Chapter 502 - 502 499 Powerless to Reverse the Situation_1

Chapter 502: Chapter 499: Powerless to Reverse the Situation_1 Chapter 502: Chapter 499: Powerless to Reverse the Situation_1 “Yingshuang added, staring at Bai Jinxiu’s belly, ‘One person eats, two people nourish! The young master eats!’

Cuibi was amused by Yingshuang and said to Bai Jinxiu, ‘Yingshuang is not being unreasonable; Second Miss eats for two, after all, Yingshuang can’t replace Second Miss!’

Bai Jinxiu was also amused and gently stroked her belly, saying, ‘Fair enough, Yingshuang makes sense, I will eat.’

In the hot summer, Bai Jinxiu finished the bowl of chicken noodle soup and was drenched in sweat. Cuibi gently fanned her.

Yingshuang hurriedly brought in a bowl of plum soup for Bai Jinxiu.

Bai Jinxiu had just finished two bowls of plum soup when someone reported from below that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort were visiting Liang Wang’s mansion.

‘The Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort’s carriage is parked in front of Liang Wang’s mansion, and they came across a woman crying at the entrance. It’s said her husband was beaten to death for striking the drum of grievances. Her two sons are missing. The woman, heartbroken, believes her children are in Liang Wang’s mansion. She implored the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort for their rescue, even breaking her head while kowtowing.’

Bai Jinxiu gripped the small table’s edge tightly and asked urgently, ‘What happened next?’

‘I returned to inform you, Second Miss, but there’s no result yet. Someone will report back to you as soon as there’s news,’ the person responded.

‘Understood! Keep an eye on Liang Wang’s mansion and report immediately if there’s any news!’

Just as Bai Jinxiu finished speaking, she heard Cuiyu’s call for Qin Lang from outside the courtyard, ‘The Young Master is back!’

‘Where’s Jinxiu?’ Qin Lang handed the black lacquered food box to Cuibi. ‘Inside are pastries from Shengshi Pavilion.’

Upon hearing this, Cuiyu smiled, ‘This morning, Madam said she wanted Biyun Cake from Shengshi Pavilion. The Young Master remembered it!’

Qin Lang smiled, lifted the hem of his robe, and walked toward the main room.

Bai Jinxiu watched as the Hidden Guard, kneeling on one knee before her, was signaled to leave. The Hidden Guard leaped out the back window. Bai Jinxiu, with Cuibi’s support, got up to greet Qin Lang, who entered through the Xiangfei bamboo curtain held open by a maid. She smiled, ‘You’re back!’

Qin Lang quickly stepped forward, gently stroked Bai Jinxiu’s belly, and said, ‘You’re carrying a heavy load. Why did you come out? Did you have any trouble today?’

‘A few steps, it’s not that delicate!’ Bai Jinxiu smiled and looked down at her high belly. ‘It’s well-behaved and didn’t trouble me.’

Seeing Qin Lang supporting Bai Jinxiu past the screen into the inner room, Cuibi and Cuiyu quickly stopped Yingshuang, who was about to follow.

‘Alright! Come out now! Be careful, or Second Miss will tell on you to the Elder Miss!’ Cuibi laughed, pulling Yingshuang away. ‘Come, follow me! I’ll get you some candy!’

Outside Liang Wang’s mansion.

The woman’s desperate and shrill cries made the Crown Princess Consort uneasy. She looked at the Crown Prince, ‘Your Highness…’

The commotion caused by the woman had already attracted a crowd of onlookers.

The Crown Prince said, ‘Today, in front of His Majesty, King Liang claimed to know nothing! Also, the Wang family in Jiuqu Alley has already committed suicide due to guilt. This matter truly has nothing to do with King Liang! He is my brother, and I firmly believe he is a kind person who wouldn’t do such a heinous thing! I can’t bear to see you so upset, nor can I bear my brother being wronged. Today, I’ll take you into Liang Wang’s mansion to verify his innocence!’

Hearing this, the crowd praised the Crown Prince’s benevolence.

The deputy commander of the Patrol Camp guarding Liang Wang’s mansion felt uneasy. The Emperor’s order forbade anyone from entering or exiting, but the Crown Prince stated he would take the woman inside. Should he allow it or not?

‘Thank you, Crown Prince! Thank you, Crown Prince!’ The woman kowtowed in gratitude.

The deputy commander of the Patrol Camp gripped the sword at his waist and stepped toward the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort, bowing deeply. ‘Your Highness, the Emperor’s decree forbids anyone from entering or exiting.’

The Crown Prince paused, then smiled, ‘King Liang has suffered injustice and fright today. The Crown Princess Consort and I are only here to check on him. As for this woman, she lost her husband while searching for her sons. She’s pitiful enough. Letting her in to see and have closure will do no harm.’

The deputy commander’s face was troubled, ‘Your Highness, please don’t make it difficult for me. How about you enter the palace to seek the Emperor’s permission? If His Majesty agrees, I will naturally allow entry!’

The Crown Prince laughed angrily, ‘By the time I enter the palace and get permission, the gates will be locked!’

‘Your Highness, I’m just following orders.’

‘So, you’re even going to keep me, the Crown Prince, outside?’ The Crown Prince gritted his teeth, his face filled with anger. Pointing at the panic-stricken woman, he said, ‘For the public, I am the Crown Prince! These are my people! I can’t stand by while she loses her husband at Wude Gate and then dies kneeling at Liang Wang’s mansion! For the private, I am King Liang’s brother. I can’t watch him suffer this injustice!’

‘Now, the Wang family has died in prison. Outside, there are rumors saying King Liang killed them to escape blame! If you block the entrance today, you confirm King Liang’s guilt! Can you bear the responsibility?’ The Crown Prince’s voice grew louder and firmer, ‘I won’t make it difficult for you. Today, you let us in! I will go in! If you don’t let us in! I will still go in! Unless you dare to draw your sword and kill me, the Crown Prince, in front of Liang Wang’s mansion!’

As the Crown Prince’s words fell, the guards from the Crown Prince’s mansion drew their swords. The Patrol Camp, unable to oppose the Crown Prince, had no choice but to retreat.

With a cold face, the Crown Prince helped the woman up, took a step forward, and the Patrol Camp retreated, being forced back step by step. They could only watch as the Crown Prince, with the woman and guarded by his men, entered Liang Wang’s mansion.

The Patrol Camp’s deputy commander gritted his teeth, turned, and instructed his subordinate, ‘Report to the Emperor that the Crown Prince forcefully entered Liang Wang’s mansion!’

The Crown Prince’s intrusion into Liang Wang’s mansion was not trivial. Inside, they discovered an alchemy furnace that hadn’t been disposed of in time.

King Liang perhaps thought the Emperor would protect him. After returning, he continued meddling with elixirs with the Heavenly Master. Upon hearing the news that the Crown Prince had entered, he tried to stop it but was too late.

Although the woman didn’t find her sons, the Crown Prince and his guards rescued several young children who had been bled and left half-dead.

Due to the Crown Prince’s conflict with the Patrol Camp at the mansion entrance, more onlookers had gathered. They waited for the woman to come out, but instead, it confirmed that King Liang used children for alchemy.

By the time the Emperor received the news, it was too late to reverse the situation.”