Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Expelled from the Crown Prince Mansion (Part 1)

“Do you like her?” Just now, he heard the girl ask if he liked her, and the stand-in answered “yes.”

“No! I don’t like her!” The stand-in quickly shook his head.

Li Mu’s eyes darkened: “Why don’t you like her?”

The stand-in felt a bit aggrieved: “This is the first time I’ve seen this young lady, it’s hard to say whether I like her or not…”

Li Mu paused for a moment, said “Hmm,” and walked out from the secret path at the foot of the bed.

Just as Cao He had sent off Miss Tang and returned, he saw him and asked worriedly: “Your Highness, how do you plan to send Second Miss Tang back?” It’s not impossible to forcibly send the person away, but if things don’t go well, it might damage the girl’s reputation.

“How many days until Tingzhou messengers arrive?” Li Mu asked.

“At least three more days.”

Li Mu lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment, paced two steps, and walked to the spot where Miss Tang had stood just moments ago.

On a three-legged stand less than three steps away from this spot, there was a pair of white glaze dragon pattern candlesticks.

He stared at the candlesticks for a moment, then raised his right arm and swept them off—

“Crack!”

The candlesticks shattered all over the ground.

“Miss Tang has damaged Emperor Hui Zhao’s relic, twenty lashes, and expulsion!”

…

“By order of the Crown Prince, Miss Tang has damaged Emperor Hui Zhao’s relic, twenty lashes, and expulsion!”

Under the heavy cloud cover, the attendants stood around with cold expressions.

Tang Xiaobai was startled and was about to open her mouth to argue but closed it again upon meeting Cao He’s fierce gaze.

The accompanying maid was pulled aside, and a strong servant woman grabbed her arm and led her indoors, with Cao He following expressionlessly with a bamboo whip in hand.

The curtain fell, and shortly after, the sound of whipping could be heard—

…

In the gloomy twilight, snow began to fall.

When the bare branches turned snowy, the vermillion gate of the Crown Prince Mansion opened, and three girls staggered out.

Tang Xiaobai was wrapped completely in a cloak, half-supported and half-carried by Tao Zi, with the suppressed sobbing of the maids occasionally echoing in her ears. She couldn’t help but sigh secretly, about to remind them to send someone back to report first, when she unexpectedly heard a familiar voice: “Xiaobai!”

She looked up to see a carriage rumbling in amidst the fluttering twilight snow.

The driver raised his head, revealing the traditional scholarly and handsome face of a Gu family young man beneath the bamboo hat.

“Fourth Son Gu!” The maids cried tears of joy.

Gu Yuan hurriedly parked and jumped down, rushing over and asking urgently: “Are you all alright?”

“Second Miss suffered twenty lashes.” A maid cried.

Gu Yuan’s expression changed drastically, and he picked up the little figure bundled in the cloak, running towards the carriage…

…

The person was wrapped in a cloak and carried into Duke Yan Mansion, causing a commotion.

Messages were sent, and doctors were called.

Tang Xiaobai was taken into Bright Moon Building bundled in a cloak, lying wailing on the pillow until someone abruptly pulled her from the quilt—

“Aren’t you afraid of suffocating!” Miss Tang slapped the back of her head.

“I’m afraid of being recognized—” Tang Xiaobai said, just about to flip over, but was held down by Tang Jiaojiao.

“Is your back alright?” Tang Jiaojiao was a bit nervous.

When her sister was brought back, after removing the cloak and little coat, the clothes underneath were mottled with whip marks, making her see black for a moment, but later she calmed down when she saw the little girl secretly winking at her.

“It’s alright, it’s all painted on!” Tang Xiaobai got up nimbly, touched the ’wound’ on her back, “It’s all bandaged, no need for detailed inspection, it’s fake anyway. The clothes were torn open by a nurse, and Cao Dian’s bamboo whip didn’t even touch me!”

Recalling the moment, Tang Xiaobai sighed in relief.

The Young Crown Prince said he’d send her home soon, but didn’t expect it to be so fast. His swift and decisive style didn’t match the seemingly frail and deceivable appearance of the Young Crown Prince at all, he didn’t even let her stay overnight!

Recalling the day’s experiences, Tang Xiaobai felt like she just went to the Crown Prince Mansion to eat, drink, and play for a day.

There was even someone to pick her up when she left—

“By the way, Elder Sister, how did Fourth Cousin Gu happen to go to the Crown Prince Mansion to pick me up?” As soon as she left the Crown Prince Mansion, she encountered Gu Yuan driving over, the timing was so perfect it was like it was arranged in advance.

Tang Jiaojiao shook her head: “Didn’t have time to ask.”

She didn’t expect Tang Xiaobai would return today, let alone come back injured.

Besides unanticipated doubts, this question wasn’t high on the list.

“What reason did the Crown Prince use to whip you?” Tang Jiaojiao asked.

“Damaging Emperor Hui Zhao’s relic.”

“What relic?”

Tang Xiaobai had asked Cao He: “Some dragon pattern candlestick—”

“It’s a white glaze dragon pattern candlestick!” Gu gently spoke, walking in gracefully.

Earlier, when Tang Xiaobai was delivered back by Gu Yuan, her whip marks were alarming, and the frail Gu fainted upon seeing it.

Now that all outsiders had left, Gu woke up.

“Mother.” Tang Xiaobai called softly.

Gu sat down by the bed, holding Tang Xiaobai in her arms, gently stroking the ’wounds’ on her back, softly saying: “My child suffered, regardless if it’s gratitude or hatred, our Duke Yan Mansion will remember it.”

Tang Xiaobai felt a jolt in her heart, followed by a burst of joy.

Talking about hatred, it surely was against the Dog Emperor, right?

Being at odds with the emperor is the premise for rebellion, isn’t it?

What’s going on?!

Did she unwittingly change sides for the Duke Yan Mansion??

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t wait to immediately write a letter informing Duke Yan, recommending him to seek allegiance with the male lead. Just then, she heard Tang Jiaojiao ask: “Is that candlestick really Emperor Hui Zhao’s relic?”

“Yes,” Gu nodded, “Before his ascension, Emperor Hui Zhao was not qualified to use the dragon pattern candlestick, but that pair of candlesticks was especially bestowed by the previous emperor when Emperor Hui Zhao was young and studying. Emperor Hui Zhao kept it in his study day and night to self-admonish and inspire. After Emperor Hui Zhao passed, this candlestick stayed with the Crown Prince.”

Tang Xiaobai was stunned, was it really such a precious item?

“It couldn’t really have been smashed, right?” Tang Jiaojiao asked.

Gu curled her lips: “If it’s not authentically performed, how will you respond when the palace sends someone to inquire tomorrow?”

Tang Xiaobai exclaimed in disbelief: “That’s impossible, right? I’m not familiar with the Crown Prince, why would he smash Emperor Hui Zhao’s relic because of me?” Maybe it was a counterfeit smashed?

Gu glanced outside, then said softly: “Despite being confined in the Crown Prince Mansion since childhood, the Crown Prince is surprisingly ruthless, and will surely have great fortune in the future!”

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.

That can’t be right!

You’ve barely escaped the pits of the Emperor and Prince Jin, why not go embrace the male lead’s thigh instead of thinking about a short-lived Crown Prince!

…

When Gu and Tang Jiaojiao stepped out of Bright Moon Building, it was already completely dark.

Due to the falling snow, the distant and nearby lights seemed to be covered in a misty veil, illuminating the people under the eaves in a hazy radiance.

Gu saw this and smiled gently, saying softly: “Second Miss is alright, but today she was too busy to see you two, head back now!”

The two young boys respectfully bowed and retreated, each glancing inside before leaving.

Tang Jiaojiao looked at the boy named Ah Xiao, her brow unconsciously furrowing.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep