My stepsister tried to steal the prince's hand in marriage, but little did she know I had been

Afterwards, Consort Zhang leaned against the Second Prince's chest, feeling his youthful and vigorous strength, and her face flushed.

"Thank goodness I have you," she murmured, utterly content.

The emperor is over forty years old, how can he compare to the young and vigorous second prince?

She was twenty years younger than the emperor, and his body simply could not satisfy her. Moreover, the emperor had three thousand beauties in his harem, and besides her, there were other beauties as well.

Because of her looks, she was always the center of attention and always cherished by men, but the emperor could not give her what she wanted—except for power.

The second prince played with her as he whispered, "The situation in the court has been turbulent these days. I came here today because everyone's attention is focused on the third prince, so I was able to see you."

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhang's smile faltered: "The Third Prince? What benefit did he receive?"

"It's a long story, and this matter is still inextricably linked to Prince Jing." As the Second Prince spoke, he kept an eye on Consort Zhang's changes.

As he had guessed, Consort Zhang's expression clearly changed upon hearing the name "Prince Jing".

Seeing this, the Second Prince scoffed inwardly.

She really is a fickle woman, having an affair with me while also having designs on other men.

He hardened his heart and made Consort Zhang act up again.

Consort Zhang wrapped her arms around his neck, her body drenched in sweat: "What...what exactly is going on?"

It concerned Prince Jing, and she could barely breathe, yet she still insisted on getting to the bottom of it.

The second prince pinched her waist and whispered, "It's about that loan sharking business. All those murder cases were taken on by the third prince himself. If he handles them well, he'll definitely get to show off in front of Father."

Consort Zhang swayed unsteadily, yet remained lucid.

A fierce glint flashed in her eyes as she grabbed the Second Prince's arm and said, "We absolutely cannot let him have his way!"

"You're willing to do that?" The Second Prince scoffed. "In these murder cases... there are still many traces of the Zhang family and the Duke of Wen's mansion. Your maternal family, your own sister... are you really going to abandon them all?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhang's impatience became even more apparent.

"These idiots."

These idiots who only hold her back! If it weren't for these foolish family members, how could she have secured her position as a Noble Consort by relying on her relationship with the Second Prince?

Other concubines had their families as support, but she had to rely on her family as well.

Her chest heaved violently a few times, then she gritted her teeth and said, "Of course we can't abandon them, but... they should be taught a lesson!"

She had already sent people to her home to explain the pros and cons of lending money at exorbitant interest rates, but they were unwilling to give up these small profits and kept trying to get involved. Now, Xie Jinghan sent people to catch them all in one fell swoop.

If the Second Prince were the one handling this matter, she might be able to say a few words.

But now that he's become the third prince...

Thinking of this, she coiled around the Second Prince like a water snake.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid only you can help me with this matter," she said softly, then looked at the Second Prince. "In exchange, I can help Your Highness."

Her relationship with the Second Prince was more of an exchange of interests.

The Second Prince wouldn't do anything without a reason; since he brought this up, there must be something he can do with her.

Sure enough, after she said that, the Second Prince spoke up: "Actually, what Your Highness needs to do is not difficult, Your Highness only needs to..."

He whispered a few words in Consort Zhang's ear, and Consort Zhang kept them in mind.

"Don't worry." She nodded. "I still have some influence with His Majesty."

The Second Prince had been waiting for Consort Zhang to say those words.

"Then I'll have to trouble Your Highness." He smiled and became affectionate with Consort Zhang again.

Above the eaves, Si Qing watched this heated scene, her face flushed red.

He had seen many such scenes when he was a bodyguard, but the impact was completely different when the protagonist in the scene was someone he knew.

"Your Highness...are we just going to watch like this?" Si Qing lowered his voice. "The Second Prince spoke too softly just now, and I didn't hear him clearly."

After he finished speaking, he saw Xie Jinghan's face showing a sneer: "It's nothing more than whispering in His Majesty's ear."

Consort Zhang was highly favored in the palace because of her beautiful face and arrogant nature. As the emperor grew older, the woman he preferred changed from the dignified and elegant empress to the beautiful and arrogant Consort Zhang.

If it were a minor matter, the Emperor would agree as soon as Consort Zhang asked.

Upon hearing this, Si Qing sighed deeply: "What should we do?"

"No need to worry." Xie Jinghan landed lightly in the woods. "Everything they did was within my expectations."

Si Qing followed closely behind, and upon hearing Xie Jinghan's words, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He had complete confidence in his prince's abilities; since the prince had said so, he was certain that it could be accomplished.

As he recalled the scene just now, a thought immediately popped into his mind: "Your Highness, we should deliver this news..."

"Let's not alert them yet." Xie Jinghan raised his hand to stop Si Qing from speaking further. He glanced at Si Qing coldly. "If we alert them now, we won't be able to follow the clues and catch the mastermind behind them."

Si Qing nodded at first, but was then taken aback by the implication in Xie Jinghan's words.

"They weren't the masterminds after all?"

The Second Prince and Consort Zhang were not the masterminds?

Who is the real mastermind behind this?

Xie Jinghan didn't speak, but slowly turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb.

Si Qing's mind raced, then she covered her mouth: "You suspect... that they are connected to the assassins who tried to kill His Majesty?"

Although Xie Jinghan did not speak, Si Qing knew that since Xie Jinghan did not deny it, it proved that he had guessed correctly.

The second prince actually conspired with others to assassinate His Majesty...

Once this thought crossed his mind, Si Qing couldn't stop trembling.

His Majesty is in the prime of his life; who knows how much longer he will hold power? No wonder the Second Prince is so anxious…

"Return to the residence." Xie Jinghan's voice was indifferent. "Within these three days, the case of cheating must be resolved."

Si Qing's expression turned serious, and he quickly followed behind Xie Jinghan.

This case of corruption has far-reaching implications, and even now, the Dali Temple is still receiving daily visits from many officials and powerful families who are trying to plead for leniency.

The matter must be resolved in three days. Could it be that Your Highness has come up with another brilliant idea?

Meanwhile, inside the Duke of Wen's mansion.

For Madam Wen, this was truly an unlucky year.

She fainted the moment she learned that Manager Yuan had been arrested.

When the Duke of Wen came to question her in a fit of rage, she fell seriously ill and could not recover.

"Has the person left?" Madam Wen asked weakly.