Chapter 21 The Surging Undercurrents

The night was deep and dark. Su Mingli and Xiao Jingxuan walked out of the Imperial Study side by side. The palace path was deep and secluded, and the light from the palace lanterns on both sides cast their shadows, making the scene seem rather desolate for a moment.

"How do you plan to deal with this?" Xiao Jingxuan asked in a low voice. Although his tone was calm, there was a thoughtful look in his eyes.

The corners of Su Mingli's lips curled slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes. "Since someone wants to use this batch of medicine to push me to the brink of death, I will definitely make them lift a rock only to drop it on their own feet."

Xiao Jingxuan raised his eyebrows. Seeing her slightly proud expression, he suddenly let out a laugh. "You are quite confident."

Su Mingli turned her head to look at him and said slowly, "Your Highness, the Prince of War, isn't also very interested?"

Xiao Jingxuan didn't deny it. Instead, he gave her a meaningful look. "Then what are you going to do?"

Su Mingli paused for a moment, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly. "It's simple. Make them reveal their own flaws."

She had vaguely sensed that this frame-up was not just aimed at her, but at the entire Marquis Dingguo's Mansion, and it might even be related to deeper forces in the palace.

If she only defended passively, she would sooner or later fall into the trap set by the other side.

Xiao Jingxuan looked at her as she was deep in thought. His eyes flickered slightly, and it seemed that he had developed a deeper interest in her judgment and decision-making abilities.

The two of them walked silently to the palace gate. Suddenly, a familiar figure blocked their way.

"Su Mingli."

Crown Prince Xiao Chengyu stood with his hands behind his back. His pale blue long robe fluttered gently in the breeze. His expression was indifferent, but his eyes were firmly fixed on her.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince," Su Mingli stopped in her tracks and curtsied calmly.

Xiao Chengyu looked at her deeply, as if he wanted to find some clue in her eyes. After a moment, he slowly said, "Do you really think you can prove your innocence within three days?"

Su Mingli's expression remained unchanged, and the corners of her lips curled slightly. "Why is Your Highness so certain? Instead of waiting for my innocence to be proven, it's better for me to uncover the truth myself."

Xiao Chengyu's eyes darkened slightly. Suddenly, he said in a low voice, "Do you know that this trap is not just aimed at you?"

Su Mingli was taken aback. She understood the implied meaning of Xiao Chengyu's words. This conspiracy against her might involve more people and even the surging undercurrents of the forces in the entire court.

She smiled softly, but her tone was extremely firm. "I naturally know that."

Xiao Chengyu looked at her with profound eyes, as if he wanted to say something more, but in the end, he retracted his gaze and said in a deep voice, "I hope you can get out of this unscathed."

After saying that, he turned and left, and his figure gradually blurred in the night.

Su Mingli looked at his back, and her heart stirred slightly.

Xiao Jingxuan suddenly let out a soft laugh next to her ear. "It seems that His Highness, the Crown Prince, is also quite concerned about your matter."

Su Mingli turned her head and glanced at him, saying indifferently, "Could it be that Your Highness, the Prince of War, is jealous?"

Xiao Jingxuan chuckled softly, looked at her meaningfully, and said in a low voice, "What do you think?"

Su Mingli didn't answer. She just curled the corners of her lips into a smile and turned to walk towards the carriage.

Under the cover of the night, the undercurrents were surging. This contest had just begun...