The Crown Princess's expression changed slightly: "What do you mean!"
At this moment, Zuan spoke up, "She wasn't lying. Things happened so suddenly that day, there's something I didn't have time to tell you."
"At that time in that room, you and I were in such a state... we were all a little scared and didn't know what to do. Then I heard a woman's voice reminding us to run. She also helped us hold off those people who came to catch us in the act... cough cough, to catch you in the act for a moment. Otherwise, we would have been caught red-handed by the mastermind and his men."
“The situation was too urgent at the time, and I didn’t hear clearly who the woman was. Just now, I heard that woman’s voice again,” he said, looking at Consort Bai. “So it was Consort Bai.”
The Crown Princess's pupils contracted, and she suddenly looked at Consort Bai: "You actually have such a high level of cultivation. What are your intentions in approaching the Crown Prince?"
Consort Bai said calmly, "Princess Consort, don't forget that I was sent to the Crown Prince by the Emperor. My purpose in approaching the Crown Prince is twofold: first, to serve him, and second, of course, to protect him."
Zu An secretly lamented, "What good is that fatso to be served by such a beautiful and intelligent woman?"
However, his heart immediately skipped a beat. Wait, this woman was sent by the Emperor, so does that mean the Emperor also knows about my affair with the Crown Princess?
The Crown Princess's face also turned pale, clearly indicating that the two had the same thought.
Consort Bai noticed their expressions and couldn't help but chuckle: "You two are really compatible, even your ways of thinking are so similar. Don't worry, I didn't report your affairs to the Emperor, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to get here safely."
The Crown Princess's face turned cold: "Are you trying to blackmail me?"
Consort Bai shook her head: "It's not about coercion, it's just that we're in the same boat. Prince Qi's methods against the Crown Prince are endless, and the Crown Prince's major examination is coming soon. What's the point of us sisters fighting amongst ourselves here? The most important thing right now is to secure the Crown Prince's position and figure out how to deal with this major examination."
The Crown Princess stared intently at her, and just when Zu An thought she was about to explode, her solemn face suddenly turned into a warm spring breeze: "I never expected that Consort Bai would do so much for me. I was too strong-willed before, which sometimes offended you. I hope you won't take it to heart. From now on, we sisters will work together to help the Crown Prince ascend the throne."
Bai Fei also regained her usual shy and timid smile: "I will have to trouble you to guide me in the future. I will follow your lead in everything."
Although strictly speaking, Consort Bai is older than the Crown Princess, the Crown Princess is the Empress, so her calling her "elder sister" is not unjustified.
Zuan, standing to the side, was dumbfounded. Just a moment ago, the two women were like oil and water, but now they were like sisters. The change was too great.
This moment made him question the meaning of life. He thought, "Judging from this situation, even if my female confidantes seem very close to each other in the future, it's not believable."
After a while, seeing that the two were still putting on a show of sisterly affection, Zu An couldn't stand it anymore and coughed lightly to interrupt the two actresses' acting skills: "Your Highness Bai Fei, Xin Rui must not have gone back to her parents' home, right?"
Bai Fei also put away her formulaic smile: "That's right. After that day, Xinrui disappeared without a trace. I suspect that she didn't just disappear, but was silenced by the mastermind behind the scenes."
The Crown Princess opened her mouth, but a hint of hesitation appeared on her face, and she ultimately held back from speaking.
Zu'an guessed what she was thinking and asked in her place, "Xinrui is, after all, Her Majesty's personal maid. Why would she be bribed by someone else?"
The Crown Princess gave him an approving look. This guy really knows me.
For some reason, the scene of the two of them kissing flashed through her mind again, and her face suddenly turned red. She quickly composed herself and banished those messy images from her mind.
Bai Fei sighed softly: "This is something I can't understand either. Logically speaking, Xinrui has always been somewhat gentle and weak. I still can't believe she would do such a thing."
"After thinking it over, it must be because I've been living a secluded life all these years and neglected the thoughts of my subordinates, which led to her being tempted by some people with ulterior motives."
"Could it be Shi Jun?" Zu An asked.
Shi Jun was among the people who came to arrest him and the Crown Princess. As a Yellow Gate Attendant, he could freely enter and leave the palace, so it was quite possible that he had an affair with Xin Rui.
Bai Fei shook her head: "I don't know about that."
Zu'an and the Crown Princess exchanged a glance; it seemed necessary to investigate this lead.
The Crown Princess finally spoke: "That day...when did you arrive? I...I..."
For a moment, she was too embarrassed to continue.
Consort Bai smiled understandingly: "Sister, don't worry. This matter is a calamity that could wipe out nine generations of your family. Xinrui wouldn't dare to entrust it to anyone else. She was the one who handled all of this that day. I noticed her unusual behavior and came to check. I happened to stop Shi Jun's group, so no one else saw what you looked like back then..."
She paused suddenly as she spoke, her gaze lingering on Zu An, her expression a half-smile.
The meaning is quite clear: you weren't seen by any other man besides him.
But this matter was too sensitive, and she couldn't bring herself to say it and offend the other person.
The Crown Princess's blushing expression vanished in an instant, quickly replaced by her usual aloofness: "By the way, Lord Zu was almost silenced in the imperial prison. Does Consort Bai have any leads?"
Consort Bai shook her head: "I usually don't care about worldly affairs, so how would I know about these things?"
The Crown Princess had no choice but to ask again, "What family does your maid have?"
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