Shen Yuan stayed at Nuanyuxuan for three whole days.
For the next three days, she not only had to be interrogated, but like the other ladies and young women, she could only stay in Nuanyuxuan and could not leave for even a moment.
Although Nuanyuxuan is a separate palace with luxurious decorations and complete furnishings, there are so many people trapped here that many people have to be crammed into one room.
These past few days, Shen Yuan and Cao Suian have been staying together, and the two have gradually become good friends.
“My father is the prime minister, I am a talented woman from a prestigious family, your father is a general, you are a daughter of a military family. Together, we are a perfect match in both literature and martial arts!”
Shen Yuan chuckled upon hearing this: "I think Miss Cao is more like a daughter of a military family than I am."
Are you saying I'm a tiger?
Cao Sui'an shrugged. "Let me tell you, I wasn't being a tiger. I was testing how many faces my father still had in front of His Majesty!"
"..." Shen Yuan took out a packet of chestnut cakes from her sleeve and quietly stuffed it into Cao Suian's hand: "I see you didn't eat much at noon, have some of this to fill your stomach."
Cao Suian happily accepted the pastries Shen Yuan gave him, stuffing them into his mouth as he asked, "How did you hide so many delicious things?"
Shen Yuan naturally couldn't say that this food was secretly sent to her by Xiao Ling through someone else. She only said, "I brought it with me when I entered the palace. I have a big appetite because I come from the countryside, and I was afraid that I wouldn't have enough to eat in the palace."
Cao Suian: "Well, you were quite prescient. The food in the palace is varied, but it doesn't keep you full for long. Look at those palace maids, they're all getting thinner and thinner from hunger!"
Shen Yuan smiled but didn't reply.
Seeing that everyone else had gone to sleep, Cao Suian leaned close to Shen Yuan's ear and asked in a low voice, "How do you think the emperor will punish the crown prince?"
Shen Yuan shook her head: "I'm not quite sure either."
Cao Suian could tell that Shen Yuan was still somewhat wary of her, but that was only natural, and she didn't mind. She continued, "I think the Emperor will depose the Crown Prince!"
"..." Shen Yuan was taken aback, then looked at Cao Suian and said, "But His Majesty only has this one son. If the Crown Prince is deposed, which son can he make the Crown Prince?"
Cao Suian said, "Isn't there another prince on Qingyun Mountain?"
"But I heard that the prince was not favored by the emperor, and it was the emperor who banished him to Qingyun Mountain back then."
"He's the only son left. Whether he likes him or not, he has no choice."
After Cao Suian finished speaking, he continued, "Tell me, why must all officials and emperors in this world be men?"
"Princess Jingwan is resourceful and exceptionally intelligent. Even my father praised her talent, saying it was no less than that of the princes. It's such a pity that she cannot inherit the throne just because she is a girl!"
As Cao Suian spoke, he couldn't help but sigh.
Shen Yuan lowered her eyes. In her previous life, she thought Xiao Yunyan was a rare and wonderful princess, just like Cao Suian. The people of the capital praised her for her pure nature, compassion for all living beings, and beauty and virtue.
That's why she chose to stop Xiao Yunyan's entourage on Zhuque Street, and publicly plead her case against Chu Yuning.
But she later discovered that people with pure hearts, covered in human blood, are more terrifying than man-eating demons in hell!
"What are you thinking about? Why aren't you saying anything?" Cao Suian suddenly nudged Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan snapped out of her reverie, looked at Cao Sui'an, and asked with a smile, "Do you want to be a female official?"
Cao Suian: "Of course we want to! Most men in this world are just good-for-nothings like the Crown Prince. Why do they monopolize power, wealth, and official positions, leaving no place for us women? There are clearly many women with outstanding abilities who are no less capable than men!"
Shen Yuan nodded: "Miss Cao is absolutely right!"
As the two were talking, a eunuch's voice suddenly came from outside.
They said the truth about the death of the Prince of Jin had been found out, and they could all leave.
Shen Yuan led Bai Zhi out of the palace gate. The general's carriage had been waiting at the palace gate for several days. When the coachman saw Shen Yuan come out, he quickly led the carriage to her.
Shen Yuan boarded the carriage and returned to the General's Mansion.
As soon as she returned to the manor, she was stopped by the new steward, who said that Shen Wei wanted to see her.
Shen Yuan told Bai Zhi to go back and rest first, and then followed the steward to the study.
Inside the study, Shen Wei saw Shen Yuan get straight to the point and say, "The Emperor will issue an edict tomorrow to depose Xiao Yuncheng from his position as Crown Prince."
Shen Yuan was surprised that Shen Wei, who rarely left his home, knew so much about what was happening in the palace. It seemed that he had quite a few spies in the court as well.
She said calmly, "It must have been very difficult for His Majesty to make this decision."
Shen Wei remained noncommittal, only saying, "Before writing the imperial edict to depose the crown prince, the palace issued another secret order, summoning the Ninth Prince down the mountain to return to the palace."
Shen Yuan looked up at Shen Wei.
Shen Wei continued, "The Ninth Prince is no longer at Qingyun Mountain. At this moment, he should be in the capital city, or rather, he should be in the General's Mansion right now, right?"
Shen Yuan did not answer, but the expression on her face already confirmed Shen Wei's words.
Shen Wei sighed softly, his voice tinged with bitterness: "From the very beginning, you willingly followed me back to the manor, not because you wanted to be my daughter, but because you needed a status and opportunity to get close to the Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin. Is that right?"
"So...you suspect that I killed Prince Jin?" Shen Yuan asked calmly, her eyes reddening.
Shen Wei shook his head. "I know it wasn't you."
"The Prince of Jin poisoned himself!"
"He originally intended to take advantage of the Crown Prince's use of aphrodisiacs to poison himself, feign misery, and force the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince, thus causing the Crown Prince to lose popular support. But somehow, his plan backfired, and he ended up losing his own life!"
Shen Yuan lowered her head and remained silent.
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