Chapter 252 - I'm Not so Hungry
Concealing such a significant disturbance was futile. Soon after, guards and eunuch palace attendants rushed in. Upon witnessing the disarray, they hesitantly exclaimed and boldly speculated about the cause.
The palace maid's demise appeared suspicious, her attire disheveled. It was evident she had taken her own life to escape humiliation. Such a fate would be tempting for anyone.
Among those present in the house, only the Crown Princess aroused suspicion. Why? Because there were peculiar watermarks on his garments, and a vibrant handkerchief hung from his attire, clearly intended for a woman.
Tang Yue found himself in a predicament. Though not ingenious, his scheme proved effective. Its simplicity made it difficult to articulate.
Just as Tang Yue contemplated an abrupt departure, a furious voice erupted from beyond the door. “What's going on?”
Yet, this was far from the conclusion.
Mentally prepared, Tang Yue rose and bowed, discarding extraneous items.
The eunuch knelt before the King of South Jin, recounting everything he had witnessed upon entering. While factual, his testimony omitted certain details, yet it was sufficient.
Whether fact or fiction, elaborate narratives invited suspicion. The deliberate omission of details spurred imagination just enough.
Consider it: the scenario of a man and woman alone in a room—quite suggestive, isn't it?
This man, long deprived of relaxation, may have succumbed to temptation, right?
Faced with a beautiful palace maid, any misconduct might not warrant severe punishment, right?
Yet, this solitary man didn't anticipate encountering a woman of staunch resolve. She chose death over dishonor, leading to the current predicament.
In essence, if Gu Nan couldn't pilfer it, he'd lose more than just a handful of rice. Lose the leader, lose the troops. It wasn't merely a loss of dignity but a risk to life itself. Passing the test wouldn't be straightforward.
After hearing the eunuch's account, the King of South Jin fixed Tang Yue with a sharp gaze.
Tang Yue met his gaze impassively, sneering, “I'm not so desperate as to mistake men for women.”
His words left many baffled initially, only later comprehending his insinuations. The Crown Princess displayed remarkable fortitude; otherwise, she wouldn't have wed the Crown Prince. It appeared his accusation against the palace maid lacked merit.
Naturally, there were those who pondered over it. What was amiss with being virtuous? Many upright men in the court refrained from polygamy without any discord.
“Very well, disperse, all of you. The frontline war demands our full attention. None of you should stir up trouble for me individually,” decreed the King of South Jin without specifying how to resolve the issue, yet his demeanor hinted at the course of action.
The Great King showed no inclination to pursue the matter. Did this imply a profound trust in the Crown Princess?
Tang Yue harbored doubts about being exonerated, yet the King of South Jin's decision not to pursue the issue brought relief. There was no rationale for him to be troubled further.
Bowing respectfully, he inquired directly, “Father, any word from Crown Prince?”
“Is that why you've come to the palace?”
“Indeed.” He wouldn't have set foot in the palace if not urgently seeking an answer.
Without Crown Prince Zhao's presence, this confinement grew increasingly daunting. A misstep could spell doom.
A fierce expression crossed the King of South Jin's face, soon replaced by hearty laughter. “Haha… You're refreshingly direct! Fear not, Zhao'er is safe. The army has seized six cities in North Yue. Now united with State Duke Heng, they prepare for the next assault.”
“Then why the delay in news?”
“Zhao'er opted for a perilous route to surprise Yan Province City. It's seldom traversed, making it challenging for scouts. They struck covertly, bypassing Chuzhou City. Word reached us only after taking Yan Province.”
Tang Yue's tense nerves eased. “Ah, I see. Glad to hear there's progress.”
The King of South Jin glanced at the corpses littering the ground, his gaze shifting as he issued orders. “Cleanse this place. No word of this is to spread.”
Tang Yue departed, returning to the Crown Prince's Palace. Despite the recent plot against him, he remained buoyant. Only later, amid the ensuing excitement, could he address matters in the Yi Li Palace.
Initially, he needed to manage palace affairs. Inevitably, he had drawn someone's ire, but who harbored such motive?
This stratagem seemed typical of women, yet none in the harem held significant favor or had conflicts with him, save for the North Yue princess.
However, what advantage would there be in her killing him? Did she believe that Crown Prince Zhao would abandon his assault on North Yue if something befell her?
Furthermore, from a logical standpoint, with the two nations at war, the King of South Jin would undoubtedly confine the North Yue princess to prevent her from posing any threat to South Jin.
Tang Yue inferred the motives from the outcomes. If today's events were escalated, who stood to gain?
No one acted without some benefit to themselves. In truth, few posed a threat to his existence. Crown Prince Zhao's position was too secure, and few officials harbored ulterior motives. The only remaining suspects were the harem princes.
As the princes matured, any with ambition would view him as a hindrance.
Upon hearing Tang Yue's account, Zhang Chun sighed with emotion. “You were too careless. In such a setting, encountering a woman, you should have taken a different route. Why did you allow her an opportunity to enter?”
Naturally, Tang Yue wouldn't disclose that his guard was lax and he was concerned for her, hence his lack of suspicion.
“Isn't it customary for palace maids to enter and serve tea?”
Zhang Chun shook his head. “You've watched too few palace dramas. Once it's just you and a woman alone, no matter how routine the situation, it becomes suspicious. At such times, you should have someone else present, even if it's just for conversation.”
Tang Yue wasn't inclined to converse with anyone at that moment. However, Zhang Chun's advice was sound. With this experience, he would know how to avoid such incidents in the future.
“But isn't the King of South Jin overly lenient? He didn't even investigate before reaching a conclusion. How can he be certain the woman is truthful?”
“He's not certain, but presently, he doesn't dare to take action against me. It appears Crown Prince Zhao has made significant moves at the border. The King fears him.”
“So you have free rein in Ye City now?”
“I have full autonomy. Who would dare oppose me?”
“Indeed, indeed. Previously, you only had such freedom when accompanying His Highness Crown Prince Zhao. Now, even the King of South Jin shows deference.”
Tang Yue paid him little mind, proceeding directly to the study to pen a letter to the Crown Prince, detailing the day's events. It was better for him to explain matters firsthand than to leave it to others.
Upon completing the letter, he sat in the study lost in thought, idly toying with the carving knife gifted to him by Crown Prince Zhao. After a prolonged period, he summoned the Dark Guards.
“Have you heard about the Palace events today?”
“Young master, the Palace is heavily guarded with numerous secret guards. I didn't dare to accompany you inside.”
“Here's the situation. If I intend to uncover who framed me, is it feasible?”
“You must realize that the current adversary likely involves an ambitious prince. I'll systematically eliminate each one until the truth behind the scenes is revealed.”
“Good, as long as you give it your all. Since the king isn't pursuing the matter, I can relax. However, I fear tomorrow's gossip won't die down.”
“No need to fret; rumors are just that—rumors. If we strategically alter the narrative, it won't matter how vigorously they spread. It'll be under control.”
With a dismissive gesture, Tang Yue signaled for the man to depart. He then retrieved a portrait he had sketched for Crown Prince Zhao, studying it thoughtfully. “See, the palace intrigues are perilous. If I hadn't intervened to dissuade you from taking multiple wives and concubines, you'd be in jeopardy. Do you appreciate the advantage of being a man now?”
“More women mean more heirs, facilitating the succession of family wealth. Considering your family's wealth encompasses an entire kingdom, I wouldn't relinquish it if I were you.”
Seated in the Imperial Reading Room, the King of South Jin meticulously perused a border report.
Observing his expression, a eunuch beside him inquired, “Your Majesty, why didn't you punish the Crown Princess today? Do you doubt his infidelity?”
Without lifting his gaze, the King of South Jin responded, “The truth is irrelevant. Presently, the Crown Princess must remain immobilized; otherwise, the Crown Prince won't engage in conflict with me. Furthermore, such matters are intricate to address as a monarch. It's prudent to let the Crown Prince handle it upon his return.”
“Your wisdom knows no bounds, Your Majesty!” The Great Eunuch flattered, wearing a sly grin.
The King of South Jin glanced up, arching an eyebrow. “Today's events are also suspect. Tang Yue rushed to the palace seeking information, opting to wait in the antechamber rather than for news. Evidently, he genuinely concerns himself with the Crown Prince's safety. Amidst such circumstances, how could he entertain a dalliance with palace maids?”
“Indeed. So, what's your interpretation…?”
“I'm not intrigued; it's a petty ploy. Anyone resorting to such tactics won't accomplish anything significant.”
Undoubtedly, the King of South Jin possessed keen insight into the matter.
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