The Empress Dowager's birthday has passed, and the princes should prepare to return home.
And those who came from various countries to offer their birthday greetings should gradually return home.
Tazhu and Shu Chengfeng were good friends of the opposite sex and genuinely admired each other. It was just a pity that His Majesty was too suspicious.
Shu Chengfeng ultimately did not invite her to his residence.
Only at the final farewell was a table set up at the post station.
This time, the crown prince did not bring his family.
The fifth prince of Taju and Luo Ren has changed somewhat in a short period of time. Although the fifth prince says that he will inherit the throne.
But everyone could see that he had a good relationship with his brother, and his brother treated him well in every way.
He wouldn't actually fight his brother for the throne.
Upon returning, they would soon be going to Mengzhu Kingdom for a marriage alliance.
Among the various kingdoms of the Western Regions, Mengzhu was the largest. Its economy was prosperous, and its people were wealthy. It also possessed technologies, grains, spices, and other resources that other countries lacked.
The fifth prince's marriage alliance will surely make him the king of Mengzhu Kingdom. This will also be good for Luo Ren.
Besides, the two countries are not far apart, at most separated by two major cities.
The culture is pretty much the same.
There was another couple, the eldest prince of Gan Gong and the crown princess of the Nü Zhu Kingdom, who actually had a brief affair.
However, these two people are definitely not meant to be together; they need to be far apart. Neither of them is willing to compromise for the other.
After Shu Chengfeng bid them farewell, they were all due to leave the capital. Prince Gan Gong was already departing today. He didn't mind the lateness, and they didn't care about the time.
When Shu Chengfeng returned to his residence and spoke to Yan Nangui in Jiyue Pavilion, Yan Nangui was quite surprised.
Shu Chengfeng smiled: "There has always been a view among the Western Regions that the people of the Central Plains or the Northern Regions are inherently more warlike. They also have a domineering side that the Western Regions lack. Therefore, there are quite a few princesses in history who did this. They actually wanted to have a relationship with the emperor of the Central Plains."
It would be best to take a baby back with you.
They admire great powers and are eager to possess the royal bloodline of those great powers.
Clearly, Shu Chengfeng would not cooperate with this.
His Majesty would not be interested in the Crown Princess of the Nüzhu Kingdom.
Therefore, the Crown Princess of Zhu State was settling for second best.
They might not be able to bring the baby back with them, but they're willing to try.
It must be said that different places have different customs, which are quite unique.
The two were chatting when they saw Eunuch Liu running over from the front yard.
"What's wrong?" Yun Ji asked hurriedly.
"There's something in the palace that needs Your Highness's attention. Go now." Eunuch Liu didn't say much, but his expression showed his urgency.
Yun Ji nodded.
I called out through the window.
Shu Chengfeng frowned slightly: "Okay."
He stood up and patted Yan Nangui's hand: "I'm leaving first."
"Hmm." Yan Nangui saw the person out without saying anything, only bowing.
After he left, she said, "Something must have happened, right?"
"Should I go and inquire?" Jiangxiang asked.
"Let's go later; we probably won't find out anything now."
The incense has been offered.
In the front courtyard, Eunuch Xu was in a great hurry. Upon seeing Shu Chengfeng, he hurriedly greeted him: "Your Highness, please come to the palace immediately! Consort Zhen has miscarried, and Your Highness suspects the Empress. She has been confined to her quarters since last night."
Only today have they been allowed to act.
"What else?" Shu Chengfeng's expression was grim.
“The Consort Zhen ate something she shouldn’t have, but nothing was found in Fengxiang Palace.” Eunuch Xu explained in detail, thinking to himself.
"What? The palace was searched?" Shu Chengfeng's face turned ashen.
"Yes, His Majesty personally led his men here last night, and we servants were powerless to stop him. Even the Empress couldn't stop him... nor did she dare to interfere too much." Wouldn't interfering too much indicate a guilty conscience?
"Hmph!" Shu Chengfeng clenched his fist tightly: "Since that's the case, go and tell the Empress Dowager to calm down. The Empress Dowager, being confined to her quarters for no reason, will not let this matter go so easily."
Eunuch Xu was taken aback: "Your Highness, aren't you going to take a look?"
"No need, I have my own plans. You just go and serve the Empress well." Shu Chengfeng waved his hand.
What are we going to see? What use is there in entering the palace now?
Since His Majesty refuses to publicly acknowledge the Empress's faults, his entry into the palace will only result in him being caught in the middle.
Why bother?
It would be better to exert force from the outside.
Eunuch Xu hesitated before going.
Upon returning to the palace, the Empress was not angry when she heard these words, but she was somewhat dissatisfied.
But the reasoning is correct.
Indeed, what can the Crown Prince do if he enters the palace now? Beg on his knees? Perhaps that would work, but not only would the Crown Prince be unwilling, but the Empress would also be unwilling.
The mother and son had long lost any respect for Shu Zhongjing. It was simply because he was the emperor, and they were mostly powerless to oppose him.
"Tell me, how could that wretched woman have miscarried? Who did it?" the Empress asked calmly.
"This is really hard to investigate. Anyone could be involved. Who in this palace truly likes her?" Aunt Fei sighed. "Your Majesty, don't worry. His Highness the Crown Prince is out there and has his own methods. His Majesty doesn't dare to directly convict you; he's just being annoying."
Although she was a palace maid, she had grown tired of seeing this over the years.
That's disgusting.
"Hmph. I'd like to see how else he can disgust me!" The Empress was utterly disgusted.
"Your Majesty, Ye Lingyi has arrived," a palace maid announced from outside.
"What is she doing here?" The Empress frowned, then thought for a moment and said, "Let her in."
Ye Lingyi entered and greeted the Empress: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"I am currently under house arrest, what are you doing here? I don't want to involve you," the Empress said.
"Your Majesty, what you say is true. I am a member of the Ye family just like you, and we share weal and woe. If you hadn't forbade me yesterday, I would have come yesterday," Ye Lingyi sighed.
"Alright, please sit down," the Empress sighed.
Ye Lingyi was never favored by the emperor. Although she gave birth to a prince, her rank never rose.
Of course, it's because she's a member of the Ye family. The reason the Empress dislikes her is simply because the Duke of Ye didn't discuss it with the Empress beforehand when he sent her in.
But to be honest, Ye Lingyi was able to stay in the palace because of the Empress; otherwise, how could she have done so well?
"There are too many suspicious points about Consort Zhen's miscarriage. In fact, I suspect even more that she was really pregnant. Do you remember Consort Liu from that year? She said she was pregnant and wanted His Majesty to accompany her every day, but in the end she was not pregnant at all."
The Empress pondered for a moment: "You're right. But Consort Zhen's pregnancy was examined by seven or eight imperial physicians. It can't be faked easily."
“Yes, although it cannot be faked, there are too many people in the harem who are not on good terms with her. The Empress has been implicated innocently, so she should not suffer in vain,” said Ye Lingyi.
"Oh? What are your thoughts?" the Queen asked, looking at her.
"Consort Wan and Consort Fang are currently favored by the emperor, but their power base is not deep, so they probably won't accomplish anything. Besides, the harem needs people like them." Someone has to replace Consort Zhen.
The Empress also agreed with this.
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