After Xi Chen and Tong Su rested for a day, by evening Tong Su felt less unwell, was able to sit up and felt better, and the two were able to talk about serious matters.

Qinghe opened the door herself and brought in the dinner that had just been delivered from the imperial kitchen. As the empress, even though Tongsu was frugal, her dinner still included at least ten dishes and eight soups, enough for the two of them.

While eating, they talked about the aftermath of the big joke at yesterday's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

"Qian Derong will definitely be punished. Qian Qimin won't be able to hold on. He likes this son, but he has several legitimate and illegitimate sons in his family. As long as Yun Zong takes the initiative to back down and give him a lighter punishment, Qian Qimin will not risk his career to stick to his guns."

Tong Su asked, "Is that the only way?"

“Of course not,” Xi Chenzhou said with a faint smile. “Those who have bullied Your Majesty’s people will be made to regret their existence. These matters are all to be handled by me. Don’t dirty Your Majesty’s hands.”

His tone was nonchalant, but Tong Su could still detect a chilling killing intent in it—Xi Chenzhou was really going to confront Yun Zong!

But why would he actively oppose Yun Zong?

It should be noted that Yun Zong had been trying to curry favor with Xian Xi Shen Zhou in order to win over military power.

The Ministry of Revenue is Yun Zong's territory. The army's supplies and provisions in the field all depend on the Ministry of Revenue for funding. If he can maintain a good relationship with the Ministry of Revenue, the army's food supply problem can be basically solved.

However, he completely ignored Yun Zong's various attempts to win him over.

Then he...

Is it for myself?

Tongsu dared not think any further.

The thought of the man looking at her with a smile on his handsome face made her feel inexplicably embarrassed, and also vaguely, she felt an indescribable joy and sweetness.

That's really strange...

Despite having only met a few times, her almost unrestrained closeness to him not only didn't bother her, but she was actually delighted.

The girl pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and looked at the calligraphy books and an exquisite wooden box on the table.

Those were left behind by him before he left; the calligraphy books were homework assignments he gave, and the wooden box was a gift.

He said that according to custom, the spoils of war from the annihilation of the Northern Rong should be distributed to his subordinates or put into the national treasury, but he kept some of the most exquisite and precious spoils to give to her separately.

Inside the box were a complete set of exquisitely crafted jewelry.

The collection includes earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, bangles, hair ornaments, forehead ornaments, chest ornaments, and anklets, all adorned with dangling beads and inlaid with jade, exuding a unique exotic charm. They are also luxuriously decorated with countless rubies and sapphires, which shine brilliantly under the lights, making them exceptionally magnificent.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, you should rest early."

Qinghe arrived with a lantern.

Tong Su nodded, couldn't help but smile as she closed the lid of the wooden box, and personally hid it in a small secret room in her palace.

The place wasn't big, nor was it particularly secluded, but it was her own little world, filled with the things she had cherished over the years.

She placed the wooden box in the very center.

Tong Su did not attend court, but news from the previous dynasty still reached her ears through various channels, and the subsequent development of events was indeed as the man had said.

It is unknown how Yun Zong and Minister Qian discussed it, but the final decision on the punishment for the second young master of Qian was exile—but not to the harsh frontier, but to the most prosperous area in Jiangnan!

What kind of exile is this?

Wherever he goes, the sky is high and the sea is wide, and no one cares about him. He also has a father who is a high-ranking official to protect him. When he arrives at that place, the local officials will treat him like their own father and mother. He will probably be more comfortable than in the capital!