Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Xingchun came forward with a group of servants to greet him.

Lanqiu hid at the very back, her eyes red-rimmed, not daring to lift her head.

"The princess fell into the water tonight and got scared. She will be staying at the Duke's mansion for three days. During these three days, I will have the Chaomu Courtyard redecorated. Whatever the princess likes, Xingchun, put together a list and give it to me. When the princess returns..."

In the middle of his sentence, Chen Yingchou suddenly realized he hadn't seen any maids from Chaomu Courtyard at the Duke's mansion, so he looked toward the crowd. "Where is Wangxia? Did she accompany the princess to the birthday banquet?"

Xingchun said, "Yes, Wangxia and Xiang Tong from the Duke's mansion went with the princess."

Chen Yingchou asked Qiao Yun, "Did you see Xiang Tong at the Duke's mansion?"

"No."

Chen Yingchou instructed He Ji, "Go find out why they're not at the Duke's mansion."

As He Ji left, Lanqiu's heart started racing with panic. The princess had fallen into the water, and Wangxia and Xiang Tong had disappeared—they were probably in serious danger.

Lanqiu knew deep down that the princess returning after three days wouldn't be the same kind princess she knew before.

It wasn't just Lanqiu; Xingchun also realized. "Your Highness, all the maids in Chaomu Courtyard are missing. Did someone try to harm the princess?"

Qiao Yun quickly cut her off. "The matter has not been investigated yet. Don't jump to conclusions."

Chen Yingchou looked at Lanqiu, who was keeping her head down, her shoulders trembling as if she were crying. "Lanqiu, didn't the princess like to take you with her the most? Why didn't you go today?"

As the princess, she could bring all four maids if she wanted, not just two.

Lanqiu stepped forward, her voice clearly choked with tears. "I was feeling unwell today, Your Highness."

"Are you feeling better now?"

"I'm better now."

Chen Yingchou said, "Then go attend to the princess now. I don't trust those people from the Duke's mansion."

Lanqiu instinctively refused. "Your Highness, I, I…" She didn't want to serve Wei Yalan at all. "I'm not fully recovered yet. I might pass the illness to the princess."

Chen Yingchou felt Lanqiu was acting strange too, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Xingchun, you go, and take Randong with you."

Xingchun agreed, though still worried. "Your Highness, Wangxia is usually reliable, and Xiang Tong is clever. How could they leave the princess alone at the Duke of Qingguo's mansion? This servant believes the princess's fall into the water was no accident. Someone must have wanted to harm her. I implore Your Highness to look into it thoroughly."

Chen Yingchou had already felt something was off and sent people to investigate.

This matter, after all, involved the Duke of Qingguo's mansion and couldn't be handled openly.

Qiao Yun naturally understood this as well. "Xingchun, is this your business? Don't ask about it again!" Qiao Yun was speaking not only to Xingchun but to everyone standing there.

Chen Yingchou grew more and more uneasy. "Alright, everyone, you're dismissed. Lanqiu, come with me."

Entering the main courtyard, Chen Yingchou was startled. The courtyard had been restored to how it looked before he left for war. The stone tables, stools, and the large lotus fish tank—all previously removed—were back in place.

He went to the study and found it restored to its original state. He felt a surge of joy. "Lanqiu, did the princess order this?"

"The princess instructed Xingchun to arrange it."

Lan'er still cared about him. She had redecorated the main courtyard because he could see again. He appreciated this thoughtfulness.

He had wanted to surprise Lan'er by not sending word right away. Now he wondered if she was mad about that and that's why she wouldn't talk to him today.

It must have been that his parents were so overjoyed at his recovery that they let the news slip through the palace servants.

Looking at the study he hadn't seen in so long, he couldn't help remembering their argument here. His heart tightened. She had been caught stealing the roster, and he hadn't told her he could see. Would Lan'er think he hadn't forgiven her and that's why she avoided him?

He had clearly said that night that he wouldn't hold it against her. Hadn't that been clear enough?

"Lanqiu, what did the princess do every day while I was gone? Tell me everything."

Lanqiu said, "Miss Lin passed away, and the princess only grieved for a day. After meeting Princess Rong, she seemed to cheer up. She flew kites in the courtyard, planted flowers in the garden, learned pastries in the kitchen, taught the seven-stringed zither to Xingchun, and wrote recipes for Randong. Only…" She deliberately added, "Only, I felt like she was trying to escape her grief. It also seemed like she knew something bad was going to happen and wanted to leave, so she did everything she could."

So Lan'er had gotten the wrong idea. He should have just told her. He was still holding the newly carved wooden hairpin, full of regret.

Lanqiu took the roster out from inside her robe. "Also, before she left, the princess told me to give this to Your Highness."

Chen Yingchou took the roster, tracing the handwriting on the paper, thinking of how Lan'er had looked at him tonight—so timid and unfamiliar. His gut told him something was wrong.

Could it be that Lan'er had made a copy for the Duke of Qingguo as well, and the Duke, afraid the truth would come out and implicate her, wanted to send her away?

Then he would never see her again? Chen Yingchou panicked at the thought. He had already made up his mind long ago. No matter how treasonous or wicked the Duke's crimes, he wouldn't let Lan'er get caught up in it.

No, he couldn't wait that long. After court tomorrow, he would go to the Duke's mansion and bring her back. His eyes had healed, and it was time to show Lan'er his true feelings.

"Xingchun and Randong are going to the Duke's mansion to take care of the princess. You handle compiling the princess's preferences."

Lanqiu said, "No need to compile them. I already know the princess's likes. I'll write them down and hand them to Eunuch Qiao tomorrow."

In fact, those so-called preferences were all Wei Yalan's, not Jiang Mo's. She could just write a few random ones.

"Alright, you may go."

That night, Chen Yingchou couldn't sleep at all. Since he had important matters at court the next morning, he got up just after the fifth watch.

Before going to court, he gave He Ji the roster that Lanqiu had given him and told him to transfer the people on the list. Then he got into the carriage.

This morning court was his first appearance since regaining his sight. All the officials watched Chen Yingchou stride to the front with his head held high, his eyes bright and piercing. Some were delighted, others worried.

Those who had hoped for his recovery wept with joy, their hearts surging. "Our Great Yu Dynasty is saved!"

Those who had betrayed him trembled in fear, cold sweat beading on their foreheads, not daring to look up.

Those from opposing factions felt aggrieved but powerless, too preoccupied with how to save their own skins to think of anything else.

With the emperor and empress backing him and a crack elite army, Chen Yingchou did not hold back. He presented the impeachment roster and, one by one, listed the crimes before the emperor, speaking eloquently with solid evidence. In a single morning court session, those who had plotted against him during his blindness were either dismissed from office or thrown into prison.

Most of these were Prince Rui's faction. Chen Yingchou glanced at Prince Rui and then said, "Father, during my treatment, Second Brother sent assassins to kill me. I beg you to investigate."

The small courtyard where he was treated for his eye ailment was not completely sealed.

There was constant movement between the Zichen Hall and Kunning Palace. Prince Rui didn't have great wisdom, but he was clever in small ways. Chen Yingchou knew Prince Rui would eventually find him.

The throne, which was almost within reach, was about to be snatched away. No one would take that lying down.

"Father, please see clearly. This son never ordered any assassinations." Prince Rui stepped forward unhurriedly. He had entrusted all these matters to Prince Jing. Even if the assassins he sent were captured, they would only implicate Prince Jing.

The Emperor said, "Ninth Son, is there evidence?"

Chen Yingchou raised his hand, and He Ji brought up a man, disheveled and dirty, his clothes torn, with bloodstains on his back.

"This is the assassin caught that night. According to his confession, the instigator was Prince Jing."

Prince Jing immediately knelt, "Your Majesty, I did not do it. Ninth Brother is slandering me."

The Emperor, who already knew the truth, ignored him and directly said to Prince Rui, "Seventh Son has followed you since childhood, always following your lead. Did you order Seventh Son to carry out the assassination?"

The Emperor deeply disliked these two sons. If the late empress hadn't sent a maid to seduce the Emperor, Consort Rong would not have been angry with him, leading to her upset mood and the birth of the weak Eighth Prince. Not only did the prince die young, but Consort Rong's health was also never fully restored, and she passed away early.

Upon hearing the Emperor's clear favoritism toward Chen Yingchou, Prince Rui firmly stated his position, "Your Majesty, I am well aware that my literary and military abilities are no match for Ninth Brother's. I have never harbored any improper ambitions, only wishing to share your burdens and assist Ninth Brother. As for why Seventh Brother wanted to assassinate Ninth Brother, I truly do not know."

Prince Jing sneered inwardly. He should have known Prince Rui would say that. He was of low birth, mediocre in literary and martial arts, and had no real wisdom or strategy to offer. All these years, he could only follow Prince Rui like a dog, receiving nothing more than a few meatless bones.

He was also a prince, yet he lived worse than a son of a noble family. He had even dreamed that one day, when Prince Rui ascended the throne, he would be given some favors, allowing him to experience the feeling of power in his hands.

Now it seemed, he had been deluding himself.

"Your Majesty, the assassination was indeed instigated by Prince Rui. I was deceived by Prince Rui. I beg your clemency."

"Seventh Brother, you are spouting nonsense. Do you have evidence?" Prince Rui shot Prince Jing a warning glare, but Prince Jing no longer paid attention. He had no mother, no maternal family to rely on, and no relatives. He was afraid of nothing.

"Second Brother, all these years, how much dirty work have I done for you? This time, I can no longer be your scapegoat." In fact, from the moment he learned of Chen Yingchou's regained sight, he had anticipated his own fate.

Prince Jing knelt forward two steps. "Your Majesty, I know my crime is unforgivable, but the Princess of Jing is just an ignorant woman. I beg you to allow us to divorce."

Only then did Prince Rui realize the gravity of the situation. He couldn't understand how the submissive Prince Jing could betray him. Had it all been an act before?

There was no act. It was just that for Prince Jing, his mother was a maid of the late empress. He didn't know how else to live except by following Prince Rui.

Prince Rui kicked the kneeling Prince Jing over. "Nonsense! You've gone mad wanting the power I promised you, and you dared to take it upon yourself to assassinate Ninth Brother." He bowed to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, please do not believe Old Seven's one-sided story. I have absolutely no intention of harming Ninth Brother."

Prince Jing knelt back up. "Your Majesty, I impeach him on my life. Prince Rui has long wanted to kill Ninth Brother. In the Battle of Zhuoyang, the

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