Even though Lady Xie had been divorced by the Left Chancellor, she was still the mother of Consort Bai of the Eastern Palace, so her treatment was not bad. She was imprisoned in a relatively spacious and comfortable cell in the Jingzhao Prefecture.
"Princess Changning, this way please."
A jailer led the way for Bai Chuxiao to the cell where Xie was located.
Bai Chuxiao nodded slightly, "Thank you for your trouble." She had some things she wanted to verify with the Xie family today.
The jailers guarding the nearby cells immediately lowered their heads and retreated.
Unusually, Madam Xie didn't make a scene; she simply sat on the ground and watched her with a cold smile.
Bai Chuxiao entered the cell with a slight smile, "How is Aunt Xie?"
Madam Xie raised her eyes, a hint of sarcasm on her face. "What do you think? Isn't everything I'm like this is all thanks to you?"
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow, "You schemed first, and now you're reaping what you sowed. I just thought Father and Aunt had a deep relationship, but I didn't expect this..."
Madam Xie was taken aback for a moment, then quickly regained her composure. "So you've come here today to laugh at me?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled and shook her head, then slowly asked, "How did my mother die?"
Madam Xie laughed a few times, a strange smile curving her lips. She said in a low voice, "Bai Chuxiao, didn't you investigate? It's true, I killed your mother. I bribed the midwife to cause her to die in childbirth. And I also caused you to fall into the water when you were little. Are you satisfied with this result?"
Bai Chuxiao's eyes darkened slightly. "Aunt Xie, you're certainly carefree in your self-destructive behavior, but do you still care about your two children outside? Tell me the truth, or else..."
Madam Xie sneered, "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. Anyway, I'm going to die soon, so how can I control them?"
Bai Chuxiao looked down at her and smiled slightly, "You're acting like dying is the end of everything, isn't it just because someone promised to protect your children? Then Aunt Xie, why don't you guess who's more cunning, me, my father, or the one in the Crown Prince's palace?"
Xie's face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly calmed down. "What I just said is true. What else do you want to know?"
Bai Chuxiao spoke calmly, "What kind of deal did you make with Father back then? How much was he involved in my mother's death? As long as you tell the truth, I will never harm your children..."
A strange light flashed in Xie's eyes. "You're overthinking it. Your father and I were truly in love back then, but now we're old and the love is gone. As for your mother? She didn't do anything; she just let me do what I wanted..."
Bai Chuxiao's eyes turned slightly cold. "Does Aunt Xie truly not care whether Bai Haoyun lives or dies?"
After laughing a few times, Xie slowly spoke, "Bai Chuxiao, you don't need to threaten me. Do you think you can control everything? There are plenty of people in the capital you can't beat. I'll be waiting for you down there..."
Bai Chuxiao's face darkened; she knew Bai Chuxiao wouldn't say anything today.
Upon exiting the Jingzhao Prefecture, Qing Shuang and Qing Zhu immediately came to greet them.
"Did the princess find out anything?"
Bai Chuxiao shook her head. "Today, Madam Xie is quite different from her usual foolish self. Let's go to the Prince of Yan's residence!"
"yes!"
In the Prince of Yan's Mansion
Bai Chuxiao gazed at the swing in the courtyard, which was even more exquisite than the one in the Liuli Courtyard, and smiled, "Why did you think of making this?"
Chu Tianze chuckled, "It's up to you to like it, and Xiaoxiao looks quite pretty sitting on it!"
Bai Chuxiao clapped her hands and sat down on it, "Not bad!"
"Did you find out anything from the Jingzhao Prefecture?"
Bai Chuxiao said helplessly, "No, Xie is very tight-lipped. She insists that it was all her doing, which is unlike her usual personality."
Chu Tianze raised an eyebrow, "Xiaoxiao cares a lot about the truth of what happened back then?"
Bai Chuxiao shook her head and said softly, "No, Xie Shi won't live much longer now. It can be considered revenge for my mother and me when I was young. It's just that I feel I understand my father even less now."
Chu Tianze gently comforted him, "You won't be able to handle the mess the Bai family is in for much longer, so don't let it ruin your mood."
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "You're right. Has His Majesty reacted to the matter in Yunzhou?"
Chu Tianze shook his head. "They're probably still investigating."
Bai Chuxiao blinked. "Shouldn't Chu Tianyou be plotting against you? Why is he dragging me into this? How could I possibly interfere with his grand plan? I've been unjustly attacked... Should we teach him a lesson?"
Without the Crown Prince's instigation, Xie might not have dared to cause trouble at the examination hall.
Chu Tianze chuckled, "Don't worry, after Father investigates, he should quiet down for a while."
Mo Yan hurried over, "Your Highness, Princess, Lady Xie has committed suicide by biting her tongue."
Bai Chuxiao paused, "How could this be?"
Chu Tianze's eyes turned slightly cold. "After Xiaoxiao left, who else has gone?"
Mo Yan bowed deeply and said, "Both the people from the Eastern Palace and Bai Xiang have gone to visit him."
"Okay, you can go now."
Bai Chuxiao frowned slightly; Xie Shi's death so quickly was unexpected.
Chu Tianze patted her hand and said calmly, "It seems the Xie family does indeed know some secrets."
Bai Chuxiao pondered for a moment, then said, "Forget it. The person is dead, and I won't be in the Bai family anymore soon. There's no point in pursuing it further."
The Bai family continued as usual. After all, Xie had been divorced, so the Bai family didn't need to hold a funeral for her. Xie's body was taken back to the Marquis of Wenxin's residence.
In the Imperial Study
"Your Majesty, the messengers who went to Yunzhou to investigate reported nothing unusual."
Emperor Wenxuan glanced at the man in black kneeling in the center of the hall, his eyes flashing slightly. "Where is the Crown Prince?"
The man in black hesitated for a moment, "His Highness the Crown Prince has not been in contact with Prince An either."
Emperor Wenxuan's face turned ashen. "That idiot! Is there any unusual activity in the Northwest?"
The man in black bowed his head respectfully and said, "The northwest border is relatively stable. Furthermore, Murong Yuan is preparing to return to the capital with his two grandsons."
Emperor Wenxuan's eyes flickered slightly. "Alright, you may leave."
Then Jinzhong was summoned.
What are your orders, Your Majesty?
Emperor Wenxuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Go to the Eastern Palace and issue an edict instructing the Crown Prince to recuperate and not to come out for the time being."
Jinzhong was greatly alarmed. This was tantamount to confining the Crown Prince to his quarters. What had the Crown Prince done? But then he thought it was nothing serious, otherwise the decree wouldn't be so mild...
"Yes, this servant will go immediately," he replied, though he had many suspicions in his mind, he dared not hesitate.
"Wait," Emperor Wenxuan suddenly called out to Jinzhong as he was about to reach the door.
Jinzhong quickly returned and bowed his head to listen to the instructions. Did His Majesty not want to confine the Crown Prince again?
After a moment of silence, Emperor Wenxuan slowly asked, "Have you received a memorial from Murong Yuan requesting to return to the capital?"
Jinzhong looked somewhat puzzled and bowed, saying, "No, Your Majesty... Murong Yuan has no official position and does not need to return to the capital..."
General Murong is now just a commoner, why would he need to write a memorial upon returning to the capital? Has His Majesty lost his mind? However, he dared not say this aloud; His Majesty seemed quite concerned about the Murong family…
Emperor Wenxuan spoke in a deep voice, "He hasn't returned to the capital for decades, has he?"
Jin Zhong chuckled, "Your Majesty, Princess Changning grew up in General Murong's mansion. Now that His Highness the Prince of Yan and the Princess are about to get married, Murong Yuan must be missing his granddaughter and has come back to attend the wedding..."
Emperor Wenxuan nodded. "Very well, go to the Eastern Palace to deliver the decree."
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