Chapter 12 – Confined for a Month

Eastern Palace.

After lunch, Xiao Che had remained in the study, reading.

Suddenly, Eunuch Lin rushed in.

“Your Highness!” Eunuch Lin first bowed to Xiao Che.

Seeing that Xiao Che didn’t speak, he continued, “Your Highness, Side Consort Yang requests an audience.”

Xiao Che’s hand, which had been flipping through a book, suddenly paused, and a cold sneer briefly curled at the corner of his lips.

“Let her in,” he responded lightly.

“Yes.” Eunuch Lin quickly withdrew.

Soon after, Side Consort Yang entered.

After returning from Fengluan Palace, she had changed into a light pink ruqun. Paired with her graceful figure, she exuded an alluring charm from head to toe.

“Your concubine greets Your Highness,” she bowed respectfully to Xiao Che.

Xiao Che cast a cold glance at her before turning his attention back to the book in his hands.

Side Consort Yang lifted her eyes slightly, sneaking a glance to gauge the crown prince’s reaction.

Her heart was full of anxiety—she had feared that His Highness might immediately reprimand her, yet he showed no reaction at all.

Since he didn’t respond, she decided to take the initiative to please him.

She quickly turned to Liu Xu, took the food box from her, and walked over to Xiao Che’s desk, speaking softly:

“Your Highness, your concubine made some pastries. I wonder if they suit your taste.”

As she spoke, she opened the box and picked up a piece of pastry to offer to him.

But Xiao Che didn’t even glance at her. His voice was cold as he replied, “Just leave it. If there’s nothing else, beloved consort should return first.”

He was deliberately giving her the cold shoulder—Side Consort Yang was not oblivious.

Panic welled up in her heart. She immediately knelt on the floor.

“Your Highness, this concubine is here to admit guilt.”

Xiao Che responded with a simple, “Oh?”

“It was my negligence. I didn’t know that the maid Xiaoyu in my palace would dare to act so brazenly, slandering the Crown Princess behind my back. Fortunately, Your Highness is wise and uncovered the truth. Please punish your concubine.”

Only after she finished speaking did Xiao Che finally look at her.

But before he could say anything, Side Consort Yang continued:

“It’s entirely my fault for failing to discipline the palace maids properly. I had no idea Xiaoyu had long conspired with that street sorcerer. They colluded to deceive me and extort money, causing me to misunderstand the Crown Princess. I will go now and personally apologize to Her Highness.”

With that, she turned and started to walk toward the door.

…

She pinned all the blame on Xiaoyu and the sorcerer, completely exonerating herself and painting a picture of innocence.

The coldness at the corners of Xiao Che’s lips only deepened.

As for that so-called sorcerer—Xiao Che had already sent Zhong Zihan to find him, but when they did, he’d already been silenced. The implication was obvious.

Xiao Che didn’t linger on that topic. He cleared his throat lightly—“Ahem!”

This subtle cough was meant to stop Side Consort Yang.

Naturally, she understood. She halted in her steps, joy rising in her heart.

After all, she was the empress’s niece, and her father was the current Grand Chancellor. Even if the crown prince didn’t care for her personally, he would still consider the empress and her father’s standing and wouldn’t truly punish her—at most, he’d scold her a little.

However…

Xiao Che slowly rose to his feet and walked to her side, his voice filled with apparent concern as he asked, “Has beloved consort’s health improved lately?”

Side Consort Yang felt a twinge of unease.

Though Xiao Che’s words sounded caring, there was a hidden meaning.

If she said she had recovered, the crown prince would surely punish her;

If she claimed she hadn’t, there was no way the crown prince would let her off lightly either.

In either case, she absolutely couldn’t say she had recovered!

Choosing the lesser evil, she had no choice but to keep playing sick.

“This concubine feels much better… just still a bit weak and lacking in strength.”

Her voice softened immediately.

As soon as she finished speaking, her delicate body swayed lightly as she leaned toward Xiao Che’s embrace.

Seeing this, Xiao Che instinctively stepped back a few paces and said:

“In that case, beloved consort should refrain from wandering around. Go back to the Misty Rain Hall and recuperate for a month. I will instruct everyone that no one is to disturb you during this time. Just focus on your recovery.”

As soon as he finished, he turned and strode out quickly, without sparing her another glance.

Side Consort Yang’s body stiffened—she had been just about to fall into his arms and nearly collapsed to the ground.

Fortunately, she reacted in time and caught hold of a nearby pillar, saving herself from an embarrassing fall.

The crown prince’s meaning was clear—he was putting her under house arrest for a month!

She stood there for a long time before coming back to her senses.

Her once bright eyes turned dim, and her pink lips curled in a bitter curse, “Shu Ruohua, you bitch!!”

It must have been that bitch Shu Ruohua—taking advantage of the crown prince’s visit to the Cold Palace to badmouth her.

That bitch!!

She had already been thrown into the Cold Palace, yet she was still thinking of seducing the crown prince and sowing discord between them!

…

(End of Chapter)