“Empress Dowager, this is His Majesty’s final edict. Shall we wait for the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers to arrive before reading it together?” Shen Xihe asked, holding the edict.

The edict remained sealed, showing it hadn’t been opened, but Shen Xihe’s composure and confidence led to much speculation about its contents, especially since Emperor Yuning had personally ordered Xiao Junshu to be named Imperial Grandson.

“The authenticity of the edict should naturally be determined by the Empress Dowager. Crown Prince Consort, your refusal to hand it over – is this not the guilty conscience of a thief?” Consort Shu demanded harshly.

“I merely want the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers to jointly witness this, and that makes me a guilty thief?” Shen Xihe didn’t even glance at Consort Shu, keeping her gaze fixed on the Empress Dowager. “Empress Dowager, do you know when I first began to suspect you?”

Shen Xihe’s words brought silence to the hall. The consorts kneeling behind the screen wished they could cover their ears, regretting rushing in with Consort Shu, whose eyes flickered.

The Empress Dowager maintained her benevolent expression, calmly looking at Shen Xihe: “When?”

“When the Crown Prince was buried, and Second Lady Yu became involved.” Shen Xihe’s gaze turned chilling. “Second Lady Yu was different from others. She had just returned to the capital, merely a young lady. Even I only noticed her through several coincidences. How did someone like you, Empress Dowager, plotting for the supreme position, take notice of such an insignificant person?

I recalled that day when I exposed the sachet she made for you. You must have investigated Second Lady Yu from that day forward. You only truly regarded her when she stepped over my sister to become Prince Zhao’s consort. You knew about First Lady Yu’s fake death all along.”

“With your intelligence, you shouldn’t have realized so late.” The Empress Dowager’s smile remained as peaceful as ever, her brow serene, emanating the approachable warmth of one who had long practiced Buddhism.

“Indeed, I shouldn’t have realized so late, but I was blinded by sentiment.” Shen Xihe smiled self-mockingly, her gaze shifting to Consort Shu. “When she parted ways with me, I began to suspect you, but since you were Bei Chen’s only close relative, I didn’t want to tear open this softness in his heart, so I deceived myself along with others.”

Consort Shu might not have been the most brilliant person, but she was certainly not foolish. She had seen the situation in the Eastern Palace that day, and for the emperor’s pity, she had endured being strung up in the wilderness for an entire night.

This showed how clear-headed she was – how could she be easily intoxicated by the emperor’s favor?

No amount of imperial favor could cloud her judgment, yet she still broke with Shen Xihe. If it wasn’t because of His Majesty, then it must have been someone who could offer her more than Shen Xihe could.

Did such a person exist?

Without considering the Empress Dowager, naturally not.

But what about the Empress Dowager?

The Empress Dowager had the Crown Prince’s deep trust. Consort Shu probably realized they were all merely pieces in the Empress Dowager’s game.

Moreover, since Empress Dowager had shown her true face to Consort Shu if she didn’t comply, there would be no way out – this Consort Shu knew well.

“Since you already determined it was me, you deliberately placed Second Lady Yu in the secret passage.” The Empress Dowager also realized something.

“The matter of Second Lady Yu indeed helped confirm my suspicions about you, but I still held onto a glimmer of hope. I wanted to know just how far your influence reached.” Shen Xihe admitted frankly.

“Have you now guessed the extent of my capabilities?” the Empress Dowager asked with a smile.

Shen Xihe shook her head: “That you can be so candid with me now suggests you must have backup plans I cannot see.”

The wrinkles at the corners of the Empress Dowager’s eyes crinkled with genuine pleasure. Her gaze toward Shen Xihe still held the affection of an elder for a junior, seeming unfeigned: “Most women in this world are foolish, but Youyou is different from their ilk. You are truly clever.”

“You look down on the women of this world, thus using them as puppets, discardable at any time,” Shen Xihe said flatly. “Including those weak women implicated in the Rouge Case.”

“So you knew everything.” The Empress Dowager sighed softly.

“The Crown Prince had the maritime trade, Second Prince collected from brothels, Fourth Prince plundered tombs, and Eighth Prince seized wealth while suppressing rebellions.” Shen Xihe gazed at the Empress Dowager. “Even His Majesty used the national treasury to support people. Empress Dowager, with your ambitions for the empire, how could you not cultivate power? Where did the money come from? I wondered why you remained in the background all these years – besides waiting for the right moment, were there other unavoidable reasons?”

The Empress Dowager’s smile didn’t diminish as she watched Shen Xihe, appearing to listen attentively.

Outside the palace, two armies had begun to clash. Many of the Empress Dowager’s people surged through the secret passages, but Shen Xihe had already stationed people outside to intercept them. The passage entrances became sites of the most brutal fighting.

At the four palace gates, the commanders had closed the doors. Xiao Changqin, Xiao Changying, Xiao Changgeng, and Xie Yunhuai each led forces to surround a gate, unaware of the situation inside.

But when they demanded entry, they were refused. The gate guards had suddenly become strangers to them.

Inside the palace remained relatively peaceful. Many guards surrounded the civil and military officials, creating a murderous atmosphere. When a censor shouted in protest, they drew their swords and slit his throat. The military officials immediately restrained themselves, waiting for an opportunity.

These people claimed to be acting on the Crown Prince Consort’s orders, creating a scenario where Shen Xihe appeared to be forcing a coup.

Tao Zhuanxian was greatly alarmed and wanted to object, but was held back by Cui Zheng.

Only in Qinzheng Hall could the sounds of clashing swords and killing not be heard.

“It all seems to trace back to the Rouge Case. What did Prince Consort Wei need so much money for? They were already enormously wealthy. Deliberately sending those women as concubines to high officials wasn’t merely for profit.” Shen Xihe appeared unaware of the gunpowder smoke outside, remaining composed. “The true mastermind behind the Rouge Case was you, Empress Dowager!

But after your power grew, mistakes were inevitable. Unfortunately, this mistake occurred right under His Majesty’s nose. You immediately ordered an investigation in thunderous rage – who could have guessed you were the mastermind?

You wanted to cut through the chaos quickly, but Prince Lie took the evidence, and the Crown Prince became involved. You had no choice but to painfully destroy years of planning. Fortunately, the evidence in Prince Lie’s hands only pointed to Prince Consort Wei.

This is why after the Rouge Case, Empress Dowager, you could only operate in secret because your life’s work had been shattered.”

“Correct, entirely correct.” The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile. “The power I cultivated for years was about to control the entire court through the inner palace, but Seven Prince destroyed it all.”

“Perhaps it was then that you realized Bei Chen, who grew up under your eyes, had become someone you could no longer control.” Shen Xihe felt some pity for Xiao Huayong. Though he hadn’t been completely honest with the Empress Dowager, he certainly hadn’t been guarded against her. “With your power damaged and fearing Bei Chen’s influence, you decided to destroy everything.”