CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106: THE CROWN PRINCE’S NEMESIS

"Going to Liangzhou?" Tang Ziqian showed a look of surprise, "Even if we declare the Crown Prince is in Liangzhou, who would believe it? By then, if a summon from the capital is issued, we would be rebels!"

The Crown Prince is still too young, isn’t he? How could he not understand this?

Just as he was thinking this, he met the deep, dark eyes of the Crown Prince.

He was slightly startled, then suddenly realized.

It’s not that he doesn’t understand; he’s asking if the Duke Yan Mansion has any rebellious intentions.

Tang Ziqian smiled gently and said, "Your Highness might as well worry more about Prince Changshan. After all, his surname is Li; many things would be convenient."

Li Mu withdrew his gaze and said, "Zhao Jing is in the hands of Prince Changshan."

Tang Ziqian’s expression changed slightly: "In this case, Your Highness still wants to go to Zhenzhou?"

"Yes." Li Mu replied.

If he doesn’t go, even if he stabilizes his position in the Eastern Palace or ascends the throne, he would still be under the control of Prince Changshan.

...

After Tang Ziqian left, Li Mu’s fingers tapped lightly on the table once more.

Mo Huan appeared swiftly and spoke in a low voice, "The Heir of Prince Changshan has arrived——"

...

After many years, when Li Xingyuan saw Li Mu again, he suddenly felt a light.

A year ago, when he first saw this Young Crown Prince at Duke Yan Mansion, he was indeed small.

Thin and pale, it seemed like he could be crushed with one hand.

However, upon meeting again today, he felt that Li Mu was radiant, like a pearl or jade, with the sickly shadow gone from his face. Only a pair of eyes remained deep and dark, still carrying a chill when looking at others.

Before Li Xingyuan could finish his salute, Li Mu spoke: "Where is Zhao Jing?"

Li Xingyuan froze for a moment, then lightly coughed and said, "Last October, Zhao Jing went to Jingxing Pass, claiming that Duke Yan Mansion was harboring the Crown Prince."

"How did he know?"

"He didn’t say," Li Xingyuan shook his head, "He said that not only does he know Your Highness’s whereabouts, but there is also another person in Duke Yan Mansion who shouldn’t know, but does."

Hearing this, the image of Miss Tang’s smiling face immediately floated in Li Mu’s mind.

Regarding his presence in Duke Yan Mansion, only the Duke and Duchess, Tang Ziqian, and Zhou Xun knew, and even the eldest daughter wasn’t told, so how could they have informed the younger daughter?

She shouldn’t have known, but she seemed to know something.

Could it be her?

"Zhao Jing also said that if Your Highness stays in Duke Yan Mansion until June this year, your whereabouts would be leaked by that person. This time, I came to the capital hoping Your Highness could advance the plan."

Li Mu frowned and said nothing.

Then it wouldn’t be her; she couldn’t possibly betray him.

Then, who could it be?

"Zhao Jing does know many secrets, especially concerning Your Highness, so I dare not be careless. I brought him before my father——" At this point, Li Xingyuan was quite regretful.

He didn’t know what Zhao Jing had said to his father, but after a long talk, his father was inexplicably persuaded and followed Zhao Jing’s words as if obeying commands.

"This framing of Tang Ziqian was Zhao Jing’s idea," Li Xingyuan sighed, "To be blunt, before the major events are accomplished, even if I fear Duke Yan Mansion, I wouldn’t choose this timing. No matter how urgent, I would wait until Your Highness safely leaves the capital, right?"

"I understand," the Crown Prince finally responded, "The adjustments to the plan require further discussion."

"Indeed." Li Xingyuan nodded in agreement, feeling relieved.

From Jingxing Pass to Zhongnan Mountain, he encountered unexpected events along the way, fearing he might not deliver the message in time.

Though the Crown Prince didn’t give a direct reply now, it still seemed to go quite smoothly.

Just as he felt a sense of relief, he suddenly heard the Crown Prince ask: "Was it you who kidnapped Miss Tang yesterday?"

Li Xingyuan was at a loss for words, awkwardly smiled, and said, "I happened to pass by Pingyang Villa and played a joke with her..." While saying this, he unconsciously rubbed his fingertips, faintly remembering the sensation of soft, jade-like skin.

This Miss from Duke Yan Mansion is indeed a beauty...

"Do you want to explain yourself, or should I hand you over to Tang Ziqian?"

"This..." Li Xingyuan found it even harder to explain than Zhao Jing’s issue, "Your Highness, I promise not to do it again, or—"

"Do you think Miss Tang wouldn’t recognize you?"

...

"I know who kidnapped me!" When Tang Jiaojiao sought out Tang Ziqian alone, her mood had already stabilized, but her eyes were cold and sharp, clearly indicating the matter wasn’t over.

"Who?" Tang Ziqian’s eyes narrowed.

"It was a guard of Su Shunqing!" Tang Jiaojiao said through gritted teeth.

Actually, she hadn’t felt any malice from the kidnapper today, just a vaguely annoying familiarity.

After returning to the mansion, she reflected on the manner and tone of the person and finally recalled where she had seen and heard it before.

"A guard of Su Shunqing? The Zhenzhou Envoy Su Shunqing?" Tang Ziqian furrowed his brow in contemplation.

What is Su Shunqing’s man doing kidnapping Jiaojiao? The Crown Prince hasn’t left the capital yet, and they already want to tear off the facade?

"Last year, when Zhao Jing attacked me in Jinchang Village, it was he who saved me and Xiao Bai; later, when I encountered snakes and startled horses in the outskirts of the capital, he coincidentally passed by and saved me and Xiao Bai again, then he claimed he went back to his hometown to marry!"

Tang Ziqian’s expression grew more serious.

The supposed return to hometown should actually mean returning to Zhenzhou.

This person is not just a mere guard of Su Shunqing.

Perhaps this time, he came to Zhongnan Mountain targeting the Crown Prince, or he might even be someone sent by Prince Changshan to assist.

In other words, the person who bullied Jiaojiao is with the Crown Prince!

...

Tang Ziqian didn’t immediately confront Li Mu.

After all, it is the Crown Prince, and he has to give him face.

So he patiently waited for two hours for the Crown Prince to come and explain.

But the rain stopped, the night fell, and the Crown Prince didn’t appear.

He thought perhaps he was too hasty, maybe that scoundrel hadn’t even met the Crown Prince yet, so he waited another night.

Still, there was no movement from the Crown Prince.

The next morning, as usual, Tang Ziqian went to send his little sister to school and saw the Crown Prince driving the carriage dutifully and couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

"What’s wrong, brother?" Tang Xiaobai asked with concern.

"I’m just angry thinking about yesterday’s events!"

Tang Xiaobai remained silent.

She was also angry, but helpless too.

When the rain stopped yesterday, it was already dark. She didn’t know if her brother took people out to find that kidnapper, but probably even if they did, it would be hard to find him, and the heavy rain had washed away any traces, leaving few clues.

So their family’s little beauty was unknowingly bullied just like that!

"I think elder sister needs two top-notch guards by her side!" Tang Xiaobai seriously suggested.

The current level of bodyguards available to the young lady can’t match her beauty.

Tang Ziqian thought it made sense: "I’ll have Ah Jin and Ah Lin follow you and Jiaojiao for now, and look for two female guards later——" He glanced at the silent Crown Prince and sneered, "That villain comes and goes freely, which suggests someone might be secretly protecting him!"

The little girl angrily said, "If you have the guts, come after my brother, bullying a girl is no kind of man! If I find out who did it..."

Though the little girl didn’t eventually say anything intimidating, after Tang Ziqian returned from sending his sister, there was an extra piece of paper on his desk.

The handwriting on it was hasty, as if written in a rush.

After reading it, Tang Ziqian laughed.

It turns out that the Crown Prince’s nemesis is his little sister?