Matter of Secrets and Personal Gain

Many things had happened throughout his life. Looking back, things were more complicated than one could think. Despite all that he didn't regret it one bit.

Eunuch Zhou didn't leave and stayed at the Emperor's side until his master retired to bed.

Today Zhao Xing's stay was longer than usual. So she used the opportunity to have a complete tour of the Crown Prince's manor. Well she tried to. It was too big, not a good idea for a 'tourist' like herself. If she just wanted to have fun, than no, but if she wanted sore legs then sure.

Two maids accompanied her, one was Nuo Nuo, the maid she was well acquainted with, and the other Lan'er. She walked and had a chat with them.

"So, you two, how long have you been working here, must be quite pleasurable." She asked as her eyes wandered around.

"This servant has been working here since she remembered."

Zhao Xing's eyes darted towards her. "Since you could remember?" was the crown prince abducting babies??

Lan'er nodded. "Our mothers had abandoned us, but it's not the same for all the servant girls in the manor, as master would gather abandoned or sold children."

Zhao Xing nodded. So that's how it is. She clucked her tongue and continued walking. The Prince sure knows how to gather people to himself.

Why won't the servants be loyal? They had such life saving grace to pay back, if they weren't at least grateful, they'd just give their lives to him.

She continued to chat with them, "So, the prince must be a really kind person, no?"

"Grand tutor is right, the Crown Prince is really admirable, handsome and wise and is popular among the young mistresses in the capital!" Lan'er's eyes sparkled as she spoke.

"Ha, he's even popular!" She really thought it was silly, those ladies haven't gotten to know him, if they did they wouldn't have such thoughts.

Zhao Xing continued to pry out information from the two. She was now more curious about outside of these mansion walls.

"Speaking of which, is it fun outside, when I read comics, the female lead mostly liked to go around to have fin outside."

The two maids glanced at each other and couldn't speak.

Seeing their expressions, Zhao Xing guessed she'd touched the bottom line and laughed it off, continuing to speak, "Well, it's quite fun in the Crown Prince's manor. Who would want to leave." Meanwhile she inwardly cursed Zhang ZhengYang.

That little…he even prohibited his servants from telling me certain information. This prince was truly 'trusting' towards her, and he dared lie to her pretty face that he trusted her!

Her tour outside suddenly became bland and she lost interest. Soon she returned to her quarters.

What could she say? There was no reason to trust her, it's not like she trusted him anyway.

With that in mind, she who was approaching her courtyard made a U-turn, with the intention of meeting the prince.

"Where is grand tutor going?" the maids asked as they followed closely with puzzled looks.

"Ah yes" She halted her steps, remembering the person she was going to meet was practically a busy man, and so it was better to ask for information concerning his schedule. "The Crown Prince, is he in the manor?"

Both maids stared at each other, then answered in chorus, shaking their heads, "The Crown Prince isn't in the manor."

'Why isn't he here when he has to?' well, she didn't care, her steps continued, and with her memory she soon arrived at the Prince's study, where two expressionless guards stood at both sides of the door.

She stopped at the entrance, trying not to pay attention to their oppressive weapon, she boldly asked. "When will the prince be back?"

One of them answered with his loud voice; "Crown Prince has left the manor and we were only asked to keep guard."

Zhao Xing wanted to roll her eyes. What is the use of these people, when they can't even answer a simple question?

She walked up to the stairs that led to the study and sat down.

"Grand tutor-" Nuo Nuo was about to ask why her master was sitting down on the staircase like an uncultured mistress.

"Say no more!" Zhao Xing raised her hand to stop her, "I don't know when that guy will be back. I have no patience so I'll wait for him here."

The maids couldn't say anything to refute, the crown prince had only asked them to serve and watch her, make sure she didn't do anything funny. But she had never really done anything weird, except for her speech, she had acted pretty normal. Today she insisted on waiting in front of the Crown Prince's study.

Soon sounds of powerful footsteps could be heard from a distance, followed by a very familiar voice. "I only left for a while and Grand Tutor can't take it?"

"Crown Prince!" The guards saluted.

Zhao Xing didn't have time to chat with him, she immediately stood up ignoring the sarcasm in his words, she dusted her clothes, raising her chin, attempting to look professional, "Crown Prince, I have something to discuss with you."

Zhang ZhengYang raised a brow, as he walked into with big strides the study, along with Zhao Xing who trailed behind.

Xiao Chen who came with him stood guard at the door.

"Grand Tutor is still around?" The Crown Prince asked. One couldn't tell whether he said it ti mock her or not. But surprisingly whatever was expected to happen didn't happen as Zhao Xing was very tolerant today for some reason.

She didn't beat around the bush, "I know you don't want your father to live long, but the only way to keep him alive right now is to cure him."

Zhang ZhengYang knew this, he had realized it the first time she told him about the poisoning. But he really didn't want to take the risk, the timing was right, his plan was perfect. If he missed this opportunity he wasn't sure when next he would there would be a second chance.

Zhao Xing knew what he was thinking. Of course if one wanted to usurp the throne without getting his name stained this was a golden opportunity, the current ruler was at death's door, all you have to do is eliminate his enemies and opponents, then get everything ready for his ascension. But her proposal to cure the Emperor would make him have to change plans completely even preparing for the worst.

She didn't have the guts to spoil his plan, besides she knew she wouldn't have her life back if she doesn't finish her task, so for the sake of her interest she would help him.

She thought for a while, she had read so many novels, so many comics, so many palace dramas, she should have become an expert in plotting by now, right?

She thought deep and hard, then finally came up with the silliest idea.

"Crown Prince…I have an idea"

Zhang ZhengYang who had been buried in his own thoughts was brought back to reality by Zhao Xing's voice.

"Say it." He sat down, as he looked her way waiting for her to speak.

Zhao Xing in her excitement didn't waste time and hurriedly relayed her idea. "Why don't we poison Him with the cure?"

Zhang ZhengYang's eyes widened, with a look Zhao Xing had never seen before. But like always it left as soon as it came making one believe it was only an illusion.

"How?" He asked.

Clearing her throat Zhao Xing continued, "During my research, I discovered there were two ways to cure this sickness, one was a complete cure, while the other was a cure through poisoning, as in trying to cure poison with poison."

Zhang ZhengYang listened carefully as she spoke.

She went on, "But that is too difficult and I thought it was stupid, but it turned out that before there was an antidote for the poison, doctors used this way to cure it. Only, this cure wasn't so good, as the patient would end up dying after a few years of extreme suffering. Soon the method became rarer and rarer"

"Then does Grand Tutor know how to use this method?"

"Heh…"

Seeing her smile like this, for the first time since he knew her he really felt like this young girl needed a good beating.

Zhao Xing also sensed she blundered and quickly tried to make amends, "Cough…eh, Crown Prince, let's do it like this, you're so knowledgeable, I believe you can find a Poison Master just like you found me."

Though Zhang ZhengYang was really irritated by her at that moment he had to admit that what she said wasn't bad.

"It's an ancient method, it got lost with time, plus it wasn't effective, as the new method, it's normal that many would have forgotten about it. How about this, I'll go and continue my research, and see what I can do on my end, on the other hand, Crown Prince can see if he can find a renowned poison master who can help us."

Zhang ZhengYang nodded subconsciously, while deep in thought.

"Then that's it. Crown Prince, I'll take my leave." She said quickly as she ran away as swiftly as she could. Today, the success she'd achieved was enough to erase the bad feelings of being bullied all this time.

It was only after a while when the Crown Prince discovered he had been tricked into sharing the task he gave her.

She even dared to divide the workload!

Zhang ZhengYang laughed to himself, but his expression turned solemn after that as he went back into thinking.