From beginning to end, Xiao Yunting’s expression remained unchanged.
Some words had been buried in his heart for so long that he could no longer keep them inside.
From the moment the Crown Prince moved against the Lu family and even instructed Zhang Bin to provoke the Crown Princess to death, Xiao Yunting had already lost his father.
So now, even if he were to anger the Crown Prince to death, he felt no psychological burden whatsoever.
He stepped forward two paces and stared coldly at the Crown Prince.
Lowering his eyes, he slowly reached out and placed a hand on the Crown Prince’s neck.
All it would take was a slight movement.
Just a little force…
Yuanyuan was right.
One overwhelming force could crush ten clever schemes.
Only a dead enemy posed no threat.
The more a person hesitated and overthought, the more they would be constrained.
Suddenly, the Crown Prince opened his eyes and, using all his strength, yanked the bell cord beside his bed.
In Xiao Yunting’s eyes, he had seen undisguised killing intent.
He had no doubt whatsoever that if he had not awakened just then, Xiao Yunting might truly have killed him.
The thought terrified him to the core.
The bell rang sharply.
The eunuchs outside immediately rushed in.
Liao Bin had been standing guard outside all along. Hearing the commotion, he hurried inside and rushed to the Crown Prince’s bedside.
“Your Highness!”
The Crown Prince finally breathed a sigh of relief. Blood still stained the front of his robes as he gripped Liao Bin’s hand tightly. “Call the imperial physicians! Call them immediately!”
Liao Bin hurriedly agreed.
Then, gathering his courage, he looked at Xiao Yunting. “Your Highness the Imperial Grandson, His Highness the Crown Prince is unwell. Perhaps you should return first. This servant is just about to send word to His Majesty.”
Xiao Yunting glanced at him indifferently.
His eyes were perfectly clear.
Then he looked past him and swept a calm glance over the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince felt a chill crawl up his spine.
That b*stard!
That little b*stard!
He looked like he wanted to devour someone alive!
Xiao Yunting turned and left.
The Crown Prince clutched Liao Bin’s hand tightly and lowered his voice. “Go find out. Go ask what happened! Hurry!”
That wretched son could not have come here saying such things without reason. Something must have happened.
His heart pounded violently, and sharp pains kept stabbing through his chest.
Closing his eyes in pain, he struggled to steady himself.
Liao Bin hurriedly acknowledged the order.
Though the Crown Prince was supposedly under house arrest, cats had their paths and mice had theirs.
After so many years in the Eastern Palace, he naturally had his own channels of information.
Before long, Liao Bin returned, his face deathly pale, and reported everything regarding Ren Ming.
The Crown Prince’s expression changed drastically. Then another mouthful of blood spilled from his lips.
Useless!
All of them were useless!
How could such an important matter have left evidence behind?!
Back then, Ren Ming had spoken with complete confidence, claiming he had found Li Changqing.
The method had been taught by Li Changqing and Qiu Chuying, and it would definitely extend his life by twenty years.
Only then had the Crown Prince permitted Ren Ming to proceed. But this matter could never see the light of day. It had to be carried out in absolute secrecy.
How had Ren Ming’s secret been uncovered?!
Seeing that the Crown Prince was nearly unable to catch his breath, Liao Bin feared he might die from rage on the spot and quickly tried to calm him.
“Your Highness, please don’t worry. Ren Ming never implicated you. He insists that he was extending his own lifespan!”
Then he hurriedly added: “Qingyan was outside. The moment something happened, he dealt with the remaining people who knew about it. The matter ends with Ren Ming. It absolutely will not be traced back to you!”
The Crown Prince let out a painful breath.
No, it would not lead back to him.
But it had still cost him dearly.
Ren Ming and Ren Zhong were finished.
Everything they had accomplished before was now worthless.
The more disgraced they became, the more innocent the Lu family appeared.
Suddenly, he understood.
So this b*stard had been laying the groundwork for this all along!
He had probably targeted the Ren family from the moment Ren Zhong committed suicide.
What deep scheming.
What terrifying patience.
First, he deliberately got himself stabbed, provoking Emperor Yongchang into a furious rage.
Then he had the Eldest Princess enter the palace and further enrage the Emperor.
The goal had been to get the Emperor to confine him, cutting him off from the outside world and preventing him from contacting his subordinates.
That wretched beast!
Taking a deep breath, he grabbed Liao Bin’s hand.
“We can’t wait any longer. Tell them to hurry! Hurry!”
Liao Bin immediately understood what he meant and hurriedly nodded. “Yes, yes, yes! Please rest assured, Your Highness. This servant will have them proceed at once. Immediately!”
The Crown Prince blinked, then slowly closed his eyes and lay back down.
***
Meanwhile, Xiao Yunting changed into ordinary clothes and left the palace.
Baizhi was changing the water for a pot of narcissus flowers when Ah Huang bounded over, trying to bite at them. She promptly flicked the dog on the head. “No mischief! These are flowers our young lady likes!”
Ah Huang immediately let out a pitiful whine.
Both Baizhi and Lianqiao burst out laughing.
They were still teasing Ah Huang when the window suddenly opened.
Lianqiao immediately scowled. “It must be Babao again!”
He never used the front door!
In the middle of winter, opening the window let all the cold air in!
She was just about to scold him when she turned around and saw Xiao Yunting’s face.
Startled, she stammered: “Y-Your Highness!”
How strange.
Why did His Highness also enjoy climbing through windows?
She hurried over and opened the window wider to let him in.
Beneath the south-facing window stood a beauty couch.
A book had been left on it, and a thin blanket was draped nearby.
The moment Xiao Yunting saw the familiar scene, the heaviness and agitation in his heart instantly settled.
He asked softly, “Where is your young lady?”
“Miss has gone to the Old Madam’s courtyard,” Baizhi quickly replied. “She’s been there for some time already and should return soon. Why doesn’t Your Highness sit for a while?”
Xiao Yunting nodded.
Baizhi immediately went to prepare tea.
Lianqiao brought over some refreshments. “Your Highness, please try this. Our young lady steamed these oranges herself. They’re good for relieving phlegm, easing coughs, reducing internal heat, and combating winter dryness.”
Xiao Yunting accepted one.
Lifting the orange lid, he suddenly fell into a daze.
A hand waved in front of his eyes. “What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with the orange?”
Xiao Yunting abruptly returned to his senses.
Seeing Qi Yuan, a smile unconsciously appeared in his eyes. “No. There’s nothing wrong with the orange.”
“It’s me who’s not quite right.”
Qi Yuan glanced at him, slightly concerned. “Is it because of the Crown Prince?”
The Crown Prince’s affair was indeed shocking.
A person like him no longer deserved to remain Crown Prince.
Yet he could neither be allowed to die immediately nor be completely disgraced.
Because in the eyes of the world, he and Xiao Yunting were inseparable.
Raising an eyebrow, Qi Yuan said: “Don’t worry. I have a solution.”
Xiao Yunting’s heart immediately filled with warmth. Slowly shaking his head, he replied: “It has nothing to do with that matter. Those are the words I should be saying.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let him hurt you.”
Qi Yuan immediately looked puzzled. “Then what’s wrong with you?”
Surely he hadn’t been frightened by all this?
After a moment of silence, Xiao Yunting looked at her with bright eyes. “It’s my heart that’s the problem.”
“It can only calm down when I’m near you.”
“Yuanyuan, I can’t wait to marry you.”
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