How could I dare say that?
Eunuch Su immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty..."
He was trembling all over, and his lips turned white with fear.
"You good-for-nothing!"
Seeing his utter incompetence, the old emperor snorted, tightened his outer robe, and got up to walk away from the window.
"Just say what I'm told to say, stop with all the nonsense."
"..."
You make it sound so easy; it seems a servant's life isn't a life at all.
Taking a deep breath, several emotions swirling within him, Eunuch Su tentatively spoke.
“Both the eldest prince and the crown prince are men of exceptional bearing and talent. How could they possibly commit such a despicable act as assassination? Moreover, this whole affair is rather strange. The royal villa is located far away at the foot of the mountains on the outskirts of the capital. If the assassination was to take place there, why not leave the city? Why choose to do it within the city itself…”
"Stupid! It's precisely when everyone thinks they won't be in the city that it's the easiest time to strike."
"..."
The old emperor's words startled Eunuch Su once again.
"Is that so? I was foolish, but it's possible that it was the aristocratic families who did it. Ever since the new commercial tax was implemented, the aristocratic families have been dissatisfied. I heard that at today's plum blossom banquet, many aristocratic family members targeted the young master's wife."
"The Crown Prince was assassinated, and the Crown Prince's wife was also harassed. I wonder if these events are connected."
"You suspect Nan'an?" The old emperor shot out a look in his eyes.
"This servant dares not."
The old eunuch Su felt his scalp tingle from the stare and immediately knelt down again.
"Nan'an is innocent and naive; she won't get mixed up with those aristocratic families..."
Upon hearing the old emperor's words, Eunuch Su knew that his attempt to sow discord had failed.
However, the old emperor's tone changed immediately.
"However, Nan'an is too presumptuous. Knowing that I value Pei Yanzhi, he still makes things difficult for his wife many times."
"Perhaps the princess hasn't forgotten the prince."
While observing the old emperor's expression, Eunuch Su spoke cautiously.
Upon hearing this, the old emperor immediately frowned.
"What do children know about love and affection? It was just that she almost fell off the bridge during the Lantern Festival that year and was saved by Pei Yanzhi."
Eunuch Su chuckled, “That’s right. It’s the age when young girls are in love. The young prince is handsome and has saved her life. Naturally, the princess can’t forget him. I heard that the princess was furious when she returned from the southern border. She said that she had only been gone for a year, so how come the young prince got married? That’s probably why the princess made things difficult for the young prince’s wife.”
"That's why I think I've spoiled her too much, to the point that she's become arrogant and ignorant."
"Your Majesty, what about Consort Gao...?"
Eunuch Su then brought up Consort Gao again.
The old emperor simply snorted coldly.
"My Consort is quite clever; she went to help when she knew that Lady Jiang was in trouble, but the Empress did nothing at all."
"However, it's best if Pei Yanzhi's assassination wasn't her doing."
As he spoke, the old emperor's gaze grew increasingly deep and cold.
"The new commercial tax is the first decree I have revised in recent years. If the official in charge dies before the money is collected, wouldn't I become a laughingstock..."
As he spoke, the old emperor frowned.
"Pass down the order: the princess caught a cold at the plum blossom viewing banquet and is not allowed to receive guests or go out for the time being."
"..."
Isn't this just a lockdown?
Overjoyed, Eunuch Su immediately sent a young eunuch to deliver the imperial decree.
Upon hearing the imperial decree, Li Yuyan's face darkened. She stared at the still-unremoved cups and plates, wishing she could tear the entire house down.
"Your Highness..."
Upon seeing this, the palace maids and nannies were so frightened that they could hardly breathe, and they all looked at her with trepidation.
Right there, the intricately carved door behind her was pushed open from the other side.
With a creak, a musty smell wafted out from the crack in the door.
A figure slowly walked out from inside, gradually becoming clearer in her eyes from a blur.
The newcomer wore a black brocade robe of superior quality, which shimmered with a mysterious glow even in the dim light.
The collar and cuffs are trimmed with fine silver thread, exquisite and luxurious, making it almost too beautiful to look at directly.
He walked out with his hair as black as ink and a silver crown on his head.
His gait was nonchalant, yet it gave off an extremely dangerous vibe.
It was because he didn't give off a human vibe; he was more like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness, slowly emerging from a dark room.
"Greetings, Fourth Prince."
Upon seeing this person, all the palace maids and nannies in the hall knelt down tremblingly, too afraid to even lift their heads.
The entire palace was instantly enveloped in an atmosphere of fear, so quiet that only the rapid breathing and heartbeats of the crowd could be heard.
He remained silent and simply found a seat on the floor and sat down.
The black brocade robe was spread on the ground, like a huge black flower.
He ignored everyone, raised his finger and beckoned, and a servant brought him the finest wine.
Seeing that he was actually in the mood to drink, Li Yuyan's face instantly turned bright red, and flames of anger burned in her eyes.
She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Why aren't you saying anything!
"Say something!"
He slammed his hand on the table as he spoke.
"..."
She looked up and the man glanced at her. His eyes were cold, but a faint smile played on his lips.
"say what?"
"You're the one who wanted to cause trouble for her. I told you, don't mess with her unless it's absolutely necessary."
It seemed that Li Yuyan's setback was within his expectations, and he appeared to be in a pretty good mood.
"you--"
Li Yuyan was furious at his attitude.
"Even you side with her!"
"You're actually siding with her like this? I was trying to kick her out just now, and you were just watching from the dark room without helping?"
"So they didn't kick them out?"
He said he was in a good mood, and even raised his glass and smiled at Li Yuyan.
Li Yuyan was so angry that she threw the wine pot next to her away.
"It's all because of Yao Zhijie! I actually believed his lies and invited Jiang Yao here!"
She gritted her teeth, her expression a mixture of extreme anger and deep regret.
Upon hearing this, the man sighed and shook his head.
"It has nothing to do with Yao Zhijie, nor with that Jiang Yao. You are no match for her."
The "she" he was referring to was naturally Jiang Shuwan, Li Yuyan sneered.
"It's only the first round. What makes you think I'm no match for her? I am the Princess of Nan'an. Even if I do nothing, she can only bow down to me!"
Seeing that she was still unwilling to give up, the man stopped trying to persuade her.
He stared at the open door, the image of Jiang Shuwan leaving flashing through his mind.
The snow was so heavy, falling thick and fast from the sky.
She was dressed in white, and she gradually disappeared from his sight.
She seemed to melt into the snow.
"What a pity!"
"We could have met..."
He sighed as he spoke, his gaze falling back to the seat opposite him, where Jiang Shuwan had previously sat.
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