Chapter 48: The Princess's Fate

  I never had a dream about marriage, but hearing him say that, I couldn't help but imagine: "Actually, our wedding can be simple, simply being together, simply worshiping heaven and earth, simply living!"

  "Good......" Xuan Yuan Mu nodded seriously and lowered his head to 'kiss' my 'lips'. First publication address, read in reverse.

  The next day, we came to the outskirts of the city. Xue Qiufeng had already made preparations. The coffin lid was opened, and the female corpse was taken out and placed in the sunlight to dry. Then the corpse began to rot rapidly, and grass paper had to be constantly used to wipe away the dripping body fluids, which were then burned along with all the grass paper.

  After all, it was a three-year-old corpse. Although it had undergone some changes after being preserved, under the sunlight and away from water sources, the body began to decompose at an accelerated rate. In just half a day, all the corpse's aura had dissipated, leaving behind only a pile of white bones.

  The coffin was closed and buried before dusk, and Xue Qiufeng had taken care of everything.

  We few returned to the imperial palace, leaving Xuan Yuan Qi alone in front of the tomb, and news also came from the emperor's side that the main army would return from the hunting grounds tomorrow.

  "I was thinking of interrogating the Empress at night, but I didn't expect Father Emperor to return so quickly!" Xuan Yuan Mu said with a frown.

  "Perhaps he's afraid we'll find some secret in the palace and that's why he rushed back!"

  Helpless, all other actions were cancelled, waiting for the Emperor's return to the palace.

  Everything returned to normal, the Emperor returned to the palace, Empress An took charge of all matters in the harem, and I followed Xuan Yuan Mu as usual, attending the morning court every day, then helping with the review of memorials in the Imperial Study.

  Everything was calm for a few days, and the ministers began to arrange for Xuan Yuan to take in a new concubine. After all, the Eastern Palace couldn't be empty forever. Two of his consorts had died, one from illness and one from madness. Although there were rumors that the Crown Prince had unusual hobbies, they couldn't let the Eastern Palace remain masterless because of this.

  This matter naturally fell on Empress An's head, and the ministers only recommended candidates, but the crown princess candidate had already been decided, namely the marriage object, the third princess of Nanzhao State, Princess Anmingzhu, who was also said to be Empress An's niece.

  On this side, the imperial palace was busy with Xuan Yuan's wedding to Mo Na, while on the other side, the second princess, Ruo Hua, suddenly disappeared. The emperor sent out a large number of secret agents to investigate her trail, but there was no trace of her anywhere.

  "Third Brother, Third Brother!" Xuan Yuan Qi suddenly entered the palace.

  "What's strange?" I looked at him strangely. "The Crown Prince is busy with the matter of taking in a concubine these past two days, if you're looking for him, go to the front hall!"

  "Why didn't you follow?" Xuan Yuan looked at me strangely.

  "The matter of choosing a concubine, it's better if I don't follow him, he was also in a difficult situation!" I explained: "But you're so anxious to find him, is there something going on?"

  "Xue...!" Xuan Yuan Qi leaned in close to me, looking around cautiously before speaking: "Do you think Princess Hua has already sunk to the bottom of the water?"

  My mind suddenly buzzed, staring at Xuan Yuan Qi in shock, my brain quickly turning. Now that Ruo Hua princess is missing, it's too similar to when Ruo Lan princess went missing back then. "No way? In such a large imperial palace with such strict guards, who could kidnap the princess without being noticed and sink her to the bottom of the water?"

  "Ah!" Xuan Yuan furrowed his brow: "Back then, I never thought that if it wasn't for Ruolan giving me a prophetic dream, I would have died without knowing she was actually under the Wind and Moon Pavilion."

  "You're looking for Xuan Yuan Mu just to ask him to take a look under the Water Pavilion?" My heart was racing, this imperial palace was like a bottomless black pit, ruthlessly devouring everyone's life.

  "Hmm! In the imperial palace, I can't move freely, only if you all go over there, it won't arouse suspicion!"

  Until Xuan Yuan Qi left, my heart was still hanging. If Ruo Hua Gong Zhu was also placed under the Feng Yue Shui Ge, then... The place of Feng Yue Shui Ge must have a problem. Gu Shi repeatedly brought Ruo Lan Gong Zhu back there, the problem is not with Ruo Lan Gong Zhu, but with the bottom of the pavilion.

  What secrets are hidden there? The more I think about it, the more terrified my heart becomes. Your Majesty, Xuan Yuan Tian, what kind of father is he really? Is he truly the murderer behind the scenes? If not, how can he watch his own children die one by one with his eyes open?

  In the late afternoon, Princess Ruqing arrived with two maids and insisted on staying in the Eastern Palace for dinner. The Crown Prince was not there, but she refused to leave.

  "Lingxue sister, aren't you always having meals with my imperial brother? Why won't you sit down and keep me company?" Princess Ruoqin is two years younger than me, her eyes are as sorrowful as autumn leaves.

  "I don't dare!" I lowered my head and placed her favorite pear 'flower' cake in front of her.

  Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yu Qing princess grasped my wrist: "Sister, sit down? You standing like this makes me feel like you're treating me as an outsider!"

  She pulled me down to sit "Princess, what's wrong with you? Otherwise, the prince will be back soon, and I'll pass it on for you?"

  Princess Yulan's eyes suddenly widened, and she said excitedly: "Good, good! I want to move into the East Palace to live. I hope my imperial brother can agree. As long as my imperial brother gives the word, letting me live in the East Palace, Empress An and my father will not object!"

  "Why did the princess have to move here? In a few days, the new imperial concubine Liangdi will come to live in the East Palace. You..." I couldn't say more, after all, I'm just a 'maid'.

  A hint of sadness flashed across Qing's face, but only for a moment. I saw fear in her eyes as she tried to maintain her excitement, holding my hand and continuing: "Because I like Lingxue sister, I want to live with Lingxue sister in the same yard!"

  This reason is too far-fetched. I've long heard that the three princesses in the palace have different personalities: Princess Yuhua is unconventional, Princess Yuqing is delicate and well-behaved, and Princess Yufeng is quiet and intelligent. What's wrong with her today?

  "I don't dare, but I will pass on the princess's words to the prince as is. Hopefully he'll agree!" Although I agreed, Princess Yiqing still didn't leave. She even had someone clean the room and stayed in the Eastern Palace waiting for news.

  After Xuan Yuan returned, I told him about what happened to Xuan Qi and Princess Ru Qing during the day. He nodded and said: "Tonight, you go to Ru Qing's room and tell her that I'm a dead man. Also, tell her that the East Palace is haunted, she won't dare stay here!"

  I slightly furrowed my brow, after all, if Princess Yu Qing was so young, did she need to be scared? But seeing Xuan Yuan Mu being so tired, I also didn't have the heart to disturb him again, and turned around to leave the room.

  I came to Ruqing Princess's room, I let her dismiss the 'maid' and whispered to her: "Princess really want to live here? You don't know the prince's hobby?"

  "How much do you know!" Princess Yuqing's eyes stared at me, with a firm expression, as if she would rather die than leave.

  Shu Ha Ha Novel Network