"Mother"The First Prince said loudly as he walked into his mother Imperial Noble Consort Gao's private rooms. "Your highness please hold on her highness is handling a matter" His mother's Chief Eunuch said in an appeasing tone bowing lowly. The First Prince wasn't known for his patient. He was a ranging fire just kept burning and burning until it destroyed everything in it's path. The first Prince was nothing like his mother, he was a wild card as opposed to his much calmer and smarter mother. "You dare ! get out of my way" the First Prince said pushing him aside and walking forward. "Hold on Your highness. Her highness has a guest" the Chief Eunuch called out running forward to stop the first prince movement. Imperial Noble Consort was conversing with Fifth Madam Gao and didn't wish to be disturbed. They Had been in there for a while now with a loud painful female cries and pleads heard in intervals. They could already guess what was going on but pretended otherwise. The only way to survive when serving such a cruel mistress like the Noble Consort was to play dumb. You wouldn't last long if you played the hero. The Imperial Noble Consort had been on the edge since the crown Prince's miraculous return from the dead. They had all been walking in eggshells for a while now afraid to annoy the Imperial Noble Consort and receive a harsh punishment. If the First Prince was a ranging fire Imperial Noble Consort Gao was basically a wolf in sheep's clothing. Her bite was rather deadly and unyielding. Fifth Madam Gao was the current recipient of her special treatment thanks to her paternal family causing trouble and implicating the First Prince that the Emperor came over just this morning to scold the Imperial Noble Consort. "Mother" The first prince said as he walked into her inner room to find a weeping Fifth Madam Gao and her maid. Fifth Madam Gao was bleeding on her back thanks to the weeping delivered by his mother. He wasn't surprised at the sight at all this dumb bitch's family had cost him a lot. He suspects that this matter brought about the Emperor's harsh behavior in court. "Leave us" The Imperial Noble Consort said glaring darkly at Fifth Madam Gao as her personal maid led her out. As soon as they were alone she poured them both a cup of tea and handing a cup over to him. She said smiling, She could tell that her son was worried. If her Nian'er was worried then so was she He was her pride and joy, the only thing that left her sane in this palace. She would have lost everything if it wasn't for this one son of hers "Jinnian what's wrong". "Bad news Mother our plans have been recked" the first Prince replied balling e his fist. "What's wrong did the bandits go back on the plan or did that fool escape capture" Imperial Noble Consort Gao said thoughtfully. "No mother consort everything went according to plan. It's Imperial father that ruin everything. He sent Duke Gu mother, he even gave him the Imperial seal" the first Prince replied. "What?! how can this be. Why would he do this" the Imperial Noble Consort said sitting straight. "I have no idea but I suspect it has to do with the incident involving the Zhang family. Imperial father has been behaving strange since that happened" the First Prince said. "The fools I warned my brother not to arrange a match with that low class family. No sensible noble Family married in a lady from a merchant family except for money. It was a mistake getting associated with that family. No this won't do, what could possibly be the Emperor's end game" She stood and began to gently pace in thought. "Imperial father blindsided everyone even the crown Prince was surprised" Zhongshan Jinnian said. "Foolish boy I have told time and time again never presume to know what the crown Prince is up. He is as tricky as his mother" she said turning around sharply with a glare. "Sorry mother I will be much more careful around him" Zhongshan Jinnian replied. "Hmm As for this issue no need to worry yourself. There is nothing that can be done about that. You have to stay calm and act normally I suspect that the Emperor would be watching us closely. This is most definitely a trick to subdue us quietly. As long as you don't get into any other mess he marjesty would let us go" She said the Emperor doesn't wish to give them any other way out so they just had to tolerate everything "Xu shi is currently pregnant with an Imperial heir remember to take good care of her. The child could be our best card yet since the crown Prince dosen't have an heir yet" she continued after some thoughts. "Yes mother" the first prince replied.
At the Crown Prince Manor
Zhongshan Huang got down from the carriage and began walking to Lu Xiaolian's rooms. After meeting the Emperor to discuss on some matters he headed over to the Empress dowager's palace to pay his respect. He especially went over to thank her for handling the first prince and report his discoveries on the Murders on the red light district. The culprit had been discovered to be the young master of the second branch of the Empress dowager's paternal family. Hence everything had to be handled quietly to avoid implicating the Imperial royal family. After that he headed back home, his mother the Empress was burning incense in the Imperial temple so he did bother stopping by for a visit. "How are things on the first Prince's end ? He asked Chu Yan in a low tone as they walked forward. ""Everything has been quiet so far. The first Prince however paid the Imperial Noble Consort a visit after court" Chu Yan replied. "Oh? that explains everything" Zhongshan Huang said. "How do you mean your highness" Chu Yan said thoughtfully. "Just that my Elder brother is very hot headed he most definitely wouldn't have taken this standing. The Imperial Noble Consort must have talked sense into him now that is a woman to watch out for" Zhongshan Huang replied as he stepped into Lu Xiaolian's courtyard to find it empty surprised he turned to Chu Yan and said " Find out what happened while I was at Court". "Yes you highness" Chu Yan said and walked away. Some minutes later her returned and relayed everything to his master Zhongshan Huang. "She hasn't been released for long and she's already causing trouble. Let's head over there and sort everything out" Zhongshan Huang said and left the courtyard heading over to the Crown princess rooms.