Only After Witnessing the Crown Prince's Heartlessness Did the Crown Princess Realize There Was No Way Back

Caiwei's expression changed.

Chen Qinglan's palms were pressed against her knees.

The wound ached from being rubbed raw by the fabric of her skirt, but she remained silent.

Matron Cui it increasingly easy to flip through the pages.

The dress was shaken open, the sachet was squeezed, and finally an old handkerchief was pulled out from the bottom of the box.

The handkerchief is embroidered with lotus leaves from the old Chen Family family residence.

Caiwei grew anxious.

"Those were old items that the Madam gave to the Empress."

Matron Cui neither dodged nor flinched, instead offering a forced, insincere smile.

"Old objects need to be thoroughly examined. If royal artifacts are lost, who can bear the responsibility?"

Chen Qinglan raised her hand.

"When you've seen enough, put it down."

Matron Cui handed the handkerchief back.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. This old servant is merely following His Highness's orders to go through the motions."

If more people join the Eastern Palace in the future, there will only be more rules. The sooner Your Highness gets used to it, the less you will suffer.

Caiwei was so angry that tears streamed down her face, but she dared not say another word.

Chen Qinglan took the old handkerchief and pressed her fingertips against the lotus leaf at the corner.

"You've worked hard on your errands, so please don't see me off."

Matron Cui left with her entourage.

The courtyard gate was closed from the outside.

Caiwei stuffed the clothes scattered all over the floor into the closet, tears streaming down her face.

"Your Highness, how could you do this?"

Chen Qinglan looked down at the old handkerchief.

When I got married, my mother placed this handkerchief at the bottom of my dowry chest, giving me countless instructions and reminders.

" The Eastern Palace is a deep and dangerous place; those who wish to live can only shed tears."

She didn't understand then.

Now I understand.

Crying won't help.

She folded the handkerchief again and pressed it back to the bottom of the box.

"Wipe away your tears, prepare the ginseng soup, we can't just wait around."

Caiwei was stunned.

Where is Your Highness going?

Chen Qinglan propped herself up on the edge of the couch, her calves aching so much that sweat beaded on her forehead, but her knees held steady.

"Go to Hall of Proper Beauty to pay your respects."

Caiwei hurriedly said, "Your Highness's leg is still injured."

Chen Qinglan steadied herself against the corner of the table.

"He who takes my keys today can take my position tomorrow."

She glanced at the tightly closed courtyard gate.

Since Matron Cui dared to speak so frankly, it's highly likely that the Qin Family has already reached an agreement.

If we wait any longer, we won't get any respect.

"Once he takes that position, the Chen Family may not survive either."

Half an hour later.

The red-lacquered pillars of Hall of Proper Beauty were quiet.

The medicine simmering on the tea stove was producing white foam.

The young eunuch guarding the gate had received many favors from Chen Qinglan, so when he saw her coming, he deliberately lowered his voice to give her a hint.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment. They are discussing an important matter inside, and His Highness is currently in a bad mood. Please lay low for a while."

Chen Qinglan glanced at the half-closed carved wooden door.

Caiwei took out a handful of melon seeds from her sleeve and handed them over.

The young eunuch's eyes darted around, and he bowed with a fawning smile.

"Oh dear, the Imperial Household Department is urgently requesting the verification of waist tokens. This servant will be right back."

Having said that, he tactfully disappeared without a trace.

Chen Qinglan carried the vermilion lacquered tray and walked to the dead corner between the carved wooden door and the latticed window.

The sounds from inside could be heard through a layer of window screen.

The crisp sound of shattering porcelain pierced the deathly silence first.

"That bunch of good-for-nothings from the Chen Family!"

The prince's curses, punctuated by his panting breaths, could be heard.

The aide whispered a word of advice.

"Your Highness, Lu Huaizhang's attempt to impeach the Prince Yi's Residence failed because His Majesty was unwilling to involve the inner quarters of the imperial family. It's not entirely the Chen Family's fault."

The crown prince was even angrier.

" Lu Huaizhang is Chancellery of the Imperial Censor. If the Chen Family is willing to exert their influence, can they really get the third son to overturn the matter with just a few words?"

"Your Highness, please calm down. We will not gain anything by confronting the Prince Yi's Residence head-on."

"What use is this father-in-law to me?" The Crown Prince slammed his fist on the table again. "The second son offered the poison pill and emerged unscathed, while the third son feigns madness in front of Father Emperor every day. Am I just to be confined to this Hall of Proper Beauty, forced to live like a turtle?"

There was a moment of silence inside.

Only the soft rustling of turning pages remained.

When the aide spoke again, his voice was even lower.

"The Empress Dowager's seventieth birthday is approaching. Your Highness may petition for a general amnesty. This would bring blessings to the Empress Dowager and pray for His Majesty's well-being. This is a great act of benevolence and filial piety."

"What good are empty titles of benevolence and filial piety! I want substance!"

The advisor said, "Your Highness, please don't worry. There's a Xiao Jinghan in this prison."

Chen Qinglan felt the edge of the tray dig into her palm.

The Xiao Clan of the previous dynasty.

No one in the palace dared to mention this surname.

The Crown Prince gasped. "That remnant of the Xiao Clan from the previous dynasty?"

"A collateral branch. He was just a boy when he was captured, Your Highness. You may not know, but this person is extremely strange."

The staff paused.

"He was imprisoned in the dungeon for ten years, and was assassinated and tortured dozens of times. Not only did he not die, but he became a ravenous wolf. Once, during a prison raid, he managed to break an iron bolt with his bare hands."

"You scoundrel! You expect me to petition for his pardon? Father Emperor would skin the Eastern Palace alive!"

"Don't pardon him," the aide followed coldly. "Once the general amnesty is issued, the prison will be rotated. We'll stage a fire, and record it in the case file as 'accidental death by fire.'"

The crown prince remained silent.

The aide continued.

"That man hates the Gu Clan, and he also hates the Liu Clan who helped the Gu Clan establish their rule. Now, the Lady Liu's daughter is being kept as a treasure by Prince Yi. If he just sends two sentences into the prison, this hungry wolf will be unleashed. Who will it bite first?"

There was a long silence inside before the Crown Prince finally spoke.

The anger was gone from his voice, replaced by a chilling coldness.

"You need to be able to control him."

"Do things well."

"Your Highness, rest assured, I have acquaintances over there."

Chen Qinglan looked down at the ginseng soup.

The water rippled gently, reflecting her pale face.

The prince grew increasingly audacious, daring to exploit the chaos of the amnesty to secretly unleash evil spirits and bite people.

The crown prince spoke again, his words dripping with calculating intent.

What did the Qin Family say?

The aide replied, " Qin Jingzhi is willing to go through the Ministry of Ministry of War for Your Highness. He is the Right Vice Minister of Ministry of War, and he has people in both the Ordnance and Provisions departments. The daughter of the Ministry of War is too conspicuous, and His Majesty will have some reservations."

The daughter of the Vice Minister's family is just right.

The page turned with another thud.

"But Miss Qin said that her rank in the Eastern Palace cannot be too low."

Chen Qinglan's fingernails dug little by little into the bottom wood of the vermilion lacquered tray.

The Qin Family wants a formal status.

The Crown Prince requested the Ministry of War.

She sat in the position of the principal wife, blocking this deal.

inside the house.

" The Chen Family is already a useless bunch, and that foolish woman is still occupying the position of the principal wife." The Crown Prince spoke lightly, as if he were talking about a tattered garment. "Once things are settled, I will naturally find a way to make room for the Qin Family in this position."

Caiwei's breathing became erratic.

Chen Qinglan turned her head, her glare sealing the maid's lips.

She steadily retreated.

With each step she took back, the burns on her calves twitched, yet she walked without making a sound.

Turn into the corner of the corridor.

A gust of wind blew.

The cold sweat on my back made my undershirt feel icy cold.

Caiwei followed them back to the side hall.

As soon as I closed the door, my legs went weak and I knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty... we didn't hear anything."

Chen Qinglan walked to the desk.

Put the tray down.

Roll up the left sleeve.

A deep purplish bruise was left on the side of my wrist from being pressed against the edge of the tray.

She picked up the wolf-hair brush from the table.

Grind the ink.

Caiwei's hands trembled so much that she couldn't hold the ink stick.

"Who should we write to? Who in the entire capital can save the Empress?"

(っ╥╯╰╥c)

[I wrote four chapters until 11 PM, and I'm out of drafts again. Thank you Qianya for the update reminder charm, Mary for 30 flowers, Mu Nan for the likes, and everyone for your support! I'm so grateful!]