Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Prince Longevity (30)

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Prince Longevity (30)

The royal banquet.

Yan Gui and Chuzheng entered the Imperial Palace, and since the incident on Qi Mountain, Chuzheng had been able to hear some news about Cheng Xiao.

But this was the first time Chuzheng had seen Cheng Xiao since then.

Cheng Xiao was much plumper than before, which was not unattractive, and even added a different charm to her appearance.

She was still the Emperor’s favorite concubine today.

The Emperor became increasingly obsessed with the pursuit of immortality, causing the Ministers to wring their hands in frustration, risking their lives to advise against it to no avail; the Emperor still stubbornly sought eternal life.

He was an Emperor who desired immortality!

Cheng Xiao met Chuzheng’s gaze but showed no reaction, quickly averting her eyes.

Her smile was composed and dignified, exuding an elegant and noble air.

Chuzheng rested her chin on her hand, looking indifferently at the lively royal banquet.

“I’m stepping out for a moment,” Yan Gui whispered into her ear.

“Hmm?”

Yan Gui murmured quietly about an urgent need.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No need,” Yan Gui’s ears turned slightly red.

Chuzheng took a moment before nodding, and Yan Gui left the great hall. Not long after he left, Chuzheng got up and followed.

She still couldn’t relax.

This Imperial Palace is a place where people are swallowed whole without a trace!

What if the Good Person Card is bullied?

The Good Person Card is so weak!

Chuzheng didn’t get far from the great hall when she caught a glimpse of a shadow in the corner of her eye.

The shadow flitted past, seemingly carrying a person. Chuzheng stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, then followed in the direction of the shadow.

The Imperial Palace was full of rockeries, and Chuzheng walked down the small path between them.

She didn’t see anyone, but she did spot a person in the snow.

Chuzheng walked closer to take a look.

Is this… Prince Rong?

Since the incident on Qi Mountain, Prince Rong had been deeply troubled and had been recuperating, not attending the royal banquets. Why would he be here?

Chuzheng checked his breathing…

Ho!

He was dead!

It couldn’t have been the Good Person Card, could it?

Chuzheng turned Prince Rong over and saw that he had been stabbed in the abdomen, still bleeding with the weapon embedded in him.

Chuzheng’s gaze fell to Prince Rong’s palm.

He was clutching something in his hand.

Chuzheng pulled it out, a finger guard, this thing…

Chuzheng’s cool eyes narrowed slightly as she pocketed the finger guard, cleaned the blood from the snow, and left with Prince Rong’s body.

–

When Chuzheng returned, Yan Gui stood outside the hall, looking around.

“Where did you go?” Yan Gui approached, bracing against the cold wind.

Chuzheng straightened his cloak—a snow-white cloak that made Yan Gui look even more pallid, like a deity from atop a snowy mountain.

Chuzheng took his hand, slipping on the finger guard.

“Hmm?” Yan Gui was puzzled: “When did you bring this out?”

He had not brought it with him today.

“Keep your belongings safe,” Chuzheng calmly said, “And discard what you don’t need.”

A flicker of doubt crossed Yan Gui’s eyes.

“What happened?”

“Nothing,” Chuzheng embraced him as they entered the hall.

He gripped Chuzheng’s hand a little tighter, his voice soft and warm, “I will keep what you give me safe.”

Chuzheng looked up; snowflakes swirled outside, accumulating on the young man’s hair and shoulders, his slightly curved lips the brightest scene in the snowy night.

“I’m not an object.” Why did it feel like he was almost insulting himself?!

The young man smiled, “Of course, you are my Princess Consort, my wife.”

He is the most important person to me.

Chuzheng fell silent for a moment, “Let’s go in, it’s cold outside.”

Yan Gui tightened his lips and entered the inner hall. After hearing the sound of silk and bamboo, he abruptly pulled Chuzheng into his embrace.

Chuzheng lowered her hand and walked in shoulder to shoulder with him.

“Prince Jin and Princess Consort Jin really have a great relationship.”

“If I were a man, I would want to marry Princess Consort Jin too.” Planting different flowers for Prince Jin in different seasons, could that be anything but romantic?

“Isn’t Prince Jin just being raised by Princess Consort Jin?”

Yan Gui helped Chuzheng to sit down and glanced at the few people who were discussing them. Feeling Yan Gui’s gaze, their voices fell.

The Emperor watched with some disinterest. His gaze shifted to Yan Gui, and he suddenly raised his hand to signal a eunuch at his side to go over and whisper a command. The eunuch left the great hall.

A moment later, the eunuch returned with an unpleasant expression on his face and cold sweat beading his forehead.

“Your Majesty, Prince Rong is not in the palace.”

“Not in the palace?” The Emperor’s face darkened. “Where has he gone?”

“…” The eunuch’s face was covered in cold sweat. “Your Majesty, there are signs of a struggle in Prince Rong’s chamber… I fear that something may have happened to Prince Rong.”

“Search immediately!”

“Yes.”

The conversation between the Emperor and the eunuch was not loud, and even Cheng Xiao could only catch snippets of it.

She was somewhat puzzled, “Your Majesty, what has happened?”

“Nothing.” The Emperor’s face was overcast as he didn’t even give her a kind look.

Cheng Xiao tactfully shut her mouth while the eunuch occasionally came over to whisper to the Emperor, and the Emperor’s expression grew increasingly grim.

The entire great hall sensed that something was amiss.

Aside from the sounds of silk and bamboo, no other sound could be heard.

Chuzheng sat composedly in her place, while Cheng Xiao’s gaze landed on her, carrying a hint of shrewd and secret excitement.

But it was fleeting, barely noticeable.

“Your Majesty, there has been an incident!!” This time, the eunuch burst in shouting, seemingly terrified, and threw himself on the ground, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Prince Rong… Prince Rong is dead.”

The Emperor immediately stood up, his face turning stark.

The music in the hall halted abruptly, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and everyone’s movements seemed frozen in time.

“What did you say?”

“Prince Rong… Prince Rong is dead.” The eunuch trembled with fear.

The Emperor swayed, taking a long moment to recover his composure.

Nobody in the great hall dared even to breathe too loudly.

How could Prince Rong be dead?

Prince Rong was found dead in a bamboo grove, and because the snow-covered ground was too cold, the blood flowing from his body had already solidified into icicles.

The Emperor personally led people there, and since he hadn’t ordered the Ministers to disperse, they all followed in a large procession.

“Your Majesty, this was found in Prince Rong’s hand.”

A member of the Imperial Forest Army presented the object from the investigation.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiao couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile. However, before the smile could fully set, it froze on her lips.

“Consort Chen!” The Emperor barked sharply, turning to look at Cheng Xiao.

“Your Majesty…” Cheng Xiao seemed frightened, her face deathly pale.

“What is this?” The Emperor revealed what he held in his hand.

It was a piece of warm jade, personally gifted to her by the Emperor.

Warm jade was rare, and even more so when considering that the Emperor had previously cherished this piece and often played with it.

It should have belonged to Cheng Xiao, yet at this moment, it was clutched in Prince Rong’s hand.

What did this imply?

Cheng Xiao’s heart pounded with dread, at a loss as to why this was happening.

She kneeled with a thump on the ground, “This servant… This servant has no idea how it came to be here, Your Majesty, I swear I’ve done nothing.”

The Emperor’s brooding eyes fell on her, “If you did nothing, how did Prince Rong end up with your possession?”

Cheng Xiao quickly glanced toward Chuzheng.

The latter stood at the forefront of the crowd, leaning on Yan Gui, her expression indifferent as she watched her.

Without any trace of suspicion…

Cheng Xiao took a deep breath, her voice soft and weak in defense, “Your Majesty, I am not aware, today when I left the palace, I did not wear it. Certainly, a thief is trying to frame me. I hold no grudge against Prince Rong, why would I harm him? Please, Your Majesty, see the truth and restore my innocence!”