TRBDM -Chapter 155 Assistance from Zhao Lingchen

At the Long Princess’s residence.

“Your Highness, something has happened at Qingfeng Hall—someone attempted to poison the Tenth Prince.”

Zhao Lingchen’s slender, almond-shaped eyes turned as cold as frost. “He’s only been in the palace for two days, and he’s already in danger.”

Ah, Zhao Jingheng… I thought your only requirement was to stay alive. I didn’t expect that to be the hardest thing of all.

With enemies attacking openly and secretly, nine lives wouldn’t even be enough.

“Assign four guards to Qingfeng Hall. Tell the Tenth Prince that they are my people—he can trust them.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Lingchen’s long fingers tapped the table in no particular rhythm. “Prepare a sedan chair. I’m going to the palace to see Father.”

Less than ten days had passed since the last visit, yet Zhao Lingchen returned to the Taihe Hall.

Upon entering, she realized Zhao Jingheng was there too.

“Father, greetings.” Zhao Lingchen bowed.

Zhao Kuang put down the imperial brush in his hand. His face full of affection, he smiled like an ordinary father: “Lingchen, you’re here—come, take a seat.”

Zhao Lingchen sat down and took a sip of tea, then feigned surprise at seeing Zhao Jingheng: “Oh? This is the Tenth Prince. Are you discussing state affairs with Father here?”

“Eldest Princess.” Zhao Jingheng lowered his head slightly, offering no answer to Zhao Lingchen’s question.

“Father, it seems I’ve come at an inopportune time and interrupted your conversation. Had I known the Tenth Prince was here, I wouldn’t have come.”

Zhao Kuang’s expression softened: “Nonsense. It’s rare for you to come see me of your own accord. Even if it’s important, it can wait a moment.”

Zhao Lingchen smiled faintly: “Father, if the court officials heard you say that, I wonder what they’d say about me.”

The Long Princess was unorthodox and unyielding, never showing favor to any minister. Many held grievances against her. Yet she was greatly loved by the Emperor and carried the military token, so no one dared speak up.

“Whoever dares, I’ll dismiss from office.”

“Father, you are mighty.”

Zhao Jingheng felt like a stranger who had stumbled into another world, silently watching this father-daughter pair.

He had never seen Zhao Kuang so gentle and affectionate. At this moment, he was not the Son of Heaven, but the most ordinary father in the world.

On a sunny afternoon, chatting with his daughter, a look of indulgent fondness in his eyes—enough to make anyone envious.

Zhao Jingheng felt like a thief peeking at someone else’s happiness; every moment he stayed there was pure torment.

After a while, Zhao Lingchen suddenly seemed to notice Zhao Jingheng and asked, “Tenth Prince, what happened to your neck? Why is there medicine applied?”

Zhao Jingheng knew she was asking deliberately.

He replied, “I bumped it accidentally. It’s nothing serious. Thank you for your concern, Eldest Princess.”

Zhao Kuang suddenly spoke: “You may leave now. Eldest Princess and I have urgent matters to discuss.”

“Yes, Father.”

Once Zhao Jingheng left, Zhao Lingchen said, “Father, when I entered the palace just now, I overheard palace staff talking about the Tenth Prince being poisoned. What exactly happened?”

Zhao Kuang’s smile stiffened slightly. “The Imperial Household Department is already investigating.”

Zhao Lingchen frowned: “All meals in the palace are prepared by the Imperial Kitchen, which is under the Imperial Household Department. If they investigate themselves, it’s too easy for rumors to spread.”

“What do you suggest, Lingchen?”

“Let the Dali Temple investigate. Father, poisoning is no ordinary matter. There are many princes and princesses in the palace. If we don’t thoroughly investigate and punish this time, next time the poison may appear elsewhere.”

Zhao Lingchen deliberately exaggerated the severity of the matter.

Zhao Kuang furrowed his brow. “You’re right, Lingchen. My health is weak, and I don’t have much energy to manage this. With your reminder, I see it’s not to be taken lightly. Let the Dali Temple handle the investigation.”

“Father, you are wise.”

As usual, Zhao Lingchen stayed only briefly before leaving. As for the investigation by the Dali Temple, it was mentioned casually—then immediately set aside.

In the eyes of others, she and Zhao Jingheng still seemed completely unconnected.

Zhao Lingchen’s sedan chair moved through the palace, with kneeling palace maids and eunuchs lining the path.

She propped her head, sometimes looking straight ahead, sometimes closing her eyes—no one could guess what the Long Princess was thinking.

When Zhao Jingheng returned to Qingfeng Hall, he noticed four additional guards in the hall.

The lead guard said, “Your Highness, the four of us were assigned to protect you by the Princess. Rest assured, no one knows that we are her people.”

Zhao Jingheng immediately understood.

Zhao Lingchen had come to the palace today specifically for him.

Whether it was ordering the Dali Temple to thoroughly investigate the poisoning case or arranging guards, Zhao Lingchen was helping him.

Zhao Jingheng committed it to memory.

Since the guards had been arranged by Zhao Lingchen, he chose to trust them.

“Currently, Qingfeng Hall has five palace maids and five eunuchs. Find out who is behind each of them.”

He didn’t trust a single person planted by the Imperial Household Department.

At this moment, when personnel matters were critical, and Jianxi had been poisoned and injured, there were many things Zhao Jingheng couldn’t handle personally. He had no choice but to trust Zhao Lingchen.

“Your Highness, rest assured. Within a day, everything will be thoroughly investigated.”

“Good.”

Zhao Jingheng went to Jianxi’s room.

He was awake, but weak, and his throat burned like fire, preventing him from sleeping.

Jianxi’s room was very simple; the bedding had even been brought back from the Imperial Academy.

The mouse hole where he had hidden the silver, Zhao Jingheng spotted it immediately.

By the base of the right-hand wall, there was a very small hole; he wondered how the silver had even been stuffed inside.

“Ah—Your—”

Jianxi saw Zhao Jingheng and wanted to call out, but he couldn’t form complete words.

“Don’t speak.” Zhao Jingheng pressed down gently.

Jianxi blinked and stayed still.

“Jianxi, focus on recovering. I will find the culprit and avenge you.”

Jianxi’s eyes reddened as he nodded gratefully.

Zhao Jingheng sat in the room for a while until Jianxi fell asleep.

He placed eighteen taels of silver beside Jianxi’s pillow.

Jianxi’s loyalty far exceeded eighteen taels, but these eighteen taels represented Zhao Jingheng’s complete trust.

Recently, Jiang Yuelin had been investigating General Fu Wei’s case from over ten years ago.

The Princess had instructed that the matter should not be made public, so he was investigating in secret.

By going through the files and tracing the leads, Jiang Yuelin inadvertently discovered something.

It seemed that Princess Zhao Lingchen and General Fu Wei had known each other long ago.

One was a beloved Princess, the other a general who had fought on the battlefield—how had they met?

After so many years, why did the Princess want to reopen Fu Wei’s case?

Jiang Yuelin fell into thought.

“Lord Jiang,” a subordinate reported.

“What is it?”

“The Emperor has ordered the Dali Temple to conduct a thorough investigation into the poisoning at Qingfeng Hall.”

Jiang Yuelin’s expression stiffened. “Qingfeng Hall… that’s where the Tenth Prince resides?”

“Exactly.”

“Understood.”

Jiang Yuelin closed the files and prepared to enter the palace.

Before going, he received a secret letter from the Princess.

“Spare no effort in helping the Tenth Prince uncover the truth.”

In just two short sentences, Jiang Yuelin read it twice.

As far as he knew, the Princess never interfered in matters between princes; even the Third Prince could not get an ounce of her help.

Why, then, did the secret letter specifically mention the Tenth Prince?