Chapter 160

After saying this, the crown prince didn’t allow the eldest princess to refute and promptly ordered a servant to bring back Prince Xi from the banquet.

Qiao Zhongguo felt secretly delighted. If this matter reached the Emperor’s ears, it would surely peel a layer off the eldest princess!

As today’s incident occurred at the Qiao Residence, he had to go along no matter what. However, he needed to first settle this troublesome issue.

Today, his eldest son was the groom, so he didn’t want to bother him. He would send his second son instead!

Just as Qiao Zhongguo was thinking this, a group of people hurriedly rushed over, shouting, “Master, something’s wrong!”

Qiao Zhongguo was startled, even Qiao Jiaojiao’s eyes widened in shock.

[Oh my, could there be another oversight?]

As the crowd approached, the lead was Aunt Liu.

Qiao Jiaojiao became anxious.

[What’s going on? Did something happen with Mother again? Or is it Anning cousin?]

Qiao Zhongguo hurried forward a few steps, but before he could speak, Aunt Liu quickly said,

“Master, Madam caught a thief in the backyard! Quickly, come and see!”

Qiao Jiaojiao took a closer look and realized the thief had a small face, delicate features, and was actually a young girl.

Qiao Jiaojiao suddenly understood.

[This must be the girl who spilled tea on Anning cousin at the banquet!]

Aunt Liu glared fiercely at the girl and said coldly,

“Heavens, there’s such a heartless girl in this world! Not only did she deliberately spill drinks at the banquet, but she also spread poisonous substances, intending to harm the young ladies present!”

“Master, Madam ordered this servant to bring the thief to you. We must investigate thoroughly to find out who is so malicious, trying to ruin Young Master’s wedding!”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up.

[Mother is truly brilliant! Despite the urgent situation earlier, Mother didn’t panic and promptly ordered the guards to bring the person here!]

[Mother must know that Father won’t let things go easily, and with the crown prince present, she boldly sent the person over!]

[You see, this young girl was instigated, paid to do this. She’s a solid witness!]

“What! This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!”

Qiao Zhongguo’s anger turned around in an instant. While his face was full of rage, his heart secretly chuckled. Not bad, Wife!

He didn’t handle things so thoroughly. He didn’t know if he could still find the boy who spilled wine on Tan Hanchi.

“Oh right!”

Qiao Zhongguo suddenly seemed to come to his senses, turned to the crown prince, and said quickly,

“Your Highness, another instance of using poisonous substances! It’s likely the same group of thieves who harmed the eldest princess!”

“How about we take them to the palace together for interrogation?”

The crown prince’s eyes showed understanding, and he solemnly instructed the attendant beside him, “Take them away!”

At this moment, Cailan stood behind the eldest princess. She had resigned herself to death and remained calm.

But when she saw this young girl, her expression suddenly changed.

Miss Zuo also failed!?

This young girl was the one she had hired with a large sum of money to spill drinks and scatter aphrodisiacs on Anning cousin, tarnishing her reputation!

This was bad, she was truly at a loss now!

The only silver lining was that when she hired this young girl, her face was veiled, hoping she wouldn’t recognize her. Otherwise, the princess really wouldn’t be able to turn the situation around!

Thinking of this, Cailan quickly lowered her head deeply.

The young girl had her mouth covered with gauze, crying uncontrollably. Suddenly, she raised her head and met a pair of familiar eyes.

Her eyes widened suddenly, and she immediately began to whimper.

Qiao Zhongguo and the crown prince naturally wouldn’t ignore this anomaly. Seeing her staring fixedly at Cailan, they instantly guessed the situation and exchanged a bright glance.

With everything prepared, Qiao Zhongguo entrusted Qiao Jiaojiao to Aunt Liu, then, after consulting with the crown prince, headed to the front banquet.

First, he called his sworn brothers over and gave them some detailed instructions. Then, with a smile, he left the seat, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Before leaving, Qiao Zhongguo glanced lightly at Tan Hanchi.

Tan Hanchi was keeping an eye on this side, knowing that it was time to close the net. After sitting for a while longer, he also left the seat.

Everyone seated there was astute. Seeing the crown prince not returning, Qiao Zhongguo coming and going, Prince Xi being escorted away by his attendants, and even Tan Hanchi leaving his seat, they knew something serious must have happened.

However, in the political arena, prying into secrets and speculating without evidence were highly discouraged. So, they continued to exchange cups, pretending ignorance.

On the other side, the queen put on a cloak, and the group led by Qiao Zhongguo left the mansion through a side door, then got into carriages heading straight for the imperial palace.

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Today, Emperor Yong unusually visited the Yikun Palace to discuss the crown prince’s wedding.

As the heir apparent, the crown prince’s wedding must be cautious, grand, and comprehensive.

The queen had long arranged everything according to the old rules, waiting for the Emperor’s approval.

Although Emperor Yong didn’t like the queen, he never doubted her ability to manage the six palaces. So, after a quick glance, he nodded.

“Everything will be as arranged by the queen.”

The queen nodded respectfully, but inwardly, she felt somewhat disdainful toward Emperor Yong.

He probably didn’t even read a few lines!

But that was fine too. The crown prince’s wedding naturally required her, as the queen mother, to take care of it. There was no need for Emperor Yong to meddle.

The two of them hadn’t sat together alone like this for a long time. After discussing the crown prince’s wedding, there were no more topics to discuss.

The queen thought Emperor Yong would leave soon, but he brought up another topic.

“Yuan Xian is also at the age of marriage. As a mother, have you considered a suitable marriage for her?”

The queen, somewhat surprised, glanced at Emperor Yong.

Could he have forgotten? When they fell out in the past, he once said with a red face that she was not worthy to be the mother of a nation. From then on, she was not allowed to intervene in the affairs of princes and princesses.

Of course, the queen knew that Emperor Yong said this because he was worried she would harm the newborn second prince.

Thinking of this, the queen replied neutrally, “Yuan Xian has her birth mother, Concubine Wan, and His Majesty as a kind father. What need is there for me to arrange anything?”

Emperor Yong was slightly taken aback by her response, knowing the queen was trying to block him with her words.

It seemed that since the incident with the second prince nearly drowning, the queen had regained some of her former character. She was no longer the submissive and respectful figure she used to be.

“At the Longevity Festival, the Nanli National Congress will send an envoy to congratulate. Their third prince is still unmarried, and it seems they intend to form an alliance with our country.”

The queen’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this unexpected news.

“Would Your Majesty be willing to let the eldest princess marry into the Nanli National Congress?”

After saying this, the queen felt she might have been overly suspicious.

Apart from having affection for that woman and her son, Emperor Yong probably would be willing to part with any other children.

At this moment, the queen was extremely grateful that she had not given birth to a princess. Otherwise, she would have been at Emperor Yong’s mercy, and it would have been unbearable!

Emperor Yong didn’t express a definite intention, indicating that he hadn’t made up his mind.

The queen didn’t want to say much more.

Whatever she said, Concubine Wan and the eldest princess would probably think she was behind it all. So, it was better not to speak and let Emperor Yong decide.

Both of them fell silent, and the Yikun Palace suddenly became quiet. The queen was about to speak to dismiss Emperor Yong when Huang Pei suddenly called from outside the door,

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and Master Qiao request an audience in the study.”