The entire capital was as if an earthquake had struck. The long-missing Liu Wangfei had now returned safe and sound—what would happen to the current Empress?
According to the ancestral rules, Liu Wangfei was the legitimate, original wife. She had never committed any fault, and now that she was back, she should rightfully reclaim her position as Empress!
All eyes quickly turned to the Feng family, and many began to worry about the future of the Eastern Palace.
The Empress and the Crown Prince had never been favored to begin with. If not for the promising Grand Heir, they might have already lost their positions.
But now that Liu Wangfei had returned, everything would change.
Who didn’t know that back when Yongchang Emperor was still in his fiefdom, he and Liu Wangfei had gone through thick and thin together? They were husband and wife who had weathered hardships.
At the same time, people couldn’t help but envy the Liu family’s incredible luck.
The Liu family already had a favored noble consort, which was a moment of great glory. Now that Liu Wangfei had returned, it seemed likely that Duke Chu’s household would produce an empress as well.
That would mean the Liu family would soon hold both an empress and a favored consort—truly the icing on the cake.
Even the Crown Prince’s position seemed at risk of being replaced.
Not only did the court officials and the common people think this way—the Crown Prince thought so too.
He flew into a rage in the Eastern Palace, even scolding Fan Liangdi and Beauty Li, who had always been favored by him.
Fan Liangdi and Beauty Li had never been treated so harshly before and began crying: “Your Highness, even if you are angry, please don’t take it out on us!”
Fan Liangdi dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, her eyes sparkling as she said: “That’s right. Wouldn’t it be better to have the Grand Heir think of a solution? Isn’t it said that His Highness the Grand Heir is highly favored?”
When Xiao Yunting’s name was mentioned, the Crown Prince’s expression turned complicated, his face shifting for a while before finally sending Eunuch Sun to summon Xiao Yunting.
Eunuch Sun hesitated to speak, but when he saw Fan Liangdi and Beauty Li brewing tea and serving pastries as if nothing had happened, he didn’t dare to say more and braced himself to go to Jingchun Hall to find Xiao Yunting.
Xiao Yunting, who had been kneeling all night, had reddened knees. Imperial Physician Hu frowned as he applied moxibustion and sighed: “Your Highness, don’t think that just because you’re young and strong, you can disregard your health. Kneeling for long hours on a rainy night can seriously damage your bones. You know, this is exactly how Duan Wang developed osteomyelitis…”
Xiao Yunting chuckled softly and nodded to show he understood.
Imperial Physician Hu looked somewhat worried: “Your Highness, this time the situation…”
This time, it was truly a crisis inside and out.
Yongchang Emperor was still furious over the Crown Prince injuring Qi Wang’s leg, and it was uncertain how the Crown Prince would be punished. On top of that, Liu Wangfei had now returned. Many were watching, waiting to see the downfall of the Eastern Palace.
As one of Xiao Yunting’s people, Imperial Physician Hu naturally had deeper concerns.
But Xiao Yunting was calm and at ease, adjusting his robe and smiling faintly: “Is that so? If Liu Wangfei has returned, she’s the one who should really be worried, not me.”
Imperial Physician Hu wanted to say more, but Eunuch Sun had already arrived. He quickly stepped forward and quietly informed him that the Crown Prince had summoned him.
Xiao Yunting’s smile faded. He nodded at Babao: “See the physician out.”
Then he followed Eunuch Sun to the main hall.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess had always had a cold relationship, which extended to their treatment of Xiao Yunting.
Especially since Xiao Yunting had been raised in Jurong when he was young, they had little affection between them.
When the Crown Prince saw him, he sneered: “I heard you went straight to Taiji Hall as soon as you returned to the palace?”
Xiao Yunting answered calmly: “Yes.”
Before the Crown Prince could speak, Fan Liangdi smiled sweetly and asked: “Since His Highness the Grand Heir has been to Taiji Hall, then this matter must have been settled, right?”
In the past, Xiao Yunting was skilled at maneuvering through these political games.
But now, he suddenly didn’t feel like playing along anymore.
He looked at Fan Liangdi indifferently and asked softly: “Speaking of which, wasn’t it supposed to be Fan Liangdi who accompanied Royal Father to admire the plum blossoms at Huangjue Temple yesterday? Why was it suddenly changed to Beauty Wang?”
Fan Liangdi’s expression instantly changed, and she forced a stiff smile: “Oh, that… naturally it was because my chronic headache flared up.”
“Is that so?” Xiao Yunting neither agreed nor disagreed, but turned to the Crown Prince, whose face had gone dark: “Royal Father, you should really think about it carefully. Coincidences like this… Fan Liangdi seems to have quite a few of them, don’t you think?”
Fan Liangdi immediately burst into tears and knelt on the ground: “Your Highness the Crown Prince…”
Xiao Yunting’s lips curled in disdain. What a fool.
The Crown Prince was lustful, yes, but even more than that, he was afraid of death.
The person he loved most would always be himself.
Fan Liangdi crawled forward, trying to clutch the Crown Prince’s robe: “Your Highness, with the Grand Heir speaking like this, I don’t know how to defend myself…”
Suddenly, the Crown Prince lifted his foot and viciously kicked her to the ground.
Everyone in the hall was stunned. Even Beauty Li, who had been sitting on the couch, was so frightened she fell to her knees, trembling.
Fan Liangdi’s face turned pale. The Crown Prince glanced coldly at Eunuch Sun: “Drag her out! I never want to see this filthy woman again!”
Eunuch Sun immediately obeyed. A few burly eunuchs entered, covering Fan Liangdi’s mouth and silently dragged her out.
Beauty Li was terrified, her face drained of color, trembling incessantly.
But the Crown Prince had no further interest in being served. He waved her away impatiently.
Only then did he fix his dark, heavy gaze on Xiao Yunting: “So, we’re just going to let the Liu family go?”
After all, the Liu family had thrown such a heavy accusation at him, and now that Liu Wangfei had returned, wouldn’t Duke Chu’s household be even stronger?
Of course, this couldn’t just be brushed aside.
The Liu family had already begun to target the Crown Prince.
If they weren’t stopped and retaliated against, things would only escalate.
Next time, it wouldn’t just be framing.
But Xiao Yunting wouldn’t tell the Crown Prince this directly. After leaving the palace, he went straight to the Qi family’s residence.
Unexpectedly, he found no one there.
Qi Yuan wasn’t at home.
The Qi family had long grown accustomed to Xiao Yunting’s frequent visits.
Since Qi Zhen had gone to the palace early that morning, it was Old Marquis Qi who received him. He spoke openly: “Yuan girl isn’t home. She left early this morning.”
She left early?
Xiao Yunting immediately sensed something and quickly ordered Babao to prepare the horses and rode out of the city.
Seeing him leave the palace, Babao instantly knew he was headed to Baiyun Temple and hurriedly followed, grumbling: “Your Highness, what do you think Qi Yuan is thinking? If she has something to say, can’t she just ask you to tell the Eldest Princess directly?”
Why must she go herself?
Xiao Yunting shot him a cold glance, and Babao immediately shut his mouth and shrank his neck.
But at this time, Qi Yuan was not at the Eldest Princess’s place—she had suddenly remembered something very important.
