Chapter 520: How Could He Possibly Want?

Upon hearing that,

The Emperor grabbed Shi Qing's hand: 'Qing'er, do you resent me?'

'No resentment.'

Shi Qing raised her eyes and answered without a hint of hesitation.

The Emperor pulled her into his embrace and said: 'The Grand Prince is my eldest son. Since our nation's founding, the crown prince has always been the eldest son; if the eldest son is unsuitable, we consider other princes. He is my eldest son, and I will give him this opportunity no matter what. If he does not cherish it, then no one else can be blamed.'

The implication.

If the Grand Prince is unsuitable, he will appoint another prince as crown prince; the prince he wants is one capable of being emperor.

Shi Qing's feelings were somewhat complicated.

'Your Majesty, you actually don't need to tell me these things.'

The Emperor spoke frankly: 'I also fear that you will not be at peace with me.'

Their conversation.

Shi Lin didn't know this; he left the palace, chatted a few sentences with Zhang Yun, then, at his mother's place, selected a Dark Guard to rent that shop under his name.

The shop was rented.

Shi Lin told him to do whatever business he was skilled at.

All arranged.

Shi Lin returned home.

By then, curfew was approaching.

Qiao Sheng hadn't slept, pacing back and forth in the courtyard waiting for Shi Lin to return; seeing him come back, she strode forward to meet him.

'It's so cold out; you're not to walk outside like this anymore.'

'Come on, go inside.'

Shi Lin took Qiao Sheng's hand and walked toward their room.

Charcoal burned in the room.

As soon as they entered, it was warm and cozy.

They sat down.

Shi Lin poured a cup of water and drank it; after finishing, he said: 'I first went to see Zhang Yun, then entered the palace, and after leaving went to see him again.'

Without waiting for Qiao Sheng to ask,

Shi Lin told her everything.

After listening,

Qiao Sheng narrowed her eyes and said: 'Husband, could it be that the Empress originally intended to kill Feng Hui, but her subordinates didn't follow her orders, or perhaps Feng Hui didn't die at the time, so later someone rescued him and brought him home to raise?'

'It's possible.'

Shi Lin fell silent for a moment, then said: 'After Hui'er returned, someone also tried to harm him, but the evidence pointed directly to Consort Jing in the inner palace, and Consort Jing admitted she did it. Therefore, even if we suspect the Empress's involvement, we can't touch her.'

There are many experts around the Empress.

Otherwise,

He would have already taken action against her.

How could he let her continually suppress his older sister?

Qiao Sheng pressed her lips and said: 'Someone taking the blame is definitely hard to deal with. Husband, Zhang Yun, are you sure he's not problematic, that what he says is all true?'

'He should be fine; I'll have someone investigate more thoroughly tomorrow.'

The next day, Shi Lin again sent people to investigate thoroughly.

After the investigation,

It was confirmed there were no issues.

Shi Lin suddenly remembered that the Third Prince also wanted that shop, so he had people turn it inside out everywhere.

After searching everywhere, they found nothing.

Shi Lin went to the Yamen to check, and found out who the shop's original owner was.

Seeing that the shop's original owner was just an ordinary merchant, he investigated further and discovered that the shop had always belonged to their family; it was only sold to the Zhang family after their fortunes declined.

In the Imperial Capital, better shops than this are everywhere.

If there's nothing in that shop, how could the Third Prince possibly want it?

Shi Lin personally went to look, found nothing, and told Qiao Sheng about it.

'I'll go with you to take a look.'

Qiao Sheng said.

That night, Shi Lin brought her and An Yi along.

They entered by flying in.

As soon as they entered, they discovered that someone had already sneaked in ahead of them.

Shi Lin clapped a hand over Qiao Sheng's mouth.

Qiao Sheng instantly realized what was happening.

Shi Lin knew Qiao Sheng understood his meaning, so he slowly released his hand.