Su Xiaoqi was very self-aware.
She took the Princess's kind words with a grain of salt, knowing that they were just words.
Essentially, she wouldn't take them to heart.
At the same time, she worried about when Shen Yun would be able to leave the palace.
The Princess, seeing her thoughts, smiled and comforted her,
"Xiaoqi, don't worry. Eunuch Feng secretly sent word that things went smoothly. He should be back before dark."
However, it was only officials like Shen Yun, who seemed involved but had no real stake in the conflict, who were allowed to leave the palace.
People from the Crown Prince's mansion and the Duke of Duan and his son were still not permitted to leave.
Su Xiaoqi then felt relieved and told the Princess that she had been out all day and her mother would worry, so she should be heading back.
"That's right. You should also inform the old Madam. Xuzhi is fine in the palace right now, so there's no need to worry her if she hears rumors from outside."
As the Princess spoke, she waved her hand, and Granny Xu ordered people to bring over two carts of goods.
These were gifts the Princess had prepared for Su Xiaoqi.
There were silks, spices, wine, pastries, and many tribute fruits. Hidden beneath were gold and silver ornaments…
With so much, Su Xiaoqi quickly refused, but the Princess insisted, saying it wasn't for her, but for the old Madam to calm her nerves.
Even if her daughter-in-law was favored by her mother-in-law, it didn't mean the mother-in-law should refuse the gift.
The Princess said this while pushing her towards the exit.
Su Xiaoqi had no choice but to accept. After all, the Princess's mansion was vast and wealthy, and these items were not a significant loss.
However, upon returning, she sent three down jackets to the Princess and her two children.
She also had Zhang Yu convey a message, asking them to try them on, and if they found them satisfactory, she would make more for them later.
The Princess was overjoyed, calling Su Xiaoqi too polite.
Granny Xu chimed in, "Madam Shen is a sensible person!"
A major incident had occurred that day.
Normally, the news should have been contained and not spread.
But because of certain individuals who wished to stir up trouble, they deliberately found specialized channels to spread rumors.
As a result, many people heard these rumors.
Others, not being involved, simply treated it as gossip and dispersed after the commotion.
However, Zhao Shi was the mother of a party involved. Upon hearing that Shen Yun was implicated and had been taken into the palace, she was terrified.
Even after Su Xiaoqi sent Zhang Lei back with news, she remained uneasy and fearful.
As soon as she heard that Su Xiaoqi had returned home, Zhao Shi immediately came over.
"Mother." Seeing Zhao Shi, Su Xiaoqi knew she must have heard the news from outside.
To reassure her, she dismissed the attendants and recounted the entire story without any concealment.
Thinking that what she heard from outside was different from what she heard from her daughter-in-law,
Zhao Shi, being discerning, decisively believed her daughter-in-law's words.
She grasped Su Xiaoqi's hand and said emotionally, "That was too dangerous today. Fortunately, you two... it's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright!"
As Zhao Shi expressed her relief, Su Xiaoqi squeezed her hand back, telling her not to worry.
Shen Yun was smart, and the Princess had already said he would return soon.
After comforting Zhao Shi, Su Xiaoqi began to feel uneasy.
Although the matter of the Duke of Duan's mansion privately possessing dragon robes was resolved due to her intervention with her spatial ability,
this rumor had still spread.
If Emperor Xingzhao still possessed his former wisdom and astuteness, she wouldn't have had any worries.
But the problem was that Emperor Xingzhao had suffered many blows recently, and his health was poor.
If not for the quarter-pill of spiritual medicine she had given him earlier, he would have been gone long ago.
In her previous life, Emperor Xingzhao had indeed passed away around this time.
She figured that in her past life, it was the Crown Prince who did something to the Duke of Duan, provoking Emperor Xingzhao's anger.
Without the support of her spiritual medicine, he had passed away from anger.
The Crown Prince was not deposed, and his succession was legitimate.
But this time, it was different.
The Crown Prince's frame-up plan had failed, and he had instead implicated himself.
Given Emperor Xingzhao's current emotional state and physical condition, as well as his violent temper,
Su Xiaoqi believed that some things might be developing in the direction Shen Yun desired.
Of course, the Crown Prince, being in the inner palace, could not do much.
But there were still many in the Crown Prince's faction outside the palace.
She believed they would definitely want to do something.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
In various mansions inside and outside the Imperial City, many study lamps were lit, burning brightly.
However, it was unknown whether their night of painstaking planning would change anything when the golden sun rose high.
Before dawn, a piece of news exploded throughout the entire palace.
The Crown Prince was reprimanded by the Emperor and ordered to remain confined to the Eastern Palace, not to leave.
All officials from the Directorate of the Heir Apparent were stripped of their positions; some faced confiscation of property and exile, while others were reduced to commoners, forbidden from holding office for three generations.
For the officials, such punishments were undoubtedly severe.
However, everyone generally agreed that the Emperor's punishment for the Crown Prince was somewhat like raising a hand high only to bring it down lightly with a sense of casualness.
This point greatly displeased those in the Duke of Duan's faction.
They recalled how, fifteen years ago, when the Duke of Duan was found to have privately hoarded dragon robes, he was deposed as Crown Prince and his entire family exiled.
They were gone for fifteen years.
Now, for the Crown Prince, the Emperor had only imposed confinement.
What did this signify?
The officials of the Duke of Duan's faction dared not think further.
After the morning court, Wang Enze immediately caught up with his father, Wang Chengyi, who served in the same court.
He opened his mouth to ask, but Wang Chengyi stopped him with a look.
Wang Enze knew that his father meant that outside, where the wind was strong, their conversation could be carried away.
He could only restrain himself.
He endured until they reached home.
Father and son sat around the study, closed the doors and windows, and began to discuss yesterday's events.
"Father, has the Emperor decided to give the throne to the Crown Prince…"
"Second son, how do I usually teach you?
You used to be able to grasp people's hearts; why can't you see through the Emperor's thoughts today?"
Wang Enze had a headache. Yesterday, after learning that the Crown Prince's scheme had backfired, he had been secretly pleased.
He thought that with the deposed Crown Prince case from fifteen years ago as a precedent,
the current Crown Prince would surely not escape this time.
He hadn't expected, hadn't expected…
The Emperor still favored his youngest son.
He had only given a light punishment of confinement.
Wang Enze frowned, "I don't think it's confinement, rather it's protection for him…"
Before he could finish, Wang Chengyi interrupted,
"Enough, second son. Go back and rest. You haven't slept all night and had to attend court early this morning."
Wang Enze choked. He knew his father was displeased.
He had spoken incorrectly just now.
"Yes, Father." He said no more and rose to leave.
Wang Chengyi narrowed his eyes.
Let alone Wang Enze, even he couldn't figure out what the Emperor was up to.
Could it be, as the second son suggested, that the Emperor had decided to pass the throne to the Crown Prince, and therefore no longer cared about his eagerness to prepare dragon robes and wish for his death?
Impossible!
Wang Chengyi tapped the tabletop and leaned back in his armchair, closing his eyes.
And similar conversations were indeed happening in the studies of many officials' homes.
There were father and son, uncle and nephew, grandfather and grandson, and close acquaintances…
But no one could fathom the matter.
They all ultimately reached one conclusion.
That no matter how things developed, they would continue to support the Duke of Duan.
After all, the Crown Prince, who had always been invincible, was now confined.
This was a good thing.
And those who supported the Crown Prince became even more loyal.
After all, it was privately possessing dragon robes – of course, that couldn't be said like that.
Because Emperor Xingzhao had issued a decree regarding this matter.
The leakage of this matter was forbidden.
Otherwise, death would be the penalty.
Therefore, the reason publicly announced for the Crown Prince's confinement was merely his improper conduct and disrespectful speech.
The Emperor had decreed that he should cultivate himself at home and not go out to show off.
Late at night in the Scholar's Mansion, Su Xiaoqi waited for Shen Yun and eventually fell asleep.
Fortunately, she fell asleep, because Shen Yun did not return until the end of the morning hour the next day.
Upon seeing him, Su Xiaoqi lunged at him.
But just as she was about to get close to Shen Yun, she suddenly covered her nose and took five steps back with a frown.
Shen Yun looked at his clothes, which he had not changed all night, and gave a wry smile, "Alas, my wife dislikes me."
Su Xiaoqi frowned and urged him to go bathe.
Shen Yun, however, acted like a spoiled child, saying he hadn't slept all night and was tired, so he didn't want to go.
Su Xiaoqi coaxed and pleaded with him, promising to hand him a towel and scrub his back in the bathroom, before finally getting him to agree to enter.