This was Su Wanyan's true purpose in entering the palace this time.

All of the above-mentioned strict investigations of various departments in the capital were merely prelude.

Since he was unwilling to investigate, she decided to settle for second best and proposed to recruit these people into her household, which would be much easier.

However, Su Wanyan never expected that Emperor Yuanhe would readily agree just because she mentioned him.

Sure enough, as soon as Su Wanyan spoke, Emperor Yuanhe's aura froze. Could the people she was talking about be the remnants of Yu Nanqing's faction?

"No!" Emperor Yuanhe refused without even thinking.

Why?

Emperor Yuanhe clenched his fists and said, "These people are of unknown origin and their backgrounds have not been investigated. Prince Gong's health has always been poor. If we rashly take these people into the mansion, I'm afraid it will cause some hidden dangers for Prince Gong. The Princess Consort should know that what I care about most is Prince Gong's safety."

Yu Nanqing's former subordinates, those who held important positions and responsibilities, have all been imprisoned by him. The remaining ones are just low-ranking soldiers. He cannot investigate their 'crimes' one by one, so he can only secretly wipe them out in one fell swoop.

If she openly and legitimately takes these people into the Prince's mansion, how can he shift the blame onto them?

"I will investigate these matters thoroughly, Your Majesty need not worry."

"This concerns Prince Gong's safety, and I will not allow you to act on your own!" Emperor Yuanhe's anger surged!

"They are chivalrous and brave, saving the prince from dire straits. They showed no fear when facing assassins, fighting to the death. In my opinion, they are more reliable than all the civil and military officials in this palace. Even passersby can lend a helping hand to the prince, but the various departments in the capital have done nothing. Do I need to repeat myself?"

"Your Majesty!" Su Wanyan bowed with both hands, showing no intention of backing down: "I have already informed the Prince about this matter, and the Prince has agreed. It is a trivial matter within the Prince Gong's residence, so Your Majesty need not trouble yourself. As for their origins, if Your Majesty is not at ease, I will report to Your Majesty one by one after I have investigated them!"

"Su Wanyan! You..." How dare she defy him!

However, the words just wouldn't come out.

It is a fact that they pretended to be deaf and dumb when Yu Nanqing was assassinated, and it is also a fact that he was saved by this group of people. What is even more infuriating is that, just as Su Wanyan said, this is indeed a matter of the Prince Gong's Mansion.

Not to mention the prince's mansion, even civil and military officials in the court can decide for themselves what kind of guards, soldiers, or talented people they want to keep at home.

According to regulations, the number of guards and soldiers in a prince's mansion is not only higher than that of other high-ranking officials and nobles, but the mansion can also keep more than a hundred secret guards.

As long as the number does not exceed the limits set by the imperial court, and the perpetrator is not a heinous criminal, even the emperor has no right to interfere.

Or rather, this is the power that the emperor granted them.

As a prince, and the emperor's brother, his power should be second only to the emperor. They are ruler and subject, as well as brothers. If he has not made any mistakes, what reason does the emperor have to investigate?

Su Wanyan has already said that she will report everything after the investigation is completed, so what reason does he have to question her?

To stop Su Wanyan, he would have to find evidence to prove that these were all criminals.

Otherwise, why should an emperor be allowed to meddle in other people's private affairs?

This not only diminishes the emperor's dignity but also makes him seem petty and narrow-minded!

Those people must have changed their names and identities under his siege. He can also eliminate them one by one while they are in the shadows.

But once it's out in the open, he can't do anything to them anymore!

Su Wanyan grasped this point.

If she brought up this matter as soon as she entered the palace, Emperor Yuanhe might very well twist the truth and say that Yu Nanqing, instead of seeking help from the various departments in the capital after being assassinated, colluded with outsiders, resulting in Yu Nanqing's delayed treatment and damaging the face of the royal family.

Judging from the faces of those ministers in the court just now, Su Wanyan could imagine that all the blame would be pinned on her.

Emperor Yuanhe never expected that she would take these people into her household, so she first held the officials in the court accountable, and then used their inaction to elevate Yu Nanqing's old subordinates.

In this way, even if Emperor Yuanhe was unwilling, he would have no reason to refute her.

If Emperor Yuanhe hadn't been so focused on killing Yu Nanqing, she wouldn't have needed to pull this stunt at all; she could have simply taken those people into her household.

However, Emperor Yuanhe would definitely use this against them, which is why she went to great lengths to inform him.

Yu Nanqing is paralyzed and no one is there to take care of these things for him, so there are no people in the mansion he can use. Now Su Wanyan can be Yu Nanqing's hands and feet. What Yu Nanqing can't fight for, she will fight for.

"Your Majesty." Emperor Yuanhe was so angry he was speechless. Su Wanyan had achieved her goal and did not intend to stay any longer. She bowed respectfully and said, "The Prince is seriously injured, and I must return as soon as possible to take care of him. As for the assassin, I believe Your Majesty will give the Prince Gong's Mansion an explanation. At this point, I will take my leave."

After speaking, she knelt down and kowtowed to Emperor Yuanhe before slowly retreating with her head bowed, her manners impeccable.

Emperor Yuanhe was filled with resentment, his face as black as charcoal. Suppressing his anger, he ordered, "Liu Rencai, go and see what's going on!"

He wanted to see where Yu Nanqing was hiding, so that Yue Duan couldn't find her!

He wanted to see just how many of Yu Nanqing's remaining men were left!

After leaving the Golden Palace, Su Wanyan walked very fast. If it weren't for the palace's prohibition against being impolite, she would definitely have run like the wind!

Because she was afraid that if she walked a step too slowly, someone would call her back.

She hadn't forgotten that Consort Xian hadn't given them a kind look at the family banquet last night, and she didn't know if the Princess had left the palace yet. If she stayed in the palace to wait for news, Consort Xian might very well come and block her way.

Thinking of this, Su Wanyan lifted her skirt and walked even faster, her feet barely touching the ground!

This was something Su Wanyan was overthinking, because the Eldest Princess had already returned to her residence and gone to confront Si Yang.

Liu Rencai, who was following behind her, moved his feet very quickly, but he still couldn't catch up with Su Wanyan.

At this time, many people were still gathered outside the palace gates. They all wanted to know how the Emperor would handle the assassination attempt on Prince Gong.

Upon seeing Su Wanyan hurriedly emerge from the palace, lifting her skirt, a commoner pointed ahead and shouted, "The Princess Consort is out!"

"Your Highness! What did the Emperor say?"

"Is His Majesty planning to rigorously inspect the patrols in the capital?"

"We definitely have to investigate. How can we feel at ease if we don't? What are they doing if they don't even know an assassin has come?"

"Is the prince alright? Where is the prince?"

Everyone says Yu Nanqing has been paralyzed for three years. This assassination attempt must mean he's in grave danger, right?

This prince, whom they had never met, had fought so many battles to defend the Great Jin. If he were to die this time, the people would feel a pang of sadness, thinking that this prince was truly unfortunate.