Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Which place did you go to?

Shen Sangwan waved her hand, ordering the food to be completely removed.

“Manchun Garden is the property of the Prince of Qi. It is used to collect beautiful women for him, send them to his residence, and send them back to Manchun Garden after he has had his fill of them.”

She was somewhat puzzled; Manchun Garden seemed to be a brothel that specialized in prostitution.

Unlike Qingfeng Pavilion and Xuehuajian, which have private rooms and different types of prostitutes.

Furthermore, it includes a South Wind Pavilion and a Women's Wind Pavilion, targeting different consumer groups and offering different categories.

Since He Wu was disguised, she naturally went to Manchun Garden as a man. However, most people who went there were either seeking pleasure or satisfying their perverted desires.

What could she possibly do there?

Shouldn't one choose a place like Snowflake Valley to gather intelligence or secretly meet with people?

"What did you find out?"

Shuyun shook his head. "After my subordinate went to investigate, I found nothing. It was all about wine and women. It was just a business used by the King of Qi to amass wealth, not a base for gathering intelligence."

"It's quite unusual for a woman to frequently travel in and out of that place in disguise."

"Your Highness, I suspect..."

"Do you suspect she might actually be a man?"

Shuyun nodded. "I asked Mama Liu of Manchun Garden. He Wu always finds a different woman to accompany her each time she goes. She has never had the same person twice. And no one has noticed that she is a woman disguised as a man. I can only guess that she is a man."

Unfortunately, both of their bodies have now disappeared, and even if there are suspicions, there is no way to verify them.

At the same time that Yu Qinxue's body disappeared, He Wu's body also vanished into thin air in the servants' quarters.

"This palace is as leaky as a sieve."

She slightly raised her delicate hand, picked up a cup of tea from the table, and took a small sip.

"Go and inform Mo Ran to secretly train a new recruit team and then place them into the Imperial Guard."

"Yes."

Although Cen Qingyu is a reliable person, many of the people he led as deputy commander died or were injured during the palace coup.

Although he is now the supreme commander, most of his subordinates are good-for-nothings who got in through back channels.

"Xiao Tong, what kind of country did the late emperor establish by starting a rebellion? It's only been a few years, and it's still just like the previous dynasty—full of parasites and a mess everywhere."

[Master, if you want to curse someone, curse the main system. It's the system that chose this main storyline for you.]

You can't curse at me after you've cursed the main system, and you definitely can't take it out on me.

I want to live a little longer; I don't want to open blind boxes for now.

In less than six months since she arrived, she has already experienced abdominal pain, headaches, chills, electric shocks, and itching all over her body, and the feeling is not pleasant at all.

Unless she truly has no desire to live, she should explore the remaining eight thousand-plus punishments.

"Did you still find no clues after I told you to continue investigating the Soul-Hooking Pavilion?"

"The other party is very cunning, and has wiped away all traces."

"As for the Duke of Song, whom the person behind this is pointing the finger at, I have already asked Mo Ran to send a message to Mo Lan, who is stationed in Qinzhou, to keep a close eye on the Duke of Song's actions."

"If the Duke of Song makes any unusual moves, Mo Lan will send a message back immediately."

At this stage, she is not too worried about the Song State Guild suddenly rebelling. After all, the new emperor has ascended the throne without any merit or demerit, so it would be illegitimate for him to rebel at this time.

On the contrary, it was the hand stirring up trouble behind the scenes in Zhongdu that was giving her a real headache.

Now that she is in the open while the enemy is in the shadows, it seems we need to find a way to lure them out.

"You previously mentioned that Prince Ning of Nanye was making trouble. Has he made any moves recently?"

"Nothing yet. Does Your Highness suspect Prince Ning of doing it?"

The tea on the table was empty, and Shen Sangwan stood up and shook her head.

"Send more people to monitor the Ming Prince's Mansion and the Anguo Duke's Mansion. Also keep a close watch on the Left and Right Prime Minister's Mansions. Those who can stir up trouble in Zhongdu will not be outside Zhongdu. At most, when you start an uprising, you can win them over as your helpers to achieve the effect of working together from the inside and outside."

“Prince Ming has always been in poor health. If it weren’t for Consort Lan and Duke Anguo’s machinations, he probably would have lost interest in the court long ago. Why would Your Highness send the only manpower you have to Prince Ming’s residence?”

Shen Sangwan, who was about to leave the palace, stopped and turned back, her eyes suddenly turning cold, carrying a chilling and ruthless murderous aura.

"Shuyun, you have overstepped your bounds."

His tone was very calm, yet one could hear the innate authority and the sense of oppression that unconsciously emanated from someone who had long held a high position.

"I acknowledge my guilt."

"I do not wish for a next time."

"Your subordinate will remember this."

It was still early when Shen Sangwan arrived at Chonghua Palace. The Empress Dowager was still washing up, and a large crowd of people were standing outside the palace.

They were all concubines who came to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

"We, your humble servants, greet the Princess and Your Highness with best wishes."

Consort Liang and Consort Cen, who were at the head of the group, were the first to bow, followed by the other concubines who knelt down to pay their respects.

"Xiaotong, my cheap little brother has so many beautiful wives."

[Ahem, my lord, you have many of those in your household as well.]

How can you even compare them?

【Master, you haven't even looked at the beauties in your manor, how can they not compare?】

Is it really appropriate to compare those who participated in the preliminary rounds with those who made it to the finals?

Not to mention that most of the beauties standing here today come from prominent families and are talented and beautiful, even the daughters of officials below the fourth rank have been selected through layers of screening by the Ministry of Rites.

Her household was filled with spies sent from various other households; it was unclear where they had been gathered from.

Although she had never seen her, she was certain that while her beauty might not be stunning, her seductive skills were absolutely top-notch.

"Flat body."

Being around beautiful women always makes me feel better.

Master, I despise you.

After saying that, he secretly made a gesture towards Shen Sangwan.

Hmph~

At this moment, Granny Gu poked her head out from the palace entrance and said in a flat voice, "Ladies and gentlemen may enter the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager."

Consort Cen and Consort Liang both looked towards Shen Sangwan.

Of all those present, she was the most distinguished, and if anyone was to go first, Shen Sangwan should lead the way inside.

"I will go visit the Empress first; you may all go in first."

Although Shen Sangwan admired beautiful women, she was unwilling to sit there with a group of people and engage in empty pleasantries. She decided to wait until they left before paying her respects to the Empress Dowager.

The two bowed, smiles on their faces, and slowly stepped onto the stone steps, heading into the hall.

The concubines behind him also bowed and followed closely behind.

[I must say, this Consort Liang bears a striking resemblance to General Liang. Her skin isn't the typical fair complexion of a young lady from a noble family; instead, it's a healthy, slightly tanned color, and her full lips accentuate her sharp features.]

Xiao Tong thought to herself: If a daughter doesn't resemble her father, then something's not quite right.

[He just seemed a bit unapproachable, cold and aloof. On the other hand, Consort Cen beside him was soft and gentle, clearly a delicate and charming young lady, making one want to get close to her.]

[Master, you're so lewd. I feel you're comparable to those greasy men in the world.]

How could you say that to me?

"I, Shen Sangwan, have always been a law-abiding citizen. What's wrong with being a little lecherous?"