

"His Majesty's oral decree!"

An old eunuch followed beside Murong Huaishi, and he looked very respectful to the old eunuch.

Everyone in the room knelt on the ground. Tao Tao was about to make a move, supporting herself on the bed, when the old eunuch quickly stepped forward and said with a smile, "Princess, please be careful. You are injured and can stay in bed."

County Princess? What county princess?

She frowned, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

The next second, upon hearing the old eunuch's words, she completely understood what the county princess meant.

"By imperial decree, Murong Tao is intelligent, resourceful, and courageous, and has rendered meritorious service in saving the Emperor. Therefore, she is hereby granted the title of Princess Huaimin, awarded a thousand taels of silver and ten bolts of Suzhou brocade, and granted the fief of Yingzhou with a fief of a thousand households, as a sign of imperial favor. This decree is hereby issued."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty..."

Gao Liangui stepped forward and smiled, "Princess, the gifts bestowed by His Majesty will be delivered directly to the Murong residence later."

Tao Tao nodded: "Thank you, Father-in-law."

"Please don't stand on ceremony, I'll head back now."

After the people from the palace left, Murong Huai Shi walked over with a big smile and said warmly, "Xiao Tao, you are truly a lucky star for our Murong family."

"Where is the Crown Prince? Where is this place?"

Murong Yan said, "This is the Eastern Palace. I reckon the Crown Prince is still with His Majesty."

Are you alright? Or should we just go back?

Tao Tao had no objections. This was the East Palace, so she couldn't stay there for long: "I can manage. I'll put on my coat and go back in a bit."

Upon hearing this, Murong Yan pulled Murong Huai Shi out.

Granny Sun frowned and said cautiously, "Madam Murong... no, Princess, why don't you wait for His Highness to return? If His Highness comes back and finds you not here, he might worry."

"I will thank Your Highness for your kindness another day, but I have to go now."