"This... Your humble servant has no idea," Zhang Wei, the leader of the Imperial Guards, pondered and then said. "There are two large storerooms in the backyard, but aside from some empty boxes, there's nothing in them."
Shang Nian made his way to the backyard storerooms. As Zhang Wei had described, it was exactly the same.
The boxes in the first storeroom were quite familiar to Shang Nian. There was a large character "Shang" engraved on them.
Those were the boxes used to hold Shang Ruoyi's dowry.
And in the other storeroom, there weren't even any boxes.
He had originally intended to show the world how much wealth the Dingguo Prince's Mansion had amassed over the years, to let them know that the Dingguo Prince's Mansion wasn't as incorruptible as they thought, and that it had been involved in quite a bit of embezzlement. But now, the entire mansion had been emptied by someone, cleaner than if it had been raided.
How could they carry out their plans now?
"What?" In the Imperial Study, the emperor was greatly shocked upon hearing this news. "Nothing at all?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, currently, the Dingguo Prince's Mansion is an empty shell. How could this be? Could there be a secret chamber or something?"
Shang Nian shook his head. "Your Majesty, Your servant and Lord Zhang, armed with the blueprint of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, searched every nook and cranny of the mansion, yet found nothing. Even the dowry of Your servant's unfilial daughter only left empty boxes, and everything inside had vanished without a trace."
Zhang Wei quickly added, "Your servant inspected the surroundings of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion. There were no signs of outsiders breaking in."
Everything in the Dingguo Prince's Mansion seemed to have disappeared overnight.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, rubbing his temples. "I see. You may leave."
Shang Nian hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "When Your servant and Lord Zhang left, many commoners witnessed our fruitless search. Now, the entire capital is pleading for the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, saying... saying..."
"Saying what?" The emperor slapped the table, shouting angrily. "Speak up!"
Shang Nian's voice grew softer towards the end. "They say the Dingguo Prince's Mansion is innocent, and that Your Majesty has wronged the loyal and upright." The emperor's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Outrageous!"
Everyone in the Imperial Study dropped to their knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
"Your Majesty, surely someone is spreading such rumors to mislead the people," Shang Nian said in a deep voice. "Those who do such things must be remnants of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, or perhaps those ministers who firmly supported the Dingguo Prince's Mansion in the court before."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Tianshun's face darkened. What Shang Nian said was exactly what he had been thinking.
Perhaps the wealth of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion had also been taken by these people.
"If such remarks are heard again, regardless of who it is, arrest them immediately and punish them severely as a warning to others."
"Your servant obeys."
As Shang Nian and Zhang Wei were leaving the Imperial Study, they happened to meet Consort Zhao and Crown Prince He Lingsheng coming to pay their respects to the emperor.
"Your humble servants pay their respects to the Crown Prince and Her Highness Consort Zhao."
"Rise."
"I heard that the Dingguo Prince's Mansion has been emptied," He Lingsheng said in a deep voice. "Is it true?"
Shang Nian nodded. "Indeed. Moreover, there are many unfavorable rumors spreading among the people, and His Majesty is deeply troubled by this matter."
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhao whispered to He Lingsheng, "As the Crown Prince, you should share your father's concerns."
"Your son understands." He Lingsheng nodded and then walked towards the Imperial Study.
Just as Shang Nian was about to take his leave, Consort Zhao smiled and said, "I've always heard that the direct daughter of Prime Minister Shang is both talented and beautiful, gentle and virtuous. I've been confined to the palace for so long that I'm quite bored. If she has the time to accompany me in the palace, that would be wonderful."
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Upon hearing this, Shang Nian was overjoyed.
Consort Zhao's words clearly meant that she wanted his daughter to learn the palace etiquette in advance.
If so, the marriage between his daughter and the Crown Prince would be a certainty.
"It would be my daughter's great fortune to accompany Your Highness," Shang Nian said eagerly. "Once I return home, I'll have my daughter pack her things and enter the palace."
Returning to the Prime Minister's Mansion, Shang Nian immediately urged the servants to pack Shang Yuguan's luggage.
"Master, what's going on?" The First Lady rushed over from the backyard. Seeing the servants bustling about packing things, she asked in confusion, "Why are you packing Yuguan's luggage?"
"Madam, it's great news, great news!" Shang Nian repeated Consort Zhao's words. "Our Yuguan's good days are coming."
The First Lady exclaimed in excitement, "Really?"
Receiving Shang Nian's affirmation once again, the First Lady trotted to the backyard. "Fu'er! Fu'er!"
Shang Yuguan was embroidering in the backyard at that moment.
Hearing the First Lady's shouts, she put down her embroidery and was about to go out to see what was happening when the First Lady burst in.
"Mother, what's wrong? What happened?"
The First Lady dismissed the servants in the room and closed the door.
"Fu'er, Fu'er, your good fortune has arrived."
"What good fortune?"
"The Crown Prince!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Yuguan's eyes lit up.
"Is the Crown Prince choosing a consort?"
"No, but this is even more important." The First Lady grabbed Shang Yuguan's hand, saying excitedly, "Consort Zhao, she wants you to enter the palace to accompany her."
"Consort Zhao? The Crown Prince's mother?"
"Exactly." The First Lady smiled. "As long as you can please Consort Zhao, the position of the Crown Princess will surely be yours. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, you'll be the empress who rules the world. Our Shang family will finally have an empress."
Shang Yufu's face showed delight. The Crown Prince was handsome and talented, and she naturally liked him.
Previously, she had always thought that her engagement to the Dingguo Prince's Mansion couldn't be cancelled, and she would surely marry He Jingheng, the heir of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion. If He Jingheng hadn't been disabled, he would have been an excellent husband. His appearance and talent were even superior to the Crown Prince's, and he was also a highly respected young general. He would surely inherit the title of Dingguo Prince in the future, and she would be a lofty princess.
But unfortunately, he became disabled, and the Dingguo Prince's Mansion was exiled. She was extremely glad that Shang Ruoyi, that little wretch, had taken her place. Otherwise, she would be the one suffering now.
She was the direct daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and only the Crown Prince was worthy of her.
"Mother, don't worry. Once I enter the palace, I'll do everything possible to please Consort Zhao."
"I knew our Yufu was a person blessed with great fortune."
While the Shang Mansion was joyfully preparing to send Shang Yuguan into the palace, the news of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion being looted reached He Jingheng's ears. He couldn't help but frown. He really didn't know who could empty the entire Dingguo Prince's Mansion without anyone noticing.
Just then, a potato was presented to him.
He expressed his gratitude. Potatoes were a common food during military campaigns. After all, they were cheap and filling. But they usually just boiled them and never knew that there were so many ways to cook potatoes.
"Why does today's roasted potato taste different from usual?"
Shang Ruoyi smiled. "My exclusive recipe."
She always said that. He Jingheng smiled and said no more. Just then, dark clouds rolled in the sky, and a violent storm was about to strike.