Chapter Twenty: The Crown Prince’s Secret Scheme, a Trial of Love and Fate

Filled with suspicion and unease, Xiaofeng hurried toward Li Chengyin’s study. Along the way, the whispers of the palace maids echoed in her mind, their words like sharp blades slicing through her once innocent and carefree heart. She could not bring herself to believe that within the seemingly tranquil Eastern Palace, such a sinister conspiracy had been hidden, and that she had unknowingly become the target of it.

When she reached the door of the study, her steps slowed involuntarily. Her heart was a mix of desperate reliance on Li Chengyin and an indescribable tension. Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her ragged breathing and raised her hand to knock gently on the door.

"Enter."

Li Chengyin’s low, familiar voice came from within. Xiaofeng pushed the door open to see him sitting behind his desk. His face looked slightly weary, but his eyes remained deep and resolute. Upon seeing her, he was momentarily startled, then stood up to meet her.

"Xiaofeng, why are you here?" he asked softly, his gaze filled with concern and tenderness.

Looking at him, Xiaofeng’s eyes turned slightly red, and her voice trembled. "Li Chengyin, I heard... the things the maids were saying. I simply cannot believe it. What is actually going on?"

Li Chengyin sighed lightly, reached out to pull her over, and had her sit in a nearby chair before speaking slowly. "Xiaofeng, it is a long story. Do you remember that supposed love letter? It was a conspiracy, orchestrated by Zhao Sese in collusion with certain figures in the imperial court. They hoped to use it to provoke my anger, sow discord between us, and use my own hands to eliminate you. At the same time, they sought to weaken my influence and topple me from my position as Crown Prince."

Xiaofeng’s eyes widened in shock and anger. "Zhao Sese? Why would she do this to me? I have never had any grudge against her!"

A flicker of coldness flashed in Li Chengyin’s eyes. "She... it is because of jealousy. She is jealous of my feelings for you and wants to monopolize my love, which is why she committed such a vicious act."

Xiaofeng bit her lower lip, her heart a whirlwind of emotions.

"How did you discover it? You must have put a great deal of effort into this," she asked.

Li Chengyin frowned slightly, lost in memory. "When I saw that letter, although I felt a moment of turmoil, my trust in you made me realize almost immediately that it was a forgery. I knew that to find the mastermind, I had to start with the letter itself. I secretly ordered my attendants to monitor everyone's movements, and my advisors began a rigorous investigation into those who had recently been entering the Eastern Palace. Soon, we discovered that Zhao Sese’s personal maid was having frequent contact with an outside official, which made me suspicious of her."

Xiaofeng listened intently, her eyes filled with admiration for him. "And then? How did you confirm it was her?"

Li Chengyin continued, "I decided to test her. I brought the letter to her; although she tried to feign composure, the panic in her eyes could not be hidden. She tried to quibble, but her flawed excuses only confirmed my suspicions. Afterward, I intensified the investigation, following the trail of her maid and the official until we discovered them meeting secretly at a remote residence. We also found correspondence discussing the plot and scraps of paper used to practice forging handwriting. Finally, I found the maid who had delivered the letter, and after some persuasion, she confessed the truth."

Xiaofeng gently took Li Chengyin’s hand, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Li Chengyin, thank you. If not for you, I truly would not have known what to do. I am so scared—how can there be so many schemes and plots in this palace?"

Li Chengyin gripped her hand in return, comforting her. "Xiaofeng, do not be afraid. As long as I am here, I will never let anyone harm you. Those who dared to plot against us will not be treated lightly. The Emperor is already aware of the matter; the officials involved have been severely punished, and Zhao Sese has been confined to her residence to copy the 'Precepts for Women' as penance."

Xiaofeng nodded slightly, her fear subsiding, though she remained shaken. "Li Chengyin, will we encounter things like this again in the future? I do not want to stay in this place filled with conspiracies anymore. I want to go back to Xizhou."

Li Chengyin pulled her into his arms and whispered, "Xiaofeng, I know you have suffered grievances here in the Eastern Palace. But I cannot leave just yet; I must protect our future. However, I will be much more cautious and will not let such a conspiracy succeed again. Once everything has settled, I will accompany you to visit Xizhou."

Resting in his embrace, Xiaofeng felt his warmth and strength, and her heart gradually calmed.

Just then, however, a commotion arose outside the door. Li Chengyin frowned, released Xiaofeng, and turned to open the door. He saw Zhao Sese’s personal maid kneeling on the threshold, begging desperately to see him.

"Your Highness, please, I beg you to see my mistress! She knows she was wrong. She spends her days in the residence weeping and is full of regret. She sent me to beg you—please, for the sake of your past affections, forgive her this once," the maid sobbed.

Li Chengyin’s expression darkened, and he said coldly, "She committed such a grave error and still dares to beg for my mercy? Has she ever considered what would have happened to Xiaofeng if I had truly fallen for her scheme?"

Xiaofeng approached as well. Seeing the maid kneeling, she felt a pang of pity, but the thought of Zhao Sese’s actions hardened her heart. "Her jealousy nearly destroyed me. I will not forgive her easily."

Seeing that neither would relent, the maid wept even more bitterly. "Your Highness, my mistress is truly remorseful. She only acted out of foolishness because she loved you so much."

Li Chengyin scoffed. "Love? Is this what she calls love? Using schemes and deceit to harm others is not love—it is selfishness and malice. Go now; there is no need to plead for her any longer."

With that, Li Chengyin closed the door and turned back into the room.

Xiaofeng looked at him and asked softly, "Li Chengyin, will you really never forgive her?"

Li Chengyin looked at her earnestly. "Xiaofeng, what she did is unforgivable. I cannot let her think that one can easily erase a crime simply by expressing regret later. I must make her pay the price for her actions; only then can I protect you and ensure that such sinister conspiracies no longer exist within the Eastern Palace."

Xiaofeng nodded slightly. She knew his decision was correct. In this palace, if one easily forgave those with ill intentions, it would only make them more unscrupulous.

As the days passed, the Eastern Palace seemed to return to its former tranquility. Yet, Li Chengyin knew that beneath this calm, countless dangers and challenges remained hidden. He could only protect Xiaofeng at all costs, struggling to safeguard their love and future within this palace of power struggles.

While handling the affairs of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengyin became even more cautious. He tightened defenses around those close to him and kept a watchful eye on every move within the imperial court. He knew that the factions he had suppressed would not simply give up; they would surely hide in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike once again.