Chapter 117: Chapter 116: Bringing Beauties into the Palace, You Can Play with My Sister-In-Law Chapter 117: Chapter 116: Bringing Beauties into the Palace, You Can Play with My Sister-In-Law Xiao Jinyan asked coldly, “How did Chun Tao come to possess the poison on the crest of a crane?”

Shen Mingzhu, under the glare of those icy eyes, guiltily lowered her gaze, “Your Highness, I do not know, perhaps someone else gave it to her.”

She cast a meaningful look toward Shen Chuwei.

Xiao Jinyan then asked, “You claim to have treated Chun Tao kindly, so why did she appear emaciated and malnourished?”

Shen Mingzhu explained, “Your Highness, Chun Tao herself said she was dieting and refused to eat, it’s not that I didn’t provide her with meals.”

Xiao Jinyan had no desire to hear Shen Mingzhu’s nonsense and commanded, “Someone come, seal off Lanyue Hall and arrest all the maids and servants for a strict interrogation.”

“Yes, my lord.” Liu Xi directed his subordinates to carry out the order.

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhu panicked completely, and she looked at the Crown Prince with a pitiful expression, “Your Highness, what wrong has this concubine committed that you treat me so?”

Xiao Jinyan’s voice was icy cold, “Once the truth is uncovered, you will understand why I treat you thus.”

“Come, take Lady Shen away and confine her.

We will decide her fate after the truth is revealed.”

Two young eunuchs stepped forward and dragged Shen Mingzhu away.

Shen Mingzhu could hardly believe she would end up like this.

Surely, if anyone should be confined after Chun Tao’s death in Xiyun Pavilion, it should be Shen Chuwei, not her.

The people present knew the Crown Prince was truly enraged and dared not even breathe too loudly.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the women in front of him and said in a cold voice, “You may all leave.”

“Your concubine takes her leave.”

The women filed out one by one.

Looking up at the handsome face of the Crown Prince, Concubine Xu, emboldened by the support of her family, took two steps forward and ventured to ask, “Your Highness, this concubine has prepared some snacks for breakfast.

Would you like to join me for a taste?”

Xiao Jinyan said, “I still have matters to attend to, perhaps another time.”

Concubine Xu pouted, feeling slightly discontent.

After all, I am a concubine.

The Crown Prince doesn’t even show me a bit of respect.

Am I just a decoration here?

Xiao Jinyan thought to himself, “…” That’s right, you are just a decoration.

Concubine Xu, displeased, flounced away, twirling her handkerchief and swaying her hips.

Once everyone had left, Xiao Jinyan turned his head to look at Shen Chuwei.

Whether it was the cold or fear, her little face was completely pale.

“Next time you encounter a situation like this, send the person away directly.

Did you hear me?”

“Understood, Your Highness,” Shen Chuwei sighed.

Who could have thought that the person who had been crying and wailing the night before would be gone come morning?

The investigation swiftly brought the facts to light.

Under overnight interrogation, the maids around Shen Mingzhu all confessed one by one.

Shen Mingzhu had threatened Chun Tao to return to Xiyun Pavilion, ingest poison, and commit suicide, framing Shen Chuwei for Chun Tao’s coerced death.

Although Xiao Jinyan had suspected as much, hearing the truth still filled him with unbridled rage, and he immediately sent Shen Mingzhu to the Cold Palace, to fend for herself.

Having dealt with Shen Mingzhu, Xiao Jinyan also let out a silent sigh of relief.

A few days passed, and the Empress, having craved for days, once again eagerly awaited some savory dishes from the Crown Prince.

Seeing the Empress lose her appetite again, Qing Ying suggested, “Your Majesty, why not have Lady Shen cook for you?”

The Empress, her interest piqued, entertained the idea; after all, Shen Chuwei’s cooking was truly delicious and appetizing.

However, even for the sake of a good meal, it seemed somewhat improper to request her to cook.

Just then, Liu Xi walked in, carrying a food box.

Coming forward, he greeted her, “This servant greets the Empress.”

The Empress’s eyes brightened at the sight of the food box, “Rise.

Why has it taken so many days for you to deliver?”

Liu Xi replied, “Your Majesty, the ingredients were not available in the palace, so they are quite rare.

Now that we have them, His Highness instructed me to send them to you immediately.” Saying this, he opened the food box and began to lay out the dishes on the table.

The Empress scanned the meal before her, which included the long-missed pickled long beans and dried radish.

She had been craving them for some time.

“The Crown Prince is thoughtful.”

Liu Xi, carrying the food box, said, “Empress, these ingredients actually all come from Xiyun Pavilion.”

After tasting a pickled long bean, the Empress expressed some dissatisfaction, “Why didn’t the Crown Prince say so earlier?

If I had known, I could have gone directly to Xiyun Pavilion to get them.”

“To answer the Empress, the Crown Prince said that the Empress doesn’t like Lady Shen, and if it was known that the ingredients were from Lady Shen, the Empress might not eat them.

That’s why this servant told a lie,” Liu Xi replied.

Upon hearing this, the Empress felt that the Crown Prince handled the matter appropriately and there was nothing unreasonable about it; she felt quite relieved, “I see, the Crown Prince went through a lot of trouble, Lady Shen is indeed a person of ingenuity and skill with her hands.”

“Then the Empress should have her meal, this servant will go back and report,” Liu Xi said with a faint smile, bowing out.

Upon returning to the East Palace, Liu Xi repeated the conversation.

Xiao Jinyan nodded, “It seems that Mother really enjoys these dishes very much.”

Liu Xi, with a smile, said, “Certainly, all these small dishes that this servant brought were loved by the Empress.”

Xiao Jinyan instructed, “Have dinner at Xiyun Pavilion tonight.”

“This servant will go and have Xiyun Pavilion prepare right away,” said Liu Xi with a smile, leaving the room.

Chun Xi was overjoyed upon learning that His Highness was coming for dinner.

Only Shen Chuwei couldn’t muster any joy; she wasn’t afraid of dining, but she feared that Xiao Jinyan would suddenly ask how her calligraphy practice was coming along.

These past few days, she hadn’t even taken out her brush, let alone practiced her characters.

*

Xiao Jinyu, procrastinating and choosing a clear day, left the palace to bring the beauty into the palace.

As he stepped into the temporarily rented residence, he peeked inside a little nervously; it had been a long while since his last visit, and he didn’t know if Han Yan was angry.

Just as he poked his head out, he hadn’t seen anything yet when he heard Pingping call out to him, “Young Master Xiao, what are you doing again?”

Xiao Jinyu looked up and saw Han Yan and Pingping standing to his left.

Han Yan’s height truly felt imposing.

There was no escaping being caught red-handed snooping.

Xiao Jinyu showed an embarrassed but polite smile, “I was just checking if Han Yan was playing the zither again.

In this cold weather, it wouldn’t be good if her hands froze.”

“Young Master Xiao, don’t worry, this maid has prepared a hand warmer for Miss Han, so her hands won’t get cold,” Pingping said with a smile.

Xiao Jinyu’s gaze turned to Han Yan’s hands; they were comfortably holding a hand warmer wrapped in a green silk cloth.

Her hands weren’t frozen and indeed looked quite nice,

“Young Master Xiao, have you come today for a particular reason?” Han Yan asked, looking up at Xiao Jinyu, her tone cool and indifferent to joy or anger.

Xiao Jinyu, for once showing a bit of spine, stood up straight, “Of course, it’s to take you back to my home, though you’ll have to enter as a maid.

Are you willing?”

Han Yan responded, “From the moment Young Master Xiao bought me, I became your person.

Naturally, I am willing.”

Xiao Jinyu closed his fan decisively, “That’s settled then.

Pingping, pack the luggage; we’ll return right away.”

“Yes.” Pingping worked swiftly, and her preparations were quickly complete.

Xiao Jinyu took Han Yan onto the horse carriage, and told her, “Once we arrive at my house, don’t be surprised, okay?

There are also many rules at my house, so please be mindful.”

Han Yan nodded, “I understand.”

Xiao Jinyu reassured, “Don’t worry; even if you enter my family’s door, I won’t let you feel uncomfortable.

I can take you to see my sister-in-law; you girls will have topics to chat about and relieve boredom.”