Chapter 51: Entanglements

Xu He stared at the woman before him in astonishment.

During the tea banquet, he had sensed that this woman had some connection to Prince Jingyang. A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, yet he did not dare reveal a single one.

Thinking that she was, after all, a woman and must have some worldly reservations, he had intentionally adopted this posture to test her. He intended to probe her background so that he could act accordingly in front of Prince Jingyang in the future.

He never expected that she would not care at all about the worldly rules others held as ironclad, and would instead turn the tables on him so decisively!

Though she was impersonating a member of the He clan, how could she possess even a fraction of the He clan's submissiveness?

This sharp, commanding aura was even more powerful than those high-ranking officials he encountered in his yamen.

At this moment, she had merely replied with a few sentences, yet he did not even dare to meet her gaze!

"Leave," Yue Tang said, seeing his spirit completely broken and knowing he had been humbled. "Consider for yourself what is important. If I do not invite you in the future, there is no need to enter."

Xu He’s face flushed red as he retreated across the threshold.

Lan Qin watched him walk away coldly from the doorway before entering. "Wei Zhang and the others have returned. Xiao Huo is ready to depart for Luoyang. Does the Princess have any other instructions?"

Yue Tang thought for a moment and said, "Have him find Xu He and ask for the He clan's specific address. Once he finds her, bring her to the capital. She will likely be unsafe."

She added, "To prevent Xu He from being slippery, ensure the address is the real one."

Lan Qin nodded and went out. Wei Zhang and Hua Lin entered immediately after. "Princess!"

Excitement gleamed in their eyes; it seemed they had already learned the whole story of the reunion with Yan Bei from Lan Qin.

Yue Tang spared no unnecessary words and spoke to Hua Lin first. "When A-Li was born, he was only a hundred days old. Given the hardships he endured, it was already incredibly difficult for Yan Bei to keep him alive. This is your specialty. Go to the Prince's Mansion immediately. Just as you did when treating me, watch over him day and night. You must ensure he is fully restored to health."

After a thought, she added, "You must be even more devoted than when you saved me. I want him to live a long, healthy life..."

Hua Lin swung the medical chest onto his shoulder. "If I can't cure that child, my surname won't be Hua!"

"There's no need for that," Yue Tang sighed. "Just go and see first."

Growing up, Yue Tang never acted like a cousin; she was lucky if she didn't tease her cousin-uncle, Hua Lin. Seeing her tone now, it was clear how much anxiety she felt over the situation.

Hua Lin nodded silently and left.

Wei Zhang stepped forward. "It is my incompetence. I failed to realize back then that the Son-in-law possessed such a profound identity."

Yue Tang curled her lips. "Even I didn't realize it; why blame you? Besides, at the time, he entered the capital as a high-ranking official stationed at the border. Any slight error would have implicated the entire Prince's Mansion. If he had easily exposed a flaw for us to catch, he wouldn't have been fit for such a position. Enough, that is in the past; there is no need to mention it again. It is best that Yan Bei was not involved in the conspiracy. We must look forward. Since A-Li is still alive, I cannot let him down. I must uncover the mastermind behind the conspiracy from the Du family as quickly as possible, so that I can bring him back to the Prince of Duan's Mansion with dignity and never be separated from him again."

If she wanted a mother and son reunion and to protect A-Li properly, she naturally had to reclaim the imperial seal to protect him in her capacity as the Princess of Yongjia.

Previously, she had not thought deeply about this step, as staying in the shadows offered more benefits. But now that A-Li had been found, how could Yue Tang bear to be separated from him for a long time again? Not to mention, the child's repeated cries of "Mother" gave her endless strength.

Years ago, after his birth, the Prince of Duan had ordered his hand and foot imprints to be taken and recorded in the Imperial Clan Court. The late Emperor had also bestowed the jade tablet and seal of the Imperial Grandson, allowing him to be officially recognized by his lineage; there would be no procedural issues.

"If the Little Heir can be brought back, the Prince will find peace in the afterlife," Wei Zhang said, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "But the question is, will Prince Jingyang let go?"

That was Yan Bei's own flesh and blood—a child he had personally rescued and raised for three years. The couple had long since divorced, and with the Jingyang Prince's Mansion dominating the Northern Desert, Yan Bei likely wouldn't be easy to deal with.

"Ignore him for now," Yue Tang said. "Let us focus on what we must do."

She picked up a brush, furrowed her brows in thought while dipping it in ink, and then wrote a string of names on the white paper.

"The names at the top are the owners of the incriminating evidence found in Du Minghuan's study. The Du family keeps their collection so strictly; they are either weapons used against rivals or assets kept for those with different stances. If they involve the same faction, then the affiliations of these people must be the opposite of those behind the Du family. Go and investigate."

Wei Zhang took the paper.

Once he left, Yue Tang took a string of beads from her bosom, slowly raised them, and examined them closely against the light.

***

Yan Bei left when the banquet was about seventy to eighty percent complete. Given his status, his presence alone was a rarity; staying too long would make others uncomfortable, so leaving early was standard etiquette.

After seeing him out of the manor, the Marquis of Guangling went to the study with Du Yu.

Du Yu spoke first. "The Prince stayed in the Changxuan Pavilion for so long earlier. The plan to publicly reveal Xu He's status as an adopted son during the banquet was not carried out. Now, I don't know how to handle him."

"Set that matter aside for now. Tell me, what exactly is he up to?" The Marquis of Guangling turned by the window. "Does his legal wife look like she comes from a humble background? With such beauty and grace, is Xu He still not satisfied? Does he intend to despise his old wife?"

Du Yu stepped forward. "Father, do you suspect this He woman's origins are improper?"

The Marquis of Guangling stroked his beard. "The Prince has lived as a widower for three years. The Ministry of Rites has urged him countless times to take a Princess Consort, yet he never showed any interest. Today, seeing the He woman in such a manner—it is true she is breathtakingly beautiful, but you cannot say that the dignified Prince Jingyang would act like a lovesick youth who has never seen the world just by seeing her."

Du Yu pondered. "Actually, I have a suspicion. Recently, the Prince's Mansion has been widely posting notices searching for a woman named Wang Huan. Even if this He woman is not Wang Huan herself, I suspect she may be connected to her."

The Marquis of Guangling nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense."

Thinking of this, he immediately ordered, "Quickly send someone to Luoyang again to investigate the truth!"

Du Yu turned to give orders to the servants.

The Marquis of Guangling stood for a moment, pulled a letter from his sleeve, and scanned a few pages of the documents within. He then walked into the inner room and opened a secret compartment in the wall.

At today's banquet, someone had gathered more dirt on two officials and handed it to him. These things could bring him significant benefits.

He opened the compartment and placed the items inside. At the moment he withdrew his hand, he suddenly paused, then reached his entire arm inside, rummaging around. He even tore down a covering picture that was in his way, reaching deep into the compartment with both hands!

Du Yu had just finished giving orders and walked in, seeing this scene. "What happened?"

The Marquis of Guangling's expression was shattered. "Someone has been here!"

Du Yu froze.

"Quickly, call all the sentries outside!" The Marquis of Guangling gritted his teeth. "What are you waiting for?!"