The Chief Clerk shuddered.
He stiffly turned around: "Sir...sir."
Cui Yun was emotionless, yet his words made the Chief Clerk tremble with fear: "Continue, I’m listening."
"I have sinned."
Jiang Zhao: "Indeed you have, and a punishnt is necessary to learn a lesson."
At that mont, Ying Er entered briskly with a solemn expression on his face.
"Sir, I have a matter to report."
Cui Yun instantly felt sothing was wrong; he withdrew his heavy gaze, laden with warning, from the Chief Clerk. Leading Ying Er into the usual office, he left these words behind: "If you stir up trouble again with your words, I will not spare you."
Ying Er closed the door and hurriedly said respectfully: "The news of the Crown Prince Consort’s miscarriage has been deliberately spread by so force. Seeing the montum, I fear that in less than 15 minutes, Shengjing City will be in uproar."
Cui Yun replied indifferently: "Couldn’t find out?"
"I am ashad. The party intended to evade detection and acted with extre caution. It’s really challenging to catch them red-handed, and they slipped away even after engaging with our people."
This matter was certainly preditated for a long ti.
Ying Er didn’t dare to hide: "This matter has not only affected Shengjing, but I’ve also received ssages from our agents in Hengzhou, East State, Xuyang, and other places. All these places have seen similar deliberate dissemination."
Emperor He didn’t want to escalate the issue. Yet so, contrary to his wishes, deliberately acted against it.
At this mont, the talk in the streets is varied and multifold.
All kinds of things are being said, mostly targeting the Imperial Family.
Cui Yun gave a sardonic smile.
"Both the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince are no easy targets. The succession of Eastern Palace is already thin, and who hard the Crown Prince Consort remains unknown."
Cui Yun, however, knew that ever since the incident involving Princess Le Jia, Crown Prince Ji Zhui seed as if he was cursed, finding life very difficult. His faction, the Crown Prince Faction, was even more like living on eggshells.
Perhaps it was the Fourth Prince kicking him while he was down, or perhaps this pregnancy was dood from the start, with Ji Zhui using this situation to drag the Fourth Prince down with him.
That’s just the way people in the Imperial Palace are.
Or perhaps... like him, those who hold significant grievances against the Imperial Family.
The sa people who spread the news about the Crown Prince Consort’s miscarriage could also be behind it, but whether they are friend or foe is yet unknown.
Regardless, the palace is bound not to be peaceful.
Under the leadership of Imperial Censor Shu, the officials of the Imperial Censorate would certainly be uneasy. It’s likely that before long, they will jointly submit a report concerning this matter.
Cui Yun said casually: "The official family can silence the mouths within the Imperial Palace, but not the countless voices outside."
"This matter concerns the dignity of the imperial family."
"No need to stop them, let them go ahead; when necessary, lend a hand to cover their tracks and evidence. Shengjing deserves a stir-up too."
"Yes."
Cui Yun: "What about the matter I instructed you last ti? Any progress?"
Ying Er replied respectfully: "Since Mrs. Shen Xue-shi entered, the Shen Family’s servants have been constantly replaced, and the old servants in the mansion were all dismissed. I found a doctor in Fengzhou City who treated Miss Shen; it was from his mouth I learned that Miss Shen’s pulse indicated a condition of exhaustion since she was about seven or eight years old. After so many years, it’s hard to investigate. That Miss Shen’s pulse was unusual, please give so more ti, sir."
"As for the spices ntioned by Yicui, I’ve followed up on the rchants that Old Master Shen used to deal with. In no more than three days, there should be a clue."
Cui Yun nodded.
"However—"
Ying Er lowered his head further: "In the past few days, I’ve uncovered sothing interesting. I’m afraid it might sully your ears if spoken."
Cui Yun looked at him: "Speak."
"After Mrs. Shen Xue entered the Shen Family, she soon got involved with Shen He Wen from the second household. Mrs. Shen Xue has had an abortion for him."
Therefore, she helped the people of the second household with the adoption matters.
She has been hindering Shen Hua, acting aberrantly.
A faint ripple finally stirred in Cui Yun’s indifferent eyes.
"Investigate the cause of Shen Wei’s death."
————
Marquis Yangling Mansion.
Shen Hua held an embroidery technique book sorrowfully, her fingertips subconsciously picking at the book.
"Miss."
Ningzhu entered quickly from outside.
"I saw from afar that there are guests at Marquis Mansion. I asked and they said it’s from the Xuan Family."
"Lady Xue has gone out, why don’t you also take a look?"
Under Ningzhu’s expectant gaze, Shen Hua extended from beneath her skirt a foot swaddled like a rice dumpling in bandages.
Shen Hua sighed weakly: "I feel so feeble."
Ningzhu regretfully exited the room.
However, within 15 minutes, she hurried back in.
"Miss Shen."
Shen Hua stretched her legs out again.
Ningzhu: ...
She held back her words: "The little princess flew into a great rage, she’s really punishing a wet nurse from the Xuan Family in the garden."
Shen Hua was taken aback.
A wet nurse?
"Do you know why?"
"It seems the wet nurse said sothing offensive which the little princess heard, exactly what it was, I am not sure. But the little princess lost her temper right then, and those servants from the Xuan Family knelt down all over the place."
Shen Hua responded slowly.
"Since you got this news, I believe my cousin must have heard as well, she will surely intervene."
"The spoilt little brat. Could it be those servants from the Xuan Family she wouldn’t dare to punish?"
Speaking of which, Shen Hua was reminded of sothing. An idea crossed her mind.
"If I rember correctly, she should be at school today."
"That’s really sothing, skipping classes!"
Feeling weak, Shen Hua suddenly closed her book. She quickly withdrew her feet, and started tidying up her skirt on her own. She pulled out a small copper mirror from her pocket and checked her makeup.
Yicui ca forward: "It’s a nice day today, good for sunbathing, and there’s a breeze, perfect for flying kites. I rember we have one in the house."
Shen Hua: "What you say is very true."
Yicui: "The garden’s open space is also large, would Miss Shen like to go there?"
"Wouldn’t that an running into the little princess and her group?"
Shen Hua raised her little finger, as if troubled: "I, for one, am not fond of bustling activities."
Yicui, holding back a laugh: "Right, what a coincidence."
Yicui scolded her: "Fool! Hurry and fetch Miss Shen’s kite!"
Listening to the two of them playing off each other, Ningzhu was puzzled.
——
Cui Rong was indeed in a fury.
"Insolence!"
"And who are you exactly?"
"You’re nothing more than a wet nurse, tasked with looking after Yao for a few days, and you start thinking you’re important?"
Unappeased, Cui Rong kicked the wet nurse several tis more, causing the three-year-old child to wail loudly.
Cui Rong scolded her: "Are you an idiot! Being manipulated by a wet nurse? Not heading straight to the Xuan Family upon returning to Shengjing. Who advised you!"
Xuanyao’s nose turned red.
Her speech was not smooth, stamring even.
"I want to go back to my maternal family! I... I will not co back anymore!"
The more Cui Rong heard, the angrier she beca.
"Your surna is Xuan!"
She commanded the maid: "Drag her over to ."
"Yes."
Watching as the maid by her side pulled Xuanyao aside, Cui Rong picked up a stone and hurled it at the wet nurse’s head.
"Commandery Princess, calm your anger."
The wet nurse, terrified, shivered and dodged to the side.
Cui Rong, having missed her target, was further enraged.
"Who let you dodge?"
"I am the Commandery Princess; hitting you a few tis is the virtue accumulated by your ancestors. Have you not presented your head yet, co hit it against this stone yourself!"
"Wet nurse."
Xuanyao, yelling at Cui Rong: "Bad person! I hate my cousin!"
Cui Rong fud: "You think I like you?"
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