Chapter 93

Princess Rui held the hand of her maid and walked down the carriage gracefully. She spoke to Shen Ruojin with emotion, “Princess He’en’s Ning Garden is truly a great place. It’s warm in winter and cool in summer. The emperor really loved her in the beginning, so he gave her the garden and built it so luxuriously. The scenery is really first-class.”

This time, Princess He’en’s dinner party had surely flattered Princess Rui. Since they left, Princess Rui had been praising Princess He’en and Ning Garden. Shen Ruojin smiled and replied, “The Crown Prince is no longer a good person. His Majesty probably doesn’t care about other princes except Prince Rui. In two years, when His Majesty is happy, you can ask Prince Rui for a garden like this, and we can move in and live there, right?”

Princess Rui smiled meaningfully: “In another two years, our Highness may be somewhere unknown. We’ll talk about it then.”

Shen Ruojin immediately understood what Princess Rui meant. She probably wanted to live in the Eastern Palace.

It was no surprise that Princess Rui was so ambitious. After the Rebellion of the Eight Princes ^[1]refers to a civil war among the princes. and the fall of the crown prince, only a few adult princes survived. Now, Prince Rui was the only one with the chance to stand out.

Shen Ruojin wasn’t so optimistic.

She had also heard that the emperor had always been suspicious of Prince Rui because he had privately changed the list. It wouldn’t be easy to remove the emperor’s doubts quickly.

Now, Shen Ruojin even felt a bit disappointed with Prince Rui. He must have worked hard to place such an important person in the Hanlin Academy. He should have done something more valuable at the critical moment.

But instead, Prince Rui exposed Qin Run just because he wanted to pursue Tao Sheng, and made a big mistake in front of the emperor. It could be said that he was blinded by lust.

When Princess Rui entered the main courtyard, hoping to become the Crown Prince’s Consort, she found Prince Rui kneeling on the ground with a very troubled expression.

Princess Rui gasped, “Your Highness, why are you here?”

The other person didn’t reply.

She asked again, “What happened to Your Highness?”

Prince Rui glared at Princess Rui with red eyes and shouted, “Shut up!”

Princess Rui stepped back in shock. The eunuch attending Prince Rui gently tugged her sleeve and gave her a knowing look.

Confused, Princess Rui picked up the imperial edict^[2]is an official order or proclamation issued by an emperor. from the table and, after reading it, felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

Prince Rui had been demoted from a prince to a duke and confined in the palace. His situation was even worse than the unruly King of Chu.

The emperor was getting old and didn’t have much time left. It seemed Prince Rui would never have a chance to rule the Eastern Palace again.

Princess Rui felt dizzy and almost fainted.

_

Both masters in Prince Rui’s mansion were in trouble, causing chaos. Shen Ruojin, whose identity no longer held any weight, went home early.

Guan Muyun looked at his wife, tired and feeling sorry for her.

Recently, Shen Ruojin had been helping Princess Rui daily, working harder than the maids in the Palace. 

Guan Muyun had told Shen Ruojin several times that Princess Rui, her aunt, would always be on her side, and as her wife, Shen Ruojin didn’t need to humble herself like that. 

But Shen Ruojin wouldn’t listen, feeling more at ease by Princess Rui’s side.

Guan Muyun’s words were in vain, and he could only go along with her.

When Shen Ruojin returned home, Guan Muyun asked, “Why are you back so early today?”

Shen Ruojin sighed and told him what had happened.

Guan Muyun was equally shocked.

Prince Rui was his uncle and his only hope for a bright future.

If Prince Rui lost his chance to rule, it would likely mean King Chu would rise to power.

After everything that had happened, the King of Chu must hate Prince Rui and the Guan family. If King Chu became emperor, life for them would be difficult.

Guan Muyun felt hopeless.

_

The Luo family’s recognition of Tao Sheng was done with great ceremony, even the emperor knew about it. He summoned Grand Master Luo to praise him and give him rewards.

To the emperor, Tao Sheng finally had her uncle’s family to rely on and no longer had to live under someone else’s roof. The emperor was genuinely happy for his young zither player.

The reunion was grand, and all the younger members of the Luo family were there.

Most of the younger generation was lively and talented, but no one held a higher rank than Tao Sheng. After the elders declared the family hierarchy, Tao Sheng officially became the ninth lady of the Luo family.

Su Jia and Su Wan were guests today, sitting with Luo Xin, Tao Sheng’s biological mother.

Some juniors tried to get Tao Sheng involved in drinking games, and Su Jia began discussing Tao Sheng’s marriage prospects with the two “future mothers-in-law.”

Su Wan’s view was simple. Tao Sheng could decide for herself, and as her family, they trusted her judgment. They would support whatever choice she made.

Su Wan always felt guilty for not being able to help Tao Sheng when she first came to the capital. It was fine if they couldn’t help, but they wouldn’t hold her back either. Tao Sheng had grown into a fifth-rank official with more experience than they had, so she could make her own choices.

Luo Xin agreed, saying, “It all depends on Tao Sheng.”

It was her own fault Tao Sheng was lost for years after birth, and she owed Tao Sheng a lot. Now, she just hoped Tao Sheng could be happy and didn’t want to control her in the name of being an elder.

After the banquet, Tao Sheng returned to the front yard to bid farewell to Grand Master Luo, while Su Jia and Ji Yanming left for home.

Su Jia said to Ji Yanming, “I’ve already spoken with the Luo family’s wife and your aunt. They both said they don’t have any conditions for Tao Sheng’s marriage. It’s all up to Tao Sheng.”

Ji Yanming nodded. “I know.”

Tao Sheng would never let others make decisions against her heart.

“That’s good,” Su Jia said. “Now that she’s back with the Luo family, she can’t stay with us all the time. She will have to go back to be with Madam Luo sometimes… Do you want her to stay?”

Su Jia remembered how Ji Yanming had tried to keep the Luo family with them the last time Su Wan came back, and she wondered if he’d do the same this time.

But Ji Yanming didn’t try to stop her from leaving this time. He calmly replied, “It’s fine, let her go back.”

Su Jia, sensing something was off with her son, asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Ji Yanming replied. “I’m just preparing for a long trip.”

Earlier that morning, after the court session, the emperor had kept him behind to tell him he was being sent to inspect various places.

The emperor, now old and tired, wanted to live out his final years peacefully without worrying about the throne.

He believed that of all his children, only the King of Chu wouldn’t turn against him for the throne, even if he wasn’t very smart.

That’s why the emperor wanted Ji Yanming to inspect various places. He needed to weaken the local powers of Prince Rui and other contenders, making it easier for the King of Chu to ascend to the throne.

Only after everything is settled can the King of Chu take the throne without trouble in the future.

Su Jia didn’t expect Ji Yanming to leave for a long trip now: “Have you told Xiao Sheng? Should you say something first?”

“Of course, I told her.” Ji Yanming got out of the car. “Mother, go rest. I’ll wait for her here.”

After Tao Sheng went to the study, Grand Master Luo talked with him for a while. By the time he returned to Ji’s house, it was dark.

But Ji Yanming waited in the yard for her.

Tao Sheng sensed that Ji Yanming seemed upset today: “Cousin, do you need to tell me something?”

“Yes, there’s something,” Ji Yanming replied, explaining the conversation between Bai Ri and the emperor.

Tao Sheng was happy to hear it. Though the emperor didn’t say it directly, asking Ji Yanming to do this showed he considered the King of Chu a strong candidate for the crown prince. This was good news for the King of Chu, her, and Ji Yanming.

“I’ve made plans with my grandparents and mother. I’ll stay at both places. After you leave, I’ll return and take care of Aunt. Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m glad you’re there to help,” Ji Yanming said.

Then he gave Tao Sheng a box made of huanghuali wood with bamboo and chrysanthemum patterns, asking her to open it.

Tao Sheng opened the box and saw a beautiful pendant chain. It looked elegant and would look good with winter clothes.

“What’s this pattern? It’s lovely,” Tao Sheng said, closing the box. “You give me so many gifts, I feel guilty for letting you spend so much.”

Ji Yanming smiled. “This time is different.”

This pendant was given by Master Zhou of Yuqing Temple, who said it’s a Taoist magic tool. It’s believed that, when given personally, it locks the person you care about the most.

Ji Yanming had always believed in his own abilities, but when it came to Tao Sheng, he wanted all the help he could get, even if it meant relying on something he thought was imaginary.