Due to the delay caused by encountering Prince Nie, it took two extra days before he returned to the capital.
Upon arrival, he first went back to the Crown Prince’s residence to bathe and change his robes.
When the Crown Princess heard that the Crown Prince had returned, it was as if she had seen a savior.
She hurried out to greet him.
In the past, as the esteemed daughter of a Duke’s household and the wife of the Crown Prince, she would never have accepted being slapped by him, no matter who he was.
She would have cried, made a scene, returned to her family, and sought to escalate the matter, demanding justice from the royal family.
But now, she was terrified by her own dreadful speculation.
Emperor Jingxi had maintained a low profile in recent years, keeping his edge hidden, but that was only because the court had been relatively calm.
She knew that just five years ago, due to a corruption case, Emperor Jingxi had been furious, causing a major upheaval in the court.
Many officials were either demoted or executed, and even the once-prominent Marquis of Anping was stripped of his title.
The old lady of the Marquis of Anping’s household was Emperor Jingxi’s aunt.
Despite her tearful pleas, she couldn’t sway the Emperor in the slightest.
Emperor Jingxi would not be swayed by personal ties!
Thus, the Crown Princess deeply understood that once one provoked the Emperor’s wrath, the consequences would be severe.
Now, born into a prestigious Duke’s household, the Crown Princess keenly sensed that if her terrible speculation was correct, even the slightest misstep could lead to complete ruin.
What was even more frightening was that over the past few days, as she pondered and investigated in secret, she became increasingly convinced that her guess was right.
This speculation left her in constant anxiety, unable to eat or sleep.
She wanted to seek out the Crown Prince, to bring it up with him, but he had not returned.
When she heard that the Crown Prince had finally come back, she didn’t even bother to dress properly and rushed out to greet him.
The Crown Prince, still dusty from his journey, was taken aback when he saw his Crown Princess suddenly appear, her hair disheveled and her face pale.
Though he was still resentful toward her, he asked, “What’s the matter?”
The Crown Princess, her face as white as paper and her eyes filled with fear, trembled as she spoke, “Your Highness, Your Highness, there’s something I’ve been wanting to discuss with you. I… I’m afraid.”
The Crown Prince frowned, “What is it now? What trouble are you stirring up this time?”
The Crown Princess took a step forward, “Your Highness, let’s… let’s talk inside the room.”
The Crown Prince had no desire to deal with her, as his thoughts were preoccupied with Ah Wu.
However, after all that had happened, he had become more composed than before.
Though he loathed the Crown Princess and wished he could tear her apart, he knew he couldn’t act against her without just cause.
As the Crown Princess and the royal consort, she held a position that he couldn’t challenge without absolute certainty.
For now, he had to endure.
Moreover, he realized that haste would lead to failure.
If he wanted to protect Ah Wu, the Crown Princess could actually be an ally.
Facing his father, the Emperor, he had few cards to play.
The Crown Princess could be turned from an enemy into a friend.
So he followed her into the room, “What’s wrong?”
Seeing the Crown Prince speak to her in such a rare, gentle tone, the Crown Princess was overwhelmed with sorrow and bitterness.
She held back her tears, “Your Highness, actually, about His Majesty, I have a speculation. I don’t know if I should bring it up.”
The Crown Prince said, “Speak freely.”
The Crown Princess glanced outside, where Lady Su was standing guard, ensuring no one could overhear.
She then asked, “Your Highness, why do you think His Majesty wants Lady Ning to enter the palace to accompany him? And what does ‘accompanying him’ entail?”
The Crown Prince replied, “I was just about to ask the same thing. I fear there might be a trap here. A-Wu has just entered the Daoist path; she probably can’t even recite scriptures properly. How could she possibly pray and accompany His Majesty?”
The Crown Princess tentatively suggested, “Your Highness, have you considered that Lady Ning is a nun? It’s unprecedented for a nun to enter the palace to ‘accompany’ the Emperor. This ‘accompanying’ ….”
She didn’t dare to continue, stopping herself at that point.
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince was momentarily stunned.
Then, as if realizing something, his expression changed, and he sternly said, “What nonsense are you spouting!”
The Crown Princess trembled and said, “But Your Highness, think carefully about what Lady Ning said to you.”
The Crown Prince was again taken aback.
He recalled the tone in which A-Wu had spoken to him, mentioning that she had a man she admired.
She hadn’t avoided the topic at all, as if she didn’t mind others knowing.
Fu Tai had been quite respectful to A-Wu, and A-Wu seemed… familiar with Fu Tai?
The Crown Prince’s mind buzzed, as if something was ringing inside, and then his vision darkened.
He vaguely felt that the Crown Princess might be right, but how could that be possible?
His father, the Emperor, had shown little interest in the imperial harem over the years, rarely visiting them, almost never.
How could he suddenly take an interest in A-Wu?
Moreover, A-Wu was his woman.
His father couldn’t, he absolutely couldn’t-
The key point was, was his father that kind of man?
As he thought this, he felt that his father would never stoop to such a level.
His father had so many concubines in the harem, but who had he ever paid attention to?
His father had been trained in the art of imperial strategy since childhood, adhering to the ways of an emperor, determined to be a wise ruler for the ages.
He would never allow his imperial virtue to be tarnished by lust!
He gritted his teeth, his eyes fierce, “What nonsense are you talking about? Do you know what you’re saying? You’re slandering the Emperor! How could you utter such treasonous words!”
The young Crown Prince, with his slightly immature features, looked unusually cold and resolute.
The Crown Princess was also startled, but she clenched her teeth and said, “Your Highness, we are husband and wife. Today, I risked the charge of disrespect to tell you these things. I haven’t been able to eat or sleep these past few days, thinking and thinking, and this is the only possibility I can come up with. Otherwise, I really can’t make sense of it—”
As she spoke, she suddenly grabbed the Crown Prince’s sleeve, “And there’s one more thing. I heard that Her Majesty the Empress has ordered the Langhua Palace to be prepared, saying that a new person will be entering the harem.”
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince’s expression stiffened.
He stared at the Crown Princess, “The Langhua Palace is being prepared to welcome a new person into the harem? Are you sure about this?” T
he Crown Princess nodded with difficulty, “Yes, Your Highness, absolutely sure.”
After all, the Emperor hadn’t selected any new concubines for years, and the harem hadn’t seen any new additions.
Now, the Empress had ordered the Langhua Palace to be prepared, which was no small matter.
It was like a sudden ripple in a stagnant pond, and now all the noble families were secretly inquiring about who this new person might be.
After saying this, she looked up at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s young and handsome face showed no expression.
He seemed to have fallen into a deep, empty silence, staring motionlessly at a void in front of him.
The Crown Princess didn’t disturb her husband.
She knew he needed some time.
This speculation was too shocking to be believed immediately.
But she had to tell the Crown Prince, to avoid any rift with the Emperor.
Although the emperor currently only has the crown prince as his heir, if things really come to that, Emperor Jingxi also has his own nephews, among whom there are several outstanding individuals.
It’s possible that one could be adopted from the clan.
So she desperately suppressed her emotions and waited quietly, waiting for the crown prince to consider that possibility.
At this moment, the air in the room seemed to stop flowing, everything was still, and the tightly closed doors and windows allowed no breath of air to enter.
The crown princess clearly heard his suppressed breathing, echoing right beside her ear.
The crown prince had not spoken a word.
He stared fixedly at a point ahead, like a tightly drawn bowstring, ready to unleash a fatal strike at any moment.
This suffocated the crown princess.
She knew her husband well-he was infatuated with that woman, and for her, he would even sacrifice everything.
This, of course, was unacceptable.
If that woman were to be taken into Emperor Jingxi’s harem—
She dared not imagine how the crown prince would react!
In this suffocating silence, the crown princess finally heard the crown prince’s voice.
In an extremely restrained and calm tone, he said, “I’m going to the palace.”
He licked his lips and continued in a rapid voice, “I’m going to the palace to ask my father how he plans to deal with A’Wu!”
With that, he turned and left.
The crown princess tried to stop him but failed to catch him.
The crown prince stormed out, but before he could even leave the crown prince’s residence, he encountered a group of people requesting an audience.
There were more than one-commanders from the Three Armies Camp, the Five Thousand Camp, and the Divine Machine Camp, all clad in armor, led by the Right Commander of the Five Military Commands, a first-rank official.
He paused for a moment and immediately inquired.
It turned out that a fire had broken out at the military parade grounds in the north, requiring urgent attention.
The emperor had just issued an emergency decree, ordering all those involved in the parade to depart immediately without delay.
The crown prince’s face turned ashen as he clasped his fists and said, “Gentlemen, please wait a moment. I have urgent business and must see the emperor.”
The Right Commander, surnamed Sun, looked slightly troubled.
“Your Highness, this is a military matter. The emperor’s decree cannot be delayed.”
The crown princess, who had awkwardly followed him out, stopped abruptly upon hearing this.
She shakily leaned against the nearby corridor gate, her heart growing more certain.
This was the emperor’s way of sending his own son away.
By the time the crown prince returned from the parade, it would already be a done deal!
Her face pale, she stared intently at the crown prince, waiting for his decision.
The crown prince stood silently, countless thoughts swirling in his mind.
At this moment, his reverence for his father, his belief in loyalty and filial piety, and his responsibilities and duties as the heir all surged within him.
Of course, along with these came his overwhelming love and guilt for A’Wu.
If she were truly to be taken into his father’s harem, what should he do?
And what if his father had no such intention?
If she were merely summoned to the palace to recite scriptures, and he made a scene over it, how disappointed would his father be in him!
The crown prince’s mind was in turmoil, and beside him, the Five Military Commanders and various military leaders were watching him intently.
They must be wondering what this young heir was being so stubborn about!
The military situation brooked no delay!
The crown prince was caught in a fierce internal struggle and agony.
Just then, a sudden commotion was heard outside-it was the Imperial Guards, bringing with them an imperial edict.
The crown prince was slightly startled and hurried to receive the decree.