Since being placed under house arrest in Prince Chen's mansion, Jiang Jiaojiao has been living a carefree and enjoyable life.

Every day, he either savored all kinds of delicacies, admired the exotic flowers and plants in the mansion, or played and laughed with the servants, having a great time!

Prince Chen doted on her even more, letting her do whatever she wanted. Their relationship grew deeper and deeper, becoming inseparable and as sweet as honey.

This is hardly a royal decree of house arrest; it's more like being ordered to start a romantic relationship.

only……

For some reason, the bustling activity at Prince Chen's residence caught the attention of certain people.

However, news spread that Jiang Jiaojiao was deliberately being mysterious, so that people would pretend that Prince Chen had recovered from his illness and that the whole mansion was celebrating.

then……

The news that Prince Chen's illness was serious and had not yet improved was increasingly confirmed.

Jiang Jiaojiao: "..."

Why is it that these days no one believes the truth?

Until this day.

The "Princess of Southern Xinjiang" suddenly appeared, leaning against the wall.

Jiang Jiaojiao was taken aback. "Didn't you say that we should only send messages when it's absolutely necessary, and avoid meeting in person to prevent being discovered?"

Who knew—

Suddenly, Shi Liu coughed up a mouthful of blood, "Princess..."

Before he could finish speaking, he fainted.

Startled, Jiang Jiaojiao quickly helped the person up and immediately gave them a nitroglycerin pill. Noticing the abnormal color of the blood, she also gave them an antidote pill.

Half an hour later.

Shi Liu slowly awoke, "Princess... His Highness was poisoned by Prince Jing..."

"Isn't this something we already knew?"

Jiang Jiaojiao frowned. Back then, the Southern Border Princess had admitted that it was Prince Jing who was instigating it, but she confessed too quickly, which aroused suspicion. That's why she sent Shiliu to impersonate the Southern Border Princess to investigate.

"But the poison... was found by Prime Minister Cui."

After taking the heart-saving and antidote pills, the bluish color on Shi Liu's face faded. "Prime Minister Cui wanted to silence me, and I barely escaped by risking my life, but I accidentally exposed my identity."

"It is because this servant is incompetent."

Shi Liu felt extremely guilty.

Jiang Jiaojiao's expression changed slightly. It was actually Prime Minister Cui?

"It was our oversight that led us to this... that the person behind it all is Prime Minister Cui! It seems that the Second Prince... is placing the Prince of the County under house arrest in preparation for sitting back and watching the tigers fight, so he can reap the benefits."

No wonder the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince ended up together in their previous life.

"Hehe, when the crane and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. With that old fox, Prime Minister Cui, around, Second Brother has become quite clever."

Prince Chen looked at Jiang Jiaojiao, his smile carrying a hint of meaning, "Jiaojiao...do you want to be the one who suffers the consequences?"

"Yellow Sparrow?"

Jiang Jiaojiao was taken aback, but immediately realized what she meant, and her eyes lit up. "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!"

yes!

If Prime Minister Cui and Prince An wanted to hide in the shadows and watch Prince Jing fight with them, then they... could naturally stir up the waters and push Prime Minister Cui and Prince An out.

They will become the sparrow in the shadows!

"Fifth Prince will be very pleased with the source of the poison."

Prince Chen's lips curled into a slight smile. "I've heard that a paradise has been discovered inside a mine in Shu. Would Jiaojiao like to go and see it?"

"A paradise on earth?!"

Jiang Jiaojiao was so shocked that her mouth opened into a big "o" shape, and then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she stopped talking abruptly.

"But I'm under house arrest..."

His voice carried a hint of helplessness and grievance.

Prince Chen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. His deep and bright eyes were like a pool of clear spring water, shimmering with a captivating light.

"It's just a change of location for confinement."

The Prince's eyes seemed to possess an invisible magic that made her nod involuntarily.

So, the next day.

Prince Chen's illness requires a specific medicinal ingredient, which must be taken on the spot to be effective. The emperor ordered Jiang Jiaojiao to accompany Prince Chen to find the medicine and dispatched a hundred imperial guards to protect him.

at the same time.

Inside the Prince Jing's residence, the Prince Jing received a secret letter.

Upon unfolding it, his face instantly turned extremely gloomy.

The princess of Southern Xinjiang was actually one of Prime Minister Cui's people!

Prince Jing flew into a rage and forcefully swept his sleeve, knocking all the writing implements, paper, and inkstones off the desk to the ground.

"hateful!"

Prince Jing roared through gritted teeth, his once gentle eyes now filled with a fierce look, as if they were about to spit fire.

"All that talk about love at first sight and unwavering devotion is fake!"

It turns out the antidote was in Prime Minister Cui's hands. He used the antidote to instigate a conflict between him and Prince Chen, hoping to reap the benefits! Perhaps... he might even get the Southern Border Princess to confess that he was the mastermind!

"I wish to enter the palace—"

The excuse he made was naturally to pay his respects to Consort De.

Unexpectedly, Prince Jing was nearly hit by a flying teacup as soon as he stepped into Consort De's palace!

The palace maids and eunuchs were so frightened that they all knelt on the ground, crying out, "Your Highness—"

There was also the comforting voice of a nanny, "Your Highness, don't worry. The Thirteenth Prince is accompanied by secret guards and is safe. You can punish him properly when he returns! This matter... is really not His Highness Prince Jing's fault!"

The old woman tried to persuade her for days, her lips practically chapped from talking.

Everyone can see that Prince Jing is now the last strong contender for the Crown Prince's favor, which is why Consort De is only focused on the Thirteenth Prince and is deliberately eroding her relationship with Prince Jing.

No matter how much I tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen.

Sure enough, Consort De couldn't stand it anymore and her angry voice rose up, "He is the thirteenth prince's own brother. His younger brother is in trouble, and instead of going to find him himself, he has the nerve to come and pay his respects to me!"

"I have no unfilial son like him!"

The old nanny was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud. "Your Highness—filial impiety is a grave crime! How can His Highness bear such a responsibility!"

Consort De was stunned for a moment before realizing that she had spoken nonsense in her haste. Her face turned embarrassed for a moment, but when she thought of the thirteenth prince who might be in danger outside at any time, she hurriedly wiped away her tears.

Prince Jing's face instantly turned extremely gloomy.

His gaze slowly moved, finally landing on Consort De, who was sitting on the couch, her face filled with anger and exhaustion.

The last glimmer of hope in my heart shattered like fragile glass with a crisp "crack".

His feet seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move forward even an inch.

After a while, he took a deep breath, suddenly flicked his sleeve, then knelt down and kowtowed respectfully with a dull thud as his knees hit the ground.

"Since Mother does not wish to see me now, I will not disturb you any longer so that you may rest in peace. Today, I will kowtow to Mother and pay my respects, wishing you good health and all your wishes fulfilled."

After saying this, Prince Jing kowtowed heavily again, but the pain from his forehead hitting the ground seemed to have no effect on him.

Then……

Before Consort De could call him, he got up and turned to leave.

Seeing that the usually obedient and submissive Prince Jing had left without regard for her anger, Consort De hurriedly stood up and shouted, "Your brother..."

"Mother, rest assured, I have already sent my personal guards to search for him. Thirteen is blessed with good fortune and will return soon to be by your side."

Prince Jing's lips trembled slightly. He forcefully uttered a sentence, then turned and left, his steps heavy and resolute, walking out of Consort De's palace without looking back.

His figure receded into the distance along the long corridor, like a lonely fallen leaf, mercilessly blown away by the cold wind.

It turns out that no matter how hard he tried to fight for it, the maternal love he longed for and yearned for could never be reached.

He once naively believed that as long as he was excellent and strong enough, his mother would give him that warm love.

But if you don't love someone, you just don't love them, even if they are a hundred or a thousand times stronger than Thirteen!

Consort De was so angry she nearly fell backward, "You—"

Your Majesty—be careful what you say!

The old nanny shouted, interrupting the two words that Consort De was about to utter.