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**The Eastern Palace**——
Yan Jinsha held a small bundle in her hand, her eyes darting around.
Carved beams and painted rafters, gold and jade overflowing, and everywhere were exotic flowers and plants, all treasures of rare value.
This place—was it truly the Eastern Palace, renowned throughout the ages as the most challenging throne to hold?
Little Yuezi flicked his sleeve: "Miss Yan, this will be your residence from now on. To facilitate your investigation, His Highness has arranged for you to stay here alone. The case files of the fourteen years ago embezzlement case in Qin Province have all been placed in your room. If you can sort everything out, you may participate in the selection for the female officials of the Eastern Palace."
Female officials of the Eastern Palace would one day serve by the emperor's side, their status incomparable to that of ordinary palace maids.
If the Crown Prince wished to arrange a post for Yan Jinsha outside the palace, that would also be possible.
The case files on the desk were what Yan Jinsha had yearned for many years but had never been able to access.
She hurried over, flipping through them quickly, tears welling up in her eyes. She sniffled and said, "Please convey my gratitude to His Highness for me, Little Yuezi."
She had once believed that her beauty was her greatest asset.
But the Crown Prince had taught her that intelligence and ability, in any form, were far more valuable than mere beauty.
To be honest, she quite liked the Crown Prince.
He was handsome, wealthy, smart, and above all, he didn’t fool around with women. If he could fall in love with her, he would be the perfect husband.
Sadly, the Crown Prince already had a lover.
A man who could resist her temptations wasn’t necessarily a good man. But a Crown Prince who stayed faithful to his beloved would certainly make an excellent husband.
Since she couldn’t win his heart and use it to overturn the case against her family, she would have to rely on herself.
Her abilities lay far beyond the intimacy of the bedchamber.
Since the Crown Prince was willing to give her a chance to forge a different path, she didn’t want to be a stepping stone in someone else’s love story.
The court was a place that wore down the spirit, not the body.
She didn’t want to be consumed by resentment, becoming a malicious and envious woman. She wanted a broader stage to showcase her talents and to find someone who truly understood, appreciated, and loved her wholeheartedly.
To become an official!
To right the wrongs of those like her father who had died unjustly, to bring the real villains to justice, and to restore clarity to the people and herself.
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**The Kunning Palace**——
“His Highness the Crown Prince has arranged for Yan Jinsha to stay in the Wenyuan Pavilion of the Eastern Palace, where she is not to be disturbed by others. He himself has never visited. Everything has been relayed through Little Yuezi. It seems the Crown Prince doesn’t want the future Crown Princess to have any unnecessary misunderstandings, as his wedding is imminent.”
Jiang Xinyue nodded, her hand still writing on the memorials without pause: “As long as he knows his limit, that’s fine. I do not want anyone with ill intentions to scheme near the Crown Prince before Yi Xuan marries in. If this wedding is ruined, I will be very displeased.”
Everyone believed that Jiang Xinyue had chosen Meng Qingyu as the Crown Princess because of his potential. At thirty-something, Meng Qingyu had already risen to the first rank, a Flying Dragon General. Although his rise to such a high position was facilitated by the Chancellor, his own capabilities had also played a significant role, allowing him to climb to the rank of a first-class general in just thirteen years.
He was likely the youngest general in the history of Great Yan.
Ordinary people with Meng Qingyu’s background would still be slogging away in the lowest echelons of the military.
Xi Que had risen to prominence due to her husband’s success.
Otherwise, why would the Emperor agree to the Crown Prince marrying a maidservant's daughter?
Shuang Jiang glanced at the Emperor beside Jiang Xinyue, her hesitation catching his attention. He set down his brush and said with a touch of displeasure, “Speak up, don’t be so hesitant. It irks me to see it.”
Xi Que was always delightful—she spoke her mind without holding back.
Sure, she could be somewhat annoying at times, but without her, the Kunning Palace seemed uncharacteristically quiet.
“There are some rumors outside, Your Majesty, saying that you are dissatisfied with the Empress’s autocratic rule and wish to depose her. That’s why you are not allowing the Crown Prince to be engaged to the Yan Family, and are instead…”
“Instead, what?”
“Instead, you intend to depose the Crown Prince and make either the Third Prince or the Fifth Prince the Crown Prince, so they can marry someone from the Yan Family.”
“Pah!”
“The nerve!”
The Emperor pounded his fist on the table: “Who dares to spread such nonsense?”
He had enjoyed thirteen years of leisure—he didn’t want to go back to those days of burning the midnight oil.
Jiang Xinyue’s handling of state affairs had grown increasingly proficient. Even when he was sick or didn’t feel like attending court, she could manage the affairs from behind the curtains.
He was no spring chicken—he was in his forties—and didn’t have many years left to enjoy himself.
It seemed some people just couldn’t bear to see him living a peaceful life and were determined to stir up trouble.
“The Zheng Family.”
“The Zheng Family? Which one?”
“The West City Zheng Family, the wife of the Second Master of the Jing Family. Their ancestors once held office in the court and later retired. The father of Mrs. Zheng was a disciple of Grand Preceptor Jing.”
Because of his good character, Grand Preceptor Jing had chosen the Zheng Family to marry their daughter to his second son.
The Jing Family—whenever it involved them, the Emperor was hesitant.
He had been swapped by the Dowager Empress Wu as a child and subjected to abuse and neglect. His deep longing for familial warmth had led him to be easily swayed by Jiang Xinyue, breaking his own rules and earning himself the reputation of a ruler obsessed with beauty.
He felt the same way about the Jing Family.
“Is there any involvement from the Jing Family?”
Jiang Xinyue gave a subtle roll of her eyes before asking, “Was the Second Master of the Jing Family involved?”
Shuang Jiang pursed her lips: “Xiao Xiangzi sent someone to investigate, and it seems the Second Master of the Jing Family is timid and wouldn’t dare to do anything reckless. However… it seems the Jing Family Eldest Son might be involved.”
“How so?”
The Emperor looked at Shuang Jiang: “Grand Preceptor Jing is the Crown Prince’s grandfather. The entire Jing Family is on his side. Why would… why would the Jing Family be involved?”
“What if the Jing Family Eldest Son is doing this for the Crown Prince?” Jiang Xinyue analyzed. “If rumors spread, harming the Crown Prince’s reputation, you would suspect the Third Prince or the Fifth Prince. This could leave you with the impression that they are plotting against him. In retaliation, you might do things that damage your relationship with them, making them no longer viable as heirs. And wouldn’t that benefit the Crown Prince?”
If the Crown Prince benefited, then the Jing Family’s scheming would succeed.
While they were indeed staunch supporters of the Crown Prince, Jiang Xinyue drew a firm line against any attempts to harm his brothers for political gain.
The Crown Prince might be isolated, but he shouldn’t truly be alone. She wanted her son to have a family—parents, siblings, a wife, and children—and to live a joyful, healthy life, free from strife.
Hopefully, during her and the Emperor’s reign, he wouldn’t have to face hardships.
