Chapter 130: Then Don’t Blame Me, Your Highness

Chapter 130: Then Don't Blame Me, Your Highness

After Pei Chong escaped, there was a prison raid at the Jingzhao Mansion prison. Fortunately, the Prime Minister had arranged for guards, preventing the other party from succeeding.

However, after this incident, the Prefect could no longer sit still and proactively applied to have the prisoner transferred to the custody of the Ministry of Justice.

This prisoner was none other than Lin Qiutang.

On the day she was escorted to the Dali Temple prison, she was still shaken.

Everyone said that the person who infiltrated the prison that day was there to rescue her. At first, she thought so too, believing that Pei Chong would not abandon her and would surely find a way to save her.

But that was not the case.

The two men cut the iron chains on the door, barged in, and raised their knives straight towards her heart.

At that moment, Lin Qiutang was terrified, instinctively stepping back until she was pressed against the wall with nowhere to retreat, still muttering, "Don't kill me..."

Fortunately, the knife was deflected when it was less than an inch away from her. It was the first time she had been so close to death, and she felt her heart sink, her back cold.

More than anything, she couldn't believe it—she couldn't believe that Pei Chong would actually try to kill her.

The two assassins fell to the ground, swords in their chests, blood spreading beneath them. Lin Qiutang stood petrified, suddenly recalling that bloody night many years ago... when something similarly gruesome had happened in the main house of the Pei family.

Later, she was transferred to the Dali Temple.

On the night Qingchi disappeared, Lin Qiutang was already locked up in prison, so she didn't know about the Pei residence being sealed.

And the person who wanted to silence her—she could think of no one else but Pei Chong.

In Lin Qiutang's eyes, Pei Chong was the Second Prince's confidant and the commander of the city defense army. Infiltrating the prison to kill her would be as easy as turning his hand.

Even if she were transferred to the Dali Temple prison, it might not be safe.

She didn't want to die.

When the prison cart stopped at the entrance of the Dali Temple, Lin Qiutang suddenly went frantic, kneeling inside the cart, clutching the bars and shouting, "I want to see the Prime Minister! I have important matters to report to the Prime Minister..."

**

He An and Pei Zhan stood under a tree not far away, watching the frantic Lin Qiutang in the prison cart. Pei Zhan's tightly clenched fists trembled uncontrollably, his sunken eye sockets filled with terrifying hatred.

Since marrying her, the two had always treated each other with respect and had a deep bond. Even his father had never treated her as a mere daughter-in-law, but as his own child.

He couldn't understand how Lin Qiutang could commit such a heartless act—poisoning his father, crippling him, and throwing him off a cliff in the outskirts of the capital. Fortunately, he had been caught by tree branches during the fall, allowing him to survive.

Now, he wanted to seek justice: "Your Excellency, when will she be brought to trial?"

He An: "No rush, it's not yet time."

"But what if assassins strike again? If something happens to Lin, wouldn't we..."

Ji Lingchuan returned with the case files, just in time to hear Pei Zhan's concerns. He stepped forward and patted his shoulder: "Do you really think the Jingzhao Mansion prison is made of paper? If we hadn't deliberately let them in, how could they have gotten in so easily?"

Pei Zhan was stunned by these words.

Ji Lingchuan looked at Pei Zhan, then at He An, and shook his head: "Tell me, how can there be such a big difference between two civil officials?"

He An was cunning and full of schemes.

Before the incident, Pei Zhan had also held a civil official position, but standing next to He An, he seemed like a little rabbit next to a big, bad wolf.

Pei Zhan clasped his hands and said, "How dare I compare myself to the Prime Minister, Your Excellency? I acted too hastily. Everything is up to the two of you to decide."

He An shot Ji Lingchuan a glare and left without another word.

Ji Lingchuan pulled Pei Zhan up: "Let's go. Starting today, you’ll have your hands full."

Pei Zhan was confused. Now that he was disabled, what could he possibly do?

**

Pei Chong, now in Qizhou after fleeing, received the news of his mother's sudden death and was overcome with grief, yet filled with suspicion.

His mother had always been strong and healthy, and he had made proper arrangements. There shouldn’t have been any issues.

Even if the escape had failed, his mother would’ve only been imprisoned, and he could have asked the Crown Prince to help rescue her.

So how could she have died so suddenly?

The people he sent to Jingzhao Mansion to assassinate Lin Qiutang had not returned, and Pei Chong grew more and more agitated.

Standing on the city wall, the cold wind blew, and he slammed his fist into the wall in frustration. The pain brought him back to some sense of reason. There was no way out for him now; returning to the capital meant certain death.

**

"Useless," the Crown Prince spat, setting down his wine cup, his anger evident in his eyes. "They couldn’t even handle a single prisoner. Pei Chong’s men are utterly useless."

The guard said, "Your Highness, the prisoner has already been taken to the Dali Temple. What should we do next?"

"This person cannot be allowed to live," the Crown Prince poured another cup of wine. "I find the newly appointed Vice Minister of Justice rather intriguing. With spring approaching and my confinement lifted, I’ll throw a spring banquet to get to know this Vice Minister of Justice."

"Tell the Crown Princess to make thorough preparations for the banquet."

"Yes, Your Highness."

In the backyard of the Crown Prince's palace, the Crown Princess only glanced up when the servant reported.

Her usual cheerful demeanor had vanished, replaced by a carefully hidden mix of indifference and sorrow.

After learning that her father was in prison, she seemed like a different person: "Haitang, do you think Father will blame me?"

Haitang, who was combing her hair, comforted her: "I only know that the Crown Princess is the one he cares for the most. He surely wishes for your well-being."

That person?

Behind her beautiful identity, she couldn't have such a father.

But all these years, everything the Crown Prince had done, wasn't it all with utmost loyalty and effort?

Now that he was dead, he couldn't have a tomb or a gravestone, only to be thrown into a mass grave.

By now, he’s likely nothing but a pile of bones, unrecognizable and forgotten.

A barely audible sigh: "I heard the Crown Prince is bringing in a new concubine?"

Haitang knew she was in a bad mood: "No matter who comes, the position of Crown Princess is yours."

The Crown Princess sneered.

Dressed in luxurious clothes, but with an empty title...

Since marrying into the Crown Prince's palace, she had been hoping every day that the Crown Prince would achieve great things and one day ascend to the throne, becoming the supreme ruler of Dongzhao.

By then, she would be the Empress, the mother of the nation, with unparalleled dignity.

For this, she was prepared to pay any price, but she never expected the cost to be so great.

She knew that Crown Prince was not as lustful as he appeared on the surface. Every move he made had a purpose, and his apparent playboy demeanor was merely a cover, a strategy to hide his true intentions.

"Get a courtyard ready early to avoid a last-minute scramble."

"Yes," Haitang bowed and left.

When Crown Prince arrived, Crown Princess had almost finished removing her makeup.

"Your humble wife greets Your Highness."

Crown Prince sat down: "There have been too many trivial matters lately, and I've been too tied up to find time. Knowing you've been upset, I finally found some time today to come and see you."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Crown Prince's eyes flickered slightly, his emotions unreadable. After sitting by the bed, he patted the spot beside him: "Come, sit by my side."

Crown Princess hesitated for a moment but eventually sat down: "Your Highness can rest assured, I have already given orders regarding the Spring Banquet."

"Leaving this matter to my beloved wife, I am at ease."

Crown Princess smiled faintly.

"Now that my house arrest has been lifted, we need to plan for our future even more carefully now. So, the two women from the Spring Banquet aren't staying here; they're being sent to Minister Jiang and He An."

Crown Princess frowned, clearly surprised.

Crown Prince held her in his arms: "The Emperor suddenly ended my house arrest, but it's not as straightforward as it seems. I think he cares more about the throne than about father-son bonds. So... if we want to solve this once and for all and no longer be controlled by others, then we can only..."

"Minister Jiang is easy to deal with, but He An might not be so easily persuaded."

Back at the peach garden in the outskirts of the capital, Liu Yueru tried every trick in the book, even drugging him, but He An still wouldn't give in.

Crown Prince's eyes grew cold: "If he still doesn't fall in line this time, he has only himself to blame."