Chapter 238: Volume 1, Chapter 238 Prime Minister Yun

Princess Dowager De furrowed her brow, and after a long moment said, "It is indeed a problem, but most of the people around Yu Heng have followed him for many years; any investigation will have to proceed slowly."

Ling Yuying naturally nodded. Most of the people around the Prince had been placed there by the Dowager years ago; if we act against them now without clarification, the Dowager will think she is scheming.

Now that we speak openly, it will be easier, and having the Dowager herself take the initiative to investigate is far more convenient for us.

With the Liu Li Kiln incident erupting, Prince Qi and the matters of the Inner Court Office can finally catch a breath.

Princess Dowager Ming had someone deliver a message to Rong Luoge, wishing to meet her son; Rong Luoge asked Han Xinglan, who consented.

Princess Dowager Ming hadn't seen her son for a long time; upon seeing his now gaunt appearance, before she could finish speaking, she embraced him and wept.

Prince Qi didn't know what to do, and for a moment could only stand stiffly while his mother held him; he too had not seen his mother for a long time, and seeing that she looked healthy and had not suffered in the palace, he felt a sigh of relief.

After the bout of crying, Princess Dowager Ming calmed down, and then, steadying her emotions, looked at her son and said, "It wasn't easy for us mother and son to meet this time; there are some things I need to tell you."

"Mother, please go ahead, I'm listening," Prince Qi said at once, and couldn't help but ask, "Are you alright in the palace?"

Princess Dowager Ming sighed, "Whether it's good or bad, it's just enduring life, hoping you'll take me out soon. When your father the Emperor first passed, my heart was truly in turmoil; speaking of it, Consort Rong was magnanimous, she didn't use our old grudges to torment me, and even gave me much assistance. Thinking back…"

Princess Dowager Ming didn't finish the rest of her words, but Prince Qi understood.

"Enough about that, I'll ask you: have many people come to see you these past few days?" Princess Dowager Ming asked her son.

Prince Qi nodded, "Yes."

"I knew it," Princess Dowager Ming slammed the table in anger. "Son, we must not be as overconfident and arrogant as before. Now the new emperor sits on the throne; we have no troops, no men, no money, no grain. Those people are urging you to confront His Majesty—are they truly trying to support you? They are merely coaxing you to clash with His Majesty so they can profit like fishermen; you must not be fooled."

Prince Qi nodded, a hint of despondency in his expression, "I know, son; I haven't met them."

"One cannot fight fate; mother and son have already fought once, and the result was a total defeat. When your father was still alive, it was already like this; now that he's gone, we should just live peacefully and stop contesting. Now Mother only hopes you can be prosperous and safe, live a long hundred years, and hopes your sister can find a good husband; beyond that there is truly nothing else to ask for." Princess Dowager Ming has been strong all her life, never bowing her head; even after a lifetime of opposing the Empress, she has never lost a point.

Only with the new emperor has she never gained any advantage; she tried, she acted, she lost, and she admits it!

"I understand, son," Prince Qi looked up at his mother, "I know you fear I would think it shameful to bow my head; Mother, rest assured I won't think that way. I now want to do more, to ease His Majesty's anger and soon bring you and my sister out of the palace. I have been unfilial, still keeping you inside the palace; please wait a bit longer, I will work hard." Prince Qi also does not wish to bow his head, but truly has no choice.

He cannot compare to Han Xinglan; he has always thought himself capable and clever, but…

"What do you plan to do about the Inner Court Office matters?" Princess Dowager Ming asked her son.

Prince Qi sighed, "I have no other choice, I must handle it officially; I think we should investigate to the end."

Princess Dowager Ming gritted her teeth, "His Majesty assigned you to oversee the Inner Court Office; I know it's not a good post, the Inner Court Office is already rotten through, and anyone who tries to expose the truth will not be doing a good deed. Yet His Majesty wants us mother and son to show loyalty, pushing us to clash with those aristocratic families, cutting off our retreat so we can only stand on his ship."

"I understand, son." Prince Qi wasn't truly foolish; he grasped the scheming here— the emperor is using him as a weapon, not just any weapon, but as a slaughtering knife.

"It's enough that you understand it in your heart," Princess Dowager Ming said slowly after pondering, "Xue Mingli is from your princess's family; it concerns the Yun family—do you have any plans?"

Prince Qi slightly frowned, and after a while said, "Whether the Yun family is truly innocent or falsely innocent, I will investigate thoroughly. I have already looked into Xue Mingli; during his tenure he was indeed insatiably greedy. He oversaw the Six Treasury, and the wealth he extracted from the Inner Court Office over the years is staggering. His death was not unjust; even if it wasn't suicide, once the truth is known there will be no way for him to survive."

"Could that implicate members of the Yun family?" Princess Dowager Ming was more concerned about this, after all her daughter‑in‑law is a Yun family woman, and the stakes are high.

"We still don't know how deep the Yun family's involvement is; if they are truly entangled too deeply, they probably can't escape," Prince Qi said lightly.

Princess Dowager Ming sighed, "Has Prime Minister Yun come looking for you?"

"He has, but I haven't seen him. These past days I've been in the study sorting this matter, and I haven't seen the Princess either," Prince Qi said with his head slightly bowed, "Mother, I have other options but you do not; I cannot act that way."

They are walking on a double‑edged sword; whichever side they choose, a sharp blade points at them. He can only grit his teeth and move forward, hoping to satisfy the emperor, at least first getting his mother and sister out of the palace.

If… he could be more ruthless and selfish, he could leave his mother and sister in the palace as hostages, while he circles the emperor outside, playing tricks; though riskier, it's not impossible.

But… he cannot bring himself to do that.

Princess Dowager Ming knew her son; listening to his words, she let out a long sigh, "Time and fate—accepting destiny is another way to live. Now His Majesty has handed the Inner Court Office to you; although this post is a knife wrapped in honey, if you truly can manage it, it will be a complete demonstration of loyalty to the emperor, and your future and days will no longer be hard."

Prince Qi nodded, "I understand, son."

"As for Xue Mingli's matter…" Princess Dowager Ming snorted, "You go find Yun Jing to negotiate terms. Yun Jing is shrewd and treacherous; when I took his daughter as your wife, it wasn't a free concession. Whether Yun Jing knows this or not, tell him that if he doesn't help, I have some old debts here to present to His Majesty."

Prince Qi looked at his mother in surprise, "You still have leverage over him?"

Regarding this father‑in‑law, Prince Qi's impression was neutral, neither good nor bad; in any case he held little genuine affection for his son‑in‑law.

"Of course," Princess Dowager Ming's mouth twitched slightly, "Otherwise how could I have agreed to let Yun Shizhuang marry you?"