Chapter 31: Sisterly Bonds and Tearing Down the Little Vixen

The view from the rear window was much clearer, both because of the proximity and the clarity of the voices.

Inside, the Crown Prince was slowly helping Lady Chen adjust her clothing, saying with feigned indifference, "Is that so? Then why have I heard that the Second Prince is quite fond of you?"

Lady Chen’s body stiffened for a fleeting moment, but she quickly went limp in the Crown Prince's arms, as if she had no bones at all. She cooed, "Where did Your Highness hear such rumors? Ever since I entered the palace, I have rarely interacted with outsiders. Who is whispering behind my back, trying to harm me?"

"My body remains chaste, and my heart belongs to you alone, Your Highness. If you do not believe me, you may verify it yourself..." With that, she gazed at him with a seductive intensity, slowly guiding his hand toward her chest.

The Crown Princess felt her fists tighten. *Damn it all,* she thought, *she hadn’t even played games like that with the Crown Prince.*

Yu Qingqing also found Lady Chen to be quite the talent. In terms of acting, she was truly top-tier!

Fortunately, the Crown Prince was not bewitched. Instead, he pulled his hand away and lifted her chin, saying, "If it isn't true, why does the Second Prince disregard his own wife and take a detour through the Eastern Palace every time he enters the palace?"

"You woman, you certainly have some skills."

Lady Chen was terrified, yet her expression remained submissive. "I am your person, Your Highness. I beg for your mercy and protection. My heart has long been yours to command."

"If you cast me aside now, I have only death awaiting me. Here in the Eastern Palace, I am like a flower in a quiet room—blooming and fading with no one to admire it, destined to wither alone."

The Crown Prince replied, "It is not that I do not wish to touch you; it is because those who covet your body are still lurking in the shadows."

"Tell me, if I spread the word that you are injured and dying, do you think Prince An would come to visit you?"

"If he truly comes, only one of you can survive. Whom would you choose?"

Lady Chen was stunned, staring at the Crown Prince in disbelief.

Yu Qingqing was equally dumbfounded. Xiao Huailuo, that idiot, would definitely fall for it. What would happen then? Would the brothers turn against each other? If the Emperor found out, he would be the first to finish off Xiao Huailuo.

Yu Qingqing looked at the Crown Princess, her eyes wide, gesturing with her gaze: *Is this the 'good show' you brought me to see?*

The Crown Princess gripped Yu Qingqing's hand tightly. Even she hadn't expected her husband to be so dramatic. She calmed her, signaling her to keep listening.

Soon, Lady Chen’s voice came from the room: "The Second Prince and I are perfectly innocent; there has never been any impropriety."

"Your Highness, you must believe me. Do not let yourself be used by those with ulterior motives."

The Crown Princess and Yu Qingqing looked again. Lady Chen was now kneeling on the ground, trembling; gone was the vixen-like demeanor from moments ago.

The Crown Prince stood up, looking down at her with a cold sneer. "Whether it is true or not, we shall see once the news spreads. It is quite a fortuitous coincidence that the Second Prince has entered the palace today."

"Do not think that just because you are 'clean,' I will spare you. If I find out you have been playing me for a fool, I will gift you to the guards outside the Meridian Gate and let them 'serve' you well."

Lady Chen’s face went deathly pale. She had never seen such ruthlessness in the Crown Prince and assumed he had already verified the truth before testing her. She immediately blurted out, "It is Prince An who has always been infatuated with me, but my father has always been loyal to you. My family wishes only to serve you, which is why I have resolutely rejected him."

"Your Highness, I have not a shred of affection for Prince An. Everything is merely because he is a royal prince, so I dared not cut ties abruptly. But since I entered the palace, I have never seen him in private. Even the trinkets he sent me years ago were all burned the moment I entered the palace. I beg you to see the truth."

The Crown Prince remained aloof. "Then you truly do not like Prince An?"

Lady Chen declared firmly, "I have never felt a moment of affection for him. It is all Prince An’s own wishful thinking; he has harassed me repeatedly. It has nothing to do with me."

The Crown Prince said, "If that is the case, then I shall go and speak clearly with Prince An, so that he stops thinking of you."

Lady Chen had not expected the Crown Prince to be so heartless. If he did that, she would never be able to string Prince An along again, and her only hope lay with the Crown Prince.

At this thought, she lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears, and crawled pathetically to the Crown Prince’s feet, clutching them. "Your Highness, my heart has only ever held you. When you visited the Chen estate long ago, I saw you from afar and fell deeply, hopelessly in love."

The Crown Prince: "..." *What is hopelessly stuck now is his foot!*

He looked up and caught a glimpse of shadows by the rear window. He didn't need to guess who it was. His mouth twitched, and he felt incredibly awkward.

He kicked Lady Chen away and said coldly, "You had better pray that everything you said is true. If I find out you have been harboring a secret affair, I will have your life!"

With that, the Crown Prince stormed out in a fit of rage.

Lady Chen clutched her bruised chest, shrieking hysterically, "Your Highness! Your Highness... I am wronged! My heart belongs only to you, only to you, Your Highness..."

Yu Qingqing couldn't listen anymore. Seeing the Crown Prince walk away, she brushed past the Crown Princess and stormed into the room.

"Chen Wanying, have you no shame?"

Lady Chen looked up, startled to find the Princess of An, Yu Qingqing, standing there. Recalling the Crown Prince’s suspicions, she immediately stood up. "It was you! You told the Crown Prince that Prince An has feelings for me?"

"Yu Qingqing, how can you be so shameless? Just because you cannot win Prince An’s heart, you come to envy me and try to destroy me?"

Yu Qingqing spat in disgust. "Envy you? You aren't even worthy!"

"I came here to tell you: never mention my husband again, or I will smash your mouth!"

Lady Chen sneered, "You caused me to lose favor, and you expect me to let you go? I tell you, I will tell Prince An everything that happened today and let him know that it was you who ruined me."

"Yu Qingqing, just wait until you fall from grace!"

"Since you are so capable, why don't you tell me about it too?" The Crown Princess kicked the door open and strode in.

Seeing the Crown Princess there, Lady Chen panicked completely.

"Crown Princess?"

"Why are you here? Everything I said was a lie! I was just joking with the Princess of An. Please, Your Highness, show mercy and do not spread this matter."

The Crown Princess scoffed, "Spread it? I hadn't even thought of that until you mentioned it."

"Sister-in-law, let us go and spread the word for her properly. Let's see how she manages to show her face in public after this."

"For the Chen family to raise a daughter like you, Lord Chen should die to atone for his sins!"

Lady Chen’s face turned deathly white. "Crown Princess, have mercy! It was not my intention. It is all my fault. I am willing to accept any punishment, only please spare my family."

"My father has followed the Crown Prince for years, serving him diligently. He does not deserve to die!"

Seeing her terror, the Crown Princess sneered, "I saw how arrogant you were toward the Princess of An just now. You know fear now, do you?"

"You bully the weak and fear the strong. Your family's schemes are known to everyone; did you think you could fool me?"

"Just wait here for the Crown Prince's judgment!"

Lady Chen’s heart turned to ash. She collapsed onto the floor, suddenly realizing why the Crown Prince had come to the Orchid Chamber today.

In a fit of grief and despair, she slammed her head against the wall.

A loud "thud" echoed through the room, startling both the Crown Princess and Yu Qingqing.

At that moment, the Crown Prince’s voice drifted in from outside: "Second Brother, let me tell you, that Lady Chen is no good... she was just in here trying to seduce me."

"Look, right in here."

The Crown Prince led the Second Prince into the room and looked up.

Amidst the blood staining the floor, a deathly silence fell over the room!

Crown Princess: "..."

Yu Qingqing: "..."