in2ebook Chapter 278 Have you met the Crown Prince?
Chapter 278 Have you met the Crown Prince?
No matter how much Zhu Qingwei begged for mercy, the Emperor did not soften his heart in the slightest.
It wasn't that he valued the Si family so much, but rather that this incident happened in the hunting grounds, where others could easily frame the Si family, and they could easily frame him as well!
How could the Emperor tolerate such a thing? Not only the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion, but everyone in the hunting grounds will have to undergo a major purge this time.
The Earl of Weiyuan looked ashen-faced. He quickly had his daughter gagged, thanked the Emperor, and then returned home with his sons and daughters.
A light rain began to fall, and Si Xingzhi's worry deepened. He simply told his younger brother and followed the guards into the hunting grounds. He couldn't lose any of his daughters; his Tong'er had suffered so much. He was her father, and he had to protect her.
Si Muyan refused to go back and sat on the veranda watching the rain, her worry growing stronger.
Before long, someone returned, and someone immediately came to report.
"Miss Du is back. Except for the second young lady of the Si family, all the ladies have returned."
Si Muyan's eyes lit up and then dimmed. It was normal for Du Shangge to be late because she had run too far away. Besides, she was quite skilled in martial arts, and ordinary wild animals or villains could not get close to her.
But her younger sister is completely helpless, which is really worrying.
Du Shangge got soaked, but didn't bother to go back and clean up. She ran over to the Si family's place and lowered her head guiltily when she saw Si Muyan.
The younger sister quickly pulled her inside and ordered someone to bring a towel to wipe the rainwater off Du Shangge's head: "Shangge, you can't be careless after getting wet in the rain. Go back quickly, dry yourself off, and change your clothes."
Du Shangge burst into tears, hugging her younger sister tightly and saying, "Hit me, scold me, just don't be nice to me anymore. I'm so sorry. I only thought about hunting when I entered the hunting grounds, and I abandoned you all. I said I would protect you, but I failed. I even lost Mu Tong..."
She refused to return and rode her horse around the hunting grounds searching for people. It was only after Prince Ning discovered her that he ordered her to be tied up and brought back.
"Oh no, how could I be so playful? I even forgot about my sisters, waaaaah..."
The younger sister quickly said, "Don't cry anymore. You don't know what will happen next. Please stop crying."
Du Shangge shook his head desperately: "No, it's all my fault. If Mu Tong doesn't come back, I... I won't live anymore..."
The younger sister's expression changed, and she said, "Don't talk nonsense. My second sister is fine and will be alright, so you will be alright too."
Du Shangge realized she had spoken out of turn and was even more heartbroken.
Si Muyan asked them to sit down before saying, "It was Zhu Qingwei who deliberately framed you, so don't blame yourself."
Du Shangge's eyes were red and swollen. She said guiltily, "Before we went, you warned me like that, saying you were afraid Zhu Qingwei would do something bad... But I thought, that's the hunting grounds. No matter how bad Zhu Qingwei is, she can only scare you. There won't be any real danger... I never expected her to actually..."
She sobbed, growing more and more heartbroken the more she thought about it.
Si Muyan's face also darkened. Zhu Qingwei didn't seem like a person who could keep her composure; she was capable of letting wild monkeys attack them. But breaking through the enclosure fence and luring people out of the enclosure required setting up a huge trap beforehand, something Zhu Qingwei couldn't do overnight.
Could it be that she has a master mentor guiding her?
Could it be her stepmother, the Lady of Weiyuan?
Si Muyan had already met Madam Zhu. Although she was not a kind person and always had a smug look when she saw them, she was also someone who wore her emotions on her sleeve. Her arrogant demeanor revealed her inner weakness beneath her fierce exterior.
If it wasn't her, then who was it?
"The two fourth young ladies, Miss Du."
The Second Prince's gentle voice interrupted Si Muyan's thoughts.
She rose and bowed.
The Second Prince said, "There's no need for such formalities. I heard that Miss Si has gone missing, and I was quite worried, so I came to ask if you've found her."
Si Muyan said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My sister has not returned yet."
The second prince was disappointed and genuinely worried. He sighed softly, "Please don't be too nervous, ladies. My father has ordered the Imperial Guard to search for you. Miss Si will be alright."
"Thank you."
As they were talking, the Crown Prince also led his men over.
The second prince was very unhappy. His elder brother had just gotten the beauty Miss Gui today, so why was he coming to see Miss Si again? Did he have other intentions?
He didn't show what he was thinking on his face.
The Crown Prince waved his hand, indicating that they did not need to bow, and asked only, "Is there any news about the Second Miss Si?"
The younger sister replied, "Your Highness, not yet."
The Crown Prince's usually cold face showed a rare gentleness: "Eldest Miss and Third Miss, do not worry. I have ordered my guards to go and search for you. We will definitely bring Second Miss back safe and sound."
Si Muyan and her younger sister bowed together, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince did not linger, not even glancing at the Second Prince, and turned to leave.
The second prince belatedly realized what was happening and quickly added, "I'll also send people to search..."
But this attempt to make amends sounds rather strange no matter how you look at it.
After the Crown Prince and the Second Prince left, the younger sister persuaded Du Shangge to go back to change her clothes, leaving only the three siblings of the Si family and their respective servants in the corridor.
Unable to contain herself, Madam You whispered in Si Muyan's ear, "Miss, did His Highness the Second Prince come here specifically to get close to you?"
"So obvious?" Si Muyan chuckled.
Madam You pursed her lips: "I noticed earlier that he seemed somewhat worried about the Second Miss, but if he truly wanted to help, he would have arranged for someone to do so much earlier, just like His Highness the Crown Prince. Wouldn't that make His Highness the Second Prince seem even more hypocritical?"
Si Muyan said, "Aunt You has forgotten the rules."
“This servant knows her mistake,” Madam You replied immediately.
It's not that she deliberately stirred things up; the Second Prince, with his status, clearly had his eye on her young lady. But regardless of whether the young lady was good or not, her family background and past were not a good match for the Second Prince.
The second prince's attempt to curry favor was clearly motivated by ulterior motives.
But having followed her mistress for so long, she felt that although her mistress was a bit lazy, she was good in every way and very kind to the servants.
It's clear that the Second Prince is not good enough for her daughter.
She was afraid that her young lady might be blinded by the Second Prince's charms, so she quickly said a few more words.
Si Muyan understood what Aunt You meant, but she didn't pay attention to it and instead pondered it.
His Highness the Crown Prince has no connection with the Si family, and his maternal family is the Zuo family. The Zuo family and the Shao family have always been at odds. Even though only Shao Qin remains in the Shao family, it is impossible for the Crown Prince and the Si family to have a good relationship.
After the Lian family returned to the capital, various aristocratic families sent gifts, but the gifts from the Crown Prince's Palace were just ordinary gifts.
just now……
Si Muyan looked at her younger sister and asked, "Have you met the Crown Prince before?"