As for the glass, it all depends on how well the auction goes tomorrow. Thinking of those exquisite glass artifacts, Xie Zhiyan couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement—he was certain the glass would dazzle the entire auction house! He had full confidence in it.
The Crown Prince quickly glanced at his mother, the Empress, who immediately understood—her son wanted to retain talented individuals.
With a smile, she asked, "Suiyu, after your divorce, will you be returning to your family?"
Feng Suiyu grasped the Empress's implication and shook her head. "Your Majesty, my elder brothers are all married with children, and my nieces and nephews are grown. As a divorced aunt returning home, it would harm their reputations. To avoid affecting the children's marriage prospects, I plan to live independently after the divorce."
With such a noble justification, even if her parents or brothers insisted she return to the Feng Family, she had her response ready—it wasn’t a lack of filial piety but an excess of it, unwilling to burden her parents and siblings.
"A-Yu, why must you be like this? Can’t you forgive me just this once?"
"Your Highness, instead of trying to salvage our relationship, you should focus more on how to resolve Lady Hu’s crime of deceiving the Emperor."
[Not returning to the Feng Family is the right move. With Feng Suiyu’s substantial dowry, it would surely be taken from her if she went back.]
「Are the Feng Family really that shameless?」
[Utterly disgraceful. I’ll tell you more about it later.]
The Empress smiled and said, "Mother, since Suiyu isn’t returning to the Feng Family, I plan to have her stay in one of my dowry estates for now. I’ve heard she was quite skilled at managing shops and farmland while at Prince Qi’s residence. Since I’m often confined to the palace, I could use someone like her to oversee such matters. But I wonder if Sister Suiyu would be willing?"
Feng Suiyu replied at once, "Your Majesty, I would be honored. Thank you for your kindness."
The Empress Dowager nodded approvingly. "This is for the best. Suiyu is still young—living alone outside isn’t safe. Staying in your estate will ensure no troublemakers disturb her."
Standing silently in the background, Princess Taikang was utterly stunned.
Hadn’t her mother and brother summoned her and Prince Qi to discuss the children’s marriage arrangements? How had they ended up mediating a divorce before even settling the betrothal?
Who would’ve thought that Prince Qi—with his refined scholar-like demeanor, always fanning himself—would stoop so low? To secure a respectable status for his beloved son, not only did he discard the mother, but he also faked her death! Such audacity!
Tsk, tsk, tsk!
The capital, already bustling with celebrations for the Emperor’s birthday, was about to get even livelier.
Royal scandals were always prime gossip material for the common folk.
Just as Princess Taikang had this thought, a guard arrived to report that Chai Jin and his son requested an audience.
Feng Suiyu’s heart stirred. For the Chai father and son to seek an audience with the Emperor at this moment—something was amiss. Had Prince Qi’s mistreatment of her sister been exposed?
If so, she wondered how Prince Qi would answer to the Chai Family.
Emperor Mingxi turned to Qian Gui and said, "Qian Gui, inform Minister Chai to wait in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I’ll attend to the matter concerning the Junior Mentor first before receiving them."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
The Emperor picked up a small dossier delivered by a guard—a report from Shen Kang detailing their findings from Xie Zhiyao’s private estate.
The residence in Peach Blossom Lane was less of a retreat and more of an illicit pleasure den. Shen Kang’s men had infiltrated it only to find envoys from various nations indulging in debauchery.
They were now under Shen Kang’s control, awaiting the Emperor’s judgment.
Emperor Mingxi was pleased with his nephew’s efficiency and made a mental note to reward him later.
Meanwhile, Shen Kang stood outside Xie Zhiyao’s estate in Peach Blossom Lane, staring at the sky in silent exasperation.
He never would’ve guessed that his seemingly demure cousin ran such a place!
The debauchery on display put even seasoned brothel-goers to shame—these people truly knew how to indulge.
The question was, how much did his uncle, Prince Qi, know about this?
With so many foreign envoys gathered here, it was impossible to believe Prince Qi was completely unaware. Even a dog wouldn’t buy that excuse!
As for his dear cousin, Shen Kang cast a sidelong glance at Xie Zhiyao, disguised as a young male servant hiding among the attendants, and felt a headache coming on.
At best, this was an unlicensed brothel—a tax-evading den of vice.
At worst, it was the royal family secretly colluding with foreign envoys, hinting at treasonous ambitions!
Before he could catch his breath, he spotted his uncle and cousin from the Xu Family among the crowd.
Heaven help him! Was there no end to this? He’d merely been assigned to raid a den—how had he ended up arresting nothing but relatives?!
Did his mother, the Grand Princess, have too many siblings? It seemed he couldn’t turn a corner without running into another cousin!
Grand Princess (mentally): Blame your late grandfather for his prolificacy—don’t pin this on me!
Resigned, Shen Kang abandoned all hope of discretion. The scale of this scandal left him no choice but to report everything. Besides, since the Emperor had sent him to investigate with such precise instructions, he must have already known something.
Emperor Mingxi (unaware): I literally just found out!
Expressionless, Shen Kang beckoned Xie Zhiyao over. Recognizing that her disguise had failed, she shuffled reluctantly toward him.
Ignoring her pleading look, he then gestured at the Xu father and son, who were failing miserably at blending into the crowd due to their portly figures.
Red-faced, the two squeezed their way out.
"Come with me to the palace," Shen Kang ordered flatly.
Xie Zhiyao wanted to refuse, but one icy glare from him silenced her.
Though she bore the Xie name, Shen Kang was the Emperor’s blood nephew—she, a mere cousin’s daughter, paled in comparison.
The Xu pair didn’t dare protest either. If even the princess had to go, they stood no chance.
By the time Emperor Mingxi finished reviewing the documents, Shen Kang had already escorted Xie Zhiyao and the Xu Family to the Empress Dowager’s palace.
Delighted to see her grandson, the Empress Dowager immediately invited Shen Kang to sit beside her.
With Yue Fuguang happily munching on pastries on one side and the Crown Prince deeply engrossed in his tea on the other, there was no room left for Shen Kang.
His departure revealed Xie Zhiyao (still in servant disguise) and the Xu father and son.
Princess Taikang, spotting her husband and son, assumed they’d just returned from outside the city and cheerfully waved them over to stand by her.
[This girl looks so sweet—how could she harbor such ambition for power?]
「Little Pearl, appearances deceive. Besides, if men can play the game of power, why can’t women? There’s nothing wrong with her wanting it—only in her methods.
"Are nobles born great? It’s fine to desire power, but the approach matters…"
