Chapter 250

Chapter 250

How else could it be such a coincidence?

The tiles didn't fall at any other time—they had to fall right now, landing right where Xie Run and Taotao were.

Xie Run let out a light laugh. "Looks like the hidden daggers didn't work in this household, so now they're going for open blades?"

Prince Jing was just about to leave.

And now this had to happen?

Xie Run had just returned to Chunshan Courtyard with Taotao when a servant came to report.

"Your Grace, Lady Xie, someone climbed up to check—the outermost tile hadn't been laid properly. Probably the craftsman was sloppy, and that's why the tile fell."

"We searched every room in the courtyard, and there's no sign anyone was there."

Xie Run smiled after hearing this. "Then it was just an accident."

"You've all worked hard today—you're dismissed."

Once everyone else was dismissed, only Dan Tao, Xiaoshu, and Zi Hu remained by her side.

Dan Tao asked softly, "You're calling it an accident, so you're not going to investigate?"

"But if this had gone wrong, it could have cost you your life..."

Xie Run simply asked, "Did you find anything?"

Dan Tao went quiet.

Xiaoshu asked softly, "Your Grace, are you really not going to investigate?"

"Of course I'll investigate, but I don't want the whole household to know. I'll have people look into it quietly."

"Quietly?"

Xie Run smiled. "At the very least, I need to know who's trying to kill me."

Honestly, it could only be a few people in the household. At most, you could add Prince An to the list.

But Prince An was currently being scolded by the Emperor, so he probably didn't have time to scheme against a Cefei in Prince Jing's household.

Xie Run said, "This matter is both hard and easy to investigate."

"There's nowhere to hide near Chunlin Courtyard. Just quietly send someone to ask the maids and servants on duty near Chunlin Courtyard today whether they saw anyone pass by."

"If it was intentional, the person must have fled from Chunlin Courtyard. With people on every path, there's no way they left no trace."

Luckily, Chunlin Courtyard wasn't out of the way—it was closest to the small garden.

The small garden was the most central spot in Prince Jing's rear courtyard, with the most maids and servants on duty and people on every path.

Xiaoshu immediately said, "Then I'll send someone sociable to ask around."

Xie Run nodded and added, "Dan Tao, go to the study and get me a map."

Dan Tao immediately did as she was told.

Soon, a simple map of the Great Yu Dynasty was brought over.

The map was truly basic—just a rough outline—but enough to identify the various prefectures and counties of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Maps were important strategic secrets in ancient times; anything more detailed would never end up in the hands of ordinary people.

The map Xie Run had was drawn for her by Prince Jing when he returned from Yunzhou.

Back then, Xie Run had asked Prince Jing about the customs and culture of Yunzhou.

During their conversation, maps came up, and Prince Jing casually sketched an outline to help her recognize the various regions of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Xie Run had kept it ever since, planning to use it to teach Taotao about maps later.

When Dan Tao brought it to her, she spread the map on the heated kang and looked around, tracing the direction of Yunzhou.

Suddenly, Xie Run's finger stopped at Qiangwu near Yunzhou, and she couldn't help trembling.

She instantly figured out why Fang Yuaner had persuaded Prince Jing to go.

The Qiangwu earthquake!

Xie Run's heart clenched, and her expression turned serious.

The earthquake was a devastating disaster for Qiangwu.

But amid the struggle for the succession, it was so minor it was almost negligible—like a gentle snowflake falling.

Yet no one knew then that this gentle snowflake would turn into a blizzard after Prince Jing took the throne, making his first year turbulent and suffocating for everyone.

The earthquake itself was minor, but it gave birth to the Red Lotus Army in Qiangwu.

Under the banner of restoring the former dynasty and acting in heaven's name, they quickly rallied a force among the people.

In Prince Jing's first year on the throne, a black stone fell from the sky, and when dug up, a blood-red character for "injustice" was found carved underneath.

Soon, rumors spread through the capital, claiming Prince Jing had taken the throne illegitimately—murdering his elder brother and poisoning his father, making him unworthy of the throne.

That army was the main driver of the rumors.

They caused Prince Jing countless troubles, and eventually made their way to the border, colluding with the Xia Dynasty, coordinating from within and without, leading Xia troops through the passes and causing the first massacre in the history of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Even if the Princess Consort hadn't died then, facing such circumstances, she would have been pressured to death.

This lifetime's plot was moving too fast, with many timelines different, so Xie Run hadn't thought of the Qiangwu earthquake.

Because according to the normal plot, the Qiangwu earthquake wasn't supposed to happen for another two years.

But now, the struggle for the succession had reached its climax early, shortened by more than half a year compared to the previous lifetime.

So the Qiangwu earthquake might also come early?

Fang Yuaner bringing up the earthquake now... was she gambling with her life?

Xie Run slowly rolled up the map on the kang, her mind in a mess.

Suddenly, a maid called from the corridor, "Your Grace, His Highness has a message for you."

Xie Run snapped back to reality and went out to ask, "What message?"

"The prince said that on this trip to Yunzhou, he will bring Consort Fang along, and asked Consort Xie to make the travel arrangements."

Xie Run nodded slightly. "Understood."

She paused, then smiled. "Did the prince mention bringing only Consort Fang to Yunzhou?"

The maid nodded. "Yes. The prince only mentioned Consort Fang, no one else."

Xie Run thought for a moment. "Spread this news throughout the inner courtyard. Start with the courtyards of Concubine Wan and Consort Jiang."

"Yes."

After the maid left, Xie Run said to Dan Tao, "Tell the maid attending Consort Jiang not to keep her on too tight a leash."

"A pregnant woman should also come out now and then to get some fresh air."

Then, smiling, she added, "The two matrons haven't seemed to rest since they arrived at the household. Take some pastries over later, invite them for tea, and let them unwind a bit."

Dan Tao immediately understood what Xie Run meant. "I'll see to it at once."

After Dan Tao left, Xiaoshu spoke up. "Mistress, the prince suddenly agreeing to bring Consort Fang to Yunzhou—isn't that disadvantageous to you?"

Xie Run smiled. "Not necessarily."

"It's just... I want to know what scheme she's plotting, and I don't want her scheme to succeed so quickly."

Informing Wan Linlang and Jiang Baobao first was precisely to have them make a fuss before Prince Jing.

Of the two, Wan Linlang would certainly think of the Qiangwu earthquake.

If Fang Yuaner could go, why couldn't she?

It's a clash of titans—who outwits whom remains to be seen.

Jiang Baobao was the most restless—hearing that the prince would take Fang Yuaner on his trip would surely upset her.

She'd go stir up trouble and make a big fuss.

With her taking the lead, Huayu would likely be eager to follow suit.

Then all the women of the inner courtyard would want to accompany the prince, and with all the commotion, the prince's stance would be revealed.

Xiaoshu looked at Xie Run seriously. "I've never seen you take initiative before, but today you've made so many arrangements... I'm quite surprised."

Xie Run's smile was faint. "Because I think I've guessed who wants to take my life and Taotao's."

Xiaoshu's expression stiffened, a flash of indignation crossing her face. "Who could be so vicious?!"

Xie Run shook her head. "I need to see how the inner courtyard reacts."

Xiaoshu immediately said, "If you have any other instructions, I'll carry them out at once."

Xie Run smiled. "Stay with me for now. These next few days are bound to be eventful."

The advantage of managing the inner courtyard's affairs is clear.

The moment Xie Run gave her orders, servants everywhere carried them out promptly.

Her reach extended far and wide, letting her gather news from every courtyard.

Within half an hour, a maid arrived to report that Wan Linlang had taken people to the front courtyard.

"She claimed she wanted to visit the Sixth Young Master, but I could see clearly—her expression was very grave, as if something major had happened."

"The maids beside her also looked bewildered, as if they were completely in the dark."

"The Sixth Young Master is well cared for in the front courtyard, with nothing wrong—surely Concubine Wan's visit to see him was merely an excuse."

Xie Run asked further, "What about Jiang Baobao? Any news from her?"

"After Dan Tao went to see the two matrons, Consort Jiang suddenly said she felt stifled and wanted to take a walk in the small garden."

"The two matrons didn't follow. She took her own maids, then suddenly changed course midway and also headed to the front courtyard."

Xie Run took a delicate sip of her tea.

"Go find out more."

Just as she gave the order, Xiaoshu rushed in.

Xie Run dismissed the other maids and asked Xiaoshu, "What did you find out?"

Xiaoshu said softly, "I sent someone to ask the junior maids on duty near Chunlin Courtyard. They said they saw Consort Hua's maid Zhiqiu heading to Luochun Garden to gather flowers, and Qiumeng, a maid from Consort Fang's courtyard, went to the main kitchen to fetch nourishing soup..."

"Wait." Xie Run suddenly said, "From the small garden to the main kitchen, what routes lead through here?"

Xiaoshu's eyes lit up. "Two routes. One is the main road, going around Xiachi Courtyard to the main kitchen. The other is a shortcut, passing behind Chunlin Courtyard."

"I sometimes take that path when I go to pick up meals."

Xie Run's composed gaze met Xiaoshu's.

Xiaoshu barely contained her excitement. "Mistress, today's incident with the falling tile—was it Consort Fang's doing?"

"But she's been so quiet for so long. Why would she suddenly move against you?"

"And in the past, Consort Fang acted in secret. Now she dares to directly target you and the Fifth Young Master's lives?"

Xie Run said calmly, "Because she has backing now. She's confident she can do the prince a great favor, and even if she kills me, the prince won't hold her accountable."

Xiaoshu's face went pale instantly upon hearing this.

"Mistress, is this true?"

Xie Run looked up at her. "It's almost certain."

Wan Linlang wanted to go after her but didn't have the means.

After all, she had no power or influence now, unable even to gather supporters.

Huayu and Jiang Baobao weren't sharp enough, and the newly arrived Consort Sun lacked the ability—and had no reason to.

"I knew Fang Yuaner's personality wouldn't let her stay quiet this long."

As Xie Run had expected, after being confined for so long, Fang Yuaner was getting desperate.