The first sheet of paper contained only a few sentences, a simple greeting and a question about the previous letter from Chamei Mountain, which had been answered.
Zhao Shu skipped over it, glanced at Xiao Zhuzi, crumpled up the first letter, opened the teacup lid, and put it in.
Little Zhu Zi stood ramrod straight, head bowed, holding his whisk.
Zhao Shu read the second letter very carefully. The letter contained all the major events that had happened in the capital since she left. She was very grateful to Wei Tingsi for telling her these things.
The letter first mentioned the Wang family, which had fallen entirely into Wang Jiyang's hands and was currently undergoing renovations. It was feared that they would not be listed as a first-class family for at least twenty years. Wang Jize had gone to work at the Jiangnan Naval Office. The ten prefectures of Jiangnan had once been the fiefdom of the Prince of Yong's mansion, but now they had all been taken back. Although Wei Tingsi did not say it explicitly, she guessed that they must be secretly training troops and forging weapons.
Seeing this message warmed her heart. There were many things she didn't say, but she really wanted to know Wang Jize's fate and hoped that her rebirth wouldn't change his life. Now it seemed that Wang Jize was still moving towards becoming a general, which put her at ease.
The second item is also about the Wang family, but this one can be shared with Fei Peng. Wang Jiyang once led a group to request a thorough investigation into the cheating in the imperial examinations, and the imperial envoy for the investigation was Liu Huan. For months, rather than searching for or destroying evidence, it was more like the two sides were fighting a protracted war, trying to bring down each other's people. In the end, Liu Huan did not win, the Yang family did not win, but Prince Duan became the culprit.
What does it mean to beat a dog when it's down, to kick someone when they're down, and to stab someone in the back? Just look at Prince Duan to know.
This case of cheating in the imperial examinations could have completely abolished the aristocratic families' right to recommend candidates and restored order to the examinations, but it was aborted due to the sudden betrayal of the Sun family and the unusual attitude of the Wei family.
Now, the Sun family, the Yang family, and the Wei family form one faction, while the Huo family, the Xie family, and the Yan family form another faction.
These were all first-rate aristocratic families, whose branches extended down to affect the entire aristocratic class of Dayong. The one who made the mistake was Prince Duan, who was a member of the imperial clan. By canceling the aristocratic families' right to recommend candidates and restoring the imperial examination system, the matter was forced to be shelved.
If we were to name a beneficiary in this matter, it would be Fei Chi. He has now been cleared of the charge of cheating in the imperial examinations and has officially joined the Secretariat. Although he started as a seventh-rank official, he is no longer a commoner.
However, despite their swift destruction of evidence, Yang Zhizhang was still convicted, removed from the Yang family genealogy, exiled to Yunnan, and forbidden from ever returning to the capital.
Yue Louming was acquitted, but was killed on his way back home. Of the dozens of family members, only a five-year-old boy survived, and the murderer is still at large.
Seeing this, Zhao Shu said to Xiao Zhuzi, "Buy some side dishes and a thermos of Zhuangyuan wine later to tell Fei Peng the good news."
Xiao Zhu was stunned and didn't understand. Zhao Shu stopped explaining and continued to read the third item: "The Empress is trapped in the central palace. Consorts De Ning and Hao Sanfei are assisting in managing the six palaces. Consort Hao Guifei will soon arrive in Guanzhou."
A murderous glint flashed in Zhao Shu's eyes. Consort De, Consort Ning, and Consort Hao, assisting in the management of the six palaces? Consort Hao, having become a consort and assisting in the management of the six palaces, what is she doing in Guanzhou? What reason does she have for coming here? Isn't she afraid of never being able to return?
Although she was puzzled, she soon understood. Consort De was the mother of the eldest prince, while Consort Ning was the mother of the fourth prince. It was impossible for the two not to have a grudge. Therefore, Consort Hao was their tool. She just didn't know whose hand was holding the gun.
Thinking of this, Zhao Shu suddenly felt her heart sink to the bottom, and a chill ran down her spine. The harem was so full of open and covert struggles, and Consort Hao had already risen to power. Emperor Mingde must also want to know which of his sons was more capable and who was qualified to ascend the throne. This was the most tragic thing. The throne, which was fought for, was covered in blood.
The third point is that Wei Tingsi himself has already set off for the Jiang family army's garrison and incorporated 150,000 iron cavalry under the command of the Marquis of Ningguo.
She didn't know how he managed to get the Marquis of Ningguo to give up his military power, but these things wouldn't be passed down. She certainly couldn't know this from hearsay. Presumably, only by hearing him tell the whole story could she understand the intricacies involved.
After reading the entire letter, Zhao Shuchang breathed a long sigh of relief. There was still no mention of the Crown Prince's injury. The Huo family was in charge of this matter, and it would be difficult for others to get involved. She also wondered when her father would return to the capital.
He tore the letter into pieces, placed them in his teacup, and wearily asked Xiao Zhuzi, "Has our people not sent any news back yet?"
"Not yet, but it should be in the next few days," Xiao Zhu replied truthfully. He was also secretly anxious, as the process was just too slow.
Zhao Shu listened, but only sighed, then asked about something else, "Did you finish what I asked you to do?"
“That girl is very obedient. The servants didn’t teach her the words she was supposed to say, but she spoke them very well.”
Zhao Shu sneered, "A dog that will betray you is the most useful. No, don't let her do this. Let our people do it. I want her to act, to be loyal to her master. In a while, Consort Hao will come to the palace and we'll return her to the Hao family."
Xiao Zhu Zi's heart skipped a beat; the princess's move was ruthless!
"I wonder if A-Yun has rested yet. She's been taking care of things at the shop." It was late at night when Zhao Shu and Xiao Zhuzi left the embroidery building. The light was still on in Sun Yun's room across the street.
Zhao Shu went to find Sun Yun, while at this time the Empress Dowager's bedroom was empty, except for a woman covered in black cloth who knelt on one knee in front of the Empress Dowager and reported: "Your Majesty, Consort Hao has gone to Guanzhou and will arrive soon. By the time your decree was sent to the capital, she had already gone to Guanzhou."
The Empress Dowager gently toyed with the ring in her hand, her eyes seemingly frozen, motionless. Only when the man in black knelt on the ground, sweating profusely from fear, did she slowly speak, "Wuying, I do not wish for a repeat of what happened in the capital."
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