Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

at dusk.

Fuqu entered the inner room and took out a letter from her sleeve: "Your Highness, a letter has been sent from the manor."

Shen Zhinian reached out and took it.

Unfold the letter inside; it bears Xia Lingshu's elegant handwriting.

The content was brief, like a simple family letter offering greetings, with only a few subtle words added at the end.

"...Recently, I overheard some idle chatter in the marketplace, and some inappropriate remarks. I have already sent people to pay attention and guide the conversation. Everything is well at home, and I sincerely hope that Your Highness will not worry. I only wish you to rest and recuperate peacefully and await good news."

Shen Zhinian was not surprised by this, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

She held the letter close to the candle flame beside her; the flame licked the corner of the paper, and it turned to ashes in an instant.

Fuqu could roughly guess the contents of the letter: "Your Majesty, does the letter contain any outrageous talk from outside?"

"It's nothing serious."

Shen Zhinian said calmly, "It's just that my family found out about what was going on outside and told me that they are already handling it, so I don't need to worry."

Fuqu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Master must be worried about the Empress. With the family handling things outside, those absurd rumors will surely be quelled soon."

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhinian's smile deepened: "Yes, with family around, I naturally don't need to worry about these things."

She knew that no matter how powerful the rumors were, the Shen and Xia families would find a way to quell them.

It wasn't that Shen Zhinian trusted Shen Maoxue's fatherly affection for her.

Rather, what the father valued most was the Shen family's reputation and its benefits.

She is now a Noble Consort, and carries the Emperor's child in her womb. Her reputation is the face of the Shen family; her favor is the Shen family's reliance.

How could they allow those unsavory rumors to tarnish her reputation?

Fuqu sensed that in the Empress's words, her protection of the Master did not reflect much gratitude for the warmth of family affection.

She understood the reason, but did not point it out. She simply said, "The Shen family shares the honor and disgrace with Your Highness, and will do our utmost."

Shen Zhinian smiled and didn't continue the conversation.

She and Xia Lingshu were not much different in age, and their relationship was more based on mutual respect and alliance of interests.

His relationship with Shen Maoxue had been cold since childhood.

Although her relationship with her father improved after she entered the palace and gained favor, it was still more about mutual interests than blood ties.

Her father came from a poor family but rose through the ranks to become the Minister of Personnel, elevating the Shen family from an ordinary official family to its current status as a powerful maternal relative.

His life's work was dedicated to the continuation of his family's glory and power.

Shen Zhinian, this daughter, is the greatest guarantee of the Shen family's wealth for the next few decades.

He may not love this daughter, but he definitely loves the future of the Shen family.

Therefore, Shen Maoxue will spare no effort to eliminate any risk that might shake Shen Zhinian's position and thus threaten the interests of the Shen family.

Shen Zhinian didn't need to remind or plead for this.

Xia Lingshu is a shrewd and capable daughter of a royal merchant. She marries into the Shen family, creating a powerful alliance.

Maintaining a good relationship with Shen Zhinian is the key to ensuring her position in the Shen family and the longevity of the Xia family's business.

Xia Lingshu has a vast network of information throughout the city and a shrewd business sense, making her adept at handling such rumors.

Therefore, when the rumors started, Shen Zhinian ordered the people of Yongshou Palace to remain still.

She wasn't truly indifferent; rather, she had calculated that the Shen family would be more anxious than she was.

Shen Zhinian's best cooperation with the Shen family is to maintain her position in the palace and not let rumors affect her mind and pregnancy.

……

Hall of Supreme Harmony.

After the morning court session ended, the ministers filed out.

Shen Maoxue descended the jade steps with the flow of people, his expression unchanged.

After a moment's hesitation, he did not leave the palace immediately, but instead turned onto another palace road and went to the Imperial Study.

Outside the Imperial Study Room.

The guards on duty, seeing that it was Minister Shen requesting an audience, all knew that he was the father of the Imperial Noble Consort and a trusted minister of His Majesty, and dared not be negligent, so they immediately went inside to announce his arrival.

Before long, Li Changde came out to greet him personally and said respectfully, "Lord Shen, His Majesty invites you in."

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Li."

Shen Maoxue nodded slightly, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the imperial study.

Nangong Xuanyu was sitting behind his desk reviewing memorials.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his gaze falling on Shen Maoxue, and asked, "Minister Shen, is there something important for you to discuss at this time?"

Shen Maoxue stepped forward and bowed, a hint of hesitation on his face.

Nangong Xuanyu was extremely perceptive. Upon seeing this, he knew that the usually composed Minister of Personnel was about to report something far from ordinary: "What is it, my dear minister? Please speak freely."

Shen Maoxue then cupped his hands, his tone cautious, revealing a hint of fatherly worry: "Your Majesty, I do have a matter concerning the imperial family's reputation and the peace of the harem. I am filled with trepidation and dare not fail to report it."

"Recently, I have heard some rather inappropriate gossip circulating in the streets and alleys..."

Nangong Xuanyu frowned slightly: "Oh? What kind of gossip?"

Shen Maoxue's tone grew increasingly heavy: "These are all baseless rumors spread by ignorant commoners."

"The content mostly involves the palace, pointing to the Imperial Noble Consort of Yongshou Palace, saying... that the miscarriages of Lady Feng and Lady Chu are related to the Imperial Noble Consort's pregnancy with the emperor's child."

"Even worse, they went so far as to claim that the Imperial Noble Consort's excessive blessings were actually a hindrance..."

Shen Maoxue was a smart man, and he did not directly say the most vicious rumors about the Imperial Noble Consort eliminating dissidents in front of the emperor.

However, after hearing only a few words, Nangong Xuanyu's eyes darkened instantly!

He already felt a sense of inexplicable guilt towards Shen Zhinian because of what had happened before.

At this very moment, someone actually dares to attach such a vicious and filthy rumor to Nian Nian?!

Nangong Xuanyu coldly replied, "The Imperial Noble Consort is carrying the child I have been hoping for. She is a blessed star from heaven and a great fortune for the country! How can you say that she is a hindrance?"

"If no one was stirring things up behind the scenes, how could such malicious words have arisen out of thin air and spread with such detail?"

"Who are these scoundrels who dare to curse my imperial heirs and slander my concubines?!"

Shen Maoxue quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

"I also believe that this matter is by no means accidental. Although the rumors originated in the marketplace, their true intentions may not lie in the marketplace."

"Her Imperial Noble Consort is virtuous, respectful, and frugal, managing the six palaces day and night with tireless dedication. Now that she is pregnant with the emperor's child, it is a blessing for all the people."

"Such malicious slander not only damages Your Majesty's reputation and disrupts the harmony of the harem, but also shows contempt for the imperial authority. Such intentions deserve to be punished!"

Nangong Xuanyu's chest heaved slightly, clearly furious: "Li Changde!"

Li Changde immediately bowed and obeyed: "Your servant is here!"

The emperor said in a deep voice, "Immediately issue my decree, ordering the Prefect of the Capital and the Five Cities Garrison to join forces and thoroughly investigate the slanderous rumors circulating in the streets that defame the palace and curse the imperial heirs!"

"Anyone who spreads this information, regardless of their identity, shall be arrested and interrogated rigorously. You must find the source and the mastermind behind it!"