“When I was standing outside the door, I saw your footprints. Your courtyard is to the right. You came from the left. The old Marquis’s courtyard is to the left.”

"..."

After a moment of silence, Pei Yanzhi finally spoke, "Something happened in the old lady's courtyard. Father may have to resign from his post tomorrow."

The next day at court, Jiang Shuwan indeed saw the old Marquis submit his resignation, and the old emperor's surprise was not feigned.

According to what Eunuch Su said before, the old emperor wanted to target the old lady and, incidentally, make the old marquis wear mourning clothes. However, Pei Yanzhi is currently still recovering from serious injuries, so the old emperor plans to make his move after the New Year.

This way, Pei Yanyi's advance and the old Marquis's retreat were just right.

Now that things have happened so suddenly, Jiang Shuwan doesn't believe it's not Pei Yanzhi's doing. Eunuch Su has never been her sole informant.

Moreover, judging from Liu Yunyan's appearance, she must have seen Pei Yanzhi tamper with things, which frightened her so much that she fell into the pond.

After the court session, Jiang Shuwan immediately summoned Liu Yunyan for questioning. Liu Yunyan refused to say anything, acting as if she was trying to keep her cousin's secret even though he had frightened her.

Jiang Shuwan then went to see the old lady. The old lady now treated her like family. She didn't know that Pei Yan was behind it, she only knew that there was something wrong with her medicinal diet.

"Wan, don't spread this around."

"Besides, you're smart. Your father-in-law has also resigned, so don't be angry. Since it's the Emperor's will, it's already a great blessing that your life can be spared..."

No wonder Liu Yunyan was so frightened. It turns out that Pei Yan had poisoned the old lady, and Liu Yunyan was unaware of the details, which is why she was so scared.

However, judging from the way the old Marquis resigned, he was indeed somewhat disheartened with the old emperor.

However, he still relinquished the power of the Imperial Guard as the old emperor wished, which shows that his loyalty to the old emperor was deeply ingrained.

In the palace, the old emperor had not yet approved the old marquis's resignation. Lying on his sickbed, the old emperor hesitated.

"Why did Marquis Wenyuan suddenly resign? Did he perhaps sense something?"

After thinking about it for a while, the old emperor stopped worrying about it. After all, things were developing in the direction he wanted, so why should he be troubled?

Besides, both thunder and rain are acts of imperial favor.

He realized that choosing to retreat was the mark of a good minister.

"After all, he had been a companion in the study, and he was extremely loyal. So I issued an imperial edict to bestow upon Marquis Wenyuan the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, and granted him a gold medal. I have approved his request to resign."

As soon as the old emperor issued his decree, the old marquis packed his things overnight to prepare to return to his hometown.

However, before returning to his hometown, he first prepared to send the old lady to the Yun family so that she could reunite with the old lady.

The old lady was overjoyed. As she was leaving, she held Jiang Shuwan and Pei Yanzhi's hands and tears kept falling. She was also reluctant to part with Liu Yunyan and gave her many instructions.

“Yun girl, you must listen to Wan girl, she won’t tolerate you.”

Liu Yunyan was almost in tears. Thinking of what she had seen a few days ago, she had even considered asking the old lady to take her with her.

But when I think of the deep affection I've shown over the years, I can't help but feel emotional.

My cousin is a man of integrity and virtue; this one incident is nothing to him. I cannot be afraid of my cousin...

"Thank you, Madam. I will definitely stay here and do my best," Liu Yunyan replied, holding the old lady's hand.

Parting is always sad, but as soon as the old Marquis left, when Granny Xia saw Pei Yanzhi directly inherit the position of clan leader, she was so happy that she couldn't see her eyes.

only……

"Miss, the young master has already inherited the position of clan leader, why aren't you happy?"

"..."

She would have been happy before, but now she felt uneasy.

If the old lady hadn't been poisoned, the old marquis wouldn't have resigned, and my cousin wouldn't have become the clan chief...

Also, when my cousin sat by her bedside and asked her with a smile what she saw, the look in his eyes was absolutely terrifying...

The mere thought of it fills her with intense fear.

"Jiang... no, where is the princess?"

"The princess is working at the government office."

New government office.

As soon as Jiang Shuwan entered, she saw Li Chengyun sitting in her seat with his feet on the desk, looking very arrogant.

Jiang Shuwan kicked him, and Li Chengyun quickly dodged to the side.

"What's wrong with you? I came to give you a gift, and you kick me the moment we meet?"

"Is your butt all better?"

Jiang Shuwan glanced at him. Previously, because of the three-way attack, Li Chengyun had been flogged by the old emperor and was walking with a limp.

"Alright," Li Chengyun said in a good mood.

The eldest prince is now under house arrest, and although the crown prince has been released from confinement, he is much easier to deal with with just the crown prince.

Not to mention that the old Marquis has resigned, leaving the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards vacant, and the Crown Prince is actively helping him to secure the position.

If things go smoothly, everything will be under our control.

Just then, Ye Yifeng came in.

"Princess, news has come from the palace that His Majesty has given the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards to General Fei Hong."

"..."

With a whoosh, Li Chengyun sat bolt upright, glancing at him curiously. Ye Yifeng didn't take it seriously, only sighing...

"This is to be expected. General Fei Hong was promoted by His Majesty and has saved the Emperor's life several times. His Majesty questioned him before, asking where he got the audacity to besiege the Prince You's residence."

"General Fei Hong said he was going to protect Prince You and the princess. With him there, the princess and Prince You would not fight, which made His Majesty very happy."

"In our Great Jing Dynasty, apart from the Crown Prince, General Fei Hong is the most favored by the Emperor."

"I have something to do, I'm leaving." Li Chengyun left before Ye Yifeng could finish speaking.

Afterwards, Jiang Shuwan heard from the shop assistant that someone had used her nameplate to withdraw a large sum of money, amounting to millions.

"Miss, we dare not give you so much money without your approval."

With so much money, it must be enough to mobilize troops. Jiang Shuwan immediately didn't want to give it, but before she could refuse, her gaze fell on the table.

The gift above was given to her by Li Chengyun a couple of days ago. He said it was a new gadget that had just come out on the street. It was a square piece that Jiang Shuwan had left on her desk without putting it away.

The paper wrapping of the gift has now been peeled off, and the contents are gone.

No one dared to touch her things except for Qingxing.

Just as Jiang Shuwan was thinking, Qingxing came skipping and hopping in from outside.

"Miss, look at this thing! It's amazing at washing hands and clothes. It cleans them so well, and it even leaves lots of bubbles..."

Qingxing excitedly held a yellow, blocky object in her hand.

"What's this called? Where did it come from?"

"This is called soap, and it comes from the Crown Princess's workshop."

"..."

Like a bolt from the blue, everything was laid bare, revealing its true nature.

In that instant, Jiang Shuwan clenched her fists.

She remembered the dead baby whose neck had been twisted, the desk that was missing a few sheets of paper, and Jiang Yao's pitiful cries.

"Don't seek revenge for me, you can't defeat them..."

It turns out that "they" refers not only to Guo Yaqin, but also to the Crown Princess Ye Jingyi.