Last night's events were quite eventful, and Shen Zhiyi woke up a little late this morning. After washing up, she saw the familiar meal laid out on the table, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up slightly.
"Where... is he?" Shen Zhiyi casually glanced around, but didn't see Xiao Zhongxuan.
"Guard Xiao said he's going back to the inn to get his luggage and buy some things, so he might be back a little late. But he got up early to prepare a meal for you."
Shen Zhiyi nodded. "My brother isn't home either?"
"The young master was summoned to the palace early this morning."
Entering the palace?
Because she has been reborn and has changed many things, she is now unsure of what will happen next.
Man-made disasters are unpredictable.
I must be more careful in the future.
“By the way, we heard from our people at the Marquis’s residence that Song Ruoying’s hands were broken last night and she was also poisoned and rendered mute.” Hongrui said in a low voice, “Song Ruoying’s hands were broken by someone last night and she was also poisoned and rendered mute.”
Shen Zhiyi was surprised. "Who did this?"
"I don't know."
Who could sneak into the Marquis's mansion and do such a thing without anyone noticing?
Moreover, his condition is so similar to Lin Yaoyao's.
Is it really a coincidence?
——
Shen Zhiyi had just finished her meal when she heard that her elder brother had returned. When she arrived at the front hall, she discovered that the Crown Prince was also with him. She hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Please rise, Sister Zhiyi," Zhou Yuanbi said with a smile.
He wasn't particularly outstanding in appearance, but he had striking eyebrows and bright eyes, and an extraordinary air about him.
This crown prince is rather lacking in aptitude.
However, he was His Majesty's eldest son, and his mother had passed away early, so His Majesty loved him dearly and personally taught him. Unfortunately, his talent was limited, and he could not be as brilliant as the Regent. But over the years, he has been neither outstanding nor unsuccessful.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Shen Zhiyi obediently sat to one side; in front of such an important person, she naturally dared not act presumptuously.
The Crown Prince simply smiled and said, "Sister Zhiyi, there's no need to be so reserved. I've heard about what happened to the Song family. That Song Yuxiu is truly a scoundrel; how dare he treat you like this?"
"Your Highness, it's all in the past now." Shen Zhiyi lowered her head slightly.
"You are the only daughter of the Duke of Shen, so you should be pampered and spoiled. I recently acquired a few bolts of shimmering brocade, which I will give to you as a gift."
"Your Highness, the Radiant Brocade is too precious for me to accept."
"I may visit your residence often in the future, and I will have many things to trouble you with, sister. If you don't accept this gift, it would be an insult to me."
"This humble woman dares not."
The Crown Prince then spoke at length with Shen Zhiyi.
They even invited her to go out of town for a horse ride, but she politely declined, saying she wasn't in the mood lately.
"It seems that Sister Zhiyi is indeed deeply in love with Prince Song, but unfortunately he is unlucky."
Chen Zhiyi just smiled sullenly.
She's not stupid.
After she publicly proposed a divorce, both the Crown Prince and the Third Prince extended goodwill to her.
Who wouldn't want the Shen family as an ally?
Women have always had a hard life. As a divorced woman who remarried, she should be grateful if she could win the favor of the Heavenly Family.
Even becoming a concubine in the household is considered a great favor.
Even a concubine could receive the Shen family's support; even a fool would know what to do.
She was fully aware of the Crown Prince's intention to curry favor.
Shen Jingchuan understood, "Your Highness, this shimmering brocade is too precious for my sister to accept."
"What? Even you don't like my gift?"
Shen Zhiyi had no choice but to accept it. After the Crown Prince left, she glanced at Fu Guangjin and then looked at her elder brother, "Brother, what did the Crown Prince mean by what he said just now?"
"The Regent is seriously ill."
"What!"
Shen Zhiyi unconsciously raised her voice, causing Shen Jingchuan to frown and scrutinize his younger sister.
Realizing her lapse in composure, she smiled sheepishly, "I saw him in the Imperial Study just a while ago. He walked with a steady gait and spoke with great vigor when he was arguing with people. He didn't seem unwell at all. How could he suddenly be so ill?"
"His health has always been poor. Perhaps the recent hot weather has aggravated the lingering toxins and old ailments in his body. His Majesty has sent many imperial physicians to treat him, but they all say there is nothing they can do."
Shen Jingchuan also looked regretful: "A genius of unparalleled talent, what a pity."
"He was too ill to manage his troops, so His Majesty handed over military power to the Crown Prince as a training opportunity. However, the Crown Prince lacked experience in this area, so His Majesty summoned me to the palace, hoping that I could offer some assistance."
"No wonder..."
Many things have changed in this lifetime.
But the issue of military power remains unchanged.
In his previous life, the regent suddenly passed away, and military power was handed over to the crown prince. However, the deputy general betrayed him, and the crown prince had no combat experience, which led to the loss of several cities.
Because of this incident, the crown prince was impeached by court officials and almost deposed.
However, the problematic deputy general in this life has been dealt with, so it is likely that there will be no more turmoil in the southern border region.
“Brother, the Regent is seriously ill. Should we go and visit him?” Shen Zhiyi tentatively asked.
"Visit?" Shen Jingchuan raised an eyebrow.
“He even hosted a banquet for us at his residence last time.”
"That's because I saved his life."
"But……"
Shen Jingchuan looked his younger sister up and down. "Shen Yiyi, you seem to care a lot about the Regent?"
"I don't!"
It was purely because she was poisoned by a Gu curse.
She had consulted medical books and learned that this thing could lie dormant for a long time. Some of the poisons were not fatal, but some, like the Heart-Eating Gu, were deadly.
What will happen to her if Zhou Xuance dies?
It is highly likely that he will suddenly die one day.
We can't live in fear forever.
"Shen Yiyi, I watched you grow up, and you're lying to me again!" Shen Jingchuan glared at him coldly.
"Actually, the Regent has helped me many times..."
Shen Zhiyi told her elder brother about her mother-in-law Chen's affair and the family reunion banquet, "Before, in the Imperial Study, although he spoke harshly and sarcastically, as if he was targeting us, if you think about it carefully, he also indirectly helped us."
Shen Jingchuan understood the matter concerning the Imperial Study.
Although Zhou Xuance's words were harsh and unpleasant, he genuinely helped them.
"Besides, the Regent is a natural-born military genius. He is so capable, like a horse that has drunk from the vast sea. It is a pity that such a talented person is in poor health."
"When the late emperor passed away, his mother also passed away. He was still very young at the time, which was quite pitiful."
As Shen Jingchuan listened to his younger sister's words, his brows furrowed even more deeply. "Shen Yiyi..."
"Um?"
"You've praised him so much, you wouldn't happen to like him, would you?"
"..."
Chen Zhiyi was filled with shock and horror.
Seeing his younger sister's frightened appearance, Shen Jingchuan was certain that she didn't have those kinds of feelings for him, so he laughed and said, "I was just trying to scare you. Look how scared you are. If your young master heard you praising him like that, he'd probably cry in front of you."
"Brother!" Shen Zhiyi was somewhat annoyed.
"Alright, I'll send someone to the Regent's Palace to deliver a visiting card, but the Prince is seriously ill and the Palace may not receive guests."
Although Shen Jingchuan didn't know why his younger sister insisted on visiting the Prince's mansion to see him while he was sick, he knew she must have her reasons.
It was quite strange, but when it was said that the Regent was seriously ill, many people wanted to visit him but were turned away. However, a servant in the Prince's mansion accepted the visiting card from the Duke's mansion.
The reason is:
Young Master Shen saved the Regent's life.
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