Xie Jingyan simply reported the matter, and after finishing, he grabbed Shen Wan's hand and took her away.

As they left the imperial study, Shen Wan said, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? You didn't even bow to the Emperor to take your leave."

Xie Jingyan said, "If you bow more, the Emperor won't gain any more flesh."

If everyone thought this way, the blood outside the Imperial Study would never dry.

Moreover, she did not agree with Xie Jingyan's words. Maybe if he bowed to the emperor, the emperor would be in a good mood and eat half a bowl more rice, and he would gain weight.

Shen Wan couldn't break free from Xie Jingyan's grip, so she could only let him hold her.

After walking a short distance, they saw the eldest prince, Xie Jingqi, approaching. He smiled and asked, "Did Father punish the sixth prince?"

Xie Jingyan said indifferently, "I don't care if the Emperor punishes me, but I don't know if the ministers who impeached me care."

Xie Jingqi frowned, about to ask Xie Jingyan what he meant by that, when Xie Jingyan had already taken Shen Wan away.

After walking a bit further away, Shen Wan asked, puzzled, "Why did you tell the First Prince that the Emperor punished those ministers who impeached you?"

“At least half of those impeachment memorials were submitted by the Crown Prince’s men,” Xie Jingyan said.

"..."

These court intrigues were clearly beyond her comprehension.

The eldest prince was clearly just looking for trouble. It wasn't enough that Xie Jingyan broke a rib of the Marquis of Anding's heir; he wanted Xie Jingyan to fight with the Marquis of Anding's family, preferably involving Empress Song and Xie Jingyin. But he certainly didn't expect that Xie Jingyan would investigate the ministers who impeached him, and that the emperor would actually punish them, although the punishment was not severe.

But having been punished, those ministers will have to stand up and admit their mistakes at the morning court session tomorrow. At that time, Xie Jingyin will know that the eldest prince is secretly plotting something.

They're all scumbags.

Seeing that Shen Wan didn't speak, Xie Jingyan glanced at her and saw her smiling. He asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Shen Wan said, "You can see through their schemes so easily; you're the most capable."

These words successfully pleased Xie Jingyan, who pinched Chen Wan's nose and said, "You actually know how to flatter me? Has the sun risen in the west?"

Seeing him look up at the sun, Shen Wan said, "I'm not flattering you, I'm telling you the truth, okay?"

Xie Jingyan was very pleased, his eyes filled with laughter and his face full of doting affection.

The two walked forward to the horse parking area, where they saw Xie Jingyin and Fu Shu walking over.

Upon seeing them, Xie Jingyin's face darkened. Fu Shu possessed the delicate fragility of newlyweds, even more alluring than the peonies blooming in the Imperial Garden.

Although we're mortal enemies in private, we'll still greet each other when we run into each other.

However, they only met briefly before Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan left the palace, while Xie Jingyin and Fu Shu went to Shou Kang Palace to offer tea.

Upon returning to Moyuxuan, Yinshuang and Haitang greeted them. Both maids were worried that Xie Jingyan would be punished. While pouring tea for Chen Wan, Yinshuang asked, "Has His Majesty punished the Prince?"

“He was fined a year’s salary,” Shen Wan said.

"And then?" Silverfrost asked.

Shen Wan raised her hand and tapped her forehead, "Isn't a year's salary enough? How else do you want the Emperor to punish the prince?"

So you're saying they only fined him for one year's salary?

Yinshuang and Haitang both breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the maids in the courtyard all said that the Emperor disliked the Prince and would definitely punish him severely. Unexpectedly, it was only a one-year salary penalty. Yinshuang had been by Shen Wan's side and was used to Shen Wan's extravagant spending. As long as the Princess Consort was not taken advantage of by others, the Emperor's penalty of two years' salary penalty for the Prince was nothing.

When Yinshuang learned that the Emperor had rewarded Shen Wan, she was overjoyed and couldn't stop smiling.

Soon, the Emperor's reward arrived: twenty bolts of silk piled up like a small mountain, all of the finest quality, some patterns of which could not be bought anywhere else.

Of the twenty bolts of silk, ten were for Shen Wan and ten were for Xie Jingyan.

The rewards were distributed too evenly, leaving no room for Chen Wan to think too much.

Could the Emperor be giving her silk as a reward so she can continue making brocade robes for Xie Jingyan?

Thinking about the time it would take to make a brocade robe, Shen Wan immediately dismissed the idea, deciding not to speculate on the emperor's intentions.

Although making brocade robes is tiring, Shen Wan still picked out two bolts and prepared to make another brocade robe for Xie Jingyan. She would take her time and not rush it like before, so it wouldn't be too tiring.

Speaking of being tired, the trip to the palace was indeed quite tiring. After lunch, Shen Wan couldn't resist the drowsiness and went to bed. Xie Jingyan was worried that she would have indigestion if she slept right after eating.

Shen Wan slept for more than half an hour before waking up. She sat on the bed and stretched. Yin Shuang came over and said, "While the Princess was asleep, the Marquis's residence sent a message saying that the Director of the Ordnance Bureau had died suddenly, and the Second Master was interested in taking the position of Director of the Ordnance Bureau..."

Shen Wan frowned slightly. She knew that Xie Jingyin and the First Prince would both compete for the position of Director of the Armory, but she did not expect that Xie Jingyin would arrange for the Second Master to compete for it.

The second master is a fourth-rank official and a military officer, which is suitable for the position. In addition, the second master is the father's younger brother, so the emperor will give the father some face. The second master has a great chance of getting the position of Director of the Arsenal.

However, the Crown Prince's power should not be underestimated, and it remains to be seen who will ultimately take the position of Director of the Armory.

Over the next few days, various factions in the court were vying for the position of Director of the Arsenal. Finally, a result was reached that afternoon, but the result was beyond Shen Wan's expectations, or rather, beyond everyone's expectations.

At that time, Chen Wan was feeding the fish in the pavilion, watching the sunlight scatter like shattered gold across the pond.

The little maid Dong'er ran over, panting, and said, "Your Highness, there's good news!"

Shen Wan turned around, and Yin Shuang had already asked, "What good news?"

Dong'er said happily, "The Emperor has promoted Fourth Master to be the Director of the Arsenal."

Shen Wan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Is the news true?"

Dong'er nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice. It was an imperial decree; who would dare spread false information?

However, this news is indeed hard to believe, after all, the Fourth Master is only a fifth-rank official, while the Military Equipment Bureau is a fourth-rank official, which is equivalent to a sudden promotion of two ranks.

Shen Wan asked, "Do you know who recommended Fourth Uncle?"

Dong'er said, "It was recommended by the Prince."

"Which prince?" Shen Wan blurted out.

Dong'er, "..."

It must be one of our own princes. Other princes would need to be addressed with titles.

When Shen Wan realized what was happening, she couldn't believe it even more.

She knew Xie Jingyan had left the manor, but how could he have gone to the palace and even recommended her fourth uncle to the emperor? Wasn't he reluctant to even exchange a few words with the emperor?

Shen Wan was happy that the Fourth Master was promoted, but she was even more curious about how Xie Jingyan recommended him.

She got up and went back to Moyuxuan, but Xie Jingyan had not returned yet. She waited for a full half hour before she heard familiar footsteps.

Xie Jingyan lifted the beaded curtain and entered the room, where he saw Shen Wan greet him. Her eyes were clear and bright, and she asked him with a hint of excitement, "Did you recommend my fourth uncle?"

"It's me."

Shen Wan's heart pounded uncontrollably. "Why would you recommend my fourth uncle to the Emperor?"