At this moment, if it were possible to defy the common sense of the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, Zhen Shicheng’s carefully groomed beard would be standing on end.
What had he just heard? The Empress Dowager was an impostor?
“Is Your Highness joking?” After asking this, Zhen Shicheng stared into those dark eyes and suddenly realized the other party was serious.
He suddenly clutched his forehead, his expression pained: “My head hurts—”
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow: “Oh?”
Was this old man trying to play dumb?
Zhen Shicheng laughed dryly: “Perhaps it’s due to the many social engagements lately, my spirits aren’t quite right.”
He liked solving cases, but he didn’t like courting death. He hadn’t even held his first grandchild yet! Thinking about it, he was quite grateful to the Emperor for resolving his stubborn son’s lifelong matter.
On second thought, something wasn’t right. If they hadn’t become in-laws with the royal family, would the Crown Prince have the audacity to come here claiming they were family? Without using this family connection as an excuse, would the Crown Prince dare to open his mouth and say he suspected the Empress Dowager was an impostor?
Yu Jin, with an expression of complete concern for Zhen Shicheng, smiled and said, “With a case to solve, Minister Zhen will surely feel better.”
Seeing Zhen Shicheng remain silent, Yu Jin sighed deeply, “This matter concerns the survival of the Great Zhou dynasty. I can only seek Minister Zhen’s help, after all, we are family now.”
Zhen Shicheng’s face darkened.
No one had told him that being “family” was such a dangerous proposition. If he had known the Crown Prince’s interpretation of “family,” he would have rather refused the marriage and faced the Emperor’s paperweight.
Knowing that this person was thick-skinned and wouldn’t give up until he achieved his goal, Zhen Shicheng, unable to avoid it, had to respond: “What makes Your Highness say this?”
Yu Jin smiled, “This matter starts with my wife’s maternal grandmother, the old Madam of Marquis Yining…”
Omitting Jiang Si’s background, he told Zhen Shicheng everything he could.
Unable to deal with the Empress Dowager for now, he had thought long and hard about finding a helper, and the most suitable person was undoubtedly Zhen Shicheng.
Of course, he couldn’t move against the Empress Dowager without giving a reason.
As Yu Jin narrated, Zhen Shicheng’s expression changed constantly, quite dramatically.
Yu Jin put down his teacup and sighed lightly, “That’s how things stand.”
Zhen Shicheng’s expression was complex: “Isn’t Your Highness afraid that the old Madam of Marquis Yining might be mistaken?”
Yu Jin said, “Feelings might be wrong, but the constant turmoil in the palace over the past two years is real, and the center of that turmoil is the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility. Minister Zhen, don’t you always say in solving cases that not a single anomaly should be overlooked? We can’t be careless with matters concerning the Great Zhou’s throne.”
Zhen Shicheng’s mouth twitched.
He had never said such a thing!
“This matter is too difficult. If there was an impostor, it happened decades ago. There’s no physical evidence, no witnesses, and we’re investigating the Empress Dowager…” Zhen Shicheng shook his head.
Yu Jin’s eyes flickered: “What if the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility makes another move?”
Zhen Shicheng looked at him.
“Surely Minister Zhen doesn’t believe the solar eclipse incident was just a coincidence?”
Zhen Shicheng’s expression changed slightly.
“The person plotting against me will surely act again. The past is hard to trace, but I hope Minister Zhen can lend me his strength in the days to come.”
Zhen Shicheng cupped his hands: “This official will do his best.”
If any other prince had said this, he wouldn’t have taken it seriously, but having worked with the Crown Prince, he had this much trust.
If there was even the slightest possibility that the Empress Dowager was an impostor, now that he knew, he couldn’t stand idly by.
Eating the emperor’s grain and sharing his worries was the duty of a subject.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Yu Jin left contentedly.
Zhen Shicheng sat motionless for a long time, unconsciously plucking out more than a dozen hairs from his beard before his emotions calmed.
Soon, the day of the Crown Prince’s investiture arrived.
On this day of bright sunshine, civil and military officials, dressed in new official robes, gathered early outside the Meridian Gate to welcome the Crown Prince.
Amidst ceremonial music, Yu Jin entered the great hall, knelt to receive the imperial seal and edict, then went to the central palace to pay respects to the Empress, followed by paying homage at the ancestral temple. He smoothly completed the investiture ceremony amidst great pomp, officially taking residence in the Eastern Palace and becoming the legitimate heir apparent of the Great Zhou.
Emperor Jingming was relieved: Nothing had gone wrong!
He didn’t know when it had started, but causing trouble had become the norm, which was truly vexing to think about.
The next day, Yu Jin and Jiang Si came to pay respects to Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming looked at the young couple and said with dignity, “Now that you’ve moved into the Eastern Palace, you must set an example for the world. Don’t act recklessly.”
“Son (Daughter-in-law) will heed Father Emperor’s teachings,” they replied.
Emperor Jingming nodded with satisfaction.
For now, he had no worries about his seventh son, and his daughter-in-law was capable, so there was even less to worry about.
“You may withdraw,” he said.
After leaving Emperor Jingming, the couple went to the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility.
The Empress Dowager was closing her eyes, counting prayer beads.
“Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have arrived.”
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes: “Let them in.”
Soon, the handsome couple entered hand in hand and paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked down at the two bowing before her, her gaze profound.
She remembered refusing to see them when they came to pay respects on their wedding day. At that time, she truly hadn’t imagined this day would come.
After a moment of silence, the Empress Dowager said gently, “No need for such formality, rise.”
Then she beckoned to Jiang Si: “Crown Princess, come sit here by this old one.”
Jiang Si approached and sat on a small stool brought by a palace maid.
The Empress Dowager gazed at her kindly and smiled, “This old one thought you were blessed when I first saw you, and it seems I was right. Remember to visit often in the future.”
Jiang Si smiled, “As long as Grandmother Empress doesn’t mind my disturbance. You truly are the most gracious elder this daughter-in-law has ever met.”
“Why do you say that?” the Empress Dowager asked casually.
Regardless of one’s feelings towards the person before them, everyone likes to hear pleasant words.
Jiang Si met Empress Dowager’s gaze without hesitation, her smile open and sincere: “This daughter-in-law was originally worried that you might blame me for Aunt Rongyang’s matter…”
Anger flashed briefly in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, but her tone remained even: “How could that be? Grandmother Empress knows this matter had nothing to do with you. This old one is very pleased to have such a filial daughter-in-law.”
After the couple left, the Empress Dowager’s face immediately darkened. Even speeding up her prayer bead counting couldn’t quickly restore her calm.
“Empress Dowager, please don’t be angry at the Crown Princess’s frankness. Your health is most important,” her trusted maid advised.
The Empress Dowager laughed coldly: “Frank? Do you believe a woman who has won the favor of the Emperor and Empress and helped her husband become Crown Prince would be frank? She was provoking me!”
Thinking of Jiang Si’s smile, the Empress Dowager’s hands shook with anger.
Having lived in luxury for many years, it had been a long time since anyone had been so brazen before her.
She even saw a hint of condescension in Jiang Si’s eyes, as if the person before her wasn’t the most noble woman in the harem, but a lowly existence.
Just like herself in her youth.
The Empress Dowager hadn’t thought about the past for so long that she had almost forgotten what it was like.
But today, the new Crown Princess had reminded her.
Those memories were not pleasant for the current Empress Dowager.
Her gaze grew increasingly cold, and thoughts she had temporarily set aside began to resurface.
Meanwhile, having successfully provoked the Empress Dowager’s anger, Jiang Si walked with light steps towards the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.