Chapter 238: Chapter 238

Lin Yanran silently added in her heart.

Thinking about how Nangong Mo had treated her coldly and ignored her recently, Lin Yanran felt a surge of frustration, blocked in her heart, unable to release or dissipate it, making her extremely uncomfortable!

When she becomes the Crown Princess Consort, their relationship will be like that of ruler and subject. Would he dare to ignore her as he did before?

Imagining their future encounters, his reactions, his expressions, Lin Yanran felt an indescribable joy in her heart.

"Mother, what do you think the identities of those black-clad intruders last night were? Could they be the Crown Prince’s men?"

On this point, Mrs. Qin couldn’t be certain, but she thought it seemed unnecessary for the Crown Prince to do such a thing, right?

Lin Yanran, however, was immersed in her own pink bubble, her face full of springtime longing. "The black-clad intruders who broke into the mansion last night didn’t harm anyone or steal anything."

"They seemed to be there just to bring me to the Crown Prince’s side."

"Other than the Crown Prince, I really can’t think of anyone else who would do such a thing."

Mrs. Qin thought Lin Yanran made sense on the one hand, but on the other hand, she felt that the Crown Prince ought to follow the proper procedures and formalities to marry openly and honorably.

How could he casually ruin a young girl’s reputation like that?

Lin Yanran couldn’t help but speak up for the Crown Prince, "The Crown Prince was acting very strange last night, as if under the influence of some drug, so he must have acted out of desperation." The most update n0vels are published on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩

"Mother, please don’t misunderstand the Crown Prince."

Hearing this, Mrs. Qin nodded thoughtfully, "No wonder he caused you such distress; his rationality must have been out of control due to the drug’s effects."

Lin Yanran shyly lowered her head. "Has Father not returned from his audience with the Emperor yet?"

"Don’t worry, Yan’er, I’ll come to inform you the moment your father returns home."

"Alright, you’re physically weak now and need to recover carefully. You are going to become the Empress in the future, and you can’t be careless about it. Hurry and catch some more sleep."

Exhausted and frail, Lin Yanran fell asleep shortly after Mrs. Qin left.

In her dream, she saw herself wearing a phoenix crown and a splendid red robe, marrying the Crown Prince with ten miles of red-carpeted procession, and everyone bowed and hailed the Crown Princess Consort a thousand years.

Among the kneeling crowd were Nangong Mo and Yun Ran...

After his bath, Nangong Jue was dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe, yet such a vivid color couldn’t dispel the deep and cold aura enveloping him.

Just like his face at this moment, resembling the sky at the brink of a storm.

"Jue’er, what exactly happened? Why are you involved with Lin Yanran...?"

The Empress sat in the highest seat, clad in a bright red palace gown, her hair elegantly arranged with a golden crown, exuding indescribable grace and nobility.

She had maintained herself well, and although nearing forty, time seemed not to have left many marks on her stunning face. Rather, it had infused her with an elegant and mature charm over the years.

At this moment, her brows were slightly furrowed, "Minister Lin is currently in the Imperial Study Room with the Emperor; what he will say, and how your father will respond, is yet to be known."

"I want to know what your plans are?"

After the Empress finished speaking, the gloom on the Crown Prince’s face deepened even further.

A sarcastic and mocking curve slowly formed at his mouth, "Minister Lin, you act fast."

The Empress frowned slightly, "You are aware of Lin Yanran’s feelings for you. Now that the situation is settled, it’s only natural for her to seek your father."

"Behind her is not only the Minister Mansion but also her maternal family, the Changping Marquis Mansion. In terms of status, she is indeed a suitable match and would be a great support to you."

"What are your intentions?"

After saying this, the Empress added another sentence, "At your age, you should also marry a principal wife. Among so many noblewomen in the Capital City, do you not have one you favor?"

"Even your back courtyard, you never set foot in; the beauties there are merely for show. If not for today’s incident, I would always worry that you have no interest in women."

Hearing this, Nangong Jue’s expression was slightly stiff, "Mother, you worry too much!"

In fact, earlier the Empress had suspected whether he had some hidden ailments or had a penchant for the same sex?

For this reason, she privately sought out many Imperial Physicians multiple times, and only after thorough examinations did they confirm the Crown Prince’s health was perfectly fine.

Consequently, the Empress increasingly suspected he had a penchant for male attire over beauties.

To that end, she didn’t know how many spies she had placed to monitor the Crown Prince’s private life.

Whenever he got slightly close to a guard, an attendant, or a royal youth, the Empress’s heart would be on tenterhooks, and she would think of every possible way to pull him back from the ’wrong path.’

These things, Nangong Jue was well aware of; he simply turned a blind eye and pretended to be oblivious.

"Since you are of age, and her status is appropriate, with this incident happening, your father is likely to issue a marriage decree soon. It seems I ought to start preparing for your nuptials."

Upon hearing these words, Nangong Jue’s face instantly grew several degrees colder, "This son has no intentions of marrying at present."

Upon hearing this, the Empress gazed at him with a scrutinizing look and asked thoughtfully, "Is it possible that this matter with Lin Yanran was not a reckless act in a moment of passion, but rather, there are hidden truths behind it?"

"Did I guess right? What really happened yesterday?"

To Nangong Jue, last night’s event was simply a great humiliation!

It was the most disgraceful incident in his twenty-five years of life!

Naturally, he was unwilling to mention this event to anyone, including the Empress.

Nangong Jue stood up with a heavy face, "Mother, don’t worry about this matter, I will handle it myself. I still have some things to take care of, so I must take my leave."

The Empress watched Nangong Jue’s departing figure, her brows slightly relaxed as she pondered.

Moments later, she called for her trusted maid, "Go fetch the official."

Ding’an Marquis Mansion.

Zhen Fanzhong had been missing for a night. Although Lady Zhen hadn’t been too fond of him lately, he’s still her biological son, her only son. How could she not be worried?

She ordered the entire mansion’s staff and guards to go out and search for him, combing the streets and alleys of the royal city.

Finally, at dawn, they found the unconscious Zhen Fanzhong in a secluded courtyard.

When the guards carried the wretched Zhen Fanzhong back to the Marquis Mansion, Lady Zhen almost fainted on the spot upon seeing his miserable state.

The steward immediately summoned a doctor to treat Zhen Fanzhong.

Lady Zhen, clutching her chest, suppressed the excruciating heartache and sternly reprimanded, "Who was the worthless servant responsible for the Princely Heir’s protection yesterday? Where are they?"

"Someone, bring them to me. I want to see how many heads these incompetent slaves have!"

But soon, a guard reported that all the guards and servants who left the mansion with Zhen Fanzhong yesterday were nowhere to be found.

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhen exclaimed, "Missing? Fled in fear of punishment? Or were they killed?"

"This... the subordinates do not know."

"Go find them! Whether alive or dead, bring back their bodies!"

"They failed to protect their master. Even if they’re dead, find their bodies to feed the dogs!"