The Front Palace Hall seemed to fall silent for an instant.

After a moment, Zhu Zhaowei made a sound of realization, as if remembering something remarkable: “This prince recalls that Circuit Inspector Su’s courtesy name seems to be ‘Shiyu’? Back then, when Thirteenth Brother jumped into Yunji River, it seemed to be to save you. Could this jade pendant be what Thirteenth Brother intended to give to the Circuit Inspector?”

Zhu Mixiao had just been quarreling furiously with Zhu Zhaowei, but upon hearing this, he said in surprise: “Ah, according to what Seventh Imperial Brother says, the reason Thirteenth Imperial Brother has not yet taken a wife could it be because…”

“Insolent!” Before he could finish, Zhu Minda shouted: “Thirteenth Brother delayed his own marriage to observe mourning for Mother Empress. His filial heart—how can you dare to suspect and insult him like this?”

The Imperial Noble Consort said indifferently: “You need not guess wildly. The Crown Princess naturally knows in her heart who that woman is.” Then she looked at Shen Jing and said: “You tell us.”

Shen Jing glanced at Zhu Nanxian hesitantly.

Zhu Minda concealed nothing from her, so she naturally knew that the jade pendant carved with the character “Rain” belonged to Su Jin, and knew even more that Su Jin was actually a woman.

But speaking the truth would be a capital offense. For now, the only plan was to think of an expedient measure.

So Shen Jing said: “It is Qi Ling, the fourth younger sister of Qi Wujiu, the Left Commander-in-Chief of the Central Military Commission. Her given name contains the character ‘Rain’. Although her family background is acceptable, she is of concubine birth, so this subject and the Crown Prince have never approved this marriage.”

The Imperial Noble Consort said: “Qi Wujiu’s fourth sister—this palace knows of this woman. Although of concubine birth, she possesses both talent and beauty, elegant in appearance and intelligent within. If you like her, Thirteenth Prince, this palace can adopt her as a goddaughter. In that way, she would barely suffice to be your secondary consort.”

Zhu Nanxian’s throat moved slightly and he was about to speak when the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy urgently entered the hall, prostrating himself on the ground: “Reporting to the Imperial Noble Consort and the Crown Prince, this humble subject—this humble subject found cake crumbs in the young prince’s undergarment, and they contain traces of oleander powder.”

Oleander was an extremely poisonous flower. Eating even a small amount could take a person’s life.

Zhu Minda’s expression suddenly became extremely cold.

Tenth Prince Zhu Yiheng asked: “How were cake crumbs found in the undergarment?”

Who knew that upon hearing this question, Zhu Minda’s brow became even more clouded with fury, and he did not answer. Shen Jing glanced at him and said with worry: “Usually, if someone close gives Lin’er something and he likes it, he will hide it in his clothes and keep it close to his body.”

Speaking of it, Zhu Lin had learned this habit by imitating Zhu Minda.

Zhu Minda and Shen Jing were childhood sweethearts. From his youth, if he received something Shen Jing had given him, he would keep it close to his body. Over time, this became a habit.

Shen Jing continued: “Although he cannot speak, he recognizes people very well. Once he has seen someone, he does not easily forget them. But only when someone close to him gives him something will he be willing to keep it like this.”

After saying this, Shen Jing’s eyes gradually turned cold. She looked at the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy kneeling in the hall and asked: “How is the young prince now?”

The Director said timidly: “In response to the Crown Princess, the young prince’s pulse is weak and floating, but still relatively stable. He should not have eaten much oleander powder, so his life is not in danger. But exactly how he is, we will only know after he awakens.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Jing turned to look at Zhu Lin’s wet nurse and said coldly: “Who gave Lin’er anything today?”

Who knew that upon this question, the wet nurse suddenly showed panic in her eyes and immediately knelt on the ground: “This servant—this servant begs the Crown Princess for punishment.”

Shen Jing’s elegant brows furrowed: “Was it you?”

“No—it was not this servant.” The wet nurse pressed her face to the ground, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind. After a moment, as if having made some cruel resolution, she bit her teeth and said: “In response to the Crown Princess, speaking of close people, after the young prince awoke, he only saw one person.”

Shen Jing said coldly: “Who?”

The wet nurse slowly turned her face and looked fearfully at Zhu Nanxian: “It was the Thirteenth Prince.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Jing immediately rebuked: “What nonsense are you speaking!”

But the wet nurse hastily began kowtowing and tearfully complained: “In response to the Crown Princess, everything this servant says is true. After the young prince awoke today, the sky outside looked like it would snow. Shuxiang feared His Highness would catch cold and returned to the Eastern Palace to fetch a small coat for him. At that time it was approximately the beginning of the hour of the rooster. Only this servant was accompanying him. The young prince, knowing that the Thirteenth Prince would come to see him, ran toward the entrance of the Front Palace Hall on his own and happened to see the Thirteenth Prince talking with a lord on Xuanyuan Platform.

“The young prince went over to find the Thirteenth Prince. Because there was a lord present, this servant followed the young prince over but then withdrew. Later, from a distance, this servant saw the Thirteenth Prince pick up the young prince and speak with him for a while. It also looked like he stuffed something into his hand, but this servant did not see clearly. Later, until the young prince returned, this servant and Shuxiang walked with him in the Front Palace Garden for only a few steps before he suffered the frightful illness.”

Upon hearing her finish, Zhu Nanxian frowned.

The beginning of the hour of the rooster, Xuanyuan Platform? Was that not precisely when Su Jin returned his dagger today?

When had he seen Zhu Lin?

Zhu Nanxian was about to speak when unexpectedly Shen Jing angrily rebuked: “Nonsense! Someone! Slap her mouth!”

However, at the same time, the Imperial Noble Consort was heard saying leisurely: “Wait—” She looked at Zhu Nanxian and continued, “Zhu Shisan, what are your intentions? You even want to kill your own nephew?”

After saying this, without waiting for Zhu Nanxian to explain, she immediately said loudly: “At the hour of the rooster today, who were all those guarding the main gate of the Front Palace Hall?”

Four Feathered Forest Guards entered from outside.

The Imperial Noble Consort said: “This palace asks you, after the young prince awoke today, did he ever leave the palace hall?”

The four Feathered Forest Guards all confirmed in unison. One of them even stepped forward and said: “In response to the Imperial Noble Consort, after the young prince left the palace hall, he went in the direction of Xuanyuan Platform.”

As these words fell, the entire hall was in an uproar.

After a moment, the Imperial Noble Consort was heard saying: “Zhu Shisan, you have such audacity! As imperial offspring, you plot to murder imperial offspring! Kneel and accept your crime!”

Zhu Nanxian slowly closed his eyes briefly, then said slowly: “This prince conducts himself uprightly and stands straight. Why should I kneel!”

Zhu Zhaowei laughed and said: “Thirteenth Brother, this prince thinks it would be better for you to kneel down first and explain clearly. Lin’er is the legitimate imperial grandson, and you are a legitimate prince. What thoughts you harbored in harming him—can people not see through it?”

These words were clearly throwing dirty water on Zhu Nanxian, yet Zhu Nanxian did not much care.

He raised his chin slightly, his gaze sweeping over the various princes, then suddenly curved the corner of his mouth in a smile: “This prince cannot explain this matter clearly, but this prince knows that among you, there is someone who can explain it clearly and plainly.”

Zhu Mixiao seemed greatly perplexed: “What does Thirteenth Imperial Brother mean by this? Could it be that the person who harmed Lin’er is among us? We are sons of concubines. To speak with great disrespect, even if the Crown Prince’s legitimate grandson were gone, the throne in the great hall would not fall to us. But Thirteenth Brother is different—you are Father Emperor’s most beloved legitimate prince.”

At this time, Ninth Prince Zhu Yutang said timidly: “Actually… it’s not difficult to investigate this matter clearly. Isn’t Thirteenth Brother at Xuanyuan Platform? Just summon today’s guards from Xuanyuan Platform and question them.”

Tenth Prince Zhu Yiheng said warmly: “Has Ninth Brother been away from the palace so long he has forgotten the palace rules? Today is an even-numbered day. Those on duty at Xuanyuan Platform are the Golden Guards.”

Third Prince Zhu Jiyou added: “Who doesn’t know that Left Commander Zuo Qian of the Golden Guards is Zhu Nanxian’s lackey.”

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Noble Consort narrowed her eyes and shouted: “Capital Guard!”

The soldiers on guard outside the Front Palace Hall burst through the door and knelt in unison: “Present!”

“The Thirteenth Prince murdered the imperial grandson! Seize him for this palace!”

“Yes!”

“Who dares!” Before the Capital Guard could step forward, Twelfth Prince Zhu Qiyue shouted angrily. He and Fourth Prince Zhu Yushen simultaneously stood behind Zhu Nanxian, one drawing a sword, one grasping a blade.

The three stood confronting the other princes. Though few in number, Zhu Yushen guarded the northern frontier, Zhu Nanxian commanded troops in the northwest, and Zhu Qiyue led forces in Lingnan—they were not the least bit inferior in presence.

The Capital Guard surrounded the three of them, but Zhu Nanxian did not much care. Instead, he adjusted the long blade at his waist and suddenly shouted loudly: “Golden Guard!”

In the deep, quiet snowy night, from somewhere came a response of “Present!” In the blink of an eye, several soldiers wearing phoenix-winged helmets and chain mail entered the hall in single file from outside and surrounded the Capital Guard.

The eunuchs and palace maids originally in the hall looked at the imperial sons and grandsons among the layers of soldiers. After a moment, they all bowed in the direction of Zhu Nanxian.

In the deep hall, swords were drawn and bows stretched taut. Everyone held their breath, as if a single sound would bring great calamity.

Yet outside these layers of soldiers, several court ministers stood silently.

From the moment he entered the hall, Shen Xi had felt something was wrong.

He knew deeply that the death of Beauty Li and the death of Qian Yu were merely pretexts. However, even with his intelligence, he could not fully penetrate today’s scheme.

It was like an ink landscape painting that had already been painted. Just now it was the Crown Prince, Seventh Prince, and Fourteenth Prince in a three-way standoff. In a flash, the winds and clouds changed. Looking again, it had become Thirteenth Prince confronting the Seventh Prince and Fourteenth Prince.

This ink landscape painting was precisely the chessboard in his heart.

And over a year ago, when he helped Zhu Nanxian establish his fiefdom, he should have anticipated today.

Indeed, Zhu Minda was the legitimate eldest son, the only candidate for crown prince. But Zhu Nanxian was also a legitimate prince. He had achieved political merit in Nanchang and won the people’s hearts. Most importantly, he had military authority, was skilled at leading troops, had the hearts of the northwest army, and all the military generals in the court obeyed him.

Imperial power was always survival of the fittest.

Now, he was no longer the Crown Prince’s younger brother who depended on the Eastern Palace as in days past.

The structure within the palace had already changed.

Shen Xi suddenly recalled Liu Chaoming’s words—I only fear that one day, someone will overturn the black and white in your heart.

He could not help but raise his eyes to look at Zhu Minda. He saw him with eyes slightly closed, his expression extremely severe, yet watching everything before him without saying a word.

Shen Xi’s heart sank. He made a decisive judgment and stepped forward.

Moving simultaneously with him were two others. The three came to the center of the hall and knelt.

“This subject, Left Censor-in-Chief Liu Chaoming.”

“This subject, Vice Minister of Revenue Shen Xi.”

“This subject, Vice Censor-in-Chief Su Jin.”

“We beseech the Crown Prince to discern the smallest detail and exercise full authority to decide this case.”