Prince Zhao rushed forward, covering Tie Lin’s mouth forcefully and dragging him away.

His son had probably suffered too much shock and gone mad.

The Empress Dowager stared at Tie Ci with heavy eyes.

Tie Ci still stood behind Assistant Minister Xiao, saying lightly, “Assistant Minister, the great armies outside the city, the Ministry of Rites officials, the waiting common people—those who should disperse should disperse, those who should be recalled should be recalled. I’m merely returning home, yet so many people have mobilized to welcome me. It makes me uneasy.”

She stood too close, making Assistant Minister Xiao inevitably feel chilled, fearing that if she became dissatisfied, she might disregard everything and kill him first. He could only say, “Your Highness speaks correctly.”

Assistant Minister Xiao saw the murderous intent in his sister’s eyes, but Tie Ci’s words reminded him.

If all those great armies and preparations earlier hadn’t been able to stop Tie Ci, could the guards and imperial troops in the palace kill her now?

Would the palace guards and imperial troops, all supposedly loyal to the Xiao clan, be willing to help them kill the imperial heir in full view of everyone?

Tie Ci’s popularity had already reached its peak during this year. Within the imperial capital, don’t even think about killing her.

Things had come to this point. Each side should step back, maintain balance, and plan for gradual progress.

Obviously, the Empress Dowager wasn’t ignorant of this point either. After a while, she restrained her gloomy expression, beckoned to Tie Ci, and said kindly, “Ci’er, come let this Dowager look at you. It’s been almost a year since we’ve seen each other—I’ve missed you terribly.”

Everyone above and below the hall felt enormous admiration for the Empress Dowager’s acting skills at this moment.

Tie Ci smiled and brought Assistant Minister Xiao over with her, still keeping Assistant Minister Xiao between them as she perfunctorily bowed to the Empress Dowager, looking more like she was making Assistant Minister Xiao bow to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was obviously angered again, her chest rising and falling.

Tie Ci’s voice wasn’t loud, yet everyone above and below the plaza could hear: “I still have important matters to discuss with His Majesty and various ministers. The Empress Dowager is advanced in years and has long resided deep in the palace. Such tedious front court affairs shouldn’t trouble Your Majesty. Li Gui, escort the Empress Dowager back to the palace.”

The ministers with lowered heads twitched their eyebrows.

The Imperial Crown Princess was swift and decisive, striking while the iron was hot. Having gained the advantage, she pressed forward relentlessly to drive the Empress Dowager away.

If she drove her away today, it would be difficult for her to return behind the curtain in the future.

The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected her to actually order people away. She sat motionless, raising her head to stare at her.

The Empress Dowager had shown considerable aging in recent years, with many wrinkles, but the foundation of her natural beauty from youth remained. Her naturally fair skin, eyes with a somewhat triangular shape—but the kind of gorgeous, captivating triangle—eye corners slightly hooked upward, pupils black and large, naturally carrying three parts ruthlessness when looking at people.

Though she had cursed the old shrew as an old toad countless times in her heart, Tie Ci had to admit that when the old shrew dressed up, she still had the capital to bewitch people with her beauty.

She met her gaze without avoiding it, smiling, “What, let your lover come out and kill me? Then come on.”

This sentence was spoken quietly, audible only to her, the Xiao siblings, and that black robe.

Hearing the word “lover,” the Empress Dowager’s face changed dramatically, instinctively turning to look at the black robe.

Tie Ci also stared intently at the black robe. How would this rat who feared light and the sound of water, hiding from head to toe in robes, react to this statement?

No reaction.

But Tie Ci could feel that within that patch of black shadow, a pair of eyes was carefully examining her.

After a moment, a vague laugh seemed to emerge from within the wide black robe. The robe trembled, then receded cloudlike into the background.

This mysterious person had actually left without saying goodbye.

The Empress Dowager’s face changed dramatically. Not expecting her protector to suddenly abandon her, she looked up to see Tie Ci standing extremely close with a beaming smile.

She shivered and hurriedly stood up, saying, “In that case, I shall return to the palace.”

Li Gui said timely, “The Empress Dowager departs for the palace!”

Thus, the Empress Dowager’s hasty departure wouldn’t look like fleeing in panic.

But even so, in everyone’s eyes, the Empress Dowager had been forced back to Ciren Palace by a single sentence from Tie Ci.

The Imperial Crown Princess was domineering.

But Tie Ci didn’t even glance at her, saying casually, “The Blood Cavalry is outside the city. They’re a meritorious unit—send officials out to escort them in.”

An official cried out, “Your Highness, this is improper according to protocol…”

But his voice gradually faded under Tie Ci’s gaze.

“Protocol? What protocol? Are you the Minister of Rites?” Tie Ci said flatly. “Then let me ask you first—everything that happened today, was it proper? Was it reasonable?”

That official automatically fell silent, bowed, and retreated into the crowd.

With his sister and her protector gone, Assistant Minister Xiao immediately felt extremely unsafe. Not daring to stay in front of Tie Ci any longer, he hurriedly interjected, “The Blood Cavalry has distinguished military achievements, and escorting Your Highness all the way back to the capital is especially meritorious. Naturally they should be welcomed into the city and well entertained. Let them stay with the Capital Guards…”

He was about to say they should be arranged to stay in the Capital Guards’ barracks so the Capital Guards could watch them, but Tie Ci had already interjected, “Then let them stay with the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards. They’re all my people anyway.”

While speaking, Assistant Minister Xiao turned his body to escape Tie Ci’s shadow. While speaking, Tie Ci raised her palm, looked at it, wiped her palm on his back, and didn’t continue following him.

Assistant Minister Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, only now feeling the chill on his back. Then he suddenly realized the meaning of Tie Ci’s action just now, and his back stiffened.

He had broken into a sweat that had actually stained Tie Ci’s hand, and Tie Ci had casually wiped her hand clean on his back.

Extremely contemptuous, extremely disgusted, and in full view of everyone, clearly visible.

Seeing his fear, his cowardice, seeing him like a clown.

From now on, this scene would become his stain, his scandal, a permanent weakness for criticism, accompanying him for life and even being passed down through history for hundreds of years.

The Xiao family wasn’t afraid of being infamous for eternity, but they couldn’t become permanent cowards.

Across from him, Prime Minister Rong saw Assistant Minister Xiao instantly lose his spirit and vigor, even his waist becoming somewhat hunched.

A chill passed through his heart.

The Imperial Crown Princess’s actions seemed lenient and kind, but she never showed any mercy toward enemies.

She would use every means to strike down and eliminate opponents, pursuing them relentlessly, not stopping until they were kicked into the abyss.

Scanning the assembled ministers again, everyone showed expressions of awe.

Prime Minister Rong squinted, looking at the deepening twilight on the horizon, the sun about to set behind the western mountains.

But Tie Ci didn’t look at anyone. She turned around, facing the plaza.

Without needing to crack whips or shout commands, thousands of people above and below the plaza bowed their heads in unison.

Like wind sweeping across a calm sea, raising a wave of black tide, people’s shouts from deep in their chests filled with joy and admiration.

“Your Highness, long live, long live, long long live!”

“The Crown Prince is mighty, Heaven blesses Great Qian!”

At this moment the clouds parted and the sun shone bright, the sky cleared completely. Tie Ci stood in a ray of warm sunlight, clouds and sunset glow falling beside her temples like a crown, while the sunlight gilded her entire form like imperial robes, ten thousand rays of brilliant light all beneath her feet.

…

“Crash!” Everything on the table was swept to the floor.

Jade bottles and emerald cups rolled everywhere. Palace servants held their breath, bowed their heads, and retreated. No one dared pick anything up, and no one dared make a sound.

The Empress Dowager’s shrill voice echoed in the spacious palace chamber: “Why didn’t you help me kill her! Why!”

Li Gui stepped across the threshold, waved his hand, and the palace servants retreated as if granted amnesty. Li Gui walked last, carefully closing the door.

Dusk dragged the curtains into large patches of shadow. The black-robed figure stood within the shadows, almost impossible to spot at first glance, his voice also faint and ethereal: “She’ll die sooner or later anyway. Why should I waste energy now?”

The Empress Dowager said viciously, “Everyone will die sooner or later!”

The black-robed figure didn’t respond, but the Empress Dowager suddenly caught something, looking up in amazement: “What do you mean… you mean…”

The black-robed figure still didn’t answer her, only saying, “I’m injured and ill. To kill her now would consume too much energy. If I need to recuperate afterward, naturally I cannot continue accompanying you. If you don’t mind losing my protection and aren’t afraid she has other tricks, then I’ll go.”

The Empress Dowager hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, saying softly, “In that case, let’s spare her life for now. I can’t have you injured, otherwise I…”

The black-robed figure pulled away her hand, saying coldly, “Yes, if I’m injured, how can I wait for him?”

The Empress Dowager’s fingers, dyed with gold and red nail polish, trembled in the air, slowly withdrew, slowly clenched within her phoenix robe’s wide sleeves.

She heard her own gradually sinking, hollow voice echoing in the equally empty chamber: “Yes, we haven’t found him yet. Of course you can’t die, and you can’t be injured…”

…

The people in the plaza gradually dispersed. The Baize Guards scattered, soldiers from the Three Great Camps also formed ranks and left, leaving only the Capital Guards outside Meridian Gate to maintain order.

Soon, someone reported that the Blood Cavalry had entered the city, with common people offering food and drink, welcoming them along the streets.

However, after learning the Blood Cavalry’s numbers, many people looked strange. They had originally thought the appearing Blood Cavalry was an entire great army, but there were only three hundred cavalry. And wasn’t there supposed to be the Scorpion Camp too? Where was the Scorpion Camp?

Only Tie Ci knew the truth. She had returned first, while the main force was still slowly traveling with the decoy carriage. She had only brought back the most elite Crown Princess Nine Guards, while yesterday’s appearing Blood Cavalry should have been the advance troops sent by Di Yiwei to bolster her presence.

Above and below the plaza, only the court officials remained. Assistant Minister Xiao behind Tie Ci suddenly said heavily, “Since Your Highness has returned, you can accompany His Majesty in hearing government affairs. There should have been a court session today to discuss some major matters. Since it’s still early, would Your Highness be willing to spare some time?”

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and Cabinet ministers came forward carrying a memorial.

All had been screened by the Ceremonial Directorate and already marked in red by the Cabinet.

Tie Ci casually flipped through them and saw several impeachment memorials with various contents. Among them were impeachments of Zhu Yi for composing disrespectful poetry during the national mourning period, impeachments of He Zi for allegedly framing and falsely accusing the former Kings of Lu and Tang, complaints about moldy grain in Qingzhou granaries with Ministry of Revenue officials failing their inspection duties and suspected of taking bribes, accusations against Crown Princess Nine Guards Commander Xia Houchun of forcing civilian women and causing deaths, requests for the new headmaster candidate list for Yueli Academy, and even complaints about Central Military Commission Left Commander Qi Ling embezzling military salaries… A bewildering variety, from every angle and aspect, launching overwhelming accusations against all officials belonging to the “Crown Princess faction.”

Even Qi Ling, who had just revealed his position, was included. Qi Ling’s memorial had fresh ink—someone with quick hands had rushed it out just moments ago. But critically, the impeachment memorials actually contained evidence, and the Ceremonial Directorate had already stamped them while the Cabinet had marked them in red.

Xiao Liheng was demonstrating, showing his unparalleled power and control throughout the entire court.

These impeachments wouldn’t all be fabricated—there must be truth in them. For example, He Zi’s involvement in the Tang and Lu Kings’ case was real. Once all were launched, if not bringing down the entire Crown Princess faction, bringing down part of them would be no problem. The reason Xiao Liheng hadn’t brought them out from the beginning was probably that investigating these matters took time, and they thought that today’s grand court session would first dispose of the Imperial Crown Princess, after which dealing with these people however they wanted would be much easier.

Now that Tie Ci had crushed Tie Lin underfoot and suppressed the ambitions of other Tie clan members, she would inevitably rally these people to fully settle accounts with the Xiao clan. How could the Xiao clan sit and await death? Naturally they threw out their chips.

And the Rong clan naturally couldn’t allow the imperial family to easily settle accounts with the Xiao faction. At this time they would temporarily join hands with the Xiao family to prevent the imperial family from staging a comeback and losing their own control over government affairs and the Cabinet.

The Xiao family had lost Xiao Chang and his army, as well as the Yongping Navy—how could they let it go? The grand court session was only the first step in their counterattack.

But the Xiao family was equally wary of Tie Ci, worried that she and He Zi still had other dirt on the Xiao family, worried about mutual destruction with the imperial family allowing the Rong clan to take advantage.

At this moment the court finally formed a triangular situation, mutually constraining each other so no one could take another step.

Tie Ci knew that the Three Judicial Offices were still investigating the Xiao family’s old mansion dam collapse murder case and navy case. Now that she had won, these retaliatory memorials had become bargaining chips for negotiations with her.

She looked up at the sky and said, “Why is there black smoke rising from the rear palace?”

Xiao Liheng said without changing expression, “Ruixiang Hall caught fire for unknown reasons. Considerable time was delayed in firefighting.”

With this explanation, Tie Ci understood the origin of this fire. She nodded and said, “Since Ruixiang Hall caught fire, I must first assess the damage to my own home. Let’s postpone the court session. Ministers should return and rest first. Grand Academician Xiao, Grand Academician Rong, Grand Tutor, Minister Gu, Minister Zhang…” She named several important ministers—conveniently, the Crown Princess faction, Xiao clan, and Rong clan were all represented. “Come with me back to the palace to see how badly Ruixiang Hall was damaged.”

Now when she spoke, no one dared disobey. They all respectfully agreed.

As Qi Ling left, he deliberately circled past Tie Ci and winked at her.

Tie Ci: “…”

No, we’re not familiar—why are you acting cute with me?

An old man acting cute is terrifying, you know?

Qi Ling bowed to her again.

This was a normal gesture. Tie Ci returned the courtesy, smiling, “Thank you for your assistance, Commander Qi. Your son had merit regarding Western Rong affairs in Yongping earlier. I’ll request merit recognition for him shortly.”

Qi Ling chuckled quietly, “Thank you, Your Highness. This is our duty as ministers. After all, from now on we’re all one family.”

His last sentence was spoken very softly, and Tie Ci heard it vaguely: “…What?”

Qi Ling had already walked away with a mysterious smile.

Tie Ci: …I feel like something’s wrong somewhere?

As the crowd dispersed, Tie Yan, who had been sitting behind the crowd watching eagerly all along, couldn’t wait to stand up, but then hesitated somewhat.

The child was a bit darker and thinner, but looked very different from before, having gained some noble bearing that made people hesitant to approach. He suddenly felt he couldn’t call out “child,” and putting on imperial airs in front of the ministers seemed somewhat lacking in confidence.

But Tie Ci stood on tiptoe and spotted him at a glance, immediately grinning and waving, “Old Dad!”

She was improper, but Tie Yan immediately relaxed completely, smiling as he strode over. He was still preparing to maintain fatherly dignity for inspection when Tie Ci had already stepped forward and hugged Tie Yan, saying, “Father Emperor! Your waist has gotten slimmer! Did you miss me!”

Tie Yan couldn’t hold his composure any longer, patting her shoulder and laughing, “Child, no sense of propriety—all the ministers are watching!”

“Then let them envy our deep father-daughter bond!” Tie Ci chuckled and reached into her bosom to pull out a small box. “Father Emperor, a gift for you.”

“It’s enough that you’re back safely. What gifts do you need to bring?” Tie Yan took the box, half his face forcing seriousness while the other half couldn’t control his beaming smile. Thinking how his daughter had rushed all the way, breaking through countless barriers, yet in such tense and critical moments still remembered to bring him a gift, his eyes grew slightly moist. He struggled to control himself, gripping the box tightly.

The other ministers stood aside with various expressions. Everyone knew the imperial father and daughter had a good relationship, but they rarely saw palace daily life and were seeing for the first time how the Tie clan father and daughter actually interacted. Everyone couldn’t help feeling moved—such intimacy would be hard to find even in ordinary families, yet unexpectedly they witnessed it in the imperial family.

Some then recalled how Tie Yan, though weak, would still do his best to fight for his daughter, and how Tie Ci, though facing difficult paths, never gave up.

Thus they had always supported each other.

Tie Ci flicked the box, smiling as she urged her father, “Old Dad, take a look! It’s good stuff I scraped together from my master—deer antler, heavenly medicine, sea dog pills.”

“What thing…” Tie Yan immediately realized what this was, his face changing slightly. “You unprincipled thing!”

The deep father-daughter bond immediately vanished as the Emperor glared at the Crown Princess with raised eyebrows.

Tie Ci’s expression didn’t change. “Old Dad, you’re only just over forty, in the prime of life. Hurry up and give me a little brother so I can unload this burden early. It’ll save people from constantly jumping out to shout that women are unfit to inherit the throne. So annoying.”

“Little brother, what little brother? Even if you had a little brother born now, could he support the Crown Prince position! You’ve come this far, what nonsense are you thinking!”

“I’m still young. I’ll sit in the Crown Prince position for over ten years, helping support him. When he grows up, I’ll retire with accomplishments. Wouldn’t that be good?”

“Nonsense! Don’t say such things again!” Tie Yan stuffed the box into his sleeve, almost roughly interrupting Tie Ci’s words. “You finally reached today—don’t think such foolish thoughts! The Tie dynasty’s heir is you, and can only ever be you.”

He suddenly thought of something and probed, “Why are you saying this out of nowhere? Didn’t you always care greatly about the Crown Prince position? Didn’t you say crown princes who are deposed never have good endings? Now why… did something happen?”