The sudden remark was like a thunderbolt out of the blue, instantly causing an uproar among the commoners gathered outside the town, waiting to enter.
What?
This small Dongli Town was first surrounded by the guards of the Eastern Palace and the defenders of Cangzhou, and now it was actually going to welcome three princes!
The officers and soldiers guarding the town gate didn't care what the commoners of Dongli Town were thinking. They immediately stepped forward to drive the crowd back.
"Step back, all of you! Clear the entrance!"
"His Highnesses, the Prince of Mu, the Prince of Xuan, and the Prince of Ning are arriving. Quickly make way, and don't block the princes' path!"
Ye Wanmian and Xiao Jingcheng were mingling among the crowd. Due to the extreme chaos at the scene, with people pushing each other, no one noticed the look of extreme shock on Ye Wanmian's face.
The Crown Prince, Xiao Jingcheng, was still missing. Now, the Prince of Mu, the Prince of Xuan, and the Prince of Ning had successively arrived in Dongli Town!
What for? To search for the whereabouts of the Crown Prince?
But... why Dongli Town?
Speaking of these three princes of the Sheng Kingdom, Ye Wanmian, who had once lived in the capital, was not unfamiliar with them.
The Prince of Mu, Xiao Tianchi, was the younger brother of the current emperor. He was extremely talented and had a refined and handsome appearance. Although he was almost forty, he still looked the same as before.
It was a pity that during the turmoil when the Chu Kingdom perished and the Sheng Kingdom took over many years ago, he was seriously injured. Since then, he had been ill and had to rely on medicine to maintain his health. Moreover, he was still unmarried.
The Prince of Xuan, Xiao Yixuan, was the younger brother of the Crown Prince, Xiao Jingcheng, and the son of the current noble consort. Besides, he had another relationship with Ye Wanmian -
Lady Ye and Consort Feng were cousins.
Before Ye Wanmian knew her own background, she could indirectly call the Prince of Xuan "cousin." Also, because both of them loved calligraphy, they once argued over a calligraphy copy. Before Ye Wanxing was brought back, their relationship was quite good.
After Ye Wanxing was brought back and Ye Wanmian learned her own background, she took the initiative to distance herself from the Prince of Xuan. After the incident at the Spring Banquet, her reputation was damaged, and she never saw the Prince of Xuan again.
The Prince of Ning, Xiao Wuchen, was also the younger brother of the Crown Prince, Xiao Jingcheng. It was said that his mother was just a maid beside the noble consort. After giving birth to him, she was granted the title of beauty but had no right to raise him. Therefore, the Prince of Ning had always been raised in the noble consort's palace and was the little follower of the Prince of Xuan, always obedient to his orders.
At this moment, Ye Wanmian didn't feel happy or delighted to meet old acquaintances. She only felt scared.
The Crown Prince, Xiao Jingcheng, had been attacked and gone missing. After a long search, there was still no sign of him. The news had spread to the capital, shocking the court and the public.
The three princes had been dispatched to search for him in the south. It was imaginable that they would surely bring many attendants with them. She didn't know if there were any members of the Ye family among them.
Moreover, she had such a relationship with the Prince of Xuan. If they knew she was here, she would be finished!
Ye Wanmian clutched the cloth strip on the bamboo basket, trembling imperceptibly. Suddenly, she had an urge to flee Dongli Town.
Let's go. Leave this place. She would come back after the troops of the three princes left Dongli Town...
Thinking like this, she gently took a step back, trying to exit the crowd and hide back in the mountains at night.
However, the commoners were crowded together, and there were people beside her. As soon as she moved, she bumped into someone. That person immediately shouted loudly, "What are you doing? Stop pushing!"
The guards standing nearby heard the noise and immediately turned their heads to look over. They drew their swords from their waists and roared angrily, "Be quiet! Whoever dares to cause trouble will be regarded as a rebel and executed!"
The person beside her closed his mouth timidly, and Ye Wanmian had no choice but to stop her backward steps.
There were too many officers and soldiers surrounding them. Leaving at this moment was not a wise move. Instead, it would attract more attention. Forget it. She'd better stay put for now. She could figure out other things later.
If all else failed, she would pretend to be ill and stay at home every day until they left Dongli Town.
Ye Wanmian lowered her head, and her drooping eyelashes covered the anxiety and helplessness in her eyes. Focused on escaping, she didn't notice that the yellow dog beside her was also acting a bit strange.
Xiao Jingcheng was also surprised by the arrival of the Prince of Mu, the Prince of Xuan, and the Prince of Ning. But different from Ye Wanmian, after the surprise, his heart sank instantly.
A few days ago, when he was asleep, his soul had briefly left the body of the yellow dog and returned to his own body. Therefore, he had accidentally learned some information about himself.
His body was currently in Dongli Town, tightly guarded by a group of people. They had even invited some "immortal master" to imprison his soul, trying to make his soul disappear forever.
When these people were talking, they had mentioned the "master." It was obvious that this matter had been premeditated. The person behind it should have known his whereabouts, or rather, his journey to the south like the back of his hand. They had used assassins to force him into a desperate situation, trying to get rid of him.
Behind him was the Eastern Palace and the position of the crown prince, which was always a coveted piece of fat.
If he died and the position of the crown prince was vacant, a new crown prince would naturally have to be established. It wasn't impossible for his mother to give birth to another child, but his mother and father had long since fallen out of love. His father doted on Consort Feng, and the Feng family would never be willing to let his mother's child be born smoothly.
This conspiracy was undoubtedly aimed at the position of the crown prince.
Among these three people, one was his imperial uncle, who had once taught him knowledge and was like half a teacher to him. Although his body was weak and he had to rely on medicine to maintain his health, it was said that he had the ability to compete with his father for the world back then.
The other two were his younger brothers, the current competitors for the position of the crown prince and the beneficiaries after his "death."
If there was any suspicion, the Prince of Xuan, Xiao Yixuan, was naturally the most suspect. But if even he could think of this, could others not?
If he was not careful, Xiao Yixuan would bear the blame for murdering the crown prince. If he wanted to sit on that position, he would surely face opposition from the court officials. Consort Feng wasn't that stupid.
The Prince of Ning, Xiao Wuchen, whose mother's family was attached to Consort Feng, had little power in his hands even though he had been granted the title of prince. He had always been in the shadow of Xiao Yixuan.
In other people's impressions, Xiao Wuchen was silent and indecisive. He always obeyed Xiao Yixuan and was a boring, silent person. He didn't pose any threat and had little presence.
But Xiao Jingcheng had accidentally seen that Xiao Wuchen would secretly go to the training ground to practice archery in the dead of night, and every arrow hit the bull's - eye. Only then did he know that Xiao Wuchen had a hidden talent.
After this incident, Xiao Jingcheng wouldn't easily trust anyone, nor would he easily suspect anyone.
Time would surely tell him who the mastermind behind this was.
The chaotic situation at the scene was quickly brought under control. Soon, a dense crowd could be seen coming from afar, and the sound of horses' hooves trampling on the ground became clearer!
Ye Wanmian nervously clenched her fists and lowered her head, trying her best to reduce her presence.