Chapter 209 Acting
Hatred flashed in the crown prince's eyes.
"When my father ascended the throne, the Du family forced him to bring a Du family girl into the palace when my mother was seriously ill."
My mother set an example for my father to select concubines, but these noble families were not satisfied. My father's harem had to include women from noble families, and they even wanted to fill my Eastern Palace with women.
One wrong move and your aunt, brother, sister, and dozens of people from her maternal family will all be reduced to ashes!
My father-in-law had a small gathering with friends that day and drank a few too many drinks. He came home a little late, which is how he escaped a disaster.
After three months of investigation, all they found was an accidental fire. Jinzhi, how can your uncle not hate you!
Qin Jinzhi's eyes flickered. "But without an heir, your position won't be secure."
The Crown Prince sneered, "Isn't this exactly what they wanted? An incompetent Crown Prince, without the support of a powerful maternal family, and estranged from the Emperor and Empress, even a fool dares to bewitch me into abdicating the throne to her bastard son. Only in this way can I protect myself. Besides, I already have children."
Qin Jinzhi nodded. "Although Shen Liuying also comes from a prestigious family, the Shen family has now fallen. Without the support of her family, Madam Wei and those two concubines will not show any mercy."
The crown prince chuckled lightly, "Of course I won't let them harm my child."
Qin Jinzhi sat to one side, then stood up and said, "I will send in some more maids to protect Shen Liuying. The situation in the capital is complicated now, so you need to have some people around you as well."
The Crown Prince replied, "Uncle knows."
Qin Jinzhi asked the Crown Prince, "Uncle, is your pavilion valuable?"
The crown prince was taken aback. "It's alright."
Qin Jinzhi waved her hand, signaling the Crown Prince to leave.
The prince was puzzled, but he still retreated to the shore.
Qin Jinzhi reached out and picked up the stone bench next to her, weighing it in her hand. She was fairly satisfied with the weight.
Then, to the prince's astonishment, the pavilion was smashed.
The prince saw the canopy on the pavilion suddenly splash a huge spray of water into the pond, and his eyelids twitched repeatedly.
Qin Jinzhi tossed the stone bench aside, then grinned. "There are a lot of people watching me lately. It wouldn't be right for me to come to the East Palace without making a fuss. Uncle, I'm leaving now."
Eunuch Wang trotted up to the Crown Prince and said, "Your Highness! Why is this little princess causing trouble again?"
The Crown Prince's gaze darkened: "If she doesn't cause trouble here, someone else will."
Qin Jinzhi turned around, and her smile vanished.
Back at the Prince's residence, Yun Que offered Qin Jinzhi a damp handkerchief to wash her hands.
Then, gesturing, she asked, "Has the princess met the crown prince?"
Qin Jinzhi hummed in agreement.
Seeing that Qin Jinzhi's expression wasn't too good, Yun Que quickly asked, "What's wrong, Princess? What did the Crown Prince say?"
Qin Jinzhi lay down on the swing, frowned, and then said, "The Crown Prince is acting."
Yun Que nodded. She already knew the Crown Prince was acting when she recognized Old Master Wu yesterday.
Qin Jinzhi shook her head. "What I mean is, he's putting on an act in front of me. The Crown Prince is playing the role of someone who endures humiliation and seeks revenge for his deceased wife."
Yun Que frowned. Why would the Crown Prince do this? How much had the Princess done for him since returning to the capital?
Qin Jinzhi had one leg draped over the swing, while the other leg dangled on the ground.
"The Crown Prince knew about my poisoning a long time ago, and today he even tried to test me by giving me sour apricots."
Upon hearing this, Yun Que's expression immediately turned serious. "The Crown Prince is wary of you."
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. That's why they say my uncle is a master actor.
However, such scheming is indeed characteristic of a monarch.
I wanted her knife to be sharp, but I was also afraid it would slip out of my control.
Moreover, he is not the owner of this knife.
After a moment of silence, Qin Jinzhi spoke up: "Have the undercover agents investigate all of the Crown Prince's movements after the death of Crown Princess Wu, and where Wu Youji went when the Wu residence caught fire."
The lark nodded in acknowledgment and then left.
Just then, a servant came to report, "Princess, General Huo has returned."
Qin Jinzhi smiled upon hearing this, "Didn't you say we couldn't enter the capital until three days later? Where is Uncle Huo?"
The servant replied, "General Huo is in the Prince's courtyard."
Qin Jinzhi immediately stood up. "Lead the way."
Before even entering Qin Ye's courtyard, one could already hear hearty laughter coming from inside.
"Uncle Huo!"
A middle-aged man, about two zhang tall, with a muscular and imposing physique, turned around in response.
"Xiao Bao!"
Huo Tingshan's eyes lit up the moment he saw Qin Jinzhi.
He strode over and picked Qin Jinzhi up, placing her on his shoulder.
When she was a child, Huo Tingshan would lift her high and put her on his shoulders every time he returned to Beijing to see her.
Huo Tingshan was Qin Ziyi's deputy general, and they were as close as brothers.
After Qin Ziyi's death, Huo Tingshan would travel thousands of miles every year to celebrate her birthday. When Qin Jinzhi was a child, Huo Tingshan played the role of her father for a time.
Later, when the war in Chu became more intense, she went to the scene incognito, and the two had not seen each other for three years.
When Qin Jinzhi went to the battlefield, she thought about recognizing Huo Tingshan, but considering how protective Huo Tingshan was of her, she figured he would personally escort her back to the capital.
Huo Tingshan said with a smile, "Have you missed Uncle Huo? Would you like to ride a horse?"
As he spoke, he put Qin Jinzhi on the ground and started to lie down on the ground.
Qin Jinzhi quickly grabbed him and said, "Uncle Huo, I'm already eighteen."
Huo Tingshan looked unconvinced, "Even if our Xiaobao is eighty years old and wants to ride a horse, Uncle Huo can let you ride."
In addition to his four adopted sons, Qin Ye also had four fierce generals under his command.
The one leading them was Huo Tingshan.
It possesses the strength to hold off ten thousand men.
Who would have thought that General Huo, who could single-handedly cover the rear of the army on the battlefield, would become a horse for the young princess upon returning to the palace?
Qin Jinzhi laughed and said, "Okay, then I'll ride it again when I'm eighty."
Huo Tingshan said with a smile, "I heard you transferred Huo Qing back to the capital. How about it? Is that enough? We can't let all those kids come back."
Qin Jinzhi laughed and said, "Huo Qing alone is enough to help me a lot. If all my brothers come back, I'll turn the capital upside down."
Huo Tingshan laughed heartily, "With Uncle Huo here, even if you really turn the capital upside down, Uncle Huo will take the blame for you."
Qin Jinzhi had a smile on her face that she hadn't seen in a long time. "Uncle Huo, could you stay in the capital for a few more days until after my birthday?"
Huo Tingshan clapped his hands, and a guard-like man walked over carrying a large box.
He looked at Qin Jinzhi with a mysterious expression and said, "Open it and take a look."
Qin Jinzhi reached out and opened the box, where she saw an exquisite headdress inside.
She raised an eyebrow. "My birthday gift?"
Huo Tingshan said with a boastful look, "I've inquired about it; all the young ladies in the capital like this."
In previous years, Huo Tingshan would send either knives or swords as gifts.
It's quite unusual to have a headpiece made of face this year.
Qin Jinzhi took the box. "Uncle Huo has a good eye."
Huo Tingshan's smile faded. "Huo Qing wrote a letter saying there's progress on what happened back then?"
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