Ever since the Third Prince learned from Mingyan that Lanqin was the culprit who killed his mother, he became listless again and stopped going to play with Lanqin. Every day after finishing his lessons and practicing riding and archery in the front yard, he would come to Madam Yin's place.
"Third Prince, why don't you take Mimi out to play anymore? Your aunt has noticed that you've been unhappy these days. Is there something you can tell your aunt?" Madam Yin naturally still "didn't know" what Madam Li had said in her letter.
"Aunt, what kind of person do you think Aunt Niu is?" The Third Prince had been thinking about the relationship between Lanqin and his mother these past few days. He remembered that when his mother was alive, Lanqin had no contact with her. It was Wu Shi and Wang Shi who often went to his mother's courtyard.
"Third Prince, there was a misunderstanding between Aunt and Princess Niu before, and Aunt was confined to her quarters for a year." Madam Yin did not directly answer Hongjun's question, but her words undoubtedly made people more suspicious of whether Lanqin was a spoiled and willful person who attacked those who disagreed with her.
“Aunt, Mingyan said that Princess Niu killed my mother. I don’t know whether to believe it or not?” The Third Prince trusted Madam Yin completely at this point, and eventually told her the contents of Madam Li’s letter as well.
After hearing the Third Prince's account, Madam Yin was shocked, but then said, "Third Prince, you can find out for yourself whether Consort Niu is the one who killed your mother."
The Third Prince quickly asked, "How can I figure it out myself?"
Madam Yin said, "Get close to her and make her less wary of you, then you can learn more about her. Often, what you want to know will gradually come to light."
The Third Prince was only seven years old, so he naturally didn't quite understand what was being said.
"Third Prince, if you suddenly stop talking to Princess Niu, do you think she will suspect you? Suspect that you know something, and thus become wary of you."
"Does Aunt mean that to defeat her, we must understand her and get close to her?" the Third Prince said.
“That’s right, Third Prince. Your mother was upset because Princess Yu was poisoned with safflower, and it was eventually determined that it was Huanbi from her courtyard who poisoned her. I don’t think your mother would lie to you before she died,” said Madam Yin.
The Third Prince fell silent. He was only a seven-year-old child, and for a moment he couldn't accept it, nor did he know how to hate her. Lanqin was someone who had been very kind to him.
Seeing that the Third Prince was still hesitant, Madam Yin grew anxious and said, "Third Prince, why don't you ask your stepmother? She manages the affairs of the inner quarters, and she should know more about your stepmother's past than your concubine does."
One day, after school, the Third Prince really wanted to go and ask his wife about this matter. After all, she was his own mother, and her death was so unclear. Now that clues had appeared, as her son, it would be too immoral to ignore it.
The Third Prince finally mustered up his courage and went to the main courtyard to request an audience with his wife.
"It's the Third Prince! Come here quickly, let your mother see how tall he's grown!" The Princess Consort beckoned to the Third Prince with a kind and gentle expression.
The Third Prince had never been very close to his wife, but when she called him over, he could only dawdle as he walked over to her.
The princess took the third prince's hand and asked about his studies, as well as how the servants were doing.
The Third Prince answered each question, naturally also mentioning what had happened with Lady Yin.
"Third Prince, ever since your mother passed away, your stepmother knew you must have suffered. I know how those servants behave. Therefore, your stepmother wants your father to adopt you to Aunt Yin's side, is that alright? That way, you'll have your mother's care." The Fujin spoke earnestly. "Look, the Fourth Prince is with your stepmother, and the First and Second Princesses are also here. Your stepmother really doesn't have the energy to bring you over as well. It just so happens that you get along very well with Aunt Yin, and with her taking care of you, your stepmother can rest assured."
"Hongjun thanks his mother for her concern. I like Aunt Yin very much and I am willing for her to take care of me." The Third Prince was still a little reserved when he spoke, but seeing how kind his wife was, he relaxed a lot.
"Alright, Jun'er, then it's settled. You came here today, it seems there's something you need to discuss, why don't you tell me?" The Princess Consort put down the Third Prince's hand, straightened her posture, and waited for the Third Prince to speak.
"Mother, Hongjun has something he wants to verify with you," the Third Prince said, mustering his courage.
"Whatever it is, if it's something your stepmother knows, she will definitely tell you," the Fujin said with a gentle smile.
"Yes, it's about my mother." The Third Prince knew that Lady Li had become a taboo in the mansion. In short, the Fourth Prince had already removed her from the royal register, so no one dared to mention her anymore.
The princess's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her friendly and harmonious demeanor.
"Third Prince, your mother died by suicide. Do you have any questions now?" the Princess Consort asked.
"I...I received a letter from my mother. In the letter, she said that someone was forcing her and framing her. As her son, Hongjun cannot watch his mother suffer such an injustice and die." The Third Prince clenched his fists and shouted these words almost one by one.
The Fujin (principal wife) was taken aback, then took the Third Prince's hand and said, "Good child. If Lady Li were alive, she would surely be comforted to hear you say this. Third Prince, your mother was indeed forced into this situation, but at the time, there was no evidence to prove that someone else had secretly placed those witchcraft dolls there. Moreover, Yan Yu's accident happened in her east courtyard. It's understandable that your father suspects her."
The Third Prince hurriedly said, "No. Something must have gone wrong. Mother wouldn't harm anyone."
Seeing that the Third Prince was agitated, the Princess Consort quickly raised her hand to stroke his cheek and said softly, "In your mother's heart, has she mentioned who wanted to harm her?"
The Third Prince said without hesitation, "Mother suspects it was Princess Niu. Hongjun has come here to ask my stepmother why Princess Niu is unharmed, while my mother was forced to commit suicide!!"
A glint of shrewdness flashed in the Princess Consort's eyes as she slowly said, "Good child, sigh..."
The princess sighed, as if she had a lot to say, but felt powerless to say anything.
The Third Prince naturally saw the helplessness and sigh in his wife's eyes and asked, "What is Mother sighing about?"
The Princess Consort stroked the Third Prince's head and said, "If your father is willing to protect her, then nothing will happen to her. Your mother was deprived of the Emperor's favor and ended up committing suicide. Your stepmother watched all this but was powerless to do anything about it."
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