Chapter 422 Discovering the Truth (Two Updates)

Everyone here has been through this; can't you not understand what "inconvenient" means?

Consort Zhuang whispered, "She fell so badly and still..."

Empress Dowager Zhuang shot her a sharp glare, and Consort Zhuang fell silent.

Such behavior during the day is improper, but the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have been in love for a long time. Everyone in the palace knows that the Crown Prince dotes on the Crown Princess and has even dismissed his concubines for her sake.

Empress Xiao forced the Crown Prince to accept people, almost causing a rift between mother and son.

The Crown Prince had completely devoted his heart to Wen Linlang, and couldn't bear to leave her side for even a moment.

However, to be fair, with Wen Linlang's talent and beauty, she certainly deserves the Crown Prince's favor. There is no woman in the entire Zhao Kingdom who is more beautiful or has a more alluring figure than her, nor is there a more talented strategist than her.

The Crown Prince had waited for her for so many years, but their marriage was less than two years old, so it was only natural that they were deeply in love.

What good is being the only one he favors? She still hasn't gotten pregnant.

My son is definitely more capable.

Thinking of this, Consort Zhuang smiled and patted Princess Ning's hand: "Take good care of yourself, and give Prince Ning another child next year."

Princess Ning's face turned pale almost instantly.

"You have nothing to say, huh?" Empress Dowager Zhuang glared coldly at Consort Zhuang and said to Prince Ning and his wife, "Alright, you two can go back now. Don't come to the palace unless it's absolutely necessary."

Consort Zhuang pursed her lips, about to say something, but Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't give her a chance to speak: "You too, just take care of yourself!"

Consort Zhuang shut her mouth in annoyance.

After Prince Ning and his wife, along with Consort Zhuang, left, Empress Dowager Zhuang finally had some peace and quiet.

Actually, if we're talking about noise, one little jingkong is noisier than all of them combined, but that kid only bothers my ears, not my mind.

"Grandma, grandma, grandma, grandma! Look at the frog I caught!"

It's like my wish came true.

Empress Dowager Zhuang had just finished talking about Xiao Jingkong when, in the next second, the mischievous child grabbed two toads and pounced into her arms.

Empress Dowager Zhuang's lips twitched!

What happened to not wanting to be upset?

Did they have to slap you in the face so quickly?!

Gu Jiao accompanied Empress Dowager Zhuang back to Renshou Palace. After enjoying a rare moment of leisure, Empress Dowager Zhuang was about to begin reviewing memorials, and Gu Jiao also planned to leave.

As she was leaving, Empress Dowager Zhuang suddenly called out to her, "Sixth Prince has no one else in his heart. Some things are in the past and should be left in the past. You don't need to take them to heart."

Gu Jiao was completely confused by this seemingly random remark. Why was Xiao Liulang being brought up all of a sudden? What past of his had she been holding onto?

After Gu Jiao left, Eunuch Qin brought hot water for Empress Dowager Zhuang to wash her face.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Zhuang looked preoccupied, he couldn't help but ask, "Empress Dowager, what's wrong with you today?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang said, "Didn't you see what happened just now?"

Eunuch Qin asked, "Which matter are you referring to?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at him: "When the Crown Princess was injured, Jiao Jiao actually took the initiative to go to the East Palace to treat her injuries. Does she seem like someone with such a kind and compassionate nature?"

Eunuch Qin: ...How can you talk about your own child like that? How come Miss Gu isn't a miracle worker?

Well, to be honest, Miss Gu is indeed a bit ruthless; she doesn't seem like the type to actively seek out medical help for people in the palace.

Eunuch Qin still didn't understand: "What are you worried about?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed, "I'm worried that she already knows Liu Lang's identity and is bothered by the fact that Liu Lang had a fiancée before."

"Ah..." Eunuch Qin exclaimed in sudden realization, "Impossible, right?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted, "Otherwise, why would she have gone over to watch the show?"

Eunuch Qin thought about it and agreed: "That makes sense."

Gu Jiao was unaware that her actions had aroused her aunt's suspicion and were being misinterpreted as jealousy.

Hmm... she probably won't experience jealousy in her next life.

After leaving Renshou Palace, Gu Jiao didn't go to find Xiao Jingkong and Xu Zhouzhou to take them home; instead, she went to another place.

Prince Ning and Princess Ning led the two young princesses out of the palace. The young princesses had a special carriage, and the two princesses were carried into the carriage by their wet nurses.

Prince Ning also helped Princess Ning onto the carriage, but Prince Ning himself did not get on.

He stood by the car window, looking gently at the slightly tired Princess Ning through the open window, and said slowly, "You must be exhausted. You were not feeling well and should have been recuperating at home. It was my oversight."

"That's not true." Seeing that he wasn't coming up, Princess Ning guessed that he wouldn't return to the manor, but she still asked, "Isn't Your Highness going back?"

"Ah." Prince Ning smiled. "Little Seven has caused a great disaster. He's probably being punished in the Imperial Study right now. I have to go and see him. I can't let Father punish him so badly."

He has always been a loving older brother, and Xiao Qi is still young and has no conflict of interest with him, so his love for Xiao Qi is justifiable from any perspective.

Princess Ning stared at him intently, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes: "Are you really going?"

Prince Ning paused for a moment, then gave a helpless smile under her heavy gaze: "You know the Crown Prince's temperament. Although he and Xiao Qi are siblings from the same mother, Xiao Qi injured the Crown Princess this time. I'm afraid he's also angry and won't speak up for Xiao Qi."

Princess Ning gripped the window tightly: "What if I told you not to go?"

Prince Ning looked at her with a mixture of affection and helplessness, and said with a smile, "Suxin, stop fooling around."

Princess Ning lowered her eyes, seemingly giving up her unreasonable behavior, and loosened her grip on the car window: "Alright."

Prince Ning reached out and stroked her cold cheek: "Be good, I'll be back soon. I'll accompany you to the opera tonight."

Princess Ning loved listening to operas, and to win his wife's favor, Prince Ning, who was never one to indulge in sensual pleasures, resolutely kept an opera troupe in his residence, which shows how deeply he loved his wife.

Princess Ning didn't say anything more to persuade her to stay. She gently removed the fork and lowered the carriage window.

The Eastern Palace.

The Crown Princess sat leaning against the headboard, her sleeves and skirt lifted high. The Crown Prince carefully finished applying the last bit of medicine to her wound and said with a sigh of relief, "Alright, it's all done. Wait, don't move yet, let me check if there are any other wounds."

"No, it doesn't hurt anymore," the Crown Princess said. "I don't feel any pain anywhere."

The prince said, “Some places may not hurt at the time, but they may become bruised and swollen after a while.”

The Crown Princess didn't know what to say, so she let him examine her carefully.

After the examination, her cheeks were flushed.

He had only lifted her clothes to apply medicine, but seeing her pitiful, blushing, and shy appearance, the Crown Prince felt his throat go hoarse.

However, he wasn't so beastly as to take Linlang when she was injured.

So, what Gu Jiao meant by "inconvenience" was just a literal inconvenience—the Crown Prince was helping the Crown Princess apply medicine and couldn't receive guests, nothing more.

Gu Jiao was not lying.

If others want to make their own assumptions, then it's no wonder she's like this.

The Crown Princess said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, please go and see Xiao Qi. I am fine now. Your Highness, please don't be too angry with Xiao Qi. Remember to speak well of Xiao Qi in front of the Emperor. His Majesty appreciates your brotherly bond. Don't let a woman ruin your brotherly relationship."

The crown prince gritted his teeth and said, "I wish I could pick him up and beat him up!"

The Crown Princess smiled and said, "Your Highness, please listen to me."

The Crown Prince sighed, "Very well, I understand. I will do as you say."

When Gu Jiao sneaked into the East Palace, the Crown Prince had just left through the gate.

It was still early, and hiding on the roof was not a good idea as it would be easy to be discovered. So Gu Jiao simply climbed over the back door into the small storeroom of the Crown Princess's bedroom.

This is the Crown Princess's private treasury, separated from her bedroom by only one wall. Because her windows are wide open, one can see what's happening on her side through the crack in the door.

Gu Jiao had no idea that there was another person in the warehouse!

The man clearly hadn't expected anyone to come to the warehouse at this time; he had clearly timed it perfectly.

Never mind, let's knock them out first!

What a coincidence, Gu Jiao thought the same thing.

So the two attacked at the same time, saw each other clearly at the same time, and stopped at the same time.

"It's you!"

"It's you?"

He also spoke at the same time.

Gu Jiao: Doesn't she deserve to act alone? Why is there always someone with her doing bad things?

"What are you doing here?" Yuan Tang asked, putting down his hand.

Gu Jiao glanced at him: "From what stand are you asking this?"

Yuan Tang choked to death.

Yes, if she shouldn't have come here, then wouldn't I, as a hostage from the State of Chen, have even less reason to show up?

Yuan Tang shook the folding fan in her hand and snorted, "That's because you didn't tell me anything, so I had to investigate myself. I'm not stupid. You suspected that I had an illicit relationship with your Zhao Kingdom's Crown Princess before I was assassinated. As long as I keep an eye on her, I'm sure I'll find some clues!"

Gu Jiao grunted, "Didn't you forget to bring your brain with you when you went out today?"

Yuan Tang: "..."

Is it really okay to be so sarcastic?

Gu Jiao noticed that his fan was back to normal, but she didn't know whether the punctured fan had been repaired or a new one had been given to him.

This fan has a hidden mechanism; it can be used as a weapon if necessary.

"Someone's coming!" Gu Jiao suddenly said alertly.

Yuan Tang carefully sensed the surroundings and indeed heard a very faint noise from above.

At first, he thought this girl's martial arts skills were inferior to his, but after witnessing her lose control and kill so many assassins, he no longer dared to underestimate her.

But I was still surprised.

This girl's senses are far too sharp.

The two of them held their breath as much as possible, minimizing their presence.

Both of them wanted to see what was happening in the Crown Princess's room, but there was only a crack in the door.

Yuan Tang winked and squatted down.

Gu Jiao pressed down on his neck and forced him to squat down.

Yuan Tang was dumbfounded. "I told you to squat down!"

Gu Jiao mouthed, "You're welcome."

Yuan Tang: "..."

Forget it, a good man doesn't argue with a woman.

Yuan Tang squatted down, giving Gu Jiao a better view.

The two kept a close eye on the movements opposite them. Since that person had used his lightness skill to sneak in, he must not want to expose his whereabouts. The two looked at the window at the same time, a little worried that the other party might close the window.

Fortunately, the other party didn't seem to care about that.

After all, this small window doesn't face the yard, but just a cold, impersonal warehouse.

He was a tall, robust man, exuding an air of refined elegance, but the moment you saw him, a terrifying, suffocating aura instantly emanated from him.

Unlike the terrifying Gu Jiao when she lost control, Yuan Tang thought, it seemed to carry an evil domineering and possessive quality.

Yuan Tang only saw the back of the person and couldn't guess who it was or what its intentions were.

He tried to glean something from Gu Jiao's expression, but when he looked up, he only saw a small chin that seemed to be mocking him...

The man came to the bedside.

The Crown Princess had already retired for the night, lying on her side on the soft bed, her hair as black and shiny as satin.

She wore no makeup, her eyes were lightly closed, yet her beautiful hair and delicate features were still undeniable.

Suddenly, the man sat down on the edge of the bed.

Yuan Tang was startled.

The Crown Princess was asleep and didn't notice anyone coming into the room for a while.

But soon, she felt a cool hand roaming over her cheek and hair.

Thinking it was the Crown Prince returning, she mumbled in her sleep, "Your Highness..."

Stop fooling around, I want to rest.

She thought she said the next sentence, but it turned out she only said it in her dream.

The man's hand, which had been gently stroking her hair and cheeks, suddenly grabbed her neck!

Yuan Tang was a hostage of the Chen Kingdom and had experienced quite a few storms, but he almost couldn't hold back and cried out in surprise.

What exactly is going on?

He thought the Crown Princess was a trusted expert, but he ended up offending her by touching her.

He thought he was the Crown Princess's lover, but it turns out he wanted to kill her!

What deep-seated hatred and resentment!

Gu Jiao's expression was calm and her breathing was relaxed.

Yuan Tang's lips twitched; he realized that his temperament was no match for that of a teenage girl.

Inside the room, the Crown Princess was finally woken up by being pinched. Upon waking, she saw a familiar face, and she shuddered almost inexplicably!

"What? Scared?"

The man's voice, which sounded like a half-smile, echoed in the empty bedchamber, carrying a hint of ruthlessness and mockery.

Yuan Tang felt a chill run through her heart.

The voice was both familiar and unfamiliar.

I felt like I recognized his voice, but that person's voice shouldn't be so harsh.

Yuan Tang suddenly seems to be experiencing a split personality!

Gu Jiao, always eager for a good show, actually had her eyes shining.

Yuan Tang: Uh... are you serious?

The man tightened his grip slightly, causing the Crown Princess's face to flush red.

She strained to get the words out of her throat: "This is the Eastern Palace! Are you out of your mind?!"

The man's tone was playful yet ruthless: "You're the one who's courting death, Wen Linlang, you're the one who's courting death."

"I don't understand what you're saying!" The Crown Princess was almost out of breath.

The man showed no mercy: "I warned you not to get too close to other men."

The Crown Princess looked at him coldly: "He is the Crown Prince, and I am the Crown Princess! How ridiculous is that!"

The man said coldly, "At least not in front of me!"

Having said that, he pulled his hand back just before the Crown Princess fainted, and shoved her back onto the already cold bed.

The Crown Princess suddenly caught her breath and leaned over the edge of the bed, panting heavily.

The man's cold fingertips tapped her chest: "Wen Linlang, remember this well, you provoked me first, this place belongs to me only. If you dare to fall for another man, I will kill him!"

The Crown Princess smiled sneer: "He's the Crown Prince! Go ahead and kill him if you dare!"

The man sneered, "You think I wouldn't dare?"

As if she had thought of something, the Crown Princess's expression froze, and she turned her face away.

Alright, have you all guessed who it is?

(End of this chapter)