The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 764: Chapter 765: Shattering the Facade

Ye Chutang looked over, her expression slightly quizzical.

"What does the Princess mean?"

Her sleeve fell, hiding the bracelet from view.

But Xiao Lansi continued to stare at her, her heart pounding wildly.

’She had seen it with her own eyes. There was no way she could be mistaken!’

The iron-colored veins on the Turquoise Bead were faintly visible!

In all the world, she had only ever seen one bead like it!

Xiao Lansi threw all caution to the wind, rising to her feet and lunging forward.

"Give it back to me!"

The moment she moved, the guards on either side started toward her. But before they could reach her, Xiao Lansi’s legs gave out, and she collapsed heavily onto the floor.

Her body was so weak now that she simply didn’t have the strength to struggle.

Ye Chutang seemed to realize what was happening. She raised her wrist, revealing the bead once more.

"Does the Princess mean this?"

Xiao Lansi’s eyes were bloodshot and her breathing was ragged. The pitiful, tearful look had vanished, replaced by an unconcealable, manic obsession.

"That’s mine! How did you get it?"

She used to wear it all the time, but on the day she faked her death, she lost consciousness. She had no idea what had happened in the interim, and when she woke up, the bead was gone.

She had grieved its loss for a long time, but she knew she could never risk returning to the Imperial Palace for a single bead. In the end, she had to painfully accept her loss.

But who would have thought it would turn up on Ye Chutang’s wrist!

Emperor Muwu glanced over, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"It’s just a simple bracelet. It doesn’t look valuable. Why do you claim it’s yours?"

Although Xiao Lansi was not a favored daughter, she was still a princess who had never wanted for food or clothing. For her to lose her composure over such a worthless trinket was truly disgusting to Emperor Muwu.

Xiao Lansi’s return from the dead was already riddled with suspicion. How could he possibly be fond of her when she was suddenly reacting so violently?

"A princess of the imperial court, making such a public scene! Have you no sense of propriety?"

Rage flared in Xiao Lansi’s heart.

She slowly turned to Emperor Muwu, her jaw clenched and her body trembling slightly.

She asked softly in return.

"Does Father-Emperor truly not recognize this bead?"

’A bead?’

Emperor Muwu then realized she wasn’t looking at the bracelet, but only at the turquoise stone on it.

It wasn’t a precious item, and its quality looked rather ordinary. Naturally, it was beneath his notice.

Seeing his perplexed expression, Xiao Lansi suddenly let out a low laugh.

Her face was filled with scorn.

"You are the Emperor, ruler of all under Heaven. Of course you wouldn’t care about such a worthless bead. I suppose... you’ve long since forgotten its owner as well, haven’t you?"

’Its owner?’

Emperor Muwu frowned. "Since it is on Chutang’s wrist, it is naturally hers. What are you talking about?"

Xiao Lansi was still smiling, but tears welled in her eyes.

"It seems that with Mother-Concubine gone for so many years, Father-Emperor truly has forgotten her."

Emperor Muwu’s heart jolted as he finally understood.

That was right. Turquoise... was indeed abundant in Nanhu.

But how could he be sure this small bead was the specific one she meant?

Ye Chutang broke the dead silence. "To be honest, this was a gift A Feng brought back for me from Long City. He said many people there sell these as keepsakes. He found it distinctive, so he brought one for me. It seems Princess Yuhe is mistaken."

Xiao Lansi’s eyes were crimson, and a fire seemed to burn in her chest.

"How could I be mistaken!"

She had worn it for many years; no one knew it better than she did!

’Ye Chutang claims Ye Yunfeng gave it to her... She’s lying!’

Seeing that Xiao Lansi was still agitated, Ye Chutang paused, then shook her head gently. "If it were anything else the Princess desired, I would gladly give it to you. But this was a gift from A Feng. The sentiment behind it is precious, so I beg the Princess’s forgiveness. I cannot give this to you."

That last sentence pushed Xiao Lansi over the edge.

She shrieked, "Nonsense! This was left to me by my Mother-Concubine! When did it become yours? You must have stolen it on the day I faked my death! You—"

"Faked your death?"

Shen Yanchuan suddenly spoke, looking back thoughtfully.

"Didn’t Princess Yuhe just say that she had lost consciousness and was abducted from the Imperial Palace by ruffians? How has it now become ’faking your death’?"

Xiao Lansi froze, her face turning deathly pale.

’In her agitation, she had let slip the one thing she should never have said!’

"I..."

She began to stammer, unable to hide the guilt and anxiety in her eyes.

Seeing her reaction, was there anyone present who couldn’t guess the truth?

This whole farce—Xiao Lansi had clearly been in on it from the very beginning!

Emperor Muwu leaned back in his chair, watching her as he spoke in a low, heavy voice.

"I found it strange from the beginning. That day, the palace staff reported that you had taken poison and killed yourself. I specifically had Chutang go and verify it, and everything was confirmed. And yet now, you’ve appeared here, perfectly fine. I, too, would like to know what exactly happened that day."

Xiao Lansi’s expression grew even more grim, and she could only shake her head miserably.

"N-no, that’s not it... I... I don’t know either..."

Just then, a harsh sneer came from the side. It was Fan Chengzhuo, who had been watching coldly, letting out a derisive laugh.

"If Princess Yuhe doesn’t know, then I doubt many people in this world do. After all, to receive the Life and Death Gu, one must endure the pain of ten thousand ants devouring one’s heart. If Princess Yuhe herself had not consented, how could this poisonous insect have been successfully implanted?"

The accusation sent shockwaves through the hall.

Fan Chengzhuo’s brief statement had unleashed a tempest in the hearts of all who listened.

"Life and Death Gu?! What is that?" Even Eunuch Li, who had seen his fair share of grand spectacles, couldn’t help but cry out in shock.

Even without any knowledge of poisonous insects, one could guess at its nature just from the name.

Emperor Muwu’s face turned cold, his expression darkening.

Xiao Chenglin’s chest rose and fell slightly. He turned his head and warned in a cold voice, "Is slandering me not enough for you, Mr. Fan? Do you intend to sling mud at even more people?"

"Slinging mud?"

Fan Chengzhuo had completely lost his mind. At these words, he burst out laughing, cackling so hard that tears streamed down his face.

"You know full well whether I’m telling the truth! The Imperial Palace is heavily guarded. If she hadn’t used the Life and Death Gu to fake her death and escape, how else would she have appeared outside its walls!?"

He suddenly jabbed a finger at Xiao Lansi, sneering as he yelled.

"The Second Prince, Xiao Chengxuan, has been exiled, and the Jiang family’s assets have been seized! She herself is burdened with countless unspeakable crimes. If she hadn’t used this method to escape like a golden cicada shedding its shell, her fate would have been sealed! Imprisoned... ha! I’d say she escaped to freedom to live her own carefree life!"

The more Fan Chengzhuo spoke, the more his hatred grew.

He had once tried everything he could to speak up for Xiao Lansi, to save her. But in the end—it was all a joke!

’If that’s the case, then we might as well all go to hell together!’

"Prince Jing! Dare you say you played no part in this!?"