Yu Jin’s face showed timely surprise: “Is it because Aunt Rongyang entered the palace?”

Pan Hai’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Prince Yan’s use of the words “because of” was quite clever.

Since it was because of Princess Rongyang entering the palace, she could hardly be absolved of responsibility for the turmoil this person had stirred up.

Emperor Jingming’s face grew even darker.

There were rules for bringing people into the palace, and Rongyang had violated them by sending someone in, which indeed brought many troubles.

This Rongyang had never been sensible.

Emperor Jingming had long had objections to some of Princess Rongyang’s actions, but being kind-hearted by nature, he was unwilling to hurt the sibling relationship or the Empress Dowager’s feelings, so he had endured it all this time.

However, now that even the Empress Dowager could potentially be harmed due to Princess Rongyang’s reckless behavior, it could no longer be tolerated.

Emperor Jingming, harboring thoughts of teaching Princess Rongyang a lesson, asked Yu Jin, “At present, this only shows that Matron Duo had the opportunity to do evil. However, without evidence from the late Concubine Chen, it’s not enough to convict someone. Do you have any ideas?”

Now that Yu Jin had first identified Matron Duo and then discovered her connections with both Concubine Chen and Consort Yang, this point alone was not enough for Emperor Jingming to be certain that the person was Matron Duo.

In the vast imperial harem, over time, there were many people besides Matron Duo who could have had contact with both Concubine Chen and Consort Yang.

Yu Jin pondered for a moment and said, “Why don’t we try to draw the snake out of its hole?”

“Draw the snake out?” Emperor Jingming became interested. “Could it be giving her a chance to leave the palace to see if she contacts the people from that small shop?”

Yu Jin shook his head: “That would be too obvious and might arouse her suspicion.”

Currently, the information from Matron Duo and the Wu Miao grandmother and granddaughter is inconsistent.

The Wu Miao pair knew that the Holy Maiden had arrived in the capital, but because they had doubts, they sent a message back to Wu Miao for confirmation. As they hadn’t received a reply, they finally contacted Matron Duo in the palace.

Matron Duo took advantage of Empress Dowager’s outing to burn incense to contact the Wu Miao pair. When she returned to the palace, due to Yu Jin and Jiang Si’s visit to Cining Palace, Matron Duo was shocked to discover that the Holy Maiden mentioned by Elder Hua was Prince Yan’s wife.

Yu Jin had no intention of giving Matron Duo another chance to meet with the Wu Miao pair, and his reason was perfectly justifiable.

Emperor Jingming quite approved of this reason and leaned forward, saying, “Then tell me how to draw the snake out of its hole.”

Yu Jin looked at Emperor Jingming: “Father Emperor, do you still have doubts about whether that person is Matron Duo?”

“Hmm.” Emperor Jingming did not deny it.

Yu Jin smiled, “Whether that person is Matron Duo or not if she discovers an opportunity to do evil, she’s unlikely to pass it up. Why don’t we create such an opportunity for her?”

Emperor Jingming’s eyes flickered, and his expression grew serious.

He wanted to hear what ideas his seventh son had.

“That person specifically targets women in the harem who harbor resentment. I think we can find a suitable person to draw her out.”

Emperor Jingming’s eyes narrowed.

A suitable person? Were there so many resentful people in his harem?

Pan Hai gave Yu Jin a deep look, feeling helpless: “Prince Yan’s words truly pierce the Emperor’s heart…”

Yu Jin observed Emperor Jingming’s expression and smiled, “What do you think of the Fourteenth Princess?”

“The Fourteenth Princess?” Emperor Jingming’s face immediately darkened with displeasure. “Nonsense, your Fourteenth Sister is still a young girl. Don’t use her in this scheme!”

Yu Jin smiled, “Pan Gong, the Fourteenth Princess is a year older than the Fifteenth Princess, isn’t she? Has she come of age?”

Pan Hai quickly glanced at Emperor Jingming and nodded, “The Prince is correct, the Fourteenth Princess has indeed come of age.”

Prince Yan seemed rough on the surface, but he understood human nature so well. By openly asking about the Fourteenth Princess’s age while mentioning the Fifteenth Princess, he achieved more than any amount of persuasion could.

Emperor Jingming indeed thought of the Fifteenth Princess.

The Fifteenth was even younger than the Fourteenth, yet she had already passed away…

Emperor Jingming had more than twenty daughters, and he didn’t have many opportunities to interact with them. It would be a lie to say he had feelings for each daughter. For example, the Fifteenth Princess, in her fourteen years of life, was just the title of a daughter to Emperor Jingming.

However, with the Fifteenth Princess’s tragic death before Emperor Jingming’s eyes, her impression of his heart suddenly became profound.

She became an indelible presence in the emperor’s memory.

The Fifteenth had died because of the Fourteenth’s birth mother. Although the Fourteenth was innocent, using her to draw out that person could also be seen as lessening her mother’s sins.

After a long silence, Emperor Jingming said flatly, “Tell me the specific plan.”

…

After a discussion, Emperor Jingming sipped some tea and said, “The three-day deadline you mentioned will be tomorrow.”

Yu Jin smiled, “Is Father Emperor worried that I won’t be able to complete it?”

Emperor Jingming’s face stiffened, “I was just asking casually.”

Who cares if this brat can complete it or not, the cheeky boy is quite presumptuous.

“I’ll make arrangements as soon as I leave the palace,” Yu Jin gave Han Ran a big smile. “I hope Commander Han will cooperate when the time comes.”

In front of Emperor Jingming, what else could Han Ran say? He quickly agreed.

After Yu Jin left, Emperor Jingming went to Kunning Palace.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived,” a palace maid hurriedly came in to announce.

The Empress’s eyelids twitched twice.

The Emperor had come again…

It seemed that since Consort Yang’s death, the Emperor had been coming to her place more frequently, causing rumors in the harem that the Empress was now favored.

The Empress only wanted to laugh coldly at this.

She was the Empress, not a favored consort like Consort Yang. She never wanted the Emperor’s love.

As long as the Emperor gave her respect and dignity, and she managed the harem well for him, that was enough.

Everyone has their ideal love; the Emperor had the former Empress in his heart, and she still had her childhood sweetheart.

Unlike those women who couldn’t be with their loved ones and lived miserably, the Empress was very open-minded about this.

Her family wanted her to enter the palace and become the Empress, and she had been raised in luxury with servants at her beck and call since childhood. Since she had enjoyed the benefits of her family, it was only fair to contribute to the family in return.

The Empress calmly went out to greet him.

“All of you withdraw,” Emperor Jingming entered and sent away the palace maids serving in the room, then sat down with the Empress.

In front of the Empress, Emperor Jingming was very casual: “I need the Empress’s help with something.”

The Empress’s mouth twitched slightly.

Indeed, familiarity breeds contempt. This time the Emperor didn’t even bother with pleasantries when asking for her help.

“Please tell me.”

“Find a reason to scold the Fourteenth severely.”

The Empress was stunned: “What?”

Was the Emperor talking about the Fourteenth Princess?

Why would she, the dignified Empress, bother to scold a sickly princess for no reason?

Emperor Jingming explained the situation clearly, holding the Empress’s hand: “It will trouble the Empress, as Mother Empress is compassionate towards the weak. When she hears that the Fourteenth has been scolded, she might say a few words to you.”

And she would likely send Matron Duo to visit the Fourteenth…

The Empress nodded: “If that’s the case, being reprimanded by Mother Empress is nothing. Your Majesty can rest assured, leave this matter to me.”

However, the Empress’s heart stirred slightly: The Emperor values Prince Yan.