Chapter 157 Stirring Up Trouble

Looking at the results of Qing Dai’s investigation, Shu Yuwan’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“Old acquaintances of the Virtuous Empress Dowager?”

Qing Dai nodded affirmatively, “Yes!”

“They are people from the Wei family who entered the palace with the Virtuous Empress Dowager. After her passing, they stayed in the Kunde Palace with Madam Zhou. When you took over the Kunde Palace, Madam Zhou left, but most of them remained here.”

“Because they served the Virtuous Empress Dowager, they were usually treated very well. A few of the old ladies managed to gather information from our palace.”

Shu Yuwan vaguely remembered these old ladies. When she first moved to the Kunde Palace, they came to pay their respects. She had reassured them and allowed them to settle in the Kunde Palace under Qing Dai’s care.

Unexpectedly…

It turned out to be people from the Wei family! After so many years with the Virtuous Empress Dowager, they still held loyalty to the Wei family and were passing palace information to them!

After listening quietly for a moment, Shu Yuwan said, “Pass this information to Ah Qing!”

Since they were associated with the Empress Xiaoxian, it might be better to inform the Emperor. Despite the Emperor’s deep respect to her mother he wouldn’t tolerate anyone meddling in the palace affairs.

Indeed, the Emperor was surprised upon receiving the news.

The Empress Xiaoxian held a high position in his heart, and anyone associated with her received special treatment. The palace had never suspected those who had served to the late empress and guarded the Kunde Palace after her passing!

The Emperor’s eyes darkened at the thought of these individuals!

The news must have reached Wei Guogong’s residence…

He recalled the day when he emphasized in the Palace with the Prime Minister that the harem should not interfere in politics, and Wei Guogong was so well-informed about the palace affairs.

In the past, the Wei family and he were closely connected, but ever since Shu Yuwan was appointed as the Crown Princess, the distance between the Wei family and him had grown.

“Arrest these old ladies and send them to the Ministry of Justice.”

“Yes, Your Majesty” Ah Qing responded. He hadn’t expected that the source of the leaked information would be an old acquaintance of his mother.

The Emperor’s voice turned cold as he added, “Make sure to interrogate them to find out if there are any accomplices. How many pieces of information have been leaked over the years!”

“As you command.”

Impatiently waving his hand, the Emperor signaled for Ah Qing to leave quickly.

He didn’t want to bear the Emperor’s anger here. It would be better for the Emperor to visit the Kunde Palace himself, and Shu Yuwan could calm him down later.

With that in mind, Ah Qing hastened his steps.

Meanwhile, Yao Qin pondered and decided to advise her mistress. Summoning her courage, she spoke, “Miss, since your father has suggested that you leave the palace and arranged for your future, why don’t we leave the palace now? You have the status of a princess and you are the legitimate daughter of the Wei family. In the future…”

“Stop!”

Before Yao Qin could finish, Wei Wushuang interrupted her.

“Yao Qin, we have grown up together. Don’t you understand me?”

“You see, I have already moved into the harem. If I hadn’t gone to the  Temple, how could I have ended up in the palace? Taking this step will lead to the next. Although I still lack a formal status and am restricted, it’s only temporary.”

“But…”

“Yao Qin, there are no ‘buts’!” Wei Wushuang’s expression turned cold. She was born into the most prestigious family in the capital, and she would only become the most esteemed woman in Yuan Dynasty.

Seeing this, Yao Qin dared not say more, but she worried for herself and her mistress.

If something happened to her mistress, as her personal maid, what future could she have…

In the Ministry of Justice,

Several elderly maids, with their wealth of experience and resilience, were not affected by threats and intimidation.

Ah Qing gritted his teeth, bowed, and said, “In that case, don’t blame the authorities for being ruthless.”

With that, he signaled for the execution to proceed.

Although these individuals had followed the late Empress into the palace, their children and grandchildren were mostly in Wei Guogong’s residence. Even when subjected to severe punishment, they cried and screamed in pain, but initially, they remained tight-lipped.

It wasn’t until Ah Qing had one of the maids’ grandsons secretly brought in that they finally started talking. Once one person spoke, the floodgates opened, and they all confessed everything they knew…

When Ah Qing presented the testimonies of these individuals to the Emperor, his expression was grim.

Upon receiving the news, Shu Yuwan’s lips curved slightly. Finally, Wei Wushuang could roll out of her sight. Since the time of their marriage, she had been a constant source of trouble, and tired of her antics.

After obtaining the testimonies, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation of Wei Guogong’s.

Within a few days, Wei Guogong’s family was turned upside down.

As the Emperor read the report brought by the secret guards, his expression was complex. He instructed, “Summon Wei Guogong to the palace and bring Princess Pingkang.”

Upon receiving the summons from the Emperor, Wei Wushuang immediately perked up and instructed Yao Qin, “help me to prepare myself.”

But a eunuch interjected, “Princess Pingkang, The Emperor commands me to smmon you.”

Wei Wushuang was momentarily stunned but quickly put on a smile, “Very well.”

Although the Wei family had a few well-informed individuals in the Kunde Palace due to their association with Empress Xiaoxian, the strict palace rules prevented any significant leaks of information. Therefore, the Wei family had not reacted to the discovery of these individuals by the Emperor.

Wei Guogong also arrived at the palace in a relaxed manner.

Wei Wushuang arrived first and greeted the Emperor. However, the Emperor remained indifferent and made her wait on the side without acknowledging her. She felt uneasy until her father arrived. The Emperor then presented the report and testimonies to the father and daughter.

Seeing this, Wei Guogong glanced at Wei Wushuang, who also looked puzzled. Instead of picking up the items on the floor, they both wore expressions of shock.

Shu Yuwan, upon hearing the news of Wei Guogong and Wei Wushuang being summoned by the Emperor, she smiled and said, “Let’s go and see.”

She wanted to join in the excitement.