The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Xiao Yifan's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm and said indifferently, "No. Where did you hear that, cousin?"

Xiao Jingyan shook his head and said casually, "I heard that the third brother seems to be interested in marrying the eldest daughter of the Yun family, but I don't know if it's true or not. Since the fifth brother doesn't know, just pretend I didn't say anything."

After saying that, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, turned around, and strode out.

Xiao Yifan sat in the chair, looking at the doorway, the gentleness in his eyes gradually fading.

Is the Third Prince also going to marry Yunxiu? Is it for the sake of the Phoenix Fate, or for the sake of the General's Mansion?

Mr. Songzhu came out from behind the screen and sat down opposite Xiao Yifan.

Xiao Yifan looked at him, frowned, and asked, "Sir, what do you think?"

Mr. Songzhu stroked his beard slowly, took a sip of tea, and then said slowly, "Your Highness, Prince Yu said he wanted Yun Heting to be the Minister of Revenue as compensation for the Yun family's adopted daughter. I'm afraid that's not true."

Xiao Yifan was somewhat puzzled: "Sir, why would he say such a thing?"

Mr. Songzhu analyzed, "He's probably targeting Minister Zheng. The incident involving the adopted daughter of the Yun family was orchestrated by the second young lady of the Zheng family, Princess Yamin. If he can't target the princess, can't he target the Zheng family? The eldest prince's concubine has been causing trouble for that second young lady of the Yun family. What he's doing is probably not compensation, but revenge."

Xiao Yifan thought about it and felt that what he said made some sense, so she nodded and continued to ask, "Then, in your opinion, should I listen to him?"

Songzhu nodded and said affirmatively, "Listen! If Zheng Shilang's evidence falls into His Majesty's hands, not only will he be in trouble, but His Highness will also be implicated. Moreover, Zhang Shangshu's position is tainted; if His Majesty investigates him, it will be even more troublesome. It's better to transfer them now, and we can shift the responsibility to Prince Yu. It's not that His Highness doesn't want to protect them, but Prince Yu is relentless. A transfer is worse than losing their lives; this is already His Highness's best effort to secure this for them."

Xiao Yifan immediately understood his meaning. Prince Yu was playing the bad cop, and he was playing the good cop: "What you say is absolutely right, sir. What do you think about his claim that the third prince intends to marry Yunxiu?"

Mr. Songzhu thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, regardless of whether it's true or not, Your Highness has always intended to marry Miss Yun, and this matter has been decided long ago. Rather than waiting and seeing, Your Highness should bring it forward."

Xiao Yifan frowned: "Sir, do you mean we're not going to wait anymore?"

Mr. Songzhu nodded and said in a low voice, "We can't wait any longer, Your Highness. Miss Yun's destiny is only fulfilled by marrying you. Perhaps your important matter rests on Miss Yun's shoulders. It's better to believe it than not."

Xiao Yifan nodded, then asked, "What do you think about the third brother proposing to Yunxiu?"

After much deliberation, Mr. Songzhu finally spoke: "Your Highness, it's hard to tell whether this matter is true or false. You can have someone keep an eye on the Third Prince. If he hears any rumors, you must find a way to quell the matter of the Phoenix Fate. The Third Prince must not find out. If he knows that you and Miss Yun are helping each other, he might target Miss Yun. If something happens to Miss Yun, it will be troublesome."

Xiao Yifan leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. After a long while, he spoke: "I will go and beg Mother tomorrow."

Mr. Songzhu then reminded her, "Your Highness, Miss Yun is young and doesn't understand many things clearly. Your Highness should remind her not to mention the Phoenix Fate to outsiders."

Xiao Yifan nodded in agreement.

The two discussed some more details before going back to rest.

The next day, Xiao Yifan headed towards Yongning Palace, where Consort Shu was, after court.

When Consort Shu saw Xiao Yifan enter, she smiled gently at him and said, "Fan'er, why did you come in such a hurry? Is something the matter?"

Xiao Yifan sat down in the chair, waved for the servants to leave, and then said, "Mother, I wish to ask for the hand in marriage with Miss Yun Xiu, the eldest daughter of the Yun family."

Consort Shu looked at him with a scrutinizing yet knowing gaze: "What, you've suddenly come to your senses? I thought you were going to drag it out for a while longer."

Xiao Yifan said solemnly, "Mother, I am not delaying, but waiting for the right opportunity."

Consort Shu raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What do you mean?"

Xiao Yifan told him about the evidence sent by Prince Yu and the possibility that the Third Prince might propose to Yunxiu.

After listening, Consort Shu remained silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said, "You've become quite clever."

Xiao Yifan asked, puzzled, "What does Mother mean...?"

Consort Shu said calmly, "Prince Yu wants to use you to deal with the Zheng family. Consort Zheng has harmed his people, so if he can't harm Ya Min, can't he harm the Zheng family? He knows your relationship with the Zheng family, and he knows you won't abandon Minister Zheng, but he deliberately sent the evidence to you. This is to force you to make a statement."

She turned to look at Xiao Yifan, "If you don't intervene with Minister Zheng, he'll just hand the evidence to the Emperor, and you'll still be implicated; if you do intervene, you'll have to do as he says. His move is both offensive and defensive, very clever."

Xiao Yifan knew his mother was always intelligent, but he hadn't expected her to see things so clearly than he had: "Mother, in your opinion, what should I do?"

Consort Shu said calmly, "Do whatever he tells you to do. The amount of silver that Vice Minister Zheng has embezzled is enough to kill him several times over. You protect him because he's one of your people; if you can't protect him, no one can say anything about it. As for Minister Zhang, it's time for him to be moved. He's amassed enough wealth in the Ministry of Revenue over the years; a change of scenery would be good."

Xiao Yifan nodded: "Then, regarding my request to marry Yunxiu..."

Consort Shu waved her hand and said firmly, "I'll go see your father. Yunxiu's background isn't particularly high, and although she has a general's family, they are her maternal family and shouldn't pose a threat. Your father shouldn't stop her."

Xiao Yifan felt much more at ease. He exchanged a few more words with Consort Shu before getting up to take his leave.

Upon leaving Yongning Palace, Xiao Yifan immediately sent someone to invite Vice Minister Zheng of the Ministry of Revenue to his residence for a meeting.

Upon receiving the news, Minister Zheng dared not delay for a moment and rushed to the Fifth Prince's residence. Upon seeing Xiao Yifan, he immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Highness."

Xiao Yifan didn't let him sit down, but instead threw the account book that Prince Yu had sent in front of him, coldly saying, "Take a look. Look at what you've done!"

Minister Zheng bent down to pick up the account book, opened it, and his knees buckled. He knelt down with a thud: "Your Highness, I...I am innocent!"

Xiao Yifan looked at him coldly and said sarcastically, "Injustice? These accounts, one by one, are crystal clear. You're telling me I'm innocent?"

Minister Zheng knelt on the ground, his forehead hitting the blue bricks, his whole body trembling. He knew that these things were not fake, and that he had personally handled every single one of them.

He couldn't deny it, nor did he dare to deny it.

Xiao Yifan didn't rush to speak. She picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and then said slowly, "These things weren't investigated by me. They were sent to me by Prince Yu."