In the Warm Pavilion, Consort Yin seemed indifferent to the disappearance of Crown Prince Chengyu. She was clearly not concerned about it. Although she was supposed to interrogate the other consorts, she only asked a couple of perfunctory questions out of habit.
Crown Prince Chengyu being appointed as the crown prince had closed the path for her to be bestowed with a higher title. Now that the crown prince was missing, she wasn't responsible for it, and she secretly hoped the child would never be found.
Seeing that the other consorts were already yawning, Consort Yin spoke up, "What's the point of us staying here and waiting? Does the Emperor suspect that we are involved?"
Consort Yun agreed, "Yes, we are all in the palace. Who would have the ability to pull off such a grand scheme?"
Consort Yao also chimed in, "It's better for us to return to the palace and organize a search for the crown prince together. It's better than wasting time here."
Consort Yin nodded in agreement and replied, "Consort Yao makes sense. I have been questioning all night and have gotten nowhere. Everyone looks exhausted. After I report to the Emperor, we can disperse."
As she was about to leave, Rongyue hurriedly blocked her path and said, "Consort Yin, according to the Emperor's decree, none of us are allowed to leave. The disappearance of the crown prince is a serious matter. If you leave now, I'm afraid..."
Rongyue appeared loyal to Consort Yin, and although he was worried about Crown Prince Chengyu, his words were indeed for Consort Yin's own good.
However, Consort Yin felt that Rongyue had embarrassed her in front of the other consorts and became furious. She slapped Rongyue hard across the face and said, "I'm going to ask for the Emperor's permission. What right do you have to speak?"
After saying that, she pushed Rongyue away and was about to push open the door when someone from outside pulled it open.
Everyone looked over and saw Ning Wanshuang standing at the door with a cold and beautiful expression, blocking Consort Yin's way.
Due to differences in status, Consort Yin perfunctorily greeted Ning Wanshuang.
But before she could even finish her greeting, Ning Wanshuang gave her a solid slap, causing Consort Yin's vision to darken and she stumbled and fell to the ground.
"You!"
Consort Yin covered her burning cheek and glared at Ning Wanshuang with anger, "Today is the Emperor's birthday, and the emissaries from the Ada Tribe are waiting outside! The Emperor has always treated the Ada Tribe well. How dare you hit me?"
Ning Wanshuang lightly touched her temple and looked at Consort Yin as if she were looking at an ant. She lowered her gaze and said, "I am a noble consort personally appointed by the Emperor. I hit you because I wanted to. Do I need to choose an auspicious day to do it? If you dare to speak another word to me, I will tear your mouth apart!"
Although Ning Wanshuang had lost her family background, her years of dominance in the palace had already made her notorious.
At this moment, with just a few harsh words, she frightened Consort Yin to the point where she didn't even dare to look at her.
The other consorts all respectfully greeted Ning Wanshuang, "We pay our respects to Noble Consort. May you be blessed."
Ning Wanshuang's fierce gaze swept across the consorts, who remained bowed and did not dare to rise. She sternly ordered, "If the crown prince cannot be found, none of you are allowed to leave the Warm Pavilion. If anyone dares to take a step outside, I will personally break your legs!"
As she spoke, she noticed Consort Yun yawning and added,
"Kang Yubin, lock the doors! Interrogate them thoroughly one by one! If anyone dares to fall asleep, slap her face hard until she wakes up!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Consort Yun, who was halfway through a yawn, swallowed it forcibly. She even pinched her own thigh hard, not daring to show the slightest sign of fatigue...
*
As the night approached the early morning hours, Xiao Fuzi finally returned from his visit to the gates of the underworld and opened his eyes.
"Xiao Fuzi, how do you feel?"
Song Zhao was the first to approach him, and the first thing she said was not to press him for details, but to inquire about his well-being.
Xiao Fuzi's pale face was filled with guilt. With teary eyes, he choked out, "Your Majesty... I failed to protect the Crown Prince..."
Song Zhao held back her tears and shook her head. "Don't say that. I know you did your best."
Yun Shan anxiously asked, "What happened exactly? Who injured you? And who took away the Crown Prince?"
Xiao Fuzi replied, "I don't know... The assailants came in pairs, wearing masks and displaying extraordinary skills. Before I could react, they covered my mouth and stabbed me three times in the chest... Cough... I collapsed, losing consciousness, and when I came to, they had already taken the Crown Prince and escaped through the window... In a daze, I heard them say something..."
"What did they say?" Song Zhao asked.
Struggling to recall, Xiao Fuzi stuttered and finally uttered, "It sounded like... Ke Zan Yi Da? It sounded like a slang term used by the Hu people..."
Upon receiving this information, Song Zhao immediately sent someone to inform Xiao Jingheng. The result confirmed that this phrase was indeed a slang term used by the Ada Tribe, meaning 'separate and act independently.'
Xiao Jingheng was furious and promptly detained the envoy from the Ada Tribe in the Ministry of Justice, subjecting them to severe torture, with the decree to extract information about the whereabouts of the Crown Prince at all costs.
However, Song Zhao didn't feel slightly relieved or comforted by the progress made in the investigation. On the contrary, she grew more worried...
Even if the Ada Tribe had the courage of a lion, they would not dare to commit such an absurd act of kidnapping the Crown Prince in such a high-profile gathering of nations.
But now, this outrageous incident had indeed occurred.
Whether the Ada Tribe was responsible or not, in order to appease the wrath of the Emperor, prove their innocence, and protect their entire tribe, they would undoubtedly be eager to surrender to the Qichao Dynasty. It was not impossible for them to do so, even if it meant ensuring the loyalty of all their subjects to the Qichao Dynasty.
The more Song Zhao thought about it, the more she felt that this situation resembled Xiao Jingheng's tactics in dealing with Prince Rui and the Ning Family in the past.
The same watertight approach.
The same sickening methods.
