The Emperor's heart is won, she sits on the Phoenix Throne! The Divine Physician's Eldest

"Your Highness, Your Highness the Crown Princess, Old Master Dong, and Lord Dong, along with Madam Dong, request an audience," Yu Xiang reported.

After finishing his official duties, Shen Pei came to keep Song Siyao company, just as Song Siyao had a good nap.

He knew the whole story and was gently coaxing Song Siyao when he heard the people from the Dong family requesting an audience. His face instantly darkened. "I won't see them."

"See you then." Song

Si Yao said, "Let's see what they're up to."

Shen Pei looked at Yu Xiang and said, "Have them wait in the front hall."

"Yes, Your Highness." Yu Xiang said and left.

Of course, Song Siyao would not go to see them. After a long time, Shen Pei slowly walked to the front hall.

Old Master Dong, Lord Dong, and Song Suxin were all kneeling. When they saw Shen Pei, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince." Old Master Dong kowtowed and bowed.

Lord Dong and Song Suxin did as instructed.

"Lord Dong, what are you doing?" Shen Pei asked coldly.

Old Master Dong was stunned. Shen Pei wanted him to recount the whole story, which made him lose face completely.

"Your Highness, my daughter and daughter-in-law have caused a great disaster at the Crown Prince's residence today. My daughter has been confined to her quarters and will soon be married off to a distant place, so that she will never be able to return to the capital. As for my daughter-in-law, we have decided to divorce her, but before that, the Dong family is willing to bear the consequences of her mistakes."

After Old Master Dong finished speaking, Lord Dong also spoke up, "Please punish me, Your Highness."

Song Suxin was also perceptive. "Your Highness, I spoke rudely and disrespectfully today. I am willing to be punished. However, I was the only one who did this. I am willing to take full responsibility. I beg Your Highness to forgive the Dong family."

Shen Pei's tone was chillingly cold: "No need to divorce her."

The three members of the Dong family looked up at Shen Pei at the same time, their faces filled with disbelief and confusion about Shen Pei's intentions.

Shen Pei continued, "This is the Crown Princess's wish."

"Your Highness is so magnanimous and compassionate. Thank you for sparing my life." Old Master Dong prostrated himself in a deep bow.

"Lord Dong," Shen Pei called out.

"Your subject is here," Lord Dong replied respectfully.

"Take good care of the new lady the Crown Princess gave you, and let her carry on the Dong family line." Shen Pei's meaning was very clear.

Lord Dong replied, "Your subject obeys."

"Alright, let's go back." Shen Pei stood up and added, "Lord Dong, if things are not peaceful in the inner quarters, your future will be uncertain."

He finished speaking and walked away without saying another word.

"Thank you, Your Highness and Your Highness the Crown Prince." The three members of the Dong family expressed their gratitude.

The Dong father and son exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable, as if they were dreaming.

They had prepared for Shen Pei's storm, but in the end, it was just a dark cloud.

"Father, what does His Highness the Crown Prince mean by this?" Lord Dong asked.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is merciful." At the Crown Prince's residence, Old Master Dong could not say much, and only said, "Let's go back to the residence."

The three returned to the Dong residence.

Lord Dong immediately promoted the nine girls sent by Song Siyao to the rank of concubines, giving each of them their own courtyard.

As for Song Suxin, the fact that Shen Pei and Song Siyao did not punish her does not mean that the Dong family will forgive her.

They gave her twenty lashes, locked her in the ancestral hall, confined her for a month, and stripped her of her power to manage the household.

Their speed was astonishing; they found a husband for Dong Yingying in less than a day, and she got married three days later.

When the news reached the Crown Prince's residence, Song Siyao was eating steamed perch that Shen Pei had personally fed her.

The sea bass was fresh and tender, melting in the mouth and leaving a lingering fragrance. Song Siyao felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

“Old Master Dong is a clear-headed man, ruthless and decisive. No wonder he can remain untainted by the mud.” Song Siyao praised, “It’s just that Song Suxin is too well hidden. They didn’t discover her for so many years.”

"Your Highness, this is a brilliant move! You sent so many beauties to Lord Dong, and they only thought you were punishing Madam Dong. Little did they know that you were openly planting spies to monitor Madam Dong, and even making the Dong family divorce her in order to keep an eye on her," Hong Shao said with a smile.

Song Siyao's lips curled into a cold smile. She kept Song Suxin around because of Song Suxin's special identity; she was a mole for the mysterious person.