Nanjing, the Crown Prince's Residence.
Xiao Chen, sitting on the throne, had a gloomy look in his eyes, while the sentries kneeling in the palace were drenched in sweat.
"Say it again." The voice from the seat was cold and husky, tinged with anger.
The attendant standing to the side, under immense pressure, spoke again, “Your Highness, Miss Nan has been assassinated twice since returning to the capital. Yesterday was particularly dangerous, and she nearly lost her life.”
"The one who tried to assassinate Miss Nan yesterday was... Zhong Xing. He is not dead yet. Two years ago, after escaping from Nanjing, he joined a Jianghu assassin organization. This time, he conspired with the Empress of Dongling to assassinate Miss Nan."
"Your Highness, rest assured, Miss Nan was rescued by Prince Anzheng and is now out of danger."
Xiao Chen's gaze fell on the kneeling sentries in the hall as if they were corpses. "The assassination attempt from ten days ago is only being reported now. With such negligence, what use are you to me?"
The sentry slammed his head against the ground, not daring to beg for mercy, for that would only hasten his death.
“Your Highness, the assassination attempt ten days ago was arranged by the Princess of Dongling. Miss Nan did not meet with the bandits. The matter was suppressed by the Prime Minister of Dongling, so the sentry did not discover it immediately.” The attendant respectfully explained to the sentry.
Xiao Chen's eyes were dark, and a cold smile appeared on his lips. "So the news spread so quickly this time because someone deliberately leaked it."
That person was Prince Anzheng.
The assassin who killed Nan Nan was Zhong Xing, a former retainer of Prince Anzheng. With Prince Anzheng's abilities, it would be easy for him to find out the assassin's background.
Did Prince Anzheng give him the information to see how he would handle it?
The attendant asked, "How does Your Highness intend to respond?"
Xiao Chen lowered his eyes, took out an emerald from his pocket, and gently rubbed it with his fingertips. "I will go to Dongling first, and the birthday congratulatory delegation will set off as scheduled."
"Your Highness, you mustn't! If Dongling discovers your whereabouts, they might make a big fuss about it, or even assassinate you."
Of course, he wouldn't dare say that.
Xiao Chen naturally understood this principle. The Eastern Mausoleum Emperor's birthday banquet was still half a month away, and the Southern Jing congratulatory delegation would not depart until three days later, and the journey would take six or seven days.
If he were to accompany the delegation to Dongling, he would have a legitimate reason to gossip, and anyone who wanted to harm him would have to cover their tracks and be unable to carry out their plans.
However, if he were to leave the mission and sneak into Dongling ahead of time, he would have to hide in the shadows until the mission arrived.
This process was extremely dangerous. If Dongling discovered it, even if they openly killed him, they could say that they didn't kill him, since the "real" crown prince was still in the delegation.
"Your Highness, the Grand Tutor has arrived," a palace servant announced.
The Crown Prince's tutor entered the palace. As Xiao Chen's teacher, Xiao Chen granted him the privilege of not having to perform the proper etiquette.
"Did you come here for the mission to Dongling, teacher?" Xiao Chen asked casually.
The Grand Tutor nodded. “Your Highness, this is merely a birthday celebration. You can leave this matter to Prince Yu. Why don’t you take this opportunity to eliminate some of Prince Yu’s faction?”
Xiao Chen stood up from the throne, walked to the Grand Tutor, and said with a faint smile, "I understand my teacher's good intentions, but I must go on this mission to Dongling, and I must go ahead of time."
"Ahead of schedule? Your Highness, please reconsider!" The Grand Tutor's usually composed face showed a hint of anxiety.
Xiao Chen raised her hand and placed it on the Grand Tutor's shoulder, speaking earnestly, "Teacher, I entrust the delegation to you. There must be Prince Yu's spies in the delegation. I hope you will provide cover for me."
"As for Nanjing, my officials are not so easy to deal with, and besides, I have the Empress Dowager's help. I won't cause any major trouble while I'm away, so you can rest assured, teacher."
The Grand Tutor sighed softly. No one could change the Crown Prince's decision. "When does Your Highness intend to depart?"
Looking at the majestic palace outside, Xiao Chen revealed a confident smile, "Let's set off immediately."
Ye Jian and Yan Bo had already arranged the route. He needed to ride as fast as he could to see Nan Nan as soon as possible. He needed to explain the assassination attempt to her clearly and couldn't let Prince Anzheng talk nonsense.
——
Eastern Mausoleum, Hengyang Mountain Temple.
Inside the meditation room, a small square table was filled with various foods. Nan Yichu pointed to the food on the table and excitedly recommended it to her eldest and second eldest sisters.
Of course, it's mainly for the Southern Migration Month, since she's the pickiest eater.
"Elder sister, this is osmanthus cake, but it's not an ordinary osmanthus cake. It takes twenty-two steps to make it..."
Nan Qianyue first handed a piece to her younger sister, then glanced at Qin Yi, saying, "Your Highness, please make yourself at home." After saying that, she took another piece and ate it herself.
Hmm, the sweetness is just right, refreshing and not sticky, not bad.
"Eldest sister, second sister, once you've finished eating, we'll head back to the capital." Nan Yichu acted as a tea server, pouring tea and water for her two sisters.
His father entrusted him with the important task of bringing his two older sisters back, and he couldn't afford to make a mistake.
Nan Kezhi took the teacup and looked at Nan Qianyue with concern, "Elder sister, how is your injury?"
Nan Qianyue shook her head and smiled, "Brother Bai's medical skills are superb. I slept for a night and the pain is almost gone." As long as you don't move around too much and pull on the wound, it's fine.
"How's your sister? How are you feeling now?"
Nan Kezhi nodded, "She's out of danger."
There were two carriages outside the temple, one from the Prime Minister's residence and the other from the Prince Anzheng's residence.
Qin Yi carried Nan Qianyue out and naturally got into his own carriage.
The siblings Nan Kezhi and Nan Yichu, who were following behind, both had strange expressions.
How could Prince Anzheng hug his eldest sister in public? And even carry her into his own carriage? There were so many guards watching.
Nan Yichu held Prince Anzheng in high esteem and admiration. Seeing her elder sister being carried away, she wanted to stop it but didn't dare to.
But remembering his father's instructions, he mustered his courage and, after helping his second sister onto the carriage, he bravely went to the carriage of the Prince Anzheng's residence.
"Um...elder sister, our carriage is the one behind, you've gone to the wrong one." In the end, he only dared to speak to his elder sister.
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