Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 2427: Instigator

At noon, Shao Yunduan returned to the court and filled Qiao Xuan in on the situation.

Qiao Xuan’s reaction mirrored that of Shao Yunduan and Zhang Wenshu, echoing their concerns.

“The Fourth Prince had exiled the Princess Consort’s family, and they’ve been off the radar for years. We didn’t even consider them when we entered the capital. If we had thought of them sooner, we could have dealt with them before now!” Qiao Xuan said.

Shao Yunduan replied, “Yes, I didn’t anticipate that someone would beat us to it. Humph!”

Qiao Xuan smiled. “It’s a good idea to stir things up. It’ll help us find the weak spots and catch the real culprit!”

Shao Yunduan chuckled. “You’re right. I’ll have Hang Xingshan investigate discreetly. We need to avoid drawing attention.”

After discussing further, Qiao Xuan suddenly remembered, “We forgot about Sixth Cousin! He should still be in the capital and is the son-in-law of the Tian Family!”

Shao Yunduan’s expression darkened. “I would have overlooked him if you hadn’t mentioned it. I’ll arrange for someone to keep an eye on him.”

“Oh, just keep watch. Let’s see if he tries anything else!” Qiao Xuan added.

Shao Yunduan sneered. He had little regard for Shao Liulang; the man was a fool. With the Tian Family’s power diminished, they were no threat.

He preferred to stay in the shadows, observing and waiting for the right moment. If the opportunity arose, he would discreetly encourage events to unfold in his favor. When he identified a weakness, he would strike decisively to avoid ongoing nuisances in the future.

“Let’s not dwell on them,” Shao Yunduan said, taking Qiao Xuan’s hands with a smile. “The Flower Appreciation Feast is in three days. Are you ready?”

Qiao Xuan smiled back. “My team is working hard on it!”

This was Qiao Xuan’s first major event as Empress. If she succeeded, it could boost her standing and potentially lead to a more prominent role.

There were many in the palace eager to prove themselves. Qiao Xuan was willing to promote those who were capable and of good character.

With just the two of them residing in the six palaces, even a small number of servants was necessary for cleaning, tidying, and security. A sparse staff made the place feel deserted, while a large number could be challenging to manage effectively.

Liqiu and Zheng Sangge were already engaged and would soon be leaving the pavilion. Caiyue and the others had diligently served her and would stay for a year or two at most. It was time for them to start planning their futures. Qiao Xuan needed to promote and train new people from the palace.

This was a perfect opportunity to evaluate potential candidates.

Shao Yunduan understood her intentions and nodded with a smile. “Don’t worry about it. On the day of the feast, if those madams try to stir up trouble, you don’t need to handle it yourself. They aren’t worth your effort. Just instruct Ding Xiang to deal with them.”

Meng Wanfu was known for his generosity, and Ding Xiang shared that trait. Both were from Shao Yunduan’s hometown and had made significant contributions during the siege, so no one dared challenge them. If Ding Xiang had to take action, it would be well-deserved.