Chapter 1030: Chapter 1030: Impending Crisis
The palace maid’s throat emitted sobbing sounds, her pleading eyes looking towards Yu Yinglei.
Yu Yinglei lashed out angrily, "You despicable thing, betraying your master for glory, why are you looking at me now?"
The palace maid sneered, but couldn’t produce a sound of laughter.
Mo Chen shook his head and waved an order, "Take her away."
The palace maid was immediately dragged away by others.
"Does Princess Xian think that by coming here for a show, that palace maid could gain our trust? Let me frankly tell you, whether she speaks or not, the Crown Princess Consort wouldn’t listen to a single word," Mo Chen confessed, "Since Princess Xian poisoned the wine, she should have expected this outcome."
Upon hearing this, Yu Yinglei broke out in a cold sweat.
The couple watched in bewilderment as people from the Eastern Palace took away all the servants from Prince Xian Mansion.
The vast mansion was left with only a dozen attendants.
All these dozen attendants were sent by the Eastern Palace.
Within just two hours, the Eastern Palace had purged Prince Xian Mansion.
The couple’s range of activity was confined to Yu Yinglei’s courtyard, and they could go nowhere else.
Ye Zhenxian lay on the bed, smiling bitterly, "At this point, this mansion is effectively dead, Yu Yinglei, you can’t return to Beiliang either."
Yu Yinglei shook her head, "Impossible, impossible."
And there was that woman in the black veil.
As long as they remained at the mansion, that woman would return to seek them out.
Ye Zhenxian said, "Do you think Ye Yiheng is keeping us here just to catch us in a trap?"
"No, even if it’s a trap, there’s still a sliver of hope," Yu Yinglei replied.
However, when night fell, what shattered her occurred.
Ye Zhenxian’s limbs had been crippled, with all bodily functions taking place in bed, which was what she found most unbearable.
She called for servants to clean up, but the servants said it was her husband, so she should help him instead.
Yu Yinglei finally cried.
Looking at Ye Zhenxian lying on the bed, she truly wanted to choke him to death.
Then she thought about doing it herself, realizing she would have nowhere to seek help, so she forcibly endured.
But such a life was something she hadn’t imagined before coming to the Tiancheng.
Now her life was nominally under soft confinement, but actually far more miserable than being imprisoned.
If given the chance, she would definitely drive a blade into Leng Yu Yan’s heart herself!
--
The Eastern Palace.
Mo Chen and Ruofeng reported the affairs of the Prince Xian Mansion to the two lords.
Ye Yiheng, Leng Yu Yan, and Baili Zhengrong were slowly having their dinner.
When the talk turned stomach-turning, Ye Yiheng raised his hand to signal them to stop speaking.
Mo Chen and Ruofeng then shut their mouths.
Baili Zhengrong curiously asked, "Brother-in-law, wasn’t I saying, with this move, if the woman in the black veil gets alerted, what can be done?"
Since that woman could infiltrate the Tiansheng Capital, she evidently had great influence, and it might have already permeated into the Tiansheng Court.
Taking so many servants from Prince Xian Mansion today would surely stir discussion among people.
Ordinary folks would talk, and a thoughtful woman would think even deeper.
Leng Yu Yan explained, "If she lacks wit, and comes to Prince Xian Mansion to verify, we can capture her right there. But the West Desert Princess is deeply pondering and skeptical. The fear is that the one conferring with Ye Zhenxian before was a substitute for the West Desert Princess."
Baili Zhengrong sighed deeply, "Why didn’t I think of it? A woman who’s never shown herself, why would she favor Ye Zhenxian and want to cooperate with him?"
Leng Yu Yan continued, "So, what His Highness thinks is, there is someone running errands for the West Desert Princess, using all the powers that can be rallied."
At this moment, Ye Yiheng spoke, "If the West Desert Princess knows that Ye Zhenxian’s tendons were severed, she would certainly cease to collaborate. What use is a cripple?"
Baili Zhengrong was suddenly enlightened, "So the changing of the servants in Prince Xian Mansion today was just a show to people."
Leng Yu Yan explained, "On the surface, we are waiting to net the turtle in the jar, while actually observing which people in Tiancheng might have been colluding with the Western Desert people."
Baili Zhengrong clapped his hands in approval, then stood up and respectfully bowed to Ye Yiheng and Leng Yu Yan, "I’ve learned much. Thank you, sister and brother-in-law, for your guidance."
Ye Yiheng moved his fingers, signaling him to sit down.
"I order you to write a letter back to Nandian, ensuring Nandian troops are ready for combat anytime."
"Yes, brother-in-law, should I return to Nandian?"
Baili Zhengrong sat down again.
"No, you should stay here with Father Emperor and Mother Empress, enjoying yourselves in Tiancheng, to let the enemy lower their guard." After a slight pause, Ye Yiheng said, "But..."
"Brother-in-law, but what?"
"But when the battle formally begins, you must return to Nandian as swiftly as possible, can you do that?"
"I can!" Baili Zhengrong placed his elbows on the table and lowered his voice, "I’m very curious, when will the war start?"
"Most likely around the time Father Emperor transfers the throne to me," Ye Yiheng speculated.
Baili Zhengrong furrowed his brows, "It is already November, so it’s imminent?"
Leng Yu Yan patted the back of Ye Yiheng’s hand, "Your Highness, I want to visit Linqing Pavilion as soon as possible; there are many rare herbs there, and I have to concoct some medicines just in case."
"Alright, you can leave in a few days," Ye Yiheng replied.
"I’ll go too," Baili Zhengrong chimed in.
Leng Yu Yan smiled, "Go, let’s go together."
After finishing dinner, the three went for a walk by the lake.
Yinhui ran cheerfully towards them.
The Crown Prince couple walked ahead, while Baili Zhengrong sometimes walked beside Ye Yiheng, sometimes beside Leng Yu Yan.
Yinhui roamed around the three of them.
Miao Zhu assisted Song Guo, watching from afar.
Though it was nighttime, the Eastern Palace was brightly lit.
Song Guo laughed, "The three of them and one wolf present a harmonious scene, resembling a family of four."
Miao Zhu followed with a smile, "The Crown Princess Consort said in a few days she’ll set off for Linqing Pavilion, to help you collect herbs."
Upon hearing this, Song Guo was deeply moved, "Then let’s go too."
"We won’t go. The Crown Princess Consort mentioned there would likely be a hard battle around New Year’s. So you should rest well, and I will take care of you, and we mustn’t fall behind."
Song Guo nodded, "Alright!"
Contrasting with the serene atmosphere of the Eastern Palace, Ye Zhenyu anxiously waited on a small path in the suburbs.
He had already heard about the affairs of Prince Xian Mansion today.
Ye Yiheng keeping Ye Zhenxian alive was a clear enough intent; he only feared that the unknown person had already entered the Prince Xian Mansion and been captured by the Eastern Palace people.
If so, all his plans would go down the drain.
He urgently needed to inform the counterpart.
But that person appeared and disappeared without a trace, distrusting his own subordinates, so Ye Zhenyu had to come personally.
Waiting since sunset at Riluo Mountain until now, even after changing locations multiple times, he still hadn’t seen any trace.
As he contemplated whether to return or change locations again, someone came riding.
The night was deep, the road disconnected, and Ye Zhenyu couldn’t discern who it was.
As the rider approached, Ye Zhenyu’s eyes narrowed upon recognition, "Eighth brother, why is it you?"
Ye Yongwang dismounted, equally surprised, "Fourth brother, why are you here?"
The two brothers exchanged a glance, understanding one another, and together leaped onto a horse.
