One word spoken and wind and thunder arose, one word spoken and ten thousand were shocked.

This was no longer “one word worth ten thousand gold,” but “one word worth ten thousand enemies.”

With a “bang,” an official who had always suffered from heart disease, unable to withstand the wave after wave of shocks in today’s golden hall, fell straight to the ground, becoming the first casualty of this silent battle.

Eunuchs immediately moved swiftly to drag the person out.

Xiao Jue had no time to concern himself with the unconscious man, nor with the officials’ expressions. At this moment his heart surged so violently he could barely maintain control. His fingers gripped the imperial desk tightly, his inner energy rushing uncontrollably to his fingertips, nearly gouging a hole in the hard sandalwood—was it possible? Could this be possible?

In recent days, there had been too many earth-shaking events.

Could it be that in the end, everything would return to its starting point?

The suspicion that had been growing in his heart lately, the suspicion he had been trying to find traces of—was it merely his own fantasy?

And his long-held obsession was the true reality?

This was originally a beautiful hope, so beautiful it was like a moon reflected in water or flowers in a mirror, so beautiful that he hadn’t dared face it these years, not even willing to hear her name mentioned—he didn’t want to give himself the chance to think deeply, he feared that thorough exploration would shatter his dreams completely. Until Ming Shuang appeared, giving him courage to seek the truth, only to be struck hard by the bloody reality.

If he hadn’t been so gravely wounded, how could he have attempted revenge? How could he have endured the heart-cutting pain to choose to suspect his frail younger brother, placing him in court to face others’ accusations and attacks like sharp swords and fierce blades?

But A’Chen spoke lightly, his expression so indifferent and contemptuous—he truly showed no fear.

A spark from dying embers rekindled into flame.

He stared intently at Xiao Chen, not even noticing that his voice had changed: “Prince Zhao, why do you say this?”

Xiao Chen’s eyes were filled with faint snowy thoughts, his voice also cool as snow pearls, making his pale cheeks seem like the desolate moonlight of a winter night. He actually didn’t answer Xiao Jue’s question, but turned his head to look at Qin Chang Ge with complex expression.

“What cunning schemes you have, so meticulous, so thorough… but ultimately you cannot prove my crime of assassination. You advance step by step, thinking you’ve cast an inescapable net? Unfortunately, I find you utterly absurd!”

Raising an eyebrow, cold light flashing then hiding, Qin Chang Ge had slightly furrowed her brow due to Xiao Chen’s words, but now she truly frowned.

What was Rong Xiaotian doing!

He actually hadn’t been able to watch the master?

Xiao Chen… was indeed a formidable figure…

She had no mood to pay attention to Xiao Chen and the ministers’ reactions, only lowering her head to anxiously consider countermeasures. Suddenly she felt the surroundings grow quiet with a strange silence of held breath, then commotion arose again.

The broad palace gates, deep beyond measure.

A woman came gracefully, treading on clouds.

A ray of morning sun slanted down, brilliant in color, yet not matching that person’s radiant beauty. Cloud-like hair, dancing snow in the wind, fragrant as carved jade, soaring like phoenix and dragon.

Her beauty was like rosy clouds reflected in a clear pond, her spirit like moonlight shooting across a cold river.

Her walking posture carried a beautiful and extraordinary rhythm, her moon-white dress like a pear blossom, bringing the noble and elegant spring colors that filled her sleeves. Each step brought red beauty and stacked jade, with hidden fragrance filling the entire hall.

She smiled faintly, serene in manner, her skin lustrous and smooth as if carved from jade, with the warm, milk-white soft texture of warm jade. Her gentle and refined bearing was like that of a graceful lady, yet those upturned dark eyebrows carried a spirit that soared to the clouds—clearly close at hand, yet making one feel she was far away in the clouds.

She looked at no one, only smiled down at the young child she held by the hand.

The child appeared three or four years old, wearing a small brocade robe of purple-blue, tied with a cherry-red hair ribbon. His dark hair was blacker than ink, adorable as jade and snow, his handsome little face with thick eyebrows and sharp features looked very familiar.

The sound of sharp intakes of breath throughout the court gathered into one piece, loud and massive, sounding like thunder.

To stand in the Golden Throne Hall required being an official of fourth rank or above. Most present had seen Empress Ruiyi, and the former empress’s appearance was so stunning that anyone who glimpsed her could never forget. Seeing this woman now, her features were identical, and everyone recognized her immediately.

That gentle yet distant, elegant yet disdainful unique charm had always been Ruiyi’s exclusive signature.

If this wasn’t Empress Ruiyi, who else could it be?

The child she held by the hand… Everyone looked at his little face, carefully examining his features, then involuntarily shifted their gazes to His Majesty’s face.

…The resemblance was striking.

Everyone was in uproar, immediately turning sympathetic gazes toward Qin Chang Ge.

This woman… was finished.

Another “bang” sound—Jiang Hua silently fainted, his head hitting the corner of the hall, producing a heavy echo.

The other witnesses kneeling below, except for Dong’s widow who was willing to suffer death by a thousand cuts and maintained a hateful, stern gaze at Prince Zhao, all trembled like sifted grain.

Qin Chang Ge pursed her lips and cursed silently.

Where had things gone wrong?

Prince Zhao’s concubine… what audacity you have.

A knockoff dares to enter the main hall!

Prince Zhao… you’re naturally suited to be a counterfeit manufacturer.

You even created a fake Baozi—if Baozi knew, he’d definitely kill you. He hated most when others imitated him.

…That day Prince Zhao had been like a startled bird, defeated by Qin Chang Ge’s ambush in Yunhua’s presence. When the mask was removed, it had caused Qin Chang Ge to curse loudly.

That was a living second Ruiyi.

Was it natural? Or artificially created? Except for Yunhua herself, no one could investigate. Thinking of Yunhua’s identity as a saint of Nanmin’s Colored Gu sect, and recalling Nanmin’s methods of using beautiful seductresses against Central Chuan in the past, Qin Chang Ge thought of a possibility that immediately made her feel sick enough to vomit.

If not for avoiding disrupting the bigger picture, Qin Chang Ge would definitely have a good exchange with Yunhua.

Before today’s petition, the always meticulous Qin Chang Ge had arranged early for Rong Xiaotian to lead subordinates to intercept Yunhua—no matter what, they couldn’t let this woman leave Prince Zhao’s mansion.

Unexpectedly, something had gone wrong somewhere, and this woman still appeared at the most crucial moment.

Qin Chang Ge decided that if she could escape today, she would definitely eliminate this woman in the future.

Kick you down, then wipe my embroidered shoes on your face…

…

Xiao Jue had long since frozen on the imperial throne, dazed and stiff, not knowing how to move.

She was still alive? They were still alive?

My wife, my child—they really didn’t die?

But why hadn’t she appeared in all these years, yet came at such a coincidental time recently?

His heart surged with waves, not knowing joy from sorrow. Images of the woman from the past alternated and flashed with the face looking up and smiling below the steps, constantly overlapping. In his trance, it seemed real yet illusory, yet neither real nor illusory. She was right before his eyes, still of peerless beauty, still elegant and noble… This moment seemed joyful yet doubtful, shocked yet stunned, like clouds and waves rolling in brightness and darkness, nearly losing his voice.

“Your Majesty…” He couldn’t speak, but the gracefully standing woman below the steps had already smiled and spoken: “Have you been well?”

She performed a light curtsy with the divine empress bearing that Ruiyi once had as mother to the empire, her manner graceful, her eyes flowing with movement, her style absolutely wonderful. “It has been long since our parting… this subject deeply misses Your Majesty.”

Those two words “misses” were held between her teeth, soft and alluring, embroidered like hibiscus blooming with a smile.

She smiled and gently took the young child’s hand: “Rong’er, come pay respects to your father emperor.”

The child very obediently stepped forward, bowing below the steps. His voice was clear and bright, and though young, he already showed extraordinary bearing: “Rong’er pays respects to Father Emperor!”

“…Rise…” After a long while, Xiao Jue found his voice again. Though his heart couldn’t hide his excitement, those who had long held high positions generally possessed some degree of composure. Combined with his remaining doubts, he knew deeply that he couldn’t acknowledge a son in court at this moment—if there were tricks involved, Xiliang’s national dignity would be shamed.

He pressed both hands on the dragon desk, using the cool, smooth touch of the red wood to calm his mind. After a long while, he slowly said: “You… why did you leave, and why do you return?”

“This subject left due to others’ scheming, and returns to resolve the schemes against my benefactor,” the false Ruiyi answered smoothly and fluently. “This involves palace secrets unsuitable for declaration in court, but this subject’s presence here is the best proof. Please restore Prince Zhao’s innocence and pursue the crime of deceiving the sovereign by those who set the trap!”

Xiao Jue carefully observed the false Ruiyi for a long while… Her expression, demeanor, features, behavior, and speech were all identical. Time seemed to show special favor to beautiful women—three years had not brought any change to her former self, instead preserving her most captivating charm completely intact. She stood gracefully before him, as vivid as ever. To insist she wasn’t Chang Ge would seem absurd and helpless.

Yet after that initial shock and excitement passed, why was there no joy in his heart now? None of that surge of inexplicable joy that would naturally arise whenever he saw her in the past, like waves crashing against the shore, making one passionate and excited?

He turned his gaze again toward Ming Shuang, who despite the complete reversal of the situation, showed no shock, only frowning as if deep in thought… How would she defend herself? In this extremely disadvantageous situation?

While he was still pondering, the false Ruiyi wouldn’t let Qin Chang Ge off, pressing step by step: “Your Majesty, this subject knows today’s appearance is too sudden to easily gain your trust, but with Rong’er present—he is truly the Crown Prince of Xiliang, your own flesh and blood. This subject boldly requests a blood recognition test.”

Qin Chang Ge’s heart jumped.

Having lived through the modern era, she naturally knew the unscientific nature of blood recognition, but in this backward age, it was a powerful and unshakeable method of establishing kinship.

With Yunhua’s background in Nanmin’s evil sect skilled in poisons and curses, creating some trickery during the blood test would be absurdly simple.

Even from modern medical perspective, Type A and Type B blood were easily compatible. Xiao Jue’s distinct, sharp personality seemed like Type A characteristics—even by coincidence, it was possible to produce a bunch of sons.

This woman was truly vicious. Once the son was acknowledged, how could the mother not be acknowledged? Especially when this mother was cloned even more authentically than the original.

Qin Chang Ge sighed silently… when she saw the irreversible turn of events, Xiao Jue nodded, and eunuchs brought out golden bowls and jade vessels with clear water.

Watching again as the ministers stretched their necks and widened their eyes, observing in the golden hall as that child and Xiao Jue each squeezed a drop of blood into the jade bowl of clear water. Everyone held their breath waiting, faintly able to hear heartbeats like drums.

This moment stretched unbearably long.

Those two drops of blood wandered in the clear water, as if sensing and calling to each other, flowing freely toward one another.

Finally, slowly yet as everyone expected, they merged together.

Qin Chang Ge watched Xiao Jue’s expression of excitement and joy that he could no longer hide.

A mournful sigh almost burst from her lips.

Building a mountain nine-tenths complete, only to fail at the final step…

Now the situation had suddenly reversed beyond her ability to react, reaching a point difficult to overturn.

What could she do now?

Expose the false Ruiyi’s identity and defend herself with the Colored Gu sect, whose face was almost unknown and extremely mysterious, without any evidence?

Even if she were incredibly lucky and His Majesty believed her, how could she overturn that face? …Yunhua’s face had enormous destructive power. Even if Qin Chang Ge told Xiao Jue now: “Damn it, this girl is a Nanmin knockoff. I’m the Xiliang version of Ruiyi,” it probably wouldn’t be as persuasive as her simply displaying that face.

…Methods weren’t entirely absent. After all, having truly been husband and wife with Xiao Jue, their intimate past moments were known only to heaven, earth, him, and her. Mentioning any incident casually would be enough to make Xiao Jue excitedly rush over to acknowledge his wife.

Or she could scheme to make Yunhua reveal her own flaws—for Qin Chang Ge, who could easily employ conspiracies and tricks, this wasn’t a problem. But what about that fake crown prince? Xiao Jue had probably already accepted him in his heart. After all, in this era, blood that could merge was almost equivalent to ironclad proof of true parentage, irreversible. Moreover, this child who had disappeared when only one year old had never had the chance to display any personal characteristics before Xiao Jue and the world. To overturn a fake crown prince after blood recognition had established the bloodline—at least for now, there really was no good method.

Of course, if Xiao Jue acknowledged her as his wife, the other party’s son would naturally be fake.

But… acknowledge his wife?

Here?

Qin Chang Ge had never wanted to reveal her identity too early, much less reveal it in court before the world. If Xiao Jue acknowledged her today, by tomorrow the entire Inner Continent would know.

“This case will surely shock the world, and all nations will certainly watch how our sovereign responds—this woman’s behavior is shameless and extremely vicious. She actually dares to appear in court in common white clothes to frame a prince. Her conduct is outrageous. If such villains aren’t eliminated, how can we face the world, the subjects, our meritorious vassal states, and the pillars of our Xiliang nation!”

“Prince Zhao is the Great Wall of our nation—how can he be insulted by petty villains in the golden hall! Please execute these rebels who know neither moral order nor heavenly principles!”

“This minister seconds the motion!”

“This minister seconds the motion!”

“This minister seconds the motion!”

…

At this moment the crowd was indignant and united, showing unprecedented enthusiasm and solidarity.

They were also all very clever, not mentioning a word that: this woman’s actions were so thorough that there must be related forces behind her that still needed investigation.

What a joke! These seasoned veterans of political waters—who couldn’t see that Prince Zhao now hated this woman to the bone, wishing only for her immediate death in the court? How would they allow slow investigation, giving the other party time to react and cause complications? Naturally they were happy to comply, tacitly understanding, with a chorus of calls for execution.

With a slight cold smile, Qin Chang Ge closed her eyes and remained silent—if she truly couldn’t speak, she’d have to fight to mutual destruction.

Taking a deep breath, how could Xiao Jue be a fool? His heart was like a bright mirror, reflecting all the flying dust. Since he already knew the ministers’ thoughts, how could he let them lead him by the nose? With one sweep of his gaze, the ministers immediately fell silent.

In the stern silence, Xiao Jue’s voice echoed in the hall that despite housing nearly a hundred people still felt spacious and open, sounding particularly clear and cold: “Such a major case that leaves people speechless with shock—I naturally must provide an explanation. Not only must I provide an explanation, I cannot provide a hasty one. How could one weak woman independently collect so much testimony and find so many witnesses? There must be someone behind her pulling the strings. This person’s treacherous heart actually dares to try to harm my imperial family! Though I truly pity living beings, I should not show any mercy to such extremely vicious villains. I will not hesitate to create another great prison! Anyone who deceives the sovereign and conceals crimes shall find no forgiveness! The three-foot ice blade is set precisely for you! Come—”

He leaned forward toward the guards kneeling to receive orders, his eyes deep and cold: “Hand her to the Ministry of Justice for trial. Thoroughly investigate this woman’s identity and background, and whether there are any related masterminds behind her. Report to me promptly!”

Without allowing anyone to react further, he rose and took the “son’s” hand, speaking warmly to the false Ruiyi: “After such a long separation, I have countless things I want to say to you. I don’t know how you’ve been living these recent years. Changle Palace was destroyed—let me take you to see Fengyi Palace.”

With a flash in her eyes, Qin Chang Ge breathed slightly easier.

Xiao Jue… was no longer the Xiao Jue of the past.

He was going to interrogate Yunhua—he hadn’t completely believed, at least not Yunhua.

Qin Chang Ge smiled coldly and silently—fake empress, fake empress, how will you have a heart-to-heart talk with Emperor Xiao about the past?

Over there, Yunhua curtsied gracefully with normal expression, smiling lightly: “This subject also yearns to talk with Your Majesty through the night, trimming candles in the long night, under moon-shifted flower shadows, speaking of thoughts after long separation and reunion—wondering what night this might be.”

Though her tone was clearly open and involved nothing of private feelings, somehow it sounded full of lingering affection that stirred the heart. Those two “night” characters, that phrase “wondering what night this might be”—each word carried a slight rising intonation, like crimson tender flower petals floating into the heart, making one’s heart itch unbearably. Every frown and smile carried infinite charm.

Xiao Jue’s gesture slowed slightly. Originally not intending to touch her hand, he suddenly reached out and gently took her hand.

Qin Chang Ge’s heart shook… seduction arts… she had used seduction arts…

This woman was truly skilled… hidden and subtle, seemingly formless, yet able to weave seductive techniques imperceptibly into conversational speech!

Qin Chang Ge inhaled… hiss… she shouldn’t have originally thought to keep her alive to investigate the relationship between Nanmin’s Colored Gu sect and Xiao Chen… she should have killed her directly…

As their fingers intertwined and they smiled at each other, Xiao Jue’s face full of joy, just as he was about to step forward, Yunhua suddenly made a soft sound, her face pale as she fell softly like a broken lotus or falling plum in the wind!

The child immediately flew to her side, his tender child’s voice filled with anxiety and tears: “Mother Empress… Mother Empress… your illness has flared up again…”

Amid the commotion, Xiao Jue’s face was full of anxiety. He first pressed her philtrum then channeled his inner energy, but the beauty in his arms didn’t move at all. Xiao Jue suddenly raised his head angrily: “What’s happening? What’s wrong with her?”

“Mother has injuries… they never healed…” the fake crown prince sobbed pitifully, crying very sadly: “…Uncle Prince knows…”

“Your Majesty,” Xiao Chen timely stepped forward, saying solemnly: “Actually, if not for the empress being harmed by others, and this subject having no choice but to remain silent, she would have reunited with Your Majesty long ago. Today she probably heard that this subject was in danger and rushed here despite her phoenix health… This matter is a long story, but saving her is urgent. Please allow this subject to report later. But this subject must remind Your Majesty—this subject feels that today’s serious charges against me are completely related to the empress being harmed. These people press step by step, actually no longer allowing Your Majesty and the empress to reunite or brothers to be harmonious.”

“Come!” Xiao Jue suddenly raised his head, his face full of killing intent, saying fearfully: “Immediately throw all these people into Heaven’s Prison. Within three days, the Ministry of Justice must pursue the remaining evildoers of this case. Including all who came to court today to make false accusations and provide evidence—after three days, execute them all!”

!!!

Good, good, what a vicious move!

Qin Chang Ge truly admired them this time.

This was called removing the firewood from under the pot—fainted and injured, what was there left to discuss?

With the fake empress severely ill and unconscious, the fake son crying all day, and the real emperor frantically worried and pained, would he still remember to calmly consider whether there were other inside stories?

Three days? No need for three days. Everyone knew that long nights brought many dreams. Xiao Chen was using this opportunity of “the empress being too severely injured to speak” that he had finally managed to create to temporarily avoid facing Xiao Jue’s questioning and investigation, just to make time to act against her.

If Prince Zhao didn’t make a move against this poor overthrown person tonight, she’d take his surname!

Qin Chang Ge smiled helplessly, listening to the clear clanking of shackles and watching the iron-faced guards walking toward her.

While the Golden Throne Hall saw life-and-death struggles with murderous intent surging like clouds, the coffin shop father and son sat facing each other, discussing heaven and earth in harmony and joy.

The winter breeze blew so gently, and Baozi’s words were truly earth-shaking.

“Let me tell you,” Baozi sat on Chu Feihuan’s lap, with a backdrop of uniform black cloud-wood large coffins behind him, his expression solemn like a teacher instructing students: “You should never trust my mother too much at any time. She’s really terrible—if she doesn’t mess with people for one day, she’s as uncomfortable as if she hadn’t bathed for ten days… Foster father, do you like her? Oh, I feel so sorry for you! Oh, you’re so unlucky!”

Glancing lightly at this “filial” son who desperately spoke ill of his own mother, Chu Feihuan said: “I’ll faithfully relay your sympathy to your mother.”

Having spent so much time with Baozi, he had learned that in front of this thick-skinned and black-hearted little fellow, you absolutely couldn’t be too thin-skinned. He definitely wouldn’t develop a conscience to protect your thin skin just because you were thin-skinned—he would definitely bring up whatever shouldn’t be mentioned, determined to force your face to burn until it turned to ashes.

With him, one should use Qin Chang Ge’s consistent method: tooth for tooth, poison against poison, never defend, always counterattack.

“Don’t…” Baozi immediately deflated: “Children who tattle aren’t good children…”

Finding no advantage, Baozi decided to change topics. His eyes rolled as he chattered and grabbed onto Chu Feihuan to continue his verbose discourse—he was doing it on purpose, not wanting to let him sleep. Who told him that besides Mother, only Foster Father was willing to listen carefully to his talk? Running out of new topics to scrape from his mind, he simply began reminiscing about the past—of course, for the four-year-old Crown Prince Xiao, the so-called past was just when he first met Qin Chang Ge, half a year ago.

“…That first time I met you, we didn’t know you yet. That sissy prince was killing people, and I asked my mother why she didn’t save them. My mother told me it was because we didn’t have the ability to save them. She also said that if she ever faced danger and I couldn’t save her, I wasn’t allowed to try…”

Chu Feihuan raised an eyebrow, quietly watching him.

This was Qin Chang Ge’s style, but Crown Prince Xiao, would you really be so obedient?

If you were really so obedient, I’d have to reassess you…

“Later I thought carefully about those words,” Xiao Baozi spread his hands: “Women just have no vision—look what she said!”

???

“If I saw my own mother in trouble and didn’t save her, would I still be a man?” Baozi grew more indignant as he spoke: “She was insulting my dignity as a man!”

Qi Fan, who had been listening nearby, rolled his eyes at the heavens. Crown Prince, it seems like, probably, maybe, you really can’t be considered a man yet?

“Qi Fan!”

A loud shout suddenly broke through Qi Fan’s internal complaints.

Looking up, Chu Feihuan felt his heart tighten inexplicably.

The door was pushed open with a “bang” as Rong Xiaotian charged in, his face full of anger, pale and fierce, his left arm bloody, hissing: “Someone schemed… most of my people are dead… couldn’t stop them…”

Everyone familiar in the courtyard shot to their feet.

Qi Fan stood up too quickly, overturning his stool with a “bang.” He naturally knew what “couldn’t stop them” meant. Thinking of the serious consequences that the fake empress’s appearance might cause, cold sweat densely seeped from his forehead.

“What happened! How could this be?”

“No time to explain!” Rong Xiaotian stamped his foot: “Save her first!”

“Save her! How do we save her?” Qi Fan angrily said: “You think the Golden Throne Hall is a coffin shop where you can just come and go!”

Setting the fallen stool upright, he sat down dejectedly, supporting his forehead with his palm, murmuring: “One wrong move and the whole game is lost… we’ve already made one mistake, we can’t make another. We must come up with a comprehensive plan before we can save anyone, because we have no more chances!”

Chu Feihuan kept one hand on his chest, gazing distantly toward the palace city direction, seeming deaf to their conversation. After a moment, he slowly lowered his gaze, gently resting it on the bewildered Xiao Rong, saying:

“Now is the time for you to fulfill the promise you just made… Rong’er, your mother is in danger.”

“What?” Xiao Baozi was shocked, turning to look at everyone’s grave expressions, then suddenly flying into a rage, kicking over his own small stool.

“My mother—I can bully her, but others cannot!”