The reborn prince's little palace maid in the apocalypse

In the main hall of the Li residence, Yan Sinian sat high in the main seat, turning a jade tablet between his fingers. His unparalleled handsome appearance couldn't suppress the intimidating aura emanating from him. Even though his expression showed no anger or ferocity, it still made everyone in the room tremble with fear.

Yan Sinian had originally planned to investigate the Li family's affairs slowly. Firstly, Yan Hongyang had returned to the capital, and he didn't want to go back to join in the fun and see the loving mother and son reunited as a family. Secondly, he wanted to spend more time with Xiao Ba.

This involves the Li family and the affairs of Jiangnan Prefecture, and also involves Prince Kang. Even if he returned a few months later, no one could say anything.

Ideally, this period of time should be used to make Yan Hongyang develop some thoughts, so that he can take the opportunity to vent his anger over what happened in his previous life.

Judging from the current situation, it seems that Yan Hongyang really didn't do anything to wrong him in his past life. But he just couldn't accept it. You see, in both his lives, the person he hated most was Yan Hongyang. How could he have hated the wrong person?

Given the chance, Yan Hongyang will definitely oppose him. He has already given him the chance, so now he just needs to wait.

But now everything is different. Xiao Ba's injuries need to heal. They need to be carefully nurtured, pampered, and spoiled. And all the good things in the world are in the capital. He needs to take Xiao Ba back as soon as possible, and the matters here also need to be resolved quickly.

"Dead?" Yan Sinian looked at Princess Jinshan casually.

But Princess Jinshan seemed frozen in place, remaining silent and motionless. Qi, the old woman who always followed the princess, knelt behind her and gently nudged her, but she still didn't react at all.

With a determined heart, Granny Qi kowtowed to Yan Sinian and said, "Your Highness, it is true. Our young master is really dead. His body was just brought back this morning."

"What? Ju'er is dead?" Li Zhishen exclaimed in shock. How come no one told him about such a big thing!

"It's true. The eldest young master went out last night to help search for His Highness the Crown Prince. He accidentally got his horse stuck in the mud and fell to his death," Granny Qi explained.

"My son!" Li Zhigong cried out, kneeling to the side, bowing his head and covering his face, sobbing uncontrollably.

Li Zhishen crawled two steps toward Yan Sinian and said, "Your Highness, the incident happened when I went to find you. Although I have no merit, in view of my loyalty, could you please let my family make some arrangements for my funeral?"

Although he didn't know what happened to Li Qiju, he was involved in everything that happened to the Crown Prince. Now that he was worried about how to extricate the Li family from the situation, Li Qiju died while he was looking for the Crown Prince. It was a good thing he died!

With death comes the debt, and whatever His Highness the Crown Prince discovers, he can pin it all on Li Qiju.

Although Li Zhishen appeared to be crying sadly, he was secretly overjoyed.

Li Zhigong was responsible for weeping bitterly, while Li Zhishen sang, recited, and acted, praising his achievements and expressing his loyalty. For a time, the hall was extremely lively.

The eldest princess just watched quietly, occasionally letting out a cold laugh.

From the moment Yan Sinian entered and humiliated her, to the hall resembling a public trial, she knew that she and the Li family were finished. His Highness the Crown Prince had lost patience with them.

She originally intended for Li Qiju to take the blame, which is why she ordered Li Qiju to be killed as soon as she heard the news that the Crown Prince had been found.

If things are arranged well afterward, and all the evidence is fabricated, and the Crown Prince is given a good face, the Li family might not be without a chance to escape this predicament. If things go smoothly, they might even be able to curry favor with the Crown Prince and gain access to the Eastern Palace.

But now the Crown Prince has lost patience, so all the schemes are seen as nothing more than the antics of clowns in the eyes of those in power. Haven't you noticed how Yan Sinian looks at the Li brothers now—more and more like he's watching a monkey show?

The performance inside the hall was quite lively, but the Li family members outside were still completely bewildered. Seeing that the guards were simply keeping watch in the hall and no one was paying attention to them, they all began to whisper among themselves.

A woman standing at the back of the crowd asked the maid behind her, "Tanxiang, when His Highness the Crown Prince entered just now, did you feel that there was something wrong with him?"

“My lady! I was allowed to peek at His Highness the Crown Prince, but after I kowtowed, I dared not raise my head again. His Highness’s shoes are really beautiful; they must have been embroidered with gold thread.”

This woman was Zhao, the wife of Li Zhishen. She had relinquished her power as head of the household long before the princess married into the Li family, citing poor health. In recent years, she had been living in the family temple and rarely appeared in public unless there was a major event.

She only came out today because she was there to welcome the Crown Prince.

After listening to Tanxiang's words, Zhao thought about it for a moment. Then she gently tugged at Tanxiang and led her slowly back to a corner.

"Tanxiang, the Li family is probably in trouble. Wait a moment, you must remember what I'm about to say." Zhao Shi grabbed the maid Tanxiang's hand and stared intently into her eyes.

Even though her arm was being gripped painfully, Tanxiang didn't dare to cry out. She only dared to ask in a low voice, "Madam, have you discovered something? How could the Li family be finished?"

Madam Zhao pondered inwardly, unsure if her guess was correct. The moment she saw the Crown Prince alight from the carriage, she sensed something was amiss; now, she realized it was because he was too clean.

I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince fell into the water and went missing, and was found in the mountains. Even if he changed his clothes on the way back, he couldn't possibly be this clean. There are no inns or rest stops along the way from the mountains to the city where people can wash up.

I'm afraid the Crown Prince didn't disappear at all; he's just back today to settle scores with the Li family.

The thought of accidentally discovering that someone in the Li family was illegally minting coins sent chills down her spine. That one incident alone was enough to warrant the execution of the entire Li family, not to mention the countless other offenses they had committed over the years.

“Sandalwood, go back to my room now. There’s a hidden compartment under my bed. It contains my savings from all these years. Hide the silver notes inside close to your body, then leave here and go to my parents’ house to tell them what happened.”

"Yes, Madam. I will definitely find Master and Eldest Master to rescue you." Tanxiang nodded and was about to run away when Zhao grabbed her arm.

"No, tell Father and my elder brother not to come. Tell them it was my order that if they find the Li family is in trouble, even if they have to expel me from the clan, I must sever all ties with the Li family."

"Is it that serious, Madam? Why don't you ask the master and eldest son to help you get a divorce?"

"I'm afraid it's too late."

“But Madam, you have not enjoyed any happiness in the Li family all these years. Now you are going to suffer with them. You are being wronged.”

"Perhaps this is my fate! I don't care about my two sons anymore. I only ask that my father and brothers take care of my eldest and second sisters, considering that I have not brought any trouble to my maternal family. You should leave now before things get chaotic."

"Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely deliver the message." With tears in her eyes, Tanxiang quietly slipped away along the wall.

Zhao straightened her clothes and hair, then secretly pinched a small piece of gold hidden in her sleeve. If her house was indeed raided later, she would use this to send herself away and avoid being humiliated.

"Your Highness, Li Qi died of poisoning. All the injuries on his body were fabricated after his death." Upon hearing Wei Rong's report, the Li brothers fell silent.

"He accidentally fell from his horse, and one of the victims died from poisoning?"

"Your Highness, Your Highness, we only heard it from this servant. We didn't mean to deceive you. It was her, it was all her." Li Zhishen pointed at Granny Qi, almost rushing over to pull her in front of the Crown Prince.

"Deception! Your Li family has deceived us in countless ways. What, do you think that deceiving me, the Crown Prince, doesn't count as deceiving the Emperor?!"

"No, we wouldn't dare." The Li brothers had no idea what the Crown Prince knew, but in this situation, kowtowing was the best course of action.

"Where's Bai Miao?" Yan Sinian hadn't seen Bai Miao, so he asked Wei Rong, who had just come in.

"Your Highness, after hearing that Your Highness was safe, Lord Bai went to the River Conservancy Office to make arrangements for the post-flood season and the disaster victims."

Upon hearing that Bai Miao was not there, Yan Sinian kept staring at Wei Rong. Wei Rong felt a little uneasy under his gaze.

Yan Sinian was considering whether to hand over the Li family members to Wei Rong for interrogation. Their identities were sufficient, but their interrogation skills were lacking.

"Ren Gu went to find Huo Bingchun and asked him to help Lord Wei interrogate the prisoners."

Ren Gu, also known as Xiao Jiu, was about to leave after hearing the instructions, but was called back by Yan Sinian.

"Call Jia Mu over as well, and have him keep an eye on Huo Bingchun."

After Xiao Jiu left, Yan Sinian instructed Wei Rong: "Lord Wei, take all the Li family members away and interrogate them separately. There is evidence of their crimes at Ren Gu. Make them confess and see if they can produce any new information."

"I've found two people to help you with the interrogation. They have the means, but don't let them do anything pointless. If they do, just say you're going to sue me and tell them to behave themselves."

"Things that are boring?" What boring things can you find out when interrogating a criminal?

"Heh, for example, gag a prisoner, then break his bones inch by inch, and with each blow, ask him if he'll confess. If he can't open his mouth, he'd rather die than confess." Yan Sinian had personally witnessed Huo Bingchun do something like this.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will keep a close watch."

Watching Wei Rong walk out, Yan Sinian sighed inwardly, realizing that there were still too few capable people.

Of the people under my command, there aren't many with brains to begin with, and of the few whose brains are actually usable, most are a little crazy.

All the members of the Li family were taken away, leaving only Yan Sinian and Princess Jinshan in the hall.

"Aunt, is there anything you want to say to me?"

...This is the dividing line two hours from now...

When Yan Sinian left the hall, his biggest feeling was that the grain production in the Prince of Kang's fiefdom was somewhat excessive.

Let him be so idle that he has nothing better to do than meddle in everything.

He then took Xiao Ba to the Prince of Kang's fiefdom and seized all of his grain.

When people are hungry, they don't want to do anything and become obedient.