For half a month, the Crown Prince was in a daze. When he woke up, he would fall asleep again in less than an hour. Zhao Shu waited at the door of the side hall.
The Empress Dowager, however, locked herself in her room, chanting Buddhist scriptures, and refused to come out.
Zhao Zisheng would go to the imperial palace every day and often wait until it was getting late before returning home.
Sun Yun and Huo Danlan stayed by Zhao Shu's side. Even the young Huo Guxian was very sensible. Although he really wanted to know the answer to the riddle from that day, he did not ask.
The Empress Dowager was not involved in any affairs; the entire palace was under Zhao Shu's control. Consort Hao was confined to the Buddhist hall, but she kept singing, which was extremely annoying. Fortunately, the Buddhist hall was far from the left-hand hall, so it did not disturb the Crown Prince.
"Princess, please go back and rest. Your servants are here," Physician Peng advised with concern.
Zhao Shu shook her head, "No need. I will stay by the side of my brother, the Crown Prince. Even if the whole world abandons him, I will not."
He had tried to persuade her countless times, but Zhao Shu just wouldn't listen. No matter if it was windy, rainy, or snowy, she would stand guard outside the palace like a statue.
Shaking her head and sighing, she stepped through the freshly fallen snow and went to personally prepare the medicine.
“Early spring,” Zhao Shu called out.
After a busy early spring, she said, "Please give your orders, Princess."
"Let's help Aunt and Miss Sun back."
Huo Danlan and Sun Yun didn't move. Huo Danlan said, "Ajun, be good, come back with your aunt."
Zhao Shu shook her head. Her mind was blank, as if all her wisdom and strength had been drained. She was dedicated to getting the Crown Prince to the throne, but he was being tormented again and again. Was she wrong? Should she not have made things so difficult for the Crown Prince? Should she have found someone else to cooperate with?
But she was unwilling, so unwilling. Why could Zhao Bi marry the eldest daughter of the Sun family and gain their help for nothing? Why did her brother, the Crown Prince, have to suffer so much? No, she couldn't admit defeat, she couldn't compromise! But her heart ached so much. The person in the house whose life was hanging by a thread was the only brother who trusted her and treated her like family.
“Ah Jun, how about this? My aunt and I will take turns taking your place, okay? Your Highness the Crown Prince hasn’t even recovered yet, and you’re already on the verge of collapse. When Prince Yong comes back and sees you like this, he’ll be heartbroken. Ah Jun, think of Prince Yong, think of the Empress Dowager,” Sun Yun said worriedly.
Zhao Shu nodded, "Auntie, Ayun, you go and rest first, and come back to relieve me later."
Yes, she can't collapse. Those people want to destroy the Crown Prince and prevent her from changing her fate. She absolutely cannot collapse!
Seeing that she finally agreed, Huo Danlan and Sun Yuncai went down happily. As soon as the two left, Xiao Zhuzi came over and said, "Princess, a letter has arrived from the capital."
"Give it to me." She reached out her hand, and Xiao Zhuzi placed the letter in her hand. The people around were too far away to see the contents of the letter.
Unfolding the letter, one finds it recounting all the major events that have recently occurred in the capital, including the engagement between Liuli and the eldest son of the Hao family. Upon reading this, Zhao Shu understands and realizes whose hand Consort Hao is using.
The letter also mentioned the Wei family. The eldest daughter of the Wei family was engaged to the eldest son of the Sun family, but the Sun family broke off the engagement with the Xie family. When political views differ, even the best daughter-in-law can be abandoned without hesitation. Xie Jinhuan is quite wise and is definitely capable of being the eldest daughter-in-law of the Sun family. Back then, it was rumored that the eldest grandson of the Sun family was six years older than Xie Jinhuan, and he delayed her until she was over twenty years old in order to wait for her to grow up.
Looking back now, it was nothing but a joke.
As for other matters, Wei Tingsi wrote them all in the letter last time. No, there's one more thing: Mr. Huo Baichuan has become the dream lover of the noble ladies in the capital. Even when he sneezes, people rush to imitate him.
Although the aristocratic families' right to recommend candidates has not been abolished and the imperial examination has not yet been officially recognized, Huo Baichuan still did not look down on the lowly status of the imperial examination and won the title of Zhuangyuan in one fell swoop. In order to allow him to participate in the imperial examination this year, Emperor Mingde changed the time of the imperial examination, changing the time of the imperial examination in March to the beginning of November.
Moreover, many scholars, especially those from near the capital, also took the exams along with him. Now, a new group of virtuous and ambitious people have emerged in the capital, many of whom follow Huo Baichuan, leading the Huo, Xie, and Yan families in a war of words with the Sun, Yang, and Wei families, whose followers are even more numerous.
Although the Huo, Xie, and Yan families were also first-class aristocratic families, their political views affected the interests of all aristocratic families, so the Sun, Yang, and Wei families received more support.
This unequal power struggle and institutional reforms will likely take several years to conclude.
If you win, you'll be remembered for eternity; if you lose, the grass on your grave will grow three meters high, and no one will even think to help you pull it out.
She can't interfere in these matters, but she can still find opportunities to do things.
After tearing the letter into pieces, Xiao Zhuzi very sensibly handed over a teacup, put the shredded paper into the teacup, and said, "Princess, a message from the leader of the Borrowed Sword Pavilion says that the Prince will arrive in Guanzhou in the next two days."
Zhao Shu smiled, relieved that her father had returned safely. "Did you come from the capital?"
"His Majesty has decreed that the Prince need not return to the capital, but should come to Guanzhou to fulfill his filial duties and spend the New Year with the Empress Dowager." Xiao Zhuzi told Zhao Shu the latest good news.
Zhao Shu nodded, signaling him to continue, "The affairs of the estate are almost settled. It's freezing cold today, and there are probably quite a few new faces. This servant would like to go to the market, and it will take at least three to five days to return. I have come here specifically to ask for the Princess's permission."
"Go ahead, keep your eyes open. If you're not good at judging people, take Granny Zhuang with you." Older people have more experience and are better at judging people.
Xiao Zhu shook his head, "Granny is busy making shampoo and conditioner these days, how could I trouble her? Bring her back, Princess, you can take a look. If she's suitable, we'll keep her; if not, we can resell her."
"Go ahead," Zhao Shu said without further ado.
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