My cousin helped me invite Doctor Tao and find the medicinal herbs. Xie Jingyan wanted to personally visit and express his gratitude, and Shen Wan had no reason to stop him.
The two returned to Moyuxuan and had only drunk a cup of tea when news came from the palace that Young Master Xu had cheated on his poem. The emperor had punished him with forty strokes of the cane and he was carried out of the palace. As for Lord Xu, the emperor had not punished him for the time being.
But the lack of punishment is the most terrifying thing. It's like a sword hanging over your head, not knowing when it will fall or how hard it will hit you. It will torment you and keep you in a state of constant fear.
Shen Wan only wanted the Xu family to stay far away from the Yun family; as for the rest, she was patient and would wait.
However, Shen Wan didn't have to wait long. The next day, after breakfast, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan set off for the Yun family. Just as they reached the gate, they received news that Steward Zhou had informed Xie Jingyan, "This morning at court, several ministers submitted memorials impeaching Lord Xu for embezzlement and accepting bribes during his tenure. His Majesty was furious and has suspended Lord Xu from his post and ordered the Ministry of Personnel to conduct a thorough investigation."
The court is full of shrewd officials. Yesterday, the Emperor punished Minister Xu, at most by deducting his salary for failing to properly educate his son. It wouldn't be a serious matter. Once the punishment was given, the matter would be considered closed. The Emperor didn't take any further action, and the ministers would naturally try to figure out the Emperor's intentions.
The crime of embezzlement and accepting bribes is so serious that eight or nine out of ten people can be caught. It's always good to submit a memorial to test the waters. If the emperor has no intention of investigating Lord Xu, then so be it. But if he does, he will definitely send someone to investigate.
Everyone wants a good reputation, but if someone goes so far as to deceive the Emperor, how could the Emperor possibly tolerate it? Lord Xu's career ended yesterday.
Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan boarded a carriage and headed straight for the Yun family.
Early in the morning, Steward Zhou sent someone to the Yun family to inform them that Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan would be coming to the Yun family today. So as soon as the carriage stopped, Yun Qi came out to greet them.
Yun Qi is good-looking. Although he is very good at making money, if you didn't know he came from a merchant family, you would definitely think he was the young master of some aristocratic family.
Upon seeing Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan, Yun Qi smiled and said, "I was just thinking of seeing my cousin sometime to ask about the Prince Ling's leg ailment, but I didn't expect you to come."
Shen Wan said happily, "The poison in the prince's body has been mostly cured, and he will soon be able to walk freely again."
Although Doctor Tao spoke with great certainty, Yun Qi only dared to believe it after hearing Shen Wan say it.
He was happy for Xie Jingyan and Shen Wan, and invited them into the mansion to talk.
After entering the manor, the Yun family steward had something to discuss with Yun Qi. Yun Qi went over and made the arrangements. Xie Jingyan turned to look at Shen Wan and said, "Don't call me Your Highness."
Shen Wan looked bewildered. "If I don't call you Your Highness, what should I call you?"
"Call me husband."
There were many people inside and outside the mansion who called him "Your Highness," but he preferred to hear Shen Wan call him "Husband."
Shen Wan had called Xie Jingyan by his name a few times before, but that was to show how good their relationship was as husband and wife. She always felt that calling him "Your Highness" was too formal...
But Xie Jingyan insisted on calling her that, and a strange feeling welled up in Shen Wan's heart again.
Under Xie Jingyan's gaze, Shen Wan nodded slightly.
Yun Qi gave the steward a few instructions, then came over and chatted with them as they walked toward the inner courtyard. Just as they reached the second gate, Yun Mo and Yun Rui arrived.
The two were overjoyed because among the gifts brought by Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan were several bolts of Yun brocade. With the wealth of the Yun family, they could afford as many of these things as they wanted, but due to their social status, they could not wear them even if they could afford them.
But Xie Jingyan's gift was different. He was a prince, and if Yun Mo and Yun Rui used it to make dresses, no one would say they were overstepping their bounds.
After bowing to Xie Jingyan, Yun Mo and Yun Rui spoke to Shen Wan. Yun Rui whispered, "Grandmother was very happy to know you were coming, and then she scolded me and my eldest sister."
Shen Wan asked, "Why did your grandmother scold you?"
Yunrui said, "My elder sister and I went to the Ling Prince's Mansion to find you yesterday on a whim without telling Grandmother. Grandmother guessed that you came because of my elder sister and I going to the Ling Prince's Mansion yesterday, and then she scolded us."
It wasn't really a big deal, but Xie Jingyan's leg ailment hadn't healed yet, and Old Madam Yun didn't want him to travel and get tired. Old Madam Yun and the entire Yun family were very happy to see Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan.
Knowing that Xie Jingyan would be able to stand up soon, Old Master Yun and Old Madam Yun were even happier.
Xie Jingyan sat for a while, and then Yun Qi accompanied him to the study to play chess with Old Master Yun, leaving Shen Wan to keep Old Madam Yun company.
Madam Yun patted Shen Wan's hand and said, "Grandma knew you were a blessed person."
Madam Yun laughed and said, "It's not just good fortune; our entire Yun family is benefiting from it, especially Mo'er."
Shen Wan helped her daughter avoid two terrible situations.
Now, Madam Yun is like a frightened bird; she gets scared whenever someone comes to propose marriage to her daughter.
When her mother brought up her marriage again, Yunmo was both scared and shy. She quickly got up and said, "I'll accompany my cousin to the garden for a stroll and have a private chat."
Without waiting for Madam Yun and Madam Yun's agreement, she pulled Shen Wan away.
After leaving Liushuang Courtyard, Shen Wan asked, "Is there something you want to say to me privately?"
On the way here, she noticed that Yunmo seemed hesitant to speak, and she wanted to ask her, but she held back.
Yunmo looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before whispering to Shen Wan, "Big Brother has someone he likes."
Shen Wan exclaimed "Ah!" and asked excitedly, "Really?"
Yunmo nodded repeatedly.
Yunrui then told Shen Wan, "When my cousin came to the manor last time, she reminded us to keep an eye on my eldest brother and not to go to Huguo Temple before his wedding. My eldest sister and I secretly bribed my eldest brother's personal servant. The servant told us that my eldest brother had secretly hidden a girl's earring under his pillow, and the servant found it when he was making the bed."
“We were worried that someone might use a honey trap on our eldest brother, so we went to the Ling Prince’s residence yesterday to tell our cousin about it.”
Honey trap...
Shen Wan's lips twitched violently.
Can they have some faith in their cousin?
Others may not know, but don't they know that their cousin is only interested in making money?
However, Shen Wan really didn't expect that her cousin would hide a girl's earring...
Shen Wan's gossipy nature was piqued, and she asked, "Doesn't the servant know whose earring it is?"
Yun Mo and Yun Rui both shook their heads.
If you had known, you wouldn't have worried so much.
Yunmo said, "We secretly went to see those earrings when our eldest brother wasn't around. They were very exquisite, unlike what an ordinary girl would have."
She actually went to peek, wasn't she afraid her cousin would be angry if he found out?
Yunrui quietly told Shen Wan, "Big brother is with Prince Ling right now. We've already had the servant steal the earring."
Shen Wan, "..."
It's one thing to peek at it yourself, but to secretly show it to her is another.
My cousin will be furious if he finds out.
As they were talking, a maid came running over from a distance. Yunrui said excitedly, "The earrings have arrived."
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