Remember the book reading house in one second.

  The following days were smooth sailing on the waterway, with no waves or surprises.

  That noble crown prince spends most of his days staying in his cabin reading books and passing the time, rarely coming out to take a walk.

  Ling Jingxu had a mind to approach and surrender, but she was very cautious and did not act rashly.

  From what Ling Jingyan said, it can be seen that this young crown prince is heartless and ruthless, with very spicy means, and is not a good person to fool around with. She must carefully plan, lest she borrow power to take revenge but end up arousing suspicion instead.

  These past few days, she had been staying in the cabin, either with Ling Xiao or chatting idly with Ling Jingyan and Jiang Shi, asking about the Crown Prince's situation without leaving any traces or making a sound.

  Jiang and the Crown Prince are distant relatives, although they don't have much contact on ordinary days, but what they know is more than what Ling Jingyan heard through her connections.

  "....has Ah Yan told you about the time Crown Prince Tai Sun beat up a palace maid and threw an official from the Eastern Palace into the Heavenly Dungeon?" Jiang's smile was full of meaning: "Some things can't be judged just by looking at the surface."

  Ling Jing's eyes flashed with a hint of inquiry as she asked cautiously: "Sister-in-law, are you implying that there is more to this than meets the eye?"

  Ling Jingyan also curiously perked up her ears.

  Sitting on the boat all day, I'm really bored. Moreover, there are no outsiders here. Jiang generously shared what he knew about the true inside story: "I also heard a few words from my uncle when I went to his house last time..."

  The "older paternal uncle" in Jiang's mouth was actually British public figure Jiang Yan.

  The late Empress Jiang came from the British Gong Mansion, holding a high-ranking position with great power and influence, frequently interacting with the British Gong and the Crown Prince's mansion, it was not surprising that she knew the secrets within the Crown Prince's mansion.

  "...I heard that the palace maid was awarded to the Crown Prince's mansion by the Empress Dowager. She relied on the Empress Dowager's backing and brazenly acted as a spy in the palace. The Crown Prince deliberately found an excuse to punish her, which made the Empress Dowager angry but also helpless."

  Jiang's eyes were full of admiration.

  After the death of Empress Jiang, the Emperor appointed Empress Xu as the mistress of the six palaces. With both imperial favor and ability, Empress Xu has made the harem her domain.

  Empress Xu became more and more unscrupulous in her actions. She openly bestowed palace maidens on the residences of various princes. The princes knew that these were Empress Xu's spies, but they had to endure it.

  The Crown Prince, however, refused to swallow this insult and eliminated the ears and eyes of Empress Xu with equally upright and aboveboard means. After that palace maid took her own life, he voluntarily entered the palace to "ask for punishment".

  What else can Empress Xu do?

  Can't just fall out with each other over a mere palace maid and the crown prince!

  Empress Xu could only pinch her nose and hold back this stifling breath.

  ......

  Ling Jingyan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Elder sister, hearing you say this, this Prince Taishun is really formidable!"

  "That's natural." Jiang's tone revealed a hint of pride. Her gaze shifted, and she saw Ling Jingxu with a thoughtful expression: "Ah Xiu, what are you thinking?"

  Ling Jingyu said slowly: "I'm thinking. The queen must have informants planted in various mansions, not just the one palace maid on the surface! The crown prince is doing this to kill a chicken and scare the monkeys. It's also a hint to the queen that if she stretches her hand into the crown prince's mansion again, it won't be just this one palace maid who dies."

  "I suppose after this, the prince's residence secretly sent away some of their lower-ranking servants!"

  Chiang: "......"

  Jiang's eyes were filled with astonishment and admiration: "You're right... I heard all this from my uncle, you've never been to the capital, nor have you ever seen the Crown Prince or the Empress Dowager, how did you guess?"

  Ling Jingyan also involuntarily widened her eyes.

  How did Ah-jiao guess all these things?

  "It's actually not hard to guess. If you think carefully, you'll know."

  Ling Jingyan pouted: "I really can't guess these."

  Ling Jingxu didn't get angry either. She rushed to Ling Jingyan and smiled: "You only treated these things as stories, never thinking deeply about them. It's natural that you wouldn't think of it."

  That tolerant gaze and tone, as if coaxing a child.

  Although she is one year older, when facing Ling Jingxu, it is always her who is unreasonable and making trouble.

  Ling Jingyan also didn't want to make things awkward again, and somewhat unnaturally changed the subject: "Eldest Sister-in-law, from what you're saying, could it be that the imprisonment of that Eastern Palace official also has some other underlying reason?"

  But this matter, even Chiang didn't know the details: "This paternal uncle didn't say much. He only said when he heard that the Crown Prince Taeson was disobeying and offending the Crown Prince: 'A group of ignorant fools!'"

  Ling Jingyan was confused, and when she looked at Ling Jingxuan again, he had a thoughtful expression on his face.

  "A Xiu, what did you understand?" Ling Jingyan couldn't help but ask.

  Ling Jing's eyebrows slightly furrowed, but quickly relaxed: "As an official of the Eastern Palace, it is natural for the Crown Prince to be protected. Otherwise, it would disappoint the officials who are loyal to the Crown Prince. Therefore, the Crown Grandson took on the role of the villain. This way, he can deal with his subordinates without giving others a chance to gossip."

  "It's possible. This official who was imprisoned in the heavenly prison had long been secretly won over and had a change of heart. The Crown Prince had already noticed this and intentionally grasped his weakness, imprisoning him in the heavenly prison. Letting the mastermind behind the scenes suffer a loss without being able to speak out."

  Chiang: "......"

  Ling Jingyan: "......"

  The two of them looked at Ling Jingxu with the same strange and eerie gaze without saying a word.

  Ling Jing's smile froze: "I just said it casually, it may not be right. Why are you looking at me like that?"

  Jiang said with a smile: "I was thinking, you're so intelligent and sharp, it's a pity to be a woman."

  Ling Jingyan also let out a long sigh and sincerely sighed: "Ah Shu, I will never be jealous of you again."

  This is not the difference between wildflowers and peonies, but the distance between fireflies and a bright moon in the sky!!!

  ......

  Just then, Ling Xi walked in with a smile: "What are you guys talking about so happily? Your laughter can be heard from far away."

  Ling Jingyan hurriedly smiled and said: "The topics that we women discuss together, can't let you know."

  Ling Xi lost her smile: "You don't have to say it, I can guess. You were all huddled together just now, and you must be discussing the Crown Prince."

  In fact, it's not just them. These past few days, the name "Crown Prince" has appeared more frequently in the mouths of Ling Dage and Sun Shi.

  "Chiang smiled and said: 'You came all the way to find us, it can't be just for saying these things, right?'"

  Ling Xi's face was solemn, and he said seriously: "We've been traveling by boat for several days, and we'll arrive in Luoyang in three or four days. The Crown Prince ordered the boats to dock at the pier, so it's convenient to buy fresh meat and vegetables. I came to ask you if you want to go ashore and take a stroll?"

  Everyone: "......" (silence)

  P.S: Each chapter is so good-looking, how can I skip it o(╯□╰)o~.