Yet ironically, this breakdown—was the one thing the Crown Prince got right.
Yun Shu lowered her gaze slightly. As expected, Emperor Xuanwu's face froze at the Crown Prince's despair. Though anger still burned in his eyes, something more complicated now surfaced beneath the fury.
Back when the Emperor forbade the Crown Prince from marrying into the Shen family, though he had no clear evidence to explain his decision, he had considered the possibility that the Crown Prince would misunderstand.
But he had believed that over the years, he had given the Crown Prince more than enough reassurance, more than enough trust.
So, for reasons even he found hard to articulate, he had chosen not to explain himself. He wanted to see: when caught between his own father and the power held by the Shen family, which would the Crown Prince choose?
This was the first time in all these years that Emperor Xuanwu had tested the Crown Prince in such a way.
And in that very first trial—the Crown Prince had failed him.
"You think We were doubting you?"
Emperor Xuanwu laughed, but it was laughter that rang hollow.
"Do you even know that within three generations, the marriage of close blood relatives can result in children born… broken in both body and mind?"
"That is impossible!" the Crown Prince shot back instinctively.
"There are countless cousins and relations in this world who marry—your son has never heard of such absurd claims!"
"We knew you would not believe it," Emperor Xuanwu said coldly, his gaze fixed on him.
"But none of it matters now. Since you would rather defy Our command and use such dishonorable means to force a union with the Shen family's daughter, then so be it.
We will grant your wish. Shen Jingshu shall be conferred the title of Side Consort to the Crown Prince."
After all, he had spent many years raising this heir. Until this year's Wanshou Festival, the Crown Prince had committed no serious offense.
To abolish him for this matter alone—Emperor Xuanwu could not yet bring himself to do it.
So, he decided to leave the rest to fate.
Originally, without the interference of the Simulation Life Selection System, he would have granted the marriage shortly after the autumn hunt.
A year later, Shen Jingshu would give birth to a legitimate son who was found to be severely disabled—a clear sign, they believed, of Heaven's disapproval. Those not aligned with the Crown Prince seized upon it, leading ultimately to his removal from position.
But now, the wedding had already been delayed far beyond that original timeline.
It was possible the child born to them would not be the same one shown in the Simulation Life Selection System.
Of course, it was equally possible that nothing would change at all.
In either case—it was the Crown Prince's choice to make.
Emperor Xuanwu's voice turned cold.
"In addition, for conduct unbefitting your station, We hereby dock your pay for three years. Until your wedding day, you are confined to the Eastern Palace and forbidden to step outside its gates."
"Tch.
Truly the favored son.
Even after pulling such disgraceful tricks, all he received was a fine and a bit of house arrest."
Granted, as compensation, the Crown Prince's three years of forfeited salary were split between Yun Shu and the Eldest Prince.
Yun Shu stepped out of the imperial study with a sigh.
Alongside her exited the Crown Prince, lost and hollow-eyed; the Eldest Prince, rather pleased with himself; the Right Prime Minister, dark-faced and bitter; and Shen Jingshu, who had tried to trap others but only ensnared herself, now weeping uncontrollably.
There was also the Left Prime Minister, who had followed them into the palace from the Tian Waitian Restaurant out of concern for Yun Chuhuan—only to find that the Crown Prince's schemes had been completely and effortlessly dismantled by an unseen hand.
And then there was Yun Chuhuan, still entirely unaware of what had truly happened, hovering beside Yun Shu and tugging insistently at her sleeve with questions.
"Fifth Sister, you got here early. You definitely know, don't you?
What did Crown Prince Brother put in his own dish?
Why didn't he notice the dish had been swapped out? And why did he hit Miss Shen from the Shen family instead?
And even though she got hit, why did Father Emperor not offer any comfort—and only grant her the position of Side Consort, not Crown Princess?
And also—"
"Ahem!"
Just as Yun Shu was wondering whether the one who switched out the Crown Prince's dish and effortlessly caused his downfall might have been Princess Sheng An—seemingly harmless, yet full of surprises—Yun Chuhuan's string of questions was suddenly cut off by Grand Preceptor Liu's dry cough.
"Your Highness, Princess Sheng An has been occupied all day. She must be exhausted. Best to let her return and rest early."
"But Fifth Sister hasn't even left yet. Her maid isn't even with her!" Yun Chuhuan protested, clearly not ready to drop his line of inquiry.
Yun Shu, however, suddenly furrowed her brow.
Ting Xue was her personal maid. Under normal circumstances, unless instructed otherwise, she would never leave Yun Shu's side.
Earlier, when Yun Shu entered the imperial study, Ting Xue had been waiting just outside.
But now she was nowhere to be seen.
Something must have happened.
Just then, her suspicion was confirmed—Ting Xue appeared from the other end of the corridor, face pale and urgent.
"Your Highness, something has happened at the Tian Waitian Restaurant!"
"What happened?" Yun Chuhuan immediately stepped forward in concern.
But Ting Xue had no time to explain to him. She leaned in close to Yun Shu and whispered in a voice so low only the two of them could hear:
"Just now, someone came from the restaurant to report. Not long after the Crown Prince and his party departed, the Eldest Prince of Bei Xiang and the heir to Prince Lian also arrived and reserved a private room.
After a few cups of wine, the heir to Prince Lian, emboldened by his status, insisted that Miss Tang personally come serve them in their room."
Miss Tang wanted to settle the matter quietly to avoid a scene, so she went upstairs herself. But she never expected… that the heir to Prince Lian would dare to… to try and violate her!"
"And then?" Yun Shu asked, her voice low and cold.
She had already expected the Eldest Prince of Bei Xiang would not take his defeat lightly. But she hadn't imagined they would resort to even more vile and cowardly methods.
Her fists clenched. Her face darkened.
"Was Cousin hurt?"
"Her clothes were disheveled. It was nearly—Fortunately, the Third Prince happened to pass by at that exact moment and intervened in time."
Ting Xue's expression twisted in discomfort.
"But Miss Tang is reportedly in poor condition. As for the heir to Prince Lian and the others, they've already returned to the diplomatic residence—"
"Princess!"
Ting Xue had not finished speaking when she saw Yun Shu, eyes burning with fury, turn sharply on her heel and stride straight toward the palace gates.
Startled, Ting Xue quickly ran after her.
Behind them, Yun Chuhuan, still in the dark, reflexively tried to follow—only to be stopped by Grand Preceptor Liu, whose expression had grown grave.
"Your Highness, you must not!"
"Why not? Fifth Sister is clearly heading out again. I should—"
"This is no ordinary matter," Grand Preceptor Liu interrupted. "Please heed your elder's counsel—this time, you must stay."
There was no time to explain further. After a moment's pause, Grand Preceptor Liu turned and went back to request an audience with Emperor Xuanwu once more.
Meanwhile, inside the imperial study, where the previous crowd had only just dispersed and the atmosphere had yet to settle—
Emperor Xuanwu: "..."