Chapter 341: Volume 1, Chapter 341: How could one do such a face‑slapping thing?

As Yun Shizhuang entered the weaving workshop, the capital naturally had no shortage of speculation, but when the workshop's printed hemp cloth began to be sold, and the shops selling it were all Yun Shizhuang's dowry shops, everyone seemed to understand what was going on.

It seems not only did Prince Qi pledge allegiance to His Majesty, but Princess Consort Qi also pledged allegiance to the Empress.

This… just feels rather delicate.

After all, the Empress used to be Princess Consort Qi.

After Chancellor Yun received the news at home, he was so angry he overturned the table, and he had his wife go see their daughter to ask her exactly what was going on.

Madam Yun had always shared fortunes with her husband; no matter what he said, she had never opposed him. When her husband initially had their daughter marry Prince Qi, she was unwilling but still complied.

But this time, Madam Yun looked at her husband and said softly, "Sir, a married woman follows her husband. Princess Consort Qi has Imperial Consort Ming by her side—do you think the child can decide for herself?"

"What do you mean by that? Are you suspecting that Imperial Consort Ming is forcing Shizhuang to do this?" Chancellor Yun snapped.

Madam Yun looked at her husband, "I don't know either, but after I married you back then, I have always listened to you—whatever you say goes. Since Shizhuang is already married, let her decide her own affairs."

Chancellor Yun was speechless, lowering his gaze at his wife, angry and furious yet ultimately helpless, and could only say, "Just indulge her."

Madam Yun looked at her husband, "Sir, what if the Song family of Suizhou loses this time?"

Chancellor Yun startled, looked at his wife, and asked, "Do you know something?"

Madam Yun sighed lightly, "A few days ago I attended a banquet and met Madam Xiao Shen; I heard her say personally that the cannons General Xiao brought to Suizhou this time are fearsome—one blast can topple half the city walls, and she said the fall of Suizhou is merely a matter of time."

"That's sheer nonsense!" Chancellor Yun utterly disbelieved, "Back then that fire thunder was indeed powerful, but it merely blew a pit on flat ground. What cannon? It's probably just that fire thunder!"

Madam Yun also didn't know the truth, she said with a worried expression, "I naturally hope what you say is true, but Madam Xiao speaks with absolute certainty. Do you still remember why the Marquis of Ningyuan was imprisoned? Wasn't it for planting spies in the Armory? We are all part of His Majesty's plan to catch a turtle in a jar, but Sir, if it makes His Majesty this cautious, I think Madam Xiao might be telling the truth."

Seeing her husband still unwilling to believe, she finally said, "Back then the Great General and his wife forced their daughter to marry Xiao Shen, and Madam Xiao agreed, but after she married elsewhere she became estranged from her natal family. Not to mention helping her natal family gather intelligence, she even did many things for her own husband. Sir, you still remember that Madam Xiao's relationship with the Empress is not ordinary; you say she is now spreading this everywhere—could there be an imperial directive behind it? If it's false, such a lie would be exposed at the first crack, so how could Madam Xiao do something so face‑slapping?"

Chancellor Yun rarely paid attention to domestic affairs, but hearing his wife say this, he gradually calmed down.

If… if Madam Xiao's words are all true…

The battle at Suizhou will likely have results soon, and with such a weapon in His Majesty's hands… Chancellor Yun's face turned pale all at once.

The reason aristocratic families can wrestle with the emperor, stand toe‑to‑toe, and sometimes even gain the upper hand suppressing imperial power, is because their strength surpasses that of the throne.

They fear nothing of the court.

But with such an extremely lethal weapon in hand, would the emperor still be willing to be restrained by the aristocracy?

Then who would be the next Song family?

Chancellor Yun broke out in a cold sweat, his countenance turning grave.