Su Rong’s short stay in the Princess Residence was a spontaneous decision made after meeting Duanhua, as well as a convenient opportunity to test her theory. Honestly, it’s odd that Princess Qingping, who had grown up with her mother, didn’t notice her resemblance to Su Rong.
Thus, it can be said that the Princess Residence was a strong backup she sought for herself after dismissing the marriage proposal from the Duke Residence.
Princess Qingping is the Emperor’s half-sister. Unlike the Duke Residence, who the Emperor viewed with caution, forcing them to keep a low profile, the Princess Residence has been favoured for many years. Thus, they’ve always been unrestrained, acting without any considerations, which perfectly aligns with her nature and plan.
Upon coming to the Capital City, she had never intended to act subserviently.
Therefore, the Princess Residence was an excellent choice.
As expected, as long as Princess Qingping was willing to reminisce about the past and the prince consort admired her mother’s sacrifice, their goodwill and protection would enable her to achieve a lot in the Capital City.
Princess Qingping pulled Su Rong aside, talking earnestly for a while until she was tired. As she was about to leave, she seemed to recall something and asked Su Rong, "Are you going to the Shen Residence tomorrow? Why don’t you stay at the Princess Residence?"
Su Rong shook her head, "I’ve already promised Aunt Shen, it would be wrong to back out now. I will stay there for a few days."
Princess Qingping sighed reluctantly, "if I had been aware of your true identity earlier today when we met Cheng Shaoqing at the Rui’an King Residence, I would have firmly declined the invitation from Shen Residence on your behalf."
Cheng Shaoqing is the name of Lady Shen.
Su Rong laughed, "I’ve stayed at the Princess Residence long enough. If you miss me, I will come over more often."
Princess Qingping nodded, "Technically, you should call me aunt. But to avoid revealing your identity prematurely, let’s keep it like this for now and reconsider when the time comes."
Su Rong nodded.
Princess Qingping looked at her, seemingly wanting to say something. However, after opening her mouth, all she said was, "you must be tired after talking with me for so long, go and rest."
Su Rong smiled, "I’m not tired. If you have something you want me to do, please feel free to tell me, don’t hesitate."
Princess Qingping chuckled, "you’re truly much cleverer than Duanhua", she candidly confessed, "I wanted to ask if your visit to the Crown Prince’s Residence on that day was intentional? Did you purposely clash with the Crown Prince?"
Su Rong nodded, "yes, it was intentional."
"Why? Even if Su Xu has sided with the crown prince, there’s no need for you to fight on the frontlines given your identity." Princess Qingping was puzzled.
Su Rong thought to herself that the princess was indeed insightful. People from the palace were skilled at picking up on subtle cues. She carefully replied, "Ever since my elder brother Su Xu came to the capital, he has been targeted by the Crown Prince. Although the crown prince hasn’t acted due to my Uncle Shen, it has not affected my brother’s examinations. Now that the Su family has chosen to side with the Eastern Palace, they should maintain their distance from other princes. Naturally, they can’t be a fence-sitter. As one who was born and raised in the Su family, it is my duty to protect them. Anyone who picks a quarrel with my family has a quarrel with me. I can’t be too passive; I have to be a bit more aggressive and create difficulties for others so that they can’t find an opportunity to catch me off guard."
Her reasoning was so straight-forward that it made Princess Qingping laugh. The princess patted her forehead, "You did well. You caught Yan Li off guard. He never expected that by instigating people to impeach your father, he’d be digging his own grave. Official Liu was removed from his post by the current Emperor, staining his own reputation."
After saying this, the Princess laughed for a while, "Alright, we’re leaving now. You should rest!"
Su Rong nodded and saw them out of the Cangjiao Pavillion. Communicating with smart people doesn’t require much effort. Princess Qingping, who wanted to probe her opinion about the Crown Prince, understood from her response that they were in line with the Su family and would present a united front.
Therefore, Princess Qingping would also understand that as long as the Su family remained lined up with the Eastern Palace, she would naturally support the Crown Prince Yan Huisheng when she reclaimed power in Nanchu. Other princes were not even on her radar.
The decision of whether or not to take sides would be left for the Princess Residence to determine.
If they decided not to pick sides, Princess Qingping was the aunt to the princes - irrespective of who ascended the throne, she would always be a princess. However, the respect she’d be given would depend on whether she chose to take sides or not. Picking a side would determine alliances and enemies playing high stakes. Big bets meant potentially big wins or losses.
When Duanhua woke up from her nap, she saw Su Rong standing at the entrance of the veranda, twirling a fallen leaf in her hand. Bathed in the sunset light, she lowered her head, deep in thought.
She gently called her, "Su Rong."
Su Rong turned her head back and smiled at her, "Awake?"
Duanhua nodded, extending her hand to hold hers, "What are you thinking about that makes you stand still here?"
Su Rong sighed, "I was thinking that your parents have such a good relationship. When they left, they were hand-in-hand, something I never saw between my own father and mother."
Duanhua didn’t expect Su Rong was thinking about this, "When I was little, their relationship was not good either, fighting every three days and arguing every two days, and it hasn’t been until these last few years that they stopped fighting. Especially since you came to the Princess Residence, they, for whatever reason, have become incredibly close."
Duanhua shivered, "I really don’t get it, they are so old."
Su Rong laughed.
Duanhua added, "You have six older sisters, right now there are also six mother figures in the Governor’s residence, it would be strange if your father’s relationships were good, wouldn’t it?"
"Their relationship is not bad either. They don’t fight, whatever my mother says goes. My mother is magnanimous, but being sweet with my father is out of the question—she often wishes she could drive him out of the house." Su Rong wouldn’t usually envy other people’s parents, but different people lead different lives—even coming from the Imperial Court, Princess Qingping had a smooth life. The husband she had been forced to marry has turned out so sweet, but her own mother died at an untimely age.
She led Duanhua back to the room, "It’s getting cold, you came out wearing so little, go back to the room quickly.", She rubbed her hands together, "This autumn wind is like a blade, I just stood out here for a while and I feel cold."
Duanhua followed with Su Rong back to the room, muttering, "It’s so quiet with Fen Ling suddenly gone."
Su Rong thought to herself, it wasn’t quiet at all, you fell asleep and didn’t know - your mother held me and cried for a long time, so long that my heart went numb.
Bringing up Fen Ling, Duanhua then asked: "Any news? Was the thief caught?"
Su Rong shook her head, "It’s not that fast, the Princess didn’t say? The Jingzhao Prefecture has three days to catch the thief."
"What if he’s not caught? Will he come back to kill you?" Duanhua said: "Fen Ling didn’t catch up, that thief has such high martial arts skills and he’s so fast, you better not go to the Shen Residence tomorrow, you should stay at the Princess Residence."
Su Rong laughed, like mother like daughter, neither of them wanted her to leave. She patted Duanhua’s shoulder, "Don’t worry, my martial arts are not bad, if the Jingzhao prefecture can’t catch him, the Dali Temple is still around, they will catch him sooner or later. The whole city is under martial law now, the thief can’t get out of the city in such a short time, he can’t go anywhere."
The thief’s goal was to kill her, but he ended up getting charged with trying to assassinate the Princess, thus escalating the situation. The Jingzhao Prefecture had made a military order, and with the cooperation of the Dali Temple, they won’t stop until they turn the Capital City upside down.
Su Rong’s guess was not wrong, Jingzhao Prefecture’s Li Shu was determined to catch the thief, and with the Emperor’s command, they launched a large-scale search of the Capital City.
Therefore, for a time, not only the Princess Residence, the Eastern Palace and a few other residences, even the residences of high-ranking nobles and officials in the court were searched one after another. Not to mention the residences of common people were tossed upside down.
The whole of Capital City was on high alert, with martial law imposed citywide.
Inside the Eastern Palace, Grand Tutor Qin was very confused, "Who would want to assassinate Princess Qingping? Has Princess Qingping offended anyone recently? Surely the Crown Prince wouldn’t want her dead just because she protected Inspector Su Xu’s daughter? That can’t be right, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be so stupid, especially since the Emperor just finished disciplining him, he wouldn’t dare to act recklessly."
Yan Huisheng nodded, "The Grand Tutor is right."
While Su Rong was staying in the Eastern Palace, she always avoided Grand Tutor Qin, and Yan Huisheng also had no intention of informing Grand Tutor Qin about Su Rong’s situation. Therefore, Grand Tutor Qin did not know that the assassination was aimed at Su Rong, not Princess Qingping.
Although Yan Huisheng didn’t see the assassination attempt on Su Rong in person, he knew that the assassin was targeting Su Rong, not Princess Qingping. However, when the princess is traveling, if someone shoots a cold arrow, it can be blamed on Princess Qingping regardless of who the actual target is.
He said: "The thief is so audacious and fearless which suggests powerful networks and complex alliances in the capital; there may be a conspiracy behind him. Relying solely on Jingzhao Prefecture and Dali Temple, it is afraid that they will not be able to catch him in the short term. I have already sent someone with them secretly to assist the investigation. I hope that they can catch him as soon as possible. The public order in the capital does not allow the thief to be rampant under the broad daylight."
Grand Tutor Qin agreed, "We have our people at Dali Temple, although Li Shu of Jingzhao Prefecture is the Emperor’s man, if you help him through this crisis, he will certainly be grateful and indebted to you."
Yan Huisheng nodded, "I don’t need everyone to side with me. I only need them to perform their duties and act according to their responsibilities. Not only do they be blessed by the Emperor, but they must also serve the common people. Li Shu is a competent official who tends to not flatter those above him or browbeat those below him, which is admirable."
Grand Tutor Qin nodded, "Your highness is right."
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