"Your Majesty, please speak."

"Even though Prince Gong has suffered greatly, why hasn't he told me for so long, and why does it require you, the princess who has only been married for a few days, to come forward?"

Su Wanyan's heart skipped a beat, but fortunately she reacted quickly and came up with an explanation in the next second: "On the first day after I married into the manor, the prince told me that His Majesty was busy with state affairs and was exhausted both physically and mentally. That's why he kept quiet about the servants' harassment, for fear of bothering His Majesty."

"Upon hearing this, I was so indignant that I risked my life to strike the drum twice to plead my case and expose the evil deeds of these lackeys in the Crown Prince's court."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanhe's anger subsided by half, and he narrowed his eyes: "Did Prince Gong say this to you?"

"Yes." Sorry, Yu Nanqing, she really couldn't think of a good excuse, so she could only pin it all on him for now!

Lai Qu Yuanhe, the emperor, harbored murderous intent towards Yu Nanqing. Trying to salvage Yu Nanqing's image in his heart was an impossible task.

"Hmph! Very well, I understand." So, Su Wanyan was still used by Yu Nanqing.

He simply didn't believe that Yu Nanqing would think of him.

Now he can confirm that Su Wanyan is stupid, being used as a pawn by Yu Nanqing without even realizing it.

However, he didn't really have a good way to deal with such a stupid person. Things had escalated to this point, and he couldn't just kill the person with one blow.

"Liu Rencai." Emperor Yuanhe's tone softened noticeably.

"Your servant is here."

"Take Princess Gong away, let her change her clothes, and then send someone to escort her back to Prince Gong's residence. How can a princess be dressed as a maid? If she goes out like this, she will be disgracing my reputation!"

This is a reminder to Eunuch Liu that he has failed in his duties and that what happened today has disgraced the royal family!

It's utterly absurd that they're arresting people right in front of ordinary citizens!

"Yes." Eunuch Liu didn't even dare to breathe loudly, and bowed his head in response.

"October is already early winter. Go and instruct the Imperial Wardrobe to make two more sets of winter palace robes for Prince Gong's residence. Send them to Prince Gong tomorrow!"

Su Wanyan didn't quite understand the distribution process of ancient palace clothes, so she assumed that Emperor Yuanhe had given Yu Nanqing two sets of clothes and kowtowed to express her gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Yuanhe waved his hand with a stern face, and Su Wanyan got up from the ground and followed Eunuch Liu out of the imperial study.

However, right at the entrance of the Imperial Study, Su Wanyan ran into Princess Yu Tingyi of the Great Jin Dynasty.

She was dressed in a magnificent crimson palace gown embroidered with gold, and the golden phoenix hairpin on her head showed that she held power in the Great Jin Dynasty that was unmatched by anyone except the emperor.

Her expression was filled with the arrogance of someone who had been pampered since childhood. When she saw Su Wanyan come out of the Imperial Study, her ambitious eyes narrowed slightly.

Eunuch Liu stepped forward to bow and said, "This servant greets the Princess."

Upon hearing that it was the Eldest Princess, Su Wanyan quickly lowered her head and stepped aside.

She was torn: should she bow? Should she call out "Long live the Princess"?

The eldest princess is two years older than Yu Nanqing and is Yu Nanqing's older sister, so her status is higher than Yu Nanqing's. If she doesn't pay her respects, will she be treated as an insubordination?

Thinking of this, Su Wanyan prepared to curtsy, but saw that the princess only glanced at her, then raised her head and ignored her, passing by her and going straight into the imperial study.

Su Wanyan breathed a sigh of relief and continued to leave with Eunuch Liu.

"Bang—"

As soon as the princess entered the imperial study, she saw Emperor Yuanhe stand up with a flushed face and smash a teacup on the table.

She twitched her brow, glanced at the door, and immediately a young eunuch came in to clean up the broken tiles.

"Why is Your Majesty angry?" the Princess asked calmly. "Is it because of the farce at the palace gates?"

Emperor Yuanhe sighed angrily: "You knew everything?"

"Now I'm afraid the entire capital knows." It was because she had heard the rumors that she entered the palace: "The person I met at the entrance of the Imperial Study just now, was it Su Wanyan? The illegitimate daughter whom the Marquis of Yuanning married in place of him?"

“Not bad.” Emperor Yuanhe was somewhat annoyed: “Su Wanyan wanted me to open the gates of Prince Gong’s Mansion so that she could come and go freely every day, so that the people could see what was going on inside the mansion. Yu Nanqing used her to make such a scene in front of me, so I can’t do anything to Yu Nanqing for the time being.”

"Utilize?" The eldest princess grasped the key word.

“I thought Yu Nanqing had been more well-behaved for the past year or so, but I didn’t expect him to still harbor rebellious thoughts. Hmph, he really thinks I wouldn’t dare to kill him!” He slowly sat down: “But now that Yu Nanqing has seized the opportunity to catch his breath, I’m afraid his forces will seize the chance to make a comeback.”

The eldest princess disagreed: "His men are either dead or captured, and there are probably not many left. They can't cause any big trouble. Besides, when he returned to the capital paralyzed, he had already handed over the tiger tally and military power. Your Majesty doesn't need to worry about it. Even if he really wanted to make a comeback, he is paralyzed and bedridden. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to."

Emperor Yuanhe frowned: "Yu Nanqing has fought in the north and south since he was a child, and his military achievements are outstanding. Before I ascended the throne, his reputation was already widely known in the capital. Everyone in the capital said that the Great Jin Dynasty was able to have such a prosperous era today because Yu Nanqing risked his life for it."

The more he spoke, the more displeased he became: "The year I ascended the throne, I issued an edict to summon Yu Nanqing back to the capital, but he said that he could not return to the capital because of the invasion of foreign tribes on the border. Do you know what the people said later? They said that I was able to ascend the throne smoothly entirely because Yu Nanqing repelled the foreign invasion, and that I was able to sit on this throne because of his meritorious service in defending against the enemy."

Emperor Yuanhe clenched his fists: "He defied the imperial edict and committed treason, yet the people revere him as the God of War of the Great Jin. Where does that leave me, the emperor? Does he think that if he doesn't go to fight this foreign tribe, no one in my court can? He has ignored me and defied me for many years, and has long coveted my throne."

The eldest princess had a calm expression. In her eyes, Yu Nanqing was already a useless person, and his defeat was inevitable. There was no need to worry about him anymore.

Now, if we just outlive Yu Nanqing to death, in time the people will naturally forget this war god of the Great Jin Dynasty.

But at the same time, she knew very well that her elder brother, who held the throne, could not tolerate anyone challenging his authority, and naturally, neither could she.

However, she was not as impatient as her royal brother.

As they were siblings from the same mother, the eldest princess believed that Emperor Yuanhe's power belonged to her as well. She said, "Since Yu Nanqing used Su Wanyan to cause trouble in front of my brother, we can also use Su Wanyan to deal with Yu Nanqing."

Emperor Yuanhe's eyes flickered: "Have you thought of something?"

"Your Majesty, please entrust this matter to your younger sister."

“Since you have an idea, then I’ll leave it to you.” After saying that, he asked again, “What about the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yuanning last time…”

"Your Majesty, the flower-viewing banquet that I am hosting is approaching."