Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Yu Wenquan only pondered for a short while before saying, "Take Princess Qin to Chengqian Hall."

Shang Ruyi felt a weight lift from her heart, then said, "Father Emperor!"

Before she could say anything more, Yu Wenquan’s face had already darkened as he said, "This matter, I will certainly investigate thoroughly. If you are innocent, your name will naturally be cleared; but if you—"

By the time he spoke the last words, his gaze had turned completely cold.

Shang Ruyi had originally wanted to say more, but seeing his expression, then glancing around, she finally said, "Your daughter accepts the decree."

At the side, Tushere immediately said, "This slave will go as well, to care for Princess Qin."

Yu Wenquan only gave her a single look, then waved his hand lightly. Han Yuhui at once called for two palace maids and ordered, "Escort Princess Qin to Chengqian Hall, attend to her properly, do not neglect her."

Shang Ruyi gave her a glance without speaking, then turned and walked out.

But just as she reached the doorway of the grand hall, she suddenly stopped, turned back toward Yu Wenquan and said, "Father Emperor, this matter concerns your daughter’s reputation. Not only must Father Emperor uncover the truth, your daughter also wishes to prove her innocence. If your daughter thinks of people or matters that can testify to her innocence—"

Yu Wenquan said, "You may send someone to report to me at any time."

Shang Ruyi glanced to the side. "What if someone obstructs it?"

Yu Wenquan knitted his brows slightly, then said, "I will send Yu Mingli to Chengqian Hall. If you have something to say, tell him."

Shang Ruyi said, "Thank you, Father Emperor."

With that, she walked out.

The night quickly passed. At first light, the news that Princess Qin had been confined to Chengqian Hall immediately stirred up a great commotion across the harem. After Tao Wanxin learned of it early in the morning, she hurried straight to Liangyi Hall, wanting to ask what had truly happened, only to be told that the Emperor still had morning court today and was not in the palace.

Tao Wanxin thought for a moment, then asked the little eunuch guarding the gate, "Then, about Princess Qin—has any decision been made?"

The little eunuch merely smiled and shook his head.

Tao Wanxin asked again, "Then when will the Emperor return?"

The little eunuch hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and lowered his voice. "After the commotion last night, the Emperor didn’t sleep at all. I heard the Young Master was frightened, and His Majesty specially brought the Young Master over; they were in turmoil the whole night and only just now went to morning court. Once he returns, there will likely still be many state affairs to handle. Concubine, best not to seek an audience with the Emperor at a time like this."

"I see..."

Hearing this, Tao Wanxin could only sigh and turn away.

The palace maid at her side, Qiao Shu, made a point of going over to thank the little eunuch, then hurried back, supporting Tao Wanxin as they walked out while whispering, "Concubine, we’d best not get too involved in Princess Qin’s affair."

Tao Wanxin turned to look at her. "Why?"

Qiao Shu glanced around, then said softly, "I heard this time they caught her with ’person and stolen goods both in hand’. Though the Emperor, for the sake of appearances, has only confined her in Chengqian Hall, the fact that he won’t let her return to Qianqiu Palace to see the Young Master means he’s truly angry. Besides, that Sun Xianyue has been thrown into the great prison—no one even knows whether he’s dead or alive now. It’ll be hard for Princess Qin to extricate herself from this."

"..."

"That we had some dealings with her in the past is one thing, but if Concubine still speaks up for her now and accidentally angers the Emperor..."

"..."

Tao Wanxin listened quietly, her brows gradually knitting together.

At that moment in Chengqian Hall, Shang Ruyi was sitting by the table, her brows furrowed into a tight 川, her expression growing even darker.

"Princess..."

Tushere came over, seeming to want to comfort her, but knowing that whatever she said now would be useless. She could only sigh, then turn to look around. This had once been the hall where the Crown Prince lived. Ever since he left the palace to establish his own Crown Prince Mansion, it had been left idle for the time being. Though still relatively clean and spacious, after so long without residents, there were inevitably many inconveniences.

Tushere had struggled last night to prepare the bed for Shang Ruyi, but upon entering just now, she saw the mattress and covers neat and flat—clearly, someone had lain awake the entire night.

Thinking of this, she still half knelt down, one hand resting on Shang Ruyi’s knee, and said softly, "Princess, please don’t grieve. If you never did it, then you never did it. The Emperor will surely restore your innocence."

Shang Ruyi did not speak.

Tushere’s heart grew heavier with sorrow. Instinctively wanting to take her hand, she suddenly felt that her hand was moving slightly.

She thought Shang Ruyi was trembling, but when she lowered her eyes to look closely, she saw that Shang Ruyi was moving of her own accord—and only her wrist was turning gently, like when she usually practiced writing.

Tushere had barely slept the previous night either, brooding over what had happened. Now she couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, "Princess, that letter Sun Xianyue received—someone must have sneaked into Qianqiu Palace and taken samples of your writing, then imitated your hand, correct?"

Only then did Shang Ruyi turn to her and nod lightly.

This was not difficult to deduce. Yesterday, when she saw the characters on that slip of paper, she had already thought of it. Only—

Tushere ground her teeth and cursed viciously, "Despicable!"

As she spoke, she raised her head to look at Shang Ruyi again. "Then, it was stolen yesterday, when those people came to fumigate with bamboo vinegar to deal with the termites?"

Shang Ruyi nodded again.

This time Tushere had clenched her silver teeth so hard they were practically rattling, and she even hammered her own knee fiercely. "It’s all my fault. Why didn’t I lock the cabinet, and why didn’t I check it carefully afterward?"

Shang Ruyi said, "That cabinet was only for odds and ends to begin with. It wasn’t locked for convenience’s sake. You needn’t blame yourself."

Tushere’s eyes were red with anxiety as she asked, "Then what should we do now?"

"..."

"Can we catch the person who stole the things?"

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then shook her head. "It happened yesterday. If it had been discovered in the daytime yesterday, there would still be an argument to make. But now there is no proof; merely saying so will be hard for people to believe."

Tushere grew more anxious. "Then, what evidence do we have?"

Shang Ruyi pondered quietly for a while, then suddenly turned to look at her. "She’er, yesterday you said you organized the samples of my writing?"

Tushere nodded quickly. "Yes, I arranged them by date."

"Then which sheet did you place on top?"

"That I can’t quite remember. Anyway, according to the dates, the earliest one was placed on top."

"The earliest..."

As Shang Ruyi spoke, her eyes narrowed slightly. Though she had not slept the entire night and the bloodshot veins all but filled her eyes, making her look extremely haggard, the light shining from those eyes was especially sharp.

After a moment, she nodded gently. "Then I understand."

Seeing her like this, clearly thinking through countermeasures, Tushere thought for a bit, then asked, "Princess, that Sun Xianyue—did he truly come to our Qianqiu Palace?"

Shang Ruyi shook her head. "He should not have lied. He never came."

"Then his clothes—"