Returned

"Very good." Zhao Ruxi nodded. "Have someone tell the Second Highness that someone will put poison in his food at the palace's New Year's banquet seven days from now." Wu Wei suddenly looked up at Zhao Ruxi, his face full of shock.

"I have my own sources. You just need to relay the message," Zhao Ruxi said calmly. "Go."

Wu Wei then realized his lapse in decorum, quickly lowered his head, agreed, bowed respectfully, and jumped out of the window.

Although Xiao Lingpu built his own intelligence-gathering system, it was perfected by Xiao Lingyan.

Wu Wei then selected an intelligence network established by Xiao Lingyan's confidants, and mixed this information among various other reports, allowing it to be reported up the chain of command.

Once the news spread, Zhao Ruxi put the matter aside.

With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, Zhao Ruxi can no longer afford to carelessly grind for points.

She's been diligently accumulating points lately, and the system's deductions have been reasonable, so she still has several thousand points left. She needs to spend some time on general affairs.

Because of her good math skills, Lady Zhu no longer does the accounting herself, but instead conscripts men; Zhao Ruxi also has to review the accounts of her own businesses.

Although she didn't need to do the detailed accounting herself, as there were several capable maids like Qingfeng and Dianjiang, she still wanted to personally review the accounts.

After settling the accounts and distributing the year-end bonuses, it's almost Chinese New Year.

"Miss Xi, the second and third branches of the family have come to ask your grandmother if we can celebrate the New Year together. What do you think?" Lady Zhu asked Zhao Ruxi.

Originally, this matter should have been decided directly by the old lady, Zhao Yuanxun, and Lady Zhu; there was no need to ask Zhao Ruxi, a junior.

But Zhao Ruxi's words about trouble at the border and the possibility of not being able to hold a New Year's banquet were still fresh in their minds, further confirming Zhao Ruxi's uncanny ability to predict the future. So the three elders felt uneasy without Zhao Ruxi's approval. So Lady Zhu came to ask Zhao Ruxi.

"It depends on what Grandmother thinks. If Grandmother is willing, then we can live together." Zhao Ruxi was indifferent.

The most troublesome members of the second and third wives' families, Lady Wei and Zhao Yuankun, are no longer around. Apart from Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Rurui, who are a bit of a handful, the rest are doing quite well. It's nice to have a meal together during the New Year.

Lady Zhu relayed Zhao Ruxi's words to the old lady.

The old lady thought for a moment and said, "Alright, let's celebrate the New Year together then."

She used to find the second and third wives' wives annoying. Now that the family has separated, the eldest wife's life is thriving, and she is living a very comfortable life. She no longer has any lingering resentment.

Especially the third wife's family; if they don't agree to spend the New Year together, the third wife's family will be left with only the three of them—a widow and her children—eating the New Year's meal alone and lonely, which is quite pitiful.

So on New Year's Day, the Earl of Suiping's Residence set up two tables in the main hall, one for men and one for women, separated by a screen, and they had a lively New Year's Eve dinner. After the meal, everyone sat for a while before going home.

Zhao Ruxi practiced calligraphy for two more sessions under the lamplight before finally going to sleep.

The Earl of Suiping's Residence was filled with joy and harmony, while chaos reigned in the imperial palace. Xiao Lingpu, seizing the opportunity, directly arrested the man, and the imperial physician also confirmed that his tea had been drugged. Xiao Ge was furious, but also deeply saddened.

He himself had come through the struggle for the throne and knew all too well that the road was fraught with thorns, and sometimes it was a matter of life or death.

But he still hoped that his sons could get along well. If one of them succeeded to the throne, even if he couldn't tolerate the other brothers, at least he shouldn't take their lives. Even if he couldn't tolerate them, it should be when he was on his deathbed, when the struggle for the throne was at its most intense.

At this time, however, he was still in excellent health and felt that he could live for another twenty or thirty years without any problem. At this time, the Crown Prince and the Third Brother and fourth princes were eager to take Xiao Lingpu's life. In front of him, they repeatedly pushed Xiao Lingpu to the brink of death, which was truly intolerable.

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! Find out who it is, and show no mercy!" he roared. "Summon the Imperial Clan Court and the Court of Court of Judicial Review; they must investigate this completely."

"Your Majesty," Imperial Guards entered and reported before Xiao Ge could finish speaking, "That man just committed suicide and is dead."

Xiao Ge slumped down.

This is why those people dared to openly drug Xiao Lingpu.

Their plans are meticulous, and those who commit the acts will find ways to commit suicide if caught, leaving no opportunity for interrogation. As long as they can't obtain evidence proving that one of them ordered it, there's nothing they can do. After all, there's more than one person with Xiao Lingpu.

"Investigate! Continue investigating for me!" Xiao Ge was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Xiao Lingpu was waiting for Xiao Ge to say those words.

Because he had received intelligence, he was prepared. Although he accidentally caused someone's death, he still had evidence.

Zhao Ruxi didn't want to know the details of the power struggles within the palace. If Xiao Lingpu still died despite her warnings, then it could only mean that he was incompetent.

The next morning, she asked the system only one question, "Is Xiao Lingpu still alive?"

"Alive." The system said, deducting fifty points from Zhao Ruxi with practiced ease.

Zhao Ruxi nodded and stopped caring.

After the New Year, news of victories from the border kept arriving. The Fifth Prince, having spent more than a year in the Ministry of Works, improved the crossbows and catapults as soon as he arrived at the border. While the Fu Family father and son were fighting on the front lines, he led a small team to the enemy's rear and seized a batch of grain.

Having lost their supplies and unable to win on the battlefield, the enemy surrendered immediately.

"Hahaha, as expected of my Little Five, truly remarkable." Xiao Ge laughed heartily upon seeing the memorial, and immediately bestowed upon Xiao Lingyan the title of Prince of Qi, and granted him the Prince of Qi's Residence.

Most princes only received a residence and title after getting married, leaving the palace, and establishing their own residences. Xiao Lingyan receiving these ahead of time is quite an honor.

Next, the enemy country sent envoys to the capital to deliver compensation. Fu Dayong remained stationed at the border, while Xiao Lingyan, Fu Yunkai, and Zhang Changshen returned in triumph.

Xiao Ge gave them generous rewards.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Changshen stayed behind, handing Xiao Ge a thick stack of memorials, "These are the results of my investigation at the border."

"You've worked hard, my dear minister. I'll keep the memorial for you to read later. You should go back and rest now," Xiao Ge said.

Watching Zhang Changshen take his leave, Xiao Ge stared at the memorial, reluctant to open it.

He didn't even need to look; he already knew what was written inside.

"Wu Huaisi for an audience," he ordered, opening the memorial.

The next day, Xiao Ge issued a series of imperial edicts at the morning court session.

Several ministers in the capital underwent job changes, and several generals on the border were dismissed or beheaded. This was not only the case on the northwest border, but also on the southeast border, where several generals were transferred. They were replaced by the Fu Family family confidants and some neutral generals.

Anyone with eyes to see can see that the Emperor is extremely dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince, and is intentionally trying to suppress them; while the faction of the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince is rising in status and being favored by the Emperor.

After the court session, both the Crown Prince and the Third Prince smashed their cups upon returning to their residences. There was no commotion at the Fourth Prince's residence, but his presence in court became even less noticeable.