After the delicate and soft-spoken wife gave up, the aloof and powerful minister embraced her and sh

Chapter 386 Declaration of Sovereignty

Everything was in order, and the carriage came to a stop.

Upon entering the palace, Shen Fuhan asked, "Would you like to go to Chunhe Pavilion, or come with me to Hanliang Palace?"

Wen Jiayue pondered for a moment and said, "Let's go to Chunhe Pavilion. I shouldn't know about such a secret."

Although she was still completely confused and didn't know who Shen Fuhan and the Emperor were looking for.

As if sensing what she was thinking, Shen Fuhan said, "It's not convenient to talk about this in the palace. I'll tell you when we get back to the manor."

Wen Jiayue asked softly, "Can I really tell you?"

She added, "Actually, I wasn't that curious."

“Of course it’s fine with you,” Shen Fuhan smoothed out the wrinkles in his cloak. “Don’t worry.”

Wen Jiayue smiled gently, about to open her lips, when she heard a soft and charming voice coming from not far away.

"Lord Shen, Madam Shen, what a coincidence."

The two looked ahead and saw Li Zhilan sitting in a sedan chair, his hand supporting his chin.

Although she was smiling, the smile didn't reach her eyes; even illuminated by the warm glow of the palace lanterns, an endless chill still lingered.

Wen Jiayue lowered her head and followed Shen Fuhan to bow.

Li Zhilan asked casually, "What brings you to the palace so late?"

Shen Fuhan said calmly, "It's a confidential matter."

"Since it's a secret, why bring Madam Shen along?" Li Zhilan asked. "They seem inseparable."

She said the last few words through gritted teeth, and they sounded particularly harsh.

That Wen Jiayue is really persistent; is she trying to assert her dominance over me?

Shen Fuhan calmly said, "My wife hasn't seen Consort Yun for a long time, so it's a good opportunity to meet her today."

After not seeing her for many days, Yunxi has been promoted again, transforming from a beauty into a concubine.

Li Zhilan curled her red lips, "So that's how it is."

Just as she was about to speak, Shen Fuhan said again, "Meeting His Majesty cannot be delayed. My wife and I will take our leave now. Please take care, Princess."

After saying this, he took Wen Jiayue away. Fearing that he would be a step too slow, Li Zhilan, who was preparing to leave the palace, turned back.

After walking a distance, he looked back and saw that Li Zhilan was not on the palace road, which put his mind at ease.

Wen Jiayue breathed a sigh of relief. Every time she saw her, she was on tenterhooks. Fortunately, she probably wouldn't see her again in a few days.

"Don't be afraid," Shen Fuhan said, holding Wen Jiayue's hand. "I'm here with you."

“I understand, I trust my husband.”

This time, he won't let her down.

As usual, they parted ways at the fork in the road, with Wen Jiayue heading towards Chunhe Pavilion.

She found it strange. Yunxi was already a third-rank Jieyu, and should have moved to a larger palace. Why was she still staying in this small Chunhe Pavilion?

She noted this down and planned to ask Yunxi about it later.

Upon arriving at Chunhe Pavilion, after being announced by the palace servants, she was welcomed inside.

She encountered Yunxi, who was hurrying out to greet her, halfway there.

Wen Jiayue was startled and asked nervously, "It's so cold, why aren't you resting in the palace? What are you doing out here?"

"Don't worry, I'm much better now," Yunxi said with a smile. "I feel light as a feather."

Wen Jiayue then had a chance to look her over and, seeing her rosy complexion, exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't expect Young Master Xiao's medical skills to be so amazing."

He looked too young. Although he was steady in character, Wen Jiayue always thought that he would need to figure out a long time before he could find a way to deal with the illness.

Unexpectedly, Yunxi has changed so much in just over half a month.

Wen Jiayue pulled her around in a circle, and her figure didn't look as slender as before.

Yunxi let her look her over and smiled, "Imperial Physician Xiao is already your brother-in-law, why is Sister Jiayue still being so polite?"

“I forgot to change my address for a moment,” Wen Jiayue said as she entered the hall with her. “Go in quickly. Although you are feeling much better, you can’t stay in the cold wind for too long.”

“Mmm,” Yunxi said reassuringly, “I’ll listen to Sister Jiayue.”

Wen Jiayue smiled and looked at her, and she really did look like a younger sister.

But when she thought of her half-sister, her smile faded considerably.

Putting aside the irrelevant people, Wen Jiayue asked, "You're already a Jieyu, why haven't you moved to a different palace?"

“Before I was promoted, the Emperor mentioned it to me, but I still prefer this place,” Yunxi said, looking around. “It’s quiet and peaceful, and the scenery is beautiful.”

Wen Jiayue nodded and said, "Chunhexuan is indeed a nice place, but I wonder if the food is exquisite?"

Yunxi asked in surprise, "Sister Jiayue, it's not like you haven't eaten it before..."

After saying that, she realized, "Sister, you haven't eaten yet, have you? You can order, and I'll have someone make it right away."

While the two enjoyed their meal together, the Imperial Study became much more somber.

Li Zhixu asked, "Minister Shen, how confident are you this time?"

Shen Fuhan said confidently, "Eighty percent."

He silently added in his mind, "It's probably not going to work."

This time, he planned to make a brief appearance in Jinzhou and then quietly return to the capital to observe the situation.

On the day Wen Ruohuan made her move, he entered the mansion again and drank the real Bone-Corroding Powder in front of everyone.

With witnesses and physical evidence, he also has evidence of Wen Ruohuan and Li Zhilan's collusion, as well as the injustice done to the Xie family of Jinzhou. With so much evidence, plus the pressure from public opinion, it's a sure win.

The dream of one's wife dying young and one's daughter dying young will only become a nightmare, and will never come true.

"Since you say so, I am relieved," Li Zhixu said solemnly. "This time, we must bring the person back, alive or dead!"

"Wei Chen accepts the order."

“Then you should go back and prepare,” Li Zhixu said. “Leave the palace overnight and catch them off guard.”

Shen Fuhan pondered for a moment and then suggested, "Your Majesty, I would like to leave tomorrow morning."

"how?"

"I don't know when I will be able to return from this trip to the capital," Shen Fuhan explained unhurriedly. "My grandmother has been unwell lately, and I would like to spend one more night with her."

"Minister Shen is truly filial. Very well, it is best to be fully prepared to ensure nothing goes wrong. I grant your permission."

Shen Fuhan breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

“Since you’re not in a hurry to leave, why don’t you play a game of chess with me?” Li Zhixu sighed. “Just now, my elder sister played half a game with me, but then left without saying a word.”

Shen Fuhan asked calmly, "Why did the Princess leave?"

Li Zhixu complained bitterly: "I saw that my elder sister had been much more well-behaved lately, so I let her into the Imperial Study. I didn't expect that she still wanted to read the memorials, so I couldn't help but say something to her, and she actually got angry."

Shen Fuhan said calmly, "The Princess has always been a person of strong emotions, so it's not surprising that she would do such a thing."

“What kind of person is she? She’s clearly been spoiled by the Emperor and Empress,” Li Zhixu said coldly. “How dare she try to interfere in court affairs? I will never let her set foot in the Imperial Study again!”

Shen Fuhan, though saying one thing, advised, "Your Majesty, please reconsider."

“I have already made up my mind,” Li Zhixu said with a displeased expression. “If she tries to influence my mind again, even if she is my own sister, I will not show any mercy.”

Seeing this, Shen Fuhan said, "Since Your Majesty has a clear judgment, I will say no more."