Chapter 275: Prince Ying’s Consort

To act so brazenly in broad daylight—whoever did this clearly had nothing to fear.

There were only two parties who could pull something like this off.

Either the Crown Princess Consort herself, or the household of Prince Ying, whom she was about to marry into.

The former was unlikely. The latter, far more suspicious.

If Prince Ying had ordered it, there would’ve been no need for such elaborate measures. Guanzhou was his fief, far from the capital’s reach. Burying the chest was unnecessary.

That narrowed the possibilities considerably.

To plant someone in the bridal escort team… the ones with the easiest access would be either the Princess Consort or the Crown Prince.

As for what could be hidden in the chest, it had to be something valuable, and more importantly, something that could withstand prolonged exposure to water.

Gold, silver, metalwork, porcelain…

He quickly ruled out the latter two.

In his previous life, there had never been any rumors of rebellion under Prince Ying’s rule.

That made gold and silver the more likely contents.

And if this was about money, then he might already know who was behind it.

Prince Ying’s Consort.

After Prince Ying ascended, she took charge of the inner palace and gradually developed a taste for luxury. There were frequent tensions between the emperor and empress because of it.

He remembered hearing someone mention that, in the early days back in Guanzhou, Prince Ying’s Consort had been just as frugal and down-to-earth as her husband.

Perhaps she hadn’t suddenly developed a love for jewels and jade after arriving in the capital. The signs had been there all along…

Of course, all of this was speculation. Without seeing what was actually inside the sunken chest, he couldn’t jump to conclusions.

“Did you remember where the chest was buried?” Yan Huaiwen asked.

Yan Lao’er nodded quickly. “It’s easy to remember. Next time we pass through, I’ll definitely find it.”

“This concerns the royal household,” Yan Huaiwen warned. “Be cautious. Don’t speak of it to anyone but me.”

He paused, then added, “In the next few days, keep an eye on Yongning City. See what the word is about the Crown Princess Consort.”

Since she arrived with the bridal fleet, there was no reason she wouldn’t know about the missing item. Even if she had her reasons for keeping quiet, it would inevitably affect the bride’s standing.

The most telling sign would be how Prince Ying’s household treated the Crown Princess Consort.

…

**Yongning City, Prince Ying’s Residence**

“The front gates have been freshly painted, the Crown Prince’s courtyard completely renovated. I told him ages ago that the garden needed work, that we should plant some trees and flowers. But the prince refused, said he wanted it left as it was.

I thought he was just sentimental, clinging to old memories. So I let him have his way and left the garden to rot. But now? Just because the Crown Princess Consort is moving in, suddenly his deep affections can be set aside. He’s had it redone to match the southern gardens—miniature mountains, ornamental rocks, a scenic view at every step… He really put effort into it.”

The woman was stunning, her beauty striking even in repose. She idly toyed with the abacus beside her, the polished black beads making her fair, jade-like fingers stand out even more.

“How did the matter go?”

Her voice carried a trace of irritation.

“Rest assured, Your Grace. Everything went smoothly. Even if the Crown Princess Consort suspects something, she’ll have no choice but to swallow the loss.”

Prince Ying’s Consort looked up and pushed the abacus aside.

A maidservant nearby, quick-witted and attentive, stepped forward with a clean cloth. She dipped it in warm water, wrung it out to just the right dampness, and respectfully handed it over.

The Consort slowly wiped each finger, one by one.

A cup of tea, its temperature just right, was quietly placed by her side.

Once the moisture on her hands had faded, she picked up the cup and took a small sip. The warmth of the red date tea seeped through her chest, soothing her from within.

The displeasure in her brows eased slightly.

“I almost hope she causes a scene. The prince chose this time for the wedding, not caring one bit about appearances. He’s counting on her bringing in a haul of wedding gifts along the journey north to refill the treasury…

What a joke. A whole fiefdom, and it can’t even support a single royal household. Year after year, we run a deficit. And now, he’s set his sights on his own son’s wedding to scrape together some funds. I wonder, if my dear sister knew this in the afterlife, would she be angry?

Oh, but of course! She was just as kind and soft-hearted as the prince. The kind of person who could live off air and dew, untouched by the grime of the mortal world.

Unlike me. I’m the one always scheming, always figuring out how to stretch a single tael of silver to keep the household looking respectable.”

Seeing that the princess was about to grow angry again, the maid quickly said, “Your Grace, His Highness knows how hard you’ve worked. Over the years, he’s come to appreciate you more and more. His heart is fully with you now.”

Prince Ying’s Consort let out a cold laugh. “That’s rich, ‘living together in harmony,’ is it? Just like commoners, scraping by day to day. If not for the title, if strangers didn’t call me ‘Consort,’ I’d think I’d married a street vendor.”

“His Highness has no choice,” the maid said gently. “This is his fief, and everyone here depends on him. But Guanzhou is poor, with little to offer. This year, the droughts in Leshan and Qishan brought waves of refugees. Just when we thought the population might finally grow, an epidemic broke out.

If not for that illness, in three to five years, the tax revenue would’ve improved. Then Your Grace wouldn’t have to bear such a heavy burden, holding everything together.”

“Yes, the epidemic,” Prince Ying’s Consort sighed. “We’ve poured so much silver into fighting it. His Highness even sold the estate thirty li east of the city. If things don’t turn around soon, who knows what we’ll have to sell next?

The Crown Prince is the legitimate heir. One day, he’ll inherit this household. If the estate thrives, Mian’er might still receive a decent portion. She could live comfortably.

But look at us now. Prince Ying’s residence is an empty shell. When the time comes, what will become of my Mian’er? Rely on the court stipend? That won’t be enough.

She’s still young. I doubt she can wait for His Majesty to bestow a good marriage. If we have to arrange one ourselves, I don’t even know if we can scrape together a proper dowry…”

Prince Ying’s Consort gave a bitter smile. “Of course I want to share mutual respect and harmony with His Highness, to govern the people with kindness by his side, to be a woman with a heart as pure as crystal. But being kind-hearted isn’t so easy. If I don’t plan for Mian’er’s future, who else will?”

“Your Grace…” the nursemaid’s heart ached with sympathy.

“I’ll only keep thirty percent. Just thirty,” Prince Ying’s Consort slowly lowered her gaze. “Opportunities like this don’t come often. The gift list was handled entirely by our own people. The Crown Princess Consort likely only knows the general details.

If she stays silent, then the matter ends here, never to be mentioned again. But if she speaks up…

No proof, no evidence, just empty words.

If those chests can’t be found, His Highness won’t believe her. Instead, she’ll look incompetent, unable to even keep track of the congratulatory gifts sent by boat.

If the Crown Princess Consort can’t handle such a task, how can she be entrusted with managing the Prince Ying household?”

“Your Grace speaks the truth!”

…

“My lord, these were found on the six Northern Rong men. All are silver notes issued by our Guanzhou silver exchange. The amounts are considerable. I ask that you investigate thoroughly.” Yan Huaiwen handed over three silver notes.

The total came to exactly three hundred and fifty taels.

Magistrate Tian was first surprised, then his brows gradually drew together, his expression turning grave.

As the Chief Official of a border city, his sense of caution was sharper than most.

His thoughts quickly aligned with Yan Huaiwen’s. He, too, felt the matter warranted a deeper investigation.

“Your younger brother has returned?” Magistrate Tian asked.

“Yes. Once the medicine delivery was settled, I sent his household back,” Yan Huaiwen replied. “I also told him there’s no need to bring any more.”

Magistrate Tian gave a low hum of acknowledgment. “Were the bodies of the six Northern Rong men left behind?”

“They were.”

“Was the reward money fronted by the government office?”

“No. I issued a formal document acknowledging receipt of the six bodies. Once the city gates reopen and travel resumes, the matter will be handled then.”

Magistrate Tian studied him for a moment, then smiled.

(End of Chapter)