Chapter 33 will definitely cripple him.
“I don’t know,” Ye Chengjing said, “but I know there’s a big problem here. I want to find out what exactly happened.”
Ye Wanning nodded: "Okay, let's investigate together. If Mother's death is really related to the Third Prince's mother, we must avenge her."
Ye Chengjing looked at her and nodded, "Mm." He paused, then said to her, "Ningning, you've had a tough time these past few days. If anything happens in the future, we'll all be there for each other."
Ye Wanning looked at him, feeling a warmth in her heart, and nodded: "Okay."
After Ye Chengjing left, Ye Wanning remained silent for a long time. She hadn't expected that her mother's death was related to the Third Prince's mother. It turned out that such a huge secret was hidden here.
She knew that her path to revenge had only just begun.
In the following days, significant changes indeed occurred in the imperial court. The emperor issued an order to severely punish the Third Prince's faction, and many officials were implicated, some dismissed, some exiled, and some even executed. The atmosphere in the capital became very tense, with soldiers patrolling everywhere.
Ye Wanning followed Minister Ye's advice and rarely went out. She spent most of her time in the Minister's mansion, reading or tending to the flowers and trees in the mansion with Chun Tao.
But she didn't sit idle either, and asked Chun Tao's fellow villager to continue gathering information outside, especially about the Third Prince's mother. Soon, Chun Tao's fellow villager returned and reported: "Miss, I have found out that the Third Prince's mother and Madam Zhou used to have a very good relationship. Before Madam Zhou entered the manor, she stayed at the Third Prince's mother's place for a while."
Ye Wanning's heart tightened: "So, Madam Zhou and the Third Prince's mother knew each other before?"
"It seems so," Chun Tao said. "Moreover, I found out that Madam Zhou was able to enter the manor with the help of the Third Prince's mother!"
Ye Wanning's mind suddenly clicked! So that's how it is! Madam Zhou and the Third Prince's mother had been colluding all along! Her mother's death was very likely a conspiracy between the two of them!
"Is there any other news?" Ye Wanning asked.
"Also, I found out that the Third Prince's mother has been going to the temple to burn incense frequently lately, as if she's praying for something," Chun Tao said.
Ye Wanning's eyes lit up: "Which temple is it?"
“It’s the Bao’en Temple on the outskirts of the city,” Chun Tao said.
Ye Wanning nodded: "I understand." She had an idea in mind. The Third Prince's mother went to Bao'en Temple to burn incense, perhaps hoping to pray for the Third Prince's safety. This might be a good opportunity to get close to her and find out information.
"Chuntao, help me prepare. We're going to Bao'en Temple tomorrow," Ye Wanning said.
"Miss, are you going to Bao'en Temple?" Chun Tao asked in surprise. "It's so chaotic outside right now, you'd better not go out."
"It's alright," Ye Wanning said. "We'll just be careful. I want to go and see what the Third Prince's mother is up to."
Chun Tao knew her personality; once she decided to do something, nothing anyone else could say would matter. Chun Tao could only nod and say, "Okay, I'll go prepare now."
The next morning, Ye Wanning and Chun Tao changed into more ordinary clothes and, accompanied by several guards, headed towards Bao'en Temple on the outskirts of the city. The carriage moved slowly along the quiet streets, with few pedestrians in sight. Ye Wanning lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside, silently praying that this time she would have a successful trip.
Upon arriving at Bao'en Temple, Ye Wanning and Chun Tao alighted from the carriage and entered the temple. The temple was quiet, with several monks cleaning inside.
"Miss, where do we go to find the Third Prince's mother?" Chun Tao asked softly.
Ye Wanning looked around and said, "Let's wander around, maybe we'll see it."
The two strolled slowly through the temple, admiring the scenery. Bao'en Temple was beautiful, especially the bamboo grove behind it. Just as they were about to explore the back mountain, they suddenly saw a group of people surrounding a middle-aged woman dressed in elegant clothes. The woman was well-maintained and looked dignified, but there was a subtle anxiety in her eyes.
Ye Wanning recognized that the person was Consort Li, the mother of the Third Prince.
“Miss, it’s her!” Chun Tao whispered.
Ye Wanning nodded, pulled Chun Tao aside, and wanted to see where Consort Li was going.
Surrounded by several palace maids and eunuchs, Consort Li walked towards the back courtyard of the Buddhist temple. The back courtyard was a forbidden area of the temple, and ordinary people were not allowed to enter.
Ye Wanning's heart stirred, and she followed behind.
She and Chuntao hid behind a big tree and watched as Consort Li walked towards a meditation room in the backyard.
"She's gone inside," Chun Tao said. "What do we do?"
Ye Wanning frowned: "Let's wait and see."
The two waited behind the tree for about half an hour before the door to the meditation room finally opened. Consort Li came out with a satisfied smile on her face, seemingly in a much better mood.
She didn't leave immediately, but stood in the courtyard for a while, as if waiting for something.
Just then, an old monk in a gray robe walked in from outside, approached Consort Li, and whispered a few words to her.
Consort Li nodded, took off a string of precious Buddhist beads from her wrist, and handed it to the old monk: "Master, thank you very much. Please accept this small token of my appreciation."
The old monk accepted the prayer beads and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. As long as you do as I say, the Third Prince will be safe and sound."
Consort Li smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Master."
As she spoke, she left with the palace maids and eunuchs.
Ye Wanning and Chun Tao emerged from behind the big tree.
"Miss, what did that old monk mean by that?" Chuntao asked.
Ye Wanning frowned: "I don't know either. But I feel that there must be some unspeakable secret between this old monk and Consort Li."
She watched the old monk walk into the meditation room and an idea came to her: "Let's go take a look."
Ye Wanning pulled Chun Tao along and quietly came to the outside of the meditation room, listening intently.
"Is everything arranged?" a voice asked.
"Don't worry, Master. The medicine is ready. As long as His Highness the Crown Prince takes it, he will become like the Third Prince, delirious and do some outrageous things. At that time, the Emperor will definitely depose him," another voice replied.
"Huh?" Ye Wanning and Chun Tao were both shocked! They actually wanted to harm the Crown Prince! Ye Wanning felt her blood rush to her head, and her hands and feet went cold. They actually wanted to harm the Crown Prince! These people were utterly depraved!
Ye Wanning suppressed her anger and continued listening.
"Be discreet and don't leave any evidence. The Third Prince is already imprisoned; we can't afford to make any more mistakes."
"Don't worry, Master. I've already made arrangements. Someone will pretend to be someone close to His Highness the Crown Prince and deliver the medicine. Even if they investigate, they won't trace it back to us."
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