Volume One, Chapter 20: Someone Has Tampered with Xiang Zhu's Identity

“Yuanbao, accompany His Highness to change clothes. Liangcai, assist Xiangzhu in carrying the items from the carriage to her room,” Zhao Ye instructed as he stepped down from the carriage.

Shuangling pressed her lips tightly, not daring to look inside the carriage.

Yuanbao and Shuangling followed closely behind.

Liangcai climbed into the carriage and, upon seeing many small trinkets, his eyes curved into a smile. Just as he was about to joke, his gaze shifted and caught sight of Xiangzhu’s wrist wrapped in bandages.

The smile faded, and Liangcai’s face turned pale as he asked, “Sister, how did your wrist get injured?”

“It was just an accidental bump; it’s nothing serious. Let’s unload these things first,” Xiangzhu replied.

Liangcai didn’t dare let Xiangzhu handle the items any further. He urged her to rest and took over the task himself.

Though there were many things, they were not heavy, and Liangcai could manage.

Xiangzhu indeed needed to change clothes. Once news from outside the palace reached inside, her mistress might summon her for questioning.

“Xiangzhu sister,” a young eunuch caught up to her and smiled, “Someone from the Eastern Palace has arrived, please come with me.”

The Eastern Palace?

The Crown Princess?

Xiangzhu hadn’t even changed her clothes yet but followed Luorui, who was by the Crown Princess’s side, into the Eastern Palace.

Having served in the palace for over a decade, this was Xiangzhu’s first time setting foot in the Eastern Palace.

Tall palace walls tightly enclosed the Eastern Palace, the vermilion paint glowing warmly under the remaining light of dawn.

Naturally, Xiangzhu was not qualified to enter through the grand main gates.

They entered through a side door, where pavilions, corridors, rockeries, and ponds came into view.

Trailing behind Luorui, Xiangzhu crossed an arched bridge and traversed the garden, arriving at the rear hall.

Palaces and towers stood in elegant arrangement, connected by covered walkways. The railings were intricately carved with exquisite floral and bird patterns, and red lanterns hung from the eaves of the pavilions.

The lanterns had just been lit after sunset, adding a warm and mysterious glow to the Eastern Palace.

It took another half an hour following Luorui to reach the Zhaohuo Hall, where the Crown Princess resided.

“Servant Xiangzhu pays respects to the Crown Princess,” Xiangzhu knelt in the middle of the hall and performed a deep bow, catching a faint glimpse of the Crown Princess seated on her elevated throne.

“No need for such formality. Sit and speak freely,” the Crown Princess replied in a soft, melodious voice.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Xiangzhu said, rising and moving to a chair at the side, where she barely allowed herself to sit.

The Crown Princess couldn’t help but laugh at Xiangzhu’s tense demeanor.

That laugh broke Xiangzhu’s composure, and she stole a glance at the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess, eldest daughter of Grand Tutor Song, was cultured, gracious, dignified, and virtuous. She had given birth to the legitimate imperial grandson the year after marrying the Crown Prince and had recently given birth to a young princess.

The Crown Prince’s harem was harmonious.

Except for Liangyuan, who had given birth to a lesser prince and had been demoted, the Eastern Palace currently had only one lesser consort and two concubines.

Emperor Yonghui valued the Crown Prince greatly and naturally followed his wishes.

With the Crown Princess having borne both a son and a daughter, and with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess deeply devoted, the Eastern Palace was well managed and peaceful. Therefore, Emperor Yonghui saw no need to force the Crown Prince to take a secondary wife.

“Don’t be so reserved. I’ve called you here just to have a talk,” the Crown Princess said gently.

“Please speak, Your Highness,” Xiangzhu replied, but she felt even more nervous.

Now that Shuangyun had been punished to work in the laundry bureau, and the Fourth Prince had just returned from outside the palace before being summoned by the Empress Dowager—surely the Empress Dowager had learned about what happened at the suburban villa.

What Xiangzhu couldn’t understand was why it was the Crown Princess asking her questions instead of someone from Jingren Palace coming to ‘educate’ her.

“The Crown Prince also wishes for me to speak with you. You have been in the palace long enough to know that the Crown Prince has watched the Fourth Prince grow up and understands his thoughts best,” the Crown Princess explained.

“The Fourth Prince is pure in matters of the heart. You are sensible, but your birth is humble. Being a concubine is not a slight against you. In the future, if you bear a son or daughter, your status can be elevated.”

Xiangzhu knew that’s why she felt so uneasy sitting down.

When her knees touched the ground, the anxiety suspended in her chest finally settled.

“Your Highness, if I may respond,” Xiangzhu bowed again before speaking, “I am well aware of my lowly status and would never dare to hope to be by the Fourth Prince’s side.

“I am also getting older; in another year, I will have the right to leave the palace. During this remaining year, I will still recognize my position and diligently perform my duties as before.”

The Crown Princess’s smile never faded.

She already knew the Fourth Prince hadn’t accepted Xiangzhu into his quarters because Xiangzhu was unwilling.

It seemed she had won the bet she made with the Crown Prince.

The Crown Princess glanced toward the screen in the side hall, feigning puzzlement: “Are you saying you do not wish to enter the Fourth Prince’s inner court?”

“Your Highness, a few days ago, the Imperial Household Department assigned me to the Cold Pond Hall. I only covered for Shuangling for a few days because she was unwell,” Xiangzhu replied.

“These past two days, I have seen Shuangling’s health improve. Once I finish handing over duties to her, I will go to Cold Pond Hall to serve.”

The Crown Princess was quite surprised.

Although she had made a bet with the Crown Prince, it concerned Xiangzhu’s willingness. She hadn’t expected Xiangzhu to say such a thing.

The Crown Princess’s original intention in calling Xiangzhu here for a chat was to see her in person and also to persuade her.

While she had little connection with the Fourth Prince, the Crown Prince, being a brotherly figure, wished to accommodate the Fourth Prince’s wishes concerning the women around him.

Who would have thought that Xiangzhu would be so resolute in her refusal?

She was even willing to serve at a place like Cold Pond Hall, which showed her lack of interest in the Fourth Prince.

There was no need to say more, but the Crown Princess noticed Xiangzhu’s bandaged wrist and spoke a word on Jiang Menghan’s behalf.

“Miss Jiang and Miss Ouyang are close friends. It must have been a misunderstanding about your relationship with the Fourth Prince. Miss Ouyang has since explained the situation to Miss Jiang, though you suffered for it.”

“Luorui, please bring the ointment,” the Crown Princess ordered.

Luorui fetched the ointment and handed it to Xiangzhu.

“I don’t know how bad your wrist injury is, but once the wound heals, applying this will prevent scarring. You may withdraw now.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness,” Xiangzhu said, accepting the ointment and bowing before taking her leave.

Luorui escorted her out once again.

After they left, the Crown Princess coquettishly spoke toward the screen.

“This time, Your Highness lost. When will you fulfill your bet?”

A man in a purple robe, dignified as a jade crown, stepped out from behind the screen.

“Jing’er is being mischievous again,” he said.

The Crown Princess’s personal name was Yajing, and the Crown Prince liked to call her Jing’er.

She rose to greet him, smiling as she spoke of business.

“Your Highness, what do you think?”

The Crown Prince’s expression grew serious.

“Everything I have investigated in the palace matches up, but many things before her entering the palace differ greatly. It’s a pity she shows no interest in the Fourth Prince. If only she would speak, those inconsistencies might be explained.”

The Crown Princess was startled.

“Your Highness means someone tampered with Xiangzhu’s identity before she entered the palace?”