What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 421 - 417: Outsiders

Taixing, Year 16, November Guichou, issued an edict to pass the throne to the Crown Prince.

Not long after, His Majesty returned from the Palace and was assassinated, passing away.

The Crown Prince Li Mu ascended to the throne in front of the late emperor, becoming Emperor Wu.

...

"Your Majesty... Long live..."

The voices of the officials bowing spread from Taiji Palace, even crossing several palace gates, still enough to shake the deaf.

Tang Xiaobai heard the sound, glanced outside, feeling somewhat dazed.

"Crown Princess Consort?"

Tang Xiaobai regained her senses, smiled, and turned to listen to the female official reporting the funeral rites.

Li Mu had already proclaimed himself emperor in front of the court, but she was still called the Crown Princess Consort in the harem.

Promotions in the harem have always been later than those in the court, and there are many Crown Princess Consorts in history who never became Empresses.

So generally, after the previous emperor passed away, the harem was mainly presided over by the Empress or Empress Dowager.

If neither was present, the Crown Princess Consort would then take over.

Now both the Empress and Empress Dowager were present, yet she, the Crown Princess Consort, was in charge—

Recalling the expression of Empress Yuan when she returned yesterday, Tang Xiaobai found it somewhat amusing.

She hadn’t tried to deceive Empress Yuan and had no intention of scrambling for the management of the harem; the new calendar and maps were the most important projects on her hands.

If Empress Yuan was reliable, Tang Xiaobai wouldn’t mind letting her continue managing the harem.

Perhaps... find an opportunity to communicate?

"Crown Princess Consort—" Ah Kui ran over from the east, leaned close to Tang Xiaobai’s ear, and whispered a couple of words.

Tang Xiaobai looked at her with surprise.

Ah Kui nodded like a pecking chicken.

Tang Xiaobai chuckled, "If not out in a quarter of an hour, go inside and bring the person out."

Just as she finished speaking, there was a commotion outside the hall: "His Majesty arrives—"

Tang Xiaobai stood by the door of Ganlu Hall, lifted her head and turned, seeing the new emperor in plain attire appear at the end of her view at Ganlu Gate, within Yong Alley.

Yong Alley separates the court from the harem; passing through Yong Alley, crossing Ganlu Gate, leads to the harem.

His Majesty the Emperor stood outside Ganlu Gate, hands behind his back, with a cold demeanor.

Somehow, upon seeing him, Tang Xiaobai felt like laughing, but had to resist the urge, leading a group of female officials to greet him.

Her knees hadn’t bent yet when His Majesty the Emperor grabbed her hand to pull her up.

He pulled with considerable strength, causing Tang Xiaobai to stumble forward, almost bumping into his embrace.

As she looked up into his eyes, she indeed saw a hint of smugness.

Even as emperor, he still acts so childish!

Tang Xiaobai both amused and exasperated, pinched his hand.

Li Mu remained calm, slightly lowered his head, his dark eyes filled entirely with her image.

"Thank you, Ah Jiao." He said softly.

Tang Xiaobai faintly curled her lips, also whispering: "Why did you come over?"

He leaned close to her ear and whispered: "I just ascended."

"Pfft—" Tang Xiaobai nearly laughed aloud.

Yet it’s still mourning!

She quickly thought, diving into Li Mu’s embrace to hide her face.

Too showy!

Leaving behind the civil and military officials, specifically running to show off in front of her?

Tang Xiaobai struggled to suppress laughter, her body trembling.

Surrounding palace attendants and guards cast glances, seeing only His Majesty the Emperor gently patting the shoulder of the trembling girl in his arms, silently comforting.

Though rumors said the previous emperor and new emperor had a strained relationship, even forcing the throne on him, who would expect the Crown Princess Consort to be so grief-stricken?

Truly, one mustn’t fully trust hearsay! Many silently shook their heads.

Just as Tang Xiaobai managed to straighten her lips and prepare to leave Li Mu’s embrace, voices sounded behind her: "Her Majesty the Empress arrives—"

Empress Yuan has come out...

Tang Xiaobai recalled the news brought by Ah Kui earlier, curious about Empress Yuan’s intentions.

Though the concubines were still confined to the harem, the Empress was different. Right from the start, Tang Xiaobai sent someone to invite Empress Yuan, but she declined citing poor health.

So, choosing this moment to appear—

Tang Xiaobai raised her head, thoughtfully looking at Li Mu.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty the Emperor was currently frowning, exuding coldness all over, with displeasure written plainly on his face.

Why is he angry?

Before Tang Xiaobai could ponder further, Empress Yuan had already approached.

"After months of not seeing, Your Majesty seems to have grown taller," Empress Yuan wisely adjusted her address, her brows gentle, acting the role of a senior, "I heard the Turkic lands are bitterly cold; Your Majesty battled for months, truly arduous," then turned to Tang Xiaobai, "Ah Dang must take good care of His Majesty."

Tang Xiaobai ignored her comments, glancing at the white-clad girl beside her.

The girl promptly obediently approached Tang Xiaobai.

After taking just one step, she was pulled back by Empress Yuan. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"This is Princess Shun Ning; Your Majesty may not have met her before?"

Empress Yuan spoke in a soft voice, looking at Xu Fei with an affectionate gaze.

"Originally, Emperor intended for the Crown Princess Consort to remain in the Eastern Palace to care for her, waiting for Your Majesty’s return to be arranged, but surprisingly, the Crown Princess Consort instantly took a liking to Ah Fei, recognizing her as a daughter—" At this point, Empress Yuan covered her mouth with a cough, "Ah Fei and the Crown Princess Consort are the same age, recognizing as sisters would be one thing, but recognizing a daughter, truly mischievous!"

Empress Yuan glanced at Li Mu.

This young man, with his deep black eyes, indistinct emotions, just looking was unnerving.

Yet having spoken this far, she had to continue: "Now with Your Majesty newly ascended, only the Crown Princess Consort is in the harem, perhaps bringing Ah Fei into the Palace would be fitting—"

"No—" Xu Fei’s face turned pale.

But before she could voice her refusal, Li Mu interrupted—

"Crown Princess Consort?" His Majesty the Emperor’s tone was chilling, even Tang Xiaobai, who usually watched coldly, cast a surprised glance.

"I am now emperor, where is the Crown Princess Consort?"

The young county princess was instantly sharp, immediately adjusting her ceremony: "Shun Ning pays respects to the Empress!"

Only then did His Majesty the Emperor’s expression soften slightly, yet his tone still carried reprimand: "Since Empress Tang recognized you as her daughter, why not serve closely, instead flatter others? Was the Xu Family taught etiquette?"

Xu Fei blushed: "Daughter acknowledges her mistake."

Tang Xiaobai lightly coughed, explaining for her: "Ah Fei entered the Palace from Yongchun Gate, was called over while passing Lizheng Hall, yet to reach my place!"

What Ah Kui reported earlier indeed was Xu Fei being intercepted by Empress Yuan.

Empress Yuan indeed deluded herself, thinking Xu Fei’s elevation to Commandery Princess could alienate her and Li Mu.

The emperor in her household particularly held grudges, hearing her explanation caused him to look at Empress Yuan, whose face was already turning sour, coldly stating: "I dislike idle people in the Palace; it was so in the Eastern Palace and will be likewise in Taiji Palace, Empress has already nicely arranged Princess Shun Ning, there’s no need for outsiders to bother!"

Empress Yuan’s face turned red then pale, yet fearful of Li Mu’s imposing manner, she did not dare to retort.

However, His Majesty wasn’t done yet: "Currently regarding the harem people, all will be relocated from Taiji Palace before the year’s end."

Tang Xiaobai hadn’t reacted when Empress Yuan panicked: "Only more than a month remains before the year’s end, with the previous emperor having passed just under a hundred days ago, Your Majesty intends to move all the concubines and ladies from the harem?"

Li Mu cast a faint glance at her: "Not concubines and ladies, all current residents in Taiji Palace—"

"You want to expel me too?!" Empress Yuan’s voice shrilled.

Li Mu no longer looked at her, pinched his little empress’s hand, saying: "I dislike idle people in the palace; the matter of selecting palace quarters will trouble the Empress."

Her almond eyes curved in approval, adorably.

Li Mu unwittingly softened his tone further: "I have affairs ahead, I’ll go first, later we—" Seeing her eyes suddenly widen, he realized he said too much and promptly closed his mouth.

"Your Majesty!" Empress Yuan raised her voice nearby.

Li Mu acted as though unheard, pinching Tang Xiaobai’s hand again: "I shall go."

"Li Mu!" Empress Yuan shouted in anger, "Even you have become emperor, I am still Empress Dowager!"

Li Mu did not look at her, turning to leave.

Tang Xiaobai saw Empress Yuan in a state of fury, not wanting to escalate the matter further, about to offer some conciliatory words.

Suddenly, Empress Yuan glanced at her, coldly smiling.

Oh?

Tang Xiaobai raised her eyebrows.

Does she intend to bully her?