In the face of Yu Qian's solemn and heavy expression, Yu Su appeared completely composed. Yu Qian gritted his teeth secretly. His uncle had returned at this very moment. It seemed that years of separation had not lessened Yue Chen's status in his heart. Otherwise, why would he have rushed back from the northern border less than a month after the incident at the Yue Mansion? Yu Qian had deliberately concealed this matter and leaked no news.

　　However, there were still his spies lurking in the vast capital city. After getting the news, he sent Yun Lian to the cold palace to provoke Yue Chen, hoping that she would die in remorse. In this way, even if Yu Su returned to the capital, he could only see Yue Chen's funeral. Even if he had great resentment, there would be nothing he could do. But that woman suddenly woke up, disrupting all his plans. The imperial edict to depose the empress placed on the imperial desk was in a dilemma: it was neither suitable to announce nor to withhold.

　　This banquet was held to welcome Yu Su back to the court. The late emperor didn't have many brothers, and by this year, only Yu Su, this uncle, remained. Some court officials had wanted to come over to offer Yu Su a toast and say a few words, but seeing the strange atmosphere between the emperor and the prince regent, they could only hold back.

　　"Uncle, you haven't been back to the capital for a long time. Since you've returned so abruptly this time, you should stay in the capital for a few more days to enjoy the beautiful scenery here," Yu Qian said.

　　Yu Su nodded. "The scenery in the capital is no longer what it was in my time. I'm not interested in things that have changed. I returned to the capital this time only for an old acquaintance." He picked up the wine vessel on the table and shook it in his hand. "I heard that Empress Yue has been sent to the cold palace by Your Majesty. I wonder when she will be able to move back to Changle Palace. It's really a pity. I still wanted to have a chat with my old acquaintance."

　　Yu Qian frowned. He still referred to her as the empress. Everyone in the capital knew that the Yue family had committed the crime of treason and had been executed along with their entire clan. The only reason Yue Chen was still alive was that she still held the title of empress. All that was needed was an imperial edict to depose her. By addressing her like this, Yu Su clearly intended to preserve Yue Chen's position as empress.

　　"The Prince Regent, being away from the capital, may not know that the Yue family committed the heinous crime of treason and was beheaded for public display half a month ago. The empress, being from the Yue Mansion, is the offspring of traitors. Her position as empress should be abolished as a warning to others," the Minister of Rites said at this time. He was promoted by Yu Qian, and his statement was likely at Yu Qian's behest.

　　"If the empress is the offspring of traitors, then the emperor should also be implicated. After all, husband and wife are one. It seems that the Minister of Rites hasn't fully understood the principles of etiquette," Yu Su said softly, but his words made everyone present change their expressions.

　　"What the Prince Regent said is wrong. Although the emperor and the empress are husband and wife, they are also monarch and subject, and the relationship of monarch - subject comes before that of husband and wife. The empress's maternal clan committed treason. Even if the empress, deep in the palace, didn't know the truth, she should still be punished with the same crime as her father and should die to show her loyalty," the Marquis of Qi stood up and said righteously.

　　"Oh, since when has the Marquis of Qi become so righteous? Three years ago, the Marquis of Qi's son, relying on his family's power, bullied men and women, ran amok in Shiyuan Village. In order to seize fertile land, he disregarded the law and beat the owner of the land to death. The family of the deceased reported the case to the local government, but it was suppressed. However, at that time, it happened to be seen by a young master of the Yue family, who spread the news back to the capital. I remember that this matter got bigger and bigger. The Marquis of Qi's son had long - standing grievances, which led to a ten - thousand - person blood - letter petition. The late emperor sent the Minister of Justice to retry the case and severely punished the offender." Yu Su spoke casually, while the Marquis of Qi was sweating. "But I don't know why. I actually met your son in Mingyue Tower the other day. When did the Marquis of Qi's son master the art of coming back to life? It seems that I will have to pay a visit to your mansion soon. Such an art is rare. If used on the battlefield, it could save the lives of many soldiers. Your son will surely achieve extraordinary feats, and there should be a celebration throughout the country."

　　The Marquis of Qi remained silent, wishing he could turn back time and had never spoken.

　　The court officials present immediately understood that the Prince Regent had clearly shown his attitude of protecting Empress Yue. Whoever dared to say more would end up like the Marquis of Qi. After being an official for so many years, who could claim that they had never done anything unseemly? The Prince Regent had come prepared this time. No one knew how many hidden secrets of others he held in his hands.

　　Moreover, the matter of the Marquis of Qi's son was related to the young master of the Yue family. On the surface, the Yue family had committed the crime of collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country, but some of the court officials present knew the inside story. The Prince Regent openly brought up this matter, which was hard not to make people associate. After all, if it hadn't been for the involvement of the young master of the Yue family in the matter of seizing fertile land, it wouldn't have become so serious. The Marquis of Qi had spent a great deal of effort to barely save his son's life, and his son had been left disabled ever since. With the downfall of the family's legitimate son, the Marquis of Qi naturally hated the Yue family to the bone. It was hard to say that the Marquis of Qi had no part in the disaster that befell the Yue Mansion this time. The feud between the Marquis of Qi and the Yue Mansion was well - known in the capital.

　　That young master of the Qi family really should have stayed in the mansion properly or been sent out of the capital directly after barely surviving under the emperor's nose. After all, he was supposed to be a dead man now. Why was he still in the capital? This just allowed the Prince Regent to see him and become a weakness to hold against the Marquis of Qi. Presumably, the most troubled one should be the emperor. He had just managed to remove the empress's maternal clan's power, and before he could even enjoy it for two days, a more powerful backer had returned from the northern border.

　　The court officials naturally understood that the Prince Regent must have learned about the situation in the capital and came back on his own initiative. But no one dared to ask straightforwardly, as the title of "Prince Regent" was enough to show the power Yu Su held now. He was an uncle with more real power than the emperor, and he and Yu Qian were bound to be incompatible. One day, the two tigers would surely have a battle. They just didn't know why the person the Prince Regent chose was Yue Chen, the former empress who had once been in the limelight but was now in a sorry state.

　　Yue Chen was Yu Qian's empress. At that time, she was deeply in love with Yu Qian and was willing to betray her family to marry him, who was not favored at that time. Yu Qian was the fourth prince who was not taken seriously. In terms of seniority, legitimacy, or virtue, the throne should not have fallen to him. But somehow, the legitimate daughter of the Yue Mansion at that time seemed to be possessed, and she was whole - heartedly devoted to Yu Qian. She even resorted to self - harm to force the Yue Mansion to help Yu Qian seize the throne. The reason for her current situation was partly due to her own poor judgment in choosing people. It was just a pity that the Yue Mansion was buried with her. But they had never known that Empress Yue was also involved with the Prince Regent, Yu Su. Yu Su's sudden return to the capital instead made everyone aware of Yue Chen's status in his heart.

　　It was said that their Prince Regent was nearly twenty - five years old, had neither married nor taken concubines, nor even had a concubine's chamber. He had always been clean - living and had no interest in personal affairs. Holding real power, he was adored by all the boudoir ladies in the capital. Based on the absurd things Empress Yue had done when she was young, no matter how one guessed, it was hard to connect her with Yu Su.