The emperor gave a few warnings and then left.
After leaving Yongshou Palace, he first went to see the Eighth Prince. Seeing how hard the Eighth Prince was working, he felt very relieved.
Afterwards, the emperor summoned Imperial Censor Zhou, the Crown Princess's father, and others to the palace.
No one knows what they discussed.
However, when the emperor proposed making the eighth prince the new crown prince again the next day, he received more support from the court officials.
So the emperor seized the opportunity, made the decision, and ordered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to select an auspicious day for the formal investiture of the crown prince.
The director of the Imperial Observatory calculated three dates, but the emperor only glanced at them and chose the nearest one.
Exactly one month later.
When the news reached the back alley of the Shu family's house, Song Xibai was tidying up the child's new clothes with Wei Hong.
After Fangqi finished speaking, seeing that she didn't show any change in expression, she became anxious.
"Master, what should we do now?!"
As Song Xibai folded the small clothes, she casually asked, "What about Consort Shu's side?"
Granny Fangqi was taken aback. She had been so focused on the affairs of the court that she hadn't really paid much attention to the matters of the harem.
Seeing that Granny Fangqi couldn't answer, Song Xibai took over the conversation herself.
"Some rumors have been circulating in the Shu family that Consort Shu has been unwell lately, and the Emperor visits her every day, but she shows no signs of recovery."
Granny Fangqi asked, puzzled, "What does this have to do with the new crown prince?"
Wei Hong, who was standing to the side, suddenly had a bright look in her eyes.
"Could it be that someone has targeted Consort Shu? If Consort Shu suddenly dies, the Eighth Prince will have to observe mourning, which will definitely delay the appointment of a new crown prince."
"It's not impossible, but the emperor goes there every day, and Yongshou Palace is as secure as an iron gate. Who could possibly touch Consort Shu?"
Song Xibai raised an eyebrow.
"Previously, Consort Shu did manage to place someone in, but later, when Consort Gui was confined, the staff of Yongshou Palace underwent a major purge, with almost half of them replaced. It would be virtually impossible to place someone in again."
Granny Fangqi looked puzzled: "Then what exactly happened?"
Dingxiang, sitting on the other side, clicked her tongue twice and couldn't help but speak up.
"Oh dear! Isn't it obvious? Consort Shu's prolonged illness is definitely suspicious, and the Emperor has replaced all the people around her. So, who is behind this? It must be the Emperor!"
Both Granny Fangqi and Wei Hong were startled.
Granny Fangqi stammered, "But...he dotes on Consort Shu so much!"
“In a man’s eyes, there is only power. What does it matter if a woman or two is sacrificed?” Song Xibai brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Besides, pampering is not love.”
“But I still don’t understand. Does he want to kill Consort Shu? Wouldn’t that affect the Eighth Prince?” Wei Hong asked again.
"It's definitely not time to kill her. Based on our current guesses, the only person who knows the Emperor's false identity right now is probably Consort Shu."
"When love is at its peak, sharing a secret is proof of the depth of their affection and the strongest expression of trust. But when love fades, this sole witness becomes the biggest flaw in the fake emperor's facade. How could he possibly allow her to continue existing?"
"In the past, Consort Shu was still useful. Consort Shu and the Shu family were the emperor's biggest pawns, used to deal with the crown prince. Now that the crown prince is practically dead, the Shu family's role has diminished, and Consort Shu's existence is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Therefore, it's time to get rid of her."
As Song Xibai spoke, she raised her hand and wiped her neck.
The room fell silent for a moment.
In the end, it was Dingxiang who broke the peace.
"Killing her now would be too obvious. What methods do you think he would use?"
Song Xibai raised the corner of her mouth slightly.
"It must be poisoning! Don't you think there are too many cases of poisoning in the palace? There must be a master poisoner by the side of the fake emperor. Or maybe he himself is a master poisoner."
Dingxiang said thoughtfully, "No wonder!"
Granny Fangqi remained silent for a long time, her heart filled with admiration for Song Xibai.
"Then, Master, do we not need to do anything from now on?"
"You don't need to. Mr. Jin will handle it."
Song Xibai smiled, put the neatly arranged clothes into the trunk, and stretched.
Just as she was about to lower her arm, she suddenly cried out "Ouch!" which startled the other three people, who all crowded around her.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"Master, are you alright?"
"Please sit down and rest for a while, Master."
Song Xibai waved her hand: "It's nothing, the little ones just kicked me."
She gently rubbed her stomach and muttered to herself.
"I wonder what's making you so excited? It's not even time to eat yet!"
Song Xibai looked up and subconsciously glanced south.
I wonder where Yuan Shen is...
Da da da...
The rapid hoofbeats echoed through the dense forest, and finally, they arrived at Baoding Prefecture before nightfall.
The group reined in their horses and stopped. One of the guards looked around and spoke first.
"Your Highness, the main camp on the outskirts of the capital is just ahead."
A glint of light flashed in the prince's weary eyes.
"Have you made contact with Commander Yue and the others?"
The guard shook his head: "We've released several of them, but there's been no response. We don't know what happened at the manor."
The crown prince's brows furrowed into a deep frown.
Something must have happened at the estate... I wonder how Qingqing is doing now...
He raised his head and gazed into the distance, trying to overcome all obstacles and look towards the capital.
Just then, a fluttering sound came from above. One of the guards, with sharp eyes, spotted the pigeons in the air and quickly put his knuckles in his mouth, whistling.
The gray pigeon turned and swooped down on him.
"Your Highness! It's a message from Mr. Jin!"
The guards exclaimed excitedly and quickly untied the secret letter from the pigeon's leg, handing it to the Crown Prince.
The crown prince deciphered the code as quickly as possible. After reading it word by word, his expression changed from worry to shock, and finally to joy.
"It's good that you're alright!"
"Your Highness, is everything alright in the capital?"
Another guard couldn't help but ask.
The prince crumpled the secret letter into a ball and casually stuffed it into his clothes.
"The fake emperor has already announced to the world that I am dead and that he will appoint the eighth prince as the new crown prince."
"What?!"
The guards gasped in shock, their emotions a mixture of disbelief, worry, and anger.
But the Crown Prince's face showed no sign of worry; instead, his eyebrows curved into a smile, revealing an irrepressible joy.
"Your Highness, why... are you still laughing?"
The guards were puzzled.
The crown prince burst into laughter.
"I'm about to become a father! How could I not be happy!"
He tried not to laugh, but he couldn't control it!
The thought of seeing Song Xibai soon made the Crown Prince's heart pound.
He didn't care at all about the fake emperor's actions.
It's all just castles in the air.
Mr. Jin also praised Song Xibai's intelligence in his letter, which the Crown Prince believed without a doubt.
During this period, his only worry was Song Xibai and the child.
Now everything is fine, and the biggest weight has been lifted from his heart.
"Let's go! To the camp outside Beijing!"
The prince flicked his whip and led his men on another journey.
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