Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Crown Prince Part I

In the following weeks, Li Yingshan mostly stuck to Cherry Blossom Hall. She rarely wandered the grounds and just sat reading scriptures and copying sutras all day. Xu Haoran was busy with affairs in the Jianghu and was rarely home.

The servants and maids continued to gossip behind her back, but she allowed it to go on. There were more pressing problems on her plate.

With the First Prince's death, the Imperial Palace fell into chaos. The princes all turned on each other and began to openly vie for power and the throne. On the surface, it seemed like the Third and Ninth Princes were at the top, outdoing all of their brothers. But in actuality, it was the combined forces of the Seventh Prince and Moonlight Pagoda which gave him a secret advantage.

Miao Chuntao kept Li Yingshan updated every day. As things progressed, she grew more and more worried.

"My Lady, you must stop stressing!" Qiu Ling cried one day. "You'll become bed-ridden!"

"Goddess, Qiu Ling is right. You should try to relax," Miao Chuntao added. "How can you lead Moonlight Pagoda if you're ill?"

"I still managed to keep Moonlight Pagoda afloat when I was poisoned. I think I can still handle affairs from my bed!" Li Yingshan countered.

She pinched the bridge of her nose as she stopped circling the table. "Is there anything regarding my brothers yet?"

"No, Goddess."

She groaned. "Whoever had Cloudless Night Sect poison me five years ago covered their tracks well. I must commend them for that."

Jus then, they heard two sets of footsteps approaching.

"Quickly, hide!" Li Yingshan gasped.

Miao Chuntao darted into the closet, and Qiu Ling closed the doors. Li Yingshan dashed over to the wheelchair and plopped into it. She wheeled herself over to the desk and picked up the ink brush, pretending to be busy. Qiu Ling appeared at her side as a knock came at the door. Before Li Yingshan could begin to speak, the doors had already slid open. Xu Haoran entered with Zhang Fangong on his heels. Li Yingshan slowly raised her head and spun herself around.

"I'd like a word in private."

"Qiu Ling, excuse us a moment."

Her maid bowed her head and exited Cherry Blossom Hall. Zhang Fangong left right after her. Outside, he turned towards her.

"Young Master means well. Don't worry, he won't hurt Madam."

"I've served my Lady for as long as I can remember. If anyone dares to upset her, they'll have to deal with me."

He chuckled. "You're very protective of her, I can see that."

Qiu Ling sighed and wrung her hands as she admitted, "If I had been with my Lady the day she was attacked, I would've rather been the one poisoned than her. I'm just a maid, but she was the esteemed Third Daughter of the Li family. She was once an Elite of the Jianghu. Her whole life changed with one event. My Lady has suffered setbacks and sacrificed herself to survive."

"I'd feel the same way if something happened to Young Master. I've also served him for as long as I can remember. I can't imagine what you and Madam have gone through."

Qiu Ling blushed at his words. "We made do. We survived. Now, my Lady just has to learn how to live again."

Inside Cherry Blossom Hall, Li Yingshan asked softly, "What did husband want to speak with this wife about?"

One thing Xu Haoran had noticed in their brief contact was that although she was bold and outspoken to others, she was quiet and submissive with him. And he didn't know why.

"I know I've been gone a lot recently. Has it been hard on you?"

She shook her head. "This wife has found ways to pass the time. It's not a bother."

"You know you're free to wander the grounds or leave the manor, right?"

"I know, but I'd rather not."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "I just don't feel like it."

Xu Haoran took a step forward and sat on the edge of her desk. "I'm not your enemy, here, Li Yingshan. You can tell me what's on your mind."

Her gaze shifted to meet his eyes. Can I really trust him? Or is this all part of whoever's plan?

Finally, after biting her lip, she said, "If I leave the manor, the whole city will flock to admonish me. If I leave my residence, the servants will gossip. Then again, they're gossiping either way so it doesn't really matter."

"I'll warn the servants, if that'll make you feel better about leaving Cherry Blossom Hall."

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"Don't bother. They'll just hate me more for the fact that I snitched on them."

He sighed, "Do you know your second brother is getting married in a few weeks?"

And here it is. What he wanted to talk about.

"Qiu Ling had mentioned it. She overheard some people talking in the marketplace the other day. I had sent her out to buy some herbs for my medicine, and she heard some men mention Second Brother's wedding."

"Do you want to go?"

"Are we even invited?"

"I got an invitation, yes."

"But it was only addressed to you."

He nodded. "Yeah."

She turned her wheelchair towards him. Looking up, Li Yingshan added, "Then why bother asking me? I won't be offended if you go."

"You're still a daughter of the Li family. I'm asking if you want to go with me."

Her eyes widened as her eyebrows shot up. "You want to bring me along? Hero Xu, are you out of your mind? My father will never let me through the front gates!"

"If he turns you away, I won't attend."

She gaped at him. "Why do you want me to go?"

"I think it'll be good for you to get out of the manor for a night."

Li Yingshan bit her lip and lowered her head. If I do go, what will the repercussions be? My father will be even more furious with me than he is now. Can I risk it? And if my brothers really are behind my attack, then attending Second Brother's wedding might be asking for death. But... it might also lend me some insight as to whether or not Eldest Brother and Second Brother had something to do with it.

When she had made up her mind, she looked back up at her husband. "I'll go."

He smiled. "Good. I'll make the arrangements."

She nodded. "Alright."

Xu Haoran bid her goodbye and left Cherry Blossom Hall. Zhang Fangong nodded in farewell to Qiu Ling and followed his Young Master as he departed. Qiu Ling entered the residence just as Miao Chuntao was climbing out of the closet.

"Goddess, do you want me to set up some precautions?"

"Yes. If my father tries anything, we need to be prepared."

Miao Chuntao bowed before jumping out the window. Qiu Ling tilted her head, confused.

"My Lady, precautions for what?"

Li Yingshan's eyes narrowed. "Traps."

∇

On the morning of Li Yingying's wedding, one piece of news spread like wildfire. It spread its way from the capital, and soon the Jianghu had heard it.

Li Yingshan was being wheeled around the grounds by Qiu Ling when Zhang Fangong approached them. "Madam, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"It was such a shock! It took the Imperial Palace by storm!"

"What happened?" she asked, worriedly.

He looked right at her and said, "The Seventh Prince has been crowned Heir Apparent. He's now the Crown Prince."

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