CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: I WANT HER, AND HER ALONE

No matter how Tang Xiaobai recalled the scene at that time, she couldn’t believe it.

Even though the situation was chaotic, and that Young Crown Prince accidentally saw her in danger and had someone rescue her, there was no need to bring her back to the Crown Prince Mansion, right?

Wasn’t her family all nearby?

The assassin, no matter how dangerous, was targeting the Crown Prince. It had nothing to do with her or the Duke Yan Mansion!

Bringing her to the Crown Prince Mansion, was it to save her or to harm her?

"May I ask..." Tang Xiaobai cautiously inquired, "Did the Crown Prince mention when I could go home?"

"Second Miss, don’t worry," Cao He reassured her, "His Highness has already sent someone to the Duke Yan Mansion to deliver a message. Once they send someone to pick you up, you can go home."

...

"...When Second Miss Tang inquired, I told her that His Highness had already sent someone to the Duke Yan Mansion to deliver a message—" Cao He glanced at the Young Crown Prince’s expression, "From the Crown Prince Mansion to the Duke Yan Mansion, someone should come to pick her up within two ke ke."

"Just say that they’re still capturing the assassin outside, and the person who went to deliver the message hasn’t returned yet."

The red-clothed eunuch acknowledged and hesitated for a moment, tentatively asking, "Should we prepare a courtyard for Second Miss Tang?"

The pale and handsome young boy lowered his eyes and was silent for a moment before nodding, "You go prepare it first, after lunch, take her to rest. She’s still young and needs a nap in the afternoon."

The red-clothed eunuch left with confusion.

Why would His Highness suddenly bring a young girl back so carefully? Clearly, he favored her.

Was the Young Crown Prince too lonely to be alone?

The red-clothed eunuch, full of doubt, retreated to the door but was called back.

"If the Duke Yan Mansion comes looking for her, just say I’m meeting guests and it’s inconvenient to disturb me; ask them to wait a moment." Li Mu said.

After the red-clothed eunuch left, Deng Liao couldn’t help but ask, "Why did His Highness bring Second Miss Tang back?"

"If she returns to the mansion, she would definitely come looking for me again." Li Mu was also helpless.

He couldn’t go back for the time being, so he had to keep Miss Tang at the Crown Prince Mansion.

Deng Liao nodded in understanding, sighing, "Today’s incident must have startled His Highness. Fortunately, His Highness wasn’t harmed."

The current Crown Prince Guards were left by Emperor Hui Zhao, so their loyalty wasn’t a problem. Even if the Emperor forcibly placed Zhao Jing in the Crown Prince Right Guard, it wouldn’t affect the core.

After today’s sudden incident, the Crown Prince was quickly and safely sent back to the Crown Prince Mansion and even had the mood to bring back a little girl.

Thinking of this, Deng Liao amusingly looked at His Highness, but unexpectedly met the young Crown Prince’s deep, silent eyes.

Perhaps due to his childhood experiences, the young Crown Prince didn’t like to smile. When he was younger, occasional rage showed, but after he turned ten, his eyes were calm like an ancient well.

When such a pair of eyes focused intensely on you, it could send chills down your spine.

"Your Highness?" Deng Liao was inexplicably uneasy under his gaze.

The young boy’s lips slightly twitched, revealing a faint, almost imperceptible smile, "Next time there’s such an arrangement, please inform me in advance."

Deng Liao’s face instantly turned pale, "What do you mean by this, Your Highness?"

"What? You don’t know?" The boy’s gaze was eerie and his tone indifferent, not betraying any sarcasm, yet it still made Deng Liao’s heart tighten.

With a "thud," he knelt down, gritting his teeth seriously, "I truly don’t understand why His Highness would say such a thing!"

"Don’t know?" Li Mu’s tone didn’t change due to his response, "If you don’t know, go ask Mr. Wang."

Who would want to assassinate him in broad daylight?

No one.

Those who wanted his life weren’t urgent to do it now, nor would they leave any evidence.

Even without leaving evidence, evidence could be fabricated.

This assassination was just a game of chess.

...

The flowers and trees flourished, mountains and ponds stood in beautiful harmony, and winding corridors wove through it all.

Although the Crown Prince didn’t live in the Eastern Palace, this Crown Prince Mansion was also elegantly constructed.

After Tang Xiaobai had her lunch, she wandered along the corridors with a maid from the Crown Prince Mansion to aid in digestion.

The scenery was beautiful, but with a heavy heart and the heat, she felt a bit listless.

Until she saw Cao He again, and her spirits lifted.

"Second Miss Tang—" the old eunuch greeted her warmly, "Is Second Miss tired? I’ve instructed them to prepare a room; would you like to take an afternoon nap?"

Tang Xiaobai was momentarily stunned and asked, "Hasn’t anyone from the Duke Yan Mansion come to pick me up yet?"

Although she didn’t know how far the Crown Prince Mansion was from the Duke Yan Mansion, she had eaten and walked around; had it not been long enough?

Cao He’s smile slightly faded, and he said, "To be honest, Second Miss, perhaps because they’re still searching for the assassin outside, making movement difficult, the person sent to deliver the message hasn’t returned yet."

Tang Xiaobai fell silent.

Would the Imperial Guard searching for the assassin even block the Crown Prince Mansion from sending a message to the Duke Yan Mansion? She found it hard to believe.

But if the old eunuch was dishonest, what reason did he have to deceive her?

She couldn’t figure it out.

Just like how she couldn’t figure out why the Crown Prince ordered her to be brought back.

Perhaps she had to find the answer herself.

After making up her mind, Tang Xiaobai asked, "Cao Dian, can I meet the Crown Prince?" She blinked, "Since His Highness saved me, I wish to thank him in person!"

Cao He appeared even more distressed, "His Highness is meeting with Prince Jin, and it is inconvenient to see Second Miss."

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback and then filled with indignation.

The Crown Prince was just attacked, and the Emperor sent someone to probe? To check if the Crown Prince was still alive?!

...

This time, Tang Xiaobai was overthinking it.

Prince Jin was just paying a regular visit, and if he had other motives, it wasn’t to check on the Crown Prince.

"I heard the Crown Prince brought a young girl back with him?"

The Young Crown Prince was instantly surprised and asked with a frown, "Where did Prince Jin hear this?"

"The eldest daughter of the Duke Yan witnessed it. During the chaos, she was separated from her sister and saw a guard in Crown Prince clothing rescuing the Tang family’s youngest sister from being trampled by the crowd, then following Your Highness back to the mansion."

Upon hearing this, the Young Crown Prince simply said, "Oh."

Prince Jin waited but didn’t hear more after the "Oh," so he frowned and asked again, "Is the Tang family’s youngest daughter here with Your Highness now?"

"Yes." The answer was just one word, with no further explanation.

Prince Jin, frequently tasked by the Emperor to visit the Crown Prince Mansion, was familiar with the Young Crown Prince’s gloomy and peculiar temperament and wasn’t surprised by his current response. He continued, "In that case, Your Highness should hand over the girl to me."

Before he finished speaking, the Crown Prince suddenly raised his eyes, coldly glaring at him.

How could Prince Jin take such a neglected Crown Prince seriously? He casually explained, "Miss Tang asked for my help; since I’ve encountered this matter, I’ll just send the child back."

"I refuse!" the Young Crown Prince said coldly.

Prince Jin seemed somewhat surprised, raising his eyebrows as he said, "After all, she’s the Duke Yan’s daughter; it’s not appropriate for Your Highness to keep her for company. If Your Highness wishes, I can have your brother choose a few girls to accompany you another day."

The Young Crown Prince’s dark eyes were filled with hostility, "I don’t want anyone else; I want her!"