Chapter 726: Showdown

The culprit was naturally Consort Bai. The incident involving the two occurred at Hundred Flowers Palace, and her personal maid administered the poison. By all accounts, she couldn't escape responsibility.

Zu An hesitated: "Should we investigate secretly first? If we go there directly now without evidence, won't we alert the enemy?"

The Crown Princess snorted: "You need evidence when you're investigating a case. But I'm not here to investigate a case today; I'm here to vent my anger!"

With that, she stormed off. Her personal maid, Rong Mo, hastily followed her to the door, while also summoning a retinue of eunuchs, palace maids, and guards to accompany them.

Seeing this, Zu An also hurried to follow.

"Brother Zu, congratulations on your promotion!" Jiao Sigun and his companion came closer, their faces beaming with joy.

"Why don't we go to the Music Bureau to celebrate tonight?" Piao Duandiao suggested excitedly.

Zu An glanced at his dark eye circles and couldn't help but say, "You just went out last night. Won't your back ache if you go again today?"

"Of course not—" Piao Duandiao subconsciously straightened his chest. However, this movement seemed to aggravate an existing condition, and he instinctively touched his lower back. "It's just a little sore and swollen."

"Take good care of yourself," Zu An said, smiling as he patted his shoulder. "Don't let those enchantresses from the Music Bureau drain you dry every day."

With Yun Jianyue and Qiu Honglei gone, he had already lost much interest in the Music Bureau. Moreover, after enjoying Chu Chuyan's exceptionally tender ministrations just yesterday, he had even less interest now.

Watching his departing figure, Piao Duandiao couldn't help but quietly lament, "Brother Zu has changed."

Jiao Sigun rolled his eyes: "If you had an immortal beauty like Miss Chu as your wife at home, you wouldn't be interested in those common beauties at the Music Bureau either."

"But even the most beautiful woman can become boring after a while, can't she?" Piao Duandiao retorted, disagreeing. "The various understanding ladies at the Music Bureau can offer novelty!"

"Heh heh," Jiao Sigun sneered, "Have you forgotten those great beauties we saw at the palace gate yesterday? Who said Brother Zu only has Miss Chu? He sleeps with Miss Chu today, Miss Murong tomorrow, Miss Jiang the day after tomorrow, and Miss Xie the day after that. It's never the same every day! By the time it's Miss Chu's turn again, won't it feel fresh once more? How could it be boring then?"

"For the first time, I think what you said makes a lot of sense," Piao Duandiao paused, his eyes eventually filled with envy. "I originally thought I understood Brother Zu's happiness, but after your reminder, I realize I can't even begin to imagine his joy."

Soon, the group arrived at Hundred Flowers Palace. Consort Bai had already come out to greet them: "Greetings, Crown Princess!"

Piao Duandiao, Jiao Sigun, and the other attendants thought to themselves that Consort Bai was beautiful and spoke so gently; listening to her was truly an exquisite pleasure.

Zu An watched her delicate and timid demeanor as she spoke. It was truly difficult to connect her with the malicious mastermind who had plotted against them. He couldn't help but secretly grow wary, thinking, "The prettier a woman is, the more deceptive she can be. Zu An, can't you even see through this?"

In contrast, the Crown Princess, also a woman, was not at all swayed by Consort Bai's appearance. She sneered, "Why are you out so early today, Consort Bai?"

Consort Bai looked aggrieved: "Your Royal Highness, I don't quite understand what you mean."

Seeing her pitiful appearance, even Piao Duandiao, Jiao Sigun, and the other staff members of the Eastern Palace felt that the Crown Princess was being excessive. They thought it was too much to bully the gentle Consort Bai in such a manner. Of course, these thoughts remained unspoken, only daring to be entertained in their minds.

Only Zu An understood that the Crown Princess was referring to the day when the two of them came to Hundred Flowers Palace, and Consort Bai refused to come out.

The Crown Princess snorted and said nothing more. After all, it was inconvenient for others to know about that matter. She walked straight into Hundred Flowers Palace.

As soon as she entered, she took the main seat. She then looked around and asked, "Why don't I see your personal maid?"

"Are you referring to Xin Rui, Your Royal Highness?" Consort Bai replied. "She asked for leave from me a few days ago and has been away for a while. She hasn't returned yet."

"Leave? Or is it to silence her?" The Crown Princess sneered repeatedly.

Consort Bai's expression remained calm: "Your Royal Highness, you're joking."

The Crown Princess slammed her hand on the chair: "Who's joking with you! Guards, seize this wretched maid and slap her!"

Outside, Piao Duandiao and the other guards secretly frowned, unable to understand what the Crown Princess was doing. Of course, such matters would inevitably involve physical contact with a consort, so they wouldn't let men handle it.

Rong Mo led a few maids, charging menacingly towards Consort Bai. The palace maids of Hundred Flowers Palace were all greatly alarmed and instinctively tried to protect their mistress. However, they were no match for Rong Mo. With a burst of force from her, they all stumbled and fell, and Consort Bai was quickly restrained.

Rong Mo's hand was raised high, just about to strike when Consort Bai spoke: "Your Royal Highness, if you're going to hit me, at least give a reason."

The Crown Princess said coolly: "You showed disrespect to me. According to palace rules, I am naturally within my right to strike you."

"I have always treated Your Royal Highness with utmost respect, daring not to be negligent in the slightest. I don't know where this 'disrespect' comes from," Consort Bai said. Her pitiful appearance garnered sympathy from many onlookers. With tears in her eyes, she looked around: "So many people are watching; they can all bear witness."

"Is that so?" The Crown Princess's gaze sharply swept across the room. "Then do you all think I am needlessly making things difficult for Consort Bai?"

The palace maids and eunuchs all shook their heads: "No!"

Zu An couldn't help but chuckle. These people were all intimidated by the Crown Princess's "tyrannical power." Though the Crown Princess was not very old, her authority and aura exuded a maturity far beyond her years.

At this, Consort Bai looked at Zu An: "Can't you speak fairly, Sir Zu?"

The Crown Princess frowned. This wretched woman always loved to ensnare men with her pitiful act. This time, she said nothing, but looked at Zu An curiously, waiting to see how he would respond.

Zu An gave an awkward smile: "We aren't exactly that familiar..."

Although Consort Bai had previously summoned him privately, bestowed gifts upon him, and even offered him Hundred Flowers Tea, implying a decent relationship between them, he had almost been killed by her this time, so naturally, he wouldn't show any soft-heartedness.

Just then, a faint sigh echoed in Zu An's ear: "Men are truly ungrateful creatures. I just helped you, and you turned your back on me so quickly." He immediately widened his eyes, because Consort Bai was merely staring at him with her large, glistening eyes, without opening her mouth. Yet, those words had clearly come from her. Consort Bai was actually a hidden master! And even more crucially, the voice...

At this moment, Rong Mo grew impatient. Just as she was about to slap Consort Bai, Zu An rushed forward to stop her: "Wait!"

Rong Mo frowned deeply and stared at him coldly. Everyone else broke out in a cold sweat for Zu An. They thought, "You can't just defy the Crown Princess's decision like this, just because she favors you!" Piao Duandiao and Jiao Sigun exchanged a glance, thinking, "Lust is indeed a blade above one's head; it truly proves true."

The Crown Princess was also somewhat displeased now: "What are you doing?"

Zu An said in a deep voice, "Consort Bai has something she wishes to say to Your Royal Highness. May I ask if you could dismiss everyone else?"

The Crown Princess raised an eyebrow. If Consort Bai had said something like that, she wouldn't have bothered to listen. But coming from Zu An, she knew there must be a reason. After a moment's hesitation, she waved her hand, signaling Rong Mo and the others to withdraw.

"Your Royal Highness—" Rong Mo grew anxious, worried that something might happen to the Crown Princess if she were left alone.

The Crown Princess said calmly: "It's fine. All of you go guard the entrance. No one is to enter without my command."

With no other choice, Rong Mo left. As she passed Zu An, she shot him a resentful look. The Crown Princess used to consult with me on everything and never avoided me. But ever since this fellow came, I feel she has become much more distant from me, and there are many things even I am no longer allowed to hear. People talk about female vixen spirits, but I think this guy is a male vixen spirit who seduces his master!

Rong Mo's rage value: 233233233.

After everyone had withdrawn, the Crown Princess watched Consort Bai coldly: "Speak. What do you have to tell me?"

Consort Bai also rose from the ground, no longer displaying her previous timidness. Her entire demeanor became extremely calm and composed: "I know why you've come today. I can tell you plainly: I was not the one who framed you that day. On the contrary, I saved you."