The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 725: Chapter 724: Breathing a Sigh of Relief

At this moment, Xia Wenjin, who had just received the news, was about to step through the door when she overheard the conversation.

Surprised, yet also relieved.

She had worked tirelessly, hinting subtly, making her intentions clear, resolving crises, alleviating concerns... Finally, her father had gone from initially forcing her into a marriage against her will, to agreeing to annul the engagement, and now to making a decision.

Although part of this was due to Huangfu Yuxuan’s cunning and numerous manipulative tactics, he had indeed succeeded in a significant way.

Once her father and the others returned to Haotian Village, her worries would be resolved.

The fate similar to Haotian Village’s previous life would be changed.

As for her second and third uncles, since they had chosen this path, it was their own choice and had nothing to do with Haotian Village. Xia Wenjin would never allow them to drag Haotian Village down with them.

Regarding what Bai Feichen had said, Xia Wenjin was not surprised at all because it was similar to what she had found out. However, Xia Sichen, although suspicious, was unaware.

Nevertheless, Xia Sichen did not leap into a rage or lose his temper. He was even calmer than Xia Wanqing. Perhaps it was because, while at Haotian Village, he had felt that Huangfu Yuxuan was unrealistically perfect and too fake as a person, so he never trusted or confided in him.

The brother and sister entered, paying their respects to Bai Feichen.

Bai Feichen seemed to not want Xia Wenjin to hear these troubling matters and didn’t continue the topic. Xia Wenjin, therefore, didn’t bring it up either, and after a while, the kitchen delivered wine and dishes, and the brothers, long separated, would undoubtedly indulge in drinks.

Whether forgotten or deliberate, they did not send anyone to invite Hua Yuanming or Gu Hongxin.

Xia Wenjin exited the hall, watched the evening sky, and let out a long sigh.

The matter that had always worried her finally reached a conclusion.

In Cheng Prince Mansion, Huangfu Jingchen stood before the desk, his moon-white robe fitting perfectly, his youthful figure tall and slender, slightly leaning forward, his long, articulate fingers holding the pen.

As Jiang Ning stepped in and saw him writing, he quietly stepped back out, standing outside the door.

After finishing the last stroke, he put down the brush, straightened up, and turned to the door, saying, ”Come in!”

Jiang Ning quickly stepped inside, saying, ”The princely heir, the gift is ready, as per your instructions, we’ve chosen a fine blade!”

Huangfu Jingchen nodded. Giving gifts to people of Jianghu naturally meant that fine swords and good horses were more practical and preferable than gold, silver, and jewels.

He hoped Xia Wanqing would like it, after all, this was the first time he was permitted to step into Xia Mansion!

Thinking of this, he paused again, recalling how two days ago he had gone straight to Fengming Manor; who was the person secretly helping him? He initially thought it was Uncle Chen who arranged it, but upon inquiry after returning, it turned out it wasn’t!

Not his person, not a person from the Cheng Prince Mansion, why would they protect him?

If not for that person protecting him, he wouldn’t have escaped with just a few minor abrasions.

Fortunately, Wenjin was safe!

Prince Zhuang truly had a long reach.

The black cloak coming out of Prince Zhuang Mansion turned out to be the Director of the Astronomical Bureau, which was truly unexpected.

Among so many court officials, how could a mere Fourth Rank official from the Astronomical Bureau be so highly regarded in Prince Zhuang Mansion? And so mysterious?

Huangfu Jingchen pondered deeply, eyes flashing with insight.

Astronomical Bureau!

Since over six hundred years ago, when State Preceptor Qiankunzi overstepped his bounds, colluding with the prince, wreaking havoc on the court, framing the Crown Prince, and conspiring with the pseudo-Queen’s Palace to have an illegitimate daughter, intending to use her to seize the state, creating chaos across the court, with natural and human disasters, the populace displaced, thereafter Prince Chengtian restored order, setting things right, with Emperor Chen ascending the throne, the nation no longer set up State Preceptors.

Though that was a bygone event from the Tianqian Dynasty, the bloodline of Huangfu continued through Nanxia, and the ancestral precepts were remembered, no longer setting up State Preceptors, leaving the office of the Astronomical Observer, a position with a few mystical attributes that focused on observing the stars and divining good or bad omens, to become an ornamental post, only used during great sacrifices and annual celebrations or spring plowing.

No one thought such an unnoticed, unremarked person would be valued by Prince Zhuang?

Prince Zhuang had consistently opposed him, perhaps it was the Director who said something in between?

Huangfu Jingchen had already instructed Yan Nan to keep watching Gongyang Puyu.

He folded the paper, placed it in an envelope, wrote a name, and handed it to Jiang Ning, ”Send it to Jifeng Tower!”

Jiang Ning responded, taking the letter and leaving.

Huangfu Jingchen picked up the pen again, on a blank sheet wrote the names Prince Zhuang, Huangfu Yuxuan, Prince Li, Astronomical Bureau...and drew lines over them to depict connections, concentrating deeply and contemplating with serious expression, his handsome face displaying a serene stillness.

After a moment of speculation, his eyes narrowed slightly, thinking this Director of the Astronomical Bureau was indeed not simple!

Back in her room, Xia Wenjin wasn’t sleeping; she changed clothes, opened the window, and leapt out agilely.

The incident of her abduction, when Gu Heng hurriedly and chaotically lost the trail, the news was relayed immediately. Xue Niang and the others were likely worried.

With things settled here, her father and her fourth and fifth uncles would drink until midnight, giving her time for a stroll!

She traveled through the nighttime for a while, slipping into an alley’s entrance, stopped suddenly, and looked back, saying, ”No need to follow me; I won’t be in danger!”

A muffled voice responded, ”You were drugged!”

Xia Wenjin chuckled, ”To thoroughly solve a problem, sometimes exceptional measures are required!”

Had she not gone along with it, allowed the situation to develop, and truly been kidnapped, how else would her father make such a firm decision?

Her previous actions, in Xia Wanqing’s eyes, seemed somewhat like childish pranks, minor strategies to break off the engagement.

Even though Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin, and even himself, were drawn in, her father still didn’t take it seriously.

Her father only considered her life significant, leaving her no choice but to truly make him worry once.

Of course, she wasn’t reckless to the point of gambling her life to gain her father’s belief. Even if she had mistakenly accused Pu Yangji, knowing it was Huangfu Yuxuan’s doing and understanding there was no real danger, she had a backup plan.

That backup was Ling Xiao, who had always stayed by her side.

Before losing consciousness, she had subtly instructed Ling Xiao not to intervene immediately, just to follow and observe the unfolding events.

Rather than prolong suffering, dealing with short-term pain was preferable; if Huangfu Yuxuan failed with one ploy, he’d hatch another, if one scheme failed, he’d craft another—how long could this go on?

No one can forever be on guard against endless scheming without faltering one day, which would lead to regret; thus, even though Huangfu Yuxuan intended to manipulate Prince Zhuang, eliminate Huangfu Jingchen, and play the hero saving the damsel, accomplishing multiple goals with one move, in truth, Xia Wenjin too was employing a counter-strategy!