With a single imperial decree from He Mingyuan, Minister of Rites Wang Nie set off from Yandu three days later, carrying betrothal gifts as he headed to the Dongzhao Kingdom to propose marriage.
Song Jinzhao, who was currently in the capital, knew nothing of this. The profits handed in by her various shops before the new year had been extremely generous.
During the New Year festivities, she had made another fortune. With spring fast approaching, the number of her shops needed to be doubled.
This was not just for the sake of making money, but more importantly, to establish a sprawling network of intelligence strongholds.
Fushun walked into the study and respectfully offered a wedding invitation to Song Jinzhao with both hands. "County Princess, this is an invitation sent by the Duke of Zhenguo's estate. They are inviting you to attend the wedding banquet in ten days."
After a series of complex procedures, Chu Liuyun was finally going to marry Princess Yongjia.
The wedding date was set for the nineteenth day of the second lunar month, an auspicious day for marriage.
Song Jinzhao looked at the names on the invitation and chuckled softly. "They are quite a match. Tell the servants of the Duke's estate that I will definitely arrive on time."
Although Xiao Yongjia was no longer the only princess of the Dongzhao Kingdom, the other seven were still nursing infants, so this wedding would absolutely be exceedingly grand.
Once Chu Liuyun became the Prince Consort, his status within the royal court would rise significantly.
Compared to the jubilant atmosphere permeating the capital and the imperial palace, the mood in the Prince of Qi's estate was so oppressive that everyone was in a state of extreme paranoia, jumping at every shadow.
Despite Gu Jupu, the Director of the Imperial Academy of Medicine, trying his utmost to treat Xiao Rongche's eyes, without removing the right eye, the vision in his left eye had begun to deteriorate. He was already experiencing double vision and blurriness when looking at things beyond five feet.
Terrified of going completely blind, he constantly wrote letters to Gong Linjue, urging him to send an imperial physician over as soon as possible.
However, the distance between the two countries was vast. Every letter sent out was like a stone dropped into the ocean, yielding absolutely no reply.
Under the dual torment of physical and mental anguish, Xiao Rongche began to suffer from severe insomnia.
He stayed awake night after night, and even his hair started falling out in handfuls.
Inside the Prince of Ying's estate, Xiao Rongyan held three letters in his hand and burst into loud laughter.
"With both witnesses and material evidence in our hands, Xiao Rongche is completely finished this time."
"Immediately send someone to spread the news in the capital that the Shuobei Kingdom has already obtained the potatoes. Also, deliver these three letters to Ye Liangyu."
The man smiled and nodded in agreement, "This subordinate will do it right away."
In just one day, rumors began to spread throughout the capital that it was the First Prince, Xiao Rongche, who had stolen the potatoes and given them to the Shuobei Kingdom.
For a time, the common people were engaged in spirited discussions. When the news reached the palace, the Emperor, who was dining with Princess Yongjia, instantly had his face darken in anger.
He slammed his chopsticks forcefully onto the table and sharply reprimanded, "Have Fan Guanshan investigate this immediately! Who exactly is spreading these baseless rumors?"
The person who stole the potatoes for the Shuobei Kingdom could be anyone, but it absolutely could not be his own son.
Such a massive scandal would bring immense shame to the royal family.
Eunuch Zhao carefully bowed and withdrew.
Sitting opposite him, Princess Yongjia looked at the soup spilled on the table, too nervous to even breathe.
It had been nearly three months since the potatoes were stolen from the imperial estate. The Ministry of Justice had failed to find anything and had already given up on the case.
This was a major crime tantamount to treason. How could it be her eldest imperial brother who stole them?
What could possibly be his motive?
Harboring pent-up anger, Xiao Chengjing had completely lost his appetite.
He reached out his hand, and the young eunuch serving by the table immediately handed him a wet towel.
Xiao Chengjing said in a deep voice to Princess Yongjia, "Your Imperial Father still has memorials to review. I will take my leave first."
Princess Yongjia hurriedly stood up to see him off. "Court affairs are busy, but Imperial Father must also remember to rest."
Only after Xiao Chengjing left did Princess Yongjia pick up her chopsticks to continue eating.
Ever since the imperial decree for her marriage was issued, there hadn't been a moment when she wasn't happy.
At the thought of marrying Chu Liuyun so soon, her heart bloomed with joy, wishing time would pass just a little faster.
That evening, just as Ye Liangyu, who had recently returned from the Censorate, stepped out of his sedan chair, a little beggar in tattered clothes rushed over from a nearby corner.
