Jiang Wumei had long since noticed Chen Yue'er to one side, but she intentionally remained silent, determined to leave her there to cool her heels on the icy tiles and reflect on her actions regarding the revenge she had sought for her best friend.
Old Madam Huo sensed Jiang Wumei’s intent and chatted with her with a smile, not once mentioning the woman lying on the floor.
Since Old Madam Huo did not mention her, Xu Junjun was even less inclined to do so. She would have preferred to toss that woman out into the snow to freeze, just to vent her frustration on behalf of the Old Madam and Niaoniao.
The three of them had been chatting casually for half an hour when Qingzhi suddenly entered and whispered into Jiang Wumei’s ear.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has returned to the mansion."
Jiang Wumei’s eyes widened in surprise. What time was it? Why had Xiao Tong returned so early?
Before Jiang Wumei’s astonishment could fade, a tall figure in dark robes, cloaked in wind and snow, strode toward them.
Jiang Wumei paused for a fleeting moment, then immediately handed the white tiger cub in her arms to Qingzhi and walked forward with a smile to greet Xiao Tong.
"Your Highness, why are you back so early today? Have you had your midday meal?"
Jiang Wumei reached out to remove his heavy cloak, smiling as she asked.
Xiao Tong did not answer. He lowered his gaze to study her carefully, and upon seeing the paleness of her lips and her obvious lack of energy, his eyes darkened instantly.
His expression turned cold as he swept a commanding, formidable gaze over Old Madam Huo, Xu Junjun, and Chen Yue'er, who was bound like a quail. His voice was cold and indifferent.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Old Madam Huo felt her scalp tingle under his gaze. Before she could even process the weight of the Crown Prince’s intimidation, she pulled Xu Junjun down to kneel with her.
"Old woman pays her respects to the Crown Prince. I beg for your mercy, Your Highness. I brought my granddaughter-in-law here today to apologize for the incident yesterday, which implicated Noble Consort Jiang in the poisoning. The person bound here is the culprit behind yesterday’s crime. I intended to apologize to the Noble Consort and then send her to the Court of Judicial Review for interrogation."
Xiao Tong lifted his eyes, his tall frame looming before them like a mountain, exuding immense pressure.
His gaze swept briefly over Chen Yue'er’s tear-streaked face, his tone icy.
"Attempting to harm my grandmother and conspiring against the royal family? According to the law, she should be sentenced to death by slow slicing. There is no need for the Court of Judicial Review. Old Madam Huo, leave this woman at the Crown Prince's Mansion. I will have my own people handle it."
Old Madam Huo and Xu Junjun stiffened, looking simultaneously toward Jiang Wumei behind the man.
Xu Junjun kept flickering eyes at Jiang Wumei, wondering what was going on—had her man taken the wrong medicine?
Jiang Wumei was also confused. She gazed at Xiao Tong’s tall, imposing back, frowning slightly. She felt that this reaction from Xiao Tong was too abnormal.
In the half-year they had spent together, Jiang Wumei felt she understood Xiao Tong about fifty or sixty percent. As a cold-hearted Crown Prince, he would not truly stand up for her.
The last time Xiao Tong had protected her, it was when the Empress had first bestowed the fertility soup in the palace. What was the reason for this time?
With questions churning in her mind, Jiang Wumei stepped forward, performing a graceful curtsy as she advised:
"Your Highness, this is not according to protocol. If word of this gets out, the court officials may criticize you for being autocratic and tyrannical."
Xiao Tong turned to look at her, his face frost-covered. "Since when do I fear the criticism of others?"
Having said that, without waiting for the reactions of Old Madam Huo and the others, Xiao Tong looked outside: "Guards."
Four guards marched in quickly. Xiao Tong ordered in a cold voice: "Take this woman away and execute her by slow slicing."
Hearing this, Chen Yue'er, who had been stunned ever since Xiao Tong entered, finally snapped back to reality. She let out a shriek and scrambled toward Xiao Tong’s feet, kowtowing repeatedly in a desperate plea for mercy.
"Spare me, Your Highness! Spare me! It wasn't me who poisoned Noble Consort Jiang; it was Xu Junjun! It was her idea to harm the Noble Consort, it has nothing to do with me! I have been framed! Your Highness, please, spare me!"
Seeing Xiao Tong deciding her fate as if she were a mere ant, Chen Yue'er was paralyzed with terror, shrieking for mercy without pause.
Once Xiao Tong had spoken, Old Madam Huo and Xu Junjun both closed their mouths and stepped aside, as if they knew they were no longer needed.
Jiang Wumei stood by Xiao Tong’s side. Seeing Xiao Tong’s brow furrow and his eyes sink the moment Chen Yue'er spoke, she understood that Chen Yue'er was doomed to die today.
Sure enough, a moment later, she heard the man beside her speak with impatience:
"So noisy. Cut out her tongue."
Xiao Tong had never been a kind or soft-hearted crown prince; for those who dared to defy him, there was only one outcome: death.
One of the guards drew a dagger, approached the shivering, head-shaking Chen Yue'er, and struck with lightning speed before her terrified eyes.
The next second, a piece of blood-soaked tongue flew into the air and hit the floor.
"Drag her away."
Xiao Tong ordered coldly and turned to look at the three people present. His icy gaze made everyone it landed on feel a chill run down their spine, Jiang Wumei included.
This was the first time she had witnessed Xiao Tong’s cruelty so directly. For the first time, she felt that this man, with whom she had shared a bed hundreds of times, was so like a stranger—it was chilling.
The unconscious, pain-racked Chen Yue'er was dragged away. If it weren't for the piece of severed tongue and the blood on the floor, Jiang Wumei, Old Madam Huo, and the others would have thought the scene was nothing more than a hallucination.
After Xiao Tong left, Old Madam Huo also departed with Xu Junjun.
Xu Junjun wanted to say a few words to Jiang Wumei, but with Old Madam Huo present, she found it inconvenient.
In the end, she could only present the Health-Preserving Pills and the Heart-Protecting Pills to Jiang Wumei, telling her to take care of her health.
As soon as they left the Crown Prince's Mansion, Old Madam Huo swayed, causing Xu Junjun’s eyelids to jump in alarm; she hurriedly reached out to support her.
"Grandmother."
After helping her into the carriage, Xu Junjun took her pulse. Finding nothing major wrong, she finally relaxed and withdrew her hand.
After staring at Xu Junjun blankly for a moment, Old Madam Huo suddenly spoke:
"Junjun, you and the Noble Consort seem to have a good relationship."
Xu Junjun coughed twice. Not wanting to lie to the only elder who had been kind to her, she answered diplomatically:
"The Noble Consort is a kind person; I quite like her."
Old Madam Huo’s expression grew complex, her thoughts unreadable.
Finally, she stared at Xu Junjun for a long time and let out a long sigh:
"Fine, fine. After all, everyone has their own destiny. Grandmother only hopes that with Chen Yue'er dead, you and Ming'er can live together properly, and there will be no more storms in the mansion."
Xu Junjun smiled faintly and did not respond. The answer Old Madam Huo wanted, she could not—and would not—give.
As for that idiot Huo Qiming, whoever wanted him could have him; she, Xu Junjun, didn't want to be involved with him at all.
Clinging to this thought, Xu Junjun changed the subject:
"Grandmother, since Chen Yue'er was executed by the Crown Prince today, should we write to tell Father, Mother, and my husband?"
Mentioning Chen Yue'er made Old Madam Huo feel ill-omened:
"We must write a letter, but just tell your father and mother. Ming'er has a volatile temper; let's keep the news of Chen Yue'er's death quiet for now and wait until he returns to the capital."
Xu Junjun felt full of disappointment. She had wanted to let Huo Qiming be angry for a while longer before he returned to the capital, but it seemed that was no longer an option.