The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 941 - 941 429 Mother and Son (first watch of the night)

Chapter 941: 429 Mother and Son (first watch of the night) Chapter 941: 429 Mother and Son (first watch of the night) His tone was akin to the gentlest whisper in the world, and his gaze was filled with deep affection, yet the crown princess still felt a chill run through her.

She stood frozen in place, as if she couldn’t utter a single word.

Prince Ning caressed her cheek and murmured lowly, “Linlang, from the day you conspired with me to kill Xiao Hen, you’ve been unable to cleanse yourself of it. Do you still not understand this simple truth?”

The crown princess’s eyes flashed with intensity, “I didn’t harm him! It was you! It has always been you! You followed me to the Guozijian… You killed him!”

Prince Ning lifted his hand, gently stroking the back of her head, “If you hadn’t lured him out alone, how could I have had the opportunity? Admit it, Linlang, you’re also an accomplice to his death.”

“I am not! I’ve never harmed Ahen!” The crown princess reached out to push him, “I don’t want to see you, get out!”

Prince Ning’s hand, which had been caressing the back of her head, suddenly tightened—

“Linlang! Linlang!”

“Huh? Chun Yin, why are you here? Where is the crown princess? Didn’t you go to the Imperial Study Room with her?”

The crown prince’s puzzled voice came from not far away.

It was followed by Chun Yin’s nervous reply, “The crown princess, she…”

The crown princess looked at Prince Ning coldly.

Prince Ning said fiercely and silently, “You know what to do. Don’t anger me, the consequences are something you cannot bear, Wo Linlang.”

He let go of his hand.

The crown princess stumbled nearly falling to the ground.

“What was that sound?”

Because he was so close, the moment Prince Ning released the crown princess, the crown prince had already walked over and saw his pale-faced wife and the prince, looking calm and collected.

His brow furrowed instinctively, disliking the sight of his wife standing with another man, even if that man was his own older brother.

“Big brother?” He approached curiously.

Prince Ning smiled and said, “Our father summoned me to the Imperial Study Room to see him. I happened to encounter the Sister-in-law leaving the room, so we met up.”

That made sense; the crown prince told himself he was being paranoid. Prince Ning was his older brother; even though they came from different mothers, they shared the same father. How could there be anything between him and Linlang, his sister-in-law?

The crown prince came to the crown princess’s side and took her hand, feeling the iciness of her fingertips, his frown deepening, “Why are your hands so cold? I’ve already told you, you’re hurt. If there’s something important, you can report it to Father after a few days.”

“Father entrusted the female academy to me. I should take care and manage it properly,” the crown princess said, sensing the deadly glare from Prince Ning, she subtly withdrew her hand from the crown prince’s grasp, “I’m fine, just a bit tired. Your Highness, let’s return.”

After the Moon Eve Festival, the weather seemed to have suddenly become cooler, and the winds in the morning and evening carried a hint of autumn’s chill. The crown prince removed his cloak and draped it over the crown princess, carefully tying the ribbons for her.

Prince Ning watched the two with a piercing gaze.

The crown princess took the crown prince’s hand and gently moved it away, taking the ribbons herself, “I can do it.”

“Oh,” the crown prince said, somewhat disappointed. He wanted to do these little things for Linlang, but with his big brother present, it seemed indeed inappropriate for them to be too affectionate.

He turned to look at Prince Ning, who had already regained a soft and gentle expression in his eyes.

“Big brother, we’ll head back first. Since father summoned you, you should go!” he said.

Prince Ning paused, then turned to look at the crown prince as he walked away with the crown princess, saying, “Why not accompany me to see Father? It seems something has happened; the imperial guard has been deployed.”

“Is that so?” the crown prince hesitated.

Prince Ning smiled, “Nevermind, you want to accompany the Sister-in-law. I will go see Father myself.”

As he said this, his gaze casually swept across the crown princess’s face.

The crown princess felt an endless threat, tightly clenching her hand, she said to the crown prince, “Your Highness, you should check it out.”

The crown prince said, “I am not at ease leaving you.”

The crown princess lowered her gaze, “With Chun Yin accompanying me, what is there for Your Highness to worry about?”

Eventually, persuaded by the crown princess, the crown prince left with reluctance.

Only after he left did he learn that Xiao Liulang had been captured by assassins and his whereabouts were unknown. The Emperor had ordered Prince Ning to lead troops in search of the man. Since he was also there, the Emperor gave him a troop as well.

Unable to return to the East Palace to accompany Linlang at night and having to search aimlessly through the Avenue for Xiao Liulang annoyed the crown prince immensely!

“Really, it’s just that he looks like Xiao Hen; he’s not the real Xiao Hen. Why does Father value him so highly! And to even have me, the crown prince, lower myself to look for him!”