The affair of the First Prince was ultimately suppressed and dismissed as a farce.
Empress Empress claimed that she had failed to discipline her son properly and was no longer fit to be a model for the women of the realm; she requested to surrender her Empress seal and retire to a life of quiet devotion to Buddhism. Emperor Chen did not truly revoke the seal, but he did temporarily transfer the management of the inner palace to the Imperial Noble Consort while the Empress pursued her Buddhist studies. He severely reprimanded the First Prince and ordered him to be confined to his estate.
Su Mingyu, the mastermind behind it all, faced no punishment at all. Instead, she leisurely strolled through the West Market to enjoy bird-watching. Following this farce, those with keen instincts began to sense that the winds of change were blowing through the Capital.
Chapter 64