TRBDM -Chapter 123 Returning to the Imperial Academy

Zhao Lingchen reluctantly let go of the carriage curtain.

“Move forward. After one incense stick’s time, take down whoever is following us.”

“Yes.”

Countless covert guards surrounded the Princess, always ensuring her safety, fearless of any pursuers.

But she couldn’t allow Yu’er to fall into danger.

Xie Yu was her weak spot; no one could use him against her.

The carriage continued on, heading toward a secluded area.

Soon, from inside the carriage, they heard the sounds of a struggle and cries from behind—the pursuer had been caught.

“Who sent you?”

A guard pressed his blade against the person’s throat.

The moment the person realized their movements had been exposed, they tried to take their own life.

But the guard’s reflexes were swift; he grabbed the man’s jaw, preventing him from biting his tongue.

Another guard struck the back of the man’s head with a palm, and he fainted instantly.

Zhao Lingchen lifted the carriage curtain, her expression calm but firm: “Bring him back to the residence for questioning.”

“Yes, Princess.”

The covert guards took the captured pursuer to a hidden chamber filled with all kinds of interrogation tools—there was no fear that the man would keep secrets.

Zhao Lingchen returned to the Princess’s residence and went straight to the Flower Hall.

Zhao Jingheng was reading. He had changed his clothes, his hair still slightly damp—he must have just taken a bath.

Hearing Zhao Lingchen’s voice, he put the book down:

“Eldest Princess, have you seen Xie Yu?”

Zhao Lingchen’s heart was still pounding, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Feigning calm no longer mattered; she let go of all pretense.

Exhausted, she sat down, leaning her head against the back of the chair.

She feared it might all be a dream, that when she woke, everything would be false.

“Zhao Jingheng.” Her voice was low, with a subtle quiver.

He understood what she wanted to hear.

“Eldest Princess, what you saw is real. Your son is still alive—he is Xie Yu.”

Zhao Jingheng had long seen through Zhao Lingchen’s restless heart.

She was scared.

At this moment, she was not the high and mighty Eldest Princess of the Dachong Dynasty, indifferent to everything—she was an ordinary mother.

In her, Zhao Jingheng saw echoes of the Empress and the Consort Shu.

Only a mother who deeply loves her child could show that look.

Heartache, guilt, anxiety, panic—a jumble of emotions.

In her confusion, Zhao Jingheng’s words were like a guiding light, helping Zhao Lingchen navigate the fog.

Biting her palm with long nails, Zhao Lingchen finally calmed down from her loss of composure.

She covered her eyes and said,

“I’ll sit here for a while. You do whatever you need to do.”

“All right.”

As someone who knew the truth, Zhao Lingchen didn’t need to hide her emotions in front of Zhao Jingheng. She could fully express her longing and pain.

There was no need to worry about Zhao Jingheng revealing anything, nor about him using it against her.

Let her cast off the chains of the Eldest Princess, and for a moment, simply be a mother who misses her child.

Zhao Jingheng quietly picked up his book again, returning his attention to it.

The pages turned silently.

For the first time, the siblings sat quietly together in the same room for a long while.

Only after Zhao Jingheng finished reading did he notice Zhao Lingchen had fallen asleep, her head resting on the table.

Earlier, by chance, he had heard from a maid that Zhao Lingchen suffered from insomnia and usually had trouble sleeping.

Yet now, she was sleeping soundly.

Zhao Jingheng fetched a blanket and gently draped it over her.

The rules at the Princess Mansion were strict, and the servants were disciplined; apart from attending to Zhao Jingheng, not a single idle word was exchanged.

Zhao Jingheng had no interest in anything else—he had already obtained what he wanted.

It had been three days since leaving the Imperial Academy, and it was time for him to return.

When the Hehuan Poison took effect, he had fled in haste without Jianxi by his side, leaving no time to inform him.

If Jianxi discovered the woman in his room, he would likely be able to guess what had happened.

If news of the Tenth Prince being drugged at the Imperial Academy spread, Jianxi’s life would be in danger.

Zhao Jingheng was certain that Jianxi would not seek revenge; he would only wait anxiously.

Before leaving the Princess Mansion, Zhao Jingheng had left a letter telling Zhao Lingchen that he had returned to the Imperial Academy.

If needed, he could be found there.

On the way back, Zhao Jingheng knew that, somewhere beyond his perception, hidden bodyguards were protecting him.

Zhao Lingchen kept his word.

He felt a secret camaraderie with Zhao Lingchen, a mutual understanding that was difficult to explain.

Only, now that his position was weak, such a camaraderie seemed almost undeserved.

Shaking his head, Zhao Jingheng dismissed the thought.

Upon returning to the Imperial Academy, he saw Jianxi tiptoeing, craning his neck to look outside.

When he spotted Zhao Jingheng from afar, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and once he confirmed it, he ran over.

“Your Highness! Your Highness! Oh, you’ve finally returned. Do you know how these past three days have been for your humble servant?”

Tears welled up in Jianxi’s eyes; his precious neck was saved.

Had anything happened to the Tenth Prince, Jianxi’s life would have been forfeit at the Imperial Academy.

He had already given up on the dream of becoming Chief Eunuch; he only wanted to live quietly, yet even this simple wish seemed as difficult as scaling the heavens.

Jianxi, ever clever, noticed someone nearby and suppressed his excitement, forcing a smile: “Your Highness, let’s go back to the small courtyard and talk.”

Back at the courtyard, Zhao Jingheng stood outside the bedroom door.

“Is it tidy inside?”

“It’s cleaned, it’s cleaned!” Jianxi immediately replied.

The room had reeked of feminine scent, but Jianxi had aired it out for three full days, ensuring everything was clean and not a trace remained.

“And the bedding?”

“All thrown out and replaced with new ones for Your Highness.”

Zhao Jingheng glanced at Jianxi, feeling, for the first time, that he might be of some use.

Jianxi busied himself, serving tea, fanning, buzzing around like a busy little bee.

When there was finally nothing left to do, Jianxi dropped to his knees before Zhao Jingheng.

“Your Highness, your servant is guilty. Please punish me.”

Jianxi was responsible for taking care of the Tenth Prince, and yet, under his watch, the prince had been drugged. If this had happened in the palace, he would have faced execution.

So he voluntarily confessed, hoping for mercy.

In truth, he knew that the Tenth Prince would not kill him.

Now, with the Tenth Prince having no one else in the palace to rely on, and Jianxi having served him for three years, he knew the prince’s temperament well.

Though cold in appearance, his heart was kind.

As long as Jianxi admitted his fault, the Tenth Prince would surely be lenient, punishing lightly as a warning.

Zhao Jingheng, seeing Jianxi’s caution, said coldly, “Since you know your crime, atone for it with your life.”

“Thank… huh? Ah?” Jianxi instinctively wanted to express gratitude, only to realize that the Tenth Prince was actually ordering him to die.

He crawled to Zhao Jingheng’s feet, clutching his leg, pitifully pleading: “Your Highness, your servant has always been loyal. If I die, who will serve you? Your Highness, you are kindhearted, like a deity descending to earth—please show mercy and spare this humble dog’s life~~”

He begged for a long time, but Zhao Jingheng remained cold and indifferent, frightening Jianxi.

After a while, Zhao Jingheng asked,

“In these past few days, have you found out how the Hehuan Poison was secretly slipped into my tea?”

Jianxi understood that Zhao Jingheng was giving him a chance.

“I found out. It was the new cook at the dining hall. After you were dosed with the Hehuan Poison, he disappeared.”

Exactly as Zhao Jingheng had suspected.