Chapter 113 – The Whole Story

The big bad wolf had turned into a timid little rabbit, whimpering softly under the covers. Through the brocade quilt, Li Ce gently patted Ye Jiao."Come out, quickly. You've been poisoned. Even if not, your actions toward me were still… expected," he said.Expected, as long as it was me, and not someone else.

Ye Jiao remained motionless beneath the quilt. One fair arm emerged to pound the bed."Poison? What poison? Who would dare? You're lying to me."

"I'm not," Li Ce leaned in closer. "The court physician has already examined you. I'll look into it."

Ye Jiao suddenly threw off the quilt and sat up, her face flushed with grievance and rage.That made more sense—how else could she have acted so wantonly with Li Ce? She should have been reserved. Even a pretense of restraint would've been better than that.

"There was really poison?" she asked. "I'll investigate!"

"Eat something first," Li Ce said, picking up the fallen hairpins and gently combing through her cascade of dark, flowing hair.

From outside came the sounds of dishes being laid out. The aroma of food drifted in, and Ye Jiao, stomach rumbling, couldn't help but feel drawn.Li Ce helped her down from the bed, holding her arm.

"You don't need to worry about this—I'll find out what happened."His voice was gentle. "Sooner or later, you'll be my wife. Leave such matters behind you."

"You'd better forget it!" Ye Jiao looked up at him, only to meet Li Ce's burning gaze. Her cheeks flushed all over again.

"All right, I'll forget," Li Ce promised. Yet in his mind, the image of her from earlier replayed again.If only it hadn't been because of poison…

Though Yan Shuangxu already had a child, when properly dressed, she still retained the delicate charm of youth. Slender in frame, with an oval face and a vivid red mole between her brows, her gentle features held a trace of alluring grace.

As she lowered the veil over her face, she was informed that a woman was waiting outside."A woman?" She turned to the stewardess. "Where is the calling card?"

It must be one of the noble ladies from the capital.When she had first married Prince Wei, Yan Shuangxu had been poor at socializing. Every time a court lady or noblewoman came to visit, her hands would be slick with nervous sweat.Now, she had mastered the art of diplomacy—she could meet anyone with a gracious smile, even those who had impeached her husband the day before. She could host banquets with effortless poise, arranging everything to perfection.

She believed she owed much of this progress to Li Chen.

"She's not here for the princess," the stewardess said, "she seeks the prince."

A faint unease rose in Yan Shuangxu's heart. Seeking the prince? The women in this capital were growing more and more unruly.

Besides the fact that women could now hold office, the Emperor had even decreed that the eldest princess's daughter need not observe the traditional three years of mourning. Three months of filial piety would suffice before returning to care for her mother.Though unconventional, this decree happened to benefit the Yan household. With no mourning obligations, Shuwen and Yan Congzheng's marriage might finally see progress.

Yan Shuangxu took a few steps toward the door, but her expression stiffened. She paused and turned to the stewardess."If the visitor seeks the prince, what need is there to report it to me? The Prince of Wei's manor has no place for gossiping women. Don't do this again."

The stewardess, who had just been respectfully seeing her off, was stunned by the harsh rebuke and dropped to her knees in fear."This old servant dares not again." Her face flushed with shame at her own indiscretion.

Yan Shuangxu stepped outside. As she passed through a side gate, she brushed shoulders with a woman in foreign attire—a golden collar around her neck, features dazzling and seductive.

Yan Shuangxu faltered, her graceful steps momentarily disturbed. She resisted the urge to question the stranger and kept walking, her veiled face composed.The woman glanced at her without a shred of reservation but quickly followed the steward toward the front hall.

Who was that? Yan Shuangxu wondered, stepping into the carriage.

The Princess Consort, perhaps?The mysterious woman, walking toward the front hall, quickly deduced Yan Shuangxu's identity. She looked up at the plaque hanging over the Prince of Wei's main hall.

Red background, black characters: "洞然" — transparency, clarity of mind, and honesty of heart.Two truly noble words of the Great Tang.

"Your Highness the Princess," Prince Wei, Li Chen, came out to receive her personally, beaming with delight."To have you grace my humble residence—what an unexpected honor."

Gesar Meido's alluring phoenix eyes curved into a smile as she stepped in gracefully."It's such a lovely day. Don't be cross that I visited others before coming here." She added playfully.

Ye Changgen had been right—two days in a row of splendid weather. Warm sunlight, drifting clouds, tree shadows softly printed on the ground. Even dressed lightly, one would not feel the cold.

"Perish the thought," Li Chen said hurriedly, instructing the servants to prepare tea.

He moved with just the right touch of fluster—enough to show concern for his guest, but not so much as to seem practiced. That subtle clumsiness lowered one's guard.

Gesar Meido watched him thoughtfully. Among all the imperial princes she had visited today, he was the most pleasant and unassuming.He was clever.

Unlike Ye Changgen, whose honesty bordered on naive foolishness.

One by one, news of yesterday's events reached Prince Jin, Li Zhang.

At court, the Ministry of War was heavily over budget, but it had already been explained as a result of the campaign against Tibet.The Emperor hadn't shown anger, merely asked for a detailed report to be submitted to the Ministry of Revenue.The morning session had dragged on, and the Emperor was visibly tired.

Later, Prince Wei had gone to the Hall of Purple Radiance to massage the Emperor's legs, then quietly withdrew.Shortly afterward, came the decree to delay naming the crown prince.

"Could this be because of Prince Wei?" some officials speculated at Prince Jin's residence.

"He couldn't have such influence," others refuted. "More likely it's due to the budget."

"War costs money," one minister huffed, glancing at Li Zhang's expression.

Prince Jin sat upright at the head seat of the hall. Though he did not drink, his face bore neither smile nor anger.

"No need for guesswork," he said calmly. "I understand your concerns. Father must have his reasons. For us to speculate behind his back—would that not be disloyal and unfilial?"

The ministers hastened to deny it and claimed their words came from loyalty to him.

"What injustice is there?" Li Zhang rose slowly, tall and upright."His Majesty is still in his prime—there is no urgent need to name a crown prince. As for myself, dull and unremarkable, I should seek to learn humbly, serve the court faithfully, and ease my father's burdens."

The officials showed expressions of reverence and bowed.

"Your Highness's virtue puts us to shame."

"Please rise," Li Zhang personally helped them up."This matter is settled. Let us not trouble His Majesty further."

One by one, the ministers took their leave. Only then did the smile on Li Zhang's face fade.

It didn't take long for the Emperor to learn of the conversation held in Prince Jin's manor—every word, every sentiment.

Sitting in the palace, eyes closed, his stern face finally softened, a faint smile forming at the corners of his lips.

"Tell me…" he murmured after a long silence, "have I been too harsh on the Prince of Jin?"

Gao Fu stepped forward with a gentle smile."Strictness from a father, kindness from a mother—it has ever been thus."

"Yes," the Emperor sighed softly. "The higher the expectations, the less room for mistakes. With my other sons, I'm far more indulgent. Whatever they ask for, I grant."

Seeing his mood at last lift after two days, Gao Fu couldn't help but tease."Your Majesty must have forgotten about Prince Chu—he asked for Ye Jiao, and you would not allow it."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow and laughed aloud."He deserved it. What has he been doing lately? I hear Ye Jiao's unwell. What's her condition? Serious?"

Gao Fu bowed low."It is not an illness, Your Majesty. I've heard… she was poisoned."

The Emperor's expression changed instantly.