CHAPTER 328: CHAPTER 278: IS HE HIDING SOMETHING FROM ME?_3

Zhe Yu played along quite well. Every time Princess Rong came or sent someone, he was more respectful than before.

Princess Rong observed coldly for a few days and gradually felt at ease, as long as Zhe Yu could be of use after his recovery, and as long as he behaved, the rest could be ignored for now.

In the past two days, Xu Yin brought up the subject of that fan again. Since the item had to be retrieved eventually, Princess Rong contemplated seriously. If the fan really existed, where would Prince Rong have hidden it? Why had she, as his longtime wife, never heard of it, yet Xu Yin knew?

After pondering for a few days, Princess Rong summoned Yang Zhan to her room for lunch.

"Are you fully recovered?" Princess Rong asked kindly.

After all, he was her own son, different from Mrs. Zhang, no matter how angry she got, blood ties could not be severed.

"Thank you for your concern, Mother. I am fully recovered. It’s just this resentment that I can’t swallow." Yang Zhan replied, angrily shaking his head.

Princess Rong said, "It was indeed too much. Has your father said anything?"

"No," Yang Zhan replied, "Father has always adhered to rules. In times like these, he wouldn’t cause trouble for himself. I can only accept my bad luck."

Princess Rong frowned, "I really can’t understand your father more and more. He used to have some vigor, but in recent years, why has he become more of a coward?

"Having people trample all over him, and he doesn’t say a word!"

Yang Zhan picked up the tea and gently blew on it, his head moving slightly. It was unclear if he was shaking his head or blowing the tea.

Princess Rong continued, "Anything involving the Zhang family, he helps without a second thought. This is unreasonable, tell me, why is that?"

Yang Zhan looked up, "Of course, because the Zhang family are in-laws! Isn’t marriage about forming good relations between two families? If something happens to the Zhang family, isn’t it only right for Father to help?"

Princess Rong’s eyes were sharp, "So in-laws are more important than the wife’s family, this is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing."

Yang Zhan kept his head down, playing with the tassels on the pillow, clearly not intending to answer.

Princess Rong knew it was not the time to press these matters, so she asked patiently, "Is your father hiding something from me?"

"How could that be?" Yang Zhan immediately denied, "Father respects you so much, everything is discussed with you. What could he be hiding from you?"

Princess Rong sneered, "Back then, he took the official position left for Zhe Yu and gave it to Zhang Shicheng without discussing it with me, didn’t he?"

"How long ago was that? Why bring it up again?"

"If I don’t bring this up, then let me bring up that incident at Fan Baihe Temple. Tell me, what is the origin of that dagger? Why were you and your father so frightened that night?"

Yang Zhan avoided her gaze, clearing his throat as he looked toward the door. "Assassins suddenly appeared beneath the emperor’s feet, and in a dark, unlit temple, it’s natural to be frightened. Wasn’t Mother and sister scared at the time too?"

"Trying to fool me? Our fear and your fear are fundamentally different." Princess Rong didn’t want to beat around the bush, "Just tell me, did you do something shameful?"

"Such words shouldn’t be spoken!" Yang Zhan couldn’t sit still and suddenly stood up, "We’re upright and honest, how could we have done something shameful?"

Princess Rong frowned at him, scrutinizing his tense form again, "I just asked casually, why such a big reaction? Are you guilty, did I really hit the mark?"

Yang Zhan couldn’t retort because the more he denied it, the more it sounded like an excuse. He swallowed and said, "If you care for our wellbeing, Mother, don’t bring this up again! We’re mother and son, so that’s why I’m telling you this. With someone else, it would be a different story!"

Upon hearing this, Princess Rong stood up as well, "Are you implying that I was right?"

"Of course not!" Yang Zhan took a deep breath, "Please don’t ask anymore! It’s not what you think."

With that, he glanced outside, lifted his foot to leave, "I have matters to attend to, I’ll come by to chat with Consort another day!"

Princess Rong grabbed him, "You’re leaving just like that, with the conversation unfinished? You’re not listening to your own mother?!"

Yang Zhan found himself stuck, "Just don’t ask about this, anything else you want to discuss?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Rong loosened her grip, giving him a deep look, "When your father is alone, where in the Prince Manor does he spend his time?"

Yang Zhan was slightly stunned, "Is there anything you don’t know? Just a few small studies, the library, and such."

"I mean, besides these places."

Yang Zhan’s gaze lingered on her face, and after a moment, he said, "Why do you ask this?"