Chapter 250: No Wonder Only You Could Discover

"Hehe... hehe." Zheng Guanyin was so angry that her chest rose and fell violently, yet she had to endure it.

Some matters cannot be made explicit.

If they were made explicit, she might be fine, but those who helped her would certainly not escape.

Zheng Guanyin truly did not expect that, although she hadn't lost to Li Shimin nor to those frantic investigators, she would lose to a princess she had never really regarded before.

"Crazy woman!"

Zheng Guanyin felt aggrieved, cursing inwardly.

After Gao Yang exposed that Li Jiancheng had left valuable connections, Zheng Guanyin realized she was completely exposed.

She had also hinted that she would not do anything to Chen Yan, but this crazy woman simply wouldn't listen, making Zheng Guanyin realize that Gao Yang had come here today to vent her anger and also to warn her.

Gao Yang didn't care about Zheng Guanyin's expression, nor about what she thought inside.

She only knew that her purpose for today had been achieved.

Whole body feels comfortable!

After a good while, Zheng Guanyin suppressed the fury in her heart and said coldly, "It was long said that Princess Changle Li Lizhi was clever and lively, beloved by your Father Emperor and Mother Empress, while Princess Gao Yang was merely a spoiled, willful princess."

"But I actually think you are far smarter than Li Lizhi."

"At least calling you spoiled and willful isn't wrong," Gao Yang smiled, "My husband used to say that about me often."

"Enough!" Gao Yang stood up, "It's getting late; I promised my husband I'd return early for lunch, so I won't keep Aunt chatting any longer."

"Please make sure Aunt delivers my words to that scoundrel."

After speaking, Gao Yang waved at Xiang Lan and turned to leave.

Xiang Lan swallowed a mouthful of saliva, glanced secretly at the ashen-faced Zheng Guanyin, and hurriedly rushed after her.

"Li Zhaotang!!!"

Even with Zheng Guanyin's composure, she could no longer hold back; she waved her hand, knocking the tea cup off the table, veins bulging on her forehead, and whispered a hoarse roar.

"Madam!" a maid from afar hurried over, seeing Zheng Guanyin's hand drenched in fresh blood, she anxiously took a handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiped it.

Then she ran out to fetch a medicine box to apply medicine to Zheng Guanyin.

After a while, Zheng Guanyin calmed down, and a doubt surfaced in her mind.

How did Li Zhaotang discover it?

"......"

"Fine, ask whatever you want; hesitating like that is annoying to watch."

On the way back, Xiang Lan looked as if she wanted to speak but held back; Gao Yang could no longer stand it and said irritably.

Hearing that, Xiang Lan pressed her lips together, gathered courage and asked, "Princess, how did you discover it?"

"How do you know... Madam Zheng is the mastermind behind it?"

"By eliminating all incorrect answers, whatever remains, however implausible, must be the correct answer," Gao Yang said calmly.

"Oh~" Xiang Lan nodded thoughtfully, eyes brightening, "I guess, this must have been said by Lord Bo, right?"

"How do you know?" Gao Yang asked in surprise.

Xiang Lan proudly lifted her head, "Heh heh, because based on my understanding of you, such a profound statement could not have come from your mouth."

Gao Yang: "......"

"Oh, I indeed cannot utter such a logical sentence, but I can say another one," she said calmly.

"What sentence?" Xiang Lan asked curiously.

"Punish you with three months' salary."

Xiang Lan: "......"

"Please don't, Princess, I only have that little salary; please don't punish me, okay?"

Gao Yang snorted coldly, ignoring her completely.

Normally, a personal maid like Xiang Lan is a household servant and has no fixed salary.

But Xiang Lan, having been with Gao Yang since childhood, was once favored by Empress Changsun and promoted to a ninth‑rank female official.

Therefore Xiang Lan is somewhat special, having a salary.

This is a privilege only a favored princess's maid receives; Li Lizhi's maid is the same.

Seeing Gao Yang's resolute attitude, Xiang Lan had no choice; after all, she had displeased the princess.

However, for her, three months' salary meant nothing.

Because she had long lost her family, lacked no food or shelter, and a salary was of little use.

Then Xiang Lan reverted to her usual curious self, exclaiming excitedly, "Princess, you are amazing; a matter that so many missed, you actually discovered."

"Should we tell Lord Bo, or report to His Majesty? In that case, you might receive a reward."

"No need!" Gao Yang shook her head, refusing, "After you return, tell no one about this; treat today's incident as if it never happened."

"There is no evidence to prove it; speaking out would only make matters more troublesome."

"Huh?" Xiang Lan's little mind was a bit confused; she didn't understand why the princess, knowing the mastermind who used Lord Bo and slandered Cai Duke, didn't intend to expose him.

Clearly, that demeanor is essentially an admission.

Yet Xiang Lan remained measured; after her curiosity was satisfied, she stopped probing further and returned to the previous topic:

"Your Highness Princess, did you merely use the method of elimination to guess that Madam Zheng was the mastermind?"

Gao Yang originally didn't want to answer, as she suddenly felt a bit sleepy and wanted to rest, but then thought of something, set a stern face, imitated Chen Yan's former manner, and said:

"Explaining this matter is quite complicated; it cannot be clarified in a short time."

"In short, luck played the majority of the role."

"In the past, before Father Emperor subdued Wei Zheng, when Wei Zheng was still loyal to the elder uncle, Mother Empress once mentioned in casual conversation that the elder uncle had left many connections."

"And after the elder uncle passed away, those naturally were inherited by Zheng Guanyin."

At first I never doubted Zheng Guanyin; after all, these past years she has been very honest, never stepping out of the gate, only staying at home to take care of her daughter, and she even took in a few children.

But the final part of that corruption case, which was almost an insult, seemed specifically meant to disgust Du Ruhui and the Father Emperor, making me sense something was off.

Don't you think this feels very much like a woman's vengeful heart?

I can't do anything about you, but I'm going to disgust you.

Everyone else thinks Zheng Guanyin has some ulterior motive, but I feel her goal has already been achieved; later stirring up the court is probably just to avoid exposure.

Xiang Lan recalled scene after scene from the past, deeply agreeing, 'For example, did the Princess and the Prince of Yue used to fight over snacks before?'

The Princess never snatched snacks from the Prince of Yue; instead, she secretly sneaked into his bedchamber and cut all his clothes to shreds, leaving the Prince of Yue with nothing to wear!

Xiang Lan suddenly realized: 'No wonder others couldn't notice; only the Princess could detect it.'

As expected of the Princess!

Gao Yang: '......'

"......"