Chapter 25 The Crown Prince Must Not Fall
Pei Zhi remained unmoved: "Your Highness, I am merely acting in accordance with the law. Your Highness should also manage your own people and prevent them from causing further trouble and disgracing the royal family."
The Third Prince's face immediately darkened: "Pei Zhi, you're asking for trouble!"
"Whether you have any shame or not is none of the Third Prince's concern." Pei Zhi stood up and said to the crowd, "We have other matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave first." He looked at Ye Wanning, "Let's go."
Ye Wanning nodded and followed Pei Zhi outside.
As she passed by the Third Prince, he suddenly said something, his voice not loud, but loud enough for Ye Wanning to hear: "Second Miss Ye, don't think that just because Pei Zhi is protecting you, you can rest easy. We'll settle some scores sooner or later."
Ye Wanning didn't stop walking, her palms clenching slightly. She knew this was the Third Prince warning her.
The atmosphere in the carriage was somewhat somber as we left Bao'en Temple.
"I'm sorry," Ye Wanning said softly, "It's all my fault, I've caused you and the Third Prince to fall out."
Pei Zhi looked at her and smiled. "It has nothing to do with you. Even without you, he and I would have ended up like this sooner or later." He paused, his tone becoming serious. "The Third Prince already sees you as a thorn in his side. You must be careful."
Ye Wanning nodded. She knew that the contest with the Third Prince had only just begun.
Back at the Marquis's residence, Ye Wanning told Minister Ye and Ye Chengjing about her encounter with the Third Prince at Bao'en Temple.
"This Third Prince is getting more and more audacious!" Minister Ye slammed his fist on the table in anger. "He actually dares to provoke us in such a quiet place as Bao'en Temple!"
"Father, we can't tolerate this any longer," Ye Chengjing said. "If this continues, he'll only become more and more arrogant!"
Ye Wanning didn't speak, but was lost in thought. She was thinking about the Third Prince's last words and the way he looked at her, and she felt that he was plotting something.
"Ningning, what are you thinking about?" Minister Ye noticed her unusual behavior.
Ye Wanning raised her head, her eyes grave: "I'm wondering if the Third Prince will make a move against His Highness the Crown Prince."
"To lay a hand on the Crown Prince?" Minister Ye was taken aback. "He dares?"
“What wouldn’t he dare to do?” Ye Wanning said. “He even dared to harm the General of the North, what else wouldn’t he do? Besides, he saw me and Lord Pei together at Bao’en Temple today, he must think we’re on the Crown Prince’s side, and he might do something desperate.”
Minister Ye's expression also changed: "What you say makes sense. It seems we must remind His Highness the Crown Prince to be careful."
"I've already sent Lord Pei," Ye Wanning said. "Hopefully, it's not too late."
For the next few days, the capital was calm and seemingly peaceful, but everyone was secretly on edge. The Third Prince was unusually quiet, no longer causing trouble for Ye Wanning's shop, nor opposing Pei Zhi in court. But this only made Ye Wanning feel more uneasy. She had a feeling that this was the calm before the storm.
That day, Ye Wanning was browsing newly arrived storybooks in the bookstore when Chuntao suddenly rushed in, her face pale: "Miss, something terrible has happened! News has come from the palace that His Highness the Crown Prince... His Highness the Crown Prince has been discovered having a secret rendezvous with a palace maid in the Imperial Garden!"
The storybook in Ye Wanning's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
It happened. The thing she least wanted to happen, still happened.
Although the Crown Prince is weak, he has always been cautious in his actions. How could he possibly do such a thing? It must have been a trap set by the Third Prince!
"How is it?" Ye Wanning asked anxiously.
"I heard from them that the Emperor was furious and locked His Highness the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, not even allowing him to celebrate his birthday! He even wants to depose him from his position as Crown Prince!" Chun Tao said anxiously.
Ye Wanning took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down: "Let's go home!"
She must return to the manor immediately to discuss the matter with Minister Ye, Ye Chengjing, and Pei Zhi; he will surely know what to do.
The carriage sped towards the Marquis's residence. Ye Wanning gazed at the streets flashing past the window, her mind filled with only one thought: the Third Prince's conspiracy must not be allowed to succeed! The Crown Prince cannot fall, otherwise, they will be the next to fall!
The carriage sped along the bluestone road, its wheels rumbling and clattering as if striking Ye Wanning's heart.
Ye Wanning gripped the handkerchief tightly, the edges of which were wrinkled. Chun Tao sat close to her, barely daring to breathe, only daring to glance at her out of the corner of her eye.
"Miss, don't worry too much, things will always take a turn for the better," Chun Tao whispered to her.
Ye Wanning didn't speak, but simply lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked outside. The street was still bustling with people: peddlers carrying loads, porters chatting and laughing, women chatting and laughing, and children playing—a scene of peace and prosperity.
But who could have known that the palace was in turmoil! The Crown Prince had been framed—this was no small matter. The Third Prince's move was both shrewd and ruthless.
She clearly remembered that in her past life, it was after that "secret meeting with a palace maid" that the Crown Prince was neglected by the Emperor and soon deposed, imprisoned in the Eastern Palace until his last breath. Meanwhile, the Third Prince seized the opportunity to win over court officials, his power growing until he became the Crown Prince!
We must not let history repeat itself!
As soon as the carriage arrived at the gate of the Minister's residence, Ye Wanning jumped down impatiently, the hem of her skirt fluttering in the wind. The guards at the gate noticed her strange expression and rushed over to help her up: "Second Miss, slow down."
"Where are my father and older brother?" Ye Wanning asked.
"Master and the eldest young master went to the palace early this morning and haven't returned yet," the guard said.
Ye Wanning's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't returned for so long; could the situation be worse than she imagined?! She hurried towards the mansion, and just as she passed through the hanging flower gate, a servant rushed over in a panic, almost bumping into her.
"Second Miss!" The servant stopped in his tracks as soon as he saw her. "You're finally back! Father and elder brother just returned from the palace and are waiting for you in the study. They looked so worried."
Ye Wanning nodded and strode towards the study. Just as she reached the door, a suppressed roar came from inside: "This is outrageous! The Third Prince has gone too far!"
She took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Minister Ye paced hurriedly around the room, his hands behind his back, his hair somewhat disheveled. Ye Chengjing sat in a chair, his brows furrowed, his hand gripping the teacup so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"Father, elder brother," Ye Wanning called softly.
The two men turned their heads at the same time, and when they saw her, their expressions became even more complicated.
"Ningning, you know everything?" Minister Ye breathed a sigh of relief and asked wearily.
"I heard about it on my way back from the bookstore. His Highness the Crown Prince..." Ye Wanning paused, then asked, "How is the situation?"
Minister Ye walked up to her and sighed deeply: "The Emperor is furious and has locked the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, forbidding him from seeing anyone. The Third Prince is stirring up trouble, saying that the Crown Prince is morally flawed and unworthy to be the heir apparent. Upon hearing this, the Emperor has already considered deposing the Crown Prince."
Ye Chengjing also stood up: "We waited outside the palace gates for a long time, but we didn't even see a shadow of the East Palace. The guards said that the Third Prince had given the order that no one was allowed to get close."
Ye Wanning's heart sank. The Third Prince was trying to drive the Crown Prince to his death.
"What about that palace maid?" Ye Wanning asked. "What's her background? How did she end up with the Crown Prince?"
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