Chapter 48: Oh my, something grave is about to happen in the palace!!! (Third Watch)

Soon, Lin Yue and her entourage headed straight into the palace once again.

However, not far behind them, a low-profile yet luxurious carriage slowly made its way into the imperial grounds, taking a secluded path designated for the inner court.

Nanny Zhang felt a deep sense of suspicion and followed closely to take a look.

To her utter astonishment, she saw Eunuch Liu carefully helping the Emperor alight from the carriage, hearing him ask, "This servant noticed from afar that the Princess of Ding's consort has also entered the palace. Would you like this servant to make some arrangements?"

The Emperor nodded, urging impatiently, "Yes, go and arrange it right away."

Nanny Zhang nearly bit her own tongue off!

What had she just heard?

The Emperor actually wanted to meet the Princess of Ding in private?

Nanny Zhang hurried back to Lin Yue's side, her face completely drained of color and wearing a look of absolute disbelief.

Lin Yue asked with a puzzled expression, "Did you just see a ghost?"

Nanny Zhang wore a mournful expression, "It's much more terrifying than seeing a ghost."

"Your Highness, please don't go anywhere for a moment. Stay right behind this old servant, and I will personally escort you to the Eastern Palace."

Lin Yue: "..."

Had she really encountered a ghost? Why else would she be acting so terrified of being left alone?

Meanwhile, Eunuch Liu quickly found out that the Princess of Ding had gone to the Eastern Palace. Eager to claim credit, he hurried to the Emperor's side and reported, "Her Highness the Princess of Ding is currently at the Eastern Palace. This servant will go and invite her over shortly."

As soon as Xiao Jingxian heard this, he instantly guessed why Lin Yue had entered the palace, and urged eagerly, "No need, I will go right now."

With that, he abandoned Eunuch Liu on the spot and sprinted away.

Before Eunuch Liu could even wipe the look of astonishment from his face, his mind spun in confusion: *Is it really this urgent?*

*That is the Crown Prince's residence, after all. What on earth could happen there?*

By the time he chased after the Emperor, there was no trace of him left.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Eunuch Dong spotted the Emperor approaching from afar and stepped forward in a flurry of excitement.

"This servant pays respects to Your Majesty. Does Your Majesty have an urgent matter concerning the Crown Prince? This servant shall summon him immediately."

The Emperor inquired, "Isn't the Crown Prince meeting with the Princess of Ding?"

Eunuch Dong replied in surprise, "Yes, they are in the Zhiyuan Pavilion. This servant will go and announce you."

The Emperor waved a hand, "There is no need. I came to see my grandson. Go and bring him to me."

Eunuch Dong immediately complied. The moment the Emperor took the imperial grandson into his arms, he beamed and declared, "Let's go! Grandfather will take Jinghui to see your father."

Grandfather and grandson swiftly marched straight toward the Zhiyuan Pavilion.

Eunuch Dong: "..." ?? He strongly suspected that the Emperor simply wanted to visit the Zhiyuan Pavilion and was using the child as an excuse.

Wasn't this a bit too obvious?!

Especially when Eunuch Liu came panting up from behind, wheezing, "Where is His Majesty? Did he go to see the Princess of Ding?"

Eunuch Dong: "..." ?!!

"You knew?"

Eunuch Liu said with a hint of displeasure, "Didn't His Majesty come here specifically for the Princess of Ding?"

Eunuch Dong: Heavens!! Something momentous is about to happen in this palace!!!

...

Lin Yue successfully met with the Crown Prince. When she conveyed the Grand Princess's words, the Crown Prince was left completely baffled.

"Grand-Aunt?"

"Why would she care about this matter?"

"Her Elder Highness has been observing vegetarian fasts for several years now, and she doesn't even interfere in the affairs of the Ma family."

The late husband of the Grand Princess had the surname Ma. He had once served as a Third-Rank Loyal and Brave General and the Commander of the Capital Patrol Battalion, but unfortunately died before turning forty.

Lin Yue stated, "The main point is not that. Aside from members of the imperial family, no one else must be trusted."

"Especially anyone from the Tan family."

The Crown Prince's expression turned solemn. "This nephew understands."

"Since the Tan family harbors such wild ambitions, I suppose we cannot let them off easily, can we?"

Lin Yue remarked, "Do you even need to ask? They are already preparing to stab you in the back, and you still haven't turned around to slice off their heads first?"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince looked immensely relieved and said, "My main concern was Mu Lixin. I was afraid that once he got word of this, he would cause trouble, and since he is far away, the imperial court would find itself in a passive position."

Lin Yue countered, "Getting word of this means he loses the protection of the capital. Even if he has the heart to rebel, his entire family is still stationed right here in the capital. That is his fatal weakness."

*[Mu Lixin is a deeply utilitarian man who has always yearned to make a name for himself and display his prestige. He only married Inspector Tan's daughter because Inspector Tan looked down on him during his early years. Once Inspector Tan dies, the giant mountain pressing down on his head will collapse, and he himself will become the backbone of the Tan family. By then, he might actually become well-behaved.]*

The Crown Prince suddenly recalled that Mu Lixin was extremely resilient and desperate to make a mark, having sent him gifts on several occasions simply to secure an opportunity to perform military service.

For a man like that, it would be best to let him swell with arrogance while tightly keeping his family under control. If it truly came to a desperate struggle where both sides perish, he wouldn't dare to act.

"Then, as my imperial aunt suggested, this nephew will handle this matter as swiftly as possible."

Only then was Lin Yue reassured. "Seeing you so capable puts my mind at ease. Otherwise, with your imperial uncle still away on the battlefield, having someone else deliver military supplies to him always leaves my heart feeling tense and unsettled."

Inwardly: *You silly child, isn't governing the country your forte? How is it that after your body recovered, your brain became muddled instead?*

*If there is a next time, I'll just replace your entire brain!!*

The Crown Prince: "..."

Wasn't he just worried about straying off course and committing a thousand-mile error?

Why on earth was she talking about replacing his brain? If his brain were replaced, would he even still be himself?

A sudden chill ran down the Crown Prince's spine. Oh dear, he certainly wouldn't dare to provoke his imperial aunt ever again!

The eavesdropping Emperor: "..." ??

Replacing a brain?? Forget the Crown Prince, could someone replace Fourth's brain instead?!

Although he, too, often felt constrained and cautious, any normal person who learned they were going to die and couldn't be saved would surely suffer a breakdown, right?

His current reaction was merely sluggishness, which was already quite remarkable.

Lin Yue continued, "From now on, whenever anything concerns the borderlands, try to consult me first. You don't have to follow my advice, but I have the right to know about any changes at the border, because my husband is still out there. Do you understand?"

The Crown Prince nodded solemnly. "Imperial Aunt, rest assured, this nephew understands."

Lin Yue said, "I might be very busy lately, as I need to perform good deeds and accumulate blessings for the Prince. Don't believe every baseless rumor you hear. If you have any doubts, you can come and ask me, and I will give you an explanation."

*[In truth, my store of merit is simply not enough. I need to go and farm merit to save my husband.]*

*[Wuwuwu, my poor husband trapped at the border, you must hold on! Your wife is coming right now to farm enough merit to rescue you.]*

The Crown Prince: "..." Understood!

The Emperor: "..." Why does this sound so tragic?

Shouldn't this be a deeply touching story?

Xiao Jingyun, who was currently looking at the small mirror at the border: "..."

Mu Lixin truly could not be relied upon, which meant he had to find a way to stockpile grain himself.

As for his wife... acting so unfathomably strange, she could hardly be considered an ordinary person anymore, could she?

He could no longer sit idly by.

Should he try to make contact?

Thinking this, Xiao Jingyun gently stroked the surface of the mirror with his thumb, yet still found himself unable to speak.

If any of his military advisors happened to pass by, they would surely think he had lost his mind for talking to a tiny mirror.

Conversely, Lin Yue suddenly felt the small mirror in her bosom grow intensely warm, which struck her as extremely bizarre.

*[Why are you getting so excited? Could it possibly be that Xiao Jingyun and I share a telepathic connection?]*

*[That's impossible. Or could it be that you, this spiritual artifact, want to borrow my store of merit to leave this place? To journey to an immortal-cultivating realm and shine brilliantly there?]*

*[Wait a little longer. I want to leave too, but aren't I still in the middle of farming merit?]*

She still wanted to leave?

Xiao Jingyun's gaze hardened, and without a second thought, he stated, "You cannot communicate with Xiao Jingyun, but I can."

"If there is anything you wish to tell him, I can convey it to him in his dreams."

Lin Yue jumped in fright. *[Damn it, you can actually speak?!]*

Xiao Jingyun: "..." ??