Because Ning Zhaoyi's mother's family was not prominent, there was nothing she could do to help the Ninth Prince, which was exactly what the Emperor wanted to see.

The Third Prince's methods are endless. Although they don't cause any big impact, it's still annoying. Pei Lingfeng knew everything very quickly because he had been watching the Third Prince's every move. He sneered in his heart. In his previous life, he ended up like that because of the Third Prince. If he didn't jump around now, he wouldn't have found a suitable opportunity to kill him. Now he has been delivered to his door.

Pei Lingfeng thought he knew the current emperor quite well, and he also wanted to establish a good relationship with the Ninth Prince in this life, so that the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion would still be the mainstay of the court after he ascended the throne. So he handed all the evidence to the emperor.

The emperor was already very angry about what the Zhong family had done, and he also had a grudge against the third prince, but after all, he was his son whom he had doted on for many years, so he had just been cold to him all these years and had not suppressed him.

But now the emperor doesn't think so. He thinks that the third prince is worthy of being a descendant of the Zhong family, but considering that he is his own son, he immediately issued an imperial decree to grant the third prince the title of Shun County Prince and a fiefdom, and ordered him to set off within half a month.

The Third Prince was stunned by this imperial decree. He went to the Emperor to plead for mercy, but how could the Emperor do as he wished? He threw the evidence in his face, saying that if he did not go to his fief, he would be imprisoned in the royal prison and would never come out again.

If the Third Prince hadn't done anything that would anger the heavens and the people, the Emperor would really want to abolish his royal status. But now the Third Prince is not much better off. He only has the status of a prince. If the new emperor ascends the throne in the future, he can be promoted to a prince if they have a good relationship. But the Ninth Prince knows everything he has done, so how could he do something that threatens his own status?

Half a month later, the Third Prince left the capital with only a hundred guards. Pei Lingfeng and Xiao Yunrou watched him leave in secret and breathed a sigh of relief. When Xiao Yunrou was reborn, she did want to kill the Third Prince, but he was a prince, and she was not sure that she would not leave any evidence. If she was discovered, her family would be confiscated and her clan would be exterminated.

However, after so many years, the Zhong family fell, and the traitor was eliminated. He could no longer murder her or the people she cared about like he did in his previous life. After he left his fiefdom, he no longer had a lot of money and support. He would no longer be able to organize an army and march into the capital, and would no longer be a threat. She was living a comfortable life now, and if possible, she didn't want to have any blood on her hands.

After the emperor had taught the ninth prince for a year, his initial thought of "only this son seems okay" changed to "this is his best son", so on a sunny morning, he issued an edict to appoint the ninth prince as the crown prince.

At this point, there was no more objection in the court. The Ninth Prince's efforts over the past year were recognized by all the ministers, and everything went smoothly.

After the ceremony of enthronement, the new crown prince successfully entered the court to discuss matters. Ning Zhaoyi, because she became the crown prince's biological mother, was promoted again to the highest-ranking imperial concubine in the palace, in charge of the six palaces. As the Ning family was the backing of the new crown prince, the emperor seemed to think that the sixth-rank official was too low, so he promoted them to the fifth-rank Yuwenlang of the Ministry of Works, with the right to attend the morning court, but there was no more.

This year, other princes and their mothers also discovered that the emperor did not want another prince with a strong maternal family to become the crown prince, and he intentionally or unintentionally weakened the power of the noble families in Daliang. As the capital city with the most power, the families began to secretly unite and reduce their power, which meant that they had less power and influence, which was not good for the future of the family.

As the emperor's most trusted mansion, Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion became the one that all parties wanted to win over. However, Pei Lingfeng did not buy it. Since the emperor revealed this intention, he has been closed to visitors and has not contacted them privately.

However, Pei Lingyun and Pei Lingzhi, who have relied on the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion to get to where they are today, are somewhat uneasy. They will separate sooner or later, and with the protection of the Marquis Mansion they will always be much better off than with others. If the power of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion is stripped away, then they will be just a powerless branch of the Marquis Mansion, and they will have fewer opportunities in the future. However, seeing Pei Lingfeng's attitude, they dare not conspire with others, and can only be careful not to leave any handle for themselves.

The emperor made the reduction of power the biggest political game in his later years. Although he did not make any drastic changes, gradually, the nobles in the capital were affected to varying degrees.

Xiao Yunrou didn't care much about this. If the emperor wanted to reduce the power, then he could do so. The Marquis of Zhenyuan was a hereditary title bestowed by the Emperor. No matter how difficult it was, as long as the Marquis did not commit treason, no emperor would touch the title. At most, they would take action on rewards, money, and military power.

Shen is fifty years old this year, and her health is getting worse every year. The old marquis has just finished his mourning period, and Shen is sick again. She has been quietly taking care of the old marquis in Zhining Courtyard these days, and has refused all the ladies who want to come to her to inquire about her news.

However, today, people from the Changning Marquis' Mansion came to the door. They were Shen's family members, so Xiao Yunrou naturally couldn't keep them out and could only invite them in.

"Aunt, you must save Lord Hou. He is your own brother!"

Someone came in, saw Shen, and rushed to the bed and started crying, which frightened Shen.

"Sister-in-law, what happened? What happened to my brother?"

Lady Changning Marquis wiped her tears and said that she would sort things out in a short while.

The Changning Marquisate has been declining over the years. If Shen had not married into the Zhenyuan Marquisate, it would have lost its power and status long ago. Shen has helped her family a lot over the years, but the children have no future. They are neither good at literature nor martial arts. Even if they are given conveniences, they cannot get promoted. This time the emperor took action, and the Changning Marquisate was on the first list.

However, Marquis Changning was not willing to give up. He had no way to ask Pei Lingfeng for help, so he joined forces with others. However, their secret plan was discovered before it was accomplished. Now Marquis Changning was thrown into jail, and the wife of Marquis Changning had no choice but to come to Shen and ask Pei Lingfeng for help.

"Quick, call Feng'er back." Shen was anxious and asked Xiao Yunrou to pass the message.

Xiao Yunrou brought Shen a cup of hot tea and looked at the wife of Marquis Changning coldly.

"Mother, I feel that I cannot ask the Marquis for help on this matter."

The wife of Marquis Changning had never had a good impression of Xiao Yunrou, and they had always had a mild relationship over the years. But this time, she couldn't help it, and stood up and said in a sharp voice:

"What do you mean? That's his uncle. He's already in jail. Feng'er should find a way to get him out! What do you mean by holding him back now? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you're a marquis' wife?"

Xiao Yunrou sneered. Shen was coughing and unable to speak, but she glared at her to express her dissatisfaction and anger.

"It is a foregone conclusion that the Emperor wants to reduce the power of the royal family and nobles, and he has even started. There are many noble families that have not joined forces, and the Emperor just didn't do anything because he didn't find evidence. Now you are not staying at home quietly waiting for the Emperor's will, but you have to go and ask the Emperor to kill the Changning Marquis' Mansion as a warning to others?"

Xiao Yunrou's words made Lady Changning very angry. Seeing that she didn't understand, Xiao Yunrou sneered:

"If uncle could not get involved in this matter, the emperor might remember the good things about the Changning Marquisate and be gentler at that time, so the title might be kept. But what about now? The emperor will not tolerate the violation of the emperor's will and the attempt to make the emperor's order impossible to execute. The title is definitely lost. Now my aunt asked the marquis to help, which is to push the Zhenyuan Marquisate out to die. The Zhenyuan Marquisate has been inherited from generation to generation, and the emperor has no chance to reduce the title. Does my aunt want the Zhenyuan Marquisate to disappear in the capital as well?"

The wife of Marquis Changning turned pale and blue in the face. Xiao Yunrou ignored her and turned to talk to Shen:

"Mother, this is about the Marquis' Mansion, so your daughter-in-law has to be careful. The Marquis has made great contributions in protecting the imperial city for many years. The reason why the emperor has not taken action against the Marquis' Mansion for so long may not be because of the Marquis' diligence and loyalty to the emperor. If you ask the Marquis to plead for your uncle at this moment, it will inevitably make the emperor dissatisfied, and the Marquis' Mansion will decline. How can you face those ancestors who died on the battlefield in exchange for the Marquis' Mansion's hundred years of glory?"

Shen was persuaded. Although she was attached to her natal family, she was a married woman and her son belonged to the Marquis of Zhenyuan Mansion, not the Marquis of Changning Mansion. However, the Marquis of Changning Mansion were all her relatives, and she could not just ignore them.

"It's not that serious."

Shen still wanted to ask Pei Lingfeng for help, but Lady Changning was unwilling to give up, so she continued what Shen had said.

"You said Feng'er has made great contributions, so why did you sacrifice the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion to ask for a favor? Stop your scare talk. You just don't want us to live a good life and you just don't want to help!"

Xiao Yunrou secretly wondered if the wife of the Marquis of Changning had a head full of straw. She had been the wife of the Marquis for so many years but still couldn't see the situation in the capital clearly. Who would dare to get involved in this matter now?

The wife of the Marquis of Changning couldn't bear it any longer, and she also begged Xiao Yunrou.

"Yes, sister-in-law, just help your father-in-law. Just tell your cousin and he will definitely find a way."

Xiao Yunrou remained unmoved, took the teacup from Shen's hand, and said coldly:

"It is indeed not difficult to save my uncle's life, but it is impossible to save the title of the Marquis of Changning. Mother, even if the emperor takes back the title of the Marquis of Changning, he will not touch the family property that the Marquis has built. If you are still jumping up and down and make the emperor unhappy, then these things may all be confiscated in his rage."

When Shen heard this, her face turned extremely ugly, and the wife of Marquis Changning was also frightened.

"Aunt, I know you want to save my uncle. The Marquis will definitely help you with this matter, but it is impossible to get rid of the entire Changning Marquisate. Being able to keep the industry you have invested in is already the best result. As long as the Zhenyuan Marquisate is still there, you are not without support. If there are outstanding children in the family, they can make a comeback. But you insist on taking the Zhenyuan Marquisate with you now. Will you be satisfied only when the Zhenyuan Marquisate is also cleared out by the emperor?"

Finally, the wife of Marquis Changning left with a gloomy face. Shen also had a worried look on her face, looking at Xiao Yunrou, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

"Don't worry, mother. I will tell my uncle about my uncle when he comes back."

Xiao Yunrou thought about it and realized that it would not be difficult for Marquis Changning to get out of prison. As long as he submitted a petition stating that he was just confused for a moment and was willing to give up the title of Marquis Changning, the emperor would definitely release him for the sake of stability. In order to appease him, he would only take back the title and the land and mansions that were previously granted to him, and there would not be much change in other things.

However, Xiao Yunrou thought of Marquis Changning's greed, and wondered if he would be unwilling to do so.

"Well, what you said just now is true. As long as people are still alive, there is a possibility of a comeback. But when I think about how they will have a hard time in the future, I can't help but feel sad. I am not in good health, and Feng'er is not someone who would abuse his authority. What will they do when I am gone one day?"

Shen was worried, and she started coughing heavily when she thought of the bad things happening in her mother's family. Xiao Yunrou hurriedly brought a cup of tea to Shen, and a complicated look appeared in her eyes.

She had always thought that Shen favored her natal family, but she had never expected that Shen had seen through the people in Changning Marquis's Mansion. Because she saw through them, she wanted to help them more. It was a pity that there had not been a single promising son in all these years. Even if the emperor did not take action this time, judging from the descendants of Changning Marquis's Mansion, the decline would only take one generation.

"Mother should be taken good care of now, and these matters can be left to the Marquis to worry about."

Shen sighed and felt a headache thinking about her family.

In the evening, Pei Lingfeng came back and Xiao Yunrou told him what had happened during the day.

"I rejected my aunt right away, but it shouldn't be difficult for my uncle to get out. I don't know much about these court affairs, do you think what I told her today is correct?"

Pei Lingfeng knew that Xiao Yunrou was always smart, and had cooperated with him in not meeting those ladies these days. He didn't expect that she would be so tough in front of the wife of Marquis Changning, which saved him a lot of trouble.

"Yes, you are right. It is not difficult to rescue my uncle. As long as he hands over the title, his life will be saved. Tomorrow I will go to the prison to explain the pros and cons to him if he wants to live."

Seeing that Pei Lingfeng had the same idea as her, Xiao Yunrou was very happy and had a smile on her face.

The next day, Pei Lingfeng went to the prison. Not long after he came out, Marquis Changning submitted a letter of willingness to give up his title, adding bricks and tiles to the emperor's plan to reduce his title. The emperor did not want to kill Marquis Changning, so he released him and took back the title of Marquis Changning and the good land and shops that were given when he was conferred the title in his early years. The remaining property still belonged to the Shen family.

The Shen family was exhausted after this incident. Without his title, he had no power in the court. In addition, he was old, so he submitted his resignation and returned to his hometown. Only the former Changning Marquis's son and his family were left in the capital, serving as officials of the sixth rank.

After this incident, those people in the capital who had secretly united did not dare to act rashly. They just had to wait and see whether the emperor would cut those who should be cut or reduce those who should be reduced in the coming year. Except for a few people who were truly loyal to the emperor, there would be no changes in their residences, and others would not dare to make any more irresponsible comments.

After cleaning out the corrupt officials in the court, the emperor was very satisfied with the biggest political decision of his later years, which brought him so much rewards. He gave many rewards to those who supported him in the beginning, including the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion.