Chapter 434: You're Dumb, You Need to Grow a Brain
The Yu residence had clearly become the victim. His Majesty needed to console them, save face for the Pingyao Marquis, and ensure the Marquis's continued loyalty. A royal consort from the Yu family was absolutely unavoidable.
"But it shouldn't be her." The Empress Dowager already detested her, and she was merely a concubine-born daughter. Biyu pondered, her face slightly pale. "She..."
Shen Xihe smiled with satisfaction, feeling her guidance hadn't been in vain—Biyu was beginning to grasp these intricate schemes. "It doesn't matter if it's not her now. Once everything is settled, if something happens to Yu Sangzi and she has to step in as a replacement, she won't incur the Yu family's resentment. Instead, she'll become their benefactor and gain her natal family's support in the future."
"I'm afraid it won't be easy." Zhenzhu was more cautious. "Marrying into the imperial family isn't like an ordinary match."
In common households, one might resort to substituting the bride. Once the marriage was consummated, the groom would have no choice but to accept it, as the girl's virtue would already be compromised.
But if anyone dared to switch brides in an imperial marriage, the charge of deceiving the sovereign would be inevitable.
"Where there's a will, there's a way. I believe she can pull it off." For some reason, Shen Xihe had great confidence in Yu Sangning's abilities in this regard.
As a concubine-born daughter, Yu Sangning couldn't expect the Empress Dowager to grant her the honor of an imperial marriage or arrange a match for her. The Empress Dowager's dislike for her stemmed from trust in Xiao Huayong, but she couldn't simply hint to the Pingyao Marquis's mother to marry off Yu Sangning quickly.
Even the imperial family had to adhere to evidence. Without proof, if Yu Sangning threatened to die to prove her innocence, the imperial family would be at fault against the Yu family. While being in the wrong wasn't a major issue, the problem lay in the Pingyao Marquis being a key supporter of His Majesty.
The Empress Dowager couldn't act rashly, or it would appear as though she and the Emperor were at odds. At such a critical juncture, the suspicious Emperor might overthink—wondering if the Empress Dowager was paving the way for the Crown Prince, for instance. A minor matter could easily escalate.
Thus, Yu Sangning was safe for now. She still had time to scheme and maneuver.
Yu Sangning was merely a minor episode. Even Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong, who knew the truth, paid her no mind. Whatever she was plotting, it couldn't possibly involve the Eastern Palace. As long as her schemes didn't target others connected to Xiao Huayong or harm the Empress Dowager, he wouldn't bother with her.
However, Yu Sangning's tactic of forcing someone's hand was clever. The rumor that a daughter of the Yu family would become a royal consort spread far and wide, with vivid details. When the Youning Emperor sent someone to investigate, the mastermind was traced not to the Yu residence but to their political rivals. It was clearly a plot to frame the Pingyao Marquis's household. To make an example of them, the Emperor stripped the culprits of their positions entirely.
"Your Highness, what are we waiting for here?" Shen Xihe had left the traveling palace early in the morning and was waiting at a teahouse in a small town outside the palace.
"The Mu family has been dismissed and exiled. This is the only route they must take." Shen Xihe sat by the window, gazing down. "This young master Mu was thoroughly manipulated, causing his father to lose his official position. The one who instigated him will surely come to offer consolation."
Since the two households were political enemies, even if young master Mu tried to implicate Yu Sangning now, no one would believe him. They would only see it as mudslinging. But to keep him ensnared, Yu Sangning would have to offer some incentives, and it was possible that evidence had fallen into someone else's hands.
"Your Highness came out just for this?" Ziyu gave Shen Xihe a strange look.Shen Xihe lifted her teacup and took a sip. "Since there's nothing else to do, I wanted to see just how capable this Lady Yu truly is."
"She managed to charm the son of her father's political rival, turned him into her blade, and still made him unwilling to speak ill of her—that already shows remarkable skill," Bu Shulin remarked. "What more could she possibly do?"
In truth, it wasn't Shen Xihe who had wanted to come; Bu Shulin, curious about Yu Sangning after hearing Shen Xihe's comments, had dragged her along.
Shen Xihe hadn't explored the surrounding towns either, and since the weather was cool today, she thought it a good opportunity to stretch her legs and went along.
"Accomplishing that only merits three points of skill." Shen Xihe didn't think much of Yu Sangning's methods. "If she remembers to console Young Master Mu and successfully soothes him, then she has five points of skill; if she can calm him without coming in person, that would be eight points."
"What would make it ten points?" Bu Shulin asked through a mouthful of steamed bun.
"If she can make Young Master Mu take his own life without showing up herself, that would be ten points of skill," Shen Xihe said softly.
Bu Shulin's jaw dropped, and she blinked a few times. "Wouldn't Young Master Mu have to be out of his mind to kill himself?"
"Let's wait and see." Shen Xihe smiled meaningfully.
Soon, the Mu father and son walked past, their faces pale and eyes vacant as they led their horses. Shen Xihe sent someone to follow them. Since this place was exactly a day's journey from the capital, they were bound to lodge here.
Shen Xihe also booked a room at the inn where the Mu father and son stayed. The whole day passed uneventfully, and Bu Shulin grew impatient. Finally, there was movement. She slipped into Shen Xihe's room and beckoned to her.
It turned out someone had come to see Young Master Mu, but surprisingly, it wasn't Yu Sangning—it was Gu Qingshu. Bu Shulin was puzzled, even rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn't mistaken, and cast a questioning look at Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe, however, remained unperturbed. After a few whispered words, Young Master Mu left with Gu Qingshu.
"Should we follow them?" Bu Shulin felt her brain wasn't working well. Why had County Lord Huaiyang shown up? How was she involved in this? Could Prince Xin be pulling strings behind the scenes?
Gu Qingshu was the stepsister of the late Consort of Prince Xin and had been saved by Xiao Changqing. Nowadays, whenever people saw Gu Qingshu, they associated her with Xiao Changqing, and to some extent, her actions were often attributed to him.
"There's a good show unfolding, and you're the right one to go watch," Shen Xihe said, uninterested herself since she had already figured it out.
"Why am I the right one?" Bu Shulin pointed at herself.
"You're dim-witted and need to grow a brain," Shen Xihe replied with a fake smile before closing the door, removing her shoes and socks, and lying back down on the bed.
Left outside, Bu Shulin's expression darkened. She turned away in a huff, muttering that she didn't need to grow a brain—she was plenty smart!
But before stepping into her room, curiosity got the better of her. She hadn't quite pieced the situation together, and the thought of Shen Xihe's mockery made her stubbornly enter her room. She hesitated before closing the door, wrestling with herself for a moment, then finally shut it and dashed out.
Her lightness skill was exceptional, and she quickly caught up with Gu Qingshu and Young Master Mu. Gu Qingshu led him to the edge of a forest, said something to him, and then turned and left alone.Young Master Mu walked into the mountains without looking back. Bu Shulin hesitated for a moment, then followed him.
They didn't go deep into the mountains. When Shulin caught up, she saw two people—one was Young Master Mu, and the other was Yu Sangning, who had been waiting there all along!
(End of Chapter)
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