Upon hearing this, the Minister of Rites' expression, which had been focused on court affairs, froze instantly, as if he had been frozen into an ice sculpture by a sudden gust of cold wind.
Immediately afterwards, an unnatural blush surged up her cheeks like a tide, spreading from her ears all the way to her neck, just like the magnificent yet somewhat shy sunset on the horizon.
Her expression was full of embarrassment and awkwardness, and her eyes revealed an unspeakable discomfort.
After all, Pei Yanci's wife was her elder sister. Such a private matter involving her own family was openly mentioned in the solemn and dignified court.
She felt utterly humiliated and ashamed, wishing there was a crack in the ground she could crawl into and escape this embarrassing situation.
Upon hearing this sudden and dramatic turn of events, the ministers, who had been focused on court affairs, were instantly drawn to it as if by a powerful magnetic force.
They switched back and forth between Pei Yanci and Qin Qianluo in unison.
Their faces instantly lit up with curiosity, their eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation, their expressions revealing an irrepressible desire to explore more details.
Like a pack of hounds that have caught the scent of prey, they are eager to uncover more of the family's hidden stories.
They whispered among themselves, their faces beaming with gossip.
It was as if what was unfolding in the imperial court at this moment was not a serious political discussion, but a spectacular farce in the marketplace.
Seeing this scene, Su Jinyun sighed inwardly and rubbed her temples helplessly.
The crux of the matter is that Feng Qingyun can no longer see the information about Crown Prince Xiao in the booklet.
But these people seemed to have completely strayed from the right path, like travelers lost in a forest, showing only great interest in Pei Yanci's private affairs.
It's both infuriating and laughable that they forgot about this extremely important information; I don't know what to do.
However, in the blink of an eye, the ministers who had just been briefly distracted by Pei Yanci's trivial matters seemed to be struck by a sharp lightning bolt, instantly waking them up from their dream.
Their expressions shifted abruptly from initial curiosity and gossip to seriousness and vigilance, and a strong sense of unease welled up within them.
An unsettling thought exploded in everyone's minds like a thunderclap: this Crown Prince Xiao was probably facing an extremely difficult and serious situation.
Upon hearing Feng Qingyun's words, Qin Qianluo felt as if she had been struck hard in the chest by a heavy hammer, and her heart clenched sharply.
A chill instantly spread from my spine to my entire body, as if I were in an ice cellar.
Her face turned deathly pale in an instant, her eyes filled with undisguised shock and deep worry.
His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but then he was speechless for a moment.
Su Jinyun's expression also darkened instantly, like the sky before a storm, so heavy it seemed to drip water.
She initially noticed something amiss thanks to her keen observation.
At the time, she simply thought that Crown Prince Xiao was just like the emperor of the past.
Out of concern for his own secure position and the complex situation in the palace, he became wary of her and Qin Qianluo.
After all, in this unfathomable and turbulent palace, people's hearts are unpredictable, and trust between people is as fragile as glass.
Such speculation seemed reasonable in the context at the time, so she didn't take it too seriously.
Moreover, she and Qin Qianluo had already carefully considered and formulated a detailed plan—after Crown Prince Xiao successfully ascended the throne.
The two women then chose to retire and return to their hometown, far away from the court intrigues and power struggles that filled them with intrigue and backstabbing.
They firmly believed that in this way, Prince Xiao's wariness would naturally dissipate.
And the two of them were finally able to break free from the heavy shackles of the palace, roam freely between heaven and earth, and enjoy the leisurely time of the rest of their lives.
Explore the vast and boundless world, discover its magnificent landscapes and unique customs, and experience the wonders of nature and the warmth of human life.
However, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse, far exceeding their expectations. Numerous strange signs indicated that things were not as simple as they seemed.
Almost simultaneously, the image of Ning Chenxing flashed through Qin Qianluo's and Su Jinyun's minds like lightning.
If it is said that Crown Prince Xiao could not hear Qin Qianluo's true feelings, after repeated deliberation...
After ruling out the extreme possibility that Crown Prince Xiao was secretly and cleverly replaced, which, although extremely unlikely, still required careful consideration.
That leaves only one terrifying and chilling guess—could it be that Master Yuying's soul is now living in Prince Xiao's body without anyone knowing?
Over the years, they have never given up their relentless search for Ning Chenxing's whereabouts.
The emperor went to great lengths and disregarded his status to travel incognito on numerous occasions, and one of the most crucial and important reasons for this was that he was working tirelessly to accomplish this task.
Regardless of who the soul currently residing in Ning Chenxing's body is, that body truly and undeniably belongs to the Fifth Prince.
If that bizarre and inexplicable soul-swapping incident had not occurred back then, according to the long-standing and deeply rooted traditions of the royal family...
The Fifth Prince had long since reached the point where he would be granted a prestigious title and a vast fiefdom.
This matter was like a cold, heavy boulder, weighing heavily on the emperor's heart, becoming an unspeakable and persistent worry in his mind.
Whenever the Emperor was alone late at night, he would unconsciously furrow his brow when he thought of this matter.
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