After being rejected, he emptied the mansion and went into exile

Xiang Hongxuan nodded slightly.

Shen Jinyao thought for a moment and asked, "Could it be that the Emperor did something during this visit by the four nations?"

Otherwise, given the Crown Prince's personality, why would he bring forward something that would happen a year in advance to a month in advance?

She thought the Crown Prince was someone who cared a lot about his own power and influence.

She did not want to be branded as unfilial and coerce the emperor into abdicating.

Therefore, the crown prince used some special means to influence the emperor, waiting for him to die of illness so that he could naturally succeed to the throne.

Since things have suddenly changed, it must be because the emperor did something.

This pushed the Crown Prince to his breaking point.

To everyone's surprise, Xiang Hongxuan didn't answer the question. Instead, he smiled and said, "Look at you, you must be hungry after talking for so long. I'll have the kitchen send some food over."

I'm not going back tonight.

Shen Jinyao understood. Since Xiang Hongxuan wasn't in a hurry, she would ask him later.

This person must have done it on purpose, knowing that I'm curious about these things.

She was the first person to hope for the emperor's downfall.

It wasn't just because of the humiliation she suffered in the palace, but also for the peace and tranquility of the Shen family.

Only by eliminating the emperor, this ticking time bomb, can the Shen family stop living in constant fear.

She was hungry anyway, so they could talk about it after they ate.

Laughter and chatter came from outside. Princess Alsa was circling around Song Yingxue, while Song Yingxue ran around in front of and behind Shen Zhizheng.

Shen Zhizheng's frustrated voice could be heard from outside.

"Jin'er, open the door for me!"

Why are she and General Xiang still serving food?

Can't you see he's currently entangled with this woman?

Shen Jinyao smiled and said, "You're here."

With a smile in her eyes, she said softly, "It's the first time I've seen my brother with such a headache. It's really amusing."

Xiang Hongxuan looked down at her smiling eyes and couldn't help but smile as well.

He deliberately changed the subject, afraid of spoiling her interest.

He watched as she opened the door with a slightly lighthearted air and began to talk and laugh with Shen Zhizheng in a serious tone.

Then came the sound of Shen Zhizheng closing the door.

He was slightly annoyed to see the couple watching him calmly.

He gave Shen Jinyao a warning look, and Shen Jinyao quickly stopped smiling.

He dared not offend Xiang Hongxuan, but he could still keep his sister in check.

"Big brother, what brings you here? Are you here to pick up Le Yao and Xiao Jiu and Xiao Shi?"

Shen Zhizheng shook his head.

"Neither my father nor my mother mentioned this."

Even when attending the palace banquet, she did not mention taking the three children back.

"Then... Big brother, you didn't come here to see..."

Shen Jinyao deliberately dragged out her voice while looking at him, which made Shen Zhizheng's ears turn slightly red.

He looked into Shen Jinyao's smiling eyes and stopped glaring at her.

"Jin'er, don't make fun of your elder brother anymore. There are plenty of people in this courtyard who will give you a headache."

Shen Jinyao nodded, "Blame the emperor."

She watched Shen Zhizheng sitting at the table, not saying a word, just drinking tea, and then looked at Xiang Hongxuan, who had a calm expression.

"You two came here because of these people?"

Shen Zhizheng: "Yes, but not entirely."

Xiang Hongxuan: "I'm going home."

Shen Zhizheng: ...

Xiang Hongxuan pulled Shen Jinyao to sit down beside him and whispered, "The Crown Prince will be here soon."

Shen Jinyao was slightly surprised. Was the Crown Prince plotting something in the General's Mansion?

She glanced at Shen Zhizheng across from her, who was sipping tea with his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

He asked, "Wouldn't that be unsafe?"

The courtyard was full of people, most of whom were from other countries; they were all informants.

Even if they didn't intend to harm them, they were definitely monitoring them.

Xiang Hongxuan shook his head, "With them as cover, no one will suspect what we're discussing."

Shen Jinyao understood.

Is the most dangerous place the safest place?

Xiang Hongxuan's eyes lit up, and he nodded with a smile.

Even Shen Zhizheng, who had been silently drinking tea, looked up at her.

Shen Jinyao met the gaze.

"So, your brother's embarrassment just now was an act?"

Shen Zhizheng, who had been all serious, grinned sheepishly, "How about that? Did I fool you?"

Shen Jinyao sat down beside him and said meaningfully, "It's okay if you fooled me, but the one outside will probably believe it too."

She also wondered why her older brother suddenly started getting intimate with a woman, half-heartedly.

Even if the woman had only known the older brother for a month, given his personality, he wouldn't give her that opportunity.

Shen Zhizheng seemed to be thinking of something, and he clenched his fist.

Shen Jinyao became even more curious about this matter.

She seemed to have figured out the whole thing.

"Something must have happened today. The Crown Prince decided to discuss important matters with you. You gave him the general outline, but he didn't have time to give you the details."

"Taking advantage of the Southern Barbarian princess's insistence on staying at my house, the three of you are using this opportunity to discuss your plans?"

When Xiang Hongxuan heard Shen Jinyao say "my home," his eyes involuntarily filled with deep affection, a feeling he himself was unaware of.

He smiled and nodded, placing the teacup he had just warmed into Shen Jinyao's hands.

Shen Zhi was sitting opposite him, and he was so surprised that he opened his mouth slightly. He had never seen Xiang Hongxuan like this before.

He watched as Shen Jinyao noticed the teacup in her hand. She paused for a moment, then readily accepted it, as if this had happened many times before, and she never considered refusing.

His younger sister seemed to treat Xiang Hongxuan differently.

She has a bit of a girlish demeanor.

In the past, Shen Jiajin would never have joked with him like this.

He could sense Xiang Hongxuan's indulgence of Shen Jinyao.

He also worried that since they were discussing political matters, failure could very well lead to a rebellion.

However, in the Shen family, in Wuhe Village of Quzhou, the Shen family never kept important matters from Jin'er, and he was worried that General Xiang would have a conflict with Jin'er because of this.

Unexpectedly, this person had already told everyone about it before he even entered the house.

It seems he was overthinking it.

Shen Jinyao was somewhat puzzled by Shen Zhizheng's gaze, while Xiang Hongxuan calmly served her food.

Just as Shen Jinyao was about to say something, she heard the sound of extra dishes being delivered from the restaurant outside.

Xiang Hongxuan said in a low voice, "Come in."

A person came in from outside, carrying a food box, and the door was quickly closed again.

Shen Jinyao stood up with a faint smile, "I'll get some hot drinks for the General and my elder brother."

Xiang Hongxuan tried to stop her, but she walked very quickly.

He walked up to the person who entered the room without pausing.

The man looked up and it was the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was in a bad mood, but he felt much safer with Shen Jinyao watching him from outside.

The three talked until late at night, and the hot wine that Shen Jinyao had asked to be delivered was sent three times.

At this moment, Shen Jinyao was sitting in Shen Leyao's room, no longer the same person she was chatting and laughing with Shen Zhizheng and Xiang Hongxuan in the main house.

She knew that both her older brother and Xiang Hongxuan were trying to keep it a secret, which meant the matter was definitely very dangerous.

If the emperor truly wants to purge the court of corrupt officials, the Xiang and Shen residences will undoubtedly be the most dangerous places.

What will she do then?

Furthermore, what other heinous things did the emperor do?

Wasn't he just thinking about showing off the power of Kyushu?

"Miss Song, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I'm waiting for Lord Shen to bring him some hangover soup."