The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 762 - 724: Becoming His Hostage (Part 1)

Looking at her son who was nearly choked to death, the Princess Consort Duan’s anger surged, but she dared not act rashly and could only compromise, "Fine, I agree. As long as you let Nuo free, I will send someone to the Imperial Clan Court to bring the Crown Prince out."

"Go now!" Yang Xueru’s hand remained tight on Zhao Nuo’s neck, her eyes bloodshot, like an enraged lioness.

The Princess Consort Duan gave a look to the Chief Palace Maid behind her, who nodded in understanding and turned to leave.

The Princess Consort Duan’s gaze fell on Zhao Nuo, her brows knitted, "I have already arranged for someone to go to the Imperial Clan Court, can you release Nuo now?"

Yang Xueru knew that if she continued to choke Zhao Nuo, he would soon be out of breath and die. She loosened her grip slightly and swiftly pulled out a gleaming dagger from her sleeve, pressing it against Zhao Nuo’s neck.

"No!" The Princess Consort Duan instinctively shouted.

"I don’t want this either." Yang Xueru gripped the dagger tightly, her eyes still blood-red, "You forced me to this point; as long as the Crown Prince safely leaves the Imperial Clan Court, I will not harm the Second Prince a bit."

Seeing that she indeed had no intention of acting immediately, the Princess Consort Duan’s taut nerves relaxed slightly, but she still dared not let her guard down, "Ruru, why turn against your family for a man? By helping him in this way, he might not necessarily appreciate your kindness."

"Do you think I can turn back now?" Tears suddenly fell from Yang Xueru’s eyes, "Since childhood, I vowed to marry him, even if my family treated me as a pawn and sent me to him, I am willing. Heaven does not let down those who strive; I finally became his fiancée. You have no idea how happy I was on the day it was decreed. But for power, you all set traps against him behind our backs. It’s already bad enough he’s locked in the Imperial Clan Court, but now you want to take his life? What place do you leave me in? Do you consider me dead?"

Princess Consort Duan said, "In the battle for royal power, victory goes to the strong. If Zhao Xi does not die today, tomorrow, the Yang Family will be executed on the Ministry of Justice’s platform. Is it worth it for him?"

"I..." As Yang Xueru just started to speak, someone burst through the window, striking the back of her neck and knocking her unconscious before she could react.

The intruder was a Hidden Guard, arranged by Chief Minister Yang to prevent anyone from harming the Second Prince and stationed beside the Princess Consort Duan. Earlier, the Princess Consort Duan’s signal to the Chief Palace Maid was to notify him to come in.

Looking at Yang Xueru, who had fallen to the ground, the Hidden Guard asked, "How does Your Highness intend to handle her? Shall we kill her?"

The Princess Consort Duan thought of how Yang Xueru had nearly killed her son earlier, harboring a deep hatred that made her want to cut her into pieces, but at the moment, the bigger picture had to be considered.

Taking a deep breath, she instructed, "Send Miss Yang back to the mansion, and do not let her step out of her room."

——

When Yang Xueru woke up on the way back, she lifted the curtain, noticing a little eunuch driving and palace guards on both sides. Instantly, she understood the situation, "Stop the carriage, stop now!"

The eunuch had not expected her to wake up so soon and responded, "The Princess Consort ordered the servant to deliver Miss Yang back to the mansion safe and sound."

Yang Xueru bit her lip, "I, I need to use the restroom."

The little eunuch had to drive the carriage to the roadside and stop.

Yang Xueru opened the curtain to get off, and the guards’ eyes all turned towards her, their expressions cold and intimidating.

Yang Xueru lowered her head, walked a few steps, and a guard immediately followed.

She stopped and turned, "I’m going to relieve myself, you don’t need to follow."

One of the guards said expressionlessly, "Before leaving the palace, the Princess Consort ordered me not to let Miss Yang out of my sight, and I dare not disobey."

Yang Xueru cursed under her breath, then stepped forward again and was followed by the guards.

Scanning around, she moved towards a busier area, and as she approached the market, she suddenly sped up and ran forward, shouting for help as she did.

Yang Xueru, always raised in the inner chambers, had no match for the professionally trained guards in terms of speed, and she was soon about to be caught. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Suddenly, a hand reached out from an alley and dragged her in.

Just as Yang Xueru was about to cry out, someone behind her covered her mouth, and she heard a "shh."

Yang Xueru turned to see who had pulled her, her eyes widening in an instant.

Dong Han?

How could it be her?

"They’re coming, let’s get on the carriage first," Dong Han said, giving a signal to the maid behind her, who deftly helped Yang Xueru onto a nondescript blue-draped carriage.

The carriage quickly drove away from the narrow alley in another direction.

Having run too hastily earlier, Yang Xueru was experiencing a side stitch, now clutching her stomach in pain, she looked at Dong Han, "What are you doing here?"

Dong Han’s expression was calm, "This question should be for you."

At this point, there was nothing to hide, and Yang Xueru frankly said, "I went to the palace to plead for the prince."

"And the result?"

"The result..." Yang Xueru, unsuccessful in her mission, felt guilty, her voice growing weaker, "I was knocked unconscious and sent out by my aunt’s people."

"Want an orange?" Dong Han peeled an orange and handed it to her.

Yang Xueru had no such thoughts; she didn’t take it, just looking at Dong Han, "You haven’t said why you are here."

Dong Han saved her just in time, it couldn’t have been a coincidence.

"Go back!" Dong Han said, "Miss Yang is not suited for such dangerous things."

"What do you mean?"

Dong Han smiled faintly, "The family behind you does not support the Crown Prince. Currently, the situation in the capital is tense and ready to explode. What can you change with your strength alone?"

Yang Xueru was slightly annoyed, "Even if my grandfather doesn’t support His Highness, my heart is with him."

"I can see that." Dong Han nodded, "But, so what?"

"I..."

Before Yang Xueru could finish, Dong Han continued, "Even if you are loyal to His Highness, Chief Minister Yang will still want to kill him. Your feelings may not reach His Highness."

Since getting into the carriage, Dong Han had maintained a casual attitude. Yang Xu felt a surge of anger, reluctant to continue the conversation but helpless in being followed. Unable to get off immediately, she quietly peeked out through the curtain. Upon seeing the direction the carriage was heading in, her face changed dramatically, "Where are you taking me?"

"Yang Mansion."

"Stop!" Yang Xueru commanded.

"If you don’t want to go to the mansion, where do you want to go?" Dong Han looked over.

"None of your business where I’m going." Yang Xueru half-rose, ready to jump off the carriage.

"The Imperial Clan Court is heavily guarded, you can’t get in," Dong Han said, "Even if you did, His Highness may not want to see you."

Struck at her thoughts, Yang Xueru paused and turned back, "You know I want to go to the Imperial Clan Court?"

Dong Han smiled, "Not hard to guess."

Suspicion crept into Yang Xueru’s eyes, "Have you been in contact with His Highness lately?"

Dong Han remained noncommittal.

Yang Xueru sat back down, "Then you must know how to get into the Imperial Clan Court smoothly. Take me there, and I’ll satisfy whatever you want."

Dong Han was uninterested in her offer, "You can’t save him."

"I will be his hostage." Yang Xueru said firmly, "Tonight, the assassination attempt on His Highness is arranged by my grandfather. If, by then, he has someone like me as a hostage, my grandfather will definitely hold back, not daring to really make a deadly move."

This time, Dong Han did not retort but knocked on the side wall, instructing the coachman to head to the Imperial Clan Court.

Yang Xueru finally felt relieved, and as she thought through the events of the day, she realized something was amiss, then slowly furrowed her brows, "Did you set me up?"

It was evident that Dong Han had figured out her route early on and waited in that alley specifically to send her to the Imperial Clan Court as a hostage to defuse that night’s assassination attempt on the Crown Prince.

What a scheming would-be concubine!

If she became an adversary in the future, Yang Xueru feared she might not even know when she’d die at her hands.

Though it wasn’t the right time to consider future court rivalries, Yang Xueru couldn’t help but feel her hair stand on end.

Dong Han smiled at her, "Wasn’t it Miss Yang who volunteered to be His Highness’s hostage?"

...

Because the Crown Prince was confined inside, the Imperial Clan Court was heavily guarded, with imperial guards on both the front and back.

When the carriage arrived, the two did not use the main entrance but went to a side door.

Dong Han exchanged a secret code with the imperial guard guarding the gate and easily entered.

Yang Xueru was utterly shocked, "Was that person just now one of His Highness’s men?"

Dong Han softly replied, "His Highness hasn’t been the Crown Prince for these years in vain."

"His Highness is both literate and skilled in martial arts; I know this," Yang Xueru said with a sour feeling, "I’m just curious, how did you get connected to him?"

To be able to exchange secret codes with someone beside His Highness showed that Dong Han held a significant position in his eyes.

Seeing that Yang Xueru was jealous, Dong Han smiled, "Just a friendship from childhood."

Dong Han had no intention of flaunting, but it was like a stab in Yang Xueru’s heart, "You two are childhood sweethearts?"

"Not really."

"That’s good." Yang Xueru breathed a sigh of relief, "Take me to see His Highness!"