Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

After a night of passion, Concubine Qin was not sentenced to death but was promoted to the position of imperial concubine.

However, because Qin was pronounced the same as Qin in Concubine Qin's name, it was taboo and she was eventually named a concubine.

At the same time, two imperial edicts spread throughout the country.

The first imperial edict announced that the imperial examination for that year would be cancelled due to a solar eclipse.

This decision forced candidates from some remote areas who had already set out on their journey to Beijing to take the imperial examination to return to their hometowns and wait for the next imperial examination, which was never far away.

Another imperial decree postponed the prince's wedding to March next year.

In addition, a secret decree of death was sent to the residence of the director of the Imperial Observatory.

After these imperial edicts were issued, rain began to fall in various places, and the people shouted "Long live the emperor".

When Emperor Jing learned that the crisis could be resolved without issuing a self-criticism edict or ordering Concubine Zhao's death, he was overjoyed and his favor for Concubine Zhao deepened. Even the Third Prince, Xiao Yuanlang, who was in charge of the glassmaking process, received a reward.

At the same time, he was also dissatisfied with those old ministers who asked him to write a confession of guilt and to execute the concubine. The first to be dissatisfied was Shen Huaizhong, who had come to persuade him several times.

Because of his favor for Concubine Wei, even the third prince Xiao Yuanlang, who was in charge of making colored glaze, was rewarded.

Xiao Yuanlang felt extremely disappointed when faced with this reward. He realized that he had seriously underestimated the extent of Emperor Jing's favor for Concubine Ying.

At the same time, he had just bought a large amount of ice from Shen Chuning, but encountered an unexpected situation of rain and temperature drop. He was extremely angry and wanted to kill Shen Jingwan immediately.

But considering that Shen Jingwan is still needed to make colored glaze, they had to let her live a little longer.

On the other hand, Wu Desheng received a lot of rewards for providing Xiao Yuanlang with clues about making ice from saltpeter.

As agreed, Wu Desheng handed He Er over to Manager Wei.

After Fuzi's confirmation, the person now controlled by Shen Chuning was He Er himself.

After interrogation, He Er admitted that he had an improper relationship with Aunt Xue.

But surprisingly, they met after Shen Jingwan was born, which means that Shen Jingwan was not He Er's daughter.

However, what made Shen Chuning even more headache was that the development of this life was too different from that of the previous life.

In the previous life, there was no solar eclipse, and the heat lasted until the end of September. Not only did the summer crops fail to be harvested, but autumn sowing was also impossible.

It was only mid-August in this life, and the weather was already getting colder. Fortunately, she sold all the ice to Xiao Yuanlang, otherwise she would have earned much less money.

Although crops can be planted after the autumnal equinox, it will take another half a year for the crops to mature, and there are still many uncertainties.

Although the price of grain in this life is not as high as in the previous life, Shen Chuning and Yun Zian still make a lot of money.

Cui Shi also used the relationship with the Third Prince through Manager Wei to open Hengfu Money House in the capital.

……

In the early morning after the rain, the air was fresh and pleasant, and the horse's hooves splashed water on the bluestone road.

Crown Prince Xiao Yuanqi rode back to the mansion on horseback, only to see Zhou Lin already waiting in the main hall.

Zhou Lin looked serious, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Hanzhi, why are you here so early?" After getting off his horse, Xiao Yuanqi walked into the main hall and asked Zhou Lin.

Zhou Lin did not answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he said, "Your Highness, have you been to Kangyuan Hutong again?"

When Xiao Yuanqi heard this, his expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal and replied guiltily, "No...no...I just went out for a ride early in the morning."

His eyes flickered a little, as if he was hiding something.

"Your Highness, I was here last night." Zhou Lin said coldly, with a hint of questioning in his voice.

Xiao Yuanqi sighed and explained helplessly: "There was thunder last night. Sisi is most afraid of thunder. If I am not here, Sisi will be scared to tears." His tone was full of concern and heartache.

"Your Highness, have you ever thought about what to do if someone sees you?" Zhou Lin frowned tightly.

Xiao Yuanqi quickly replied, "I left at dusk and came back early this morning. I was very careful."

He tried to reassure Zhou Lin, but he felt a little uneasy.

Zhou Lin looked at Xiao Yuanqi seriously and said slowly, "You said that as long as I help you redeem Miss Sisi, you will not see her again before the wedding."

Xiao Yuanqi roared in frustration, "Yes, I did promise you, but who knew that with only a few days left before the wedding, my father suddenly said he wanted to postpone the wedding. I haven't seen Sisi for a long time. Hanzhi, do you know how it feels to miss someone?"

He was agitated and his eyes flashed with anger.

Hearing these words, Zhou Lin's mind suddenly appeared Shen Chuning's smiling face, and his heart couldn't help but tremble.

He secretly cursed himself as a beast. Shen Chuning was so young, how could he have any improper thoughts about her?

"I don't understand. I only know that if I really like someone, I will never agree to marry someone else." Zhou Lin said resolutely, his eyes firm and determined.

Xiao Yuanqi hugged his head in pain, as if he was under tremendous pressure and pain.

His voice was filled with helplessness and bitterness. "Do you think I want to? My marriage is just a tool for my father to appease the court officials. Do you know how many people are eyeing the position of Crown Princess?"

His eyes revealed deep pain and helplessness, and he seemed full of disappointment in the world.

"Even though I have tried my best to help Sisi arrange the identity of the daughter of a minor official, it is still extremely difficult for her to enter the Eastern Palace." There was a hint of sadness and despair in Xiao Yuanqi's tone.

"In order to prevent Sisi from being troubled by the Crown Princess in the future, I forced myself to take her into the palace after the wedding." His expression became distorted.

"I was about to live with her forever, but my father suddenly ordered to postpone the wedding." Tears flashed in Xiao Yuanqi's eyes, as if the whole world was against him.

"Hanzhi, I don't want the position of crown prince anymore. I want to take Sisi away. Do you have any way to arrange for me and Sisi to leave the capital?" Xiao Yuanqi suddenly grabbed Zhou Lin's hand and asked, his eyes revealing eagerness and desire.

Zhou Lin asked sadly, "Your Highness, do you know how many people will lose their heads if you really leave?" There was a hint of blame and worry in his tone.

Xiao Yuanqi lowered his arms helplessly, and even his head dropped down.

His face was full of loss and despair, as if everything had lost its meaning.

At this time, Zhou Lin saw rose-colored spots on the back of Xiao Yuanqi's neck, and he suddenly remembered that Shen Chuning asked him to pay more attention to the prince's health.

"Prince, has your neck... been examined by Doctor Xuan?" Zhou Lin asked, pointing at the back of the prince's neck.