The princess regretted it.

Chapter 332 Concubine Cen's Worries

Upon hearing the good news, Changsun Wuwang could not suppress his excitement. He looked up at the sky. The azure sky seemed to become exceptionally clear in his eyes, and every cloud seemed to embellish his excitement at the moment.

He secretly calculated that without Concubine Zhang's support, the Second Prince had lost his arm and could no longer pose a threat to him. At this moment, in Changsun Wuwang's view, the Second Prince was like a spent force, unable to compete with him at all.

Zhangsun Wuwang was brimming with pride, his eyes gleaming with ambition. His primary concern now was to achieve his ultimate goal—forcing his father to appoint him as Crown Prince. He knew the fetus in Concubine Chun's womb was a sensitive and thorny entity. To act rashly would undoubtedly lead to a trap and a hopeless fate.

Moreover, Changsun Wuwang had a very clear plan in his mind. As long as he could successfully persuade his father to appoint him as the crown prince before the child in Concubine Chun's belly was born, then this unborn child would no longer be able to pose a threat to his position.

However, how to proceed was by no means an easy matter, and he needed to plan carefully. Wu Changfeng and his son hadn't contacted him since their return, and he didn't know what the imperial physician's diagnosis and treatment results were. He shifted his gaze, took his cloak, put it on, and left Cui Yuxuan.

Meanwhile, Jin'an's Feiyu Palace welcomed a rare guest—Concubine Cen. Upon hearing the news that Concubine Zhang had been banished to the cold palace, Concubine Cen was in turmoil, completely unaware of the reason behind the incident. She worried that Mingyue had met with misfortune at Concubine Zhang's hands, and that the Emperor's men had discovered the incident, angering him and leading him to severely punish Concubine Zhang.

In her own palace, Concubine Cen was on pins and needles, unable to calm down. She wanted to ask the emperor, but fearing his majesty, she dared not speak easily. After much deliberation, she set her sights on Jin An, thinking that perhaps she could get some useful information from this perceptive princess.

Jin An was really surprised to see Concubine Cen coming to visit, but she quickly reacted, a warm smile appeared on her face, and she hurriedly welcomed Concubine Cen into the main hall.

Then, she ordered Ziyun: "Bring another charcoal basin and place it next to Concubine Cen. Don't let her get cold."

After Concubine Cen drank a few sips of hot tea and gradually warmed up, Jin An asked, "Concubine Cen, it's freezing cold out here. Why did you suddenly think of coming to my palace? Is there something urgent?"

Concubine Cen put down her teacup, a look of slight anxiety on her face, her eyes searching Jin'an's face, trying to find a clue. She took a deep breath and said, "Princess Jin'an, to be honest, I heard that Concubine Zhang was banished to the cold palace, and I'm really uneasy. I'm worried... maybe my Mingyue won't come back?"

Jin An raised his eyebrows slightly and said calmly, "Why do you say that, Your Majesty? Is there any news about Mingyue?"

Concubine Cen frowned and shook her head, her eyes filled with anxiety. "There's no news from her, so I...Princess, do you know what's going on? Can you give me some information? I'm really worried."

Jin An pondered for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "As far as I know, Concubine Zhang left the palace without permission, violating the house arrest order, which angered my father. As for whether it has anything to do with Miss Mingyue, I'm not sure."

After hearing this, Concubine Cen felt relieved, but she still had doubts: "Leaving the palace without permission? What did she do when she left?"

Jin An spread his hands and said helplessly, "I don't know about that. However, since the emperor has already made the decision, he must have his own considerations. Your Majesty, don't worry too much. Although there is no news about Mingyue yet, no news may mean good news, right? Don't you agree?"

Concubine Cen was taken aback by Jin'an's question, but then she quickly realized what was going on. She nodded quickly and agreed, "That's right, Princess. No news is good news. Thank you, Princess." Then she stood up and said goodbye to Jin'an, "Thank you, Princess Jin'an, for letting me know if you hear any news."

Jin An also stood up and replied with a smile: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will tell you the first time I have any news."

After seeing Concubine Cen off, Jin An sat alone in the palace, her brow furrowed, lost in thought. She had no idea what was happening. The whereabouts of Ming Yue hung heavy on her mind like a thick fog, a question that wouldn't go away. The Imperial Guards had searched every corner they could, but the strange disappearance of a living being, with neither a body nor a corpse, was truly bizarre.

In her confession, Yundou admitted only to arson and denied ever having seen Mingyue. The Imperial Guards subsequently conducted a sweep of the Second Prince's residence, finding nothing. Jin'an couldn't help but wonder, could Mingyue's disappearance truly be unrelated to Yundou? If not her, who could be behind it?

Jin An's mind was a tangled mess, a thousand thoughts swirling around, yet she had no clue what was going on. She gently placed a hand on her temple and slowly closed her eyes, trying to comprehend a single thought in the chaos. Yundou, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, Concubine Zhang, Jiaoyu... Their faces cycled through her mind like a revolving lantern, each one holding a secret, each potentially connected to Mingyue's disappearance.

Suddenly, Jin'an's eyes snapped open, his gaze fixed fixedly fixed on one point. Memories flooded back like a tidal wave, a heart-wrenching scene from his previous life resurfacing: his second brother was assassinated in the palace. In the face of his life, Yundou bravely stepped forward, blocking the assassin's fatal blow with her own body. Yundou died, but she saved her second brother. Afterwards, the Zhang family, in gratitude, treated Yundou's family well, not only freeing her brother's son from slavery but also sponsoring his imperial examinations. This connection was sufficient evidence of Yundou's loyalty, and it was highly likely that she was a ward of the Zhang family.

At this thought, Jin'an couldn't help but harbor suspicions. Would Yundou truly betray the Zhang family, who had been so benevolent to her, and sell out her Second Brother out in a fit of cowardice? Or was this a carefully planned move, a deliberate attempt to retreat and advance, to risk her own survival? Given her Second Brother's temperament, he would already harbor doubts about Yundou's testimony, and his father would be even less likely to believe it.

If Yundou's testimony was false, it would indicate her unwavering loyalty to the Zhang family. Looking back at the arson, while brutal, the plan was riddled with flaws and lacked any real brilliance. Jin'an wondered if Concubine Zhang was behind it. However, given her status, it would be difficult for her to personally carry out the execution. She would undoubtedly find someone she trusted to carry out the execution. And this person would have to be someone she completely trusted; someone of lower status wouldn't do. So who would she turn to?