On Our Wedding Night, I Discovered the Crown Prince’s Hidden Illness
Chapter 366: Thorough Investigation

Chapter 366: Chapter 366: Thorough Investigation

Lai Manting spoke in a gentle and graceful manner, "There have been many changes in the weather these past few days, and I’ve developed a rash on my face, hence the veil. It was not my intention to imitate someone else."

Ye Zhenyu snorted lightly and, flicking his sleeves, left with his staff.

Watching Ye Zhenyu’s retreating figure, Lai Manting’s long nails dug deeply into the palm of her hand, feeling no pain at all.

Life in the Prince Mansion was dull and uninteresting. She visited the fish pond every day to feed the fish, as a way to pass the lonely hours.

Just now, a maid had come to report that the Prince was near the fish pond. Overjoyed, she picked up her skirt and ran over, hoping for a chance encounter with him that seemed unplanned.

Who would have expected that he wouldn’t even deign to look directly at her?

He only caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, and the question he asked related to Leng Yu Yan. By wearing a veil, was every woman who did so in the world trying to imitate Leng Yu Yan?

It wasn’t until Jinju noticed the fresh blood seeping from her palm that she exclaimed in shock, "Consort, you’re hurt!"

Lai Manting looked at the fresh blood in her palm and sneered.

Over the past few months, not once had Ye Zhenyu spent a night in her chambers.

These days were filled with loneliness and emptiness. In the past, there were other women to compete with, but recently, for some reason, he had dismissed all the other women.

At first, she thought that since only she remained in the mansion, her position as concubine was undoubtedly on par with that of the official wife.

Yet—

One day, she saw a painting in his study.

The person painted was not just anyone; it was Leng Yu Yan!

He forbade her from entering his study, but that day, she went to deliver a late-night snack. She was stopped by a guard at the door of the study, and in that brief moment, she saw him carefully examining a beauty painting. Even if the woman in it were turned to ash, she could tell at a glance that it was Leng Yu Yan.

She never knew that Ye Zhenyu had developed feelings for Leng Yu Yan.

She had thought he coveted Leng Yu Yan for her stunning beauty and graceful figure, but only recently had she come to understand deeply that the reason he had dismissed the other women was that he had taken a liking to Leng Yu Yan.

The Tian Family were known to be cold-hearted, and Ye Zhenyu was no different.

How could the cold-hearted Ye Zhenyu develop feelings for Leng Yu Yan?

Lai Manting’s heart began to grow cold, and she even believed that Ye Zhenyu was keeping her around to curry favor with Leng Yu Yan.

After all, she and Leng Yu Yan were arch-enemies. Perhaps he was keeping her so that Leng Yu Yan could personally execute her, thereby winning her favor.

Jinju pulled out a handkerchief to cover Lai Manting’s wound, "Consort, we can’t have a scar on your palm; the Prince would surely be displeased."

Hearing this, Lai Manting became even more irritated and slapped Jinju across the face, "Would you also dare to lecture me?"

Jinju hurriedly knelt down, "This servant dares not!"

Suddenly, Lai Manting laughed. Hadn’t there been rumors lately that Leng Yu Yan and the Abolished Crown Prince had both fallen off a cliff?

It would be best if wild beasts left Leng Yu Yan’s body disfigured beyond recognition. Only then would her heart’s hatred be appeased!

On the other hand.

On the boat, Jiang Yu noticed Ye Yiheng standing alone at the bow of the ship, gazing out. She was delighted and, imitating the demeanor of the enchanting women she had seen on the boat before, walked gracefully toward him.

"Ah Li brother, what are you looking at?"

Ye Yiheng saw her approaching and instinctively wanted to leave, but he had some questions to ask, so he forced himself to stop in his tracks, "Are most of the passengers on this boat heading to Yaoshou?"

"Yes, our family’s ship makes two round trips each month between the Capital City, Lin State, and Yaoshou, so many of the passengers are acquainted with each other. On this return trip, they are mostly people from Yaoshou."

"I see."

Jiang Yu asked, "Why do you ask?"

"Just a casual question. Fewer passengers get off halfway."

"Where is Ah Li going?"

Ye Yiheng replied indifferently, "Passing through Yaoshou."

Jiang Yu wanted to ask more, but Ye Yiheng nodded slightly and stepped away.

--

The following afternoon.

The village chief came to Ah Qiang’s home with a portrait and saw Ah Qiang and his son chopping wood in the courtyard, so he greeted them with a smile.

"Uncle, Ah Qiang, I heard you had two guests staying over a few days ago?"

Ah Li’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were pasting paper on the windows, and they hurriedly stopped their work and came out of the house upon hearing the voice.

The Aunt looked at the village chief and, seeing he was holding a painting scroll, turned to her husband, "Child’s father."

The old father split the wood he was holding, then placed the axe on the ground, "Two distant relatives stayed over, what about it?"

The village chief unrolled the painting scroll and explained, "I should have come over a few days ago, but the snowy roads were hard to travel, so I only made it today."

Actually, orders had come from above to thoroughly check households around the capital city that had taken in strangers.

The family of four looked at the portrait together.

"This person’s eyes are covered, he must be blind, right?" The old father pointed at the portrait.

The village chief nodded, "You’ve noticed correctly, he is indeed blind."

While speaking, he took out another painting, "Here, this painting doesn’t have an eye veil, you can see his eyebrows and eyes. Think carefully, have you seen this man recently?"

Seeing the two paintings, featuring the extraordinary handsome young man, a cold sweat broke out amongst the family of four, but they showed no sign of it.

The Aunt smiled and said, "We don’t know this person."

The village chief persisted, "Gousheng and Gou Dan said there were two people staying at your place, you mustn’t harbor bad people!"

Seeing the family of four remain silent, the village chief said sternly, "To tell you the truth, this man is the Abolished Crown Prince, and now the court is searching for him. That’s why I’m here to ask."

The Aunt added, "Indeed, a distant nephew came with his new wife. Village chief, I don’t like the way you’re talking. Although we’ve moved away from the village, we still own a house there, and our household registration is still in the village. Since we’re from the same village, you shouldn’t slander your fellow villagers like this, right?"

The village chief smiled awkwardly, "Aunt, what are you talking about? I’m being completely honest. The woman with the Abolished Crown Prince might very well be Princess Beilan. They are quite close. I just want to clarify this."

The old father huffed, "The person in this portrait looks exceptionally handsome, how could my wife’s distant nephew compare? That’s the truth! Village chief, you’d better go elsewhere with this idle curiosity."

The village chief turned to Ah Qiang and his wife, "Ah Qiang, persuade your father, don’t let old age confuse you."

Ah Qiang laughed, "Village chief, my father may be old, but he’s not confused."

Ah Li hurriedly agreed, "That’s right, village chief, you’re about the same age as us. Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is important. These words coming from your mouth don’t suit your position as village chief!"

The village chief’s expression suddenly turned ugly.

The old father snorted, "Our guest is a distant relative, how could he be the Abolished Crown Prince? Village chief, my small courtyard is neither near a shop nor a village, who would come to stay?"

The Aunt chimed in, "Exactly, the Abolished Crown Prince is also a Prince, accustomed to exquisite delicacies, how would he stay at our house? You’re making quite the joke, village chief!"

Finally, the village chief looked around and said, "You’re right, I’ve been annoyed by the orders from above."

"Alright, if you haven’t seen him, then I’ll leave." He walked a few steps outside, then turned his head back, "If you come across the man in the painting, remember to report it!"