Chapter 352: Chapter 348: May I Come In?

The eldest miss greatly disdained the Second Miss Tang’s fire.

She looked down and gently caressed the vermillion nails on her slender, white fingers, her tone tinged with contempt: “Look at you, acting so undignified at home. Why not dare to confront Yan Jingjing outside?”

This newly appointed—

Or rather, not yet appointed chosen one, was precisely Yan Jingjing, daughter of the newly appointed Minister of Rites, Yan Yuebin, and Tang Jiaojiao’s arch-nemesis.

“Why would I go find her?” Tang Xiaobai curled her lips, “Am I looking to let everyone know I’m well-informed?”

Currently, the progress bar had just reached the point where Yan Jingjing’s birth date had been sent to the Palace, but there was no official outcome yet.

However, the Tang Family had some undisclosed channels to send out this information first.

After Tang Xiaobai finished speaking, she glanced at Tang Jiaojiao.

The eldest miss was usually hot-tempered, but this time she wasn’t provoked. Her expression was calm with a hint of disdain, as if not only dismissing her reaction, but looking down on the entire matter.

Sure enough, after hearing her out, Tang Jiaojiao gave her another disdainful glance and called out to Cheng Zi at the door: “Come in and tidy up!”

After unhurriedly waiting for Cheng Zi to finish tidying and leave, she said: “Why are you in a rush? We’re at home now, I’m too lazy to criticize you. If you dare show a hint of anxiousness outside, I’ll personally tear you apart!”

Tang Xiaobai replied seriously: “How could I? I need to save face too!”

Tang Jiaojiao snorted lightly: “It’s not yet your turn to be anxious. You just focus on staying in your study and preparing to become the top scholar; don’t go out and disgrace yourself!”

She further said: “If Yan Jingjing really wants to compete with you for the position of the Crown Princess Consort, it’s up to the Crown Prince to find a solution. If he can’t even handle such a minor issue, what kind of Crown Prince is he?”

“Of course he can handle it, I just feel…” Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment, “that it might cause quite a stir—”

…

The Crown Prince’s counterattack came faster than anyone had imagined.

And harsher.

Within less than a quarter-hour of the Ministry of Revenue delivering the birth date of the supposed ’fire element fate woman’ to the Liangyi Palace, the Crown Prince summoned the Eastern Palace officials in the Eastern Palace Chongjiao Hall.

Among them were Zheng Shidao, the nominal Crown Prince’s Master, and Tang Shigong, the nominal Crown Prince’s Guardian.

The Crown Prince had always been straightforward in speech, not beating around the bush: “The Observatory has frequently erred in recent years, unable to predict solar eclipses, major droughts, and earthquakes. First, it’s due to negligence of officials, and second, the current calendar is erroneous;”

“I wish to gather scholars from all over the world in the East Palace Chongwen Hall to revise the calendar and select capable officials!”

…

The current calendar was revised under the auspices of the forefathers of the Qingzhou School and had been revered by Qing officials ever since.

Revising the calendar itself was already a provocation against the Qingzhou School.

The provocation might have ended there, but the Crown Prince’s true intent went far beyond provocation.

It was to uproot the Observatory altogether.

In the Liangyi Palace, upon hearing the news, the emperor’s face was grave and silent for a long time.

He pressed his palm onto the case files from the Ministry of Revenue on the desk and slowly said, “You may leave.”

The entire Observatory was negated; how could the Crown Prince accept the Observatory’s so-called fate judgment?

Attacking the Observatory was a warning in the form of striking the mountain to shock the tiger.

Interestingly, he used such fierce means for the sake of the Crown Prince’s consort selection…

…

Though Tang Xiaobai had speculated that the young ancestor might be quite intense in his methods, she hadn’t anticipated this level of intensity.

Even Tang Shigong seemed somewhat excited when mentioning the matter upon returning home, referring to Li Mu as “decisive and sharp, a rare military talent,” and even expressed regret that he couldn’t serve as a general due to his role as Crown Prince.

After sighing twice, Tang Shigong looked towards his young daughter: “Ah Jiao, what do you think?”

The little girl, for some reason, seemed dazed. It took her a moment after his question to come to her senses and she said: “The earthquake in Xingzhou indeed presents a good opportunity.”

Tang Shigong smiled slightly and asked: “Is the Crown Prince not enraged, you are disappointed?”

Tang Xiaobai shook her head: “I’m not disappointed; I’m quite relieved.”

“Does his expertise in political maneuvering make you cold-hearted?”

Tang Xiaobai shook her head: “If he weren’t so cunning, that would truly be unsettling.”

Tang Shigong didn’t know what else to say and glanced toward Gu Ning by his side.

Gu Ning smiled gently and said: “Wishing for him to remain calm, yet fearing he might become indifferent.”

Tang Xiaobai lowered her head, saying nothing.

There was a bit of that sentiment, but not entirely.

It must be said, the young ancestor was quite adept at seizing opportunities.

Previously, with Xin Yi’s passing, he quickly thought to use it as a reason to request the “Crown Prince’s return to the capital”;

This time with the Xingzhou earthquake, he also early on foresaw the opportunity to exploit;

When the opposition provoked him with the matter of selecting a consort, he remained completely unperturbed.

The Crown Prince has matured to a point where she finds him somewhat unfamiliar.

Leading her to now inopportunely long…long to see him…

But Tang Xiaobai had no immediate means to see the Crown Prince now.

If it were daytime, she could make a run to the Eastern Palace, but at this time, the sky was already dark, leaving her with no options.

Upon leaving her parents, Tang Xiaobai seemed a bit deflated.

Tang Jiaojiao watched the entire way, finally unable to bear it: “The Crown Prince countered so beautifully, what are you dissatisfied with? Why so sentimental?”

Tang Xiaobai was too embarrassed to speak the truth and could only respond perfunctorily: “No, maybe it’s just that time of the month.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Jiaojiao’s tone softened: “Then you should rest early. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone make you some jujube soup… and don’t stay up all night reading anymore!”

Even after these reminders she wasn’t entirely assured, so Tang Jiaojiao escorted her sister into the room, stood by while she washed up and changed, and only after personally witnessing her get into bed and tucking in her quilt did she leave contentedly.

There was actually still time, but with concerns on her mind, Tang Xiaobai tossed and turned in bed for a long time without falling asleep.

Finally, she got up.

“Second Miss?” Cheng Zi, on night duty, asked in confusion.

“Can’t sleep, going out for a stroll,” Tang Xiaobai said, taking the clothes from the bedside to drape over herself.

If it had been Tao Zi, she would certainly complain and try to dissuade her, but Cheng Zi was more obedient and silently got up to add a cloak for her.

The courtyard was silent and unlit.

A thin layer of clouds veiled the sky, dimming the stars and moon.

It wasn’t the best time for a walk.

Tang Xiaobai tightened her cloak and went out nonetheless.

Upon leaving, heading westward.

She hadn’t really considered directions, but went involuntarily.

When she stopped, she was in front of a tightly closed small door.

Opening this door, from her current position, she could see the place she once named “Yuanxiao Courtyard.”

But her Ah Yuan and Ah Xiao were gone.

One now separated by life and death, and the other…

“Knock knock!”

Tang Xiaobai: !

Startled, she stepped back two paces.

“Knock knock knock!”

The wooden door was clearly knocked.

“Ah Jiao?” A voice called and then hesitantly asked, “May I come in?”

Tang Xiaobai: !!!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep