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

Wen Yuening was momentarily speechless at Shen Yuchen's words.

"It's one thing for the Left Chancellor to play games with me in court, but I don't want to have to deal with the Empress in the inner palace as well."

"Your Majesty is overthinking it. The reason Your Highness took me to Wuzhou for disaster relief and to treat the victims was simply because I am your sister-in-law and because I was injured."

Wen Yuening curtsied and then knelt respectfully on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I do not know what rumors you have heard. In Wuzhou, Your Highness and I did not overstep any boundaries. Moreover, I made it clear to Your Majesty earlier that since entering the palace, I have been wholeheartedly dedicated to assisting Your Majesty and am not on the same side as my father."

He folded his hands, bent down, and touched his forehead to the ground, speaking with utmost sincerity.

Shen Yuchen half-closed his eyes, carefully examining Wen Yuening kneeling in front of him.

"Late at night."

"Then this concubine will assist Your Majesty to retire for the night."

Wen Yuening knew that Shen Yuchen did not intend to pursue the matter any further, so she got up to help him undress.

After passing behind the screen, Shen Yuchen glanced at the bedding on the soft couch but remained silent.

After Wen Yuening lowered the bed curtains, she consciously lay down on the soft couch and slowly drifted off to sleep in the dim moonlight.

The next day, Shen Sangwan got up early, and unlike the previous two times, she was in great spirits this time.

Sure enough, as long as you sleep well, waking up early doesn't seem so bad.

Mo Feng and Shu Yun waited outside the Princess's residence with Yan Mojun and a long line of people.

His complexion was rather pale, as if he were a seriously injured person who had not yet recovered.

Shen Sangwan finished packing and left the mansion. She could smell the blood on Mo Feng from a great distance.

"Your injuries are severe. Do you really wish to come with me to the Xuyang Palace?"

"Your Highness, I can hold on."

Seeing that Mo Feng insisted, she didn't say much, since with Mo Feng there, she could better create momentum.

Shen Sangwan entered the palace half an hour early today, but instead of going to Xuyang Palace, she went to Xingde Palace instead.

I thought it was just Shen Yuchen, but I didn't expect Liang Huaiting to be there too.

"Your Highness, this humble subject greets you."

"Why has General Liang arrived so early?"

"Your Majesty, I wish to advise you before the morning court session not to be impatient for quick results and prematurely break ties with your ministers over the Wuzhou matter."

"Oh? General Liang, please elaborate."

"His Majesty is still young. Even if he is exceptionally talented, he is not yet fully capable. Although the Left Chancellor outwardly supports His Majesty, he and the Right Chancellor have been deeply involved in politics for many years, controlling the court. Moreover, most of the officials in the court are their protégés."

"Even if His Majesty occasionally punishes some people and replaces them, it still cannot shake their core. It would be unwise to make a big fuss and openly tear off the mask of civility."

Liang Huaiting knelt on the ground, bowing his head and muttering incantations.

Shen Yucheng and Shen Sangwan listened to his words quietly and remained silent for a long time.

"In General Liang's opinion, my best option is still to bide my time, plot slowly, gradually erode the power of the two ministers, and unknowingly clip their wings?"

Shen Sangwan was somewhat gratified that Shen Yuchen had said those words.

I never imagined that in just a few months, the person in front of me would have transformed from a naive child into a little adult.

Although he is still somewhat immature at times, he has developed his own insights into politics and political maneuvering.

Liang Huaiting kowtowed again. Since he had been entrusted by the late emperor, he naturally had to be loyal to the late emperor. Now that things had come to this point, there was no need to hesitate. He said solemnly, "That is the way it should be."

"As it should be!"

Shen Sangwan repeated these four words over and over again, no less than five times.

A murderous aura gradually gathered in his eyes, and he said sharply, "That's indeed the truth."

"I know that General Liang has witnessed the bloodshed on the battlefield and understands the suffering of the people on the border, but I also believe that General Liang does not understand the suffering of the people in various prefectures who are in dire straits because of corrupt officials."

"I have never seen the despair of people who, due to natural disasters, have no harvest and are desperately waiting for the imperial court's disaster relief grain to keep them alive, only to find pebbles and sand when they open the bags."

"They would not understand the tragedy of tens of thousands of people being infected with the plague and left to die in a desolate garden because of the protection between officials."

“If natural disasters continue in Wuzhou, Chaozhou and other prefectures, the people will be in constant dire straits. The ‘child-exchanging’ cannibalism caused by extreme hunger, or the swarming and eating of their fellow humans after they have starved to death, are not sensational stories.”

"General Liang, I ask you, do we really want to let these parasites continue to gnaw at the court?"

Every word Shen Sangwan spoke was resounding and thought-provoking. Then, she said with great sorrow, "The late emperor mobilized all his strength to rise up and overthrow the previous dynasty. The new dynasty, which has lasted less than fifty years, is now in such a state. It is truly a tragedy for the nation and a disgrace to the royal family!"

"This disaster relief effort in Wuzhou is an excellent opportunity to break the deadlock in the court. I have already dealt with the Vice Minister of Revenue, and today I will use the Wuzhou matter to stir up trouble in the court and completely disrupt the situation."

Shen Sangwan's imposing aura burned like a raging fire, yet in the sweltering August heat, the surrounding world felt strangely cold.

Liang Huaiting stared blankly at Shen Sangwan, then suddenly smiled.

He seemed to understand now why the late emperor had entrusted the current emperor to the eldest princess, who was a woman.

He only knew that this girl, whom he had personally raised, was a master at leading troops into battle, but he never imagined that she was also an iron-willed and outstanding strategist.

With a firm fist salute, Liang Huaiting said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I am willing to obey your command and go through fire and water for Your Majesty."

Shen Sangwan had already anticipated Liang Huaiting's statement, so she wasn't very surprised, but she did breathe a sigh of relief.

With his overt support, many things became simpler.

"General Liang has always been loyal to the royal family and has never truly confided in me. But after hearing your words today, I have no more worries."

While condemning himself for being useless, Shen Yuchen also felt sorry for Shen Sangwan, who had been fighting alone all along. Now, with Liang Huaiting, his older sister, she had gained more support.

"It's almost time. The stage in Xuyang Palace should be set up by now. It's my turn to perform."

Shen Sangwan parted her red lips slightly and lazily uttered these words, as if she were talking about something completely ordinary.

Wen Yunhe and Cen Zhouyuan noticed that Shen Sangwan came from the inner passage between Xingde Hall and Xuyang Hall, and felt a little uneasy. They exchanged a glance.

Today's morning court session is unlikely to be very pleasant.

As Shen Sangwan passed by the two, she smiled and responded to their greetings.

"It is said that the Left Prime Minister and the Right Prime Minister have always disagreed on political matters, but I think the two of them are quite compatible. This rumor is really not to be believed!"

Without any context or explanation, Wen Yunhe and Cen Zhouyuan's expressions turned sour upon hearing Shen Sangwan utter such a sentence.