Chapter 82: Spicy Cuttlefish Pot (Part 8)
Leng Yue froze momentarily. Watching as the Crown Prince reined in his smile slightly, a hint of hesitation appearing between his brows as if weighing whether to speak, the warmth that had just returned to Leng Yue's entire being suddenly turned ice-cold.
Before tonight, Leng Yue had almost never dealt with the Crown Prince one-on-one. Though she'd heard rumors about his childish temperament, hearsay remained hearsay. The blood of emperors flowed in this man's veins—who could guarantee he didn't suffer from imperial maladies? Like secretly coveting that throne, changing expressions as swiftly as weather shifts, striking first then offering sweetness, or the reverse: offering sweetness before delivering the blow.
Because Leng Yue truly couldn't imagine what matter would require someone who stood just one step away from becoming ruler of a nation to specifically seek her out for consultation.
Without waiting for Leng Yue's response about whether she was willing to hear his proposal, the Crown Prince gazed directly into her slightly complicated eyes and continued with complete candor, "I genuinely hadn't thought of any decent plan earlier. But when I saw you walking past the window just now, an idea came to me. I'm just not sure if it's the same method Guard Leng described as 'having a death wish,' so I wanted to consult with you about how we might execute it more thoroughly."
The Crown Prince was a year younger than Leng Yue. Men of this age who knew no martial arts rarely dared to meet Leng Yue's gaze so frankly, and even fewer could make her feel unsettled during such direct eye contact while she was in her current attire.
With just this one look, Leng Yue understood how utterly wrong those people were who claimed the Crown Prince had never cared about becoming emperor since childhood.
These eyes meeting hers brimmed with intelligence, overflowing like the broth in a time-honored soup dumpling—were it not for that thin wrapper containing it, it would spill forth in astonishing fashion.
This person had clearly cultivated himself, and had done so diligently for who knew how many years, all while wrapped in thick layers of disguise so that no one discovered he had long since become refined.
Though this gaze made Leng Yue uneasy, the unease warmed her entire body. She straightened her posture, slightly bowed her head, and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, please instruct me."
The Crown Prince again furrowed his brows with that same hesitation about whether to speak. Hearing Leng Yue add something about being willing to die countless times, he shook his head and said, "No need to die... but it will certainly be more difficult than death."
"As long as we can get Jing Yi out of that damn—" The words slipped out unconsciously before Leng Yue suddenly realized that before her superior, this declaration of determination shouldn't be phrased this way. She quickly lowered her head and forcibly amended, "This is my duty. I will exhaust all efforts to find the true culprit and bring the rebel to justice."
The Crown Prince frowned and waved his hand dismissively. "It's still too early to call him a rebel."
Leng Yue stared in confusion. This person had already poisoned the emperor and was openly forcing the Crown Prince to abdicate—hadn't he rebelled against two levels of heaven already? How could he not be considered a rebel?
After all, she had just learned about capital affairs from Leng Yan, so some misunderstandings were natural. Tentatively, Leng Yue asked, "Does Your Highness believe there are deeper circumstances in this matter?"The Crown Prince was momentarily taken aback, then his brows relaxed as he let out two clear, bright laughs. Shaking his head, he said breezily, "There's no hidden story. What I mean is, it's still uncertain who will become emperor in the end. If I become emperor, then he would undoubtedly be a rebel. But if he becomes emperor—well, how could an emperor be a rebel, right?"
Leng Yue felt as if her tongue had gone mad from the shock of the Crown Prince's words, blurting out something that made her wish she could crawl under the table.
"Nonsense!"
"Not at all," the Crown Prince replied with the composure of someone accustomed to being scolded. Before Leng Yue could kneel and deliver her usual "this humble official deserves death" speech, he continued candidly, "These words come straight from my heart. Since childhood, Grand Tutor Jing has taught me that those in my position must speak the finest words while preparing for the worst in their hearts—only then can everyone live in peace. If you'd prefer to hear the superficial version, I can repeat it that way. But however I say it, this is what I truly believe."
Leng Yue, who had been blushing crimson with her head bowed low, couldn't help but lift her gaze in astonishment at his words.
If one had to choose, from all the things the Late Emperor had done for the Crown Prince, the single act that best represented his affection, it would be selecting Old Master Jing to be the Crown Prince's teacher.
Under Old Master Jing's instruction, those typically cold and ruthless principles of statecraft transformed into survival strategies passed down among common folk in fields and villages. He not only taught the Crown Prince how to navigate treacherous waters but also preserved within him that innate goodness from childhood.
It seemed Old Master Jing hadn't only taught this lesson to the Crown Prince—he had taught it to Jing Yi as well.
Leng Yue hadn't paid much attention before, but now she realized Jing Yi had always lived by this teaching. While claiming everything was fine, he would already be devising countermeasures for potential crises. When trouble actually arose, he could handle it methodically while humming a carefree tune.
Thus, Jing Yi always appeared leisurely, as if nothing ever weighed on his mind. But heaven knew how many burdens that perceptive, delicate soul carried daily—unseen and, consequently, unacknowledged by anyone.
Just as a flicker of guilt arose in Leng Yue's heart, the Crown Prince spoke again lightly, "So, I have my own plans for my affairs. You just need to decide whether you're willing to endure this hardship for Jing Yi."
Leng Yue hurriedly replied, "This humble official is willing."
The Crown Prince nodded, his clear voice softening slightly. "Since you've already seen Jing Yi, you must know they're using women who resemble you to confuse him, trying to coax a confession from him?"
The Crown Prince spoke these words cautiously. Leng Yue paused briefly at his tone, then broke into a smile that left him bewildered.
This was the first genuine smile she had shown him since his arrival, and he couldn't comprehend what could possibly be amusing about words he had worried would upset or anger her.
"Does Your Highness intend for me to replace the imposters and investigate the doubts while gathering evidence?"
"Was that your plan as well?"
From the sudden brightness in the Crown Prince's widened eyes, Leng Yue felt she detected something resembling the camaraderie of partners in crime.With the Crown Prince's covert assistance, or even just his tacit approval, she would feel much more confident in carrying out this matter.
"Yes..." Leng Yue replied cautiously in a hushed tone. "This humble officer has already acted once tonight and even managed to deceive the estate steward. Since I've had little interaction with Prince Hui and have been stationed outside the capital for years, few people in the capital are truly familiar with me. I believe this method will surely work."
After nodding repeatedly, the Crown Prince frowned with concern. "It may work, but Guard Leng is right - this is indeed extremely dangerous. And in your current condition with pregnancy, is it suitable?"
"This humble officer has her own plans regarding personal matters."
Understanding dawning, the Crown Prince narrowed his eyes with a smile and didn't press further, instead asking, "Has Guard Leng told you everything you need to know?"
"About seventy to eighty percent."
This answer seemed somewhat unexpected, making the Crown Prince pause momentarily, his sword-like brows slightly furrowed. "What do you think she hasn't told you?"
Leng Yue gently moistened her slightly dry lips, as if weighing her words before speaking. "The detailed circumstances within the palace on the day of the incident."
The Crown Prince's expression relaxed as he shook his head with a faint smile. "She doesn't know about that day's events. While I know what happened, my observation wasn't as clear as Jing Yi's. Better let him tell you, lest you take my words too seriously. If I were to misspeak and mislead you, all our efforts would be in vain."
After speaking, the Crown Prince sighed softly with a bitter smile. "No matter who ultimately becomes emperor, I cannot betray Father Emperor..."
Lowering her gaze, Leng Yue thought that for someone guarding a Brush Washer containing leftover offerings to speak such words, he could truly be called a man of utmost purity and filial piety.
Fearing this paragon of virtue might invite her to share the offerings after concluding official business, Leng Yue respectfully asked immediately after his sigh, "Might this humble officer inquire when she should depart?"
The Crown Prince blinked in surprise, his eyebrows lifting slightly. "Could you even sleep if you stayed here tonight?"
Leng Yue choked momentarily, her cheeks flushing faintly pink, but ultimately steeled herself to tell the truth. "I couldn't..."
"Then why stay here?"
"...This humble officer takes her leave."
Leng Yan saw her back again this time.
No matter how reluctant Leng Yan was to let her own younger sister undertake such dangerous work while pregnant, she couldn't disobey the Crown Prince's orders. Thus, she once again whipped the horses to full speed, delivering Leng Yue to the residence where Jing Yi was under house arrest for the second time in one night.
This time, however, Leng Yue had changed out of her official robes and cloak, wearing instead one of Leng Yan's ivory-white gowns. Since Leng Yan was slightly taller, the already floor-length dress dragged even more on Leng Yue. The soldiers posted from the main gate to the courtyard entrance watched as the woman who had just left now returned expressionlessly with her long gown trailing through the snow, their eyes wide as if seeing a ghost.
Finally, the soldier guarding the courtyard entrance gathered his courage to speak first.
"H-halt."
Leng Yue gracefully stopped, offering the soldier a radiant smile under the lantern's dim glow that nearly dazzled him.
"You, wait a moment..." The soldier's rugged face flushed as he spoke in a rough voice. "Prince Hui is... occupied. You should wait before entering."Leng Yue remained outwardly composed, but her heart skipped a beat.
Xiao Zhao Ye coming at this hour...
She lowered her jade-like neck slightly, her eyelashes trembling as they blinked, revealing a faint trace of apprehension. Softly, she asked, "Might I ask, sir... have I done something foolish that provoked the prince's anger toward the young master?"
Seeing this beauty, who carried an innate air of valor, display a flicker of pitiable unease, the soldier felt a stir of sympathy and softened his tone. "No... it's just routine questioning. It happens at this time every day. It has nothing to do with you."
Routine questioning, once a day...
The soldier used the most ordinary words, yet they sent a chill of dread through Leng Yue's heart.
She could easily imagine how Xiao Zhao Ye was conducting this interrogation. The thought of Jing Yi being bound, forced to the ground, and made to drink drugged liquor made her grit her teeth to suppress the urge to rush inside. Her body trembled uncontrollably from the suppressed fury.
"You... if you're too cold, you can wait under the eaves inside. Just don't enter the room. Once Prince Hui leaves, you can go in and attend to your duties."
Leng Yue paused for a moment before understanding, hesitated briefly, then offered a grateful smile and bowed slightly in a curtsy. "Thank you for your consideration, sir."
"Alright, alright... hurry inside now, and keep quiet..."
"Yes."
Gathering her skirts, Leng Yue stepped softly into the courtyard and stood under the eaves by the outer door. From there, she could clearly hear the sounds coming from the inner room. Though she had expected it, the noise still felt jarring and heart-wrenching.
There were no ordinary exchanges of questions, answers, or shouts like in a typical prison. Instead, there were only the sounds of struggling as someone was forced to swallow liquor and the low moans of a person slipping into delirium.
Leng Yue summoned every ounce of composure she possessed to remain motionless under the eaves and endure the wordless interrogation. Though it lasted only a short while, it felt like an eternity to her.
When Xiao Zhao Ye emerged from the room, he was accompanied by three people: two plainclothes guards from his residence and Uncle Qi, whose clothes were stained with liquor.
Spotting Leng Yue standing under the eaves with her hands clasped and head bowed, Xiao Zhao Ye halted abruptly.
"This is..."
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