After figuring everything out, the Crown Prince got up and went to Chengqian Palace to see if He Xue had entered the palace.
He stepped outside and saw He Zhu pacing back and forth in the doorway. "He Zhu, what are you doing? Grinding the millstone?"
When He Zhu saw the Crown Prince come out, he felt as if he had seen a savior. Hearing the Crown Prince's teasing words, he thought to himself, "You're in the mood to tease your servant now? I hope you'll still be in the same mood later!"
"Your Highness, you've finally come out!" He Zhu rushed to the Crown Prince.
"What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and disrespectful!" The Crown Prince exclaimed, noticing that He Zhu was not behaving like the Grand Steward of Yuqing Palace at all.
"Oh dear, the Crown Prince can't worry about anything else now!" He Zhu's voice became shrill with anxiety. "Your Highness, you and Princess Xue just arrived!"
"He Xue is here? Where is she? I'll go see her right now!" The Crown Prince turned to leave.
"Your Highness, the princess has already left!" He Zhu said again.
The Crown Prince stopped and looked at He Zhu with displeasure. "What's going on here?"
He Zhu said with a bitter face, "This servant doesn't know what happened either!"
When the servant returned, he encountered the princess. The princess looked unwell, as if she had suffered some kind of blow.
"When did Kazuyuki arrive?"
"They arrived while you and Consort Hesheli were in the study, about fifteen minutes ago!"
"Why didn't anyone report that He Xue had arrived?" The Crown Prince was already on the verge of exploding with anger.
"Your Highness, didn't you give the order that Princess Xue could come without being announced? Can Princess Yuqing Palace be allowed to pass through without any hindrance?" He Zhu said in a low voice.
"You..." The Crown Prince was truly speechless at He Zhu's words. "Where did you go just now? Why weren't you here guarding?"
"This servant has gone to the outhouse!" He Zhu said.
"A lazy donkey on a millstone produces lots of excrement and piss!" the prince said, flicking his sleeve. "From now on, learn to be flexible in your actions! Things should be judged according to the circumstances. This is a one-time thing. If there's a next time, you can go and get your punishment yourself!"
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness!" He Zhu hurriedly replied, thinking he wouldn't be able to escape this beating!
The Crown Prince rubbed his forehead in frustration. He was now certain that He Xue had overheard his conversation with Consort Hesheli. What he didn't know was whether He Xue had heard Consort Hesheli say that he was using her or that he wanted to marry her.
If it's the former, it's easier to explain. Xue misunderstood him, and all that's needed is to clarify things.
But if it was the latter, he couldn't help but have some wild thoughts. Why did He Xue leave? Did her words scare her away? If that were the case, his path to marriage might not be easy.
Regardless, he should see He Xue first to find out what's going on.
"Your Highness..." He Zhu hurriedly chased after the Crown Prince after he saw him leave.
"You'd better have something to say, or you can go and get your punishment! You're always dawdling around. Can't you just say it all at once?" the prince said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, yes!" He Zhu presented the gift He Xue had given him to the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, this is what Princess He Xue asked me to give you!"
The Crown Prince took the item from He Zhu's hand. He thought it was a purse embroidered with the words "Peace and Safety." It looked like it was embroidered by He Xue herself. The stitching was a bit clumsy, but he had never seen this stitching style before. Perhaps it was He Xue's own idea. After all, He Xue's little head was always full of whimsical ideas.
The prince couldn't stop smiling as he held the purse. This was probably the first time He Xue had ever embroidered one, but unexpectedly, it was for him.
The prince carefully put the purse away. Now he had to find a way to explain things to He Xue and not let the misunderstanding affect the relationship between them.
The Crown Prince went straight to Chengqian Palace.
When Consort Tongjia heard that the Crown Prince had arrived, she was quite surprised. He Xue had already sent someone to tell her that she had gone to Yuqing Palace, so why was the Crown Prince here? Could it be that the Crown Prince had brought He Xue back?
Consort Tongjia didn't have time to think much and immediately had the Crown Prince invited in.
"Greetings to Consort Tong! May Consort Tong be blessed!" The Crown Prince bowed to Consort Tongjia.
"No need for formalities, please sit down!" Consort Tongjia said to the Crown Prince.
After the Crown Prince took his seat, he looked around and found that he did not see He Xue.
Consort Tongjia noticed that the Crown Prince seemed to be looking for something. "What is the Crown Prince looking for? Why don't you tell me? Your mother, Consort Tong, can help you!"
"Mother Tong, has Xue returned?" the Crown Prince asked.
"Didn't He Xue go to Yuqing Palace to look for you? Didn't you see her?" Consort Tongjia asked anxiously. He Xue clearly said that she went to Yuqing Palace. Could it be that He Xue went somewhere else? But He Xue wouldn't lie to her!
Could something have happened to Xue? At this moment, Consort Tongjia was already thinking in the worst possible direction. Although she was in the palace, those who opposed the Qing and sought to restore the Ming were everywhere, and it was hard to guarantee that their people wouldn't enter the palace.
“Mother Tong, please don’t worry. He Xue came looking for me, but I didn’t see her, so she left. I came to ask her if she went back to Chengqian Palace!” the Crown Prince immediately explained.
Consort Tongjia was relieved after hearing the Crown Prince's words. "Perhaps she went somewhere else because you were busy with Xuejian. She should be back soon. Why don't you wait at Chengqian Palace for a while? You can also stay for a meal there!"
"Then I'll have to bother Mother Tong!" the Crown Prince said, rising to his feet.
"There's no need to be so polite with Mother Tong!"
The Crown Prince stayed in Chengqian Palace to wait for He Xue to return.
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