Chapter 27: The Third Prince is Poisoned-Quando a concubina diz que eu não mereço? A filha legítima renascida, abalando a corte e conquistando o posto de fênix(Chuva intensa)

Recently, while the Ministry of Justice has yet to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the remnants of the previous dynasty, the political landscape within the palace has been shifting dramatically.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor issued an edict lifting the confinement of the Empress. Meanwhile, the Noble Consort was repeatedly reprimanded by the Emperor for her arrogance and overbearing conduct during the Empress's period of house arrest. The court officials immediately sensed a change in the winds, and the situation grew increasingly convoluted. With the Empress’s restrictions lifted, the Crown Prince shook off his gloom, appearing almost triumphant. As the investigations progressed, the bitter rivalry between the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince entered a white-hot stage.

Just as the two sides reached a stalemate, a scandalous rumor began to circulate regarding the Crown Prince. It was a sordid tale of romance: rumor had it that the Crown Prince had met with Shen Wan, the second daughter of the Shen household, at a tavern. After pouring out their hearts to each other, they were overcome by passion. As luck would have it, a servant entering the private room to serve tea caught them in the act. With the tavern bustling, many witnessed the scandalous scene. Such news spread with lightning speed, growing more outrageous with every retelling, yet it was presented with such vivid detail that listeners felt as if they had seen it with their own eyes.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor was incensed, cursing his son three times as a disgrace. While it is not a grave sin for a man to be fond of women, the Crown Prince held a high position, and his every word and action served as a model for the realm. The common people respected imperial authority precisely because they viewed the royal family as transcendent. For the heir apparent to be caught publicly dallying with a woman in a tavern was a total disregard for propriety and a corruption of public morals.

The Crown Prince stood there, a large lump on his head and bloodshot eyes, looking utterly wretched. The lump was a souvenir from a tea bowl the Emperor had hurled at him. He had never imagined that Shen Wan would dare to plot against him, especially at such a critical juncture. The Fifth Prince had always been adept at currying favor with the Emperor, and this scandal only further deepened the Emperor’s disgust toward the Crown Prince. Moreover, the fragile connection he had just established with Shen Ning-shuang would likely be ruined by this affair.

The most pressing issue now was how to manage the fallout. He had already made up his mind to marry Shen Ning-shuang once the storm passed. With her brilliance and the political resources of the Shen family, he was confident he could ascend the throne, even if the Emperor remained wary of him. Now, however, to quell the public outcry and preserve the dignity of the royal family, Shen Wan would inevitably have to be taken into the Eastern Palace. In such a scenario, would Shen Ning-shuang still be willing to cooperate with him, let alone become his Crown Princess?

That evening, Shen Fengmo entered the palace and knelt before the Emperor, begging for punishment for his failure to discipline his daughter. The Emperor was in a difficult position; everyone knew it takes two to tango. He remarked that since the deed was done, they should focus on the aftermath. Shen Fengmo suggested sending Shen Wan to a convent to spend the rest of her days in seclusion, so as not to cause further trouble for the Emperor or the Crown Prince. Despite this plea, the Emperor, recognizing Shen Fengmo’s status as a high-ranking official, eventually issued a decree allowing Shen Wan to enter the Eastern Palace as a third-rank concubine.

Before the issue of the marriage contract between the Crown Prince and Shen Ning-shuang could be settled, a eunuch rushed in to report that the Third Prince had fallen ill. The Emperor hurried to inquire. The eunuch’s report was vague, but it seemed the Third Prince had collapsed after a meal. The imperial physicians had been summoned and determined he had been poisoned; his condition was currently critical.

Third Prince Leng Zhaowen was