CHAPTER 89 — WHEN HIS HIGHNESS BELIEVED SHE HAD ELOPED
Dong'er opened her mouth to speak, then abruptly remembered that Tang Ke Xin was dressed as a young man. She quickly corrected herself.
"Young Master… where exactly are we going?"
They had already changed their clothes, slipped out of the city, and were now seated on an ox‑cart piled high with hay, trundling slowly along a country road.
Tang Ke Xin knew perfectly well that the Crown Prince would not let her go.
If she wished to avoid him—even briefly—the only solution was to leave the city entirely.
At the Prime Minister's estate, she had once again borrowed Master Hui Yuan's name, claiming she had spoken with him and would be returning to the temple for several days to receive treatment.
Naturally, the Prime Minister did not object.
He arranged a carriage and even dispatched guards to escort her.
But once outside the city gates, Tang Ke Xin hired a few men to continue the journey toward the temple in her stead, while she and Dong'er quietly slipped away in another direction.
Hence Dong'er's bewilderment.
Tang Ke Xin glanced at her and, unable to resist, teased lightly, "I'm planning to sell you, of course."
Dong'er's lips twitched. She knew her mistress was joking, but still—what kind of joke was that?
The ox‑cart driver, however, took the words at face value.
He turned around, stared at Dong'er for a long moment, and asked with startling earnestness:
"This young lady is very pretty. How much are you selling her for? My family still lacks a wife. Why not sell her to me?"
Tang Ke Xin nearly choked.
She blinked, then almost burst into laughter.
Who would have thought a casual jest would lead to such a misunderstanding?
Dong'er's face darkened instantly—so dark it was almost frightening.
Tang Ke Xin, however, recovered swiftly.
"Brother," she said smoothly, "I intend to sell her far away. If I sell her too close to home, her family might find her. And she's far too clever—she'd escape and run back. Next time, if I find someone foolish enough, I'll bring her to you. Since you've given us a ride, I'll even give you a discount."
Her tone was perfectly serious.
The man blinked, stunned.
He had not expected the young master to be a trafficker.
But when he heard there might be a wife for him in the future, his eyes lit with hope. For a man like him, finding a wife was no easy matter.
"Truly?" he asked, half‑doubtful, half‑eager.
"Of course," Tang Ke Xin replied solemnly. "She may not be as pretty as this one, but she'll be decent enough. And the price will be good. But you must keep this a secret. You must not tell anyone you saw us."
This last sentence was her true purpose.
"Alright, alright! Don't worry, Young Master—I won't tell a soul."
The man nodded vigorously.
Dong'er stared at him, stunned and disappointed.
She had not expected such a simple, honest‑looking man to harbour such thoughts.
Tang Ke Xin merely smiled inwardly.
This was human nature.
Dong'er was simply too naïve.
---
Meanwhile, at the Prime Minister's estate—
The Prime Minister was startled when the Crown Prince arrived unannounced.
He had deliberately delayed the message sent to the Crown Prince's palace, so it was already late afternoon by the time the Crown Prince received it. Even travelling swiftly, he arrived only at dusk.
"I heard Miss Tang were unwell," the Crown Prince said without preamble. "I came to see her."
"Xin'er?"
The Prime Minister blinked. "Xin'er went to the temple. She said she had arranged to meet Master Hui Yuan for several days of treatment."
The Crown Prince froze.
Then his eyes darkened, and a cold smile curved his lips.
So she was trying to run.
Very well.
He would see how far she thought she could go.
Before the Prime Minister could say another word, the Crown Prince turned and strode out.
The Prime Minister stared after him, bewildered.
What was His Highness planning?
Outside the gates, the Crown Prince spoke in a low voice:
"Go toward the temple. Bring her back."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Wait."
The Crown Prince stopped him.
"I will go personally. Inform the Prime Minister that I shall accompany Miss Tang to the monastery for her consultation."
A faint, cold smile touched his lips.
"And have the Prime Minister explain this to Royal Father at court tomorrow."
The guard stiffened, startled, but bowed respectfully.
The Crown Prince's smile deepened as he departed.
When the Prime Minister received the message, he was utterly stunned.
The Crown Prince… wishes to accompany Xin'er to the temple?
And he wanted the Prime Minister to report this to the Emperor?
If the Crown Prince had left the city for urgent matters, it would be understandable.
But to leave the city simply to accompany a young lady?
How could he possibly explain that to the Emperor?
Yet he could not disobey.
He quickly understood the Crown Prince's intention.
He wanted the Prime Minister to publicly acknowledge a connection between the Crown Prince and his daughter.
Had the Crown Prince… taken a liking to her?
The Prime Minister's expression grew grave.
---
The next morning—
"Any movement from the Mu estate?"
The Third Prince asked as he stepped from his carriage.
A day had passed—enough time for news to spread.
"No, Your Highness," the guard replied firmly.
The Third Prince frowned.
That woman had been so eager to break the engagement—why had she not acted?
"Your Highness… Miss Tang left the city yesterday."
The Third Prince stopped abruptly.
"Left the city?"
"Yes. She claimed she was going to the temple to meet Master Hui Yuan for treatment."
The guard hesitated, then added, "There is… one more matter…"
But before he could speak, the Prime Minister approached and bowed.
The guard fell silent.
The Third Prince entered the palace with the Prime Minister.
Morning court was about to begin.
Inside the main hall, the Emperor immediately noticed the Crown Prince's absence.
"Where is the Crown Prince? Why is he not present?"
The Prime Minister stiffened.
He had no choice.
"Reporting to Your Majesty… the Crown Prince left the city yesterday."
Ye Lan Jue's eyes sharpened the instant he heard the words "out of the city."
The guard had only just reported that Tang Ke Xin had left the city yesterday.
And now the Crown Prince had also left the city—
and the one reporting this was the Prime Minister himself?
The Emperor frowned, clearly startled.
"Left the city? For what purpose?"
"The Crown Prince did not say, Your Majesty," the Prime Minister replied, choosing each word with painful care. "This humble subject's daughter was preparing to leave the city yesterday and happened to encounter His Highness. They… left together. The Crown Prince instructed this subject to report the matter to Your Majesty this morning."
By the time he finished, the Prime Minister felt as though his lungs had tightened.
He could not defy the Crown Prince's order—yet he also feared the consequences of speaking too plainly.
Thus, he walked a trembling line between obedience and caution.
Ye Lan Jue listened in silence.
Then, slowly—very slowly—the corners of his lips curved upward.
It was not a pleasant smile.
Cold seeped from it, a chill sharp enough to raise gooseflesh on anyone who saw it.
The Crown Prince left the city with her?
To the temple? Together?
So that was how it was.
Was he to understand that that woman had eloped—and not with him?
Excellent.
Truly excellent.
It seemed that woman's courage was growing by the day.
She dared to flee the city.
She dared to run from him.
And she dared to run with another man—and that man was the Crown Prince.
Ye Lan Jue's smile deepened, the coldness beneath it turning razor‑sharp.
Very well.
If she wished to run, he would see just how far she thought she could go.
From somewhere, a sudden chill crept through Tang Ke Xin's heart.