The Emperor Yuning’s sharp eyes slowly turned toward the bed, fixing on Shen Xihe: “Is the Crown Prince still alive?”

Shen Xihe lowered her long lashes, her expression unchanged: “If Your Majesty has no intention of appointing another heir, then there is no Crown Prince in this world.”

Under the candlelight, Emperor Yuning’s eyelids trembled slightly. He gazed at Shen Xihe, his eyes deep as a cold pond, bottomless yet reflecting a chilling light: “When did he learn of his true identity?”

His tone was certain, convinced that Xiao Huayong had long known of his origins.

It seemed that over these past months, Emperor Yuning had pondered many things. Some matters, when viewed from outside one’s position, made it easy to spot the traces.

Shen Xihe remained silent for a moment, no longer evading. Instead, she said: “Actually, another person would be more suitable to answer Your Majesty’s question, wouldn’t they?”

“So you truly knew everything.” A look of understanding appeared in Emperor Yuning’s eyes. “How dare you. Did you calculate that I would surely follow your orchestration?”

“No, Your Majesty has ruled for over twenty years. Your ability to campaign alongside Prince Qian in battles north and south before ascending to the supreme position wasn’t merely due to fate.” Shen Xihe spoke softly and steadily. “Your Majesty possesses vision, decisiveness, courage, and imperial wisdom. How could I possibly calculate Your Majesty’s every word and action? All I could gauge was Your Majesty’s benevolence.”

“Benevolence?” Emperor Yuning laughed, his laughter tinged with the coolness of the evening breeze. “I thought in your eyes I was merely a tyrannical ruler who would kill his brother and seize power for the throne, eliminate worthy ministers, and harbor jealousy toward capable generals.”

Looking directly at Emperor Yuning with clear, bright eyes, Shen Xihe met the emperor’s gaze calmly, setting aside hierarchy as she spoke: “Though your subject and Your Majesty stand at opposing ends of power that cannot coexist, in my heart, Your Majesty is worthy of being emperor.”

In Shen Xihe’s heart, Emperor Yuning was a qualified ruler – not indulgent in women and pleasure, not a cruel dictator, not excessive in his desires, not one who disrupted court affairs.

“You can evaluate me thus because I haven’t yet taken down the Shen family.” Emperor Yuning dismissed it.

Shen Xihe shook her head slightly: “Even if the Shen family falls, I would still view Your Majesty the same way. Your Majesty has not failed the people and is a rare enlightened ruler.”

“Enlightened ruler?” Emperor Yuning murmured these words, somewhat dazed.

Everyone said he cared about appearances, wanting to become an unparalleled emperor, desiring praise and acclaim from all under heaven, and placing great importance on imperial achievements. But who understood that his ascension to the throne had not been smooth? In those early years after ascending the throne, how many capable ministers and generals would mention his brother’s literary and military prowess at the slightest dissatisfaction, thinking that if his brother had taken the throne, today’s situation would surely be different.

He strived to be a good emperor, to make himself worthy of the throne, and to bring peace and prosperity to the realm. He had raised the empire that the previous emperor had squandered and trampled until it teetered on the brink. What he sought wasn’t an achievement, wasn’t praise from his descendants, nor was it eternal fame – it was simply to have no regrets in his heart.

There were many things that Shen Xihe, once standing in the mist, hadn’t seen clearly. Only today did she understand, and her gaze toward Emperor Yuning carried additional sincere respect: “Your Majesty if Prince Qian had ascended the throne back then, today might not be possible.”

Emperor Yuning’s eyes flew open, staring intently at Shen Xihe, the light in his eyes sharp as a blade as if trying to pierce through her to see truth or falsehood: “What did you say!”

“Prince Qian valued relationships more deeply than Your Majesty.” Shen Xihe didn’t dodge or avoid his gaze. “Back then, many meritorious officials followed Prince Qian. If he had become emperor, he would surely have been constrained by gratitude and loyalty – this is not the foundation for the prosperity of the nation.”

From Shen Yueshan’s perspective, he had once told Shen Xihe that His Majesty was someone who could share in prosperity but not in adversity. After his ascension, how heavily did he rely on Minister Gu? Yet just a few years after the eunuchs were removed, the entire Gu family was executed. If this wasn’t cold-bloodedness and heartlessness, then what was it?

Setting aside her position as Prince Qian’s daughter-in-law, when Shen Xihe looked from His Majesty’s perspective, she felt the emperor had not erred.

The struggle with the Gu family and the confrontation with the Shen family were both matters of survival from different positions. The emperor sought to survive, as did the great clans.

There was no right or wrong, only the outcome of victory or defeat.

These days, she had learned about Prince Qian’s deeds, and Shen Xihe had to admit that Prince Qian was a good brother, a good son, a good husband, and an even better commander. But such a magnanimous man who was unrestrained in small matters and valued loyalty and righteousness might not necessarily become an enlightened ruler.

Especially an enlightened ruler in Emperor Yuning’s situation – not everyone was like Minister Gu and Shen Yueshan, unmoved by power and wealth.

When His Majesty ascended the throne and boldly reformed internal affairs, those meritorious officials who had followed Prince Qian could at most complain about their bad fate when His Majesty betrayed them. But if Prince Qian had turned against them without sentiment, it would have brought hatred of betrayal, and these people would have been easily drawn in by the powerful eunuchs. The purification of the court would have stretched further, and the people’s suffering would have been prolonged.

Emperor Yuning’s gaze became somewhat distant. As he looked at the young woman standing before him, vaguely she seemed to overlap with another person – that childhood playmate, confidant, and mentor, who later became his right arm, support, and capable minister.

“You are the second person to say these words to me.”

As for who the first was, Shen Xihe didn’t ask, but she thought she could guess.

From far away, Shen Xihe heard an eagle’s cry, the proud call of the Haedong hawk. She lowered her eyes: “Your Majesty’s doubts will soon be answered.”

After giving Shen Xihe a deep look, he slowly closed his eyes. Liu Sanghi, receiving the signal, immediately rushed forward wailing loudly: “Your Majesty—”

A sharp, grief-stricken cry echoed through Qinzheng Hall, followed by the tolling of mourning bells. The officials who were hurrying over but hadn’t yet reached Qinzheng Hall all knelt where they were, their faces showing sorrow.

“Imperial Consort, this is His Majesty’s final edict,” Liu Sanghi presented the edict from his sleeve to Shen Xihe with both hands.

Before Shen Xihe could reach for it, the tightly closed doors were pushed open. The Empress Dowager led Consort Shu and others rushing in. The consorts all knelt on the ground, tears instantly rolling down.

Only Consort Shu threw herself forward, lying on Emperor Yuning’s body, crying in anguish. After a while, she turned to glare at Shen Xihe through her sobs: “Crown Prince Consort, you committed regicide and forged an edict!”

“Consort Shu, this is His Majesty’s personal—”

“You slave dog, despite His Majesty treating you like family, you dare collude with the Crown Prince Consort to harm His Majesty!” Before Liu Sanghi could finish, Consort Shu raised her hand, her light silk sleeve floating as she delivered a harsh slap to Liu Sanghi.

“Regicide and forged edict?” Shen Xihe revealed a playful smile, her gaze falling on the Empress Dowager who leaned on her dragon-headed staff. “Grandmother, do you believe this as well?”

“Whether it’s forged or not, let me see it and we’ll know.” The Empress Dowager extended her hand.

But Shen Xihe moved first, snatching it from Liu Sanghi’s hands.