Chapter 30: The Notice of the Prince's Mansion

Huo Yun straightened himself up, stealing glances at Wei Zhang.

Lan Qin knew that Yue Tang was pleading for Huo Yun and providing Wei Zhang with a way to save face, so she smiled and said, "What are you waiting for? Could your master's attitude possibly override the Commandery Princess?" Having said that, she picked two medicinal pills from the medicine box on the desk and stuffed them into his hand. "You have a wound on your arm; remember to take the medicine."

Huo Yun immediately flashed a smile at the grinning Yue Tang, then loudly acknowledged the command and ran out.

Wei Zhang watched his retreating figure, then sighed as he looked at Yue Tang. "You spoil that child too much."

Yue Tang sat down with a smile. "You call this spoiling? Hah, was I not the same with you all in the past?"

Wei Zhang remained silent.

Yue Tang was a favored daughter of heaven, the high and mighty only daughter of Prince Duan. Before she was sent to the Prince's manor, the Emperor and Empress had instructed them that she was their eternal master; even if they were to die or go to the underworld, they must never betray her.

Thus, she was the leader in every one of their hearts—she was their heaven.

And this precious royal scion, who bore the burden of a celestial calamity at such a young age, was whispered about in secret as a "bringer of calamity" to the imperial family. Yet, from the very first moment they met until now, she had never once vented her grievances to them, nor had she ever trampled upon their dignity.

Even though strict class boundaries existed between them, Yue Tang had never ignored them when they needed attention.

And yet, despite her kind heart and her seemingly detached nature, she had been swept into conspiracies and had come within a hair's breadth of becoming a sacrificial lamb!

Yue Tang said, "Tell me about your journey. What was Zhang Ji's end?"

The Marquis of Guangling was still searching for Wei Zhang; Yue Tang and the others had known this all along. The day before they arrived in the capital, Wei Zhang had doubled back, leaving behind clues that successfully lured the Du family into tasking He Xu with the job.

Then, he had circled back to the capital's outskirts, waiting for the assassins sent by the Du family.

Therefore, even if He Xu had not died at her hands, he would have died at Wei Zhang's hands once he left the city.

Yue Tang adamantly refused to let a single fish slip through the net, and Wei Zhang was the one to plug the leak.

Now that the Zhang family had been reeled in, he naturally should be returning.

Wei Zhang nodded. "On the way back, I happened to encounter the Du family's men pursuing him. He was killed in an inn."

Yue Tang nodded and continued, "The He and Zhang families are finished; next, we deal with the Du family. The Jingyang Prince's Manor and the Secretariat are not directly involved. If the people behind the Du father and son truly belong to the Secretariat, then the suspicion against the Jingyang Prince can temporarily be lessened. However, based on their interests, I do not believe he would be willing to give up the Du family as his ready-made henchmen. Once a critical moment arrives, the Jingyang Prince might not hesitate to step in and protect them. After all, the life or death of an insignificant Commandery Princess has no impact on him, whereas the fall of the Marquis of Guangling's manor would be a significant loss to him."

"Stop! Something big has happened!"

Just as Yue Tang took a sip of medicine, Hua Lin rushed in with a crumpled piece of paper, hurriedly spreading it out on the table. It was a public notice!

"This paper is posted all over the streets today. For some reason, the Jingyang Prince's Manor is searching everywhere for 'Wang Huan'!"

The expressions of the two people in the room changed simultaneously.

Wang Huan was the pseudonym Yue Tang had used years ago when traveling outside as a commoner, and it was the identity she used now only when necessary.

The Jingyang Prince's Manor was looking for her?

What were they up to?

"There must have been a loophole left from last night!" Wei Zhang said, his face full of frustration. "That little brat Ah Yun—when he gets back, I must teach him a lesson!"

"Why are you talking about that?" Yue Tang looked at him with dissatisfaction. She walked a few steps toward the curtain and picked up the paper again. "This only lists my name, identity, and ancestral home; it doesn't include a portrait. It hasn't reached a critical stage yet!"

Hua Lin said anxiously, "With the power of the Jingyang Prince's Manor, if they get serious and conduct house-to-house searches, you could be caught even if you turned into a bird!"

Wei Zhang also realized: "How did the Jingyang Prince know your name?"

"How should I know?" Yue Tang's brow furrowed as tightly as his. "I have never had any interaction with this person, and my registration as a commoner is just that—ordinary. Hardly anyone in the capital even knows this name. If it were a coincidence of names, the birth date and ancestral origin would not match so perfectly!"

Everyone's expression became solemn.

Being targeted by the Jingyang Prince, even if it wasn't an immediate crisis, was definitely not good news.

"We can't wait for little Huo to take his time. We must take the initiative and speed up our move against the Du family!"

After a moment of thought, Yue Tang said decisively, "Zhang Shaode confessed that the Du family is working hard to win over the top scholar, Xu He. Xu He is the only candidate among the scholars currently being courted by the Du family who has been personally selected by the Emperor. Furthermore, he is a top scholar. To this end, the Du family has personally acted as a matchmaker, arranging for him to marry the niece of Lady Duan, the wife of Du Minghuan. Go and investigate this man thoroughly."

Wei Zhang stepped forward. "Does the Commandery Princess intend to use Xu He as a pretext?"

Yue Tang nodded. "Zhang Shaode spat out this information at the brink of death to save himself; I believe this clue is not simple. Moreover, Xu He became the top scholar in his early twenties and was the only candidate personally selected by the Emperor, meaning his future is clearly bright. He has no need to rely on connections to make a name for himself. Yet, he is actually willing to lower himself to become the Du family's nephew-in-law. Don't you find that strange?"

Wei Zhang couldn't help but nod. "It is a waste of talent. With his status as a top scholar, he could marry into a much higher family."

He crossed his arms, pondered for a moment, and then turned to leave.

Yue Tang picked up the notice again, her palm smoothing out the wrinkles one by one.

The information regarding Wang Huan was displayed clearly before her eyes.

That night three years ago, it wasn't just the "death" of the Princess of Yongjia and her son; it was also Prince Duan, the First Prince born to Imperial Noble Consort An, the late Emperor, and even the Second Prince who now sat on the throne—they had all nearly died. It was only thanks to the guards' Herculean efforts and the full strength of the attending imperial physicians that they were saved.

Empress Dowager Shen, who had held power for only three years after entering the palace, had seen her maternal family grow in strength, yet the son born to her still had not ascended the throne.

Was it because she didn't want it?

Was it because the Shen family didn't want it?

Of course not.

It was because the Mu family would never allow it.

A child's status is derived from the mother; logically and rightfully, the throne should belong to the Second Prince, the legitimate son of the original Empress.

But after Lady Shen was elevated to Empress Consort, her son also became a legitimate heir.

Relying on that imperial decree, the Shen family could control the court, dilute imperial power, and even have the opportunity to obstruct the Second Prince's governance in the future.

Could the late Emperor not have foreseen this confrontation in the later stages?

Of course he must have calculated it.

So, during the year when Yue Tang was busy with marriage and childbirth, busy seeking stability for the Prince Duan's manor before her "celestial calamity" curse could take effect—leaving her no time to return to the palace—what exactly happened in the capital?