Chapter 56 The Crown Prince's Scheme

A short while later, the door was pushed open forcefully from the outside.

A group of people who looked like they were from a military unit appeared at the door, asking menacingly:

"Someone offended the Crown Prince just now, and someone saw someone coming this way."

Did you see a woman in red coming by?

Xie Yunman shook his head with a bewildered look and said, "I just arrived and haven't even had a sip of tea yet."

The group came in, looked behind the curtains, in the wardrobe, behind the door, and on the bed. Finding no one there, they left.

As soon as the person left, Xie Yunman frowned.

The eldest prince, it's the eldest prince again.

The person who asked Tianxing Tower whether it was for sale was the First Prince.

They actually came to Tianxing Tower to cause trouble this time, searching the whole building for a girl. What are they up to?

Seeing that everyone had left, Xie Yunman stepped forward and pulled the woman in red out from under the bed.

Why is it pulled out?

Because this girl could only breathe and move her eyes, but her limbs were completely immobile.

After being pulled out, he lay on the ground with his eyes open and said:

"Thank you so much, brother."

Xie Yunman replied, "No need to thank me. What's wrong with you?"

"I've been poisoned by... muscle-relaxing powder."

"Muscle-softening powder?" Xie Yunman frowned.

"I am from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. I came to Tianxing Tower today, but I never expected that someone would tamper with my tea."

I realized something was wrong and fled here in a panic. Thank you for your help, sir.

Xie Yunman suddenly understood.

"The Crown Prince actually used such a tactic, truly..."

The woman in red on the ground was Xue Weiyang. Hearing Xie Yunman's words, she angrily said:

"Hmph, he wants to plot against me, but he'll have to see if I agree."

Xie Yunman then asked, "How do you counteract this medicine?"

Xue Weiyang replied, "Help me up, feed me some tea, and I'll rest for a while."

The dosage is small; I only need half an hour to recover.

Xie Yunman nodded, then bowed to the young lady and said:

"I'm sorry."

He then bent down and picked Xue Weiyang up from the ground, placing her on the bed.

He turned around and poured her a glass of water, brought it to her, and gently fed her while holding her head against his chest.

Then Xie Yunman laid the person down, covered them with a quilt, and lowered the bed curtains.

"You should rest well. I'll keep watch outside for you."

Xue Weiyang replied with difficulty, "Thank you."

After Xie Yunman came out, she also lowered the gauze curtain in the middle to separate the drinking and entertaining area from the sleeping area.

A short while later, they heard someone come in.

Xie Yunman is here today to meet with her classmates from the academy, to discuss the lessons she has fallen behind on and her experiences at Bailu Academy.

The two talked and drank tea outside.

After chatting for half an hour, the classmate went outside to listen to the story of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

Xie Yunman also came out and stood at the door to observe the situation outside.

After a cup of tea, he turned around, came in, and closed the door.

The effects of the medicine on Xue Weiyang had mostly worn off, and Xie Yunman helped her sit up.

"How are you feeling now?" Xie Yunman asked.

"Much better."

“I just saw that the Crown Prince’s men haven’t left yet. He seems determined to capture you today.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Weiyang's expression turned extremely unpleasant.

“Your red outfit is too eye-catching. I’ll have someone send over one of my clothes for you to change into, and then style your hair in a man’s bun.”

In the next room, number three, there's a back window facing the street; go out through there.

Xue Weiyang replied, "Thank you very much."

Xie Yunman turned and went out, then called in the servant at the door and gave him some instructions in a low voice.

The servant turned and went downstairs.

A short while later, he came over dressed in ordinary black clothes.

Xue Weiyang changed her clothes and styled her hair.

He clasped his hands in a respectful bow to Xie Yunman: "Last time it rained at the foot of the mountain near the academy, you helped me pull my car out of the mud, and I haven't thanked you yet."

You saved me again this time; I will repay your kindness in the future.

I am Xue Weiyang from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. May I ask your esteemed name, sir?

Xie Yunman had heard that she was from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and that the eldest prince was involved. She was originally unwilling to reveal her identity, but it seemed impolite not to say so now.

Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly came from outside:

“She can’t have escaped; she must be hiding in some room. Search carefully again.”

Xie Yunman quickly said, "Don't say such things. We'll meet again if we're meant to. You should go now."

As she spoke, she pushed Xue Weiyang toward the door.

As he walked, he instructed, "Keep your head down, hunch your shoulders, and act like a servant."

Upon hearing this, Xue Weiyang lowered her head, hunched her shoulders, and walked a dozen steps to the right after leaving the room. She then slipped into room number three.

Xie Yunman followed and stood guard at the door.

After Xue Weiyang went inside, she quickly went to the back window, pushed it open, and jumped out.

Xie Yunman pushed open the door and went in, then closed the window before slowly walking out of the room.

They quickly entered room number four, and had just thrown Xue Weiyang's clothes under the bed when the search team came to the door again.

Xie Yunman opened the door.

The group noticed that he was still alone in the room, but there were traces of two people drinking tea on the table.

They interrogated him, and Xie Yunman answered truthfully.

The group looked around again and then left.

After everyone left, Xie Yunman got up, pulled the clothes that Xue Weiyang had just changed out of from under the bed, and threw them into the wardrobe.

After thinking about it, he decided to keep the room door open and stand at the doorway, pretending to listen to the storyteller below.

In reality, they were secretly observing the Crown Prince's forces.

Seeing that they had searched room by room but found nothing, they had no choice but to return and report.

A person emerged from room number one, dressed in a yellowish-brown robe embroidered with auspicious crane and cloud patterns in gold thread.

Standing at the door of Room No. 1, I looked down at the entire Tianxing Building.

With an air of supreme authority in his eyes, he glanced around before leading his men downstairs toward the door.

Xie Yunman sized up the eldest prince for a long time before turning back to her room and calling Xie Fu to take away Xue Weiyang's clothes and pack them up.

After Xue Weiyang jumped down from the second floor, she found her horse at the door, mounted it, and galloped away.

After returning home, he went to see his father.

Zhenguo Gongzheng was reading in his study when he suddenly saw Xue Weiyang, dressed in men's clothing, enter in a disheveled state.

"Xiao Jiu, what's wrong with you?" she asked in surprise.

Xue Weiyang walked straight in, picked up the Duke of Zhenguo's teapot, and gulped down the tea.

After finishing his drink, he slumped into a nearby chair, took a couple of breaths, and said:

"I went to Tianxing Tower today, but I was followed by the Crown Prince's men. They put muscle relaxant in my tea."

Upon hearing this, the Duke of Zhenguo suddenly stood up.

"What? You've been given muscle-relaxing powder?"

The Duke of Zhenguo looked surprised and quickly came over to check on Xue Weiyang's condition.

"Father, I am fine."

After I realized something was wrong, I ran away and hid in a room.

I happen to know the person inside; he's the one who saved me.

I stayed in his room for half an hour, and he found me a set of clothes to change into.

They then took me to the room next door facing the street, and I climbed out of the second-floor window to get out.

Upon hearing this, the Duke of Zhenguo breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that you're alright."

Xue Weiyang gritted her teeth as she mentioned the eldest prince:

“Father, how dare the eldest prince plot against me like this? I cannot swallow this insult.”

He went to such lengths to win us over, all for the military power you hold.

Our Zhenguo Duke's Mansion has always remained neutral; how could we be dragged into this mess by him?

Upon hearing this, the Duke of Zhenguo slammed his hand on the table and said, "Don't worry, I already have a plan in mind. I will definitely help you get revenge."

The following day, at the morning court session, someone impeached the eldest prince for causing a disturbance at Tianxing Tower the previous day.

The emperor summoned the eldest prince to give a reply.

The eldest prince simply said, in a nonchalant tone, that someone had offended him and that he was looking for that person.