Chapter 163 Tell Consort Shu to come here!
What about the promised meeting with this good man?
Last night he said everything belonged to him, but today he doesn't even have pocket money.
This is putting on a skirt and not recognizing anyone!
Shen Yulou sat up with a jolt, looking at his wife, who was radiating a full aura, and felt like he had fallen into a tiger's den.
"Madam, let's not talk about money; talking about money hurts feelings."
"Stop the nonsense! From now on, you'll receive money monthly, and all expenses must be reported!"
"..."
Shen Yulou was utterly speechless. He flipped over, got out of bed, and quickly began to get dressed.
If I can't afford to provoke her, can't I at least hide?
"Husband, where are you going?"
"To the palace! To do serious business!"
Shen Yulou walked out without looking back. If he stayed any longer, he feared that the husband's authority he had just established would collapse before even lasting a night.
There were still important matters in the palace today; he didn't have time to argue with the princess.
Walking into the courtyard, he happened to meet Qingqing, who was yawning.
Shen Yulou grabbed her, lowered his voice, and asked with a look of indignation.
"Qingqing, all of my money has been confiscated by my wife. Do you have any way to get me some private money?"
Qingqing, still sleepy, rubbed her eyes and instantly became alert. Then she showed a mischievous smile.
"Alright, my lord."
She leaned into Shen Yulou's ear, her breath like orchids.
"Trade it for a hat trick... Hey, my lord, don't leave! A second blooming would also work... My lord, my lord, run slower!"
...Upon arriving at the palace, Song Hu was already waiting at the entrance of the Imperial Heirs Residence.
As soon as he saw Shen Yulou, Song Hu reported in a booming voice.
"Lord Shen, that Guo Chang is a spineless wretch. I hadn't even laid a hand on him, and he confessed everything.
The confession has been written, with his fingerprint, clearly stating in black and white that Consort Shu instigated it."
"Well done!"
Shen Yulou nodded with satisfaction, took the confession, and turned to hand it to Tao Hong, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
"Tao Hong, take this and quietly deliver it to Consort Qing's palace."
"Yes, Lord Shen." Tao Hong accepted the order and turned to leave.
After arranging everything, Shen Yulou headed straight for Kunning Palace.
As soon as he reached the palace gate, Bai Yu's eyes lit up like a kitten seeing its owner, but due to the presence of other palace servants, she had to suppress her excitement and bowed demurely.
"Lord Shen, why have you come?"
Shen Yulou winked at her and said.
"I have an important matter to report to Her Majesty."
Inside the inner hall, the Empress was tidying her somewhat disheveled cloud-like hair in front of a mirror. Seeing Shen Yulou enter, she looked like a girl next door who hadn't even had time to wash up before her boyfriend suddenly burst into her room, a charming blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Your Majesty," Shen Yulou said directly, "Yesterday, I was almost killed by people sent by Consort Shu."
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress's eyebrows shot up, her phoenix eyes filled with fury, and she slammed her dressing table.
"How dare she! How dare she be so bold! I must teach her a good lesson!"
"Your Majesty, calm your anger, don't be impulsive."
Shen Yulou said with a grave expression, "A head-on confrontation is useless. I do have a way to ensure she can never rise again, but it requires Your Majesty's cooperation."
Shen Yulou leaned into the Empress's ear and whispered a detailed plan.
The Empress listened, her beautiful eyes sparkling with wonder. Finally, she looked at Shen Yulou and nodded heavily.
"Good, we'll do as you say!"
...On the other side, as dawn was just breaking.
Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Consort Qing, pulling Zhao Ying, knelt rigidly on the cold bluestone slabs, refusing to rise.
Emperor Ren was about to hold court. Hearing of this, he quickly came out to inquire.
"Consort Qing, what are you doing?"
As soon as Consort Qing saw Emperor Ren, tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, crying so pitifully.
"Your Majesty! You must uphold justice for your concubine and Ying'er!
Yesterday, that wretch Consort Shu actually sent assassins to kill Ying'er! If Commander Li hadn't fought desperately to save him, Ying'er... he might not have seen you again!"
"What?!" Emperor Ren was furious. "Wasn't yesterday Shen Yulou's wedding banquet? How could such a thing happen?!"
Consort Qing immediately pulled out the confession with the bloody handprint from her sleeve and presented it.
"Your Majesty, please see! Yesterday, Guo Chang's framing of Shen Yulou at the wedding banquet was Consort Shu's first scheme!
After Prince Rui captured him, he confessed everything!
When Consort Shu's first scheme failed, she then bribed Shadowless Xiao, second on the fengyun ranking, hoping to kill both Shen Yulou and Ying'er with one stone!
Your Majesty, harming an Imperial Heir is a monstrous crime!"
Emperor Ren finished reading the confession, trembling with rage, and threw it to the ground.
"Guards! Summon Consort Shu, tell her to get over here!"
...When Consort Shu was summoned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she was already prepared.
As soon as she entered, Emperor Ren harshly threw the confession at her face.
"Do you admit your guilt?!"
Consort Shu knew this fate was inevitable after her failed attempt yesterday. She knelt with a thud, her face full of grievance.
"Your Majesty, your concubine is innocent! This matter has absolutely no relation to your concubine!"
Emperor Ren snorted coldly: "Then why would Guo Chang falsely accuse you?"
Consort Shu had already prepared her excuse and tearfully pleaded.
"Your Majesty, please see clearly! Ever since Minister of Revenue Feng Yusi fell, Guo Chang has always wanted to advance further, asking your concubine repeatedly to speak well of him to you, wanting to become a minister.
Your concubine strictly adheres to the ancestral teaching that the Imperial Harem must not interfere in politics, and firmly refused him.
Who knew this person would be so vicious, holding a grudge and plotting to frame your concubine!"
Emperor Ren narrowed his eyes: "Oh? Then I am curious, I only approved the princess to pay respects to Prince Chen the day before, and no one in the palace knew about this matter.
He naturally wouldn't know this. If it weren't for my permission, perhaps Shen Yulou really would have been arrested by Prince Rui.
Then how could he frame you?
How can I not understand whether he was helping you or trying to frame you?"
At this moment, the Old Emperor's intelligence was also online.
Ever since The Twenty-Fifth Prince, whom he loved most, died, these Imperial Heirs had become Emperor Ren's sore spot.
With Shen Yulou around, they had remained safe.
Now, someone actually dared to openly assassinate an Imperial Heir; this was simply outrageous!
Consort Shu continued to argue: "Your Majesty, Guo Chang is a man of deep cunning!
He was hedging his bets!
If the framing succeeded, he would come to your concubine to claim credit and gain advancement!
If it failed, he would bite back and pin the blame on your concubine!
He knew that your concubine and Shen Yulou have always been at odds, so no matter what, he stood to gain!"
Emperor Ren was exasperated by her clever debate: "What a 'no-loss' situation! Why would he claim credit from you?
Isn't it because he knew you were always targeting Shen Yulou?
Do I still need to explain why you target Shen Yulou?
Do you really think I can't see through your little schemes?!
Reign it in a bit, and don't do such things to disappoint me again!"
Seeing that Emperor Ren was about to let it go, Consort Qing became anxious and quickly said, "Your Majesty! What about the assassin? That was Shadowless Xiao, second on the fengyun ranking! How can the attempted murder of an Imperial Heir be dismissed so easily?"