She gently closed the book, her tone still gentle: "Chi Yue, don't worry, these are just rumors."
Her voice was as gentle as the autumn wind, as if the unbearable rumors before her were just an insignificant drizzle, not enough to wet her clothes.
Fang Chiyue frowned slightly, clearly finding it difficult to accept such an attitude. "But sister, reputation is the foundation of a woman's life. If they make up stories like this, how are you going to live your life from now on?"
Fang Qingyue smiled faintly upon hearing this, her eyes full of calmness.
She gently raised her hand, picked up a osmanthus petal that had fallen on the page, and whispered, "Chi Yue, you must remember that rumors stop at the wise."
"The more you rush to clarify, the more guilty you'll make people feel."
"Instead of rushing to defend ourselves, it's better to wait and see what happens and let these people spread those boring words on their own."
Her voice was neither hurried nor slow, as if she had everything under control.
Although Fang Chiyue knew that Fang Qingyue was always calm and intelligent, she was still uneasy because the rumors were so fierce and the content was so unbearable.
She hesitated for a moment and couldn't help asking, "Then...if this rumor continues to spread, are you really not going to do anything?"
Fang Qingyue looked at Fang Chiyue quietly, with a hint of coldness in her eyes.
She said softly, "What needs to be done will be done naturally, but not in a quick and easy way."
"Since these rumors can spread so quickly, there must be someone behind the scenes fanning the flames."
Her gaze sank slightly, and a sharp gleam appeared in her eyes, as if she had already made a clear judgment on the source behind the rumors.
"Sister, what you mean is..." Fang Chiyue was stunned for a moment and asked hesitantly.
"Just catch the person who's causing the trouble."
On the other side, in the imperial study, the emperor leaned against the dragon throne, his brows furrowed and his face showing fatigue.
The mountain of memorials on the desk had not yet been reviewed, and several cabinet ministers stood aside, waiting cautiously.
Several important decisions discussed in court today are still pending, and the emperor is clearly feeling overwhelmed.
"Your Majesty, these...these matters concerning the deployment of border garrisons."
"We have discussed this for a long time, but we still haven't reached a consensus."
A university scholar hesitated for a moment, then finally stepped forward and spoke, his voice filled with embarrassment.
When the emperor heard this, his brows furrowed even more tightly, and his eyes swept across the several memorials on the desk with obvious fatigue in them.
He had realized a few days ago that the government was difficult to control, that the cabinet ministers each held their own opinions, and that important matters in the court were difficult to advance.
After Shen Yuhan was confined to the palace, the court became particularly difficult without him.
"Your Majesty, if the deployment of the border garrisons is delayed any further, it will likely affect the deployment of the war front."
Another minister bowed and said anxiously, "I believe this matter should be dealt with urgently. Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible."
The emperor closed his eyes slightly, feeling a little irritated.
He also knew that the deployment of border garrisons was crucial, and if the wrong decision was made, the situation on the front line would become passive.
But right now, there are endless debates in the court, and the forces of various parties are intertwined, making it difficult for him to make a decision easily.
"Let's discuss this matter... later." The emperor waved his hand tiredly, his tone revealing helplessness.
Several ministers looked at each other and dared not say anything more.
Li Dequan, the personal eunuch standing by, saw this and immediately stepped forward and asked softly, "Your Majesty, would you like to rest for a moment?"
The emperor waved his hand, sighed, rubbed his brow, and murmured, "Shen Yuhan... If he were here, these things wouldn't have been delayed until now."
As soon as he finished speaking, the feeling of helplessness in his heart became stronger.
"His Majesty……"
A middle-aged eunuch wearing a purple robe and with a thin face spoke beside him. He was the new personal eunuch named Li Dequan.
As for the eunuch who had accompanied the emperor before, he was nowhere to be seen. Now, Li An acted properly and was deeply trusted by the emperor.
"What are your commands, Your Majesty?"
Li Dequan looked at the emperor's slightly tired expression and spoke cautiously, "Lord Shen has been confined to his palace for many days. Now that the situation in the court is chaotic, can... the order to confine Lord Shen be lifted?"
When the emperor heard this, his expression changed slightly and his brows relaxed.
After thinking for a moment, he nodded slowly, his tone revealing a bit of helplessness: "You are right, the current situation cannot be delayed any longer, I... really need Shen Yuhan to come back."
He turned to look at Li Dequan, his eyes filled with anxiety: "Go, pass on my order to lift Shen Yuhan's house arrest order and quickly let him return to the palace to discuss matters."
Li Dequan quickly responded, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will do it."
…
Inside the Shen Mansion, the glow of the setting sun shone on the high walls of the mansion, and sweet-scented osmanthus flowers fell in the courtyard, with a rich fragrance, seemingly unrelated to the disturbances of the outside world.
Ever since Shen Yuhan was confined to his house, the mansion has been exceptionally quiet.
However, under this calmness, there were undercurrents. The servants all knew that the Marquis had never really relaxed his mind.
Shen Yuhan was standing in the study at this moment, gazing out the window calmly.
Since he was ordered by the emperor to be under house arrest, although he was isolated from all court affairs, his ears and eyes were not completely blocked.
He knew everything that happened in the court and was well aware of the disputes among the court officials.
He was not anxious, but instead used the time of confinement to think.
Although the emperor temporarily lost his assistant, but considering the emperor's character.
Eventually they will realize his importance and lift his house arrest order sooner or later.
Shen Yuhan understood that as long as there were problems in the government, he would still have a foothold.
The situation is changing rapidly and it is still unknown who will be able to win.
At this moment, hurried footsteps were heard and the study door was knocked gently.
"My Lord, Eunuch Li has arrived from the palace and said there is an urgent imperial decree."
The attendant reported in a low voice outside the door, with a hint of respect in his tone.
Shen Yuhan's eyes darkened slightly, a cold light flashed in his eyes. He nodded gently and said calmly: "Let him in."
A moment later, Li Dequan walked into the study carrying the imperial edict.
With a smile on his face, he bowed respectfully and said, "My Lord, congratulations. His Majesty has issued an order to lift your house arrest order and ask you to return to the palace as soon as possible to discuss matters."
He presented the imperial edict with both hands. Shen Yuhan took it, raised his brows slightly, and a faint sneer flashed across his heart.
Li Dequan observed Shen Yuhan's expression and saw that he hadn't taken any action after receiving the order. He couldn't help but feel anxious and said, "My Lord, His Majesty hopes that you will return to the palace to discuss matters as soon as possible. There are many important matters in the court now, and they all depend on you to make the decision."
Shen Yuhan glanced at him calmly and said calmly, "Since the imperial edict has been received, Eunuch Li can go back."
Li Dequan was stunned, seemingly not understanding what Shen Yuhan meant: "My Lord, your house arrest has been lifted. Now is the time for you to take control of the situation again. You..."
"No need to say more."
Shen Yuhan interrupted Li Dequan, his expression stern and his gaze as unfathomable as a deep pool. "This Marquis was confined for a fault, and now he hasn't reflected on his mistakes. How can he come before His Majesty?"
"I should continue to repent in the palace and should not rush to resume my post just because of an imperial edict."
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