In the bitter cold, she was punished to kneel. Princess Consort Ji had never suffered such hardship. Overcome with fear, she soon fainted.

Princess Min and Prince Min, who followed Emperor Chu, hurriedly supported her from left and right.

Prince Min loudly pleaded for mercy, begging the Emperor to show leniency and allow him to take the punishment on behalf of his Consort.

The Emperor did not appear; it was Eunuch Zhou who came forward, proclaiming Emperor Chu’s decree: Princess Consort Ji showed great disrespect and was confined to the Prince Min Mansion for three months, to copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for the Empress Dowager’s blessing.

As for Prince Min, since he was to share in the punishment of his Consort, he too was confined, not allowed to leave the mansion without summoning.

Regarding the lifting of the mansion’s confinement and the Longevity Gift incident, no mention was made. There was neither conviction nor pardon, leaving everyone anxious and uneasy.

Princess Consort Ji left the palace fainted, not even allowing the Imperial Physician to be summoned. It wasn’t until she reached the mansion that the Imperial Physician was called for diagnosis.

The delay worsened her cold. She lay weakly on her bed, truly ill. Upon hearing her sentence from Emperor Chu, she was both angry and fearful, making her illness even worse. She accused Princess Min of being useless, causing an uproar with the women in the mansion who attended the sick, stirring quite a scene.

As for her Death Exemption Token, it was completely ignored. What does a Death Exemption Token mean when no one is demanding her life? There is nothing to exempt.

The Prince Min Mansion was surrounded. There were fearless Imperial Censors who submitted memorials impeaching the action as inappropriate: How could a noble mansion be besieged without crime?

In response, Emperor Chu simply stated that remnants of the Xia family infiltrated Prince Min Mansion, using the Longevity Gift as a plot to assassinate the Emperor, and a thorough investigation was underway. Is this crime enough?

Though the mansion was surrounded, every noble family knew this was an excuse; yet none expected Emperor Chu to state it so blatantly, leaving no room for dispute.

Especially since Emperor Chu added that to avoid Prince Min being wrongfully accused, the mansion was besieged and confined. Once it was determined Prince Min was not involved, the restrictions would be lifted.

See? The Emperor is so magnanimous and kind; what else is there to say?

Keep quiet.

No one dared to speak.

Besieging the Prince Mansion was one tactic. Another involved sending an imperial envoy to Xuzhou for investigation. What would be uncovered, or who would be removed and replaced with the Emperor’s own men, was uncertain.

Yangxin Hall.

Emperor Chu said to Song Zhiyuan, "If Prince Min knew this was your idea, I’m afraid he’d hate you to the bone."

Taking advantage of the situation to intervene in Xuzhou politics and plant the Emperor’s people was Song Zhiyuan’s idea.

Song Zhiyuan didn’t flinch, clasping his hands, "Under Heaven, everything belongs to the Emperor. Officials in Xuzhou are all subordinates to Great Qing and your subjects. If they don’t fulfill their duties, removing them for capable ones is normal. You speak as if I’m seeking personal revenge and scheming."

Emperor Chu chuckled, a subtle smile revealing in his eyes, conveying the message: You are, and I won’t accept rebuttal.

Song Zhiyuan said, "Regardless of Prince Min’s innocence, what comes from his mansion remains his responsibility. Taking a little interest is quite normal. However, the Young Master of Xia Zhixiang hasn’t been found yet?"

Mentioning this matter, Emperor Chu’s expression darkened, "They say his elderly father fell critically ill, prompting him to rush back to Quanzhou overnight. People have been sent to pursue him, but no trace has been found."

Song Zhiyuan rubbed the ring on his hand, "How could it be such a coincidence?"

"You find it coincidental too?" Emperor Chu raised an eyebrow, lightly chuckling, "The real coincidence isn’t his escape after the Longevity Gift incident, but that Shang Pu is a Young Master from a Quanzhou business family. Earlier, traces of Xia remnants were in Quanzhou too. After Cui Changxiao went to Fujian, he faced assassination, leaving no trace. Everything points to Quanzhou, now that’s what I call coincidence."

Both sovereign and minister exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with dark, floating shadows.