Chapter 123 The Struggle for the Crown Princess

Meng Yanzhi truly did not expect this person to appear at this time.

Her eyebrows furrowed tightly as she looked at Meng Anxian: "The husband my mother chose for me is already in the Ministry of Justice prison, isn't he?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Anxian burst out laughing. She looked at Meng Yanzhi and said, "That's because you're lucky. If it weren't for you, how could Young Master Xu have..."

"Sister, you must be careful what you say. Xu Shize is only locked up now, he's not dead yet, it's not time for him to die without being able to testify."

"His Highness the Crown Prince finally gave you a kind look, and instead of seizing the opportunity, you're still nagging me. Are you out of your mind, or do you simply not care about His Highness the Crown Prince at all?"

Meng Yanzhi didn't give Meng Anxian any time to waste and directly defined the matter.

"Meng Yanzhi, it's only been a few months since we last met, and you've become even more sharp-tongued. But so what? I'll be the Crown Princess soon, and you'll have to kneel and kowtow to me then!" Meng Anxian crossed her arms and looked coldly at Meng Yanzhi: "Even if you're the Meng family's biological daughter, so what? You'll never be as good as me!"

So that's what she cared about.

Meng Yanzhi found Meng Anxian's hysterical state utterly ridiculous.

She took a deep breath and then said coldly, "Whether you believe it or not, I never intended to compete with you for anything. In fact, after arriving in the capital, I often missed my previous life, but you simply didn't want to let me go, did you?"

It seems so pale and powerless to say this now, but Meng Yanzhi still couldn't help but say it.

Meng Anxian stood there, stunned, staring at Meng Yanzhi in disbelief. Suddenly, she burst out laughing: "Hahaha, you really have no ambition. You'd rather be a proper noble lady in the capital than go back to the village. It's ridiculous!"

"Yes, I am so ridiculous, and what I want is also so ridiculous, but I can never get it."

“Meng Anxian, you are about to become the Crown Princess, so you know perfectly well whether you should be here arguing with me or not.”

Meng Yanzhi walked over, opened the door, and looked at Meng Anxian coldly.

Meng Anxian knew very well that she absolutely could not cause a scene with Meng Yanzhi at this moment, otherwise, she might lose the position of Crown Princess that she had just secured.

"Something terrible has happened!"

"Help! Someone come quick!"

Suddenly, a commotion broke out outside. Meng Yanzhi frowned slightly, grabbed Zhao Bailu's hand, and walked out together with the crowd to a side hall not far away.

Inside the room, Xiao Ce and Xu Yunrou were lying on the bed, their clothes disheveled. Anyone with eyes could tell what had happened.

The air was filled with the scent of ylang-ylang, and Meng Yanzhi could tell at a glance that Xiao Ce had been tricked.

Her eyebrows furrowed tightly before she spoke, "Meng Anxian, if you want to be the Crown Princess, you must endure it and absolutely must not cause trouble!"

"You!" Meng Anxian subconsciously shook off Meng Yanzhi's hand, but she still understood that Meng Yanzhi was right.

Consort Liu rushed over and her face turned ugly when she saw this scene: "How dare you! Which palace maid are you?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. This is my cousin, Xu Yunrou." Meng Yanzhi held Meng Anxian's hand, stepped forward, and gave a proper bow.

Upon hearing this, Consort Liu's face turned very ugly. She rolled her eyes at Madam Meng and said irritably, "How did you manage to bring such a scandalous thing into the palace?"

Xu Yunrou shouldn't be here in the first place; she should be with Xu Shize. But she just happened to be here. Meng Yanzhi couldn't think of anyone else who could scheme against the Crown Prince besides the Jade Prince.

"Rou'er, your father and mother were originally planning to get you out of the Ministry of Justice prison, but we never expected that you would be so capable as to come here on your own?"

As she spoke, Meng Yanzhi strode forward and pointed to the incense burner beside her.

"This ylang-ylang fragrance is priceless. How do you, a woman who just came out of the Ministry of Justice prison, possess such a precious item?"

"Your Majesty, this woman is suspicious. We beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

Meng Yanzhi knelt on the ground and pointed out all the suspicious points in the room.

"Outrageous! Breaking out of prison without permission and daring to plot against the Crown Prince—such despicable methods deserve to die!"

"Guards, take this vile woman back to my Crystal Palace!"

"Summon the imperial physician!"

Consort Liu immediately understood Meng Yanzhi's meaning, her expression changed instantly, and she pointed at Xu Yunrou's nose and cursed loudly.

Immediately afterwards, Meng Yanzhi grabbed Meng Anxian's arm and pinched it hard.

Meng Anxian screamed almost instinctively, and then tears streamed down her face.

"Don't be sad, little sister. I believe His Highness the Crown Prince must have been tricked. He still cares about you!" Meng Yanzhi's voice was loud as she tugged at Meng Anxian's sleeve, signaling her to cooperate with her through her eyes.

Meng Anxian never dreamed that one day she would be led by the nose by Meng Yanzhi, but now, she had no better choice than to go along with Meng Yanzhi.

"Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince must be innocent. Your Majesty must investigate this matter thoroughly and clear the Crown Prince's name, restoring the innocence of the Meng family!" Meng Anxian immediately knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Upon seeing this, Madam Meng quickly stepped forward and knelt beside Meng Anxian.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent! Although Xu Yunrou is my cousin from the Meng family, she has always been in the Ministry of Justice prison. I did not bring her here."

"Alright, stop fooling around!"

Consort Liu roared angrily.

Her gaze swept over everyone, and she spoke coldly, "How dare you behave so disrespectfully at my banquet! I will not tolerate this!"

At this moment, Xiao Ce's eyes finally cleared. He looked at the people in the room, at the mess on his body, and his face was terribly gloomy.

"Get out!"

Xiao Ce practically spat out those words through gritted teeth. Immediately, everyone realized what was happening and hurriedly turned around and walked outside, leaving only Xiao Ce and the imperial physician inside.

Consort Liu, maintaining her composure, dismissed all these people and sent them back home.

"If even a single word of what happened today were to be spread, then you would be throwing away your life and fortune!" Consort Liu's eyes were fierce, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.

Everyone naturally understood the seriousness of the matter, and no one dared to speak recklessly. They all bowed and left the palace.

After getting into the carriage, Meng Anxian's face darkened: "Mother, why do I feel that Meng Yanzhi is acting strangely today?"