Thinking of her, she spends less time in a year than others do in half a month, even though she shares a bed with the emperor less often than in 360 days.

Hao Shumei had no time to pay attention to Consort Ning's resentment and bitterness. After reading Zhao Bi's letter, she sent someone to the Fourth Prince's residence to investigate.

After spending the night with Emperor Mingde, she said, "Your Majesty, I have heard some rumors, but I don't know whether I should speak of them or not."

"If it is not appropriate to speak of it, then do not speak of it." Emperor Mingde embraced her and closed his eyes to rest.

Upon hearing this, Hao Shumei playfully pushed Emperor Mingde away, saying, "Your Majesty forbids me to speak, but I insist on speaking anyway."

Emperor Mingde pulled him into his arms again, his eyes still closed. "Nonsense. Where did I forbid you from saying it? It was you who said it inappropriately."

"Your Majesty, you're so mean." She lightly punched Emperor Mingde's chest with her small fist, making Emperor Mingde want to take her right there and then again.

But he was old and couldn't overdo it. He had to attend court early the next day, so he grabbed Hao Shumei's hand and said, "Speak, speak. If I don't let you speak, you won't let me rest."

Hao Shumei nestled in Emperor Mingde's arms, her fingers twirling, "I've heard that the princes in the various princely residences are indulging in revelry and constant singing and dancing. It's not that I want to interfere in politics. Many places in Jiangnan and Sichuan are flooded, and Your Majesty is so worried that you can't eat or drink. Yet the princes don't care about your reputation. I'm so angry."

Emperor Mingde's face remained expressionless, but he pushed Hao Shumei away.

The following day, Emperor Mingde ordered Liang Yunsi to investigate. Sure enough, the princes were holding lavish banquets at their residences, composing poems and exchanging verses in a very extravagant manner. Emperor Mingde was furious.

“Your Majesty, not all princes are like this. It was the Fourth Prince’s wife who first invited her girlfriends over for wine and flower viewing, and the other princes followed suit,” Liang Yunsi said in a low voice.

Emperor Mingde sneered, "These troublesome things, fine, let them all be dragged out. ******** wants to climb the ranks, doesn't he know that the best course of action right now is to remain still?"

He originally intended to deal with the princes and noble families first, and then let his sons decide the winner, but he didn't expect that they would all be troublesome, which was a waste of his efforts.

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty."

Emperor Mingde did not respond, but picked up his vermilion brush and personally wrote several imperial edicts.

After the imperial edict was written, it was handed to Liang Yunsi. When Liang Yunsi saw it, he was shocked to find that all the edicts contained the same content. He wondered what Emperor Mingde was going to do.