Chapter 56 The Emperor truly favors the Prince of Chu!

Xie Yuanhe frowned. "What's he doing here?"

Why is Feng Qing coming at this time? Does it mean the Crown Prince already knows about this?

"Where is the Crown Prince?"

"Your Majesty, only Feng Qing has arrived. His Highness the Crown Prince and Vice Minister Shen are still discussing matters concerning the Ministry of Revenue."

"Let him in."

Xie Yuanhe was also unsure.

He found Xie Xuanyin, his son, to be increasingly unfathomable and difficult to control.

Feng Qing entered quickly.

After paying his respects, he explained his purpose: "Your Majesty, my Highness has instructed me to fetch something."

"What is that?"

Even the emperor felt a pang of unease at this moment.

Feng Qing glanced at Song Xuerou and said in a serious tone, "His Highness said that his most precious 'thing' is left in the Imperial Study! If it is not retrieved, His Highness will keep thinking about it."

"The Crown Prince's most precious possession?"

Xie Yuanhe was stunned for a moment.

As expected of the emperor, he quickly realized what was happening.

"You mean the Crown Princess?"

As soon as he said it, Xie Yuanhe's expression stiffened slightly.

He specifically gave orders that no one was allowed to disclose this matter.

At least, no one is allowed to speak out until he has dealt with the matter thoroughly.

Who knew that he would expose himself the moment he opened his mouth!

Thankfully, the person in front of me is not Xie Xuanyin.

If it really is him, things will likely get very out of hand today!

wrong……

Since Xie Xuanyin specifically sent Feng Qing to retrieve his "most precious thing," doesn't that mean he already knew about this matter and knew that Shen Ruoli was currently in the warm pavilion behind the Imperial Study?

Xie Xuanyin already knows that Song Xuerou poisoned Shen Ruoli!

— Xie Yuanhe's eyes flickered slightly.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Feng Qing smiled, "Your Highness is unavailable at the moment, so he specially sent me to pick up the Crown Princess."

As he spoke, he deliberately looked around, "Your Majesty, where is my Crown Princess? Didn't the intercalary month say that the Crown Princess had come to the palace to pay her respects to Your Majesty?"

Xie Yuanhe: "..."

What a terrible thing to do!

His sons are all incredibly troublesome towards him!

Especially Xie Xuanyin, the fourth son!

He appeared gentle and diligent from a young age, but in reality, he was extremely cold and unpredictable.

Because he couldn't figure out Xie Xuanyin's personality, he was still testing him!

Xie Xuanyin knew about this matter but deliberately did not show himself, only sending Feng Qing instead. This was undoubtedly a signal to him: he was giving his father face!

Not only that, it also serves as a warning!

If he doesn't handle this matter well, I'm afraid Xie Xuanyin won't let it go easily!

Although Xie Xuanyin hated Shen Ruoli to the extreme, he was fiercely protective of his own!

Now that Shen Ruoli is his Crown Princess, Song Xuerou's poisoning of Shen Ruoli is a provocation against him, the Crown Prince!

He naturally wouldn't stand idly by and let Shen Ruoli be bullied.

"The Crown Princess is not feeling well right now, so I have arranged for her to rest in the warm pavilion."

Xie Yuanhe said, "Go and tell the Crown Prince that once the Crown Princess has recovered, I will send someone to take her to Shou Kang Palace. The Empress Dowager was still talking about that girl yesterday."

"Your Majesty, since the Crown Princess is unwell, I must take her back! His Highness the Crown Prince has already summoned the imperial physician, who is waiting at the Crown Prince's residence."

Feng Qing remained composed and respectful, saying, "Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would also worry about the Crown Princess."

Xie Yuanhe held his breath, his anger rising slowly.

Why is Xie Xuanyin pressuring his father so much? Could it be that he knows about Xie Xuansong being secretly protected?

Despite his anger, Xie Yuanhe also felt somewhat guilty.

"After the Crown Princess has rested for a while, I will send someone to escort her back to the Crown Prince's residence."

He made concessions.

Feng Qing did not press the issue too hard.

He nodded. "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"

Just as he was about to step down, he glanced at Song Xuerou, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said meaningfully, "Your Majesty, His Highness said that he has something he would like to ask Princess Consort Chu later."

"When would be a convenient time for the Princess Consort of Chu?"

Song Xuerou's heart skipped a beat.

It’s over!

Xie Xuanyin is going to settle accounts with her too!

But she clearly didn't do anything!

Song Xuerou looked at Xie Yuanhe nervously, "Father..."

Knowing she was afraid, Xie Yuanhe, though displeased, had no choice but to step forward and say, "I also have something to ask Princess Consort Chu! I don't know when this will end."

"Tell the Crown Prince that we can discuss this tomorrow."

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince will depart for Suizhou tomorrow to escort the Imperial Father-in-law to the capital."

Feng Qing continued.

Grandfather-in-law Sun was Xie Yuanhe's father-in-law and Empress Sun's father.

When Xie Yuanhe ascended the throne, the Sun family gave him their full support, and Old Master Sun almost lost half his life because of it!

The Sun family knew the saying "a tall tree catches the wind".

As the great contributors to the new emperor's ascension to the throne, they feared that Xie Yuanhe would be wary of the Sun family after his ascension, which would make Empress Sun's situation in the palace difficult. Therefore, Old Master Sun led the Sun family to retire to Suizhou.

Even after Xie Xuanyin was made crown prince, they still kept a low profile and never flaunted their achievements.

Although the Sun family has retired, their influence remains.

With Empress Sun's birthday approaching, the Sun family will surely go to the capital to celebrate.

In previous years, it was Empress Sun's brother who came to offer congratulations, but this year, Old Master Sun himself came to the capital!

Xie Yuanhe was unaware of this matter.

"But what urgent matter is it?"

He pretended not to understand why Xie Xuanyin wanted to see Song Xuerou, and said in a deep voice, "If it's not a major matter, it's not too late to see the Princess Consort of Chu after the Crown Prince returns from Suizhou."

"Besides, the King of Chu is not in the capital..."

Xie Yuanhe paused for a moment, then said, "Let's talk about it after the Crown Prince and the Prince of Chu return to the capital."

This means that Xie Xuanyin is not allowed to see Song Xuerou!

Feng Qing couldn't help but feel indignant for his master: The Emperor truly favors Prince Chu!

It seems the Crown Princess's analysis was correct. While the Emperor outwardly supports His Highness the Crown Prince, he is secretly weighing who is truly capable of taking the position!

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will report back to His Highness the Crown Prince immediately."

Feng Qing felt indignant, but he didn't show it and simply withdrew respectfully.

No sooner had he left than Xie Yuanhe couldn't help but smash the inkstone!

Ink spilled all over Song Xuerou!

"Look what you've done! Now the Crown Prince knows, and if he wants to pursue the matter, even I can't protect you! You two fools!"

...

When Feng Qing came to report, Xie Xuanyin had just come out of Kunning Palace.

"master."

Feng Qing quickly approached and lowered her voice, "You guessed right, the Emperor does indeed intend to protect Princess Consort Chu. I wonder if it's because of Prince Chu or because of Prime Minister Song."

"However, I gleaned a clue from His Majesty's words just now!"

"Um?"

Xie Xuanyin stood with his hands behind his back, his face expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Judging from His Majesty's words, the Prince of Chu should... be returning to the capital soon!"

Feng Qing said in a low voice.

"oh?"

Xie Xuanyin smiled.

He left Xie Xuansong in Fuzhou this time as a deliberate test of Xie Yuanhe.

Unexpectedly, his suspicions were not unfounded!

Xie Xuanyin smiled, but his heart grew colder and colder. "With the Empress Dowager's birthday approaching, it is reasonable for Father to send my elder brother back to the capital."

He instantly guessed that Xie Yuanhe would use Empress Sun's birthday as an excuse to allow Xie Xuansong to return to the capital!

Once Xie Xuansong returns to the capital, he will have a legitimate reason to return to the imperial court!

Xie Xuanyin's smile didn't reach his eyes. "My elder brother is also a member of the royal family, so he should return to the capital. It's alright, I'm very happy that he's returning this time."

"I will ensure that my elder brother never leaves the capital again!"

After all, how can a dead person leave the capital?