When the Ninth Prince heard this, his round eyes curved into triangles as he clearly tried to recall what had just happened.
After a while, he shook his head and said dejectedly, "I... I didn't notice anything."
Empress Chu felt a bit disappointed.
So many things had happened today. If it hadn't been for the Ninth Prince's wet - nurse mentioning it, she would have almost forgotten about the vicious wolf that had first appeared and startled the imperial carriage.
How could she not settle this score!
Empress Chu gritted her teeth slightly.
Recently, the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Duke of Chen's Mansion had been successively brought to their knees by Feng Linyuan and his wife, forcing her, the empress, and Feng Jingye, the crown prince, to be extremely cautious.
She was just looking for a chance to vent this pent - up anger.
The appearance of that wolf was like a timely gift, giving her a perfect opportunity to pin a crime on the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion.
Knowing there would be a large crowd today, Feng Linyuan had failed to keep his wolf in check. The wolf had injured innocent people and even startled the imperial carriage. The Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion's crime was aggravated!
Of course, if the Ninth Prince had seen with his own eyes that someone from the marquis's mansion had released Liufeng, it would have been irrefutable evidence.
But he said he had seen nothing?
"Are you really sure you didn't see who released that wolf, Ninth Prince?" Empress Chu couldn't hide her disappointment.
Hearing this question, the Ninth Prince didn't show the same thoughtful look as before. Instead, he simply nodded and said something that shocked everyone.
"Who released the wolf? I know."
"Who?" Empress Chu excitedly raised her voice.
They heard the Ninth Prince reply in a low voice, "The wolf... was released by me..."
"How is that possible!" Empress Chu exclaimed in shock. She grabbed the Ninth Prince's tender shoulders and roared, "Don't talk nonsense about such things. Do you have the guts to release a wolf?"
Feng Linyuan beside her almost instantly understood what was going on. His eyes showed full understanding.
He smiled and asked, "Yes, the marquis's mansion is so big, and the main hall is quite a distance from the study in the backyard where Liufeng was locked up. This is the Ninth Prince's first visit. How did you manage to find your way to the study?"
The Ninth Prince lowered his head shyly and said, "I followed a person and got lost. I wandered around the backyard for a long time and somehow ended up at the study. When I was outside, I heard noises inside, so I couldn't help but push open the door out of curiosity and take a look..."
The Ninth Prince's voice got lower and lower.
Feng Linyuan frowned deeply.
The Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion was heavily guarded. Confidential documents were not stored in the study, and an ordinary lock was used, which could be easily opened.
So when he left home, although he had locked the study and inserted a wooden bolt from the outside, there were many people coming and going today. If someone had set their sights on Liufeng locked in the study and quietly unlocked it in advance, it would have been normal.
As long as the wooden bolt was in place, Liufeng inside still couldn't open the door, but those outside didn't need a key. They just had to pull out the wooden bolt to get in.
This was also the reason why the Ninth Prince could easily open the study door and release Liufeng.
"Why on earth did you follow someone out, Your Highness?" Feng Linyuan asked.
The Ninth Prince shyly glanced at Feng Linyuan and replied, "The osmanthus cakes in the marquis's mansion are really delicious. I thought that my mother - consort also liked them on weekdays, so I wanted to take some back. But I knocked over the plate of osmanthus cakes..."
"Wasn't a maid already sent to get you another plate?" Feng Linyuan coaxed gently.
The Ninth Prince blushed slightly and said, "I was in a hurry. When the maid left, I happened to see a pageboy carrying several plates of osmanthus cakes passing by the door, so I... I..."
"You chased after him?" Feng Linche's face finally darkened. He suddenly pushed the Ninth Prince out of his arms and roared, "A dignified prince, so gluttonous! You could be lured away by just an osmanthus cake. What use are you!"
The Ninth Prince was unsteady on his feet and was pushed to the ground. It was the first time he had seen his father so angry. The tears he had just wiped away welled up again, and his eyes instantly turned red.
Feng Linche's anger hadn't subsided. He had been in a terrible mood today. He hadn't managed to show off as he had planned, but instead, he had made a complete fool of himself.
Now, his son was even more disappointing, making him lose face in front of Feng Linyuan again!
In the past, he had always thought that this youngest son was cute no matter what he did because of his young age.
Now it seemed... this good - for - nothing was better off never having been born!
The Ninth Prince sat on the ground, his small body trembling. He was both frightened and aggrieved. "I didn't mean to... Father, I just wanted to take the osmanthus cakes for you and Mother - consort..."
Normally, such words would always touch Feng Linche and make him calm down.
But today, Feng Linche's anger was hard to subdue. He still looked at the Ninth Prince coldly and said, "Last time it was for plum blossoms, and this time it's osmanthus cakes. Why is it always you? Others can easily lure you away with just a little something. Why are you so stupid!"
"Wow - " The Ninth Prince could no longer hold back his tears and cried out loudly.
"Cry, you still have the nerve to cry? Shut up for me!" Feng Linche was extremely annoyed.
Bai Zheng couldn't bear to watch. Thinking that the Ninth Prince's disappearance when picking plum blossoms last time was also because of her plan to save her father, she quickly stepped forward to plead.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The Ninth Prince is still young and has no defense when dealing with people. He will surely improve when he grows up. But His Highness is kind - hearted and filial, which is truly commendable. Please, Your Majesty, for the sake of the Ninth Prince's filial piety, don't be angry with His Highness."
"With him like this, will he even live to grow up?" Feng Linche wouldn't listen at all. He just angrily flung his sleeve. "As soon as he leaves the palace, something goes wrong. Good - for - nothing. When we get back, lock him up and let him reflect on his mistakes!"
The Ninth Prince buried his head low and didn't dare to cry out anymore, but his small body still trembled, as if he was holding back the sobs painfully.
Empress Chu heard him say "Father and Mother - consort" but never mentioned her, the step - mother. Naturally, she was a bit angry and was too lazy to speak up for him.
As long as he didn't have an accident and she could report back to the palace, it didn't matter to her whom Feng Linche disliked.
Seeing this, Feng Linyuan squatted down with Bai Zheng, gently patted the sobbing Ninth Prince on the shoulder, and asked softly, "Your Highness, do you still remember what the pageboy looked like?"
As the Marquis of Dingyuan, he knew better than anyone else what was going on in the marquis's mansion.
Osmanthus cakes had indeed been arranged for today's banquet.
But there were so many guests coming to the ceremony today. The marquis's mansion was severely short - staffed and hadn't hosted such a grand event in a long time, so they had borrowed a lot of hands from the Song family and the Prince Yi's Mansion.
Since many things were arranged at the last minute, there were often shortages of food and supplies. Fortunately, the people who came today had a clear purpose and were all here for the ceremony.