While the scumbag An Dongzhang was being pricked with needles and force-fed poisoned oranges by Rong Momo, the Shadow Guards swiftly rounded up all his men, as well as the physician, servants, and maids he had bribed, and locked them away.
Now, only the loyal and reliable remained in the Princess Mansion.
Qingyang Princess and the Crown Prince pricked up their ears. It had been a long time since they last heard the baby's snarky inner monologue.
It seemed the little one must have fallen asleep.
"Meilan, Furong, drag this scumbag out into the snow and ice for me. The very sight of him makes me sick."
Qingyang Princess's eyes were filled with utter disgust, and her voice was low, afraid of waking the baby.
"Then have the Shadow Guards gag his filthy mouth, break his limbs, and slice off that caterpillar of his. Have the kitchen staff cut it into slices and stew it in a soup with aphrodisiacs.
"Once it's ready, send it to Duke Anguo.
"Do it in An Dongzhang's name. Say it's a virility-boosting treasure he went through great pains to find for Duke Anguo, and you must watch the Duke drink it all."
A woman who isn't ruthless won't have a stable position!
She had said it before: when she went crazy, even she was afraid of herself!
After hearing this, Meilan and Furong stood frozen on the spot.
A caterpillar… it couldn't be that thing, could it?
Ew, An Dongzhang really was a good-for-nothing. With such a tiny little thing, no wonder he couldn't satisfy that little vixen.
Not only did she have an affair, but she also gave birth to a bastard child. The little vixen probably didn't even know who the father was!
Rong Momo's eyes widened, filled with admiration.
Her Highness was truly Her Highness. She had finally steeled her heart. If Duke Anguo really drank that tonic soup, he would probably vomit his guts out!
At this thought, Rong Momo quickly suppressed her glee and reminded the two head maids, "Meilan, Furong, don't waste time. Hurry and carry out Her Highness's orders."
"Yes, Momo."
The two quickly snapped back to their senses. First, they pulled off An Dongzhang's stinking shoes and stuffed one into his mouth. Then, as if dragging a dead dog, they quickly hauled him to a secluded courtyard.
Hehe, they weren't afraid of getting a sty in their eye.
They wanted to see for themselves if the scumbag's equipment was really a caterpillar!
Just as the two were excitedly brandishing longswords, ready to uncover the secret, they were pulled aside by a Shadow Guard.
Shadow One wore a stern expression, his icy eyes seeming to see right through their thoughts. "Ladies, you need not involve yourselves in what comes next."
Meilan and Furong: …What a pity. Why did the Shadow Guards have to be so fast?
Fine, if they couldn't watch, they couldn't watch!
Meilan shot an indignant glare at Shadow One, then pulled Furong and quickly left.
Watching Meilan's retreating back, Shadow One shook his head helplessly and sighed in relief. Thankfully, he had arrived in time.
The other five Shadow Guards winked and nudged each other with teasing looks.
"Boss, that's not how you pursue a girl. You have to use your words!"
"Exactly! Boss, not only do you need to talk, but you also need to learn to greet her with a smile, not wear that iceberg face of yours all the time."
"…"
Shadow One: …He wanted to, but he had no experience!
After speaking with Qingyang Princess for a while, the Crown Prince quickly returned to the imperial palace and informed Emperor Luo of An Dongzhang's matter.
Emperor Luo—Luo Fangzheng, thirty-four years old, was a man of robust health and imposing presence. He was a diligent and capable ruler who loved his country and his people.
His rear palace was filled with countless beauties.
However, he had few children. Over the years, aside from the princes who had died young, he had only five sons.
The court ministers had once suspected, could it be that their emperor had… problems in a certain area?
Emperor Luo's face turned ashen with rage. He slammed his palm on the desk. "What an An Dongzhang! How dare he be so audacious as to attempt to murder an imperial princess? Is he trying to rebel?"
The Crown Prince's expression was solemn as he cupped his hands again. "Father Emperor, your son has another matter to report. Duke Anguo has been in close private contact with people from the Tianzhu Kingdom. Even the poison used to harm Aunt was obtained from them. I implore Father Emperor to send someone to investigate thoroughly."
"There's more?"
Emperor Luo's brows furrowed so tightly they nearly tied into a knot. He truly hadn't expected the Anguo Duke's Mansion to be so ambitious and audacious.
Hah, the world bustles with people, all coming for profit; the world throngs with people, all going for gain. He could understand their ambition.
Ambition was a good thing, but when they set their sights on the imperial family, then he was sorry, but he could only send them to hell.
Killing intent filled Emperor Luo's eyes.
After a long moment, he concealed all his murderous aura and rubbed his brow wearily. He then looked at the Crown Prince, upon whom he had placed high hopes since childhood.
"Xuan'er, you've worked hard today. From now on, you don't need to involve yourself in your aunt's affairs. I will see that justice is done for her."
The Crown Prince shook his head. "Father Emperor, visiting Aunt is something your son ought to do. How can it be considered hard work?
"Also, Aunt asked your son to tell Father Emperor that she will deal with An Dongzhang herself. The Anguo Duke's Mansion is to be left for Father Emperor to investigate and handle. She does not wish for the Anguo Duke's Mansion to still exist in the Tianqi Kingdom when her cousin is born."
The meaning was very clear.
Aunt wanted Father Emperor to deal with the Anguo Duke's Mansion quickly, lest these trashy people pollute her baby sister's eyes after she was born.
Emperor Luo's pupils dilated, his face a mask of shock. "Xuan'er, are you certain these were your aunt's words?"
His gentle, kind, quiet, elegant, simple, and naive imperial sister could actually say something so decisive and resolute?
Seeing his father's shocked expression, the Crown Prince found it amusing, but the thought of his baby sister's inner monologue wiped the smile from his face.
Yes, his sister was right. The members of their Luo Imperial Family were all fools.
Because their methods were too soft, too merciful, too concerned with the reputation of the imperial family, and too concerned with their own fame, they had been exploited by those with ill intentions, leading to a tragic end.
Aunt was a living example.
If not for the chance to hear his baby sister's inner thoughts, Aunt might have been murdered by An Dongzhang in her ignorance.
It was no wonder Aunt's temperament had changed so drastically.
She and the baby sister in her belly had been a hair's breadth away from becoming two corpses. If she didn't change, she would sooner or later fall prey to villains again.
A bitter taste filled the Crown Prince's mouth, and his heart ached with sorrow.
He desperately wanted to tell his father about the tragic fate of the Luo Imperial Family, to advise him that while benevolence was good, he could not lose his iron-fisted methods.
But forget it. Even if he said it, his father wouldn't believe his empty words. He would only think he was being an alarmist, as if he were possessed.
It seemed he couldn't count on his father. He could only rely on his own efforts.
The Crown Prince lowered his gaze, his eyes firm and powerful, and his tone certain. "In response to Father Emperor, every word is true."
Emperor Luo opened his mouth. Although he still found it hard to believe, he would find a way to rationalize it for himself. After all, who didn't know he was a famous doting-sister-maniac?
"Mm, one learns from one's mistakes. After this ordeal, your aunt has finally grown up. I am very gratified!"
The Crown Prince chimed in at the right moment, "Father Emperor, although our imperial family is kind, we are not weak and easily bullied. Aunt said that a mother becomes strong. Even if not for herself, she must stand tall for the baby cousin in her belly."
"Baby cousin?" Emperor Luo's eyes lit up, and he suddenly leaned forward. "Xuan'er, are you saying the child in your aunt's belly is a girl?"
A smile touched the Crown Prince's eyes, his tone filled with an indescribable fondness. "Yes, it's a girl. The little sister your son has been longing for."
"Wonderful!" Emperor Luo was ecstatic, clapping his hands in excitement. "Good, good, good!"
Those three "goods" showed that Emperor Luo's joy came from the bottom of his heart.
It made sense. Emperor Luo had five sons, all of a kind, and had always longed to have a princess, but unfortunately, the concubines in his rear palace were not up to the task.
Now, it was perfect. His beloved sister was carrying a daughter. By extension of his love for her, he would naturally dote on this yet-to-be-born niece.
Phew!
Seeing his father's overjoyed expression, the Crown Prince relaxed slightly.
Fortunately, his father was not an emperor who favored boys over girls; on the contrary, he preferred girls. In the future, with Father Emperor's backing, his baby sister could walk sideways through the Tianqi Kingdom.
Luo Ranran: …Crabs walk sideways. I, your baby, will walk upright.
Guagua: …Ranran, don't people who walk upright become… dead people?
Luo Ranran: …I'm warning you, if you don't know how to talk, then shut your peachy-cool mouth.
…
The more Emperor Luo thought about it, the more excited he became. With a grand wave of his hand, batch after batch of rewards were sent continuously to the Qingyang Princess Manor.
The Crown Prince was happy to see this happen. At the same time, he subtly expressed that his baby sister liked gold and silver, suggesting his father send more of such things.
Emperor Luo was very puzzled. "Xuan'er, how do you know your baby sister likes gold and silver? You know, she's still an unborn baby."
The Crown Prince smiled serenely. "That's because your son and his baby sister have a telepathic connection."
A telepathic connection?
Emperor Luo found it laughable. Talking about a telepathic connection with an unborn baby was simply a joke.
Until later…
When he personally heard a certain someone's inner monologue, he finally understood what the Crown Prince had meant by "telepathic connection"