"She hasn't been back long but is already causing me much pain" The Imperial Noble Consort said angrily. She had just returned from paying her respects to the Empress. "Mother" the first prince called as he walked into the room.
"Jinnian how was court"
"Our plans are in shambles mother, imperial father has ordered an investigation on the attack on Huang"
"You didn't leave any clue that could lead to you right"
"No I didn't I had everyone killed"
"Good, don't worry mother will take care of everything, I have already spoken with your uncle about it. All you need to do is to relax and leave it to mother"
"I feel much better know that you will handle it but what about the Third Prince"
"No need to worry I have just the trick to get rid of all our pressing problems just lie low"
" that's good"
"don't think too much about anything with me here nothing will happen to you" She said patting his cheek with a smile. She didn't survive this long without learning a few tricks.
* * *
It was the day of the little princess full moon ceremony and every high ranking noble family were invited to attend. The Monks had finished the prayer and the festivities were now in order. The crown princess consort was still confined to her rooms so Lu Xiaolian acted as the host. Female members of the royal family and high ranking madam paid their visit to the little princess presenting many gifts. Even the Empress was present, Lu Xiaolian carried the little princess all through the ceremony since it had been decided that she would be raising the little princess as her child. The Empress dowager had already named the Little Princess Yanyi and was already in talks with the Empress on her marriage match.
"It really good to see imperial brother healthy, I think royal mother heart can now be at rest" Zhongshan Jinnian said.
"Many thanks Elder brother Jinnian" Zhongshan Huang replied smiling.
"The little princess is really pretty, congratulations Imperial brother and sister-in-law" Princess Consort Xu said "I too hope that I give birth to a beautiful little Prince" she continued. Lu Xiaolian and Zhongshan Huang didn't reply but maintained their smiles.
"Imperial brother should get better soon and help out in court it's quite stressful handling everything alone" The first Prince said.
"Not everyone is built for this work, elder brother doesn't need to worry soon I will resume my duties and you can get back to the life of leisure your more familiar with" Zhongshan Huang replied leaving the first prince speechless.
* * *
Lu Xiaolian had put the little princess to bed and was headed to bed herself when she heard a knock on her door. She pulled the door open "You haven't gone to bed yet" Zhongshan Huang said walking into the room and pulled the door closed.
"I was about to Yanyi just slept off"
"She must have been disturbed by everything"
"She was, I think she will sleep through the night"
"That's good I don't think I can stay awake all through the night after such a stressful day"
"me neither"
"The results of the investigation bureau are out"
"what was the result?
"It was as you predicted the First Prince and the Imperial Noble Consort manipulated the evidence"
"As expected,who took the fall for everything_
"The third Prince"
"That was a very smart move, that's basically killing two birds with one stone"
"The Imperial Noble Consort had always been good and getting rid of any weak link. The third prince was only useful as a stepping stone for the first prince nothing else"
"How will the Emperor handle this"
"That I don't know yet"
She hugged him from the back and said softly "we'll get him next time".
"Xiaolian the masked men may not have been sent by the first prince but I believe that whoever sent them is most definitely related to the first prince"
"We'll get Him too, it's getting late let's get some rest" she guided him to the bed.
* * *
"Mother"
"Jinnian your here"
"Yes I am"
"How did it go" she said smiling wide. Zhongshan Jinnian sat next to her and took her hands into his palm also smiling.
"Smoothly"
"And the third prince"
"Has been banished back to his country estate but not after helping in subduing the Wo bandits"
"Excellent but he can't be allowed to live. we have to get rid of the weak link. Arrange a meeting with the bandits and have them get rid of him"
"That true mother no one will suspect anything after all in the battlefield anything can happen"
"Yes my good son"
"I will get right at it but in the meantime what about Huang"
"We will have to lie low to avoid suspicion at least for now"
"I will have my men arrange the everything"
"Good"
* * *
"So the Third Prince took the fall in the end no worries I only lost one pawn there will be many more to come" the masked master said
"Master the Crown Prince seams to be looking into the person behind masked assassins" his second in command reported kneeling.
"Zhongshan Huang is really relentless on his witch Hunt isn't he, too bad he would never discover who I am. I wanted to give him a little break but since he doesn't seem to want any, I will make sure he has none"
"master what are your orders"
"deliver this message to Old master Jang, inform him that Jiangxi Sect has decided to join hands with him"
"Yes Master" his right hand man said and with a bow left the room.
Zhongshan Huang has no one else to blame but himself for what is to come. The Imperial family has ruled the kingdom long enough.
Old master Jang was too blinded by grief to notice that he was being used just as he predicted when he reached out to third madam Shen. The fool honestly thought that he cared about the petty struggles in the Haram.