The Yongxing Emperor was a man of his word.
Regardless of how much he detested Princess Yijiang in his heart, or the decision he had already made, he had indeed sent people to investigate the matter as he said he would.
However, the findings were not as Princess Yijiang had claimed.
At this time, Yu Jing also learned of the matter and sought out the Yongxing Emperor.
She told him that she had learned of this incident by chance.
Originally, her daughter had not wanted her to know.
Because she didn't want her to worry, and even more so, she feared her mother would then want to take her away from Daliang.
Hearing this, the Yongxing Emperor's heart skipped a beat.
He was now using the special medicine that Su Xiaoqi had prepared for him, and his health had greatly improved.
Coupled with his adherence to Su Xiaoqi's dietary advice, his previous ailments had indeed subsided considerably.
However, for the sake of fairness, and to provide an explanation to Nanyue and Beichu, the Yongxing Emperor, after dispatching his guards to investigate, summoned Princess Yijiang, Su Xiaoqi, and Consort Li to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Today, he intended to clarify all matters right there.
At the same time, he would also make things clear.
Initially, Ji Chenggang, a commander of the Imperial Guard, spoke.
Following the Yongxing Emperor's orders, he recounted what the Imperial Guards he had dispatched had discovered.
First, Princess Yijiang had accused Su Xiaoqi of swelling her face.
This was not the truth.
Because their investigation of her face, conducted by the imperial physicians dispatched, revealed that
her face had not been swollen in that manner from being struck.
Instead, a certain medicinal substance had been used, causing an allergic reaction intentionally, which resulted in that appearance.
"Impossible..." Princess Yijiang shrieked in denial before Ji Chenggang could finish.
The scene of Su Xiaoqi slapping her was still vivid in her mind.
Every time she thought of it, she wished she could slap Su Xiaoqi to death.
How could it have been some kind of medicine?
Moreover, she was incredibly distressed about her face.
It was already dark enough, and she certainly wouldn't dare to apply anything haphazardly to it.
The Yongxing Emperor glanced at her, his gaze warning her back, and said faintly, "Bring in Director Lu."
Director Lu arrived shortly after.
He corroborated the facts stated by Ji Chenggang.
He said that several imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Office had been present at the time, and their diagnostic results were thus.
If Princess Yijiang did not believe them, they were willing to conduct an experiment on their own faces.
The imperial physicians said this in front of the Yongxing Emperor.
Everyone else merely listened and let it be.
Normally, no one would take such a matter too seriously.
Unfortunately for them, they encountered Princess Yijiang.
She actually demanded they test it on their faces.
She also declared that if applying it caused their faces to become like hers, then she would accept it; otherwise, they would face dire consequences.
Then, the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Office looked at each other, each sighing.
Finally, a relatively young imperial physician bravely stepped forward.
He was willing to try.
Su Xiaoqi watched from the side, unable to resist tugging at her lips.
Tsk tsk, these imperial physicians were truly something, risking their own lives for that crazy woman, Yijiang!
Fortunately, her medicinal powder did not harm the fundamental health.
She shook her head and remained silent.
Soon, Director Lu began to apply the medicine on the young imperial physician's face.
Accompanied by a cry of pain, red marks appeared on the young imperial physician's face.
There were also small, yellow pustules, each appearing ripe and quietly awaiting to be picked.
"Ah... so ugly..." Princess Yijiang, seeing the young imperial physician's previously fair face transformed in such a way,
was so startled that she instinctively covered her eyes.
The Yongxing Emperor couldn't bear to watch and waved for the young imperial physician to be sent away for treatment.
"Now, what else do you have to say?" the Yongxing Emperor asked Yijiang coldly.
"You used medicine on yourself to mar your face in such a state, and yet you blame others.
You, you are still a princess, and I am truly disappointed in you." The Yongxing Emperor's upbringing did not permit him to utter more harsh words.
He could only go so far.
But it was evident that he was extremely displeased.
"But, but she really did hit this princess..." Princess Yijiang still wanted to argue.
However, given that her previous statements were all false, the Yongxing Emperor no longer believed her words at all.
Princess Yijiang was furious, her entire face contorted.
She was about to curse, but was restrained by the wet nurse beside her.
She cried out in anger, stomped her feet, and ran out.
The Yongxing Emperor stared at her dramatic exit, unable to react for a long while.
Upon recalling Yijiang's manners, he found it understandable.
However, his desire to keep Yijiang in Daliang as a bride had completely diminished.
With such a temper, whoever married her would be courting extreme misfortune.
Without Yijiang taking the lead,
Consort Li was like a tigress.
Su Xiaoqi, with a few casual words, managed to corner her to the point where she couldn't retort.
Finally, the Yongxing Emperor slammed the table, bringing the matter to a conclusion.
Yijiang's impulsiveness was the cause, and she bore the primary responsibility. Consort Li failed to supervise her properly and bore secondary responsibility. Given that she had already lost her authority over the six palaces, she would not be punished.
Su Xiaoqi was a victim. She was rewarded with one hundred taels of gold, a stalk of South China Sea red coral, a measure of pearls, and two bolts of Shu brocade.
The Yongxing Emperor felt she had been greatly wronged this time, yet remained so calm and composed, without any fuss, which he found rare.
She was even able to attend to him steadily.
Therefore, he wished to bestow numerous rewards upon her to soothe her wounded heart.
He also granted her permission to not come to the palace whenever she wished,
regardless of which consort summoned her.
Of course, this excluded him, the Emperor.
Su Xiaoqi left with Shen Yun.
As they passed Consort Li, Su Xiaoqi, from an angle invisible to others, gave a contemptuous smile.
Consort Li was stimulated by this and almost lost her composure.
However, being older and more experienced, she ultimately managed to restrain herself.
Only the Yongxing Emperor and Consort Li remained in the hall.
The Yongxing Emperor had intended to reprimand Consort Li sternly,
to teach her a lesson.
But Consort Li, at a most opportune moment, brought up their decade of hardship in Xijiang.
The Yongxing Emperor's heart softened.
He patiently spoke with Consort Li for a long while.
However, his words implicitly warned her to refrain from plotting against Su Xiaoqi.
Furthermore, she was to abandon any thoughts of marrying Princess Yijiang to Shen Yun.
"A princess from a small country like Nanyue cannot even compare to the finger of a wife of a Daliang minister.
I am old, and I have suffered considerable hardship in Xijiang. My health is likely not to last much longer.
Minister Shen is exceptionally capable, skilled in both civil and military affairs.
He is someone I intend to leave to the Crown Prince. If you disrupt my arrangements through your underhanded tactics,
even though you are someone with whom I have shared hardships, I will not spare you.
As for Su Xiaoqi, her medical skills are excellent, and my health depends on her!"
After speaking, the Yongxing Emperor, without waiting for Consort Li's reply, wearily waved for her to leave.
He believed he had made his intentions clear enough.
If Consort Li still failed to understand, then she should not blame him for disregarding their marital bond.
This entire incident, from the initial conflict to its resolution, took a little over half a month.
As July approached, the Imperial Examination for special candidates arrived.
Chen Jia'an was to participate.
Out of respect for Chen Jinniang, Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun invited him to their home for a meal.
Shen Yun even took the initiative to share some details regarding the examination that he needed to pay attention to.
Chen Jia'an listened attentively.
However, his eyes darted around intermittently.
Su Xiaoqi knew he was looking for Shen Mingzhu.
But Shen Mingzhu was currently in the back courtyard accompanying Madam Zhao.
She would not come to the front.
And she no longer wished to see Chen Jia'an.
Their relationship was over!
This was a fact, but unfortunately, Chen Jia'an seemed unable to accept it.
He thought Shen Mingzhu was merely throwing a tantrum.
As long as he saw her and appeased her properly, she might listen to him again.
Su Xiaoqi, seeing through his thoughts,
directly clarified the situation for him.
She told him to focus on his studies, stating that with his talent, even if he couldn't rank in the top twenty,
he would still have no trouble passing.
These were Shen Yun's exact words.
"However, regarding Mingzhu, you should let go of any thoughts," Su Xiaoqi told Chen Jia'an frankly.
Chen Jia'an's mood immediately plummeted.
But soon, thinking of something, he rekindled his fighting spirit.
He pondered if everything could still be saved if he achieved a good result in the examination.