Phoenix Dance: The Eldest Daughter's Physician Consort Shocks the World

After the crown prince was deposed, the court appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging beneath. Su Yao knew that all factions were reassessing and reorganizing their strategies, and she herself had to seize the opportunity to consolidate her position and prepare for future changes.

One day, Lin Yu rushed over with a solemn expression: "Miss Su, although the Crown Prince has fallen, his followers are still around. Moreover, the Second Prince has been meeting with several important officials in the court recently, and he may also be eyeing the position of Crown Prince. We must be on guard."

Su Yao frowned slightly and took a sip of tea: "The Second Prince has always been low-key, so this move must have been planned in advance. Young Master Lin, do you have any good ideas?"

Lin Yu paced back and forth, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I've heard that there's an extremely shrewd strategist in the Second Prince's residence, skilled in planning and scheming. If we can find out his plans first, we might be able to gain the upper hand. I have a few men under my command who are good at infiltration and espionage; we can give it a try."

Su Yao shook her head, her gaze resolute: "This move is too risky; a slight misstep could alert the enemy. Our foundation is not yet secure, so it is not advisable to act rashly. Instead, we should start with the important officials who met with the Second Prince, probe their words, and look for weaknesses."

Just then, Princess Pingyang skipped in, her face full of excitement: "Sister Su, Young Master Lin, I just came from the palace. I heard that the Emperor intends to select a new teacher for the Crown Prince to teach him etiquette and morality. This is a great opportunity!"

Su Yao's eyes lit up: "What the princess said is very true. If we can have one of our people become the Crown Prince's teacher, it will be a great help in the court in the future. However, we need to carefully consider the selection of this person. He must be learned, upright, and someone we can trust."

Lin Yu nodded in agreement: "I am reminded of someone, my father's good friend, Grand Secretary Song of the Hanlin Academy. He is upright and incorruptible, with outstanding talent, and he is also quite distressed about the Crown Prince's situation. If he were to take the position, he would definitely be able to teach the Crown Prince well."

Su Yao's face lit up with joy: "If we could persuade Lord Song to come out of seclusion, that would be wonderful. But we still need to convince Lord Song, so I'll leave this matter to Young Master Lin."

Lin Yu bowed in agreement and went to make preparations.

A few days later, Lin Yu brought news: "Miss Su, Lord Song was initially hesitant, but after I explained the pros and cons, he agreed to step forward. However, the Second Prince will probably not let Lord Song become the Crown Prince's tutor easily, and will definitely try to stop him."

Su Yao remained calm and composed: "It's alright, we've already made preparations. I've contacted several ministers who were suppressed by the Crown Prince, and they are willing to support Lord Song. We'll jointly recommend him in court."

As Su Yao had predicted, the Second Prince's supporters raised objections in the court, questioning Lord Song's abilities and qualifications. Seeing that the time was ripe, Su Yao rose and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Song is highly respected, learned, and devoted to the nation. After this ordeal, the Crown Prince needs the guidance of a wise man like Lord Song to guide him onto the right path. Although I am not talented, I know the weight of the responsibility of educating people, and I hope Your Majesty will consider this matter."

Su Yao's words were earnest, and many ministers nodded in agreement. The Emperor also nodded slightly: "Su Yao's words are not without reason. Do any of my beloved ministers have any further objections?"

Although the Second Prince's supporters were resentful, seeing that the Emperor was showing favoritism, they dared not say anything more. Lord Song ultimately succeeded in becoming the Crown Prince's tutor.

Just as Su Yao and the others breathed a sigh of relief, they heard that the Second Prince was secretly courting wealthy merchants in the capital, intending to control the economic lifeline and accumulate capital for his path to the throne.

Lin Yu said anxiously, "The Second Prince is making frequent moves, and we can't just sit idly by. Most of those wealthy merchants are profit-driven; if we can offer them benefits, we might be able to persuade them to switch sides."

Su Yao shook her head: "Young Master Lin, this is not a good idea. Merchants are driven by profit. If we easily offer them benefits, we may be manipulated by them in the future. It would be better to start with their business and find evidence of the Second Prince's illegal collusion with them, so that they will not dare to associate with the Second Prince again."

Therefore, Su Yao and the others began investigating the accounts between the Second Prince and the wealthy merchant. After a painstaking investigation, they finally discovered evidence that the Second Prince had used improper means to help the wealthy merchant make huge profits, while the wealthy merchant had provided him with substantial financial support.

Su Yao presented the evidence to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, the Second Prince's actions are disrupting the court. If they are not stopped, they will surely bring disaster to the country and its people. Please investigate this matter thoroughly."

Upon seeing the evidence, the Emperor was furious and immediately issued an edict reprimanding the Second Prince and punishing the wealthy merchants involved. The Second Prince's power was severely damaged, and he became much more subdued for a time.

After these ups and downs, Su Yao's prestige in the court gradually increased, and more and more loyal and righteous people were willing to befriend her. But she understood that this was only the beginning; the road ahead was long, and she still needed to proceed cautiously step by step.