The princess regretted it.

Chapter 303: Check the People Around the Second Prince

The emperor's expression grew increasingly grim as he listened to Jin'an's account, especially when he heard that the maid was from his second son's household. His face darkened, his eyes blazing with rage. That rage wasn't directed at his second son, Changsun Yunji, but rather at the Zhang family. The emperor knew his son's temperament well. Changsun Yunji was kindhearted and open-minded, and certainly not someone so scheming and malicious. When it came to playing tricks, he couldn't even match the third son, so how could he possibly get involved in such a sinister and treacherous scheme? Furthermore, everyone in the palace knew that those people were arranged for Yunji by Concubine Zhang, so it was clear who they were.

After Jin An finished speaking and revealed all the clues he knew, the emperor was furious and shouted loudly outside the palace: "Someone come here."

Eunuch Fuquan quickly bowed and walked in quickly, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty."

"Fuquan, go find Zuoquan immediately and have him check the people around the Second Prince." The Emperor's voice was cold and low, as if wrapped in ice, and he said without question, "That's right! Have him take the list and check it one by one. Make sure to get to the bottom of it."

Fuquan had served the Emperor since childhood, accompanying him for many years. He knew the Emperor's thoughts intimately, so how could he not understand the deeper meaning of the Emperor's actions? However, he secretly wondered, if such a high-profile and thorough investigation revealed even the slightest error, the rift between father and son would be difficult to mend. He was truly worried that it would damage the already deep bond between the Second Prince and the Emperor. Eunuch Fuquan was filled with doubts. He had no idea what Princess Jin'an had said to the Emperor that had so irritated him. However, he knew that the Emperor had made this hasty decision in a rage, and once his anger subsided and he calmed down, he might regret it. If that happened, he, as the messenger, would be in trouble.

Jin An clearly saw Eunuch Fuquan's momentary hesitation. She stepped forward, facing the Emperor, and whispered, "Father, it's best not to make this too obvious. Second Brother is a prince, after all, and we don't yet know for sure if he's involved. It's best to act in secrecy, firstly to avoid alerting the enemy, and secondly to avoid damaging the bond between Father and Second Brother, and to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

After hearing Jin'an's words, the emperor calmed down a little and said to Fuquan, "Alright, tell him to be more careful."

Eunuch Fuquan hurriedly took the order and left. He walked quickly and disappeared outside the palace gate in the blink of an eye to arrange the investigation.

The emperor leaned back slightly in his chair and rubbed his temples, as if trying to dispel the fatigue and worries of the past few days. Seeing this, Jin An slowly walked up behind the emperor and gently massaged his head. The emperor breathed a long sigh of relief and closed his eyes.

After a moment, he patted Jin'an's hand, signaling her to stop. He then sat up straight again, his eyes fixed on Jin'an, his tone filled with relief: "Jin'an, today is thanks to you, your careful thinking and timely detection of these clues."

Jin An bowed and responded modestly: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. It is my duty to share your worries. Moreover, the unrest in the harem concerns the royal heirs. I am also worried. I only hope that the mastermind behind this can be found out as soon as possible and peace can be restored to the harem." She spoke sincerely and her eyes were firm, revealing a calmness that did not match her age.

The Emperor listened to her words, heartache slowly forming in his eyes. "You've done well. However, since this matter involves your brother's close associates, I'm always a little worried. While I trust your brother's character, I'm concerned about the people around him. The Zhang family has stretched their influence too far. If these restless individuals around him aren't dealt with sooner or later, they'll become a nuisance." At this point, the Emperor's brows furrowed again, a flicker of worry in his eyes.

Seeing this, Jin An softly said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. My second brother is now an adult and will soon leave the palace to establish his own residence. It's time to change the people around him. In my opinion, after this incident, perhaps my second brother will learn something, which will make him more vigilant in the future."

The Emperor listened and sighed softly, "I hope so. Father only hopes that Yun Ji will not be implicated." He paused, as if remembering something, and asked, "Jin'an, besides reporting this matter, do you have anything else to tell Father?"

Jin An hesitated for a moment, a hint of hesitation flashing across his eyes, but then he spoke again, "Father, I have another request. I heard that the Zhang family proposed establishing a crown prince in the court today, but it was rejected by my grandfather, the Grand Tutor, and the others. Is this true?"

The emperor was slightly startled, then uttered a "hmm" in response. At the same time, his eyebrows raised, his eyes revealing a hint of surprise and alertness as he asked, "Has this spread to the harem?"

"When I came here, I passed by the palace and overheard a few palace maids in the harem whispering in private. This matter is of great importance. At that time, I secretly wondered whether this sudden arson in the harem could be related to the situation in the court. Could it be that someone wanted to use this to disrupt the harem and thus affect the overall situation in the court?" Jin An spoke slowly after careful consideration.

Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression instantly darkened. He stood up and slowly walked to the window, gazing out at the palace walls and green trees. He remained silent for a long time. After a long moment, he turned around, his expression serious: "Jin'an, your concerns are not without reason. The harem and the court are interconnected. Father has this suspicion as well. But don't worry, the Zhang family's actions are abhorrent, and I will never let them succeed. I have my own arrangements." His voice was low and firm, and he would not tolerate anyone challenging the imperial majesty.

As Jin An listened to her father's words, she sensed his composure, a sure-win attitude. She lowered her gaze, her eyelashes fluttering slightly as she silently pondered, "It seems my father has been quietly planning something crucial these days." She had a strong suspicion that it had something to do with her fiancé, Zhong Chuzhou, who hadn't returned to Beijing. However, she couldn't ask about this unless her father spoke.

Jin An nodded slightly. "Father is a wise ruler of our time. I naturally trust you. I will take my leave now. If I hear any new clues, I will inform you again."

The emperor looked at Jin An with relief: "Okay, I feel much more at ease with you around."

Jin An bowed and took his leave, then slowly walked out of the imperial study, heading towards the harem with Han Shuang and Zi Yun. The sunlight shone on her, casting a slender shadow.

The emperor stood still for a long time as he watched her walk away. Then he called out in a cold voice, "Where are the Golden Armor Guards?"