Zhen Daijin slapped the table, causing the wine in the bowl to swirl and spill half a circle.
"Look, you're getting anxious too. Stop pretending to be a gentleman."
Si Renyou didn't respond to that, but simply picked up the wine pot, stopping the spout above the rim of the bowl.
Zhen Daijin laughed even louder.
"Hey, once Prince Yi arrives at his fiefdom, we'll just leave the mess to him. After all, he's a prince."
The aroma of wine wafted through the air, mingling with the fishy smell of the cold meat on the table.
Si Renyou filled the wine glass and pushed it in front of him.
"That's inappropriate, that's inappropriate."
He pressed his fingertips against the rim of the bowl, not in a hurry to let go.
" Prince Yi is still young. Brother Zhen, listen to me. My old Fang Bi and your subordinate Lin Xin are both capable men. We'll..."
Zhen Daijin.
"Just what?"
Si Renyou glanced outside the door before pushing the wine bowl half an inch closer to him.
"Let's continue playing the bad cop and let them play the good cop first."
When Gu Moran heard the news, he was sitting in his study reviewing old cases from the Shen Family.
The wick was almost burned to the bottom, and the edges of the paper smelled burnt. He looked at the words "Shen Zhiheng," "Wen Heng, "Fire-Subduing Furnace No. 3 " over and over for a long time, until his eyes were a little sore.
The footsteps outside the door stopped.
Uncle Fu lifted the curtain and came in, his clothes damp with night dew, holding an unsealed copy of a document from the palace.
"Your Highness, an imperial edict was left in the Hall of Supreme Ultimate tonight."
Gu Moran up.
Uncle Fu approached and handed the paper to the table.
" The Second Prince's Residence and the Prince Yi's Residence are both inside."
Gu Moran reached out to take it, his fingertips touching the edge of the paper, and the breath in his chest sank down.
There were only four words on the paper.
Each returned to their fiefdom.
He stared at those four words, not turning the page for a long time.
The emperor finally made his move.
Instead of deposing the crown prince or killing the second prince, the first step is to send the adult princes out of the capital.
Gu Moran moved the copy under the lamp, the firelight dimming the ink edges.
This is not an official imperial edict.
The fact that Gao Fu was able to send out a copy indicates that the imperial decree was already on its way.
If we go to the fiefdom, what will happen to the old case of the Liu Clan in the capital?
What should be done about the power line in the Shen Family's furnace room?
The Crown Prince's prison case is still pending, Xiao Jinghan is still alive, and the Second Prince's offering of elixirs case is still unresolved.
The emperor's move was ostensibly to send the princes back to their fiefdoms, but in reality, it was to weed out the corrupt elements in the capital.
Uncle Fu paused before speaking, observing his expression.
"Your Highness, if the decree arrives tomorrow, what will happen to the ladies of the household...?"
Gu Moran his hand.
Uncle Fu swallowed the rest of his sentence.
Behind each of the six wives are six families.
You can't fool any of them.
"Don't alarm the Sixth Hospital yet."
"This old servant understands."
Gu Moran folded the copy and pressed it under the desk.
What else was said in the palace?
Uncle Fu said, "The Crown Prince is still under house arrest and locked up, and the medical records of the Eastern Palace have been entered into the register. The Second Prince's Residence didn't sleep tonight either, and another group of people have been replaced in the east of the city."
Gu Moran rubbed his forehead with the back of his finger.
" Gu Mochen is definitely more anxious than I am. The case of the offering of elixirs is not yet closed. If he leaves the capital, it will be inconvenient to silence him."
Uncle Fu said, " The Second Prince's Residence will probably request an audience with His Majesty."
"Begging won't help."
Gu Moran looked at the lights.
"Father trusts no one now. In his eyes, any adult prince left in the capital is a potential source of trouble."
Uncle Fu didn't reply.
That's an unpleasant thing to say.
It's also solid.
Footsteps sounded again outside the door.
Not a servant.
Light steps, steady stops.
Gu Moran looked up.
"Who?"
Liu Ruyan's voice came from outside the door.
"I."
Gu Moran glanced at Uncle Fu.
Uncle Fu stepped aside.
Liu Ruyan pushed open the door and came in, a cloak draped over her shoulders, and no hairpins in her hair.
She entered the door first
I noticed a corner of paper peeking out from under the desk.
"A message from the palace?"
Gu Moran sighed inwardly.
It can't be hidden.
He pulled out the paper and handed it to her.
Liu Ruyan took the paper, and when she saw the words "each to their fiefdom," her finger stopped on the paper.
The room fell silent.
She reads slowly.
After reading it, she put the paper back on the table.
When will the imperial decree be issued?
"If things go smoothly, after the morning court session tomorrow."
Liu Ruyan pressed her fingers against the edge of the table.
What will happen to the Flower-Between Pavilion if they leave Beijing?
What should be done about the old case involving the Liu Clan?
Han Che's blood hadn't even dried yet, and the old building had just opened its doors.
As she left, the thread broke.
If she stays, Gu Moran will be missing a hand.
Gu Moran noticed her hand tense up and softened his tone.
"It's not time to pack up the trunks yet."
Liu Ruyan looked at him.
"Does Your Highness think this imperial decree can be changed?"
"The imperial decree has been issued and cannot be changed. However, time will be given to pack. We will have to wait until after the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet to leave."
Liu Ruyan understood.
"Should I go and inform Madam Chun?"
"No rush."
Gu Moran got up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.
A gust of wind blew in, causing the lamplight to flicker.
"Everyone, don't move. Father hates it when we move. The more we rush to send a message, the more it confirms the alliance of the six families."
Liu Ruyan stood under the lamp, her face paler than usual.
What about the old case involving the Liu Clan?
Gu Moran turned to look at her.
"The testimony is in our hands. As long as the person is alive, the case lives."
Liu Ruyan's eyes stung, but she held back her tears.
She lowered her head and folded the paper again.
"If you really want to go to your fiefdom, I'll go with you."
Gu Moran felt a weight press down on his chest at those words.
He walked back to the table and placed his hand on hers.
Before he could even speak, Liu Ruyan spoke first.
I've made my decision. Wherever you are, I'll be there.
Footsteps sounded again outside the door.
This time it's even more urgent.
Shen Ling'er came in carrying a medicine box, her coat not yet fastened, and her hair still damp.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
She had barely finished speaking when she saw Liu Ruyan there as well.
Then look at the papers on the desk.
Shen Ling'er wrinkled her nose.
"Something happened in the palace?"
Gu Moran handed her the paper.
Shen Ling'er glanced at it, and the copper clasp of the medicine box clicked in her hand.
"Each returned to their fiefdom?"
She looked up, her voice strained.
"What about my grandfather? The Imperial Medical Bureau is still detaining Chu Tianxing, and the old case of the Shen Family hasn't been finished. What will happen to my grandfather if you leave?"
Gu Moran hadn't spoken yet.
Shen Ling'er had already slammed the paper back onto the table.
"They don't want to leave."
The room fell silent.
Shen Ling'er's chest heaved, her eyes reddened, but she bit her lip and didn't cry.
"My parents died in the palace, and my grandfather kept it from me for over a decade. Now that the evidence has just come out, they're telling me to leave the capital?"
Gu Moran took a step forward.
Nobody's telling you to leave now.
"It will be too late once the imperial edict is issued."
Shen Ling'er's fingertips felt cold, her mind filled with the incomplete furnace mark on the inner wall of the copper bell.
She bit her lip, the strap of the medicine box digging into her palm.
" Gu Moran, I can't abandon the Shen Family's old case, I must..."
She stopped talking at that point.
What else could she do?
She is from the Prince Yi's Residence's residence.
She is Elder Shen's only granddaughter.
She didn't even dare to break into the palace, because if she made a move, the people watching Elder Shen would follow.
Besides, with the prince returning to his fiefdom, there's no reason for her to stay in the capital.
Gu Moran looked at her, feeling a tightness in his chest.
" Ling'er, there's plenty of time in the future."
Shen Ling'er's tears fell.
She immediately wiped it away with her sleeve, as if afraid someone would see her vulnerable spot.
Liu Ruyan walked over and gently helped her up.
Shen Ling'er did not dodge.
The two stood under the lamp, one holding the old case of the Liu Clan, the other holding the old case of the Shen Family.
As Gu Moran looked at them, the imperial edict in her mind grew heavier and heavier.
Uncle Fu whispered outside the door, "Your Highness, people from Iron Plum Courtyard have also arrived."
Gu Moran around and was stunned.
They all have dog noses?
They all come just by the smell?
That's enough.
There are cunning old foxes behind every courtyard; it's impossible to hide them from everyone.
He turned around.
"Please bring Qingdai here."
Just as Uncle Fu was about to agree, the servant's voice came from outside again.
"Your Highness, Madam Su from Clear Frost Courtyard has sent over the account books, saying that if the Prince's Mansion is relocated, the treasury, estates, debts, and dowry will all need to be re-evaluated."
Before the servant could leave, another person rushed in, still out of breath.
"Your Highness, Madam Murong asked if there's a horse farm in the fiefdom. If not, she'll dismantle the stables of the Prince's residence and rebuild them there."
Gu Moran steadied himself against the edge of the table.
Murong Xue's father is in the Northern Territory, how could she possibly know?
Liu Ruyan glanced at him, tried to hold back, but couldn't resist.
Is Your Highness panicked?