"Brother, what exactly is going on? Why are people outside saying that the woman has become the young lady of the Duke of Ling's mansion? We've picked up a sesame seed but lost a watermelon."
Shen Ru had heard the people talking about it more than once while walking on the street. Seeing that they were talking about it in a very detailed and detailed way, she couldn't help but rush back to ask for clarification.
Shen Feng's face was frighteningly gloomy. If it weren't for Shen Ru's instigation, he wouldn't have written the letter of divorce. He immediately replied irritably, "It's just what you heard."
"Brother, isn't she a merchant's daughter? How could she be involved with the Duke of Ling's mansion?" Shen Ru didn't notice Shen Feng's gaze; her mind was completely focused on what she had just heard, and she was somewhat frantic.
The woman she had always looked down upon had become the daughter of a powerful minister, with a higher status than her. How could Shen Ru possibly accept this?
At this moment, upon hearing the news, Old Madam Shen also slowly walked out of the room, her face equally gloomy.
"Feng'er, no matter what, you've been married for over twenty years. Don't give up on so many years of relationship just because of a moment of anger."
Yu Niang is soft-hearted. Say a few kind words to her, and she'll forgive you out of consideration for your past relationship.
Old Mrs. Shen was shrewd as ever. She didn't stop Shen Feng from writing the letter of divorce, but now that she knows Shen's mother's identity, she sees an opportunity to profit and has started scheming again.
“Mother is right, I’ve got it.” Shen Feng nodded seriously, he and Madam Shen were on the same page in this regard.
Ye Rou overheard the mother and son's scheme from the shadows. She gritted her teeth in hatred. Having finally overcome all hardships, she would never allow her mother to suppress her again.
Now, only Shu'er can help her.
*
The Imperial Palace, Zhongcui Hall.
"I heard that your adoptive mother is the daughter of the Duke of Ling's family who went missing many years ago, and has now been recognized by her ancestors." Consort Cheng opened her tightly closed eyes and gave Shen Jinshu a rare kind look.
“My daughter-in-law and mother have always had a deep bond; they are not blood relatives, but their relationship is closer than that of blood relatives. My daughter-in-law is very happy that my mother has been able to find her family.”
Shen Jinshu was such a clever person; she immediately understood Consort Cheng's unspoken meaning, intentionally or unintentionally revealing the deep mother-daughter bond between herself and her mother.
Consort Cheng smiled enigmatically, scrutinizing Shen Jinshu with interest. "But I've heard that she utterly despises you and your birth mother?"
"The kindness of raising a child is greater than the kindness of giving birth to them. The relationship between a daughter-in-law and her mother is unparalleled. The mother is just having trouble accepting it for a while. More than ten years of affection cannot be erased with just a few words."
Shen Jinshu spoke with certainty. Her mother had always doted on her and didn't even care about her own daughter for her sake, so how could she change her attitude because of her status?
Consort Cheng smiled genuinely this time, "That's excellent. Xuan'er has always wanted to be on good terms with the Duke of Ling's mansion, but he hasn't been able to find an opportunity. If you can persuade Madam Shen, it will be a great help to Xuan'er."
"Your Highness, I understand. If I can help you, I will do my best." Shen Jinshu was very tactful, saying only what Consort Cheng wanted to hear, which earned her a few kind looks.
If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it grass.
Consort Cheng, well aware of this, offered a benefit: "The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet is in a few days. She has always liked you, so you should come along as well."
"Thank you, Mother Consort." Shen Jinshu readily agreed, though the upturned corners of her mouth betrayed her joy despite her best efforts to suppress it.
Consort Cheng's words were likely a tacit acknowledgment of her identity.
In truth, she should thank her "mother" properly; without her, she might not have been able to satisfy Consort Cheng.
*
"The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet is in a few days, and that will be the best opportunity. Whether we can bring down Prince Li depends on that day." Su Jinyang tapped the table lightly with his index finger, frowned in deep thought, and didn't drink a drop of tea for a long time.
Pei Qingyan saw through the true nature of Prince Li hidden behind his gentle mask at a glance. "But Prince Li is suspicious by nature and has always been cautious. It won't be so easy to get close to him."
Jiang Jiyao, leaning lazily against the window, waved the fan in his hand. "This is indeed a difficult problem."
Jiang Jiyao rubbed his chin with a look of anticipation, a slight smile playing on his lips. The Prince of Li was truly capable, managing to make Pei Qingyan, that "black-hearted bastard," so wary. It seemed he was indeed not easy to deal with.
Song Zhiyu chuckled twice, raised her hand to pour tea, and said, "I was prepared. It's time to put this hidden piece to use after being buried for so long."
Upon hearing this, Pei Qingyan glanced at Song Zhiyu with slight surprise. The two exchanged a smile, seemingly understanding each other's thoughts.
"But is it related to the 'grain transport embezzlement case' that you asked me to investigate in secret before?" Pei Qingyan's eyes flashed, instantly connecting all the things he found suspicious. Although he asked in a questioning tone, his guess was pretty much right.
Song Zhiyu nodded slightly. She didn't make her words too explicit, lest someone overhear and it put Su Ying in a disadvantageous position.
But everyone present was intelligent, so how could they not understand the implied meaning?
"Indeed, the 'grain transport embezzlement case' that shocked the dynasty back then killed countless innocent people, while the culprit lived on unscathed, still powerful and respected by the people. How can those who live on for revenge be content?"
"Regarding that case from back then, all the clues I found point to Prince Li and the one imprisoned in the Xuanming Pavilion. Coupled with the Lishan incident, it's enough to bring down Prince Li."
Pei Qingyan never expected that Song Zhiyu had been playing a long game all along, aiming to ensure that Prince Li could never recover.
If all the evidence they have now is presented to His Majesty, not only will they be completely ineligible for the throne, but they might not even be able to keep their status as princes.
But this was not Song Zhiyu's ultimate goal.
This is something you either don't do at all, or you do it thoroughly.
Otherwise, leaving the king behind will inevitably lead to endless troubles sooner or later.
Su Jinyang's pursed lips held a hint of helplessness. "It's just a pity that the private soldiers raised by the Prince of Li are too well hidden, and we can't wipe them all out in one fell swoop."
"Third Brother, we're not the ones who should be worried," Song Zhiyu said calmly and seriously.
The Prince of Li has held sway in the court for many years, his power is deeply entrenched, and he has also raised a considerable number of private soldiers, making him a force to be reckoned with.
Such an ambitious person would naturally not be content to remain subservient to others forever.
What they need to do is amplify the ambitions of the King of Li and become the driving force behind it.
Of course, before that, she needed to contact someone.
*
The Duke of Ling's Mansion.
It's unclear how many times this has happened, but Shen Feng has shamelessly come to her door again, bringing up his more than twenty years of marriage with his mother, implying that he wants her to go back.
But he didn't even get to see Shen's mother before Ling Wushuang sent people to drive him away.
After several such incidents, Shen Feng became afraid. Under Shen Rushan's intentional or unintentional persuasion, he even started to plot against Shen Yuzhou and the others.
Their more than 20 years of marriage may not seem like much, but those sons must be real, right?
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