Prefect Zhou was extremely embarrassed at this moment: "I was extremely anxious. I was very flustered just talking about the disaster. It is a blessing that the people have not suffered. Magistrate Xie is very capable. It has only been a few days since the disaster started, and he has already managed to make such a good situation. I will definitely write a memorial to commend you properly."

This means that the situation was originally very serious, but Xie Bi was capable...

Shu Chengfeng remained noncommittal. Having learned more about the local situation, he was about to return to the city.

After all, he could come and see for himself, and he didn't mind the muddy banks, but he didn't want to live there.

As a member of the imperial family, he was naturally picky.

It was already dark when they returned to Laiyang Prefecture.

Governor Zhou stepped forward and said, “I have prepared wine and food at a restaurant in the city. It is getting late, and Your Highness has not yet had your dinner. Why don’t you go and have some?”

"No need for that today, I'm tired too. Governor Zhou has worked hard, so please rest tomorrow and we'll go to Li County the day after," Shu Chengfeng said with a smile.

He was the crown prince, not anyone else, so Zhou Chongguang didn't dare to force him.

Back at the villa, Shu Chengfeng changed his clothes and then went to Yan Nangui's place.

Yan Nangui didn't wait for him; he took his medicine and fell asleep.

Shu Chengfeng asked the servants how she was doing.

Chanyi hurriedly replied, "The imperial physician said that if Consort Liang's fever doesn't return tonight, she will be much better. As for her throat, it will take a few more days to recover. She will then need to rest and recuperate gradually."

Shu Chengfeng hummed in agreement, said "Take good care of him," and then left.

The Crown Prince was tired today, so he summoned Consort Jin to serve him.

That same night, Laiyang Prefecture was relatively peaceful.

However, trouble broke out in the Crown Prince's residence in the capital.

The Crown Princess suddenly ordered someone to take Xiang'er from Consort Ye's room.

Regardless of whether it was night, the interrogation took place right in the main courtyard.

Ye Liangdi was shocked, but fortunately, ever since Granny Nayou was sent back to the Ye family, Granny Feng has been in charge and has been able to keep things stable.

He helped her and led her to the main courtyard.

Everyone was present in the main courtyard at this time.

An inappropriate young man was kneeling there at that moment, with two guards waiting beside him.

The Crown Princess's face darkened: "Consort Ye, you've been having an affair with another man, and now he's even come to complain. Tell me, on the fourth day of this month, did your maid Xiang'er go out?"

How could Ye Liangdi remember? But Liu Yingyuehua does.

His face looked grim.

Xiang'er cried and said no, but soon, the Crown Princess's people brought out a pink dress.

"Is this yours?"

The kneeling young man hurriedly said, "Your Highness, I really don't deserve such a favor. Miss Xiang'er's behavior is really... Although I am just an ordinary farmer on the estate, I know about propriety and shame. I really can't accept Miss Xiang'er's kindness."

According to him, he and Xiang'er had known each other for a year, and it was always Xiang'er who pursued him.

Xiang'er left the manor because she knew he had delivered something to the Crown Prince's residence that day. After delivering it, he didn't go back immediately but went to buy things for the estate.

Xiang'er took the opportunity to go out and look for him.

He could clearly recount which times Xiang'er went out that year, down to the month, the day, and the hour.

The servants naturally had to register the time when they left the mansion.

They all fit together perfectly.

The man concluded, “Originally, I only said that there are rules in the manor, and Miss Xiang’er is not yet of age to leave. I would never dare to offend her. But Miss Xiang’er’s style is really unrestrained. She actually sent me a young lady’s dress. I thought it over and decided to come to the manor to inform her. This is a big deal. I have an elderly mother at home and dare not accept it.”

Xiang'er's face was deathly pale, and she was already swaying precariously.

She had a lot to say, but didn't know where to begin.

This is absolutely flawless, leaving no room for argument.

"I'm innocent, I'm innocent..." She crawled a few steps and hugged Ye Liangdi's leg: "I went out... I had something to do, how could it be a secret rendezvous with him? I don't know him, I've never seen him before!"

"How dare you! If you've never met him, how does he know your whereabouts? How do you know your preferences? How did your clothes end up in his hands? Although love between men and women isn't a big deal, if you were a girl from outside the palace, giving him clothes would just be considered bold. But you are a servant girl from the Crown Prince's residence, daring to have an affair with a man outside the palace—that's a serious crime!"

The Crown Princess said angrily.

That is indeed the rule.

These days, even if a girl is unruly and gets pregnant with an illegitimate child, it doesn't necessarily mean she'll be thrown into a pond or something like that.

She's not a good girl anymore, so if she remarries, she'll only be able to choose a bad family.

But it's not to the point that they won't survive.

However, this was absolutely forbidden for maids from wealthy and powerful families.

Although not all the maids serving the male master could attend to him, once a maid became pregnant, she had to serve him.

Even though this is the son of a lowly maid, the rules cannot be broken.

Having a relationship with a man outside the marriage is absolutely taboo.

Even if it's not a capital offense, it's still a living punishment.

Granny Feng and Liu Ying immediately understood that this matter had been planned for a long time.

Even though Xiang'er was crying and saying that the clothes were blown away on the day of the strong wind, it was after she left the mansion.

But who would believe that?

At this moment, what the people in Wenyue Pavilion say cannot be taken seriously.

This mess is destined to be dumped on her head.

And the servants under her command had affairs with men outside the marriage, and it was these men who reported them to the authorities...

That's all because Consort Ye was not strict in managing her subordinates.

Ye Liangdi was a fool to begin with. Now that there were witnesses and physical evidence, even if Xiang'er left the manor to do things for her, she couldn't help but have some doubts.

He remained silent, but gritted his teeth tightly.

Granny Feng hurriedly stepped forward to help her up: "Your Highness, Princess Consort, if I may be so bold, Consort Ye is still unsteady on her feet. Please ask her to sit down."

The Crown Princess glanced at her and said, "Of course, I'm dealing with this shameless, lowly servant girl, not Consort Ye. Please sit down."

These words were so harsh that Granny Feng could only pretend she hadn't heard them.

Ye Liangdi came to her senses and knew that she could not admit to this: "Your Highness the Crown Princess must have misunderstood something. Xiang'er went out of the mansion to do things for me."

Su Liangdi sighed, "Sister, you are too kind. Keeping such a servant around is just a disaster. If you plead for her, you will be the one who gets implicated."

"What if one day she becomes pregnant? To put it bluntly, what if there's a pregnant maid in this household whose child is the father of some unknown man? What do you think we should do?"

"Consort Su, I am not! I am still a virgin!" Xiang'er cried.

"Shut up!" the Crown Princess coldly rebuked, "How dare you say that? If she hadn't refused to have sex with you, you'd probably already be pregnant!"

“The two guards should go ahead. This is the backyard, and it’s not good to keep a man here. Take this man back first. He’s pitiful and got caught up in this mess. Send him back to the estate later.”

The guard quickly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes."