“So, the Empress has been using you from beginning to end! Yet for such a woman… who calculated your entire Fu family’s lives into her schemes, you disregard even Old Madam Dong, who sacrificed her life to clean up your mess! Such a filial son’s life… truly makes me look at you with new eyes.”

In this spacious, damp, and cold cell, Bai Qingyan’s tone never had much variation throughout her speech.

After finishing her words, Bai Qingyan asked again: “This is the last time I’ll ask you. The lives of the entire Fu family rest on your words… In the letter the Empress sent to Anping Military Camp to coerce you, did she claim that His Majesty’s days were numbered? Are you willing to tell the truth?”

“You suspect… His Majesty’s fall from his horse was the Empress’s doing?” Fu Ruoxi’s voice was choked and hoarse.

Bai Qingyan let out a cold laugh, stood up, and patted the straw off her legs: “I thought you would ask if I could preserve the entire Fu family. I didn’t expect your heart to be still with the Empress! Forget it… Today I came here out of pity for Old Madam Fu, considering it a wasted trip.”

With that, Bai Qingyan turned and walked out. Fu Ruoxi anxiously crawled forward on his knees, nearly tripping over the iron chains binding his feet. Supporting himself with one arm, he cried out loudly: “Yes! In the letter, the Empress… claimed His Majesty’s days were numbered, telling me to quickly bring Anping Military Camp back to the capital and support Prince Xin’s ascension!”

In the adjacent cell, Lu Jin turned to look at the Grand Court of Justice clerk kneeling before the desk and lamp… frantically writing down Fu Ruoxi’s words. Seeing him record every word Fu Ruoxi said on bamboo slips without omission, he nodded and looked toward Quan Yu.

Quan Yu’s fists were tightly clenched, already utterly admiring Bai Qingyan.

Once Fu Ruoxi opened his mouth, the subsequent interrogation would be much easier.

Bai Qingyan nodded. The doubts that had lingered in her heart since today at the Dong residence were now resolved.

The Empress knew in advance that the Emperor’s days were numbered, so this time… when the Emperor pretended to fall from his horse, the Empress must have interfered, turning the fake fall into a real one.

The Emperor’s fall summoned the Crown Prince back to the capital, using filial duty to force the Crown Prince to agree to build the Nine Star Platform – that idea should have come from Prince Liang.

Prince Liang was most skilled at reading the Emperor’s mind. In his previous life, apart from seeking revenge against the Bai family, he had also read the Emperor’s thoughts, which is why he imitated his grandfather’s handwriting to frame the Bai family for treason. This matter was exactly like Prince Liang’s style!

Bai Qingyan had only been seventy percent certain that this matter might have been Prince Liang’s counsel to the Emperor, but now she was completely sure.

After Prince Liang advised the Emperor, he joined forces with the Empress… inciting the Empress to go along with the plan, making the Emperor truly fall and lose consciousness.

Prince Liang set up the scheme, the Crown Prince was advised by Old Fang to hold back, then suddenly sent to Dengzhou by the Emperor. When Prince Liang saw that the Crown Prince hadn’t clashed with Prince Xin and the Empress, he was naturally anxious and restless. He had to create some disturbance to force the Empress and Crown Prince into conflict.

This time, if the Empress had truly mobilized Fu Ruoxi, one being a deposed legitimate son, the other the heir established by the Emperor, their mutual struggle would result in both sides suffering losses. Prince Liang could then rely on his father-in-law, Prince Xian, to raise troops and securely occupy the position he desired.

A risky maneuver, but Prince Liang’s move could keep him away from danger to the greatest extent while gaining the most benefit.

For the throne, Prince Liang didn’t hesitate to throw the Jin Kingdom into chaos.

Even… Prince Liang wanted to cooperate with enemy princes.

It seemed Prince Liang was determined to obtain the Jin Kingdom’s throne.

Bai Qingyan suddenly remembered Liu Ruofu’s earlier words… “You think you can be smug for much longer?” and suddenly understood…

No wonder Prince Xian was willing to marry Liu Ruofu to Prince Liang. He planned to muddy the waters of the capital, then help Prince Liang force abdication and seize the throne, so he could support his own grandson’s ascension in the future!

After all, Prince Liang’s reputation for being weak and easy to manipulate was well known. With his daughter carrying imperial offspring, how could Prince Xian not harbor such thoughts?

The complex web of information was suddenly straightened out by Bai Qingyan, becoming crystal clear.

She had been careless, underestimating both Prince Liang and Li Mingrui.

She secretly laughed to herself.

Good… very good. Originally, Bai Qingyan had planned to work harder herself this time, hiding her abilities and not acting directly, using guidance to help the Crown Prince achieve merit and resolve the Empress and Prince Xin. Though troublesome, it could at least temporarily stabilize the Crown Prince’s position with the Emperor, so Prince Liang couldn’t easily shake it.

But since Prince Liang was so eager to rush to his death, if she didn’t fulfill Prince Liang’s wishes, Bai Qingyan would feel sorry for all his elaborate efforts.

So be it. Once Prince Liang, Prince Xin, the Empress, and Prince Xian were dead, the Crown Prince would stand alone supreme. With the Crown Prince’s personality of seeking stability rather than advancement, there would be at least one or two years of peace.

Only when the capital’s situation was stable could A’Jue and the Bai family army in the southern border train in peace without worries.

Bai Qingyan thought about it – Prince Liang and Liu Ruofu’s wedding was on the fifteenth of this month. What better opportunity could there be?

From the southern capital, using the excuse of congratulating the only princess Liu Ruofu of the southern capital on her marriage, gradually coming to the capital for the wedding escort – what problem was there?

Coming from thousands of miles away from the southern capital, bringing guard troops – what problem was there?

Thus, Prince Xian’s people could openly enter the capital. Prince Liang’s arrangement… was simply perfect.

Today was already the thirteenth, only two days left…

She believed Prince Liang would definitely find ways to make the Empress and Prince Xin act within two days, and would also find ways to let the Crown Prince and her notice.

Good, Prince Liang’s scheming up and down saved her trouble!

The mantis stalks the cicada while the oriole waits behind. Prince Liang wanted to be that oriole, so Bai Qingyan… would be the white python behind the oriole.

This time, let Prince Liang do the hard work.

She would… cooperate with Prince Liang, perform the complete act, and invite Prince Liang into the trap.

Bai Qingyan looked at Lu Jin and said, “Since General Fu is willing to speak, he’s willing to preserve the lives of the entire Fu family. The remaining words… should be said to Minister Lu! As long as General Fu explains everything clearly and was indeed forced into helplessness, His Majesty and His Highness… will surely deal with the Fu family leniently.”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan came out of Fu Ruoxi’s cell. Seeing Lu Jin already standing at the door, he bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Thank you, Princess Zhenguo, for lending your aid this time.”

Bai Qingyan also bowed to Lu Jin: “Please, Minister Lu, for the sake of Old Madam Fu sacrificing her life to protect the Fu family, take good care of them.”

“Naturally! Of course! His Highness the Crown Prince has also instructed this!” Lu Jin said hastily.

Lu Jin quite admired Bai Qingyan, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Bai family.

“There’s one more thing. Now that Old Madam Fu’s suicide in the Grand Court of Justice prison is known throughout the capital, General Fu is famously filial. The Empress might worry that General Fu… will reveal everything because of Old Madam Fu’s death, and send people to silence him in prison. Minister Lu must be well-prepared.” Seeing that the Grand Court of Justice prison didn’t have many guards, Bai Qingyan added: “Don’t let General Fu end up like the former Marquis Zhongyong Qin Dezhao, silenced.”