Shu Jian saw Dowager Consort Li walking slowly toward him, looking at him with loving eyes, her face showing distress as she sighed: “These past days, incidents have occurred one after another inside and outside the court, not one of them allowing Your Majesty peace of mind. Today is another great court session, which will surely last at least one or two hours. This old servant heard from your mother empress, that you haven’t been eating well recently, which also worries this old servant greatly. I’ve specially prepared some breakfast for Your Majesty—all the foods Your Majesty loved since childhood. The hour is still early; no need to rush. After Your Majesty finishes breakfast and the hundred officials arrive, it won’t be too late to go to Xuanzheng Hall.”

After she finished speaking, several attendants hurried in carrying gold-decorated food boxes, laying out the breakfast they had brought.

“Your Majesty, please go eat first!” Dowager Consort Li urged gently again.

Shu Jian acted as if he hadn’t heard, stepping forward to continue walking out. After only a few steps, a sharp voice came from behind: “Stop!”

Shu Jian halted and turned around to see that the dowager consort’s kind smile had vanished. She swept her gaze around, and the attendants who had come with her immediately withdrew, leaving only the imperial palace staff.

“You may also withdraw! This old servant has words to speak with His Majesty.”

Dowager Consort Li instructed Jia Xiu.

Jia Xiu looked toward the young emperor, who remained rigid-faced and silent. After a moment’s hesitation, he bowed and withdrew with his men.

In the sleeping quarters, only Shu Jian and Dowager Consort Li remained.

“What are you planning with the secret guard change outside the south palace gate last night?” Shu Jian asked immediately, his tone harsh.

Dowager Consort Li said: “This old servant sees Your Majesty seems unable to make up your mind. Now we’ve reached a critical juncture with a good opportunity—left with no choice, this old servant can only help Your Majesty decide.”

Shu Jian’s expression changed dramatically: “You plan to strike when he enters the palace?”

“Your Majesty! Even at this point, are you still nostalgic for old feelings and hesitating?”

Shu Jian paused.

“Previously, he disregarded Your Majesty’s wishes and forced Your Majesty to issue edicts for military deployment—this alone confirms his treasonous heart and warrants execution. Even dismemberment wouldn’t be enough to offset his crimes! When the Xiguan Pass incident occurred, heaven sent warnings, yet he showed no remorse and stubbornly persisted!”

“Using troops is one thing, but does our great Wei Dynasty truly have no one else useful besides the Jiang family alone? Gao He is a veteran general left by the late emperor for Your Majesty, loyal to Your Majesty, fully capable of driving away tigers and wolves for Your Majesty and pacifying the realm in the future. Yet he abandons such talent. For those years, he forced Gao He to use filial piety as an excuse, avoiding his influence to protect himself. Now, even with things as they are, he still disregards the entire court’s opposition, insisting on elevating a woman as supreme commander of the realm’s armies! Preposterous! Unheard of! What that woman means to him—does Your Majesty not know? Saying he’ll discuss this matter at today’s court session is him using this to pressure officials into taking his side!”

“If today he still maintained his former hypocritical facade to win over Your Majesty, it would be one thing if Your Majesty were deceived by him. But now, how he treats Your Majesty—does Your Majesty not see? Acting so perversely to this degree, where does he place Your Majesty? Has Your Majesty still not awakened even now?”

“If we don’t act now, once he eliminates all the loyal ministers the late emperor left for Your Majesty one by one, I fear Your Majesty will regret it too late!”

Shu Jian’s gaze fell on her face as he asked word by word: “Last year, when he was assassinated on his wedding night—looking at it now, that was also the Grand Dowager’s idea?”

Dowager Consort Li was not yet fifty years old, but due to being overweight and rarely moving, standing for this short time and speaking so much had tired her. She gasped several times and slowly sat down before saying, “It was this old servant’s arrangement. How hateful that it didn’t succeed then!”

She raised her arm and angrily struck the armrest of her seat several times, producing sharp “smack” sounds.

“If it had succeeded then, removing this beast early for Your Majesty, how could the realm and court have fallen into such chaos as today?”

Shu Jian glanced at the sky outside and walked forward again without a word. Dowager Consort Li suddenly stood up and shouted: “Has Your Majesty forgotten the late emperor’s final edict? The late emperor’s painstaking care is witnessed by heaven and earth—how dare Your Majesty disobey the imperial command!”

Her voice was extremely sharp, like an arrow piercing Shu Jian’s body from behind, nailing his feet to the ground.

He had reached the door of the sleeping quarters, but suddenly stopped, unable to move forward.

Dowager Consort Li pursued from behind: “Even if Your Majesty blames this old servant, I can only bear full responsibility. At this moment of survival or destruction, executing this beast is precisely the right time! Everything this old servant has done, including today’s arrangements, is all by the late emperor’s final command, for the sake of Great Wei’s territory and state, for Your Majesty’s future imperial enterprise!”

Shu Jian stood frozen in place for another moment, slightly raising his head to look at the pitch-black night sky in the direction of the palace’s south gate beyond the hall doors.

Suddenly, a drawn-out time announcement reached his ears.

This was the time reminder called by the palace timekeepers to remind the emperor to rise punctually on great court days. Starting from the fourth quarter of yin hour, this sound would ring out every quarter hour.

Shu Jian naturally knew clearly about Shu Shenhui’s travels this year.

He knew that when this time announcement sounded, his third imperial uncle should now be approaching the south palace gate.

If he let things take their course, when the next time announcement sounded, he would probably already be bleeding at the south gate, his corpse fallen to the ground…

Shu Jian shuddered and suddenly awakened.

He gritted his teeth and said word by word: “Even if action must be taken, it should be by my hand!” Having said this, he left Dowager Consort Li behind and rushed outside, only to find Lan Rong already standing at the foot of the steps, quickly ascending.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty must think thrice! Do not act impulsively! Minister Gao’s men have already laid their ambush—things have reached this point with no possibility of turning back! Even if Your Majesty calls a halt now, it’s impossible to hide this from him! How could he let it pass? We others are expendable—we’re merely protecting Your Majesty and following the late emperor’s final edict, accepting whatever fate befalls us! But Your Majesty absolutely cannot! After such an incident, he will surely hate Your Majesty to the bone—Your Majesty cannot put yourself in danger!”

“Stop him! Stop him!”

Dowager Consort Li also chased out in panic, but being overweight and gasping too urgently, she was finally forced to stop while supporting herself against the hall door, shrilly shouting at Lan Rong.

Shu Jian turned a deaf ear, pushing Lan Rong aside while continuing to run forward frantically, shouting Jia Xiu’s name.

Lan Rong was momentarily stunned.

His true understanding of Dowager Consort Li’s intentions began with Shu Shenhui’s request to marry Jiang Hanyuan early last year.

Dowager Consort Li had reached a secret consensus with him through the unknowing Dowager Empress Lan.

It was then he learned that this Dowager Grand Empress Dunyi, whom he had previously overlooked, was quite formidable—even Gao He, whom he had to respect upon meeting, was her person. She hated Shu Shenhui to the bone and was determined to eliminate him. Though Lan Rong didn’t know the details, he guessed it was connected to former palace favoritism struggles. However, regardless of the reason, this suited his purposes perfectly. Eliminating Shu Shenhui would bring him only benefits and no harm. Thus, he unhesitatingly joined this camp with a humble attitude.

The assassination attempt on Shu Shenhui’s wedding night outside his residence, Lan Rong, wasn’t the mastermind. He merely used his authority to secretly facilitate the assassins’ ambush. The actual executor was Gao He, who had already faded from public view.

That time Lan Rong had thought success was certain, but when it failed and he was summoned by Shu Shenhui for questioning that very night, he was terrified afterward and dared not act rashly again. He became reluctant to agree to Dowager Consort Li’s requests for assistance. Only when he learned at year’s end that Dowager Consort Li held the late emperor’s final edict did he finally understand completely why Gao He had such audacity.

This operation was also first proposed by Gao He.

This man had deep connections with Dowager Consort Li, having laid low all along but finally having opportunity to rise. On the surface he bore burdens patiently, constantly claiming to be a loyal minister supporting the young emperor, but what he was actually planning—how could Lan Rong not know?

He had a granddaughter of marriageable age, also aiming for the empress position. This was said to be the late emperor’s wish as well.

Lan Rong scoffed at this. Just another ambitious schemer using a woman’s influence to try to replace Shu Shenhui and monopolize power. However, these were future matters. Currently, their greatest common enemy is Shu Shenhui.

After repeated consideration, even the naturally cautious Lan Rong finally deemed this plan feasible.

Concealing it from the young emperor and acting first, then reporting later, potentially causing his displeasure—this was the greatest potential negative consequence.

But for himself, with Dowager Consort Li standing in front and the late emperor’s edict backing him, even if the young emperor truly blamed him afterward, he could completely seek the young emperor’s forgiveness by claiming he had no choice.

Most importantly, though the young emperor hadn’t openly turned against the Regent Prince, he must already be wary in his heart—this was certain.

Old fox Gao He dared to act this way because he saw through this point and believed that once Shu Shenhui was eliminated, the young emperor could be controlled by him in the future. Thus, this action plan was conceived and implemented.

Lan Rong had calculated everything, even how to deal with Dowager Consort Li and Gao He after success. The only thing he hadn’t calculated was that the young emperor’s reaction to this matter would be so extreme.

Terrified and pale-faced, he scrambled forward again, prostrating on the ground.

“Your Majesty! Absolutely not!”

He desperately hugged Shu Jian’s legs.

“Your Majesty! There’s no turning back once the bow is drawn! Things have reached this point—does Your Majesty think withdrawing the men would make everything return to normal? Even if Your Majesty is willing, he won’t let it pass and will fight to the death…”

At this moment, Jia Xiu rushed in with his men: “Your Majesty!”

“Jia Xiu, hear my command! Anyone who dares obstruct me shall be killed without mercy!”

Lan Rong saw the young emperor look down with fierce light in his eyes, glaring at him viciously. He was suddenly reminded of the scene from New Year’s Eve when he had nearly been stabbed to death by the emperor’s sword, shuddered, loosened his grip, and was kicked away.

Jia Xiu realized what was happening, saw the young emperor running frantically outside, and hurried to follow.

Dowager Consort Li was now supported by attendants and finally reached them, gasping heavily, her face ashen, the loose flesh on her cheeks trembling continuously: “Quickly! Quickly bring men and make sure to stop the emperor! This old servant takes responsibility! If this fails and lets him escape, the emperor might be safe, but all of you—not one should expect to fare well!”

Lan Rong knew the stakes involved, scrambled up from the ground in panic, chased out of the sleeping quarters, and followed toward the south gate.

From the imperial quarters to the palace’s south gate lay three palace walls with no fewer than ten checkpoints. Normally walking, even at quick pace taking the most direct central route, would require at least a quarter hour.

Jia Xiu shouted all along for the gates ahead to open quickly, guards swiftly complied, and Shu Jian ran frantically with unobstructed passage, reaching the outermost palace wall in one breath.

But just one step away from the south gate, his footsteps suddenly slowed.

Jia Xiu had already guessed what was happening at the south gate.

Though he was the young emperor’s man, and now The Regent Prince and the young emperor were secretly like fire and water, he held considerable respect for The Regent Prince and his wife in his heart. The current rumors always seemed somewhat unreal to him. Knowing the young emperor wanted to stop the imminent slaughter, he had secretly breathed a sigh of relief, wishing he could fly there, but discovering the young emperor had stopped here, he couldn’t help but be startled. He stopped and looked, seeing him supporting himself against the wall, gasping and red-eyed: “Immediately relay my command—whoever dares kill him, I will exterminate their nine generations!”

He paused, “You take men to escort him back to his residence and await my orders!”

His voice trembled severely, but each word was crystal clear.

Jia Xiu understood this meant house arrest.

His heart sank, but he immediately nodded: “By your command!”

He turned and continued rushing out with the guards.

After giving his orders, Shu Jian watched Jia Xiu’s group disappear from view, his legs gave way as if all strength had been drained from his body, unable even to stand.

He leaned against the palace wall and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.

“Your Majesty!”

Lan Rong caught up and, seeing this, couldn’t determine what had happened. Not daring to go out, he could only kneel nearby, hoping in his heart that Gao He’s side wouldn’t have problems.

Time passed moment by moment, and Shu Jian remained sitting on the palace road as if petrified. Nearby was the kneeling Lan Rong, and beyond him in the distance was a long line of palace attendants and guards who had followed and were also kneeling.

From the direction of the palace bell and drum tower came the slow sound of the sixth quarter of the yin hour.

Usually at this time, Shu Shenhui would have entered the south gate and be on his way to Wenlin Pavilion.

Moments later, Lan Rong saw Jia Xiu running back frantically. His heart couldn’t help racing, but he saw Jia Xiu rush breathlessly before the young emperor and report: “Your Majesty! The Regent Prince is nowhere to be found! He didn’t enter the palace from there!”

Shu Jian suddenly raised his head, stared blankly for a moment, then leaped up from the ground and ran outside.

He rushed out of the south gate.

The sky was still dark. The imperial road was empty—no one was there.

Dawn was breaking faintly, and the fifth watch was approaching.

The hundred officials entered through the south gate as usual, gradually gathering outside Xuanzheng Hall.

Today’s court session would certainly not be easy.

From the Worthy Prince Fang Qing down to the lowest-ranking ordinary officials, everyone dared not relax. While waiting to ascend to the hall, they were surprised to discover that the Regent Prince, who never missed sessions, had, for some reason, not yet arrived. Not only that, Minister of War Gao He and Lan Rong were also nowhere to be seen.

Everyone was inevitably surprised and discussed in low voices.

At this moment, the fifth watch’s official drums sounded, and from within the hall came a melodious and clear call to ascend.

The officials immediately fell silent, quickly formed ranks, and entered the great hall in order, surprised to see someone already inside.

That person stood quietly at the front of the great hall near the red steps.

The bright light within the hall cast a long black shadow at his feet.

It was The Regent Prince Shu Shenhui.

So he had already arrived.

Only for some unknown reason, today he had entered early alone and stood at his position.

After all officials took their places, Shu Shenhui looked toward the hall attendants as usual and said in a calm voice: “Please ask His Majesty to take his seat.”