The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 566: Just Ask

Stepping out of the prison cell, leaving behind the dark and oppressive atmosphere, the sky was brilliantly clear, the clouds bright, and the breeze light. Her mood seemed much more expansive.

Yet the stone in her heart hadn’t lifted, as her father and Uncles Hua and Gu were still held inside. The entire matter seemed full of intrigue.

She suspected it was Huangfu Yuxuan’s doing, but she had no evidence. Even if she said so, even Xia Wanqing wouldn’t believe her.

How frustrating!

She decided not to dwell on it. The urgent task was to rescue her father and the others quickly.

Just as she was about to find a place to organize her thoughts, Huangfu Yuxuan approached again.

With impatience, Xia Wenjin said, "What do you want now?"

Huangfu Yuxuan smiled and said, "Miss Xia, I do have some connections in the Capital City. If you ever need help, just say the word, and I will do my best to assist you!"

"No need!"

Don’t think she didn’t know his intentions.

Asking him for help would mean owing him a favor.

She already suspected that Huangfu Yuxuan was behind this affair, and even if he wasn’t, she would stay far away from him.

She acknowledged that Huangfu Yuxuan had connections and knew he was well-established. But she was no weakling either!

Watching the girl’s unyielding figure, Huangfu Yuxuan stood where he was, the corners of his lips arching higher.

Just then Cui Huai and Hong Jie caught up, and seeing their young master’s expression, Hong Jie couldn’t help but say, "Master, this Miss Xia is really ungrateful. Master values her so much and cares for her elders, yet she treats Master with such disdain!"

"Slap your mouth!"

Hong Jie was stunned. Cui Huai stepped forward immediately, slapped him, and said, "The young master asked you to slap your mouth, didn’t you hear?" Then turned to Huangfu Yuxuan and said, "Miss Xia has quite the personality. If she were like ordinary women with no character, she wouldn’t be worthy of the young master. I believe with the young master’s capabilities, it won’t be long before Miss Xia is smitten!"

Startled, Hong Jie slapped himself a few more times before hearing his young master nod and say to Cui Huai, "Go to the accounting room later and collect a thousand taels of Silver, it’s your reward!"

Hong Jie was on the verge of tears, lamenting his foolish mouth, deserving those slaps!

In the Diligent Governance Hall of the Imperial Palace, a Hidden Guard emerged from the shadows, and upon seeing him, the Emperor was startled and asked, "What happened?"

The Hidden Guards he dispatched were highly skilled at concealment, and it was hard for ordinary people to even see them. But the one before him, one of the best, now had a bruised face, was injured, limped as he walked, and looked like a beggar with tattered clothes.

With a dejected expression, the Hidden Guard reported to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, I found Prince Cheng’s Heir!"

"What?"

The Emperor was shocked and asked, "Are you saying, Huangfu Jingchen?"

The Hidden Guard replied, "Yes!"

"Tell me the details!"

"When I was returning to report to Your Majesty, I didn’t travel on the ground but over the rooftops. As I passed a street and reached a courtyard with three entrances, I suddenly saw a young man. He was pale and panting with every step, so I looked closer and realized it was Prince Cheng’s Heir. I guessed that after the assassination attempt, Prince Cheng’s Heir must have been rescued or escaped on his own. I wanted to take a better look."

The Emperor frowned and said, "You say the person you saw was pale, extremely weak, and even had trouble walking. How could he have injured you?"

The Hidden Guard said, "It wasn’t Prince Cheng’s Heir who injured me, it was... Prince Cheng and Concubine Cheng!"

"What did you say?" The Emperor’s face darkened. "Don’t leave anything out, explain in detail!" Rumor had it that Prince Cheng and his wife roamed the Capital City like mad, refusing to believe Huangfu Jingchen was dead. Now they’ve injured his Hidden Guard; did they know all along that Huangfu Jingchen wasn’t dead, and feigned grief to compel him to punish the third prince?

Daring to scheme against him? How audacious!

The Hidden Guard quickly recounted his injuries in full detail. While passing by the courtyard, he saw the frail and unconscious Huangfu Jingchen being aided into a room by a servant. The Hidden Guard used Qinggong to get onto the roof to confirm if it was Huangfu Jingchen.

On the rooftop, he lifted a tile to see below and watched as the servant administered medicine to Huangfu Jingchen, who looked as though he could die at any moment.

Having confirmed this, he intended to report back immediately, only to see a little beggar leading two people to the courtyard gate. The beggar unfolded a crumpled piece of paper and said, "Didn’t you promise a thousand taels of Silver for whoever finds this person? He’s in there. I observed quietly for two or three days; I’ve seen him myself. Now give me the Silver!"

"See him, and you’ll naturally get the Silver!"

The little beggar rolled his eyes and promptly knocked on the door.

An old servant went to open the door, and the Hidden Guard hid to observe. To his surprise, the two newcomers were indeed Prince Cheng and Concubine Cheng!

Although they rarely visited the Capital City, the Hidden Guard, being one of the Emperor’s close aides, wasn’t unfamiliar with their looks.

Prince Cheng and his wife seemed polite, but the old servant refused to let them in. Finally, Prince Cheng, irritated, pointed at the servant to knock him unconscious, and then led the little beggar inside.

From his vantage point, the Hidden Guard saw Prince Cheng and his wife enter without further obstruction.

At this moment, the young man administering medicine to Huangfu Jingchen finished and exited, only to kneel upon seeing Prince Cheng and his wife.

From the dialogue between master and servant, the Hidden Guard understood that when Prince Cheng’s Heir was initially attacked, he had no chance of survival until this attendant arrived to rescue him. As for what followed — the fire and the half-burned bodies — he knew nothing.

After saving Prince Cheng’s Heir, the attendant brought him here to recover. Fortunately, Prince Cheng’s Heir had a Heart Cleansing Pill, which saved his life, yet his injuries were so severe that he hadn’t improved much over all these days, leaving his condition quite grave.

Having grasped the truth, the Hidden Guard knew that since Prince Cheng’s Heir was indeed alive, the Emperor must be informed of this matter.

But just as he was about to leave, Prince Cheng and his wife discovered him.

Without a word, the couple dragged him down and gave him a harsh beating.

The Emperor’s face darkened further as he spoke with a snort, "Did you not know how to strike back?"

The Hidden Guard’s face looked bitter and resigned. He served as the Emperor’s Hidden Guard and had the authority to act wisely in pivotal moments. Even though they were royalty, their status didn’t restrain him. His problem wasn’t the lack of retaliation, but that his counterattacks were ineffective. The combined force of Prince Cheng and Concubine Cheng, with such simple techniques, doubled the power of their combat, making him unable to parry effectively.

In the end, he had to insist repeatedly that he was just passing by and wouldn’t reveal anything about the place, which finally made Prince Cheng and his wife show mercy!

The Emperor: "..."