Compared to the people from the Xiao family, he was more eager to see the person before him rise to the top.

“No matter whether you are willing or not, the Princess is already caught in the vortex of power struggles. There’s no way to remain uninvolved,” Yan Ling said with certainty.

Yan Ling understood the royal family better than anyone, especially the current top contenders for the crown prince position.

As though to confirm his words, Lu Qinghuai arrived with a palace servant, and soon, a few figures appeared on the previously empty palace path.

But Lu Qinghuai’s expression was not good as he said in a low voice, “Princess, Consort Shu requests your presence.”

“Yan Ling will take his leave,” Yan Ling said, and after his departure, Wen Yuesheng walked alongside Lu Qinghuai towards the polo field.

“Do you know Yan Ling?” Wen Yuesheng asked suddenly.

Lu Qinghuai was about to say something but paused upon hearing the question.

“Yan Ling?” he asked, still slightly confused.

He recalled the scene earlier when Wen Yuesheng, dressed in white, stood next to Yan Ling, who was dressed in black.

They made a striking pair, although the atmosphere between them didn’t seem very friendly.

Lu Qinghuai thought for a moment.

Wen Yuesheng was likely not asking about well-known facts such as how Yan Ling entered the court at eighteen, rising to the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in just a few years.

Such things were public knowledge in the capital.

After a brief pause, Lu Qinghuai continued, “I’ve heard my father speak of it. Yan Ling’s father was an extraordinary figure, both civil and military, unmatched in the world.”

“It was thanks to his strong support that the current emperor was able to overcome many obstacles and eventually ascended the throne.”

“Afterwards, when Yan Ling’s parents passed away, Consort Yan entered the palace, and since the Yan family no longer had anyone capable of managing affairs, the Emperor granted her permission to bring Yan Ling into the palace to raise him.”

“Before he was seven or eight, Yan Ling lived in the palace.” Lu Qinghuai paused for a moment and then added, “Later, I heard that he fell ill and moved out of the palace, living alone outside.”

Wen Yuesheng twirled the Buddhist beads in her hand, her gaze cold and piercing.

With such exceptional parents and raised in the palace, yet he harbored such hatred for the royal family. What secrets did Yan Ling have?

“Princess,” Lu Qinghuai lowered his voice. “Today, Hongying was implicated in the incident with King Hengguang’s fall, but she has been cleared of suspicion. However…”

“There was an unexpected discovery when searching one of the palace servants. Another servant, attempting to flee, was caught.”

“After questioning, Consort Shu sent someone to request your presence.”

Lu Qinghuai felt that something was wrong.

Wen Yuesheng had not even come to the polo field today, so it didn’t seem like she should be involved in this matter.

Thus, he had found an excuse to come and remind her in person.

Today’s incident seemed to have been orchestrated with both her and their family in mind.

Yan Ling’s earlier remark was not wrong.

“Though the tree wishes to be still, the wind does not cease.”

Before Wen Yuesheng’s engagement had been dissolved, she belonged to the Duke of Yong’an’s faction. Now that the engagement was broken, she had no more ties with them.

However, the competition for the throne was becoming increasingly intense, and she still held the card of Zhang Yulin.

It had only been a few days since the engagement was dissolved, and already the drama had begun to unfold.

Even the Lu siblings were affected. Since Lu Qinghuai was the one Wen Yuesheng had saved, their ties had become inextricable.

With the other two members of the Lu family not in the capital, Lu Qinghuai’s stance had become particularly important.

The wind had risen.

Wen Yuesheng stood in front of the hall, feeling the strong gusts sweeping through the air.

“Princess Sining has arrived—” the palace servant announced.

Wen Yuesheng was escorted into the hall.

Gu Yu followed Wen Yuesheng into the inner hall.

Upon raising her eyes, her expression changed dramatically when she saw a familiar palace servant standing in the room.

It was the same palace servant who had guided Wen Yuesheng during the royal hunting event.

The servant was now here.

Consort Shu, sitting at the head of the room, looked up with a soft smile as she greeted Wen Yuesheng’s arrival.

Consort Shu, though nearing forty, had aged well and retained a youthful appearance that bore some resemblance to Prince Jingkang.

However, King Jingkang was not present in the hall.

Besides the Lu siblings, there was only a man Wen Yuesheng did not recognize.

The palace servants addressed him as Young Master Liang.

The scene in the palace was tense as the conversation unfolded.

Liang Wenhao, the cousin of Prince Jingkang and the elder brother of Liang Can, stood by silently as Empress Shufei addressed Wen Yuesheng with a polite yet loaded smile.

“The Emperor has heard of the incident involving Prince Hengguang and has summoned all those involved to the Hall of Supreme Harmony today,” Empress Shufei remarked lightly. “Surely, the Princess wouldn’t mind staying here and having a chat with me?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the kneeling palace servants suddenly turned around and began banging their heads on the floor in front of Wen Yue Sheng. “Princess, spare us! Please spare us!”

The Lu siblings standing nearby furrowed their brows, sensing something was wrong.

Empress Shufei’s smile faded, and her gaze became heavy as she stared at Wen Yuesheng.

Liang Can’s death was suspicious. Although he had little favor in his household, he was still part of the Liang family. Because of his death, even King Jingkang had been reprimanded by the Emperor.

King Jingkang had always been treated with leniency due to his poor health, and this time, even he was punished. How could Empress Shufei swallow this insult?

Luckily, the investigation into Liang Can’s death wasn’t difficult. The place where he died also contained a dead insect, a large one.

There were very few people in the entire capital capable of shooting such a creature.

With the Emperor having already concluded that Liang Can’s death was a case of negligence, and with insufficient evidence to make a direct connection to Wen Yue Sheng’s associate, Zhang Yulin, Empress Shufei couldn’t act immediately.

However…

“My useless nephew suddenly met such a tragic end at the royal hunting grounds. Every time I think of it, I can’t sleep,” Empress Shufei paused and glanced at Wen Yue Sheng. “Fortunately, I have managed to find some evidence.”

Liang Wenhao spoke up. “Liang Can’s arms and leg bones were broken.”

“Clearly, after his limbs were broken and he couldn’t move, he was devoured by a vicious wolf.”

He then turned to Wen Yue Sheng, his voice cold. “According to this palace servant, that day when he was leading the Princess to the villa, a large insect suddenly appeared…”

“It was General Zhang, by the Princess’s side, who shot and killed the insect.” He paused before continuing, “May I ask, Princess, is there truly no connection between you and Liang Can’s death?”

Gu Yu, standing behind Wen Yue Sheng, was nearly reduced to laughter. The insect had appeared suddenly, and the palace servant had fainted in fear—how could he have seen anyone kill it?

Moreover, it wasn’t General Zhang who had done it—it had been their Princess herself!

The kneeling servant’s eyes flickered. He hadn’t seen who had killed the insect, but his life was in the hands of Empress Shufei. Whatever she wanted him to say, he had to comply.

Lu Qinghuai frowned. “Young Master Liang, Liang Can was killed by the wolves he raised.”

Liang Wenhao met his gaze, silent. They had no conclusive proof.

Moreover, Liang Can was a mere illegitimate son. The Liang family wanted to avenge him, but they weren’t truly interested in making anyone pay for his death.

He looked back at Empress Shufei.

Empress Shufei paused for a moment, then rose with a smile. “Liang Can is dead, and many matters, I no longer wish to pursue.”

“However…” Her gaze landed on Wen Yue Sheng. Looking at her, Wen Yue Sheng was undoubtedly beautiful, though her reputation had taken a hit recently. But she was still suitable for someone like Liang Wenhao.

“My nephew is a fool. Since reaching adulthood, he has yet to settle his marriage. Today, seeing him with the Princess, they seem very well matched.”

Empress Shufei paused and looked at Wen Yue Sheng. “I wonder what the Princess thinks?”

The Wen family belonged to the faction of the Prince of Yong’an, but Wen Yue Sheng was different. After the public annulment of her engagement, she was the only one in the Wen family who had completely severed ties with the Prince of Yong’an.

She had Zhang Yulin by her side, as well as the Lu siblings who supported her at every turn.

And Empress Shufei had vaguely heard that Wen Yue Sheng was quite adept at training generals.

This situation, with the death of Liang Can, could very well lead to a few military leaders joining her, possibly even more than that. It was an extremely profitable transaction.

By all rights, this matter should have been discussed with Wen Xun, since marriage was a matter of parental consent and matchmaking.

But Wen Xun belonged to the faction of the Empress Dowager, meaning that even if Wen Yue Sheng married a penniless commoner, he would never let her marry Liang Wenhao.

Thus, this could only be settled if Wen Yue Sheng agreed, after which Empress Shufei could seek the Emperor’s permission to marry her off.

Liang Can’s death was just a leverage point to press Wen Yue Sheng.

The silence in the hall was deafening after Empress Shufei’s words.

Lu Hongying was seething with anger.

Who was Liang Wenhao?

Yes, he had not married, but he kept women in his courtyard like changing clothes.

He wanted to marry the Princess?

Preposterous!

Liang Wenhao, on the other hand, glanced at Wen Yue Sheng a few times. He hadn’t paid much attention to her before, but now he noticed that the Princess, who always accompanied the Prince of Yong’an, was quite beautiful.

With her appearance, once married, he didn’t mind treating her well.

As for other matters, such as the Prince of Haozhou’s courtship and the Prince of Yong’an, Liang Wenhao didn’t take them seriously.

The marriage alliances would likely involve Princess Furu, not him.

“Princess?” Wen Yuesheng hadn’t spoken for a while, and Empress Shufei’s face darkened. “If the Princess agrees today, the matter of Liang Can’s death will be buried. The Liang family will also treat the Princess well.”

Empress Shufei’s eyes locked onto Wen Yue Sheng. “I’ve given you the chance, Princess.”

Wen Yuesheng’s fingers paused on her prayer beads. She lifted her gaze to meet Empress Shufei’s eyes.

She spoke in a calm tone, “Young Master Liang likely won’t have such an opportunity.”