Guan Shu returned to the official residence, and as soon as he entered, he saw Feng butler standing on one side. Feng butler said, "Please ask the lady to go to the study after she returns to the official residence."
Guan followed Feng butler to the small study with a heavy heart, his mind filled with endless thoughts.
Feng butler is Su Shaohuan's right-hand man, having walked through half a lifetime of storms with him. Whether it was battling with the prime minister or the King of Zhao in those days, or dealing with rebellions and restoring power later on, Feng butler has always been involved.
Such small matters of passing on messages like this absolutely do not require Feng butler to do it personally.
But why did Feng butler wait at the doorstep early this morning just to deliver this message? This proves what?
This proves that everything else in Feng butler's hands combined is not as important as waiting for Guan Shi to return.
This means that in Su Shaohuan's eyes, today's conversation in the palace is no ordinary matter, carrying significant implications.
The matter that could have Su Shaohuan so valued today is not something that concerns the common people, the kingdom's prosperity and stability, or the future of the Su family as a whole.
Recalling today's conversation with Su Jun, Guan Shi felt a hint of a guess in her heart, fearing that it might be about changing the heir.
She had a heart skip a beat, tightly clenching her handkerchief, and dared not think further.
The small study in the front yard faces south, with simple indoor furnishings, only a few tables and chairs and a bookshelf as high as the wall.
It looks no different from an ordinary household, showing no hint of the wealth and grandeur of a marquis' mansion.
But Guan Shi dare not be the slightest bit careless, for this is where Su Shaohuan handles his affairs. At times, this small study could determine the fate of the entire country.
Since the patriarch retired, this small study has been seldom used.
However, now the desk, chairs, and the floor of the study were all filled with books, documents, and letters...
Su Shaohuan put down his pen, without a greeting, and directly asked Guan Shi about everything she had seen and heard during her visit to the palace.
After Guan Shi had finished speaking, he emphasized a few points.
"The Crown Prince favors Zhang Zhaojun, but does Zhang Zhaojun hold a grudge against the Su family?"
Guan Shi pondered for a moment on Su Jun's words, nodding positively, "Yes, that's right. The Crown Prince also fought for her against her sister."
To Guan Shi's surprise, when she mentioned the Crown Prince's action for the second time, Su Shaohuan's expression remained calm and there was no trace of anger at all.
What is going on?
Su Shaohuan asked many more questions and then remained silent for a long time, as if he was thinking about something of great importance.
After a long silence, Su Shaohuan spoke again, "All right, I have no more questions. You can go back now. Do not mention anything about today's events to anyone."
Guan Shi's sense of foreboding grew stronger, and she couldn't help but say, "Father, the Crown Prince..."
Su Shaohuan interrupted her and said, "I will handle things myself, you don't need to worry about it."
Guan Shi's palm was sweaty, drenching the handkerchief, and finally, she left silently after bowing.
If this truly is a matter of changing the heir, it's not even something that even her husband, who has become a minister, has the right to interfere with.
Such matters can only be discussed by the prime ministers of the cabinet.
However, the Su family is the wife's family of the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, the Su family will become a dowager family in the imperial court, and from any angle, neither the Su family nor they should take action to overthrow the Crown Prince.
Although the Crown Prince currently favors Zhang's family, a mere Zhang's family cannot shake Su Jun's position.
The Crown Prince is still young and impulsive. Because of a quarrel between his concubine and his legitimate wife, he acted impulsively. However, everyone has their moments of impulsiveness. The Crown Prince should be given a chance to change for the better.
Her little sister-in-law is in a stable position and has an enchanting appearance. With Zhang's family causing trouble now, once Zhang's family is removed, the couple will have some time to get along, and there's no doubt that the Crown Prince will fall in love with her.
As long as there is some affection between the husband and wife, and Su Jun gives birth to a child, then everything will be settled.
Compared to overthrowing the Crown Prince of the Su family, this path is a direct and smooth path to success.
Guan Shi couldn't understand the reason behind her father-in-law's actions.
Even though her father-in-law is fond of Su Jun, this is a matter involving the very foundation of the state.
There must be some hidden secrets in this.
Guan Shi sighed inwardly, what would the Su family do if they actually took action?
If the matter fails, the Crown Prince will hold a grudge. If it succeeds, as the wife's family of the deposed Crown Prince, the Su family won't fare well under the new emperor.
At the very least, the careers of the next generation will not be smooth.
Guan Shi thought it over and over again, still unable to figure things out, and her thoughts returned to the original path.
Could it really be because of Su Jun?
Su Jun felt repulsed by the Crown Prince's infatuation with others and decided to dethrone the heir?
But, but father-in-law wouldn't go to the extent of dethroning the heir over such a trivial matter, would he?
This is simply ludicrous!
For a lady of such a noble family as Guan Shi, it is perfectly normal for her husband to have other women. As long as the legitimate son is provided to the first wife and enough respect is given to the first wife.
Don't be like the Crown Prince, who was so headsstrong that he did things like favoring concubines over his wife. In that case, they wouldn't care who the husband favored.
They are in a position where they enjoy the top tier of worldly wealth, spending their leisure time listening to music, playing cards, gardening, and hearing the gentle words of the Jiangnan beauties that their husbands have chosen to please them.
There are plenty of things to do to pass the time. She doesn't want to spend her days with an old man, after all!
Only young girls are concerned with romantic entanglements.
Guan Shi's son-in-laws are already at the age of marriage, not newlyweds. In her eyes, the husband is not important, but rather the offspring!
Marriage is something they must do, like eating when hungry and drinking when thirsty. The love songs in novels are just for listening.
More than being a husband and wife, they are like partners, companions for life.
That's why in Guan Shi's view, the Crown Prince having a woman around him is very normal, and this matter is not worth Su Jun's investment of energy.
Of course, there is another reason, which is that Guan Shi comes from a high-born family, and her marriage was a perfect match.
In such a family, there is a huge difference in status between concubines and the lawful wife, and it is impossible to elevate a concubine to be the wife. Therefore, Guan Shi would not have a sense of urgency about her position being threatened.
However, these thoughts are all in vain, as no one can enlighten Guan Shi.
*
Su Shaohuan has been staying up all night for the past few days, integrating various materials without showing any signs of fatigue. His spirits are high, reminiscent of when he first assisted in governing years ago, when a single mistake could lead to a catastrophic failure.
When Su Shaohuan first heard the news from his daughter, although he did not believe it, he still began to investigate the Crown Prince.
In the end, he came to the conclusion that the Crown Prince was dissatisfied with the Su family.
Upon learning that Qizhi also had feelings for Su Jun, he decided to take decisive action and started laying out plans.
Su Shaohuan chuckled and said, "It's not in vain that I strongly advocated for the emperor to make him a Prince of Qizhi. Now, it's even more convenient for me."
The Great Qi dynasty has been established for a hundred years, with various factions vying for power within its ranks. Without Su Shaohuan's covert support and full-scale planning, it would have been impossible for the Third Prince to be easily elevated to the position of Prince of Qizhi.
The ministers in the court are all clever people, their minds not filled with water. They would definitely worry that using the national title as a prince's title might shake the position of the heir apparent, leading to disputes over the throne in the future.
However, all these concerns were alleviated by Su Shaohuan.
Vice Manager Feng said, "Master was thinking of using the Third Prince to temper the Crown Prince. Over these two years, it seems that although the Crown Prince is dissatisfied with the Third Prince, he still maintains the demeanor of a potential heir apparent, able to keep his composure and make good use of the Third Prince."
