Mu Nanfeng feigned a smile, shaking her head in denial, "The Prince of Yan is dead, how could it be him?"
In fact, Mu Nanfeng encountered an ambush on his way to the western frontier, but thanks to the help of Prince Yan and Young Master Qiu, he was able to escape.
King Yan concluded that Prime Minister Kong and Consort Kong colluded to alter the late emperor's will and help Song Hua usurp the throne, and that Hong Yu, who was in love with Song Hua, was also involved.
Therefore, he sent someone to poison Kongjiajing, intending to frame Hongyu.
Unexpectedly, Hongyu escaped a calamity. Fearing exposure and retaliation from the Kong family, he used a clever escape tactic, seeking refuge with the Third Young Master Qiu, who was stationed on the northern frontier.
The Qiu family was originally part of Yan Wang's faction, and when Yan Wang fell into trouble, the Qiu family naturally wanted to help him.
Therefore, Young Master Qiu recruited Mu Nanfeng to help Prince Yan reclaim the throne.
Mu Nanfeng looked up at Chen Yu, who was still scrutinizing him. He quickly stood up to leave: "Yu'er, I'm exhausted from traveling all night. Let me rest for a day and a night. Think about arranging accommodations for Mo Sheng and buying her a few maids."
Shen Yu immediately stood up and blocked the door. Although Mu Nanfeng refused to admit that Yan Wang was still alive, she was certain that Mu Nanfeng intended to participate in the rebellion.
As the saying goes, when the world is at peace, the people are at peace.
If Prince Yan were to seize the throne, Prince Heng and Prince Li would likely join him. The late emperor still has nine sons alive; if they all wanted to be emperor, wouldn't the empire descend into chaos? Wouldn't it be the common people who suffer the most?
Shen Yu did not want to see the court in turmoil, nor would she allow Mu Nanfeng to participate in the rebellion.
She knelt down abruptly, and said sorrowfully, "Elder brother, when Father was alive, he forbade any member of the Mu family from serving as an official in the court. Now that you have completed your inspection tour, please resign and go into business."
【My dear fish, how can I, a man of seven feet tall, betray my promise?】
Big brother, you're a father of two now. You must consider the bigger picture in everything you do.
【Fish, do you expect me to abandon righteousness and loyalty just to protect myself? Supporting that illegitimate king is also a betrayal of the late emperor.】
Shen Yu stood up, pulled out her hairpin, held it to her neck, and said in a low voice:
Your assistance to Prince Yan, to put it nicely, is acting righteously; to put it bluntly, it is rebellion.
If this doesn't work, the Mu family will be exterminated, along with their entire clan. If my elder brother insists on this, I, Chenyu, will surely plead with him even at the cost of my life.
Shen Yu and Mu Nanfeng parted on bad terms. Back in her room, she was still uneasy, yet overjoyed.
Just now, she said that Mu Nanfeng was assisting Prince Yan, and Mu Nanfeng did not deny it, so it seems that Prince Yan is still alive. Therefore, it is highly likely that Liu Yu was taken away by Prince Yan.
She wanted to find Liu Yu, but there were very few people she could use.
Once Hongyu became empress, the Beggars' Sect would be at her beck and call. If she sent members of the Beggars' Sect to the northern border to gather information about Yan Wang and Liu Yu, the Beggars' Sect would likely inform Hongyu, who would then send troops to annihilate Yan Wang, and Liu Yu would also be in danger.
Therefore, even if she wanted to verify whether Liu Yu was alive, she had to be patient and wait for the right opportunity.
At this moment, Cuiwei hurriedly came to report, "Miss, someone from the palace has come; the Emperor summons you."
------
Chen Yu sat in the sedan chair, arm in arm with Cui Wei, still looking worried. Cui Wei helped her put on the hood of her cloak and asked softly:
【Young lady, are you worried about Mo Xiaoniang?】
Shen Yu suddenly looked at Cui Wei and asked, "How did you know I was thinking about Mo Sheng?"
Cuiwei whispered in her ear, "I've already arranged for Mo Xiaoniang to stay in Miss Shenjing's Jingshu Garden as you instructed, and then I went to the kitchen to tell the cook to brew a pot of warming tea for Mo Xiaoniang, and also to have the nanny boil a pot of bath water. This only took a quarter of an hour. When I returned to my room, Mo Xiaoniang was gone, so I searched everywhere, all over the Mu family and even the West Alley Garden. I was just about to report to you, Miss, when I entered Jinxiu Garden and saw Mo Xiaoniang coming over in a panic, saying she wanted to see the General."
Shen Yu nodded, her brows furrowed with worry. When she first saw Mo Sheng, she had no doubts, but when Mu Nanfeng mentioned that Young Master Qiu wanted to form an alliance with the Mu family, she began to suspect that Mo Sheng was a spy sent by Young Master Qiu.
They arrived at the palace.
Shen Yu followed Eunuch Cai to the Ziji Palace. When the Emperor learned that Shen Yu was in charge of the Mu family, he ordered the Mu family to donate a thousand cotton quilts to the soldiers on the northern frontier.
Shen Yu agreed and asked to meet with Gulinafei to inquire about the cotton shipment.
Upon entering Guiyang Palace, one is greeted by Gulinafei at the entrance.
"Greetings, Consort Na."
Although Gulnaffee smiled, her expression remained solemn and rigid.
Lately, the Emperor has not visited her palace. Nazha and Dilraba bribed the eunuchs around Eunuch Cai to find out that the Emperor goes to the Jiaofang Palace every night, where the Empress and Consort Hua serve him. The Emperor no longer chooses concubines.
Gulnaffee has fallen out of favor, feeling as if she has fallen from the clouds to the mud, and she can't be happy at all.
Shen Yu quickly stepped forward to help Gulinafei into the house.
The two sat down, and Gulinafei couldn't help but shed tears. "Miss Chenyu, I have already sent the letter to Brother Guhuai. The cotton will definitely arrive before the twelfth lunar month."
Shen Yu nodded and quietly comforted Gulinafei, "Consort Na, don't be sad. This is common in ordinary families. There are many wives and concubines, and it is rare to find a man who is devoted to one woman. Once you give birth to your child, you won't feel lonely anymore."
Hearing the comforting words, Gulnaffee wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, but the tears still flowed uncontrollably.
She burst into tears, "Ah... I just didn't expect the Emperor's favor to be so short-lived, less than two months. I wonder... what kind of person Miss Chenyu's husband is?"
Shen Yu thought of Liu Yu and couldn't help but smile shyly, saying, "My Yu Lang is a devoted man. He would shield me from a knife without hesitation, and he would even risk his life for me."
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