"A few weeks ago, the poison in my body acted up. Mingyue and Grandfather suspected that someone had done something to trigger the poison in my body."
"What?" Jiang Xiao Tian's eyes were wide at this news. "Then, His Majesty-"
"His Majesty had no knowledge about this. Only a few trusted person knew. I can't let my parents worry about this. His Majesty will cancel the upcoming Spring Hunt. Not only will that expose my condition to my enemy, but the neighboring countries who harbored ill intention towards Da Cheng will also use this as their opportunity." Princess Lingchen sent a warning glance to her cousin brother.
Jiang Xiao Tian lowered his gaze as he pondered over the Princess's warning. "I will try to keep your secret from His Majesty," his voice was like a whisper. "But if he asks, I will have to tell him the truth. You know that I cannot lie to His Majesty."
"Very well." Princess Lingchen nodded. She understood Jiang Xiao Tian's loyalty to the Emperor.
"Are you feeling well now?" Jiang Xiao Xian looked at the princess with concern.
"Thanks to Mingyue, I am recovering well." Princess Lingchen said. "Cousin Mingyue was capable. She learned a lot from Grandfather. And because of that incident, cousin brother Xiao Xian had sent over a few trusted guards to me."
Jiang Xiao Tian glanced at the guards who stood not too far away from them. He could sense that a few of them was very skilled in martial arts though they tried their best to hide their ability. "The thing you wanted me to investigate, what is it?"
The chilly wind blew over as the Princess finished retelling what had happened when the poison flare. After that, Jiang Xiao Tian was silent as he mulled over Princess Lingchen's story.
The Princess studied her cousin's expression. Her heart beat loudly against her ribcage. She was anxious to know what his answer will be. At this point, she did not know who else she could ask to investigate the matter, other than Jiang Xiao Tian. If he refused her request, then she will be very disappointed.
"Your Highness," Jiang Xiao Tian spoke softly. "Are you suspecting Prince Jing?"
Princess Lingchen closed her eyes briefly. "I don't know. He might be a few years older than me, but he was still young when we found out that I was poisoned. I don't think he has the capabilities to ask someone to poison me at that age."
It is not strange for the Princess to suspect Prince Jing, Jiang Xiao Tian thought. After all, she did meet him before the poison in her body acted up. But, if it is not Prince Jing, then, did Princess Lingchen suspected Prince Yi? After all, if Princess Lingchen was no longer around, the next to ascend the throne will be Prince Yi.
Their gaze met. Both Princess Lingchen and Jiang Xiao Tian were trying to figure out what was on each others' mind.
"Then," Jiang Xiao Tian was the first who spoke. "Do you have anyone you suspect? Is there something or someone that I can start to look into?"
Her eyes lifted. "Does it means that you will help me?"
Jiang Xiao Tian hesitated for a while before he nodded. "I will."
With a sigh of relief, Princess Lingchen spoke, "The first person I suspect will be Prince Yi. But cousin brother, do you know that if I died a few years ago, there is someone else who will benefit from it." She watched Jiang Xiao Xian's puzzled expression before she continued. "The Chen family,"
The frown on Jiang Xiao Tian's forehead deepened. "Chancellor Chen?"
With a nod, Princess Lingchen continued, "When the Empress gave birth to me, the Emperor had vowed that he would not take another woman or have another child. Around that time, I heard that Chancellor Chen was ready to send her eldest daughter into the palace as the Emperor's concubine."
In other words, if Princess Lingchen died that night, the Emperor will have no other excuse to bring in another woman into the palace, and this will benefit Chancellor Chen. Once his daughter entered the palace, then, wouldn't his power and influence in the palace rose as well?
"A few days ago, I saw Prince Yi and Chancellor Chen together. I heard from the palace maidservants that there were rumors that Prince Jing and Chancellor's granddaughter, Chen Chun Hua are quite close recently," Princess Lingchen said. She heaved a long sigh and continued, "I need you to help me investigate the matter."