The Beloved Imperial Consort

Wu Yi Zhao.
After a secret discussion, the two of them wrote the result of the investigation and the cause of the incident into the memorial.
It was just they have completely erased traces of Mu Xi Yao’s involvement, replacing her with the estate’s guard.

After reading the memorial, Yuancheng Emperor dispatched people to collect the evidence from the sixth prince’s estate.
When they came back to the palace, they submitted two special tokens, tattoo design and the remnant of poison used by the culprits when he committed “suicide”.

This incident concerned a serious crime of the assassination of the imperial family member.
Therefore, Yuancheng Emperor paid special attention to this matter.
He dispatched the secret guard to turn over the whole Shengjin.
Ultimately, in the suburbs of Shengjin, they’ve captured ten something people with tattoo imprint, among them were even two women.

Under the Ministry of Justice’s torture, only two of them couldn’t stand the integration and have confessed.
The rest of the people would rather die than submit.

Yuancheng Emperor, watching the two blindly implicating the crown prince without elaborating, immediately broke into a rage.
He ordered to have all ten people beheaded in the middle of the street.
Afterward, he rebuked angrily in the court that the one behind this case had an ambition of wild wolves1.
Later, an official statement was issued which ordered all the criminals with the flying guillotine tattoo in Great Wei and its borders to be arrested.

After this incident, Yuancheng Emperor even more strictly monitored each imperial prince’s forces.
Especially the first prince Zhong Zheng Chun who was the most suspicious.
Although there wasn’t definite proof, the secret guard has scouted out that there was a remnant of the same poison’s prescription in a private house.
After investigation, it was discovered that the deed of that property belonged to a female household member of one of Zhong Zheng Chun’s subordinate official.

The first prince was summoned to the doorway of Yuancheng Emperor’s study.
There was no chide.
He merely threw at him a title deed, leaving him kneeling on the steps by himself till he passed out.

Mu Xi Yao didn’t care about the rumor that Zhong Zheng Chun has incurred the wrath of the Emperor at all.
She currently worried that Zhong Zheng Lin won’t be able to process it all.

The sixth prince, since receiving Wei Zhen’s report, hasn’t come to rest in Danruo courtyard for three consecutive days.
He didn’t even go to see his son, Cheng Qing.
It seems that he was at odds with her.

Mu Xi Yao looked at the plum forest outside the window.
Her beautiful brows creased into a frown.
It was easy to compete for the favor.
However, there was no shortcut to gaining trust.
What’s more, this time, she did it too clean.
Based on Zhong Zheng Lin’s suspicious nature, she will likely have to wait for some time before that man could let go of his stubbornness.

This operation was her biggest sincerity toward Zhong Zheng Lin.
Just, it was unbeknownst to her whether he could throw away his suspiciousness of a monarch and make an equal return.

Since being treated coldly by Yuancheng Emperor, the first prince Zhong Zheng Chun hasn’t been in the study for three days.
He has drowned his sorrows in alcohol all day long.
His temper was violent and prone to rage.
Even the advisors in the estate avoided him.

It was the appearance of the noble consort’s father, duke of An Guo, that has finally pacified his restless mood.
Upon hearing foolish things Zhong Zheng Lin has done, duke of An Guo closed his eyes and said nothing.
He was actually very wary of Mu cefei mentioned by his grandson.

He didn’t know much about the flying guillotine or Hua Mei.
However, to be able to make Zhong Zheng Chun’s people gone forever overnight, he clearly has fallen to the other person’s trap.
If the sixth Highness has detected some clues and set up this death trap then it still wasn’t that bad.
However, if that woman had such resourcefulness then it was far from good.

Zhong Zheng Lin was already experienced and knowledgeable, a real poker face.
A few years ago, he’s acquired an extremely outstanding advisor – Di Wu Yi Zhao.
He was already like a tiger that has grown wings2.
If he also got a woman who was equal to a tactician to oversee the inner yard now, the sixth prince’s estate would be like a city that was protected by a wall of metal and a moat of boiling water3.
It would be difficult for them to destabilize.

As duke of An Guo looked at his disappointing grandson, he could only sigh at the bottom of his heart.
Heaven didn’t treat well House of Li for having such rude and unresourceful offspring.
The future outlook of An Guo House was worrying.

These days, even the crown prince was disliked by his Imperial Majesty.
His Majesty has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction over the crown prince’s errands in the Ministry of Revenue.
This sixth Highness indeed stood out too much.
If they don’t suppress him as soon as possible, once he establishes his powers it will be too late for them to regret.

Since they couldn’t confront him openly, the inner yard, on the contrary, was well worth to try.
Merely, they needed to grasp the timing well.
Apparently, it wasn’t far from the sixth Highness’s grand wedding.
It was truly like a godsend opportunity.

Duke of An Guo had a secret conversation with Zhong Zheng Chun.
Afterward, the first prince reorganized flags and drums4 and has even progressed a little compared to before.

Translation notes: 

[1] An ambition of wild wolves is a Chinese idiom meaning rapacious designs

[2] Like a tiger that has grown wings is a Chinese idiom meaning with redoubled power

[3] A city that was protected by a wall of metal and a moat of boiling water is a Chinese idiom meaning well fortified; invulnerable to attack

[4] Reorganized flags and drums is a Chinese idiom meaning to regroup after a setback; to prepare for new initiatives; to attempt a comeback