A man dressed in black, close-fitting clothes, lightly descended from the eaves. After seeing Xiao Huaijin kneeling on one knee, he removed his mask.
"master."
"Nanfeng, have you finished the task I asked you to do?"
After watching the carriage disappear into the night, Xiao Huaijin walked inside without looking back.
The bodyguard named Nanfeng followed him respectfully.
"We've found out, Master. The assassins who attempted the assassination the other day were all remnants of the Lotus Cult. I've dealt with them all."
"Only this mere cult has the ability to break through the Royal Navy and openly assassinate me?" Xiao Huaijin coldly curled a contemptuous smile.
“Your Majesty is wise. I deliberately released a remnant of a cult. After he escaped, the first thing he did was go to the capital to find Eunuch Gao, who served Consort Shu. I suspect that Consort Shu was the mastermind behind this assassination.”
As Nanfeng spoke, she secretly observed Xiao Huaijin.
The Empress of the Dayong Dynasty passed away when she gave birth to the Crown Prince. Consort Shu was the most favored concubine in the palace for many years, holding a position equivalent to the Empress. Moreover, she had raised Xiao Huaijin for a long time in place of the Empress.
It is said that Consort Shu and His Highness the Crown Prince have a relationship like that of a mother and son.
I wonder if His Highness will be saddened to hear this news.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Huaijin remained calm. He gazed at the silvery moonlight scattered across the courtyard, picked up the small porcelain bottle that Shen Yunjiao had just left behind, and twirled it in his hand.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shu has always been very caring towards you. Why did she suddenly develop the intention to harm you?"
"Sudden?"
Xiao Huaijin chuckled softly, then suddenly turned to look at Nanfeng, "Do you know why I was poisoned by the Heart-Eating Poison?"
Nanfeng hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Back then, Consort Li wanted her unborn son to ascend the throne, so she sent someone to Nanyue to find this secret medicine and secretly put it in His Highness's food."
Heart-devouring poison—a colorless and odorless poison that can cause people to lose their minds. In mild cases, it can cause hallucinations or splitting headaches; in severe cases, it can cause people to lose their reason and become a complete madman.
"Do you really think that only Consort Li poisoned me back then?" Xiao Huaijin's face was cold, and his long, beautiful black eyes seemed to be covered with a thin layer of cold mist.
"The medicine was found at Consort Li's residence, but you forgot that Consort Shu's father was the Left Prime Minister of Nan Yue."
"Does Your Highness mean that the medicine was given to Consort Li by Consort Shu? But Consort Shu has no children, so why would she want to harm you?"
Xiao Huaijin also wanted to know why the Imperial Concubine, whom he had treated like his own mother, hated him so much.
"Your Highness," Nanfeng said with concern, "would you like to return to the palace now and tell His Majesty about this?"
“No need,” Xiao Huaijin replied indifferently, a hint of sarcasm on his handsome face. “What difference would it make if I told him?”
If someone truly cares about their own life or death, they would drain the entire Qingshui River to find them.
Unlike now, even sensational news like the assassination of the crown prince is kept completely under wraps.
The court officials and common people probably all thought that the Crown Prince and his entourage were still on their way to the Northern Hu.
Xiao Huaijin frowned deeply, a flash of pain crossing his eyes.
Father, are you really so heartless to your son?
"I'm not going back yet; it's the same wherever I recover."
"Also, help me find out about the heir apparent of the Duke of Dingguo."
Nanfeng was taken aback. Why did His Highness suddenly become interested in a woman?
Seeing his confusion, Xiao Huaijin coughed and slowly said, "Do you still remember the day of the assassination, when you and Zhuye arrived at the riverbank, I had already been rescued?"
Speaking of this, Nanfeng looked ashamed: "Your subordinate is incompetent."
"It's not your fault."
"But the person who saved me looks quite young, and she's from the Pei family. Please help me find out where the Pei family's heir's wife went on the night of the assassination attempt."
If she really is the heir apparent's wife of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, then she is the daughter of the current prime minister, whose power is so great that he can control everything and is second only to the emperor.
Was she also connected to those who assassinated her?
Xiao Huaijin looked at the white porcelain bottle in his hand. He gently pinched it with his fingertips, and the bottle, like fragile glass, immediately developed several fine cracks.
He repeated the name "Shen Piaopiao" in a low voice.
—
The night is deep, the dew is heavy, and the chill is intense.
Shen Yunjiao tiptoed back to her room.
Fu Xia was dozing off when she saw her master return. She immediately brought out a bowl of peach gum, lotus seed and bird's nest porridge from the small kitchen.
Shen Yunjiao had eaten too much salty food that night, so her eyes lit up when she saw sweets.
"My dear Fuxia, thank you!"
"I'm glad you want to eat, Miss. This bird's nest was brought back by the eldest young master these past few days. He said it's the best to nourish your body." Fu Xia said in a chattering manner, while opening the food box, taking out bowls and chopsticks, and placing them in front of Shen Yunjiao.
Shen Yun smiled and invited Fu Xia and Granny Lin to eat together.
"How can this be? Such valuable items." Granny Lin shook her head, but Shen Yunjiao pulled her down to sit.
"You two don't need to be so polite with me. You've been so loyal to me, so of course I have to be good to you too. After all, love is mutual."
“I consider all of you as family and friends, so there’s no need to be so formal.”
Shen Yunjiao remembered that in the novel, Fu Xia and Granny Lin were extremely loyal to the original owner of the body.
Even when the original owner passed away, Granny Lin died a few days later due to excessive grief.
Fu Xia's eyes welled up with tears as she listened, "You're so kind to me, young lady."
"Go get the bowls and chopsticks!" Shen Yun said with a charming smile.
The three of them, master and servant, happily shared the bird's nest porridge. Fu Xia also took some leftover pastries from the morning. After the meal, Shen Yun Jiao was so full that she could hardly sit still.
Just as Shen Yunjiao was pondering what to do to aid digestion, someone outside the door called softly, "Has the Princess Consort fallen asleep?"
Fu Xia frowned and muttered, "Who's coming over so late?" She stood up, rubbed her stomach, ran to the door, and asked, "Who is it?"
“I am Cuiguo, sent by His Highness the Crown Prince to take care of Miss Fang. Our young lady wishes to see the Crown Princess.”
Fu Xia and Granny Lin immediately felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
Even though she was extremely unwilling, Fu Xia still opened the door.
Fang Ziyu was still dressed in a simple and elegant dress, but Shen Yunjiao noticed that she was somewhat different.
She wore a pair of jade earrings, which shimmered in the moonlight, adding a touch of gentleness to Fang Ziyu.
Shen Yunjiao felt a surge of relief.
She always said that people should dress themselves up nicely.
"Miss Fang looks beautiful tonight, those earrings are lovely," Shen Yunjiao praised sincerely.
Fang Ziyu was a little surprised; she didn't expect that Shen Yunjiao's first words upon meeting her would be to praise her.
Before she could even respond, the maidservant beside her interjected smugly, "This was a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Cui'er, don't talk nonsense in front of the Crown Princess."
Fang Ziyu glanced at her little maid and scolded her.
"It's alright, the young master dotes on Miss Fang, that's good."
I never expected that the young master would actually have good judgment.
Shen Yunjiao laughed casually, but Fang Ziyu thought she was mocking her and looking down on her.
Fang Ziyu knew that for someone like Shen Yunjiao, who was born into wealth and luxury, a pair of jade earrings was nothing.
"I hope the Crown Princess won't mind my late-night visit," Fang Ziyu said softly.
"It's okay, just tell me what's on your mind, don't beat around the bush."
Fang Ziyu was taken aback by Shen Yunjiao's directness, and her face immediately turned somewhat embarrassed.
She gritted her teeth and said, "Ziyu has come today to beg the Crown Princess to show leniency."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com