The princess regretted it.

Chapter 203 How to achieve great things?

The news that Concubine Zhang was demoted and Princess Jiaoyu was confined to her house spread quickly. None of the other concubines in the palace were unhappy. After all, when one person was demoted, an opportunity came.

Upon hearing the news, Concubine Cen couldn't help but drink an extra bowl of soup. Her face was filled with unconcealed delight, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "I never thought, Zhang Xinrou, you'd end up like this. This is retribution. It's not that I won't pay you back, it's just that the time hasn't come yet."

Concubine Chun was the last one to know about this in the harem, because Nanny Su had suppressed the news. She only wanted Concubine Chun to rest assured and take care of her pregnancy, and didn't want these harem disputes to disturb her state of mind. It was not until Jin An came to visit her and accidentally let it slip that Concubine Chun learned of this incident.

However, she didn't dwell on it. She simply raised an eyebrow, gently stroked her swollen belly, and thought calmly: Concubine Zhang's demotion is probably only temporary. After all, there's still the Zhang family. They won't let Concubine Zhang's demotion go unnoticed. The former imperial court and the harem are inextricably linked, and the Zhang family holds considerable influence within the court. They won't easily swallow this insult and will surely find a way to exonerate Concubine Zhang and Princess Jiaoyu and restore their former status.

Jin An looked at Concubine Chun's nonchalant expression and couldn't help but laugh and jokingly said, "Concubine Chun, you are really generous. Others are either happy or worried about this matter, but you are so calm, acting like nothing happened."

Concubine Chun glanced at Jin'an and said calmly, "That's not the case. I have more important things to do. I don't have the time to worry about them. As long as the little one in my belly is safe, that's better than anything else." As she spoke, she patted her belly gently, her face full of kindness and tenderness.

Jin An nodded, his eyes full of approval. He gave Concubine Chun a thumbs up and praised crisply, "Concubine Chun is insightful!" His look revealed a playful spirit, which made the slightly dull atmosphere a little brighter.

Concubine Chun looked at Jin'an with a frown, reached out and pulled Jin'an's hand down, pretending to be angry and said, "The princess always makes fun of me. I'm just too lazy to get involved in all the right and wrong. I'm not as serious as you say." As she spoke, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise slightly, and she was obviously amused by Jin'an's words.

The two chatted about the many trivial matters in the harem, sometimes laughing uncontrollably over some little anecdote, sometimes shaking their heads in frustration at the tediousness of some palace rules and etiquette, but they were quite relaxed and at ease.

Zhang Hengrui, a member of the Zhang family's Imperial Guard, was the first to learn of Concubine Zhang's demotion, as the Emperor had directly ordered him to rest. He was forbidden from interfering in matters related to the Imperial Guard's ban, as the Imperial Guard's General Gao Qian was responsible.

Zhang Hengrui didn't know the specifics of what had happened, and he had no way of finding out. He could only bring the news home. Upon hearing this, the Zhang family was struck by lightning and panicked. The once bustling Zhang Mansion was instantly shrouded in a cloud of gloom. The servants even walked lightly, fearing that something bad might happen.

After Shangshu Zhang discussed with Zhang Hengrui and his son, he sent someone to inquire about the news while he hurried to find the old Grand Tutor.

The two men hurried along, their faces solemn, neither of them in the mood to speak a word. Arriving outside the old Grand Tutor's study, Minister Zhang raised his hand and gently knocked on the door. "Father, I have something to ask you." Minister Zhang's voice was filled with a hint of urgency, his usual calm and composed demeanor long gone.

The old master's voice, slightly aged but still steady and powerful, came from inside the room: "Come in."

Minister Zhang and Zhang Hengrui looked at each other and hurriedly pushed the door open.

I saw the old tutor sitting behind the desk, holding a scroll, his brows slightly furrowed, obviously upset by the sudden news.

"Father, have you heard the news from the palace? What should we do?" Minister Zhang didn't bother to greet him and walked straight to the desk and asked anxiously.

The old master slowly put down the scroll, looked up at his son and grandson, his face gloomy, and nodded heavily: "Well, Hengrui didn't hear anything at all? Did you send anyone to find out what happened?"

Minister Zhang nodded quickly, "I've already arranged for someone to do that. I just don't know if they can find out yet."

Zhang Hengrui was also extremely anxious and couldn't help but interrupt, "Grandfather, the Emperor must have issued a gag order. We have to find a solution quickly. We can't just watch my sister and Jiaoyu suffer in the palace!"

The old master glared at him and scolded him, "Come on, if you are still so impatient when encountering things, how can you accomplish anything great?"

Zhang Hengrui shrank his neck after being scolded, not daring to say anything, but his eyes were still filled with anxiety.

Seeing this, Minister Zhang hurriedly advised, "Father, Hengrui is also anxious. Please don't blame him. We really need to quickly discuss a countermeasure."

The old Grand Tutor snorted coldly, lowered his eyes and thought for a while, a shrewdness flashed in his turbid eyes, "Now we don't know what the reason is, but according to the imperial decree, Ji'er has not been implicated. Find a way to contact Ji'er and see if he knows what happened. Only after we find out the reason can we think of a solution." His voice was low and majestic.