The Crown Prince Manor
After meeting the Empress, Xu Mingzhu left the palace and returned to the crown Prince Manor. The carriage rode into the manor and she was led down by her maids. On getting down she was surprised by the image of a bowing steward Hu.
"This servants welcomes her highness the crown princess Consort back from the palace Your Highness the crown Prince wishes to speak with you in the family Hall, he requested that you head there as soon as you returned" Steward Liu said.
"Oh I will be on my way" Xu Mingzhu said and began walking to the family Hall.
Xu Mingzhu walked into the Hall and was greeted by the image of a kneeling Tai Li. As soon as she saw Tai Li kneeling she could already guess what was happening. She quickly controled her expression and standing in front of the crown Prince who was seated on the master's seats bowed and said
"Mingzhu greets Your highness the crown Prince"
"Hmm, a dilute quantity of aborticide was found in the Foetus stabilizing drugs delivered to Madam Jang by your personal maid servant Tao Li. When questioned she claimed that it was done by you" Zhongshan Huang said.
"That's a lie your highness, my lady never put an aborticide in the herbs" Xu min said loudly in her mistress defense.
"You highness, Xu min is defending her highness out of loyalty, I saw my lady mix in the aborticide herself" Tao Li said walking forward on her knees.
Xu min was about to speak up in her young mistress defense when she was held back by Xu Mingzhu who walked forward and said
"You claim that you saw me personally mix the aborticide in. Do you have any proof?
"you have to believe me your highness am telling you the truth. When I saw it I was too cared to confront her for risk of death so I stayed quiet and delivered the drugs but I couldn't do it for long so I reported it to Madam Jang. She had rushed over to warn Madam Yang when we found out that she had already fainted and was bleeding" Tao Li said
"Please uphold justice for my lady, your highness" Yan Lu Madam Yang's personal maid servant said.
"I never added aborticide to Madam Yang's drugs Your highness, I have proof of that" Xu Mingzhu said silencing everyone.
"You may continue" Zhongshan Huang said.
"Thank you, your highness. A month ago I discovered that my personal maid servant Tao Li added aborticide to Madam Yang's drugs. I wanted to punish her then but I wasn't convinced that she was working alone because the aborticide was well mixed so I had a maid exchange the drugs for the correct one and had the head of guards watch Tao li. All this was to find out who was helping her" Xu Mingzhu said
"That can't be true, because madam Yang was still poisoned" Jang Suyin said from where she stood at the crown Prince left.
"Your highness I personally monitored Tao li's movements and madam Yang's drugs" Ji cheng the head of the guards of the Manor said.
"What could that possibly mean" Jang Suyin said.
"You highness Tao Li could not have poisoned madam Yang as she was no where near her rooms but This maid was" Ji Cheng said pointing as the maid Servant that reported Tao Li involvement in the poisoning.
"grab her" Jang Suyin instructed and two guards grabbed hold of the maid and dragged her to the middle of the hall forcing her to kneel next to Tao Li.
"Why did you poison your Mistress" Jang Suyin asked.
"No no I didn't it wasn't me I only did as I was told" The maid replied crying.
"Who instructed you to do that" Xu Mingzhu said walking up to where the maid knelt and raising up her face.
"Madam Yang was not reacting to the drugs at all so we suspected that Tao Li was lying to us about giving her the drugs so so" the maid replied.
"So who gave the instructions, you and Tao Li are not smart enough to have mixed the aborticide so accurately who helped you" Xu Mingzhu said raising her voice angrily.
"It was Qin Lan Madam Jang's maid servant, she gave me the drugs and asked me to prepare it for my lady" the maid said crying bitterly.
As soon as that was said everyone was silent as they all turned to Madam Jang.
"Take them away everyone but Suyin, Mingzhu and Xiaolian leave us" the crown Prince said firmly.
* * *
Lu Xiaolian private rooms.
"How is madam Yang" Lu Xiaolian asked as Bie liu was brushing her hair in front of the mirror. She had just had her bath and was preparing to go to sleep.
"She has woken up, had her drugs and has fallen asleep" Yao Yao said.
"That's good. Today was a very long day indeed" Lu Xiaolian said said with a sigh.
"Should I have someone monitor her food and drugs? Bie liu asked setting some of Lu Xiaolian's hair on her shoulder and placing the comb on the table.
"No need Jang Suyin would not make use of the same method twice. Wangye will also be paying more attention to the safety of his child" Lu Xiaolian replied standing and walking to her tea table and taking a seat.
"so my guess is right and all this was Madam Jang's doing" Yao Yao said with a smug smile looking straight at Bie liu. 'don't know why she didn't believe me, see I was right'
"That's true and the crown Prince was aware or he wouldn't have taken away the management of the household and returned it to the crown princess Consort" Lu Xiaolian replied pouring herself some tea.
"Am curious as to how Wangfei lost it in the first place" Bie liu said.
"Simple, Thanks to one of Madam Jang's tricks. You will have to be careful with that one my lady, she's as sly as a fox" Yao Yao said.
"Yes I shouldn't let down my guard around her"Lu Xiaolian replied.
"Your highness" the servants chorused as Zhongshan Huang walked The western courtyard.
"Your highness" Lu Xiaolian said bowing as the crown Prince walked into her private rooms.
"Leave us" Zhongshan Huang said and Yao Yao and Bie liu withdrew from the room.
"You are back early I thought that you would be out longer" Lu Xiaolian said a few minutes later as she served tea.
"The Emperor tasked me with investigating the killings in the red light district and the Jiangxi casino so I was chasing a lead" Zhongshan Huang said.
"Did you find anything" Lu Xiaolian said.
"No I hit a dead end" Zhongshan Huang replied.
"Hmm no surprise there, the Jiangxi casino is just a front for the Tian zi assembly. A dark martial arts group whose leader is unknown and their existence is also secret" Lu Xiaolian said.
"if it is secret how then do you know of their existence" Zhongshan Huang said.
"We both know that not what you think or you wouldn't have let me know of your investigation" Lu Xiaolian said smiling.
"I guess we think alike. You were right about that you know. I want to pick your brain on this, after all the Lu Family have biggest networks of spies" Zhongshan Huang said smiling and pulling Lu Xiaolian from her seat and on to his laps.
"Our spies can't compare to yours now can they" Lu Xiaolian said blushing as the crown Prince pulled her into a kiss.