After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

Xiao Mingyue's arm was almost dislocated from being shaken so much. She reached out to steady the little princess's shoulder, her tone becoming more serious.

"Alright, alright, we can discuss the outing later. First, make it clear to your aunt that your mother knows you're leaving the palace today."

Xiao Jingshu immediately shrank her head, her eyes darting left and right, looking guilty like a thief.

"...You know, right?"

"Um?"

"Probably...maybe...perhaps..."

Xiao Mingyue crossed her arms, looked down at the little rascal, and slightly pursed her lips.

Xiao Jingshu's momentum visibly weakened, and she finally pouted and confessed honestly.

"Mother went to the Buddhist hall to copy scriptures today. I told Aunt Cuiwei that I was going to pick flowers in the garden, and then I slipped out through the side gate."

Shen Jingque was stunned; this little princess's escape skills were quite impressive.

Xiao Mingyue's temple throbbed, and her tone turned serious, carrying a hint of solemnity: "Didn't the guards at the palace gate stop you?"

"I dressed as a palace maid and mingled with the charcoal-delivering team."

Xiao Jingshu shook the dress she was wearing, which was obviously a size too big, with a smug look on her face.

"Auntie, look, doesn't it look just like it!"

Shen Jingque was trying so hard to suppress her laughter that her stomach hurt.

The princess's inherent arrogance could not be concealed by her palace maid attire.

Those guards probably turned a blind eye and let them pass.

Xiao Mingyue was so angry she laughed, and she sighed deeply while pinching her brow.

"You're too reckless, child. What if something happens on the way?"

Xiao Jingshu realized that her aunt was really angry, so she immediately put on a pitiful expression and tugged at Xiao Mingyue's sleeve in a soft voice.

"Auntie, please don't be angry. I won't do it again next time. I will definitely tell Mother in advance before coming next time."

"There won't be a next time," Xiao Mingyue said sternly, but her tone was softer than before. "I'll send someone to take you back to the palace first, and also tell your mother that if she agrees, I'll come to pick you up the day after tomorrow."

"Really?" Xiao Jingshu's expression immediately brightened with joy.

The speed of the transformation is astonishing.

"Does Auntie keep her word?"

When have I ever lied to you?

Xiao Jingshu cheered, jumped up and down twice, and then ran over to hug Shen Jingque.

"Shen Jingque, let's play together the day after tomorrow! Wait for me!"

Shen Jingque could only pat her little head and smile in agreement.

Soon, Xiao Mingyue summoned Qingyuan, selected a few more guards, and changed to an inconspicuous carriage to safely send Xiao Jingshu back to the palace.

Watching the carriage disappear into the alley, Shen Jingque turned around and let out a long breath.

"This princess has so much energy!"

Xiao Mingyue stood with her hands behind her back in front of the gate, looking at the carriages in the park with a kind smile.

"This girl is spoiled, but she is kind-hearted and doesn't have any bad intentions."

Shen Jingque nodded and walked back to the flower hall, pouring herself some tea as she casually remarked.

"It's obvious that this is a child who has been well protected."

Xiao Mingyue, whose mouth was probably dry from talking, picked up her teacup and took a big gulp.

"She was the Empress's only daughter. His Majesty bestowed upon her a title on the day of her full moon celebration. She was cherished and pampered from a young age."

Shen Jingque nodded.

It is only by raising children like precious gems that they can develop such a personality.

She picked up her teacup and took a sip, and a scene suddenly flashed through her mind.

In the original book, Xiao Jingshu only appeared briefly in the early part of the story and never appeared again.

What was it written in the book again?

He accidentally fell into the water and drowned.

The Empress, grieving the loss of her daughter, was bedridden and passed away within two years.

Shen Jingque slowly lowered her hand that was holding the teacup.

"Mother," she suddenly spoke, her tone more serious, "I saw His Majesty doting on Princess Jing Shu today, and I'm curious, among His Majesty's princes, which one does he love the most?"

Xiao Mingyue, who was flipping through the books on the table, looked up when she heard this and her gaze lingered on Shen Jingque's face.

Why are you asking this?

Those spirited eyes clearly held a hint of inquiry and vigilance.

Shen Jingque noticed this and inwardly cursed herself for asking too bluntly. She quickly picked up her teacup and smiled to cover it up.

"It's nothing, I just saw Princess Huiyun today and suddenly became curious, so I asked her casually."

Xiao Mingyue glanced at her twice, but didn't ask any further questions. She lowered her head and flipped through the book again, answering casually.

"His favorite son was Consort Shu's fourth son, Xiao Jingzhang, whom he raised by his side since he was a child."

Shen Jingque silently memorized the name.

"What about the other princes?"

"Our Emperor seems to have a weak bond with his children."

Xiao Mingyue turned a page of the book, her tone indifferent.

"The eldest prince is weak and annoyed him, and the second prince is dull and he has no patience for him either."

Shen Jingque tentatively asked the most crucial question.

"What about the Third Prince?"

Xiao Mingyue closed the book, leaned back in her chair, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

"The Third Prince's birth mother is Consort Liang, who is the Empress Dowager's cousin."

She looked into Shen Jingque's eyes, a glint of something unsettling in them, and said, "The emperor hates nothing more than interference from the emperor's relatives in politics."

Suddenly, Shen Jingque filled in the background that was not developed in the original book in her mind.

In the original book, Xiao Jingchen began secretly plotting to seize the throne at the age of thirteen, not because he was born with ambition.

It was because his father had never shown him any warmth or affection from beginning to end.

With the succession to the throne still undecided, the most favored prince was the fourth prince. He still had some fatherly affection for the other princes, but he was truly and utterly indifferent to the fourth prince.

All his forbearance and scheming, his ruthlessness and madness, grew from this neglected seed.

The most ruthless imperial family.

After seeing Xiao Mingyue off, Shen Jingque sat alone in the flower hall, her fingers unconsciously twirling a teacup.

When did Xiao Jingchen truly embark on the path of vying for the throne?

The real turning point was the death of the empress.

The Empress was born into the Langya Wang clan, and while she was alive, she held a firm grip on the Zhao family.

Although Consort Liang had the Empress Dowager's support, she was always inferior to the Empress.

Xiao Jingchen's maternal clan's influence was always confined to the second tier of the harem, unable to cause any real trouble.

But what if the empress dies?

The shackles that restrained Consort Liang were gone.

With no one left to control the Zhao family's relatives, Consort Liang, with the support of the Empress Dowager, rose from a supporting character who had endured for many years to someone who could rival the favored Consort Shu.

Xiao Jingchen finally had the confidence to compete head-on and officially stepped onto the chessboard of the struggle for the throne.

The Empress died because her only daughter died suddenly, and she fell ill from grief and never recovered.

Shen Jingque slammed the teacup down on the table, the cooled tea spilling out and wetting her fingertips, but she didn't bother to wipe it off.

The little girl who cuddled and acted spoiled with her today, the little princess with bright eyes who said she wanted to go on a spring outing together, would have died next year in the original storyline.

The story of accidentally falling into the water is written in a light and understated manner.

But now that she has seen Xiao Jingshu in person, those four words feel as heavy as iron in her heart.

And was it really a slip-up?

Shen Jingque stood up and paced anxiously around the flower hall twice.

Could Xiao Jingshu's death be related to Xiao Jingchen?

If so, what made him decide to kill his own sister?

Shen Jingque stopped at the threshold. The evening breeze rushed in from outside, making the wisps of hair on her forehead sway gently.

The most fundamental way to prevent Xiao Jingchen from ever reaching that position is not to make him suffer minor setbacks.

Instead, the goal is to preserve one's own strength while preventing him from gaining prominence.

It's about letting the empress sit in that position forever.

Let the Wang family of Langya continue to suppress the Zhao family, and let the maternal relatives never be able to hold their heads high in the harem.

Shen Jingque turned around and her gaze fell on the round stool where Xiao Jingshu had just sat in the flower hall.

"Little princess, you can't die!"