The crown prince stood up from his chair.

Seeing the crown prince’s reaction, Xie Yuanchu whispered, “I do not speak of strange and supernatural things. However, this matter is indeed unusual. If not, Your Highness might want to ask Master.”

The crown prince’s expression instantly became solemn, and he said coldly, “Prepare the horses. We’re going to the Great Xiangguo Temple immediately.”

……

Rong Rong had no time to change her clothes.

She curled up tightly in her bedding, as if doing so would make things feel more real.

So many things had happened from morning until night.

Although it had only been a day, it felt like a lifetime.

No, today was even more significant than a lifetime.

In her previous life, she wanted to safely give birth to her son and to get a promise from the crown prince, but in the end, she received nothing.

In this life, it seemed that she had done nothing, yet suddenly had everything.

Yuanbao was her child, and of course, she wanted to stay by his side to protect him.

But Liu Zhen…

If she said she didn’t want Liu Zhen, she couldn’t even deceive herself.

In this life, once she had met Liu Zhen, she could no longer fall for any other man.

But…

As the crown prince, even he could not do as he wished. The gap between their statuses was an insurmountable chasm.

He was destined to marry a noble lady of high birth and exceptional talent, like Liang Muchen.

It was better for her heart to remain unmoved.

Rong Rong tossed and turned in bed for half the night and only fell asleep after the hour of 3-5 am.

When she woke up in the morning and opened the door, she saw Feicui standing outside.

“Last night, His Highness did not return to the Eastern Palace. Wang An sent someone to pick you up early this morning.”

The crown prince didn’t return to the Eastern Palace last night? It wasn’t very late at that time.

Rong Rong didn’t have time to think deeply and hurriedly asked, “Did Yuanbao sleep alone last night? Did he have a restless night again?”

“Don’t worry, Miss. I heard from the messenger that Prince Yuanbao seemed to sleep better than usual last night and only woke up two or three times.”

Yuanbao was already a light sleeper, so waking up two or three times would mean he didn’t sleep well.

How could he…

Even if he had been turned away here, he shouldn’t have stayed away completely, right? Did he really not care about Yuanbao at all?

But as she thought about it, Rong Rong’s heart raced again because of the crown prince: “Was there any shadow guard following him? Could he have been attacked?”

Feicui, of course, knew that the crown prince had left on horseback, but it was inconvenient to reveal the crown prince’s whereabouts to Rong Rong.

She said, “Miss, there’s no need to worry. Not to mention that His Highness’s martial skills are unmatched, but there are people following him. If something had happened, we would have already received news.”

“What unmatched skills?” Rong Rong was unconvinced. “Didn’t he get badly injured last time?”

Feicui’s gaze darkened. “That assassin…” She only mentioned these four words and then fell silent.

Last time, it was because Yuanbao was around that the assassin, being so despicable, attacked the Crown Prince’s son.

The Crown Prince, in a moment of desperation, used his hand to block the sword and was severely injured.

Afterward, he subdued the assassin with only his left hand.

However, Feicui feared that explaining this might only increase Rong Rong’s worries, so she chose not to elaborate.

When Feicui mentioned the assassin, Rong Rong recalled that Fu Quan had said he would interrogate the assassin overnight at the estate.

The Crown Prince had been back for a while now, so the matter with the assassin should have been resolved by now.

He hadn’t returned to the Eastern Palace because of the interrogation, so perhaps he went to interrogate the assassin again last night.

She wondered about the background of that assassin.

“Rong Rong, you’re up? I made some porridge this morning. Would you like a bowl?” Xue Xiaoshan came out of the house, saw Rong Rong talking with Feicui, and asked.

“No, Second Brother. I’m in a hurry to return to the main residence. Here’s the bead I mentioned yesterday. Please keep it safe. When the pawned money is enough for one hundred taels, send it to the Jingning Marquis’s residence for Zhenzhen.”

“You’re leaving in such a hurry?” Xue Xiaoshan was slightly surprised.

“The master has gone out, leaving Yuanbao alone at home. I’m worried.”

Xue Xiaoshan lowered his head. “Do you want me to escort you?”

Rong Rong looked at Feicui, who shook her head, indicating that the Eastern Palace’s carriage was waiting outside the alley.

“No need. I can go by myself. When Grandmother wakes up, please let her know for me.” Rong Rong gave Xue Xiaoshan a few instructions and then hurried out.

When she reached the mouth of the alley, she indeed saw the Eastern Palace’s carriage and was about to get in when she suddenly heard someone ask from behind, “Is this Miss Rong Rong?”

Rong Rong turned around and saw Qiuyue, the embroiderer she had known from Huaihua Lane.

“Qiuyue, are you heading to the embroidery workshop this early?”

Qiuyue looked much more haggard than before.

Seeing Rong Rong’s inquiry, she smiled bitterly. “Miss, don’t you know about the situation at the embroidery workshop?”

Something happened at the embroidery workshop?

Recalling Mei Ningxiang’s flamboyant and striking appearance, Rong Rong found it hard to believe. “I haven’t been back often recently, and every time I come, it’s always in a hurry. I really didn’t know. What happened to the workshop?”

“Alas, Boss Mei has been missing for almost a month. The day she disappeared, I even saw you in this alley!”

Qiuyue’s words made Rong Rong remember that she had seen people from the workshop looking for Mei Ningxiang during her last visit.

It had indeed been quite a while.

“Has Boss Mei still not returned?”

“Not at all. It’s as if she vanished into thin air.”

Mei Ningxiang had indeed taken care of Rong Rong a lot. Hearing Qiuyue’s words, Rong Rong grew worried. “Have you reported it to the authorities?”

“Yes, we reported it. The officials have been investigating for more than ten days but have found no news,” Qiuyue sighed. “Once she disappeared, the embroidery workshop collapsed, and the sisters have all gone out to find work.”

The embroidery workshop was Mei Ningxiang’s pride and joy.

She managed the accounts and the money personally, so without her, the workshop couldn’t operate.

“My family’s situation is somewhat better now. If Qiuyue has any difficulties, please come to me,” Rong Rong said.

When she first moved to Huaihua Lane, she was unable to walk, and Chunxing was overwhelmed with work.

The embroiderers from the courtyard frequently helped out, drying clothes, boiling water, and bringing meals for Rong Rong and Chunxing.

Now that they were in trouble, Rong Rong should help them in return.

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss. It’s not necessary at the moment. That courtyard was Mei’s private property. Even without her, we can still stay there. We can do some laundry work to barely make ends meet. If she doesn’t come back, I might just go back to my hometown.”

Rong Rong nodded.

Mei Ningxiang’s embroidery workshop was the most famous in the capital.

The wages the embroiderers earned were high, and it would be difficult for them to accept working at other workshops.

It might be better to return to their hometown with their savings.

“In that case, I’m often not at home. If Qiuyue has any matters, just find Chunxing.”

Qiuyue glanced at the carriage waiting for Rong Rong and said, “I still have to go to my master’s place. I won’t delay you any longer.”

Rong Rong nodded, bade farewell to Qiuyue, and boarded the carriage.

It was strange that Mei Ningxiang had disappeared.

Recalling Yu Jingming’s sudden departure earlier, Rong Rong wondered if Mei Ningxiang had gone to find Yu Jingming.

As long as nothing bad had happened, it was fine.

Although Rong Rong and Mei Ningxiang had parted on less than friendly terms, Mei Ningxiang had still helped her.

…

At this moment, in the Eastern Palace, Yuanbao was gloomily having his breakfast.

He was stirring the porridge with a spoon, not eating it spoonful by spoonful but grain by grain.

Wang An watched him eat a bowl of cold porridge slowly, moving just a little bit.

“Your Highness, the kitchen has sent over some hot porridge. Would you like me to replace this bowl for you?”

Yuanbao murmured an “mm” and threw the spoon onto the table.

He waited for Wang An to remove the cold porridge and bring the hot one, yet he still showed no intention of eating.

“Wang An, was Father with Auntie last night?”

“This… I’m not quite sure.”

Wang An only knew that the Crown Prince was at Wutong Lane when he left, but he didn’t know if the Crown Prince stayed there all night.

Although he thought the Crown Prince must have stayed there.

Yuanbao waited for Wang An, trying to read some clue from his anxious expression.

Wang An felt uncomfortable under Yuanbao’s gaze and was unsure how to appease him.

Just then, someone announced outside, “Miss Xue has returned.”

Before Wang An could share the good news, Yuanbao was already out the door in a flash.

“Auntie, Auntie!” Yuanbao rushed out of Yuhua Palace and saw Rong Rong’s charming figure walking up the stairs.

Hearing Yuanbao’s voice, Rong Rong looked up with a smile and quickly walked to the corridor.

“Auntie.” Yuanbao threw himself into Rong Rong’s embrace.

Although the Crown Prince often said that Rong Rong’s scent wasn’t pleasant, Yuanbao liked the smell on her—no particular fragrance, just Rong Rong’s own scent.

He enjoyed clinging to her and inhaling deeply.

At this moment, Rong Rong’s feelings as she held Yuanbao were completely different from when she was in the Eastern Palace.

Previously, Yuanbao was a lovely, clever, and endearing child in her eyes. But now, Yuanbao was her son.

Wang An, watching the warm embrace of the two, silently marveled at how close they were.

Even biological mother and child might not be as close as this.

“Miss, Prince Yuanbao is having his meal. Since you’re not at the Eastern Palace, His Highness hasn’t been able to eat even a spoonful of porridge.”

Rong Rong then noticed that Yuanbao had rice porridge on his lips and hurriedly wiped it off with a cloth.

“Not eating is not an option. Auntie hasn’t had her meal either. Let’s go eat together.”

“Hmm.”

……

At the hour of 9 a.m, the Crown Prince finally stood before the gate of the Great Xiangguo Temple.

The Great Xiangguo Temple was not far from the capital; a swift horse could reach it in one night.

However, since the temple was situated on the treacherous Mengqi Mountain, the horses couldn’t go further up.

The Crown Prince had to dismount and walk for an hour before arriving at the temple gate located halfway up the mountain.

Being a royal temple, common people did not come here to offer incense.

Even at the hour of 9am, the temple gate remained tightly closed.

The Crown Prince approached and knocked on the door. Soon, the gate was opened a crack, and a young monk’s face appeared.