Shou Kang Palace.

The Empress Dowager sat on the phoenix throne, her hand supporting her forehead, while a palace maid knelt on the ground massaging her legs.

Granny Zhao stepped forward and softly called out, "Empress Dowager..."

The Empress Dowager, without opening her eyes, asked, "Is the matter settled?"

"Something went wrong," said Granny Zhao.

The Empress Dowager frowned. "Even pointing out a grave can cause a problem?"

Granny Zhao whispered, "Consort Chen's tomb is empty..."

Empty? !

The Empress Dowager's eyes snapped open. "What's going on?"

Granny Zhao shook her head. She wished she knew what was going on, but even if she had her suspicions, she dared not say anything.

The Empress Dowager's face was grim. Granny Zhao cautiously asked, "What about Prince Ling..."

Prince Ling only provided the blueprints and other evidence for the Xizhou Dam if he knew where Consort Chen was buried. Now that Consort Chen's body has disappeared, it's possible that her body was taken away shortly after she was buried. Finding Consort Chen's body is more difficult than investigating the Xizhou Dam embezzlement case.

The Empress Dowager's eyes held a barely suppressed anger, along with a hint of exhaustion. She waved her hand and said, "Let the Emperor figure something out. He won't ignore matters of state."

...

Inside the room, Shen Wan was reading a book, but she was distracted and hadn't turned a single page in a long time.

A familiar yet hurried sound of footsteps approached, and Shen Wan glanced over to see Xie Jingyan walking in.

Shen Wan quickly put down the book and was about to get off the small couch when Xie Jingyan stepped forward and asked urgently, "How do you know it's an empty grave?"

Just what I feared most came to pass.

Shen Wan said, "In my dream, my third cousin later built Peach Blossom Residence in the peach grove and wanted to move that grave. When he dug it up, it was an empty grave..."

“The maid told me that my mother is buried in the peach grove. I was afraid it was that one, so I sent Chen Yu to remind you.”

She was afraid they would deny it later if she didn't dig it up in front of Eunuch Yuan and Granny Zhao.

Xie Jingyan's voice trembled slightly, "Do you know where my mother was taken away and buried?"

Shen Wan shook her head.

If she had known, she would have told Xie Jingyan long ago.

No, she never imagined that Xie Jingyan wouldn't know the burial place of Consort Chen.

How could someone have taken away Consort Chen's body?

As far as she knew, all two hundred-plus members of Consort Chen's maternal family, the Yan family, including infants, were wiped out.

Xie Jingyan lost Consort Chen, and with her, he also lost the Emperor's favor. He couldn't even visit Consort Chen's grave to pay his respects, which was too cruel for him.

Shen Wan didn't know how to comfort Xie Jingyan, so she could only hug him tightly. Dong'er walked in from outside, saw this scene, turned her back, and reported, "Your Highness, the First Prince has arrived."

"not see!"

Xie Jingyan's tone was cold and hard.

The eldest prince's visit to the Lingwang Mansion at this time could not possibly be to comfort Xie Jingyan; he has only come to collect the design drawings and account books of the Xizhou Dam, among other evidence.

Xie Jingyan's conditions were not met, so the Crown Prince had no grounds for complaint if he didn't receive it.

However, the eldest prince was not in a hurry. Although Xie Jingyan repeatedly refused the emperor's request to investigate the Xizhou Dam case, he kept a lot of relevant evidence, which showed that he also wanted to find out about the Xizhou Dam embezzlement case and prevent Xie Jingyin from vying for the position of crown prince. After all, if Xie Jingyin were to sit in that position, he would not treat Prince Ling and Princess Ling well, and he had no deep hatred for Prince Ling and Princess Ling. Even if he did not give them important positions, he would at least not make things too difficult for them.

The eldest prince visited, but failed to even see Xie Jingyan and returned empty-handed.

After lunch, Shen Wan rested for a while. Just as she undressed and got into bed to take a nap, Chun'er came in and said, "Your Highness, Eunuch Yuan has arrived."

Shen Wan didn't think much of it, assuming that Eunuch Yuan had come to see Xie Jingyan. If she hadn't gone to sleep, she would have listened, but she had already taken off her clothes, so sleeping was the priority.

Shen Wan thought so, but Chun'er said, "Your Highness, Eunuch Yuan has come to see you."

Shen Wan, “…???”

Shen Wan was stunned.

Wasn't Eunuch Yuan here to persuade Xie Jingyan to hand over the design drawings for the Xizhou Dam?

Why are you here looking for her?

Could it be that they knew they wouldn't be able to see Xie Jingyan, so they're trying to get through to her indirectly...?

Eunuch Yuan was a favorite of the Emperor, and even her father had to give him some face, let alone her. Shen Wan lifted the quilt, and Yin Shuang helped her put on the dress she had just taken off, one by one. Fortunately, she had just fallen asleep, and her hair was not messy, so she didn't need to comb it again.

Even so, it still made Eunuch Yuan wait in the main hall for quite a while.

Shen Wan walked in, and Eunuch Yuan stood up and said, "I'm sorry to have disturbed the Princess's afternoon nap."

Shen Wan said, "I'm sorry to have kept Eunuch Yuan waiting. May I ask who you were looking for?"

Just as Shen Wan had guessed, Eunuch Yuan had sought her out for the blueprints of the Xizhou Dam. Eunuch Yuan sighed, "I thought Prince Ling's conditions would be easy to meet, but who would have thought..."

"The Xizhou Dam was blown up before the floodwaters even arrived. The Emperor was furious and insisted on finding out whether there was any embezzlement involved. However, the evidence preserved by the Ministry of Works was destroyed. Fortunately, Prince Ling had taken precautions in advance, which is why this embezzlement case was brought to light. However, Prince Ling's conditions will certainly not be met in the short term. I would like to ask Princess Ling to persuade him to prioritize the important matters of the court."

Shen Wan glanced at Yin Shuang, who then dismissed all the maids and servants serving in the main hall.

After everyone had left, Shen Wan looked at Eunuch Yuan and asked, "I hope Eunuch Yuan can tell me about the things Consort Chen did back then."

Eunuch Yuan was stunned. "The Prince didn't tell the Princess?"

“…I didn’t dare ask the prince,” Shen Wan said truthfully.

Eunuch Yuan said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness, but Consort Chen's matter concerns His Majesty's reputation, and the Empress Dowager has also issued a gag order. Please forgive this old servant for daring not to speak."

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