What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 358 - 354: Gone

The vice envoy for the Crown Prince’s marriage is Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Li Jun.

The Zongzheng Temple manages imperial family affairs, and those employed there are mostly from the imperial clan or foreign relatives.

Li Jun, aged twenty-seven, is of the same generation as the emperor, and usually lacks presence.

But this time, he made quite an impression on Tang Xiaobai.

"It’s almost certain, today’s geese were tied by my own hands, impossible to break free without cause; someone must have tampered with them," Mo Huan said indignantly, "Crown Princess Consort, don’t be angry, our Highness won’t let this pass."

"I’m not angry," Tang Xiaobai shook her head and spoke gently, "Tell your Highness not to be too harsh, after all, he’s a member of the royal family, it was merely a matter of not holding the geese properly, we should just not teach them to handle it in the future."

Mo Huan immediately understood: "Rest assured, Crown Princess Consort, if there’s ever a marriage in Li Jun’s family, I’ll personally visit to ensure every goose is rescued!"

Tang Xiaobai coughed lightly and waved her hand: "You may go back to report now!"

After Mo Huan left, Tang Xiaobai returned to the inner courtyard and headed straight to the study.

Tao Zi followed behind her, still angry: "This trick is so petty, and yet he’s a high-ranking official of the royal family! Almost spoiled a perfectly good day with such lowly tactics!"

Tang Xiaobai was about to enter the study when she heard this and turned back to smile at her: "Whether my days are auspicious or not isn’t for them to decide!"

...

The sixteenth year of Taixing, the fifteenth day of the first month.

Consort Tang, soon to be Crown Princess, presented a newly drafted map, celebrating the subjugation of the Turkic and Mosen.

Since ancient times, small nations present maps as a sign of submission, while officials draft maps by decree to showcase a great nation’s territories and celebrate an emperor’s achievements.

Due to limitations, creating maps without an imperial decree was almost unheard of.

But now it exists.

As soon as this map was unfurled, everyone in the imperial court gasped.

The younger ones couldn’t conceal the fervor in their eyes.

The newly crafted map for the first time included the eastern territory of the Turkic and Mosen into the domain.

This was the achievement of expanding the empire!

All eras of territorial expansion are great ones, repeatedly mentioned in history.

"Long live the Emperor!"

For a moment, the Taiji Palace was filled with kneeling figures, and cheers shook the heavens.

Sitting on the throne, the Emperor remained unmoving, his expression hidden behind twelve jade beads, making it hard to discern his feelings.

...

"The dowry from the Tang Family is not light..." the Emperor sighed softly.

The map unfolded before him, his eyes meticulously scanned every inch, seemingly trying to find any flaw.

However, there was nothing to criticize.

As Emperor, he had seen many maps.

Any map presented at the imperial court would not be of inferior quality.

Among so many maps, this one crafted by the youngest daughter of the Tang Family was still exceptionally exquisite.

"Tang Shigong has a good daughter," he murmured appreciatively.

"I had heard before that the youngest daughter of the Tang Family held a position in the Ministry of War’s Strategy and Planning Department; I thought it was child’s play, but didn’t expect her to achieve something," Zheng Shidao also sighed.

After the court was dismissed, only Zheng Shidao was asked to remain.

In front of Zheng Shidao, the Emperor did not hide much and said, gazing at the map: "She’s a good girl, intentionally showcasing the achievements of her father, brothers, and future husband!"

Zheng Shidao glanced at the map and said, "It’s Your Majesty’s achievement."

The Emperor chuckled softly and said, "Now it’s my achievement; in the future, when the Crown Prince takes the throne, they’ll all be his achievements."

Zheng Shidao was silent for a moment and calmly said, "The future is still uncertain."

The Emperor lifted his sleeve, personally rolling up the map, and as he did, he said, "The first time I saw that child..." He paused for quite a while before continuing, "I was thinking, if only he were my son..."

Zheng Shidao knew he was referring to the Crown Prince, and slightly frowned, saying, "Prince Jin is also talented."

The Emperor shook his head and said, "I thought that if I gave him the opportunity, he would seize it; once he rose, he could leave it to Prince Jin, who knew—" He shook his head again.

Who knew, he seized the opportunity, but Prince Jin had no chance.

"Has a single map left Your Majesty discouraged?"

The Emperor was silent for a moment, then said, "Commanding an army of a hundred thousand, recruiting the Zhang Family of Qizhou, and having this—" he lifted the map in his hand, "How can Prince Jin compete?"

To be an emperor or a king, one must win the hearts of the people.

Back then, it was only with Zheng Shidao’s assistance that the Emperor had the confidence to contest for the throne. Now the Crown Prince was surrounded by wise men, and the Emperor indeed felt a bit discouraged.

Dropping the map back onto the table, the Emperor continued, "I heard that Chongwen Hall has already worked out the flaws in the calendar and is about to begin revising a new one?"

Zheng Shidao did not respond directly and only said, "Your Majesty should know, if the Crown Prince succeeds to the throne... what then?"

The Emperor’s expression changed abruptly...

...

After presenting the map, Tang Xiaobai deliberately disguised herself to listen to the discussions about her among the common people.

It wasn’t all praise; there were also sour remarks.

For example, they said that, as a woman, instead of painting flowers, birds, and beauties, she was drawing maps, clearly indicating unrest within herself, and after marrying the Crown Prince, she might even reverse roles.

Hearing this, Tang Xiaobai felt quite inflated.

So the common people had such high expectations of her!

However, the map she presented was merely an overall territorial map, more form than function.

But after presenting it, the Crown Prince took the opportunity to request an imperial decree to gather artists to draw a complete map of the entire domain.

And overseeing the map compilation was the soon-to-be Crown Princess Consort, Tang.

The Ministry of War’s Strategy and Planning Department certainly couldn’t accommodate hundreds of artists working there, so the Crown Prince requested the eastern side of Lizheng Hall, known as Chongren Hall, be used as the place for drawing the maps.

Therefore, after turning fourteen, Tang Xiaobai could freely come and go from the Eastern Palace.

Although she could already enter and exit the Eastern Palace freely before, now it was even more justified.

However, she did not go.

"Not many artists have arrived yet, what’s the rush?" When the Crown Prince sent someone to invite her, Tang Xiaobai didn’t even lift her head, "I’ll first draft some mapping standards; when everyone is gathered, I’ll distribute these standards to save the trouble of saying it multiple times."

"Oh... his Highness instructed that if I can’t bring back the Crown Princess Consort, I don’t need to return."

Tang Xiaobai looked up: "Is it that serious? Has our little ancestor fallen ill again?"

"Tomorrow is an auspicious day, his Highness wants me to stay until tomorrow before returning!"

Tang Xiaobai slapped her head.

Tomorrow is the blessed day!

She nearly forgot due to her busyness!

Auspiciousness is the third of the Six Rites.

Previously they took her birth date for fortune-telling; this time they’re here to inform the results of the divination.

It’s just a formality, and the procedure is similar to the previous gift-exchanging ceremony, so Tang Xiaobai wasn’t very interested.

On the actual day, she didn’t go to the front yard to peek like last time, but stayed flipping through her personal storeroom.

Xue Shaoqin’s wedding date had already been set for February 28th.

She might be a bit busy and not able to attend, so she decided to prepare the wedding gift early.

For anyone else, she wouldn’t have put in this much effort.

But Xue Shaoqin is a good person at heart and is marrying for love, which deserves blessings!

Tang Xiaobai wanted to take out her most treasured items from her collection to enhance the beauty of this love.

On second thought, Tao Fen was also getting married soon; although the date wasn’t set, Tao Fen was closer to her, so the good items should be kept for her own people.

Speaking of her own people—

Tang Xiaobai raised her head and asked, "Where is Cheng Zi?"

"She was called out just now," Tao Zi pouted, "Probably Luo Xiong again."

Tang Xiaobai laughed, "They’re engaged and have a good relationship; why are you jealous?"

"I’m not jealous—" Tao Zi had only spoken halfway when hurried footsteps approached.

"Second Miss—"

Tang Xiaobai turned to look toward the door.

It was Cheng Zi returning.

She clutched the door frame, panting so hard she could hardly stand.

"What is it?" Tang Xiaobai frowned and asked, her heartbeat inexplicably accelerating.

"Xue Seventh Son..."

Cheng Zi uttered three words, her lips trembled twice, and then her voice suddenly broke.

"Gone..."