The commotion in the Eastern Palace did not escape Shen Youying's notice.

The Imperial Guards surrounded the courtyard where Shen Youying lived, removing all movable plants, ornaments, and other items and quickly replacing them with new ones. All the palace servants who served her were summoned to the next courtyard and questioned one by one, including Bai Luo Dan Zhu Liu Yun Fu Cui.

"What exactly happened that caused such a commotion?" Shen Youying, who had just woken up from her afternoon nap, came out and asked Wang Deshun.

Wang Deshun hesitated and stammered, not daring to speak: "This... it's because the Empress's delivery date is approaching, and the Prince is worried that someone might have ill intentions and harm the Empress. In order to prevent any such thing, he ordered that all the utensils in the courtyard be replaced."

He smiled and said, "These are all aged redwoods, sturdy, durable, and beautiful. The bright red color is also for good luck."

Shen Youying naturally wouldn't easily believe his words. Xue Shen wasn't an extravagant person. The fact that he suddenly changed the equipment in such a grand manner before she gave birth and even took all the palace servants to question them clearly meant that something had happened. He also instructed Wang Deshun not to let her know.

Shen Youying sighed softly: "His Majesty instructed you not to speak, didn't he? Fine, if you won't tell me, I'll go ask him myself."

Wang Deshun exclaimed "Hey!" but didn't dare stop her. He could only stomp his foot and continue watching the others work, muttering, "What kind of mess is this?"

Shen Youying went straight to Xue Shen's study. When she arrived, she saw Xue Shen in the study. Before leaving today, he had lied to her, saying that there were matters in the court that he had to go to the palace to deal with.

Xue Shen was caught off guard by her sudden appearance and didn't even have time to dodge. Seeing her hurried steps, he was afraid she might fall or get tired, so he quickly strode forward to support her: "What's the matter that's so urgent? If Zhao Zhao wanted to find me, she could have just sent a servant to call me. Why did you come by yourself?"

Shen Youying glared at him: "If we had a servant teach you, you probably wouldn't be in the East Palace right now, but in the palace, right?"

These words were clearly a veiled insult, implying that Xue Shen was lying to her again. Xue Shen smiled helplessly and said, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have kept it from you."

Shen Youying let him help her inside and sit down before speaking: "Is this the only thing you've been hiding from me? What happened at the Crown Prince's Palace?"

After considering it for a moment, Xue Shen saw that she had already guessed it, so he didn't try to hide it anymore: "Something has happened."

Fearing that revealing the truth might frighten her, Xue Shen spoke very tactfully: "Yesterday, Master Huodong discovered some unclean things in our courtyard."

Shen Youying paused for a moment, then hesitated and asked, "Is it targeting you... or me?"

It wasn't that she underestimated her own importance, but now that Emperor Cheng'an was dead, Empress Zhou had committed suicide, and Emperor Cheng'an's concubine Xue Shen had all been properly settled and dismissed, she was now the only mistress of this vast harem. Shen Youying truly couldn't understand who would want to harm her.

It's more likely that he's trying to harm Emperor Xue Shen.

After all, since Emperor Cheng'an committed suicide, one thing after another has happened, and Xue Shen has not had time to sort out the people and affairs in the court.

It's not impossible for some people to take a risk and gamble one last time.

But Xue Shen said, "I'm here for you."

His expression was very gloomy: "Someone has secretly moved the poisonous plant that was used to murder the Crown Princess into your courtyard."

Shen Youying looked surprised: "What do you mean?"

Xue Shen then told her about the origins of those poisonous plants.

After listening, Shen Youying remained silent for a long time before saying, "So that's why you went to such lengths to replace everything in the yard?"

Xue Shen nodded and took her hand: "Yes, to prevent any omissions, we'll just replace them all with new ones. Don't be afraid, Zhao Zhao, I've ordered a thorough investigation, and we'll soon find out who's behind this."

Shen Youying shook her head and gave him a reproachful look: "I'm not that timid, I was just a little surprised. If you had told me, I would have been more careful."

Xue Shen touched her face, looking apologetic: "I just feel sorry for you. It seems like you haven't had a single peaceful day since you married me. It's been even worse since you got pregnant, and now you can't even have a peaceful delivery."

He originally wanted to protect her and let her live a carefree and happy life, but it seemed that trouble and danger were always coming his way.

Now, whenever Xue Shen thinks about the malicious intentions of the person behind the scenes, the anger in his heart surges uncontrollably.

He wouldn't be so angry if it were just directed at him.

Shen Youying pressed her cheek against his palm and gently rubbed it: "Husband and wife are one. You have had a much harder time on this journey, yet you still have to protect me. Although there have been many hardships and dangers, to be honest, I haven't suffered much."

"Besides, haven't you already discovered their plot? I'm not in any danger either."

Xue Shen gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. Looking at the smile on her face, his angry heart calmed down.

He carefully pulled her into his arms and placed a light kiss on the top of Shen Youying's head: "How fortunate I am to have Zhaozhao by my side."

Shen Youying lifted her cheek, kissed his chin, and smiled with her eyes crinkling: "Me too."

*

Under Xue Shen's instructions, Wang Deshun and Huodong Zhenren joined forces to turn the East Palace upside down, not even sparing a passing ant.

Finally, their hard work paid off, and they found the palace servant who had secretly switched the potted plants.

—An old eunuch who has served in the Eastern Palace for three years.

The old eunuch was a veteran of the Eastern Palace; he had been serving there before Xue Shen took over.

However, after Xue Heng left, his former subordinates all left, leaving the Eastern Palace empty, with only a few palace servants left to guard it, including the old eunuch.

Moreover, the old eunuch's replacement of the potted plants was done in a very secretive and convoluted way. If it weren't for Huodong Zhenren and Wang Deshun having plowed the East Palace several times, he would have almost escaped.

"Tell me, who ordered you to do this?"

The old eunuch was forced to kneel before Xue Shen by the imperial guards.

"This servant truly has no idea what Your Highness is saying! This servant is innocent!" The old eunuch, with the Imperial Guards pressing a scabbard against his back, knelt on the ground, repeatedly crying out for mercy.

Wang Deshun sneered: "If you're innocent, why did you have to go to such lengths to change a potted plant? You still dare to say you didn't know?!"

When Wang Deshun first sent people to investigate who was responsible for arranging and taking care of these potted plants, he thought he would find the person quickly.

But to his surprise, after investigating, he discovered that a very simple matter had been handled by five or six people.

Moreover, the people handling the plants were all newly transferred palace maids and eunuchs. When Wang Deshun asked where the potted plants came from, they either knew nothing or brought up other people, claiming that they had replaced the other person.

This rambling, disjointed manner led to the discovery of a whole string of people.

Wang Deshun then realized something was wrong. It was clear that the person behind the scenes wanted to distance himself from the situation, so he dragged many people into the mess to cover for himself.

Sure enough, the old eunuch stopped crying out for justice upon hearing this and lay motionless on the ground.

Xue Shen glanced at him coldly, too lazy to get angry or argue with a mere lackey. He said to Wang Deshun, "Take him away and torture him until he confesses."