To divorce his wife, the top scholar preferred being cuckolded to wearing a red hat.

Xiao Zhan put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Su Mingyue stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

Because of the time constraints, the two did not have much time to be intimate and soon parted ways.

Xiao Zhan gave her a token to enter and leave the palace freely. During his absence, she was the mistress of the palace, and she could freely command everything within the palace, including its guards.

"Go on, why all this sentimentality?" Su Mingyue said, somewhat speechless. "I won't run away, and you're not allowed to run away either."

"Don't worry, I can't stand anyone else but you."

After parting ways with Su Mingyue, Xiao Zhan headed straight for the city gate.

More than a dozen imperial physicians and pharmacists from the Imperial Medical Academy were waiting.

……

Just after Xiao Zhan left, Ling Fei also received news from Qingzhou.

"We have stockpiled a lot of grain and medicinal herbs in Qingzhou. I have already ordered them to ensure the supply of medicinal herbs as much as possible. As for the people's basic needs, porridge can be distributed from time to time."

"Not only that, we also need to transfer medicinal herbs and grains from elsewhere." Su Mingyue pondered for a while: "I estimate that the problem in Qingzhou this time is not light, and it probably can't be solved in a short time. If we have to seal off the city, grains and medicinal herbs will be the biggest problem."

“I’ll take care of it.” Ling Fei nodded: “Before the Chamber of Commerce was established three years ago, you set up storage warehouses under each of the various businesses. You can then directly transfer some goods from the businesses in different places.”

"You can prepare in advance. If needed, donate it in the name of the Kyushu Chamber of Commerce."

Xiao Zhan has been away from the capital for some time, so it seems she'll have to make a trip to the Prince's residence.

Amber was deeply moved by the sudden arrival of the princess: "Your Highness, you've come."

"I'll come over and take a look."

"Your Highness, you've come at the perfect time. The Prince's birthday is at the beginning of next month. This old servant would like to ask what we should do?"

"How was it done in previous years?"

“In the past, the Prince almost never held such events when he was in the manor, nor when he was fighting on the front lines. But now that the Prince and Princess are engaged and the manor has a mistress, shouldn’t we start making arrangements for this?”

Su Mingyue paused for a moment, then said, "We'll do it. But he's not in the capital right now and has important matters to attend to, so this isn't urgent for the time being."

"Yes, I will do as Your Highness says."

……

Fu Jingsheng received news from the Ming Prince that the Emperor had summoned Xiao Zhan into the palace, and Xiao Zhan left the palace shortly afterward.

"Why did Father summon him to the palace?" King Ming asked, puzzled.

"Your Highness, perhaps he is being sent out of the capital on business."

"Nonsense, how could I not know? I'm just wondering what's going on. You three, hurry up and find out for me what happened. If the Emperor has something important to deal with, and I'm the last to know, there won't be any chance for me to claim credit. They've already taken all the opportunities."

"Your Highness, I have a friend in the Imperial Hospital. He said that the Fifth Prince obtained an imperial decree to request medicinal herbs from the Imperial Hospital," Zhou Kai suddenly spoke up.

"Medicinal herbs?" King Ming frowned. "Why would they need to send medicinal herbs somewhere? Could something serious have happened? Go and investigate quickly to find out what happened. We need to know tonight."

“Your Highness, I remember someone reported half a month ago that there was a flood in Qingzhou, which submerged half of the city.”

Ming Wang looked at Fu Jingsheng: "You mean they're rushing to send medicinal herbs to Qingzhou, perhaps because there's already an epidemic there?"

"Is something wrong in Qingzhou? Is Your Highness sending people out to inquire? This is just my guess." Fu Jingsheng was smart enough to be the top scholar in the imperial examination.

From these details, he immediately recalled what had happened half a month ago and made a judgment.

"This is also a loophole. If something really happened in Qingzhou, this would be a great opportunity to make a name for myself. I can't miss it. I must handle this matter before they do."

“No.” Fu Jingsheng warned, “If an epidemic breaks out in the city, it will be extremely dangerous. It would be very unwise for Your Highness to go there personally. The unclear situation in the city makes it easier for us to take action.”

"What do you think."

"The Fifth Prince was in a hurry to send out medicinal herbs, which must have been ordered by the Emperor. Someone must have gone there with a doctor before him."

"Prince Zhan?" Ming Wang thought of Prince Zhan who had entered the palace.

He came out of the palace in less than half an hour.

"I'm not sure either. If he really went first, it won't be hard to find out. The situation in Qingzhou is unclear, so this is a good opportunity for us, Your Highness."

"I will send someone to investigate first, and then I will call you over later to discuss countermeasures." King Ming's eyes gleamed.

Qingzhou City was in chaos, and both Prince Zhan and Fifth Brother went there.

With the outbreak of the epidemic, their chances of contracting the disease are very high.

"I have a way to find out if Prince Zhan is in the capital?"

"tell me the story."

“Su Mingyue sold me a prescription before. My sister got the medicine according to the prescription, and my mother has been in a coma ever since. There is nothing wrong with the prescription, but I have found out that Su Mingyue secretly bribed the servants in my household to poison my mother. I will go to the authorities in a moment to report that Su Mingyue is maliciously harming people and ask the authorities to arrest her.”

“This is a good idea. If she is in danger, my uncle will definitely show up, given his nature. If he doesn’t, it means he’s already out of the city. Go and report this to the authorities. I will back you up in this matter.”

"Yes."

After leaving the Ming Prince's Mansion, Fu Jingsheng went straight to the yamen to report Su Mingyue for poisoning his mother.

After receiving the news, the officials followed Fu Jingsheng to Su Mingyue's Huaihua Hutong.

Su Mingyue was still at the Prince's residence and hadn't returned. Steward Zhao, seeing Fu Jingsheng arrive with the officials, was puzzled: "What's this?"

"Where's Su Mingyue? Tell her to come out." Fu Jingsheng glanced inside but didn't see Su Mingyue.

"My young lady has gone to the Prince's residence. Do you need to see her?"

"She poisoned my mother. There are witnesses and physical evidence. Let's see how she tries to deny it. Go and call her back immediately. If she doesn't come back, I'll have to go to the Prince's mansion to find him. Even if a prince breaks the law, he is no different from a commoner. Even if she is a county princess and the future Princess Consort, she is not above the law."

"What crime does Young Master Fu intend to punish me for?" Su Mingyue's clear voice rang out from outside the door.

Su Mingyue came in from outside, and Xingchun and Qingyu stood to the side behind her.

Lord Jin of the yamen was quite polite to Su Mingyue: "Princess, Young Master Fu reported that you poisoned his mother. There are witnesses and physical evidence. I've come to see what's going on."

"Fu Jingsheng, are you out of your mind? When you came over yesterday, didn't I already make it clear to you that your mother's accident had nothing to do with me? What's wrong with you now? Are you not satisfied until you've smeared me?"

“Yesterday you said you had no evidence, but today I’ve brought it. Su Mingyue, I don’t believe a single word you say. I only believe what I found out myself.” Looking at Su Mingyue’s delicate and beautiful face, Fu Jingsheng’s resentment deepened.

She chose not to be with him, so don't blame him for being heartless to her now.