Su Xiaoqi soon received news that because of rumors in the palace, Consort Li, believing them, wanted to rescue Prince Zhou.
She then led her gathered personnel, armed with sharp weapons, to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
She injured over a dozen court officials and cut the Emperor Yongxing's imperial robe. If Shen Yun had not risked his life to save him at a critical moment, Emperor Yongxing would likely have lost his life by now.
Thus, the previous palace coup incident now had a new judgment.
Consort Li, for disrespecting the emperor, harbored intentions of regicide and treason, was sentenced to execution by beheading along with her household.
Prince Zhou, for conspiring with his consort, was demoted to commoner status and exiled to Xijiang.
This matter was quite significant.
Su Xiaoqi watched as, in just two days, the situation had completely reversed. While she was pondering the incomprehensible turn of events and wanting to ask Shen Yun,
he did not return for two consecutive days.
When he finally returned on the third day, he spoke of Emperor Yongxing having issued an imperial decree in the morning court to establish a Crown Prince.
The choice for the Crown Prince, needless to say, was Prince Chen, who had recently recovered from serious injuries.
On the surface, Prince Chen had done nothing and simply won by default.
However, in reality, during his "recovery" at home, countless people visited his residence daily.
Firstly, those who genuinely cared for him and came to inquire about his injuries.
Secondly, those who came to see if he was truly severely injured and on the brink of death.
Thirdly, assassins who visited at night.
This was because Shen Yun had spread word of Emperor Yongxing's statement: "As long as Prince Chen is not dead, the position of Crown Prince will never fall to Prince Zhou."
This statement was too easily prone to wild speculation.
Therefore, whether it was Prince Zhou himself or his supporters, waves of assassins were dispatched to target Prince Chen.
They were like leeks, cut down one crop, and another grew, an endless cycle.
Fortunately, this process did not last too long, otherwise, the dungeon of Prince Chen's mansion would likely have been insufficient to hold them all.
Being appointed Crown Prince was a good thing.
Liang Jingchen's injuries healed at a visible speed, and he soon returned to the imperial court.
Emperor Yongxing entrusted him with a crucial responsibility, the regency.
Although the matter of Prince Zhou's palace coup had been peacefully resolved,
due to his deep roots and extensive influence,
the capital remained in disarray for quite some time after his exile.
Especially in the homes of some officials, either maids had trouble, or concubines had issues.
Or they were reported by them.
This triggered a cascade of reactions.
The subsequent cleanup work was still arduous.
But it was all personally handled by Crown Prince Liang Jingchen.
Shen Yun and a host of other officials simply went about their normal duties.
Thus, the imperial bureaucracy underwent another reshuffle.
Du Wenqian was appointed Minister of Personnel and became the Grand Secretary, while Shen Yun was promoted to Minister of Revenue and became the second-in-command.
The original Grand Secretary, Wang Chengyi, had retired to avoid implicating his son Wang Enze's future due to his involvement in the case of Prince Zhou's rebellion.
The Wang family, with Wang Enze having chosen Prince Chen early on, managed to preserve their foundation after all.
But all this was still not enough. Wang Enze realized that his starting point had originally been slightly higher than Shen Yun's.
But now he was falling behind.
He was promoted to the position of Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review, a third-rank official.
The position of Grand Secretary was becoming increasingly distant.
Therefore, he still had much to do.
The Duke of Yu's mansion also rendered meritorious service in protecting the realm during this incident.
Especially in the northern frontier, the Beidi people had launched several small-scale attacks, but they were all repelled by the Duke of Yu and his heir.
Yu Changfeng, leading the charge against the 'Net' organization, was awarded the title of Guerilla General of the Three Thousand Camp.
The influence of the Duke of Yu's mansion further increased.
As for Prince Ning's mansion, led by the elder Prince Ning, they continuously extended invitations to Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi, hoping that the couple would return to Prince Ning's mansion.
The couple both refused, citing the current chaotic situation.
Thus, when this storm passed, it was already April of the following year.
The spring imperial examinations had concluded, ushering in a new set of the top three scholars.
Su Xiaoqi, due to her pregnancy and unfamiliarity with the scholars, paid little attention and found the names of the top three unfamiliar.
However, she did learn from Shen Yun that Chen Jia'an had passed the examination, although he was ranked fifty-first in the top fifty.
This result was not very impressive, being rather late, but for Chen Jia'an's abilities, it was an exceptional performance.
Thinking of the new top three scholars, Su Xiaoqi couldn't help but recall Shen Yun's cohort of top scholars.
In the imperial court, only Shen Yun had developed the best.
The other two, the second and third place scholars, were gaining seniority in the Hanlin Academy.
The third-place scholar had voluntarily requested to go south and serve as a county magistrate.
As for the top three scholars from the Bashu region, only the one surnamed Chang was occasionally seen.
Xi Jianzhi, previously implicated with Prince Ping, had been dismissed from office and exiled to Lingnan to eat lychees.
As for when he would return, or if he would return at all, was unknown.
With this thought, Su Xiaoqi sighed with emotion, remarking that in just one or two years, things had changed so drastically.
"My lady, don't worry about them. I have already requested leave from the Emperor and will not attend the court for the next few days. I will stay by your side."
Su Xiaoqi smiled and nodded. Her due date was within these two days.
Although all preparations for childbirth had been made,
she had also examined herself and checked the fetal position.
Everything was normal, and there was nothing to worry about.
The two renowned midwives of the capital had also been invited to stay at their home.
She would only need to lie there and follow instructions, focusing on giving birth.
However, as the date drew nearer, Shen Yun became increasingly anxious.
As soon as he left Su Xiaoqi's side, his mind would wander.
Later, he lost focus on everything else,
only wanting to guard Su Xiaoqi.
Fearing that her belly, so round that she couldn't see her toes, might cause her to fall.
Su Xiaoqi initially didn't mind, wanting Shen Yun to go about his duties.
But no matter how much she persuaded him, he wouldn't listen.
Eventually, she had no other choice.
She could only accept his arrangements.
As they were talking, Su Xiaoqi suddenly frowned.
"Hiss… Husband, I, I think… quickly have someone boil water.
And arrange for the midwives, and notify Mother, my maternal grandmother, my godmother, my second aunt…" Su Xiaoqi rattled off a long list.
Shen Yun quickly held her and asked anxiously, "My lady, my lady, what's wrong?"
"I, I think I'm going into labor." Su Xiaoqi tried her best to calm herself.
She felt her tightened lower abdomen relax.
But it soon contracted again, and spasmed, causing her great discomfort.
It felt as if the child inside was eager to come out.
Shen Yun froze for a moment, then quickly reacted, stepping forward to support Su Xiaoqi, lifting her horizontally, and rushing towards the delivery room in the backyard.
He ran very fast, but held her very carefully.
Fearing he might jostle Su Xiaoqi, he walked almost on tiptoe the entire way.
"Ah…" Su Xiaoqi's abdomen ached so much it was cramping.
She had intended to bear it, but now she couldn't endure it any longer and cried out.
Shen Yun was startled, thinking he had jostled his wife, and quickly slowed his pace.
"Ah… No, no, don't stop, keep going." Su Xiaoqi cried out.
She was experiencing labor pains.
They came in waves, contracting and expanding.
Soon, they arrived. Shen Yun placed her on the spacious birthing bed. He did not leave, but sat on a stool beside her, holding Su Xiaoqi's hand, watching her with intense nervousness.
"My lady, my lady…"
Su Xiaoqi was drowsy with pain and paid no heed to anything else.
Two hours later.
One cry after another broke through the sky.
Su Xiaoqi had given birth, to a pair of twins, a boy and a girl.
The elder was a boy, the younger a girl.
After giving birth, Su Xiaoqi opened her tired eyes and immediately saw Shen Yun.
He was still sitting by the bedside, looking at her with concern.
Sensing her gaze, he immediately showed her the gentlest smile and approached her, "My lady, our children are born."
"Mmm, you, you never left?" Su Xiaoqi asked in confusion.
Shen Yun nodded. Ever since he had carried Su Xiaoqi in, he had been here.
Seeing Su Xiaoqi faint from pain, he was extremely worried.
But he could do nothing, only holding her hand and wiping her sweat.
After enduring the pain and the child's arrival, she had fainted from exhaustion.
How could he possibly dare to leave?
He was afraid that in the blink of an eye, something might happen to his wife.
Su Xiaoqi's eyes flashed with a thought: Didn't men not enter the delivery room in ancient times?
Shen Yun replied, "No one can stop me from doing what I want!"