Sheng Huai’an is Sheng Yunwan’s older brother.
Sheng Yunwan knew that he had always been reluctant to let her enter the palace, and felt that he would be more comfortable living if he married someone of equal social standing.
But Sheng Yunwan only wanted to marry Jiang Yun.
She considers herself extraordinary; she’s good-looking and comes from a good family. Why can’t she become empress?
Sheng Yunwan gave a dignified and elegant smile, but Jiang Yun didn’t even glance at her.
He had long forgotten the scene of choosing the crown prince.
As for whether Sheng Yunwan was personally chosen by him, Jiang Yun couldn’t remember.
Jiang Yun only remembered telling Empress Wei that she disliked troublemakers.
After waiting for a long time without receiving a reply from Jiang Yun, Sheng Yunwan looked up, but Jiang Yun was nowhere to be seen.
“His Highness left long ago.”
Jiang Zhuyue said softly, and Sheng Yunwan’s face turned very ugly.
She thought that Jiang Yun’s choice of her meant that he treated her somewhat differently.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Yun didn’t care about her at all.
Lin Wange reached out and tugged at Jiang Zhuyue’s sleeve, signaling her to stop talking.
Jiang Yun greeted Empress Wei and told her that there had been many affairs in the court recently.
As for the matter of the Crown Princess, let Empress Wei handle it.
After saying that, Jiang Yun left Kunning Palace.
Empress Wei called out to him, but Jiang Yun had already gone far away.
“This child…”
She felt somewhat helpless, but didn’t say anything more.
Fine, if Jiang Yun doesn’t care, she’ll care.
After leaving Kunning Palace, Jiang Yun went to the other courtyard.
Under the long corridor stood a man dressed in white. Hearing footsteps, he turned around.
“Your Highness.”
Jiang Yun nodded in acknowledgment and went inside.
Qi Rufeng’s gaze fell on Jiang Yun’s waist and abdomen, and he took out a bottle of medicine from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Your Highness’s injury looks quite serious; it would be best if you didn’t push yourself.”
“This is the medicine for this month. Your Highness, the poison in your body should be treated as soon as possible. The longer it is delayed, the more likely it will endanger your life.”
The porcelain bottle was pushed in front of Jiang Yun, and Qi Rufeng continued, “I have also found out what His Highness asked me to investigate.”
After saying that, Qi Rufeng lowered his voice and said, “But that person seems to be someone important; you can’t even buy a single piece of information about him on the black market.”
Information about the underworld can be bought on the black market; the more money you have, the more reliable the information you can get.
This is the first time in all his years in the business world that Qi Rufeng has heard of something he couldn’t buy.
Upon hearing Qi Rufeng’s words, Jiang Yun leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath.
“Before I went to Jiangnan, Meng Guicheng, the prefect of Huaizhou, had already died.”
“Xiang Ming investigated and found that the charred body in that fire was not Meng Guicheng.”
Jiang Yun went to Jiangnan because of Meng Guicheng. After visiting nine prefectures, all the clues pointed to Meng Guicheng.
But he died, and his death was suspicious, with no one to corroborate the story.
Qi Rufeng fanned himself with his fan and chuckled, “Even Your Highness couldn’t find out. It seems the person behind this must be incredibly powerful.”
“There are very few people in this world who can completely cut off communication.”
His words were loaded with meaning, and Jiang Yun naturally understood.
The Crown Prince is already second only to the Emperor, so if even he can’t find out who it is, then who could it be?
“Keep investigating, no matter who it is.”
Qi Rufeng nodded in agreement, got up, and left.
Jiang Yun leaned against the wall, looking at the empty courtyard.
There was a tree growing in the courtyard, but the servants in the other courtyard didn’t know what kind of tree it was.
Only Jiang Yun knew that the spring-flowering tree blooms only once a year, and when the flowers fall, they flutter down like snow.
It is a very common tree in the south, but in the north, it is difficult for it to bloom in spring.
Like some things, you know the outcome from the beginning, but you still do them anyway.
To do something that will never bear fruit, even knowing it’s impossible.
When Jiang Yun returned to the palace from the villa, it was already late in the evening.
Unexpectedly, I saw Guo Guangyi at the palace gate.
“His Majesty is waiting for you in the Zichen Palace.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun nodded in acknowledgment and strode toward the Zichen Palace.
Seeing him so late, it must still be about the Li family.
Although the emperor did not approve of marrying Jiang Rongyin to the Li family, the Li family had made contributions to the founding of the country, and if this matter was not handled properly, it might cause turmoil in the court and among the people.
In addition, Jiang Yun’s methods of handling matters were indeed ruthless, and the emperor was afraid that another accident might occur.
Upon entering the Zichen Palace, the emperor was sitting in the hall enjoying tea. When he saw Jiang Yun enter, he glanced at him.
“What have you thought about regarding the Li family?”
Jiang Yun walked over and sat down: “My answer remains the same.”
He won’t use Jiang Rongyin for a political marriage, nor does he need a woman to secure his position.
“People in the palace all say that you don’t like Xiao Jiu, but now you’re protecting her.”
“You treat her differently.”
The emperor chuckled softly, his words ambiguous, and then he placed the teacup aside.
“I hate being threatened the most.”
Jiang Yun only replied with one sentence: Anyone who dares to threaten him should be prepared to be threatened in return.
The emperor nodded: “Since you are injured, you should not attend the morning court for the next few days.”
“A ruler must use both kindness and severity to avoid things going to extremes and backfiring.”
After saying that, the emperor coughed lightly and continued, “The Crown Princess has already entered the palace. You can take some time to visit her. After all, she will be your Crown Princess in the future.”
Jiang Yun did not reply, looking at the emperor’s somewhat sickly appearance.
The imperial physicians all said that this was an old ailment of the emperor, and it would recur repeatedly throughout the year.
Now, his life is being sustained only by expensive medicinal herbs.
“Let’s go back.”
The emperor waved for him to leave, and Jiang Yun got up and walked out of the Zichen Palace.
“He and his mother are quite different.”
Empress Wei’s joys and sorrows were all visible on her face, making it easy to guess her mood.
But Jiang Yun is different. Even the emperor would find it difficult to guess what he is thinking.
It’s like a bottomless pool of water, with no end in sight.
“His Highness is composed and the ministers all praise him.”
Guo Guangyi replied with a smile, and the emperor shook his head helplessly: “Too ruthless a method is easily broken.”
The case of illicit taxation alone reveals Jiang Yun’s character: ruthless and merciless, a sharp blade, but not a good crown prince.
Upon hearing this, Guo Guangyi didn’t continue. How could a servant like him meddle in matters of the court?
In the Guanghua Hall, Jiang Rongyin had just changed her clothes and was preparing to take a bath when she heard Baoyin call out, “Your Highness.”
She turned around and looked at Jiang Yun as she walked in.
“Isn’t Your Highness returning to the Eastern Palace?”
“You don’t want to see me?”
Jiang Yun stepped forward, pulled Jiang Rongyin over, and made her sit on his lap.
Jiang Rongyin looked away. Did she even need to ask whether she wanted to see him or not?
“Her hair has grown a lot longer.”
His hand landed behind Jiang Rongyin, stroking her long hair.
A seemingly random sentence left Jiang Rongyin somewhat confused about what Jiang Yun was trying to say.
“Go take a bath.”
Jiang Yun’s lips curved slightly, and he released her.
Jiang Rongyin stood up and glanced at him as she drew back the curtain.
Jiang Yun is acting very strangely today.
Jiang Rongyin didn’t think much of it and went to the side hall to take a bath.
Jiang Yun leaned against the bedside, took out the medicine Qi Rufeng had given her, and swallowed one pill.
When Jiang Rongyin returned hesitantly after taking a bath, Jiang Yun was already asleep in bed.
Jiang Rongyin felt strange when she recalled Jiang Yun’s words.
What does it mean when hair grows long?
She glanced at Jiang Yun, drew the curtains, and went to sleep on the small couch.
She couldn’t sleep next to Jiang Yun.