The princess regretted it.

Chapter 314: Zhang Bin guessed Yundou's intention

When Zhang Pin heard Jiaoyu say that she wanted to go and get help from her brother and father, her face suddenly changed and she quickly stopped her: "No!" The voice was firm and unquestionable.

Jiaoyu was extremely anxious, her eyes were red, and she said anxiously: "Why? Mother, they are the only ones who can save our second brother now. We all know what our second brother means to us. Nothing can happen to him, can you bear to watch our second brother being wrongly accused?" As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again, and it seemed like they were about to burst out.

Zhang Concubine placed her hands heavily on Jiaoyu's shoulders, her eyes cold and firm as she said sternly, "Yu'er, you absolutely cannot go to your maternal grandparents' house at this time. Your father is a man of deep thoughts. He might be waiting for your maternal grandparents' house to take action so that he can seize the opportunity to control our Zhang family. If you act rashly, it will only make things worse. By then, not only will we not be able to save your second brother, but our entire Zhang family may be in utter ruin."

Jiaoyu's body went limp, as if her spine had been pulled out. She slumped to the ground, her eyes wandering as she muttered to herself, "What should I do? Yundou is already in the hands of the Imperial Guards, hanging by a thread between life and death, and my uncle has been ordered to take leave and is not allowed to get involved in this matter. If I could use my uncle's connections and find a way to make Yundou die quietly, with no evidence, then my second brother would be alright, right?" A hint of determination flashed in her eyes, as if she really intended to go all in.

Zhang Concubine had calmed down by now. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and quickly sorted out the entire process in her mind. Yundou's family were all family members, and their families had been dependent on the Zhang family for generations. They were all under the control of the Zhang family. According to common sense, Yundou would definitely not betray Yunji. It seemed that there must be something else behind this matter.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her. She recalled Jiaoyu's remark about the Third Prince's words in the Health Preservation Palace, and the Emperor's final, ambiguous response, which was to not convict Yun Ji. Given the Emperor's usual disposition, he should have severely punished Yun Ji. After all, the evidence seemed irrefutable, yet he was letting him off so lightly. There must be something fishy going on.

Zhang Concubine bent down slightly, reached out her hand and gently grasped Jiaoyu's arm, pulling her up from the ground. She then helped her sit down on a chair nearby. Her expression was solemn, and she asked in a low, serious voice, "Can you repeat exactly what the Third Master said in the Health Preservation Palace?"

Although Jiaoyu was full of doubts and did not quite understand the intention of her mother's question, she did not dare to ask more questions seeing her mother's serious expression. She nodded obediently, blinked her eyes that were still filled with tears, and repeated the information she had heard to Concubine Zhang in detail again, like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube.

Zhang Concubine listened quietly, her brow furrowed slightly. A flash of inspiration struck her mind, and a bold hypothesis gradually took shape. She didn't immediately explain to Jiaoyu. Instead, she turned and called Qiuwen, who had been waiting outside the door. She beckoned her closer and whispered a few words in her ear. Qiuwen's face remained calm, but after listening, her expression froze, and she hurried away.

Jiaoyu looked at her mother blankly, her eyes full of confusion and curiosity, "Mother, what did you ask Aunt Qiuwen to do?"

Concubine Zhang gently patted Jiaoyu's hand, trying to calm her down, and said softly, "Don't worry. Mother suspects Yundou isn't trying to harm your second brother. On the contrary, she might be trying to protect him."

"Mother, what do you mean?" Jiaoyu became more and more confused, her brows furrowed, her eyes full of inquiry, and she was eager to understand the deep meaning of her mother's words.

"Mother is not sure yet, you will know when Qiuwen comes back." Concubine Zhang shook her head slightly, looking in the direction where Qiuwen left outside the door. There was some expectation in her eyes, mixed with a little worry. She knew very well that every decision at this moment was related to her son's fate, and there was no room for error.

Soon, Qiuwen came back in a hurry. As soon as her figure appeared at the door and before she stepped in completely, Zhang Pin's eyes were instantly locked on her, and she looked at her with a nervous and expectant expression on her face.

Qiu Wen didn't dare to delay even a moment. She quickened her pace and quickly reached Zhang Pin's side. She bent down slightly, leaned close to Zhang Pin's ear, and whispered something. As her words reached her ears, Zhang Pin's originally tense and nervous expression gradually relaxed, like ice and snow slowly melting under the warm sun, and a hint of relief appeared in her eyes.

Jiaoyu was on the other side of the room, watching her mother's every move intently, watching her expression change, her eyes full of anticipation. Her heart seemed to be in her throat, and she was eager to know what kind of news could make her mother react like this.

After Qiuwen finished speaking, Zhangpin nodded slightly and waved to her. Qiuwen understood and quietly retreated. She stood outside the door again with light steps and continued to guard to prevent being disturbed.

Seeing this, Jiaoyu quickly reached out and took Zhangpin's hand, shaking it gently. With a hint of urgency in her voice, she called out, "Mother?"

"Don't worry, Jiaoyu. Yundou didn't betray your second brother. It was your maternal grandparents who arranged for her to do so." Concubine Zhang patted Jiaoyu's hand gently and patiently explained everything to her. "At that time, she knew she had been exposed. In a critical situation, she sent an urgent message to your maternal grandparents. They acted decisively and asked her to testify at the right time that it was your second brother who ordered her to do so. Just think about it, with your father's temperament, he would not easily believe such an accusation. Instead, he would become suspicious and investigate the matter in depth."

"Moreover, Yundou has already made thorough arrangements. As long as your father investigates, he will find out that she has close contacts with people around the third brother. In this way, your father will suspect that it was the third brother who secretly plotted and wanted to take the opportunity to frame your second brother. In this way, your second brother will be able to escape from this vortex and will naturally be fine." As Zhang Pin spoke, she nodded slightly, and there was a bit more certainty in her eyes. The big stone in her heart finally fell to the ground.

"But I didn't expect that the third prince would be so impatient and actually deliver himself to the door." Concubine Zhang raised her head slightly, a sarcastic smile on the corner of her mouth. The smile was full of disdain for the third prince, as if everything was under her control, and the third prince's behavior was nothing more than a funny performance of a jumping clown.

"Mother, who are you asking this about? Are you sure? And the Third Prince was only there to plead for Second Brother. Would Father doubt him?" Jiaoyu frowned, still feeling that this was a bit iffy. Filled with doubts, she couldn't help but ask. She thought to herself, the Third Prince's earnest words at the time would have made anyone think he was speaking sincerely for Second Brother. How could Father easily suspect him?