Consort Liang flicked her sleeves and sat up straight. Then I do not know. However, for the Crown Prince's private household affairs to cause such an uproar at my banquet, shouldn't His Highness and Her Majesty the Empress give me an explanation?
The Crown Prince knew very well in his heart that neither Consort Liang nor Xiao Yi was wrong.
Even if one intended to harm someone, they would first find a way to wash their hands of it completely, rather than leaving behind such an obvious vulnerability.
Consort Liang slowly stood up and said, The infighting in Your Highness's inner court has nothing to do with me. But for your secondary consort to poison the Crown Princess and then attempt to frame me for it, if I am not given a proper explanation for this matter, I will absolutely not let it rest.
I have already reported this to His Majesty. His Majesty has handed the case over to Lord Shen to handle, and he will arrive shortly.
The Crown Prince's brow and eyes were cold and stern. Even if Consort Liang had not spoken, I would still pursue this matter to the bitter end and get to the bottom of it.
To give the Crown Princess, and my unborn child, the justice they deserve.
The people from the Department of Punishments were somewhat slow to arrive. Half an hour passed without any movement.
Cui Yunchu remarked, With the efficiency of a snail, how do they manage to awe the court and the commoners?
Several people stood guard at the doors of Tang Qingwan's palace. The Crown Prince stood before a pillar in the corridor, leaning one hand against it, slightly bent over. He did not move a muscle for a long time.
The ground was slightly damp.
His sorrow was not feigned; even Cui Yunchu could feel it.
Aside from her family, her older cousin was utterly ruthless to everyone, including herself, leaving no room for leniency.
There was no greater agony than this destruction of the heart and soul.
Your Highness. The Crown Prince's personal eunuch hurried over and bowed to whisper a report. The Crown Prince's expression instantly darkened. Gloom and murderous intent churned wildly in his eyes, nearly impossible to suppress.
I must trouble you two cousins to watch over Qingwan here. I will be right back.
Before leaving, he looked back and cast a deep glance at the palace where Tang Qingwan lay.
His footsteps were swift as he departed, as if every step carried an endless, freezing chill.
Consort Liang, Xiao Yi, and Cui Yunchu all gazed thoughtfully at the Crown Prince's retreating figure.
In the Phoenix Palace, the Empress was furious after hearing the report from her subordinates. That fool Liu Wanting can't even handle such a trivial matter properly.
Your Majesty, what should we do now?
The Empress tried her best to steady her mind. Perhaps it is for the best. Though it is a pity to lose the Crown Prince's firstborn, the child carried the blood of the Cui and Tang families. Even the Emperor would not have allowed it to be born.
Your Majesty, Your Majesty! A palace maid rushed into the hall. His Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived.
The Empress's eyelids twitched. The palace doors were already violently pushed open, and the Crown Prince strode in.
For the first time, the Crown Prince showed such a blatant lack of manners in front of her.
Insolent! Barging in like this, do you have any respect for me, your mother?
Xiao Chen did not retreat a single step. Instead, he slowly approached the Empress, only pausing at the foot of the imperial steps. He lifted his head slightly, the corners of his eyes bloodshot. Mother, what did you do to Qingwan?
What nonsense are you sprouting? She is my daughter-in-law, what could I possibly do to her? I just heard about what happened in the Imperial Garden and was about to head there. Instead of going to Consort Liang for an explanation, you come here to interrogate your mother?
The veins on the Crown Prince's forehead bulged. His voice rose, almost turning into a roar. I came because I obviously know something.
I was the one who gave Liu Wanting the sterilizing drug. It had nothing to do with Qingwan, and she certainly never instigated me to do it. If you had any grievances, you should have come at me! Why target her? You killed my child! You killed your own biological grandson, do you realize that?!
So what if I did? The Empress had never been treated this way by the Crown Prince, and her own anger could no longer be contained. Even without me, her child might not have survived. Do you dare to go against your Imperial Father?
Seeing Xiao Chen's reddened eyes, the Empress ultimately felt a slight lack of confidence. Even if she didn't instigate it, wasn't your reason for doing this out of guilt towards her? Wasn't it all part of her calculation?
When you drugged Wanting, did you ever consider the consequences? Did you ever think about how you would explain yourself if the Liu family found out?
The Crown Prince was furious. I am the Crown Prince! Why should I need to explain myself to anyone?
His hands were tightly clenched inside his sleeves. You planted spies in my estate to control my every move. You even meddle in my bedchamber affairs, dictating who I should favor. And now, you have even poisoned my child and my legal wife.
He gritted his teeth, his eyes wide with rage. I have had enough!!!
He stared coldly at the Empress. You keep harping on about Liu Wanting and the Liu family. Then I will make the Liu family be buried alongside my dead child! Today, even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will unearth every single one of the Liu family's dirty secrets.
Having said that, he turned and left. For the first time, the Empress panicked completely. She chased after him, screaming, You dare?! Now that the Tang family has fallen, if you lose the Liu family as well, how will you secure your position? Do you want to die?!
Unfortunately, her wretched screaming did not earn a single backward glance from her once cowardly and obedient son.
His footsteps did not even pause for a fraction of a second.
This time, the Empress was truly terrified.
Is he going to destroy all his own foundations?
Her gaze turned cold and vicious. Who told the Crown Prince? Who told him that I knew about him drugging Liu Wanting?
This matter was the fuse. If not for this, there was no way the Crown Prince could have guessed the twists and turns of the truth so quickly.
A female official beside her repeatedly shook her head. The Secondary Consort is over at Consort Liang's place, and the Crown Prince's estate has already been instructed. They definitely wouldn't dare to speak nonsense in front of His Highness.
Who on earth could have told the Crown Prince?
Especially at this crucial juncture, such a coincidence.
