Chapter 77: King Zhou Pretends to Be a Fool to Deceive the Tiger?
"She was my second brother's wet nurse back then!"
Xie Jiaojiao said.
Xie Xuanyu's wet nurse?
Shen Ruoli frowned even more deeply. "How could you listen to a mere nanny? And why would the Prince of Zhou's wet nurse say such things to you?"
She had assumed that Granny Wu was related to Xie Xuansong.
At the very least, they would be someone close to Xie Xuanyin.
But to her utter surprise, Granny Wu was actually Xie Xuanyu's wet nurse!
In her previous life, she seemed to have heard the name "Granny Wu" somewhere before...
For a moment, Shen Ruoli couldn't remember anything.
"A few years ago, because my mother and the others couldn't remember my birthday, I hid in the Imperial Garden and cried. Just then, Granny Wu happened to pass by and comforted me for a few words."
Xie Jiaojiao smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "Since then, I have often complained to Granny Wu."
"It's fortunate that Granny Wu is kind and patient. She was always willing to listen to me and gently comfort me."
She felt a maternal love she had never experienced before from Granny Wu!
Therefore, Xie Jiaojiao was quite dependent on Granny Wu.
"Whenever I have a decision I can't make up my mind, I like to go to Granny Wu for advice."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoli couldn't help but sigh.
She picked up a piece of pork rib and put it into Xie Jiaojiao's bowl. "Poor thing! If you have any worries in the future, just come to me."
Xie Jiaojiao is a princess, after all!
She was actually forced to go to a nanny to complain about her grievances...
It seems she has indeed suffered a lot of injustice over the years!
Shen Ruoli felt a pang of pity for her.
At the same time, she was also quite curious about this "Granny Wu" and became more wary.
Even Xie Xuanyu might not be that simple!
Shen Ruoli's eyes flickered slightly, suppressing her doubts.
As it turns out, a woman's intuition is indeed the most wondrous thing in the world.
Shen Ruoli's suspicions were soon confirmed!
That's a story for another time.
After shaking hands and making peace with her sister-in-law Xie Jiaojiao, Shen Ruoli felt relieved.
After sending her out of the Crown Prince's residence, she instructed Runyue to immediately investigate everything about Granny Wu.
The leap month moves very quickly.
She returned before midnight.
"Princess."
Leap Month came to the bedside and told her about the investigation in detail: "That Granny Wu still lives in the palace! She used to be the wet nurse of Prince Zhou. After Prince Zhou grew up, she was assigned to serve Consort Shu."
"Consort Shu?"
Shen Ruoli put down the notebook in her hand.
No wonder Xie Xuansong is involved in this matter!
Granny Wu and Xie Xuansong seem to be two completely unrelated people, but they are actually connected because of Consort Shu!
"Later, when Consort Shu had an accident, Granny Wu was assigned to serve in Chunxi Palace."
"Chunxi Palace?"
Shen Ruoli muttered to herself, "Chunxi Palace is quite a distance from the Imperial Garden..."
How could it be such a coincidence that Granny Wu "bumped into" Xie Jiaojiao, who was crying in distress, in the Imperial Garden?
Chunxi Palace is even further away from Xie Jiaojiao's Weiyang Palace!
How exactly did Granny Wu manage to appear "precisely" in front of Xie Jiaojiao whenever she was feeling down?
"I never knew that the palace servants could move so freely."
Shen Ruoli sneered, "It seems that this Granny Wu is indeed not simple."
Runyue understood her meaning, "Your Highness, I have also investigated in secret, but this Granny Wu does not seem to have much contact with the Prince of Chu."
"I suppose he wasn't with the King of Chu?"
"Just because there isn't much contact overtly doesn't mean there isn't behind the scenes! Keep a close eye on her from now on."
"Yes, I understand."
Leap Month agreed, "By the way, Your Highness, I'll keep a close eye on things. I've investigated the relationship between Prince Zhou and Granny Wu."
Shen Ruoli gave her an approving look. "How was it?"
“Granny Wu doted on Prince Zhou, and Prince Zhou relied on Granny Wu very much. Later, Granny Wu was sent away, but Prince Zhou still often went to see her! Even now, their relationship remains very close.”
"Could it be that what Granny Wu said to the Seventh Princess was instigated by Prince Zhou?"
Her unspoken message was: Granny Wu is Xie Xuanyu's person!
Xie Xuanyu is secretly sowing discord between Xie Xuanyin, Xie Jiaojiao, and Xie Xuansong!
And he can then reap the benefits without lifting a finger!
"That's possible. But there's no evidence yet, so we can't draw any conclusions for now."
Shen Ruoli pondered for a moment, "Keep a close eye on the Zhou King's side as well!"
She couldn't quite figure out Xie Xuanyu.
In her previous life, she didn't have much contact with Xie Xuanyu.
In her memory, he didn't have a strong presence.
As a member of the royal family, he disliked political affairs and power struggles, preferring instead to study gourmet food and indulge in eating, drinking, and merrymaking.
Therefore, both Shen Ruoli and Xie Xuanyin lowered their guard against him.
But in this life, Xie Xuanyu suddenly gained Xie Xuanyin's favor.
In fact, just when everyone thought he was a good-for-nothing who couldn't do anything right, Xie Xuanyu unexpectedly managed everything in an orderly manner, which surprised everyone!
Shen Ruoli's intuition told her: Xie Xuanyu is not as simple as he seems!
"If he is indeed pretending to be weak while actually being strong, then that would be quite interesting."
Shen Ruoli smiled slightly.
"Crown Princess, what does 'playing dumb to fool the enemy' mean?"
The leap month remains a mystery.
Shen Ruoli shook her head and then instructed, "There are only a few days left until the Empress Dowager's birthday. I estimate that His Highness will be able to return to the capital tomorrow."
"Go to the Prince Zhou's residence and invite him to have dinner at the Crown Prince's residence tomorrow evening."
"But Crown Princess, what if His Highness hasn't returned to the capital by tomorrow?"
Leap Moon hesitated for a moment, "How about we wait until His Highness returns before inviting him?"
Otherwise, if Shen Ruoli and Xie Xuanyu, a man and a woman, were to have dinner together alone, people would gossip about them!
"The King of Chu has just returned to the capital, and he's definitely keeping a close eye on you. What if he takes this opportunity to cause trouble..."
The concerns about leap months are not unfounded.
"If I don't give the King of Chu a chance, how can he cause trouble?"
Shen Ruoli raised an eyebrow. "If he had no opportunity to cause trouble, how could he have gotten himself into this mess?"
...
The next day.
The Prince Zhou's Palace.
"Has the Crown Prince returned to the capital?"
Xie Xuanyu frowned and asked the servant.
"Your Highness, I have sent people to inquire, and it seems that His Highness the Crown Prince has not yet returned to the palace."
"Since the Crown Prince has not yet returned to the capital, I cannot go to the Crown Prince's residence."
With his hands behind his back, his chubby face now showed less of its usual憨态可掬 (endearing and simple) demeanor and more of a shrewdness. "Big brother just returned to Beijing, he must be holding back a lot of anger and needs to vent it on someone."
"He doesn't dare to confront the Crown Prince openly for the time being, but he will definitely turn his attention to me."
Xie Xuanyu took a few steps and stopped, pondering, "Especially because of the Ministry of Revenue this time, he must hate me to the extreme and be full of anger towards me."
The servants spoke up for him, "But Your Highness, this was ordered by His Highness the Crown Prince! You were just following orders, so why would the Prince of Chu resent you?"
Xie Xuanyin was the Crown Prince, and Xie Xuanyu had no choice but to obey his orders!
"No."
Xie Xuanyu smiled meaningfully, "This is not only the Crown Prince's order, but also my own wish..."
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