"Just one year, for some reason, Father became furious and sent Mother to the Cold Palace, even planning to depose her. But the civil and military officials advised against it, so it didn't happen. I was too young to remember at that time." Princess Huai Qing sighed.

"Although Mother came out of the Cold Palace the following year, Father never visited her again. Fourth Prince was also neglected because of this. And since I was born, I have never been favored by Father."

"Consort Chen is actually very jealous and narrow-minded. Even though the Crown Prince was later appointed, she still didn't trust him and always had a hostile attitude towards me and Fourth Prince."

"It's not just my narrow-mindedness. Do you know why Lin An and I have a conflict?" Princess Huai Qing said helplessly.

Xu Qi'an's heart moved. "Instigated by Consort Chen?"

Princess Huai Qing nodded slowly. "Lin An was greatly favored by Father and indulged in everything. In the beginning, Consort Chen was worried about the instability of the Crown Prince's position, so she often incited Lin An to cause trouble and make things difficult for me."

Poor Lin An, you must have been bullied terribly by her... Although it was Lin An who caused trouble, Xu Qi'an still felt sorry for him. It wasn't about favoring one wife over another, but he cared for both of them.

He couldn't help but think that with Biao Biao's status, she would be bullied by Huai Qing.

On second thought, maybe that's what Consort Chen wanted. The more she understood her daughter, the more she would provoke her to create conflicts, in order to achieve her goal.

Just imagine, Emperor Yuan Jing favored Lin An, but he was always being bullied and crying by Huai Qing. How could Emperor Yuan Jing not dislike Huai Qing?

"What was the reason for deposing the Empress?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"There was no reason, that's why the officials advised against it." Huai Qing shook her head.

Deposing the Empress, just like deposing the Crown Prince, was not only a family matter for the Emperor but also a major national affair. The literati class couldn't easily divorce their legal wives, let alone the Empress, who represented the motherly virtues of the nation.

Without a reason, how could the civil and military officials agree to depose the Empress?

But if there was no reason, why would Emperor Yuan Jing suddenly become furious and want to depose her?

There must be hidden motives behind this.

"When did this happen during Emperor Yuan Jing's reign?" Xu Qi'an asked, feeling that he was being too nosy and added, "It might be related to the case of Consort Fu... Ah, no, I don't suspect Empress Mother's intentions."

Princess Huai Qing glanced at him and said lightly, "If you're curious, just ask directly. There's no need for so many reasons."

... Xu Qi'an felt a little embarrassed.

"In the thirteenth year of Emperor Yuan Jing's reign." Huai Qing turned her gaze away and looked into the distance. "As for the reason, I don't know. Even though I asked Mother many times afterwards, she never answered."

The thirteenth year of Emperor Yuan Jing's reign... it sounded familiar. Xu Qi'an nodded, "Thank you, Princess, for telling me."

He originally thought that Emperor Yuan Jing didn't establish Fourth Prince as the Crown Prince because the Crown Prince was not particularly clever, but now it seemed that there were deeper reasons behind it.

Indeed, although the Crown Prince was not particularly astute, Fourth Prince couldn't be any better... Well, it couldn't be ruled out that Fourth Prince was hiding his abilities... Xu Qi'an would ask Wei Yuan later. With his sharp eyes, whatever he said about Fourth Prince would be true.

After walking a few steps, Huai Qing suddenly said, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave today? With your abilities, there's no need to 'consider' going home."

Xu Qi'an felt that Huai Qing was more frank with him, so he should also be more honest. It would be beneficial for maintaining a good relationship.

"I just wanted to buy some time." Xu Qi'an said.

"Buy some time?" Huai Qing frowned.

"Yes," Xu Qi'an sighed at the faint fragrance of Princess Huai Qing and said helplessly, "I have offended too many people in the cases of Sang Bo and Yun Zhou. His Majesty also doesn't like me. He originally planned to grant me a noble title, but it was canceled because I came back to life."

Later, His Majesty promised to restore my noble title as the Marquis of Changle County as long as I investigate Consort Fu's case properly.

I'm really having a hard time.

"Do you think Father will go back on his word?" Princess Huai Qing agreed, "This plan is good. For every day he doesn't grant you a title, you delay for one day."

Xu Qi'an unexpectedly looked at her. It's no wonder they were on the same wavelength during Wei Yuan's days.

The saying goes, "A ruler's words are not to be taken lightly," which means that the Emperor's decrees and policies should not be taken lightly.

So, as long as Emperor Yuan Jing doesn't grant him a title, Xu Qi'an will delay for one day to prevent the dog Emperor from going back on his word.

"It's getting late. I'll go back to the mansion." Xu Qi'an looked at the sky and realized that he could still make it for lunch if he went back now.

"Okay." Huai Qing nodded.

........

On the other side, in Emperor Yuan Jing's palace.

Half an hour before lunch, Emperor Yuan Jing, who had finished his meditation, returned to his palace. Da Ban happily ran in, his face full of smiles, and said, "Your Majesty, there's a major breakthrough in Consort Fu's case, a major breakthrough."

Emperor Yuan Jing was startled and immediately put on a serious expression. He said in a deep voice, "Tell me."

The eunuch reported the information to Emperor Yuan Jing word for word, and the latter listened silently without making any comments.

"Your Majesty..." The eunuch lowered his head respectfully, "May I ask if the Crown Prince is innocent?"

Emperor Yuan Jing shook his head slightly. "It's too early... It's only been two days, and we have just begun to grasp the general outline of the case. Xu Qi'an is indeed talented, but he is a bit too cunning."

He snorted coldly and said, "Go urge the cabinet to draft the edict as soon as possible, no need to choose an auspicious day."

Last time, he asked the eunuch to deliver the order to the cabinet, and the cabinet received it, but they used the excuse of not having an auspicious day recently to delay it.

"Yes, sir."

...........

Xu Ershu, who was in charge of daily patrols, returned to the mansion with his head held high, and his waist sword swayed with his steps.

There was half an hour of rest time at noon, and Xu Pingzhi, the hundred-household leader, would return to the mansion for a meal and have a cup of tea.

The kitchen was still busy preparing lunch, and his aunt was planting newly bought orchids in the backyard. She was wearing a light blue robe with a matching pleated skirt, embroidered with intricate cloud patterns.

Bending over to plant the orchids, her slender waist and plump hips were highlighted.

Xu Ershu stood not far away, holding his helmet, and cleared his throat. "Madam, I'm hungry. Can you go to the kitchen and remind them?"

His aunt continued planting flowers, ignoring him.

"Madam?"

"What are you shouting for?" His aunt's expression turned cold. "Is Mr. Xu not coming back tonight because he has social engagements with his colleagues?"

Xu Ershu was stunned. "What are you talking about, Madam?"

His aunt finished planting the last orchid, clapped her hands, put her hands on her waist, and sneered, "There's a saying, right? Blood is thicker than water. Your nephew, even after becoming successful, still remembers you and secretly gives you silver."

Xu Ershu was astonished and thought to himself that it had been a long time since the young master gave me silver. It was before he went to Yunzhou. How did you bring up this old account?

"No, the young master just came out of the coffin yesterday. He went out the same day and didn't come back at night. How could he have time to give me silver?"

Xu Ershu definitely denied it. Even if he had it, he wouldn't admit it, let alone it was a fictitious matter.

His aunt exploded upon hearing this, her eyebrows raised, and she said loudly, "Xu Pingzhi, you really want to secretly visit the brothel with the fifty taels of private money that Xu Ningyan secretly gave you. When the Second Young Master told me this morning, I thought if you admitted it, we could let it go. I didn't expect you really wanted to hide it. You don't admit it, right? Would the Second Young Master lie to me? Xu Pingzhi, you heartless person! I have been managing this family with all my heart and soul, and I even raised your unlucky nephew. Is this how you repay me?"

"Where is the Second Young Master? Let him come out." Xu Ershu was angry.

"Phew, the Second Young Master is still sleeping. Don't disturb him. Don't change the subject. Will you pay the fifty taels or not?"

"...I will pay, Madam, please don't be angry." Xu Ershu lowered his head and dejectedly entered the bedroom. In order to prevent his aunt from discovering where he hid the silver notes, he walked quickly.

In the bedroom, he went straight to Xu Lingyin's small compartment, lifted her bedding, and underneath was all his private money, a total of eighty taels.

Search "pawread dot com" for the original.

Xu Ershu gritted his teeth and made up his mind. He took out two twenty-tael and two five-tael silver notes.

At this moment, he suddenly saw a bag of green oranges on the small table beside the bed.

Green oranges were not just ordinary oranges in Xu Pingzhi's eyes, so he was particularly sensitive to them. Immediately, he became suspicious.

"Green oranges are sour and astringent, usually used for medicinal purposes. Why would someone buy them for no reason? And why are they placed in Lingyin's room?"

With doubts in his mind, Xu Ershu left the compartment and returned to the courtyard, obediently handing over the silver notes.

His aunt's expression eased slightly, and she snorted, taking out a delicate purse from her bosom and putting away the silver notes.

Xu Pingzhi took the opportunity to ask, "Why are there green oranges on Lingyin's table? Did the young master buy them?"

"They were bought by the Second Young Master."

With the fifty taels received, his aunt said quite satisfied.

The Second Young Master bought them, but why did the Second Young Master buy them... He must have a different purpose for buying the green oranges... Something's not right!

A thought flashed through Xu Ershu's mind. "The Second Young Master was out all night, just like the young master. According to my understanding of the young master, he most likely went to the Official Brothel Sector. But the green oranges were bought by the Second Young Master..."

"The Second Young Master smells like oranges, right?" Xu Pingzhi asked casually.

His aunt nodded indifferently, admiring the orchids she had planted.

The answer was obvious... The young master taught the Second Young Master. If nothing unexpected happened, the young master betrayed me, so the Second Young Master fabricated the story of the private money to pressure me... This bastard, he even dared to plot against me, his own father.

Xu Pingzhi said in a deep voice, "It seems that the Second Young Master has been causing headaches recently."

"Huh?"

His aunt looked puzzled and still cared a lot about her son.

"Green oranges can relieve stress, treat headaches, and have many other benefits. Otherwise, why would someone sell such a sour and astringent thing?" Xu Pingzhi said.

Green oranges do have medicinal value, but the treatment for headaches was made up by Xu Ershu. Anyway, his wife, who didn't have much education and rarely touched the outside world, couldn't see through it.

"It must be because of the pressure of the imperial examination." His aunt suddenly felt very sorry for her son."Madam, our second son is not yet married. As his mother, you should take good care of him, not spend all day tending to your flowers and plants," Uncle admonished.

"Why did you put the food that Xinnian bought for himself in Lingyin's room?"

Auntie was not the nurturing type. Perhaps due to her self-perceived beauty, she was particularly proud and delicate. Her care for her children was far from warm and considerate.

That's why she was often annoyed by the troublesome Xu Lingyin. At meal times, she would hand her young daughter over to the maid, Lu'e, to take care of, while she herself would eat happily.

"It was Xinnian who gave it to Lingyin. I thought it would be a waste to throw it away, so I put it in her room for her to eat when she comes back from school," Auntie explained.

"Alright, enough talking. Hurry up and take the green oranges to the kitchen. Let the cooks make soup with them. Xinnian will need it when he wakes up. Oh, and make a bowl for our eldest son as well," Xu Pingzhi finished, then quickly added, "This soup might not taste good. Our eldest son probably won't want it, and you, as his aunt, can't make him drink it. Let Lingyue make it with you. When he comes back tonight, he won't refuse."

Auntie nodded and swayed her hips as she went to fetch the green oranges.

Just as lunch was ready in the mansion, the eldest son, Xu Qi'an, returned. He took off his gong and saber and threw them on the ground, then sat down at the table and asked, "Uncle, are you coming back for lunch now?"

"I will be coming back for lunch from now on. I just received my new assignment this morning. Starting tomorrow, I won't be patrolling the outer city, but the inner city instead," Xu Pingzhi replied, his expression cold.

Moving from the outer city to the inner city didn't change his position, but it did raise his rank by one level.

"Good news, good news!"

Xu Qi'an took the bowl and chopsticks handed to him by Lu'e, wondering why his uncle looked so unhappy today.

At this moment, Xu Xinnian, still sleepy-eyed, came out. He glanced at his elder brother, and the two brothers understood each other without words.

"Dad, did you have a fight with mom today?" Xu Xinnian asked tentatively as he sat down.

"Hmph, you all never give me a break. Only Xinnian is good, after all, he came from my wife's belly," Auntie glared at her husband and nephew.

A small smile appeared at the corner of Xu Xinnian's mouth.

Without changing his expression, Xu Pingzhi looked at Auntie's personal maid and said, "Lu'e, go to the kitchen and see if the soup is ready."

Lu'e obediently responded and left the side hall with small steps.

"What kind of soup is it?"

Xu Qi'an, who had spent all his money last night, asked with great interest.

"It's for you and Xinnian to replenish your bodies," Auntie said.

Xu Qi'an and Xu Xinnian looked at each other, feeling a bit uneasy. How did Auntie (Mom) know we needed to replenish our bodies?

Soon, Lu'e came in with a large pot of soup, the strong sour smell hitting their faces.

The large porcelain bowl was placed on the table, and the yellow-orange soup was filled with slices of green oranges, the skin not even peeled.

Auntie personally served Xu Xinnian the soup, complaining, "Xinnian, why didn't you tell mom about your headache? You're about to take the imperial examination, it's mom's fault, I didn't take good care of you.

"This green orange soup is specially made for you."

Green orange soup?!

This, isn't this the green orange I bought? Xu Xinnian looked confused, thinking to himself, how can green oranges be used to make soup? Isn't this going to kill someone?

"Mom, my headache is just because I drank too much. Last night, I was socializing with my colleagues..." Xu Xinnian looked at his elder brother somewhat guiltily.

Green orange soup... Who came up with this dark cuisine? Xu Qi'an almost laughed out loud, and said seriously, "Green orange soup is very nourishing, Xinnian, you must drink more."

"You have some too," Uncle Xu said indifferently, "This soup was painstakingly made by Lingyue and your aunt."

"?"

A big question mark appeared in Xu Qi'an's mind.

"I, a martial artist at the Spirit Refining Stage, need this stuff?" Xu Qi'an retorted.

"Big brother!" Xu Lingyue pleaded softly, "Just drink a bowl, I've been stewing it for a long time."

Xu Qi'an couldn't help but look at his little brother.

His little brother was also looking at him.

Both brothers were hoping that the other would stand up and protest.

"......."

"Ton ton ton ton ton......."

In the end, they both drank a large bowl, choking until tears came out, and their stomachs were churning.

"Hahaha, let's eat, let's eat." Uncle Xu drank his wine, showing a simple smile.

.............

PS: Thanks to "Silent Zhuge" for the alliance reward. I haven't added any extra chapters these days, mainly because I'm already updating more than 10,000 words a day, which is my limit.

I was going to correct some typos, but looking at the time, I decided to post first, then correct.