"Your Majesty, if it were only me who suffered this humiliation, it would be a minor matter." His words made Emperor Chongde frown subconsciously. If this was a minor matter, could there be something even more outrageous?
Shen Ci hesitated, and the emperor's gaze darkened: "If you have anything else to say, please speak freely!"
Shen Ci closed his eyes, looking as if he had to get this off his chest: "When I was at the princess's residence, I happened to see one of the entertainers the princess had invited who looked remarkably like His Highness the Crown Prince. I don't know if it was a coincidence or..."
Shen Ci's words were like a thunderbolt, instantly changing the expressions of Emperor Chongde and Eunuch Fu!
Emperor Chongde's eyes had turned cold: "Shen Qing, are you sure you didn't see wrong?"
Shen Ci replied firmly, "I have confirmed this several times before I dared to draw this conclusion. If Your Majesty does not disbelieve me, you may send someone to verify it personally."
Emperor Chongde's expression shifted rapidly, and after a long while, he finally spoke: "This matter is of great importance. Shen Qing, you must not let anyone else know about today's conversation."
Shen Ci respectfully lowered his eyes: "Your Majesty, I understand."
"By imperial decree, the Prince of Yun'an is willful and reckless, and has repeatedly refused to change his ways. He shall remain in his residence to reflect on his mistakes and shall not leave without my permission!" Emperor Chongde's eyes were cold, and his tone was already tinged with anger.
Eunuch Fu knew why he was so angry, and thought to himself:
The princess has really bitten off more than she can chew this time!
As he left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Shen Ci's lips curled up slightly.
——
Chi Yan brought this news to Shen Tangning, and seeing that she showed no surprise, his eyes immediately became somewhat meaningful:
"You knew all along?"
She didn't deny it: "A little earlier than you."
“That’s not right.” Chi Yan rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully, staring at her suspiciously. “That blockhead Shen Ci, you didn’t discuss it with him beforehand, so how did he understand what you meant?”
Shen Tangning put down what she was doing and looked at him calmly: "Do you know why His Majesty was so angry when he heard that one of the entertainers raised by Princess Yun'an looked very much like the Crown Prince?"
Chi Yan probed, "Because the Crown Prince is the heir apparent? If this gets out, it's not exactly something to be proud of!"
Yun'an deliberately kept someone who looked exactly like the Crown Prince in his residence. Wasn't this a deliberate act of humiliation?
“Not entirely.” Shen Tangning shook her head, her gaze becoming somewhat unfocused. “In the previous dynasty, there was an emperor who was the illegitimate child born from the incestuous relationship between a princess and a prince. This emperor was cruel by nature, and the people suffered greatly during his reign until a peasant uprising ended this decades-long tyranny.”
"From then on, the royal family became very wary of such matters. His Majesty probably thought of that royal scandal from back then and mistakenly believed that Yun'an had some unknown feelings for the Crown Prince."
She deliberately had Yu Shu dress the entertainer up to resemble the Crown Prince, as a backup plan.
If Yun An hadn't suspected her own background and killed someone to cover it up, there would still be another trap waiting for her here.
Shen Tangning smiled and said, "Unfortunately, Aci has also heard this story."
Therefore, when Shen Ci saw the entertainer, he was able to understand her meaning.
Yun'an is trapped in the princess's residence and cannot communicate with Consort Li, so the misunderstanding between mother and daughter will only deepen.
In a moment of desperation, what would she do?
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