On the carriage back to the Li family, Li Chaoyun leaned against Princess Yongjia and said exhaustedly, "Mother took me away. Didn't I suffer in vain before?"
Su Qingyu was eager to kick her out of the Shen family, and her leaving would fulfill their wish.
Princess Yongjia patted Li Chaoyun's hand and said, "Don't worry, my son. Just wait for the Shen family to send Madam Xiang to the farm, and then we will welcome you into the mansion."
Li Chaoyun sat up straight immediately, "Mother, do you have a solution?"
Princess Yongjia did not elaborate, but after the two returned home, she called Chen Ping.
Chen Ping entered the room and saluted Princess Yongjia, then his eyes fell on Li Chaoyun. Knowing that Li Chaoyun had been wronged in the Shen family, he felt distressed and secretly cursed Changsheng for being useless and not being able to handle such a small matter.
Princess Yongjia motioned for Chen Ping to sit down, then instructed, "Go out and do one thing in the next two days. Publicize all the grievances Chao Yun suffered at the Shen family today."
Chen Ping seemed to understand, "Princess, what do you mean by that, is to make the people of the capital sympathize with you?"
He felt that Princess Yongjia's idea was not very smart. After all, this was the Shen family's family affair. Even if others had some sympathy, it would not have any effect.
Li Chaoyun also looked at Princess Yongjia, obviously not understanding what she meant.
Princess Yongjia laughed and spoke confidently.
"Within three days, you must find a way to make Madam Xiang and the Fifth Young Master of the Shen family infamous."
"Especially Madam Xiang, who relied on her charm to rise to power and control the first wife's assets. Not only that, she also instigated a nine-year-old child to assault her own sister-in-law, intending to cause her to have an abortion so they could monopolize the first wife's assets."
"The Shen family protected that mother and son, forcing the princess to return to her parents' home to rest while pregnant."
Chen Ping and Li Chaoyun's eyes lit up. If this happened, the reputation of Madam Xiang and the Shen family would be damaged.
In order to restore their reputation, the Shen family had no choice but to deal with Madam Xiang and then take Li Chaoyun back.
Chen Ping replied, "Yes, I will do it right away. Your Highness, rest assured, this news will spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital in less than three days."
Rumors are more ferocious than tigers. It is easy to spread them, but it is difficult for the Shen family to quell them.
Li Chaoyun also changed his previous dejection, leaned back in his chair and said, "This is a good idea. It's just right for me to recuperate at home. I've been eating vegetarian these days, and I'm worried that it will affect my stomach."
"Mom, what are we having for lunch? Ask the kitchen to bring me all my favorite dishes."
Princess Yongjia smiled indulgently, "I'll have someone arrange it right away. They'll have the pickled duck and smoked fish you like."
Chen Ping was reliable and capable. Within two days, the news spread throughout the capital.
Xiangdong became a vicious stepmother who relied on her seductive tactics to climb into bed and rose to power from a humble status.
Chen Cheng is a rich young man who was deceived by his stepmother and committed many evil deeds at a young age.
As for Li Chaoyun, she was even more sympathetic to everyone. As a princess personally appointed by the emperor, she was pregnant and still being bullied by her stepmother-in-law.
The news quickly reached the Shen family. Everyone knew that Princess Yongjia was the one spreading the rumor, but they were helpless. They couldn't just go out and try to explain that the Li family had fabricated all this.
After Xiangdong learned of this, she even came to the West Courtyard and volunteered to go to the manor. As long as the Shen family dealt with her and took the princess back, the rumors would subside.
Su Qingyu would certainly not agree. This matter had nothing to do with Xiangdong in essence. It was a dispute between Li Chaoyun and the Shen family. Li Chaoyun wanted the money and property of the Shen family's eldest wife, and the matter behind it was also involved in the court.
The Shen family would rather let the rumors spread than indulge Li Chaoyun.
The Shen family's laissez-faire attitude made Princess Yongjia feel like she was hitting cotton. Now it was a matter of who would give in first: the Li family stop spreading rumors first, or the Shen family give in first.
Princess Yongjia became anxious when she saw that the Shen family had not made any move. She reported the matter to the emperor through the virtuous concubine.
Emperor Xuande actually inquired about this matter in Ganyang Palace and warned Shen Zhixiu not to be too busy with official duties, but also to improve his family style.
Although it is not accountability, it is also a warning.
Of course, Emperor Xuande wasn't speaking up for the Li family. He simply felt that Shen Zhixiu, as a senior official, should set an example. He couldn't let the officials and the people laugh at him, a junior minister.
When Shen Zhixiu returned home that evening, Su Qingyu was sitting in the small study looking at the account books. Shen Zhixiu was standing by the window, pruning the bonsai by the window with scissors in his hand.
While the two were chatting, Shen Zhixiu mentioned the emperor's warning at the morning court today.
Su Qingyu put down the pen in her hand, worry flashing across her brows. "It seems we still need to quell the rumors as soon as possible. We can't let this little thing affect the emperor's trust in you."
Shen Zhixiu said casually: "It's okay, I have my own ideas."
Su Qingyu suddenly became curious, stood up and walked to Shen Zhixiu, "What's your idea?"
Shen Zhixiu smiled and said, "The Emperor will be leaving the palace in a few days. The students at the Imperial College will be discussing Daoism, and the Emperor wants to take a look."
"I plan to let Cheng'er go that day. He's nine years old now, and it's time for him to go out and learn from the scholars."
Su Qingyu looked at him suspiciously, "Third Master, do you mean to let Fifth Young Master show his face in front of the Emperor?"
Shen Zhixiu nodded and said, "Cheng'er is a promising student. He's quick-witted and smarter than Shen Hongling. I've read all the homework the teacher has given him recently. He's a promising student."
"Didn't the Li family say that Madam Xiang had corrupted Cheng'er? They also said that Cheng'er had committed many evil deeds. At such a young age, he didn't know the difference between superiors and inferiors, and he didn't respect his elder sister-in-law. Sometimes, this article can reveal a person's character. The emperor will know what's going on after reading it."
As for what outsiders think, the Shen family doesn’t care at all, and there is no need to pay attention.
If they really sent someone to forcibly quell the rumors, it would truly prove that the Shen family was guilty.
Su Qingyu pondered for a moment and agreed that this was a good idea. As long as the emperor didn't get suspicious, it wouldn't matter to others.
The two talked about Shen Cheng's knowledge again. Shen Zhixiu praised him highly and planned to wait until the court was more stable so that he could teach him personally.
While the two were chatting, Feicui came in and announced, "Third Master, Madam, our third cousin is here."
Hearing that Lin Wuchen had arrived, Shen Zhixiu ordered, "Please go to the flower hall for tea first. My wife and I will be there soon."
Because they were cousins, the couple did not change their clothes and went directly to the flower hall in the outer courtyard.
When I went in, I found that Su Yuanzhou was there too.
"Did you come here together?" Su Qingyu took the fruit that the maid had just brought in and handed it to the two of them personally.
Su Yuanzhou said jokingly, "My third cousin sent someone to call me here. I just came in. When I asked him what was going on, he kept it a secret and refused to tell me."
Shen Zhixiu sat down in the main seat and looked at Lin Wuchen, "What's going on so mysteriously?"
Su Qingyu also sat down next to Shen Zhixiu and looked at Lin Wuchen with the same curiosity.
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