The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!-Chapter 80: A Solution

Huangfu Yuxuan had no intention of staying here any longer. After leaving the Crown Prince’s sight, he immediately summoned his people and sent them to buy information from the Shadow Pavilion.

The Shadow Pavilion, renowned as the premier source of information in the land, had already delivered its report. It had taken less than half an hour altogether.

Seeing the contents on the thin paper, Huangfu Yuxuan slammed his fist down, shattering the fine pearwood table into pieces. His fist was swollen and red, though fortunately his use of inner strength prevented any bones from breaking.

The news brought by Fei Liang was accurate. The Emperor learned that the Crown Prince handled the disaster relief quite well. There was no corruption, and although some of the disaster victims starved to death, the numbers were controlled, and subsequent matters were handled appropriately.

Though the Crown Prince did not manage everything personally, he still had merits for supervision.

Despite Prince Zhuang’s cleverness and calmness in handling affairs, and Prince Li’s filial piety and adaptability, the Crown Prince was fundamental to the country. Having been conferred the title at four and reigning for forty years, the Emperor didn’t wish to move him if unnecessary.

The Emperor ordered a grand affair, signaling to everyone that the Crown Prince was still highly regarded, and his position remained secure. It was a move to bolster the Crown Prince’s influence.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites dared not neglect their duties, having prepared for over half a month, and everything was ready. They awaited the Crown Prince’s return today to give him a grand welcome, with half the court expected to attend.

At that time, the entire West City Gate would be a spectacular scene.

However, just yesterday, everything changed drastically. The Emperor urgently summoned Prince Li, Grand Tutor Zhao, and the Right Minister to the Imperial Study Room. It was unknown what had transpired, but the Emperor was furious.

Soon, a decree arrived at the Ministry of Rites, canceling the welcome ceremony.

Many were unaware of what had happened, only knowing that the winds had shifted, and the Crown Prince had certainly angered the Holy Emperor once again.

But now, Huangfu Yuxuan knew the reason why.

When the Crown Prince went to relieve the disaster, he initially heeded Huangfu Yuxuan’s advice, making no great contributions but remaining decent, as there were others truly handling the matters.

However, after more than a month, the Crown Prince grew restless.

Indeed, the disaster-stricken land was not as enjoyable as the palace in terms of food and accommodations, but most distressing of all, there was neither fine wine nor beautiful women. For a Crown Prince with a penchant for wine and women, how could he endure it?

One day, one of his attendants suggested he visit a place for a symbolic inspection. Upon arrival, the Crown Prince inadvertently saw a woman washing clothes. Though clothed in simple attire, she was like a dewy lotus in clear water, radiant and beautiful, with fresh charm.

Perhaps newly married, she possessed a balance between youthful innocence and a woman’s purity, like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.

The Crown Prince was entranced at the sight.

His subordinates, knowing his inclinations, swiftly seized the woman using a sack. That very night, the Crown Prince had his way.

What he hadn’t anticipated was the woman’s steadfast chastity. After being violated by the Crown Prince, she returned home, and after making arrangements with her husband, hanged herself.

When her husband’s family and her own learned the reason, they sought justice at the Crown Prince’s temporary residence.

At such a critical time for disaster relief, this was indeed unsavory news.

The Crown Prince sent people with silver to settle the matter privately, but her family had great integrity, refusing the money and demanding justice.

The Crown Prince, enraged, simply had both families killed to cover up his immoral act of abducting a common woman.

He thought the matter was handled perfectly, known only to his close attendants, yet he was unaware the woman had a brother who had gone to Ningzhou to prepare for the imperial examination at the onset of the disaster.

Upon learning of the family tragedy, he rushed home, only to find a house full of corpses. His entire family and that of his sister and brother-in-law were all unjustly killed.

With such a deep-seated hatred, how could he still care for the imperial examination?

As the country’s Crown Prince and future monarch, to act so cruelly, what meaning was there in pursuing the examinations?

Initially, he sought to assassinate in secret, but seeing the Crown Prince’s power, he instead rallied those dissatisfied with the disaster relief, the starving victims, to revolt.

A disaster victim rebellion was a grave matter. It did not require the Crown Prince’s intervention; the local Prefectural Governor would send troops to suppress it.

During a suppression operation, the rebel group, composed of distressed victims, stood no chance against professionally trained soldiers. He thought he would surely die but was saved by someone who advised him to go to the Capital City to appeal directly to the Emperor.

Just yesterday, his appeal was delivered to the Capital Governor.

The Capital Governor, upon reading it, trembled with fear, almost dropping it. Coincidentally, the Right Minister, Xia Shi’en, was at the Capital Governor’s office to retrieve a dossier and also saw the appeal.

Such a significant matter, how could the Capital Governor dare conceal it? In any case, it couldn’t be hidden, so it was naturally reported up the chain.

This was also the reason for the Emperor’s rage and the order to the Ministry of Rites.

Of course, the documentation Huangfu Yuxuan acquired from the Shadow Pavilion wasn’t this detailed. It only contained a few short sentences: During the Crown Prince’s disaster relief period, he forcibly took a common woman, to cover up his misdeeds, he wiped out two families, eleven persons, inciting a riot among disaster victims. The brother of an escapee brought a complaint to the Capital Governor.

Huangfu Yuxuan’s hands were trembling as well, out of anger.

There are many who bring about their own ruin, but like the Crown Prince, he stands alone!

With a victim bringing a complaint before the Emperor, how could this matter be mediated?

Huangfu Yuxuan urgently dispatched his people to act according to his instructions.

He only hoped that his Grandfather would not make any decisions in anger, and that after three to five days, he would be able to handle the matter appropriately and preserve the Crown Prince’s position.

As for going into the palace at this moment to plead with his Grandfather for his father, that would be a foolish act, and Huangfu Yuxuan was not so naive.

He only hurried to find Gongyang Puyu.

In a secluded residence in the Capital City, the two met. The Astronomical Observatory dealt with star observations and predictions, so Huangfu Yuxuan couldn’t meet openly. Every time they met in secret at this place.

Huangfu Yuxuan hurriedly handed the note from the Shadow Pavilion to Gongyang Puyu, saying, "Mr. Gongyang, you must help me!"

Gongyang Puyu, over forty years old, had a thin face and high eyebrows, with a neatly combed goat beard. He wore a long robe with wide sleeves, the hem trailing on the ground, and sighed with his hands clasped, "Second Young Master, the celestial signs have been in turmoil for two months, with omens appearing one after another. You have done much, but my observations of the stars were confused and unclear. I originally thought the situation had improved, but who would have imagined that human effort could not defy the heavens!"

Huangfu Yuxuan’s expression darkened as he slowly asked, "Will the position of the stars shift? If so, how much time do we have? Can you predict, sir?"

Gongyang Puyu shook his head, "Such predictions, uncovering the heavenly secrets to precise times and individuals, require asking the heavens for a decree and expending much more essential energy. Previously, I spent vital energy to predict the deviation of fortune for someone and to discern your wife’s situation. I have yet to recover, and now, even if I wish to predict, I’m unable."

Huangfu Yuxuan urgently asked, "Do you have any method to teach me, sir?"

Seeing Huangfu Yuxuan’s anxious face, Gongyang Puyu finally said, "There is one way!"