Chapter 83: Divine Calculation
"What? Zhang Ying is Tang Yao's daughter?"
The eldest princess was so frightened that she stood up directly from the couch, as if there was a blazing brazier under her buttocks, and she couldn't sit still for a moment.
"No, how come that bitch is Tang Yao's daughter?" She was puzzled: "Isn't Tang Yao's daughter in the second brother's house?"
"It is said that Miss Tang in the Second Prince's mansion is a fake, and she and her personal maid pretended to be the real Miss Tang." Yunniang was a little flustered: "Master, killing Zhang Ying is nothing, but killing Tang Yao's daughter may alarm His Majesty..."
The eldest princess quickly calmed down: "Don't panic, go and quietly invite the Second Prince to come over."
Yuan Lang didn't even have time to eat breakfast when Yunniang rushed over. On the way, she asked, "Aunt, what's wrong with you? Have you called the imperial physician?"
"The master is fine, but I just heard some news. Please ask the Second Prince to come over."
Yuan Lang walked into Chuihong Palace with a worried look on his face. Seeing that the Grand Princess was dressed neatly and in good spirits, he heaved a sigh of relief: "My aunt asked Aunt Yun to call me early in the morning. I thought I was unwell and was worried all the way."
"I'm fine." The eldest princess waved her hand and said, "Yuan Lang, come here. I have something to ask you. This morning, I received news that Tang Yao's daughter was poisoned. What happened to the one in your house?"
"Aunt, what did you say?" Yuan Lang forgot what he was saying halfway through, and said nervously, "Tang Yao's daughter was poisoned? When did it happen?"
The Grand Princess was eager to verify the facts and did not care about his anxious look. "I received news early in the morning. A chief of the Imperial Cavalry Department reported to Your Majesty last night that Tang Yao's daughter was poisoned. Your Majesty has already sent people to investigate."
"Tang Ying was poisoned?" Yuan Lang went over what the Grand Princess said in his mind again, but still refused to believe it: "Aunt, did you hear it wrong? Wasn't she fine yesterday?" With Fu Chen's ability, and the girl's strong skills, it shouldn't be possible.
"What happened last night." The eldest princess asked again: "What happened to the one in your house? Hasn't the marriage been granted?"
When this matter was mentioned, Yuan Lang's face was a little embarrassed: "My nephew was deceived, and the one he brought back was a fake." But he had other plans in his mind. In front of Yuan Heng, he changed his usual gentleness and showed a rare embarrassment: "My nephew admires the Tang family for their loyalty and bravery. I wanted to take good care of the orphan girl of the Tang family, so I asked father to grant me a marriage, but who knew..."
The eldest princess felt much better when she saw her nephew was in trouble, and her anxiety was mostly relieved: "You can't be blamed for this, it's just that this marriage--"
"The marriage has been called off. Tang Ying refuses to acknowledge him, and my father can't force her." He was suspicious of the news that the eldest princess had heard: "Is Tang Ying really dead?"
The Grand Princess was not sure either. She asked Yuan Lang to come over just to confirm that Zhang Ying was Tang Ying: "If you want to know if she is really dead, wait a little longer."
When Hongxiang came over, the Grand Princess was waiting with Yuan Lang. When she saw the Second Prince, she suddenly thought of the failed mission and felt mixed emotions.
The Grand Princess asked her, "I heard that Tang Ying, the maid named Zhang Ying, died. Is it true?"
Hongxiang heard the news last night. She seemed a little sad on the surface, and she and Wanyu comforted Yao Niang who had returned from the palace. But in fact, she was ecstatic and excited and could not sleep all night. She didn't know how grateful she was to the person who poisoned her and got rid of the big worry for her.
It would have been fine if she didn't know Tang Ying's background at first, but when she learned that she was the descendant of a loyal hero and the future consort of the Second Prince, all the jealousy and hatred in her heart turned into joy when she was poisoned. She tried her best to suppress it and didn't dare to show any of it in front of Yao Niang, for fear that she would see through her.
She glanced at Yuan Lang hesitantly, and the Grand Princess immediately understood her meaning: "Yuan Lang is one of us, it's okay."
In front of the Grand Princess who also hated Tang Ying, Hongxiang no longer had to hide her gloating: "Last night, Aunt Yao was so sad when she saw His Majesty coming back. She sat there and refused to eat. She didn't care that her makeup was smudged. She sat there for most of the night and is still sitting in the room without eating or drinking." She was very happy when she spoke: "From what I heard from Aunt Yao, she wanted to use Tang Ying. I didn't expect her to die so easily. She deserved to die for being disrespectful to the master!"
The Grand Princess was not happy about her words, but felt even more heavy--it would be fine if the matter was not traced to her, but once it was, given the Emperor's current attitude towards her, he might not be willing to protect her; even if the Emperor was willing to protect her, if the ministers got any wind of it, she would not have a good ending.
Yuan Lang did not expect that Hongxiang would actually join the Grand Princess in this life. His obsession with his white moonlight in the previous life had long since vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind. He just did not expect to see her jealous face again, which was very different from the woman who followed him regardless of status in the previous life. He did not know if this was her original appearance or if she had changed in this life. But what was certain was that Hongxiang and Tang Ying were mortal enemies in both the previous and current lives, and even he could not help but sigh at the bad fate.
Perhaps it was because Yuan Lang stared at Hong Xiang in a strange way and for a long time, which attracted the attention of the Grand Princess: "The Second Prince has taken a fancy to this girl?"
"Auntie is joking!"
"This girl is mine. It's not easy for you to marry her if you want. Just say a word from your aunt." The eldest princess was upset at the moment, but Noble Consort Wan was the emperor's most beloved woman, and the son she gave birth to was the most beloved prince by his majesty except for the crown prince. Since she had placed her bet on Yuan Lang, the two of them would have to support each other as allies, not to mention giving up a girl. Maybe she could even find a way to let Yuan Lang cover up the poisoning of Tang Ying for her.
"Hongxiang, are you willing to serve the Second Prince?" The eldest princess looked at the maid kneeling at her feet, her tone was very casual, it was just a formality, the marriage of servants was just a word from the master's mouth, even Yao Niang couldn't help but squeeze the girl in her hands.
"I will obey my master's orders in everything." Hongxiang was shy and timid, secretly praising herself for her quick mind. By clinging to the eldest princess, she could immediately get close to the second prince and enjoy wealth and glory. What if in the future... Her heart was in turmoil, and when she thought about Fu Chen again, she looked down on him again - he was just a running dog of the emperor, with a handsome face but a far cry from the prince's background.
"Yuan Lang, since this girl also likes you, what do you think?"
"It's all up to my aunt's orders." Yuan Lang smiled and seemed quite happy.
"I am tired. Hongxiang, please go back first and see the Second Prince off on the way."
Yuan Lang was not surprised that the Grand Princess wanted to put someone around him. The two of them had formed a preliminary alliance, and she always wanted the relationship between them to be more solid. At this time, he was glad that the Grand Princess had only Huan Yanbo as a son. If she had a daughter, it would not be as simple as just putting a woman around, but her daughter would be in charge of the backyard of the mansion.
"Aunt, please take a good rest. I will leave first. If I get any news, I will send someone to inform you."
He said goodbye and Hongxiang followed him closely, feeling both happy and a little nervous. She thought about the mission she had failed. She didn't know if the Second Prince had noticed her face at that time, so she started a conversation: "I have heard of your name a long time ago. I am honored... I am honored to serve you. It is my blessing!"
"Since it is a gift from my aunt, I dare not refuse it. You should stay in the Forbidden Cavalry Department and follow the arrangements of my aunt!" As expected, the Second Prince did not remember her and his attitude was gentle and kind.
Hong Xiang was greatly encouraged, thinking to herself that if she was given a chance, she would make this man inseparable from her. As long as she could be with him, she would have a bright future and soar to the sky. What would a small Forbidden Cavalry Division mean to her? !
"I await your good news." She used her most gentle voice: "Your Highness is busy with official duties, please take care of yourself!"
The Second Prince turned to look at her, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion. At that moment, Hongxiang's heart was beating like a drum. She looked into his eyes timidly and smiled shyly. She felt her cheeks burning, and a blush must have appeared on her face. Just as she had imagined countless times in the past, her ideal man, no matter who he was, must be young, handsome and powerful , and not an old man with a big belly, a greasy face, and perhaps bad breath in some prince's mansion.
"You too, if you have any troubles, send someone to tell me." He took out two silver bills from his pocket and handed them over: "Buy yourself some jewelry and clothes."
Hongxiang thought she would receive an engagement token or something like that. She secretly glanced at the jade pendant on the second prince's waist, but her eyes shrank back as if she was burned. She was at a loss... and took the banknote.
Of course Yuan Lang saw the look in her eyes, and he also remembered that when they were engaged in their previous life, he gave her a token of engagement, which was the jade pendant around his waist.
He sneered in his heart. Women from the film industry are good at coaxing men. They are all pretentious. How can they be sincere?
But his face was gentle and considerate: "If the silver is not enough, I will send someone to send you some later."
Hongxiang couldn't tell how she felt in her heart. She didn't know whether she felt a little regretful that the Second Prince's rude way of sending the banknotes was so different from the way her future lover gave her gifts, or she realized that the Second Prince didn't have much affection for her. In short, she encouraged herself in her heart that the road ahead was still long, and one day she would make this noble and innocent prince unable to leave her anymore!
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
The two separated in front of the Chuihong Palace. She walked briskly back to her residence and went to see Yao Niang first. She saw her sitting on the bed with her hair uncombed and her face unwashed, looking lifeless. Wan Yu brought her some clear porridge and tried to persuade her. She didn't know how happy she was in her heart, but she still had to save her face.
She said with concern: "We are all very sad about Xiaoying's accident, but Auntie can't be depressed. We can't let the murderer go unpunished. Xiaoying's funeral must be held." She seemed to be considering: "I wonder where Xiaoying's body is? It also needs to be wrapped up."
Yao Niang glanced at her listlessly: "I've left all these things to Fu Chen." She slowly stood up and sat down in front of the dressing table: "Hongxiang is very skillful, come and help me tie my hair." She finally cheered up.
Hong Xiang combed her hair while persuading her: "Xiaoying is from our Shadow Department after all. Besides, she is a girl, so we can't leave her to Master Fu to handle all the funeral affairs. It is more appropriate for us sisters to handle it."
"Let me think about it." Yao Niang sighed: "Where can I find someone to take over this matter now?" She seemed to be in a very bad mood.
Hongxiang almost said: Do you think I can make do with it?
But now that she has a better place to go, she is no longer obsessed with taking over Yao Niang's job.
※※※
In the evening, Fu Chen opened the tent and walked in. He found someone still sleeping soundly in the quilt like a pupa, with only a tuft of hair sticking out from under the quilt. He smelled the meat he brought in, sniffed and crawled out of the quilt. He sat cross-legged on the bed in only a single layer of clothes and waved to him: "My lord is really smart. He knew I was hungry, so he brought a roast chicken."
Fu Chen said sternly, "Get dressed and wash up before eating."
Tang Ying sighed, "My Lord, you really don't understand the joy of eating in bed when it's cold."
"Is it fun to have the quilt covered in oil?"
Tang Ying: “…” Only after she lived in the same tent with Lord Fu last night did she realize that Lord Fu seemed to have a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
She was used to throwing things around. When she entered the tent and found a thick blanket on the ground, she quickly kicked off her boots and untied her belt and took off her outer robe while walking. Master Fu was so shocked that his eyes almost fell out: "What are you doing?"
Tang Ying had already walked all the way from the door to the bedside. Looking back, she saw Master Fu holding a boot in each hand. Facing her belt and robe thrown on the ground, he seemed to be showing signs of collapse. She tilted her head in confusion, "Sleeping? I've been poisoned to death, so of course I'll crawl into bed and lie dead!"
