MCSCPM -Chapter 165 Hidden Agendas

The news of the Crown Prince’s removal had already spread throughout the harem.

In the Consort De’s bedchamber, the atmosphere was perfectly suited to scheming.

“Nanny, this tree… its branches are too tall and useless. We need a proper potted plant to contain it,” Consort De said, her words loaded with meaning.

“You are right, Your Highness. This should have been discarded long ago. Leaving it here only offends Your Highness’s eyes,” the old nanny replied with a fawning tone.

“Wait. I want to watch this little tree die, slowly, day by day,” Consort De said, her eyes flashing with cruelty.

“Not a single drop of water must touch it!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Wan Mo could not help but sneer: “Now that Crown Prince Nangong Xiao has been deposed, I want to see what he can accomplish in Jiangnan. Perhaps he can even cure a plague?”

“Curing a plague has always been impossible. And Nangong Xiao is just a boy who knows nothing of the world—how could he manage it?”

“Let him flounder, then!”

“Your Highness, now that the Empress’s influence is weak, this is the perfect opportunity!”

“Patience is key. Wait until the Third Prince returns, then we will plan everything carefully,” Consort De said, her eyes nearly closing from smiling.

“I am but a fool, Your Highness. My thoughts were incomplete,” the old nanny said.

“You helped me not long ago. Take this as a reward,” Consort De said, removing the jade bracelet from her wrist and offering it to the nanny.

“This is Your Highness’s bracelet… how could I dare accept it?” the old nanny said, feigning modesty, though her eyes shone brightly.

“This jade bracelet is crystal-clear, a top-quality piece. How could anyone refuse it?” she thought privately.

“It is a gift from me—take it!” Consort De said with a smile. This small token was nothing; when the Third Prince ascended the throne, wealth and glory would be endless.

“Thank you, Consort De!”

“Enough. There will be many more rewards in the future. As long as you work diligently, they will not elude you.”

“Yes, yes,” the old nanny hurriedly replied.

A mixture of joy and anxiety lingered in the room.

At Yangwei Palace, He Minmin frowned deeply, silent for a long time.

The deposition of Nangong Xiao was suspicious. The sacrificial rites had just ended—how could the Emperor tamper with his own son?

“Crown Prince, what is the situation now?” the Empress asked, worried.

“Your Majesty, in a few days, the Crown Prince will depart for Jiangnan,” a maid replied.

“Have you learned why the Crown Prince was deposed?”

“I do not know. Some palace maids saw the Crown Prince leave the imperial study, and the Emperor immediately issued an edict deposing him. He was particularly angry,” the maid said.

“The Crown Prince must have said something to upset the Emperor. Nanny Lai, it would be best to ask Eunuch Li—he has served the Emperor for years and would know,” He Minmin said, hope rising.

“Your Majesty, I did ask Eunuch Li. During the conversation between the Crown Prince and the Emperor, there was no one else in the study. Even Eunuch Li was sent away by the Crown Prince,” Nanny Lai said helplessly.

“Must I intervene personally to resolve this?”

Although He Minmin was not Nangong Xiao’s birth mother, their interests were closely tied. If he went to Jiangnan, her position as Empress might be undermined.

“Go to the Eastern Palace and bring the Crown Prince here. I will ask him myself!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With the crises in Xize escalating, only accelerating the sacrificial rites could relieve the tension in their hearts.

Soon, Nangong Xiao followed Nanny Lai to Yangwei Palace.

“I, your son, pay respects to Mother. What matters bring you here?” Nangong Xiao said calmly; what was to come, had to come.

“Do you need me to remind you what you have done?” He Minmin said coldly.

“Perhaps it is I who should ask you? I know very well what I have done!” Nangong Xiao said, eyes sharp and cold.

“You’ve just argued with your father. Now it’s my turn?” the Empress mocked.

The palace was unusually silent.

“You foolish child!” He Minmin shouted, knocking everything on the table to the ground. The child she had raised with her own hands had squandered a bright future.

“Pretending to be unconscious… don’t you think it was foolish?”

At Nangong Xiao’s words, the Empress froze, unable to move. How could he know she had faked her unconsciousness?

“Mother, do you truly want to see Xize collapse?” Nangong Xiao’s gaze was distant—he was no longer the same person.

“If Xize falls, even your position as Empress will be uncertain,” he added.

“Defiance!” He Minmin shouted, shocked that the obedient pawn of the past would speak to her like this.

“Defiance? Haha, Mother, that sounds just like Father!” Nangong Xiao retorted.

“You ungrateful son!”

“Mother, if there is nothing more, I will take my leave.” Nangong Xiao had no desire to linger.

“Stop right there!”

He remained silent and walked straight out of Yangwei Palace.

He understood that being raised by the Empress was no small task. The Crown Prince title was of little importance; he treated it as repayment for the years of care from He Minmin.

From now on, he would no longer be naive. Only by becoming as strong as Prince Jing could he protect Yin Qingyue.

As Crown Prince, powerless to act, he had long grown tired of the puppet-like existence.

“Nangong Chen, you want to sit on the throne? I’ll go all the way with you!” Nangong Xiao’s eyes were red, his expression complex.

Inside Yangwei Palace, He Minmin sat at the table, fuming.

“Nangong Xiao, how ungrateful! After all these years of care, you betray me so!”

“Nanny Lai wonders—did the Crown Prince have a quarrel with the Emperor? With his usually patient temperament, he would not speak like this easily.”

“Send someone to monitor his movements. This time, no more tricks,” she ordered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Outside the Capital Posthouse, Nangong Xiao lingered at the gate, unwilling to step forward.

“Miss, let me carry these for you. You’re weak and shouldn’t lift heavy things,” Mei’er said, worried.

“These few things won’t tire me.”

Ahead, Yin Qingyue felt a burning gaze fixed upon her. In this world, aside from Chu Jingcheng, only Nangong Xiao could look at her like this.

“Miss, isn’t that the Crown Prince? Why is he here?” Mei’er asked in surprise.

“I, your servant, pay respects to His Highness,” Yin Qingyue stepped forward, smiling.

“Qingyue, rise. I’ve come to see you off today,” Nangong Xiao said, his face revealing unavoidable sorrow.

“Thank you, Your Highness. We are about to leave Xize for Beihou,” Mei’er said, joyful.

“When will you return?”

“To return? Waiting for the Emperor to kill me?” Chu Jingcheng sneered.

Nangong Xiao snorted. “Prince Jing is so certain that if Qingyue stays in Xize, she will face danger?”

“Isn’t that true? Miss Yin plans to travel with me to Beihou. If the Crown Prince has anything to say, now is the time!” Chu Jingcheng said, turning to leave.

“Qingyue, I cannot do much for you, but I hope you live well in Beihou,” Nangong Xiao said, his gaze never leaving her.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I will,” Yin Qingyue replied calmly.

Since the last time Nangong Xiao read her mind, she knew to keep her distance. Love was a poison, uncontrollable, and the deeper one fell, the harder it was to stop.

Yet Yin Qingyue felt a sense of peace. Perhaps leaving Xize, and no longer being seen by Nangong Xiao, the feelings between them would fade.

“Your Highness, we must go. Take care,” she said.

Nangong Xiao smiled as he watched her carriage depart.

How he wished he could tell her: Qingyue, you know? I am no longer Crown Prince for you. But rest assured, I will grow strong! If you do not live well in Beihou, I will bring you back!

The carriage grew smaller, a black dot disappearing in the distance.

Leng Feng continuously chattered beside Yin Qingyue’s carriage.

The distance from Xize to Beihou was long—she wondered how long Leng Feng would continue talking.

“Ah, the weather is really nice,” he said, with hidden meaning, while Yin Qingyue thought of him like a chaperone.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

“Miss Yin, come to this carriage,” Leng Yi said softly.

“Leng Yi, why this way?” Leng Feng protested. He still had important things to say!

“This is the Prince’s order!” Leng Yi’s sharp gaze pinned Leng Feng, taking his breath away.

Leng Feng shrugged. “I’m not taking the credit!”

In another carriage, Chu Jingcheng had been waiting for some time.

“Finally, you take my carriage. It hasn’t been easy,” he said.

“You jest, Prince Jing,” Yin Qingyue replied calmly.

Chu Jingcheng squinted, intrigued, staring at her.

“Miss Yin’s skill at disguising herself is remarkable. Even after watching for so long, I did not notice.”

Unconsciously, Yin Qingyue recalled that night. He had pressed step by step, and she had read his intentions.

Chu Jingcheng had clearly meant to kill her—yet repeatedly saved her from peril.