Chapter 106: An Unexpected Surprise

Qinglan was stunned. After Su Wan cured the Emperor’s headache, she realized that the Emperor would favor Su Wan.

Su Wan falsely accused her of committing treason, claiming she intended to use the imperial edict of the Qi family to commit a rebellious crime, making her feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.

This wretched woman would stop at nothing to achieve her goal!

The Emperor’s edict struck her like a bolt from the blue.

“Your Majesty, I am wronged! I am just an inner chamber woman; even if given ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare commit such a heinous act!”

Qinglan knocked her head on the ground forcefully, and within moments, a bruise appeared on her forehead. She cried out in tears, “My daughter is now the Crown Princess. Why would I do such a thing? A single misstep would lead to a crime punishable by beheading. I…”

“Enough!” The Emperor, impatient with her, waved his sleeve and said, “If I pursue this matter, ten of your heads wouldn’t be enough. After you return, hand over the imperial edict to Su Wan.”

Then, the Emperor instructed Eunuch Li, “Convey my edict and inventory the dowry of the Crown Princess. When Qi Min married, the Empress and I bestowed gifts. If it is indeed Qi Min’s dowry, return everything to Su Wan.”

The Emperor paused slightly and, with a face full of majesty, said, “Draft an imperial edict stating that the Crown Princess lacks proper conduct and virtue, is unfit to be a role model for women, and is therefore deposed from her position and demoted to the rank of Lady.”

A bolt from the blue struck, and Qinglan wished she could slap herself to death, regretting not going to the palace to file a complaint!

What was there left to understand?

All of this was Su Wan’s scheme!

First, she came to the capital to ruin Su Mixue’s reputation, labeling her as an illegitimate daughter, causing a huge uproar that was bound to reach the Emperor’s ears.

Then Su Wan bribed Xiu Qin, entered the palace to seek help from the Empress, and upon returning home, demanded her dowry, each act provoking her, forcing her into the palace to file a complaint. Then, Su Wan clearly aimed to ask for the imperial edict and slandered her for harboring treasonous intentions.

This was the very thing that infuriates an emperor the most. Paranoia is also a common trait among emperors. Whether Su Wan’s words were true or not, Emperor Jing would order her to hand over the edict. If she refused, it would confirm Su Wan’s slander!

But she never expected that the Emperor would depose the Crown Princess because of Su Mixue’s identity and out of anger!

Step by step, Su Wan not only obtained the edict as she wished but also effortlessly reclaimed her dowry!

Qinglan’s intestines turned green with regret; she didn’t dare to say anything, fearing the Emperor might have more accounts to settle.

“I obey,” Qinglan responded with a defeated expression, bowing her head in hatred.

However, Su Wan didn’t plan to let it go and reminded the Emperor, “Your Majesty, my stepmother came to the palace to file a complaint.”

The last three words were emphasized heavily.

Eunuch Li’s mouth twitched slightly as he thought to himself: she was truly vindictive, unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss.

He whispered, “Your Majesty, those who file complaints must be punished.”

Emperor Jing was stunned and looked down at Su Wan. Her eyes were very beautiful, black and bright, clear as a fawn’s, pure and harmless.

But truly pure and harmless people wouldn’t boldly accuse their stepmother of treason, nor would they remind him that filing a complaint warranted punishment.

She was meticulous and struck down on the vulnerable.

Yet she didn’t have the magnanimity of General Qi or Qi Min.

The Emperor, recalling how Su Wan could alleviate the headache caused by the elixir, he said in a deep voice, “Lady Su Li, for filing a complaint, fifty lashes.”

Qinglan was terrified: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I…”

A quick-witted servant covered her mouth and dragged her away.

Su Wan quickly kowtowed to thank the Emperor for his grace: “Your Majesty is wise!”

Emperor Jing raised his eyebrows and said, “If I don’t give you justice, would I be unwise?”

“Your Majesty is a benevolent ruler, fair in all matters, and would not deny your subject justice!” Su Wan flattered skillfully.

The Emperor, pleased, felt both physically and mentally relaxed: “If your mother had half your transparency, she wouldn’t have passed away so early.”

He showed signs of fatigue and waved his hand: “You may withdraw.”

Su Wan’s heart sank. Could there be more to her mother’s death?

She absentmindedly followed Eunuch Li out of the Yangxin Hall.

“Showing off too much is not a good thing,” Eunuch Li stopped and said meaningfully, “Your character doesn’t need to be too rigid; what is too firm is easily broken.”

Su Wan’s expression tightened. Eunuch Li was admonishing her. She responded humbly: “Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch.”

She probed further: “Was my mother’s temperament very fierce?”

Eunuch Li smiled: “Lady Qi had a straightforward disposition, not betraying the Qi family’s integrity.”

Are you implying that I’ve compromised the Qi family’s integrity?

Su Wan pouted, feeling displeased.

Eunuch Li laughed heartily, leading her to the Eastern Palace.

Seeing Eunuch Li, the people of the Eastern Palace dared not obstruct, and the dowry was smoothly inventoried and brought back to the Marquis of Dingyuan Residence.

Those who knew the inside story spread the news, all praising Emperor Jing as a wise ruler.

No one could accept an illegitimate daughter as the Crown Princess, especially the royal family members and high-ranking officials. For those of noble birth, bowing to an illegitimate daughter as the Crown Princess and future Empress was a great humiliation.

The social hierarchy, with its distinct levels, was an insurmountable gap.

Su Wan returned to the residence satisfied.

Mo Yuan and Mo Chen saw palace servants carrying box after box of dowry into Su Wan’s courtyard, their expressions changing.

Their mistress not only successfully reclaimed her dowry but also had Su Mixue deposed from her position as Crown Princess.

The two exchanged glances, both sensing a crisis.

With the Crown Princess deposed, could there be implications for their mistress and the Crown Prince…

Mo Chen immediately slipped away to inform their master.

Su Wan was unaware of the chaotic thoughts of the two men and assigned Mo Yuan an important task: “You are responsible for transporting all the dowry to Xinghua Village.”

These dowries were earned by General Qi through battles on the battlefield, and Su Wan planned to use this money to support the Qi family’s army.

“Yes!” Mo Yuan responded solemnly.

Su Wan gave him a peculiar look, then glanced in the direction of the Regent’s residence.

The Regent held great power, and no movement in the palace could escape his notice. Letting things develop this way, was he not favoring Su Mixue?

Was his kindness towards her genuine?

Then why did he snatch the original engagement and place Su Mixue in the position of Crown Princess?

Could it be that he intended to undermine the Crown Prince and had no plans to push him to the throne?

Su Wan halted her thoughts, not allowing her subjective consciousness to cloud her judgment.

She decided to wait and see how things would unfold.

——

Regent’s Residence.

“Regent, the Emperor has deposed the Crown Princess, demoting her to the rank of Lady, and has returned the entire dowry to Young lady Su,” Luo Cheng added, “including that imperial edict.”

“Let her have it,” the Regent replied indifferently.

Luo Cheng was taken aback and cautiously said, “The Emperor had a headache today, and Young lady Su treated it with acupuncture.”

The Regent’s figure was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to discern his expression.

After a long time without a response, Luo Cheng realized that the Regent would not take any action against Su Wan and quietly withdrew.

——

Qinglan, barely alive, was carried back to the Marquis of Dingyuan Residence. Filled with hatred for Su Wan, but determined to save her own life, she took out the imperial edict and had Xiu Jian deliver it to Su Wan.

Holding the imperial edict, Su Wan pondered over the unexpectedly smooth progress of her tasks in the capital and decided to return to Xinghua Village the next day.

She took some money, planning to go shopping to buy gifts for Mother Gu, Gu Baozhu, and Gu Jingyun, and then have a long talk with Old Lady Su in the evening.

Su Wan called for Xiao Tao and Mo Chen to accompany her out.

A black-canopied blue-cloth carriage was parked at the entrance of the residence.

Suddenly, the curtain of the carriage window was lifted, revealing a handsome and refined face, with a pair of dark eyes staring intently at her.