Chapter 364: Xiao Lansi
Her soft, gentle voice was like a trickling stream, bringing a sense of calm.
Xiao Chengxuan looked up.
The demure, innocent young woman before him seemed to realize she had just overstepped. She immediately pulled back her hand, a bashful flush rising on her fair face.
"...I have been presumptuous, brother. Please forgive me."
Xiao Chengxuan burst out laughing. "It’s been years, but you haven’t changed one bit! This is the Prince Qi Mansion. There’s no need to be so formal!"
Xiao Lansi sounded a bit exasperated. "Please don’t tease me, brother."
Xiao Chengxuan was in high spirits, so he paid no mind to such trivialities. He set down the wine jug and waved away the servant who had just approached with more.
"You may go. The Third Princess has declared that I am not to drink too much today."
Xiao Lansi’s face reddened slightly.
But she had always been mild-mannered. Even a simple debate could exhaust her, let alone when she was facing Xiao Chengxuan himself.
"I-I would never dare presume to make decisions for you, brother..."
"Was it Mother Consort who told you to come and keep an eye on me?"
Xiao Lansi wanted to deny it, but when she looked up and met his all-knowing gaze, she gave up.
"...Mother is also thinking of your health, brother."
Xiao Chengxuan scoffed.
"Don’t bother trying to placate me. You think I don’t know what Mother Consort is plotting? She’s just afraid I’ll drink too much and cause trouble!"
Father Emperor had just graciously lifted his confinement. If he were to say or do something inappropriate while under the influence, it would undoubtedly lead to more trouble.
Xiao Chengxuan was well aware of this himself.
He tapped his temple. "Don’t worry, I’m not drunk. My head is clear!"
Xiao Lansi’s eyes still held a faint trace of hidden worry.
"I know you’ve always been clever and methodical, brother, but with so many eyes and ears around, it’s always better to be careful."
Xiao Chengxuan gestured toward her.
"You, that’s your problem. You’re too timid!"
Xiao Lansi smiled, pressing her lips together. "With Mother and you here, brother, how could I be timid?"
"Speaking of which, I have you to thank for getting out so quickly this time." Xiao Chengxuan narrowed his eyes slightly. "If you hadn’t presented that treasure, who knows when Father Emperor would have relented!"
The "treasure" Xiao Chengxuan mentioned was a white deer that Xiao Lansi had brought back on her return to the capital.
Xiao Lansi gave a light smile. "That was an auspicious omen from the heavens, a sign of Father Emperor’s vast benevolence and grace upon the people. He was naturally very pleased."
The white deer had been discovered by chance in a remote mountain. It was an exceptionally beautiful creature, so Xiao Lansi had specifically presented it as a gift.
Emperor Muwu was overjoyed. He not only showered Xiao Lansi—the daughter he had once favored the least—with rewards, but also granted a special pardon, using Consort Ru’s birthday as an occasion to release Xiao Chengxuan.
After Xiao Chengxuan learned of this, he specially invited Xiao Lansi to his mansion.
For one, they had not seen each other in years and could finally have a reunion. For another, he wanted to thank her.
Xiao Chengxuan slowly swirled the wine in his cup. He was silent for a long moment before letting out a cold laugh.
"Heh, it’s laughable, really. When I was in my prime, they all flocked to me. The moment I lost power, every last one of them stayed far away, unwilling to even speak a single word on my behalf!"
In the end, he had to rely on a half-sister with a different mother for help!
In the past, he had no particular feelings for this sister of low birth. Although she had been raised by his Mother Consort for a few years, she had been overly docile since childhood. Later, she was sent out of the palace, and after not seeing her for so long, they could hardly be called close.
But this time, she had truly done him a great service.
It’s easy to celebrate with someone in their prime, but hard to help them in their time of need. Xiao Chengxuan had enjoyed smooth sailing for years, so this was the first time he’d faced such a severe reprimand. It made him realize how fickle his former allies were. In contrast, this unassuming sister of his had truly warmed his heart.
Besides Mother Consort and his maternal grandfather, she was one of the few people willing to share his burdens.
Hearing this, Xiao Lansi gently shook her head. "They each have their own difficulties. You should be more understanding, brother."
Xiao Chengxuan found that laughable. He sneered.
"You’re still too soft-hearted. One day you’ll be crushed by others and you won’t even know how it happened!"
He couldn’t be bothered to explain the sordid affairs of the court to her. He waved a dismissive hand. "Forget it! Talking about it will only worry you. Let’s drop the subject!"
Xiao Lansi didn’t seem interested in such matters anyway. She nodded gently, a smile returning to her lips.
"Your confinement has been lifted, brother, and it’s just in time for Mother’s birthday. She must be especially happy. I’ve prepared a birthday gift for Mother this time—"
Before she could finish, an attendant walked in quickly.
"Your Highness, I have something to report."
Xiao Lansi paused and glanced to the side. Anyone who dared to barge in at a time like this must be a trusted confidant.
Sure enough, Xiao Chengxuan’s expression grew serious as he asked, "What is it?"
The attendant hesitated.
Xiao Lansi was very tactful and made a move to stand up. "Since you have important business, brother, I’ll just—"
"No need."
Xiao Chengxuan had her sit back down and then gestured for the attendant to speak freely.
"The Third Princess is not an outsider. You can speak freely."
Xiao Lansi bit her lip, seeming a little at a loss.
Hearing this, the attendant spoke directly. "Your Highness, there’s trouble at the Ye Mansion."
Xiao Chengxuan bristled at the very name and immediately frowned. "What now?"
Xiao Lansi’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
The attendant said, "Your Highness should still remember that a few days ago, Ye Shixian publicly accused Ye Chutang of driving her own mother to her death."
Xiao Chengxuan had only recently returned to the mansion. The reason he knew about this was because the matter involved Ye Heng’s relatives.
And, of course, because of Ye Chutang.
"I remember. What, has Shuntian Prefecture finished investigating the case?"
"Not yet, and there’s been a major reversal." The attendant reported the news he had just received. "Ye Shixian’s maid, a girl named Shaoyao, ran to Shuntian Prefecture and instead accused Ye Shixian of killing Mrs. Gao. Zhang Qian has already dispatched men to take Ye Shixian to the dungeons, saying the case needs to be re-examined."
"What did you say!?"
This time, even Xiao Chengxuan was stunned.
"That Mrs. Gao is her own mother! How could she do something like that?"
"Although it’s absurd, that maid Shaoyao is close to Ye Shixian. Why would she dare make a false accusation? Besides, with Lord Zhang Qian’s way of doing things, for him to arrest someone in the street like this, he must already have evidence."
It took Xiao Chengxuan a good while to gradually calm the shock in his heart.
"...So, the one who killed Mrs. Gao wasn’t Ye Chutang, but her own daughter!?"
The attendant didn’t speak.
He was only responsible for delivering the news; the rest was not his concern.
Xiao Chengxuan pondered for a long time, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"These people from the Ye Family... not a single one of them is to be trifled with!"
In his peripheral vision, he saw Xiao Lansi lightly covering her mouth, her eyes still filled with lingering shock. Only then did he remember that for a naive young girl unversed in the ways of the world to suddenly hear such a thing, the shock must have been considerable.
"Ye Chutang?"
Xiao Lansi’s eyes widened slightly, her almond-shaped eyes filled with confusion.
"Is that... the Ye Chutang who saved the Eldest Princess?"