Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

"Let's not just keep talking here." Xiao Lie looked around the courtyard. "Now that you've received the imperial decree, do you still want to stay here?"

Shen Qinglan also wanted to move out immediately, but she had been thinking about how to successfully get a divorce in the past few days.

She was so busy that she forgot to get herself a new yard.

The remaining dowry the emperor gave her did not include a single courtyard where she could live.

Xiao Lie said to her, "From now on, you are no longer the Third Prince's consort; you are simply Shen Qinglan, the only daughter of the Shen family."

"He is also the current manager of all the Shen family's businesses."

From now on, we won't have to pretend to be estranged from each other in public anymore.

"I've prepared a residence for you, right outside the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion street."

The two lived close by, making it easier for them to discuss strategies on a regular basis.

Shen Qinglan did many things for Xiao Lie; it was just a mansion, and she didn't refuse.

"Then I thank you in advance, Your Highness."

Shen Qinglan didn't have anything to take with her from here.

Since she no longer wants the titles of Third Prince and Third Prince's Consort.

She wanted nothing more than anything that had ever been associated with this place.

However, she kept Yunxiu behind first, saying, "Take another inventory of everything in my yard, and sell everything that can be sold."

"As for those imperial gifts that cannot be sold privately, go to a pawnshop and store them."

Yunxiu nodded in agreement. Although she was somewhat reluctant to stay here for another day, she had no choice but to obey.

While talking to her, Xiao Lie had already ordered Sixteen to prepare a carriage.

He rode in the same carriage with Shen Qinglan to Shen Qinglan's new residence.

"I didn't make the decision about the plaque without your permission; you have to figure it out yourself." Xiao Lie didn't have complete authority over the process either.

Shen Qinglan looked at the empty storefront and didn't have any ideas for the time being. "But if I think of anything later, I'll have someone make it and hang it up."

"Your Highness, you no longer need to deal with the palace, and I can devote myself to managing our businesses."

She doesn't want to receive any visitors in the near future.

Whether out of good intentions or something else, most people who come to see her bring up the topic of "divorce".

Shen Qinglan didn't even want to mention the words "Third Prince" or "Jiang Heng".

"I'll protect you." It was time for Xiao Lie to return from the imperial estate.

Changing the subject, he said to Shen Qinglan with a serious expression, "Last time, in an emergency, we changed the route at the last minute, but that transportation route was too wasteful of manpower and resources."

"Could you think of a way to use the Shen family's influence to open up a more stable route for transporting these supplies to the frontier?"

Shen Qinglan put her hand to her forehead, "The young master really knows how to give me a difficult problem."

"Can it be done?" Xiao Lie only cared about this, as various forces within the court were now waiting for an opportunity to act.

Especially now that the Third Prince is imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, based on his understanding of the Fifth Prince, he will definitely take advantage of this situation to rob him.

They are determined to bring a significant portion of the Third Prince's power into their own hands.

The emperor was always wary of the fifth prince, and also feared that his other princes would become too powerful and threaten his throne.

There's a chance of a civil war.

The more chaotic things are, the more necessary it is to plan ahead.

Shen Qinglan pondered for a moment, then said, "I can only say that I will do my best to do it."

Xiao Lie's expression was solemn, but in the end, he couldn't say anything more.

After leaving Shen Qinglan's current residence, in order to complete the performance, he first returned to the imperial estate.

"Your Highness, our men have reported that, just as you predicted, the Fifth Prince has indeed won over all those who were already wavering in the Third Prince's faction."

"At the same time, the Fifth Prince went to the pawnshop and exchanged fifty million taels of silver notes."

The Fifth Prince acted swiftly, perhaps fearing that if he acted too late, the Third Prince's forces would be divided up by others.

Sixteen was somewhat puzzled, "What does the Fifth Prince need fifty million taels for?"

"What else could it be?" Naturally, it was to bribe the generals of several cities near the border.

It's lamentable that this fifth prince, despite being severely punished by the emperor last time, still dares to have such a stubborn and unyielding attitude.

If he is caught committing a crime again this time, he might not even be spared his life.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Someone from the palace has come and demands that you enter the palace immediately," a servant announced as he entered.

Xiao Lie frowned, as if he had already guessed why the emperor had summoned him to the palace.

"Prepare the horses, return to the capital, and enter the palace."

He gave the order, leaving some people to pack their bags before returning to the mansion.

He did indeed invite Princess Yuhua to go and meet the emperor together.

The emperor's gaze fell on Princess Yuhua several times. "Yuhua, I have something to say to Xiao Lie. You should go find your grandmother first."

Jiang Yueyao, however, pouted and refused to leave Xiao Lie, saying, "Uncle, what are you going to say to Xiao Lie that I can't hear?"

"If Yu Hua doesn't leave, she'll stay with Xiao Lie."

The emperor dared not reprimand Princess Yuhua loudly, for fear of angering the Empress Dowager.

If the Empress Dowager were to come and read it aloud, his head would explode with headache.

"Xiao Lie, are you really recuperating and relaxing at the imperial estate?" The emperor's sharp eyes seemed to be able to slice off pieces of fresh meat from Xiao Lie's body.

Xiao Lie continued to feign ignorance, "What does Your Majesty mean? I don't understand."

Enraged, the emperor smashed the fine inkstone in his hand toward Xiao Lie's head.

Xiao Lie did not dodge.

It hit him squarely on the forehead, and blood kept flowing down.

This terrified Princess Yuhua. "Uncle, can't you speak to Xiao Lie properly?"

"He's still recovering from a serious illness; how could he withstand such vandalism?"

The emperor was so angry with Princess Yuhua that he pointed at her, but couldn't figure out what to say to her.

If you make her cry, she'll definitely go to the Empress Dowager to complain.

If you can't afford to offend him, just avoid him and ignore him!

"Xiao Lie, don't think that just because you've hidden yourself in the imperial estate, I won't know what you've been doing behind my back!"

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare to punish you?"

Xiao Lie was bewildered, only able to clutch his bleeding forehead in pain.

The emperor was so angry at his feigned ignorance that he felt a tightness in his chest.

He patted himself to catch his breath. "Don't forget who you are."

"Do I have to remind you repeatedly that you're staying in the capital as a hostage?"

The emperor then berated him, "Did you interfere in the matter of Shen Qinglan's divorce from the Third Prince?"

Xiao Lie remained silent.

Unable to deceive the emperor, he pretended to be mute to get away with it.

The emperor was furious and even considered killing him.

After much restraint, the emperor finally said, "Xiao Lie, these are all matters of the royal family. As the son of an outsider, shouldn't you be minding your own business?"

Xiao Lie replied with trepidation, "Your Majesty is too kind. Even if I had ten thousand lives, I wouldn't dare."

After rolling out of the main hall, Xiao Lie's eyes darted around, not daring to look directly into Princess Yuhua's eyes.

Jiang Yueyao opened her mouth several times, but couldn't bring herself to ask him why he helped Shen Qinglan get a divorce, or whether he had other intentions towards her.

"Xiao Lie, does your forehead hurt? I'll go with you to the Imperial Hospital to treat your wound." In the end, all her questions were reduced to just this one sentence.