The way Xiao Yunting looked at Tian Jinglan immediately changed.
No matter how hard he tried, he could never have imagined that Tian Jinglan, who was usually so gentle, compliant, and almost invisible, would say something like this at such a moment.
Everyone in the palace had their own way of surviving.
Tian Jinglan was no exception.
She had always devoted herself solely to serving the Empress Dowager. She never said too much, never looked too closely, and never meddled in other people’s affairs.
Why was she warning him now?
Suspicion flickered across Xiao Yunting’s face.
Tian Jinglan immediately laughed. “I know what Your Highness is thinking. You’re wondering why someone as selfish and pragmatic as me has suddenly become so kind-hearted, aren’t you?”
Normally, she always spoke politely and seriously.
This playful, sly manner was completely unlike her usual self.
The contrast was so stark that she seemed like an entirely different person.
Even Xiao Yunting could not help asking: “Yes. Why?”
Tian Jinglan smiled softly and blinked. “Because the Crown Princess served the Empress Dowager for many years. The Empress Dowager once said herself that it was for your sake that the Crown Princess knelt before her every day, begging her and accompanying her in Buddhist worship. She did it so that the Empress Dowager would speak on your behalf before His Majesty and help send you away from the palace.”
Tilting her head, she smiled with both innocence and cunning. “There ought to be some fairness in this world. Good people should receive good rewards.”
As she spoke, she glanced up at the sky. “Oh dear! It’s about to rain. Your Highness should hurry and leave. Don’t delay your journey.”
Having said that, she turned and left without the slightest hesitation, leading her maid away.
Xiao Yunting stood where he was for a moment, watching her retreating figure.
Then he slowly turned and walked away as well.
Qingfeng was not normally a gossip.
At least compared to his junior brothers, he was far steadier and more reliable.
Yet at this moment, even he could not help clearing his throat awkwardly and looking at Xiao Yunting as if he wanted to say something.
Xiao Yunting was still thinking about Ruixiang.
Seeing Qingfeng’s expression, he raised an eyebrow. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Qingfeng had no idea how to answer.
For men, having multiple wives and concubines was considered normal.
And His Highness was no ordinary man.
He was the Imperial Grandson.
In the future, he would certainly have countless women in his palace.
But…
The girl His Highness liked was not an ordinary girl.
If His Highness started fancying another woman before he was even married…
Qingfeng genuinely worried whether he would survive long enough to ascend the throne.
After hesitating repeatedly, he finally shook his head. “Nothing.”
Forget it. It would be better to leave such thankless tasks to Babao and Liujin.
He truly did not know how to bring it up.
Xiao Yunting found him inexplicable.
He turned and headed straight back to the Crown Princess’s residence.
Seeing him return so soon, the Crown Princess was puzzled. “Weren’t you already on your way? Why have you come back?”
Xiao Yunting did not answer.
Instead, he stared at Ruixiang, who stood beside the Crown Princess.
As always, Ruixiang poured tea and attended to everything diligently.
Every movement was meticulous.
Suddenly, Xiao Yunting asked softly: “Aunt Ruixiang, how old are you?”
The Crown Princess froze.
Ruixiang was equally confused, but she answered honestly.
“Replying to Your Highness, this servant is thirty-five.”
She was younger than the Crown Princess. In the past, it had been her elder sister who attended the Crown Princess. When the Crown Princess married, that group of older attendants had been replaced by younger girls such as herself.
The purpose behind that arrangement needed no explanation.
Xiao Yunting nodded. “Oh.”
Then, with a faint smile, he said: “You’ve long passed the age when you could have left the palace. What a pity.”
The Crown Princess immediately became thoughtful.
She knew her son never spoke without reason.
Ruixiang, meanwhile, looked utterly bewildered.
Then Xiao Yunting stated bluntly: “It must be very hard for you to continue serving my mother. Starting today, you will transfer to the Crown Prince’s main palace and serve my father instead.”
The entire room was stunned.
The Crown Princess stared at Xiao Yunting in disbelief.
Ruixiang was her most trusted confidante.
She had accompanied her for years.
Could it be…
Could Ruixiang actually belong to the Crown Prince?
A chill ran through the Crown Princess.
Ruixiang herself was dumbfounded. With a thud, she dropped to her knees before both mother and son.
She wanted to explain.
She wanted to invoke all the years they had shared together.
But Xiao Yunting simply shook his head. “You don’t need to speak.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lanyue entered carrying several packets.
Kneeling on the floor, he opened them.
Inside were black medicinal dregs.
The instant Ruixiang saw them, every word she had intended to say vanished.
She collapsed onto the floor, her face ashen. Not a single word came out.
Xiao Yunting laughed softly and lowered his eyes. “For all these years, you’ve served my royal mother diligently. You handled everything personally. You never entrusted anything to others. You stayed by her side through every hardship. No matter how bad her circumstances became, you never left.”
The Crown Princess closed her eyes.
She already understood what had happened.
Ruixiang’s lips trembled. It was as though she had suddenly become mute. She wanted to explain. Wanted to speak. But panic choked her voice.
Not a single word emerged.
Xiao Yunting smiled faintly. “Royal mother and I were always grateful to you. We believed you were a loyal servant. But it turns out you remained by her side because you were helping someone else.”
He glanced at the packets of medicine. “These dregs contain substances extracted from antelope horn and malt. Don’t tell me you didn’t know these are ingredients capable of causing mental instability.”
Cold sweat drenched Ruixiang’s body.
She had never imagined Xiao Yunting would investigate everything so thoroughly.
He had even dug the discarded medicine out of flowerpots.
Suddenly she broke into tears.
Crawling forward on her knees, she tried to clutch the Crown Princess’s leg.
But she never reached her.
Qingfeng had already stepped forward and kicked her away.
The Crown Princess looked at her quietly.
Her face was filled with disappointment.
Xiao Yunting let out a cold laugh. “I thought it strange from the beginning. Why would my mother be driven to suicide by just a few words from Zhang Bin? You contributed greatly to that outcome. You had her take these drugs beforehand. Then, when she became irritable and unstable, you stood beside her and added plenty of concerned remarks of your own, didn’t you?”
Ruixiang could not defend herself.
She had no defense left.
Xiao Yunting glanced at the Crown Princess.
Immediately, she understood what he meant.
Biting her lip, she hesitated for only a moment before firmly nodding.
Without another word, Xiao Yunting stood.
He drew the sword from Qingfeng’s waist.
Then, in a single motion,
He drove the blade straight into Ruixiang’s chest.
Ruixiang stared fixedly at the sword protruding from her chest.
Even at the moment of death, she could not believe it.
The Crown Princess was such a soft-hearted, indecisive woman.
How could she be so ruthless?
And Xiao Yunting,
He had openly killed a palace maid inside the palace.
Wasn’t he afraid?
But no one would answer those questions now.
Blood poured from her mouth in great gushes.
She collapsed onto the floor.
Her eyes remained wide open.
Then all signs of life left her.
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