627 Hatching a Plan

"Second Brother, that dimwit, truly thought that he could capture him. Regardless, Second Brother is casting off all the blame on this Ding Tingding now, arguing with conviction in front of Royal Father that the letters are Ding Tingding's mischief. However, how could his handwriting be forged."

"Your father is so muddleheaded that it's possible that he'll believe it." Qiao Mu pursed her lips grumpily.

The crown prince kissed her small face with a grin. "Good darling, don't be so unbelieving. My muddleheaded dad is rather competent at dealing with major issues of principle."

Qiao Mu merely declined to comment.

As the two people held hands while walking to the dining table, Shaoyao cut in, saying indignantly, "Miss, this servant heard that Consort Zheng fell ill from anger, but she still kept clamoring persistently in a daze that Miss was the one who infuriated her so much that her chest hurt."

While rolling her eyes at the news, Qiao Mu picked up her spoon and drank two mouthfuls of porridge. "Such boring gimmicks, indeed. Didn't the king order her to reflect on her mistakes in seclusion? Then why would news still travel out. How could this be considered seclusion, and what mistakes is she reflecting on."

"That's right." The crown prince nodded immediately, fully supporting his wife. "Someone, send some more people over to heavily guard Consort Zheng's Sophora Flower Palace. If more false news travels out without end, We will hold you solely responsible!"

"Such a light punishment of reflecting on her mistakes in seclusion, how fortunate is it that your muddleheaded father was the one who punished her!" Qiao Mu was slightly fuming again as they discussed the topic.

Shaoyao had already grown accustomed to her Miss's tone of voice, but that didn't mean the royal maids on the side were.

Who had ever criticized the king in front of the crown prince? The crown prince consort indeed had shocking guts.

However, the crown prince and Sister Shaoyao's expressions were both boundlessly tranquil and rather unperturbed.

Clearly, the crown prince consort was used to speaking without a filter in front of the crown prince.

The group of junior royal maids were all people who acted according to the circumstances. They silently admonished themselves to shut their mouths and lower their heads and eyes, not daring to speak unnecessarily.

"My lord, Xiao'ye has returned." Huifeng came in and announced.

Mo Lian raised his head and issued an order to the crowd of royal maids, "You're all dismissed."

At this, other than Shaoyao, the crowd of junior royal maids all retreated out of the room.

Immediately, Xiao'ye's pitch-black figure appeared at the door like a phantom and gesticulated on one knee. "Greetings to the crown prince and crown prince consort."

"You can rise." The crown prince beckoned to him and questioned anxiously, "What did you find?"

"It is precisely as the crown prince expected." Xiao'ye reported seriously. "The Zheng Estate's Second Manager never visits someone unless he needs something. This time, his purpose was to offer medicine to Consort Zheng. Reportedly, a merchant has obtained a beautifying pill, so now, the Zheng Estate's Second Manager is most likely conspiring how to get his hands on it."

"The Zheng Family has always been ruthless." The crown prince knitted his brows.

"Courtesan Zheng is unlikely to go so far as to kill the person's whole family for a tiny beautifying pill, right," Qiao Mu said as she pursed her lips in disdain.

Yet Huifeng and Xiao'ye both glanced at the crown prince consort furtively. They only felt that the little lady truly was emitting a strong sense of disdain and derision from the depths of her eyes. This meant that she really turned her nose up highly at this beautifying pill, right.

"It can't be said for certain, Crown Prince Consort. The Zheng Estate's conduct is precisely as the crown prince said—always ruthless, and complete annihilation when necessary. In order to curry favor with Consort Zheng, they will do anything and stop at nothing," Shaoyao quickly commented.

"Mo Lian, I have a way to secretly retaliate against this Courtesan Zheng." The corner of Qiao Mu's lips curled up into a satirical sneer as a plan steadily hatched in her mind.

Meanwhile, both Huifeng and Xiao'ye couldn't help thinking that it was better if the crown prince consort didn't smile. This tug at the corner of her mouth created a stiff sneer that caused a chill to travel down from their heads to their feet.