Superiors are faltering, and the successors below find it difficult not to make moves.
After all, no one wants to lose the race.
Everyone is busy, challenging themselves for their future without hesitation.
If anyone stops, it's merely waiting to die.
Shen Yun went out and did not return until late at night.
Su Xiaoqi had already gone to bed.
Waking up the next day, the side of the bed was already empty, and the covers were cold.
Su Xiaoqi looked at the sky; she had not woken up late, which meant some matters might have reached their most critical juncture and could not be delayed.
She sighed deeply.
As an outsider, she knew the fates of the Crown Prince and Prince Duan very well.
But with the various accidents that had occurred, the original plot had already deviated significantly.
She could no longer use the past plot to measure the current situation.
Therefore, she was not confident that Prince Duan would be the final beneficiary.
In her previous life, Emperor Xingzhao had passed away before the year ended, rather abruptly, and the Crown Prince naturally ascended the throne.
But he was eventually deposed.
All of this seemed to happen naturally.
But in reality, there must have been deep-seated struggles behind it.
It was just that the book did not mention it.
Every character now was alive, with their own thoughts and goals, naturally leading to struggles and conflicts.
The current situation was the reason she intervened.
It was to buy some time for Prince Duan's faction.
Giving them enough time to plot and expel the Crown Prince in advance.
But the Crown Prince had been in the Eastern Palace for over a decade.
His faction's supporters were not to be trifled with.
While Prince Duan's faction was plotting against the Crown Prince, they were not idle and naturally sought ways to deal with Prince Duan.
With both factions striking simultaneously, a bloodbath ensued in the court.
The vortex's center was Emperor Xingzhao.
The two factions exchanged blows.
Today, you removed a minister from my faction.
Tomorrow, I found a weakness in your faction and struck hard.
Su Xiaoqi did not understand political struggles and could do little; she could only provide some information she knew to Shen Yun for him to implement.
As for herself, she would secure their home and, to the best of her ability, find more allies for them.
Du Yiyi personally came to visit again today.
Seeing her come yesterday and again today, with a serious expression, Su Xiaoqi knew it must be related to the matter she had entrusted to her yesterday.
"Sister Xiaoqi, I looked for Brother Xiao right after I left you yesterday, and he agreed."
Su Xiaoqi nodded: "He cares a lot about you, Yiyi. With you taking charge, I knew you would succeed.
So I truly have nothing to worry about."
Du Yiyi explained: "Well, I thought this matter was confidential, so I didn't dare to write a letter. If it were intercepted, it would harm everyone, so I came again."
Su Xiaoqi understood.
She was planning to visit the Duke of Yu's mansion today and asked if Du Yiyi wanted to go along.
"Okay, I've been busy with Brother Xiao all these days. It's been a while since I visited my maternal grandmother and aunt. I heard my second cousin is back," Du Yiyi said.
As they spoke, they first went to the inner court to see Madam Zhao, explained the reason, and then set off.
The carriage was ready, and the gifts were all prepared.
The two mansions were not far apart, just two streets and two alleys away.
The gatekeeper of the Duke of Yu's mansion saw Su Xiaoqi's carriage and quickly ran forward to guide them in.
Madam Wen, having received the news, led people to welcome them at the second gate.
Su Xiaoqi and Du Yiyi were flattered and hurried forward to pay their respects.
"Xiaoqi, Yiyi, you're finally here.
Mother has been missing you these past two days."
As she spoke, a tall figure swayed beside her, his height almost blinding Su Xiaoqi.
He leaned in, a bright smile on his face: "Xiaoqi, Yiyi!"
"Second Cousin!" Du Yiyi shouted loudly and rushed towards him.
This tall figure was Yu Changfeng, the second young master of the Duke of Yu's mansion.
His nearly two-meter-tall frame stood beside Madam Wen, who was around 1.6 meters tall, towering over her like a tall and straight pine tree.
He looked incredibly secure.
Although Su Xiaoqi had met him before, they were not very familiar.
At this moment, she also smiled, curtsied, greeted him as Second Cousin, and stood aside, smiling without speaking.
Madam Wen wrapped her fox fur coat tighter and beckoned: "It's cold, come, come, let's go to Mother's."
In the main hall of Fuxue Garden, the underfloor heating was strong. As Su Xiaoqi entered, she saw the Old Madam reclining on a couch reading.
The Old Madam was a famous talented woman in her youth.
Her poems were constant.
Later, after marrying the Old Duke, she could even go to the battlefield.
She accompanied the Old Duke on the battlefield for more than ten years.
On the Northern Frontier battlefield, everyone knew her.
They did not call her the Duchess or the Marshal's wife.
They all called her the Female Zhuge.
Because when the Northern Frontier attacked the Northern Di, they had to rely on her brilliant military strategy many times to successfully defeat the Northern Di.
The reputation of the Female Zhuge was well-known in the Northern Frontier. The Northern Di people were so scared that they retreated upon hearing her name.
In her prime, she was incredibly valiant and had even saved the current Emperor's life in the chaos of battle.
Therefore, when Emperor Xingzhao heard her name, he gave her considerable respect in remembrance of her life-saving grace.
Now that she was old, she no longer needed to go to the battlefield or plan anything.
However, the Old Madam's habit of reading had never changed.
In her spare time, she would either tend to flowers and plants, read books, or play chess.
She disliked socializing outside.
She always found those madams too hypocritical.
And the young ladies too delicate and affected, whom she disdained.
"Mother, Xiaoqi and Yiyi are here." Madam Wen led them over and smiled as she helped the Old Madam.
Su Xiaoqi and Du Yiyi stepped forward together to pay their respects.
"Greetings, maternal grandmother." Yu Changfeng also bowed deeply.
However, being tall and having long limbs, he bent down, and the Old Madam patted him dismissively: "So tall, you leave no room for your two cousins to stand."
Yu Changfeng chuckled and deliberately leaned in to take the Old Madam's hand and pat him again.
"Hey, it's my fault for eating and drinking so well that I had to grow so tall."
The Old Madam glared, pretending to be angry, and scolded with a smile:
"Pah, you smooth-tongued brat, you're asking for a beating."
Saying that, she pushed him away, pulled Du Yiyi and Su Xiaoqi closer, and said:
"My grandson is unruly and impatient around me, the Old Madam. He's been away for half a year and hasn't returned.
It's my granddaughters who are considerate, visiting me, this old woman, from time to time."
Yu Changfeng's departure was on a secret mission arranged by Emperor Xingzhao. The Old Madam was merely teasing and wouldn't be genuinely angry.
No one valued imperial commands and loyalty more than she did.
However, her words implied that she favored Du Yiyi and Su Xiaoqi over Yu Changfeng and Madam Wen.
The personalities of everyone present were straightforward, and there was no pretentiousness as when the madams and young ladies from various households gathered. They got along very happily for a while.
After a brief chat, Su Xiaoqi presented the down jackets she had brought.
When she made them for the Duke of Yu and the heir, she had already prepared them for everyone else in the Duke of Yu's mansion.
However, due to her prior busyness, she hadn't had time to visit.
These garments had some specific points that needed attention, so she had to come personally to explain them, which delayed the delivery until now.
"Wow, this is a down jacket, isn't it? I heard about it from Brother Yunwei when I returned.
He said a new type of clothing appeared in the capital.
It looks thin but is very warm when worn. I wanted to buy one.
But Yunwei said that the Nishang Workshop, which produced the main garments, had no surplus stock, only releasing twenty pieces a day, sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Now, those who want them are already queued over a thousand.
Look, my ticket number is 1880."
Yu Changfeng said, pulling a small paper slip from his sleeve.
Seeing it, Su Xiaoqi couldn't help but chuckle.
Yu Changfeng looked at her, a confused look on his face as he touched his own. Was he that funny?