What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 366 - 362: Cold and Hostile Gaze

Could Beauty Shu possibly be Lady Zhenniang?

Tang Xiaobai gazed at Bi Luo under the eaves, lost in thought.

"Miss!" A voice sounded from outside the door.

Looking up, Tang Xiaobai saw Tang Jiaojiao burst in with a breeze, wrapping her shawl with a flourish, and glared at her: "What are you doing here?"

Tang Xiaobai lazily slumped on the soft couch: "Then where should I be?"

It’s rare to give herself a break, what’s wrong with lying in the sun?

Tang Jiaojiao eyed her unexpectedly: "Today is the day of marriage negotiation, aren’t you going out to take a look?"

"What’s there to see in a marriage negotiation?" Tang Xiaobai was uninterested.

In the ceremonial ancient texts, only the betrothal and the welcoming of the bride are detailed, the other procedures are similar to the betrothal.

"Aren’t you going to look at the betrothal gifts sent by the Eastern Palace?" Tang Jiaojiao smiled slyly at her, "There are one hundred and eight extra chests than the Ministry of Rites’ standards—"

Before she finished speaking, Tang Xiaobai jumped up from the soft couch: "One hundred and eight extra chests? Really?"

Tang Jiaojiao laughed: "They must have emptied the Eastern Palace!"

"I’ll go see!" Tang Xiaobai ran out, slipping on her shoes.

Couldn’t they have really emptied out the Eastern Palace?

Tang Jiaojiao grabbed her: "Are you going out like that?"

Having been lying in the sun, how neatly could she be dressed?

In loose, languid attire, her hair flowing freely, her shoes and socks not properly worn, but her face was glowing with a rosy sheen, looking quite well.

Tang Jiaojiao instructed the maid to groom her while muttering: "Not properly dressed, hair not combed, not worried about your own marriage, what’s on your mind?"

"Thinking about that Beauty Shu," Tang Xiaobai answered honestly.

"Didn’t you see her yesterday?"

Tang Xiaobai shook her head: "She didn’t respond to the Empress’ summons."

"And then?"

"There’ll always be a chance to meet her later," said Tang Xiaobai.

Beauty Shu’s refusal to heed the summons had greatly angered Empress Yuan, who wanted to drag her along to interrogate Beauty Shu in her palace.

Tang Xiaobai didn’t go.

Clearly, the young lady disapproved of her behavior, poking her forehead harshly with a finger like jade: "Why are you so soft-hearted? Someone doesn’t respond to a summons, and you just leave in disgrace? You’re embarrassing me even saying it out loud!"

Tang Xiaobai held her forehead in protest: "That falls under the category of palace intrigue, what’s it got to do with me?"

Besides, she didn’t know Su Zhenniang, so what was she to do if she met Beauty Shu? Act like a villainous pawn helping Empress Yuan interrogate her, or like a saintly figure switching sides to speak for Beauty Shu at the last minute?

It was better to be cautious and observe from afar for a while.

"True," for once the young lady agreed face-to-face with her, "you should have less interaction with women in the harem, none of them are respectable, don’t let them corrupt you—" Thinking it over, she added, "When Li Ling leaves the capital, that Shu name should also show up."

...

Princess Hengyang, Li Ling, the third daughter, born of Beauty Wang in the harem.

Last winter, Princess Hengyang voluntarily offered to marry into the Turkic, winning much praise from the sovereign and subjects, leading to Beauty Wang’s elevation to Imperial Concubine.

Early this year, Princess Hengyang, Li Ling, completed her marriage to Prince Xiping, Murong Shun.

The two are set to leave the capital officially on the first of March, traveling to the Turkic to become its rulers.

Princess Hengyang’s marriage holds significant political meaning.

Therefore, the Emperor specifically ordered that upon Princess Hengyang’s departure from the capital, all kin and noblewomen must accompany her out of the city.

Even the Empress and Imperial Concubine were no exception.

A newly elevated beauty undoubtedly should be included in the list.

On the first of March, Tang Xiaobai went straight to look among the concubines.

Though the beauties in the harem weren’t three thousand, there were dozens, and Tang Xiaobai couldn’t recognize many.

Among the unfamiliar faces, there wasn’t one that matched her imagined Beauty Shu.

"Didn’t come."

Turning her head, Tang Xiaobai found the Crown Prince had somehow slipped beside her.

At such a formal occasion, he seemed quite at ease.

"Since Shu entered the palace, she hasn’t left Liluo Palace—"

The palace where Beauty Shu resides was originally called Anren Hall, but it was renamed Liluo Palace after being granted to her.

If someone stands in the corner of the mountain, adorned in vines and carrying women branches.

Qu Yuan’s "Mountain Ghost."

Mountain Ghost, named ghost, is actually the Wushan Goddess.

Clearly, the appearance of Beauty Shu excited the old Emperor greatly.

"Originally no one said she wouldn’t come today, only when leaving the palace was it discovered Shu wasn’t there," said Li Mu.

That couldn’t be helped.

"Truly contemptuous," Tang Xiaobai observed, "I wonder how His Majesty will act afterward."

"It should be how the Empress will act," Li Mu corrected.

Tang Xiaobai smiled.

What’s new about how the Empress acts, palace intrigue ultimately depends on where the man’s heart leans.

"I still need to find a way to meet this Beauty Shu." Familiar with melodramatic plots, she always felt Beauty Shu was Su Zhenniang.

Hearing this, Li Mu immediately responded: "When you marry into the Eastern Palace, you can see her anytime."

Indeed.

Tang Xiaobai nodded.

Their six wedding rites had already completed four, next was the divination of the wedding date, then the actual ceremony.

Mentioning the wedding, Li Mu became spirited: "Lin Xujiji divined several dates, but I don’t think they’re suitable—"

"Already divined? Isn’t it too soon?" Tang Xiaobai asked in surprise.

Divining the wedding date is a very formal ceremony.

Even for ordinary families, it is a formal ceremony, let alone for the current Crown Prince?

"I had him divine it privately, wanting to discuss it with you first." The Crown Prince’s demeanor was calm and serene, yet his eyes were bright and full.

Tang Xiaobai understood this hint for praise, right?

Still, she couldn’t help but laugh: "What days did he divine? Why aren’t they suitable?"

"I think April 2nd is best." In the young master’s eyes, the hint of seeking acknowledgment was overwhelmingly apparent.

This is a formal occasion!

Tang Xiaobai stifled her laughter under the music for quite a while before raising her head to wipe the tears of suppressed laughter from the corners of her eyes, nodding: "I also think April 2nd is good."

April 2nd was the day she and the young master met for the first time.

"But if you’ve already decided in your heart, having Mr. Lin divine it, isn’t that teasing him?"

The Crown Prince wouldn’t easily admit mistake: "Such a good date, how could I know if he wouldn’t be able to divine it?"

Tang Xiaobai wanted to laugh again.

But for some reason, as her lips curled up, they suddenly froze.

People always have a sixth sense about some things, like realizing there’s a gaze on you in a crowd.

Tang Xiaobai followed her intuition back.

In that direction was the place where the harem concubines were, which she’d just noticed.

"What’s wrong?" Li Mu asked.

Tang Xiaobai was stunned for a while, shaking her head.

She couldn’t articulate that feeling.

Her sixth sense wasn’t keen enough, she couldn’t even discern if that gaze was cold or curious, an unconscious glance, or a malevolent watch.

But, just as she was withdrawing her gaze, among the harem concubines, one suddenly looked over.

This time she captured it.

It was cold.

It was unfriendly.

(Recently isolating with the child, still need to accompany online classes, updates will be slower, should be better next week)