Upon hearing these words, the neutral faction officials panicked somewhat. They glanced at Prime Minister Jiang, and seeing he still showed no intention of taking a stance, they couldn’t care about that anymore and hurriedly said to Wen Yu: “Princess, please calm your anger. We absolutely have no such intention…”

Zhaobai said coldly: “The Princess is in Liang region, busy coordinating the entire war front, yet still worries about your Chen Kingdom’s internal governance. She has summoned Liang region officials to discuss opening trade through Pingzhou Pass, so that in the future trade can be conducted between your Southern Chen and the surrounding small nations, alleviating your Chen Kingdom’s heavy taxes. Today, the Princess has traveled thousands of miles to return to Southern Chen. She hasn’t even entered the royal court’s city gate, yet your Chen Kingdom officials and people block her here, using baseless charges to accuse our Princess of colluding with Northern Wei and causing the death of your general, threatening the Princess to return governance. This is truly laughable!”

By the time Zhaobai reached the end, she was practically sneering coldly: “Just as well. Since your Chen Kingdom has never truly wanted to cooperate well with our Great Liang from the alliance until now, once our Princess sends out a letter of divorce, she need never again expend effort and energy for your Chen Kingdom!”

The Southern Chen treasury had been impoverished year after year, which was why they had no choice but to maintain heavy corvée labor and heavy taxes all along.

At this moment, hearing that Wen Yu was already working to prepare trade between the two nations, and that Jiang Yu’s death clearly had nothing to do with Wen Yu, the officials present truly panicked.

Previously, when the Liang camp was weak, they still didn’t dare completely break with Wen Yu. Now that the Liang camp had gained power, there was even less reason to end this alliance.

The neutral faction officials hurriedly declared their positions: “We ministers have never once said the Princess should return governance. A mere minor director from the Ministry of Rites spouting nonsense—his words cannot be taken seriously! Cannot be taken seriously! We implore the Princess to reconsider!”

That disciple of Prime Minister Jiang who had earlier acted as the first bird to attack Wen Yu didn’t dare speak again for the moment. His gaze flickered uncertainly, constantly glancing toward Prime Minister Jiang, as if fearing Prime Minister Jiang would throw him out as an abandoned pawn.

After all, during the last cabinet corruption investigation, quite a few people below had been pushed out to take the blame.

A neutral faction official quietly called Prime Minister Jiang’s name, seemingly wanting him to bow his head to Wen Yu for today’s discourteous behavior and present the appearance a minister should have.

Prime Minister Jiang looked across the slanting rain and snow blown by the wind toward Wen Yu, who sat draped in a great cloak in silent stillness on the opposite side. He finally spoke: “This old minister grieves deeply for the loss of his legitimate son. My heart is being torn apart. I lack the strength to restrain those below. Where my subordinates have been rash and offended the Princess, this old minister apologizes on their behalf.”

After weighing his options, that disciple of Prime Minister Jiang understood that if he shrank back like a turtle, he might truly be abandoned by Prime Minister Jiang. He gritted his teeth and knelt down, saying: “It is all because this criminal minister was pained by the Cavalry General’s death and spoke without choosing his words, offending the Princess. This criminal minister is willing to die ten thousand deaths to apologize to the Princess. The Cavalry General has always been known as the God of War in our Southern Chen. The common people grieve the Cavalry General’s death and, having heard this criminal minister’s nonsense without knowing the truth, shouted the foolish words demanding the Princess return governance. All the errors lie with this criminal minister. Please, Princess, punish this criminal minister, but do not extend your anger to the city’s common people!”

After speaking, he kowtowed once toward Wen Yu in the rain and snow.

Listening from the side, the coldness in Zhaobai’s eyes intensified. This person was ostensibly apologizing to Wen Yu, but with one phrase “do not extend your anger to the city’s common people,” he made it sound as if Wen Yu had become angry at the city’s common people because of their shouting, and was threatening to send the Chen King a divorce letter and no longer care about their Southern Chen.

Using public sentiment emotionally was a great taboo for a ruler.

This person with his clever tongue was truly skilled at sophistry.

Zhaobai said coldly: “Our Princess, even while supervising the war in Liang region, still worries about Chen region’s corvée taxes. When has she ever extended anger to the common people of Chen region? Wasn’t it you who just tried to forcibly pin the responsibility for your Cavalry General’s death in battle on our Princess with nothing but empty words? Now what do you mean by pushing the blame onto the common people?”

Her words directly threw the conflict this person was trying to create between Wen Yu and the Chen region common people back onto himself and the Chen region common people.

That person’s expression stiffened. He hurriedly bowed his waist lower to the ground again: “This criminal minister knows he deserves death ten thousand times, but this criminal minister’s words absolutely had no such meaning…”

Azure Cloud Guards presented Wen Yu with a cup of hot tea. After Wen Yu accepted it, she used the tea lid to skim the tea leaves in the cup one stroke at a time. In the rising steam, her long lashes drooped lightly, the section of her eyes that was half-visible was colder and more indifferent than the rain and snow filling the sky.

She paid no attention to that disciple of Prime Minister Jiang’s actions, only saying: “Is Prime Minister Jiang not dispatching people to Wang Well Street to capture the criminals?”

On the day Jiang Yu’s coffin was brought back, after she set a trap to capture those several Southern Chen spies, Zhaobai had pried open their mouths, extracted the number of people in this group of spies, and obtained the secret signals they used to contact each other as well as the method for transmitting messages to the person behind the scenes.

Then she eliminated all the spies in the army together and had the spy leader from that day send a message back to the person behind the scenes, falsely claiming that Jiang Yu truly hadn’t died, but had become aware of the suspicious circumstances of that day’s ambush, and that their investigation had nearly been exposed—using this to stabilize the person behind the scenes so he wouldn’t sweep away all the loose ends.

Before entering the city today, to add another layer of insurance and let the people in the royal court personally capture a few more death warriors sent by the person behind the scenes, she deliberately had the spy leader send another message to the person behind the scenes, claiming some of their people had been captured, luring the person behind the scenes to send death warriors to silence them.

Prime Minister Jiang stared at Wen Yu with an inscrutable expression for some moments, then raised his hand toward a trusted aide behind him.

The trusted aide who received his signal immediately led people toward the main road leading to the royal palace.

Prime Minister Jiang continued scrutinizing the Great Liang princess opposite him.

Since the alliance between Liang and Chen, their mutual interests had long been inseparable. Given her temperament, it was impossible she would completely sever ties with their Southern Chen just because of today’s provocation.

Moreover, since she had these spies as material evidence in her hands, yet hadn’t mentioned them at all in the letters previously sent back to Southern Chen, it was difficult to say she hadn’t deliberately acted this way just to let them cause trouble so she could seize their errors.

Then her “anger” this time was obviously also to obtain even greater benefits.

Prime Minister Jiang once again witnessed the terrifying nature of this Great Liang princess’s methods.

At this city gate where fine rain flew slantwise, both sides stood still and motionless, seemingly forming a certain silent confrontation.

After about a quarter of an hour, the person Prime Minister Jiang had sent out rode back urgently. After dismounting in a disheveled manner, he quickly walked toward Prime Minister Jiang and whispered something in his ear.

In that instant, Prime Minister Jiang’s expression could be described as extremely ugly, with hatred and anger clearly visible in his eyes.

The neutral faction officials also looked toward this side. Seeing the expressions of these two, they already believed seventy or eighty percent of what Wen Yu had said earlier. On one hand, they were secretly shocked that there truly was a traitor in Southern Chen and speculated who it might be. On the other hand, they felt that today’s offense to Wen Yu probably couldn’t end well.

Prime Minister Jiang instructed the trusted aide who had returned with the report in a low voice: “Have the Divine Martial Camp’s people go there.”

After receiving the instruction, the trusted aide hurried back again. Prime Minister Jiang looked toward Wen Yu once more, only to see that a maidservant beside her was holding a bowl of deep brown liquid that appeared to be medicinal decoction and offering it to her: “Princess, it’s time to take your medicine.”

Wen Yu’s shoulders were covered with a white fox fur great cloak that had been tanned until it had no trace of any odor. Her slender pale fingers, slightly reddened from being blown by the cold wind, lifted from the hand warmer wrapped in a layer of velvet cloth. She accepted the medicine bowl and, using her large sleeves to conceal it, gradually drank all the medicinal decoction in the bowl.

When she returned the medicine bowl, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if the medicinal decoction was extremely bitter.

It was also at this moment that the Southern Chen officials realized that Wen Yu’s face, as white and warm as jade, seemed to carry a trace of illness. However, because she was too cold and distant as a person, that trace of illness was suppressed to be extremely inconspicuous. At first glance, it only made people feel she had an additional air of aloofness.

The officials felt somewhat strange in their hearts. If it were an ordinary illness, she shouldn’t need to take medicine in such a confrontational situation.

But if Wen Yu’s body had developed some serious condition, then she should conceal it even more.

Prime Minister Jiang gave a meaningful look to the attendant behind him.

That attendant quickly understood and withdrew.

Wen Yu’s medicine had been brewed by her personal guards using the stove on the carriage.

Since she had no intention of concealing it and seemed to want to reveal some information to them through this, the Jiang family also had people among the Chen troops traveling back to the royal court—it wouldn’t be difficult to find out what medicine she was drinking.

Wen Yu seemed not to notice the unusual reaction on the opposite side. After finishing her medicine, she drank several sips of clear tea to suppress the bitter taste, then spoke unhurriedly: “Is Prime Minister Jiang not interrogating these spies?”

Prime Minister Jiang nodded slightly toward Wen Yu: “Since these are spies who plotted to harm my son, let the Princess take charge and send them down to the prison for fair and strict interrogation. This old minister… will avoid suspicion and not participate in this case.”

Wen Yu’s eyes lifted faintly, each word cold: “Prime Minister Jiang has forgotten—this palace said it would no longer interfere in your Chen Kingdom’s government affairs.”

Prime Minister Jiang believed he had already lowered his head, yet the other party still had no intention of descending along the steps he’d provided. This meant that what the other party wanted was far more than this.

In that instant, Prime Minister Jiang understood Wen Yu’s meaning.

She wanted the officials and people of their entire Chen Kingdom to “request” her to return to governance.

Previously, compelled by circumstances, the officials had established her as Regent Princess Imperial, but secretly each had their own thoughts. What Wen Yu had obtained was mostly just a title for external use.

Returning this time, she wanted to be that Regent Princess Imperial with real power who could suppress the royal court officials.

Being “requested” back to governance by the officials with great momentum—from now on, regardless of the circumstances, the royal court officials would have no grounds to force Wen Yu to return governance again.

Prime Minister Jiang suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold from this rain and snow.

Sounds came from inside the city gate again. Officers dispersed the congested crowds watching. Led by Qi Simiao, a group of Wang faction senior officials dressed in court robes hurried over.

The neutral faction officials who had come to welcome Wen Yu’s carriage suddenly seemed to find their backbone, hurriedly cupping their hands toward Qi Simiao: “Administrator Qi.”

Qi Simiao had probably already heard the full story on his way here. After nodding to those officials, his gaze swept past Prime Minister Jiang before he cupped his hands toward Wen Yu: “This old minister heard the Princess’s carriage had arrived at the royal court and came especially to welcome you.”

Wen Yu made no sound. Tongque, standing beside her, said: “Administrator Qi, you’ve come late. You didn’t see just now how your Chen Kingdom officials, leading the common people, shouted loudly demanding our Princess return governance. It seems that within this royal court, there are many officials and people unwilling to have our Princess return. When you came to Liang region to present betrothal gifts initially, it was your Southern Chen competing to ally with Northern Wei to welcome our Princess. It wasn’t our Princess insisting on coming to your Southern Chen. Now our Princess has been in Chen region for less than a year. Examining her own conscience, she has considered your Chen Kingdom’s common people at every turn. Your entire Chen Kingdom has been discourteous time and again—that would be one thing. But today you even want to forcibly pin the Cavalry General’s death on our Princess. Our Princess cannot bear this cruel and immoral reputation of killing loyal subjects.”

The disciple of Prime Minister Jiang who was still kneeling on the ground felt that great disaster had arrived today. He hurriedly kowtowed heavily several more times in the muddy ground, not caring how much mud stained his forehead or that it was already broken and swollen from kowtowing, saying: “This criminal minister deserves death—all blame lies with this criminal minister alone!”

Qi Simiao naturally recognized this person as Prime Minister Jiang’s disciple and understood in his heart.

Without Prime Minister Jiang’s permission, how would this person earlier have dared speak such treasonous words?

Wen Yu’s current refusal to enter the royal court—what she wanted was obviously that however they had forced her to return governance earlier, they must now beg her to return to governance in the same way.

After a moment of silence, Qi Simiao cupped his hands toward Wen Yu again: “A minister slandering the ruler—this old minister has truly never seen or heard of such a thing in this life. Such an absurd minister must certainly be severely punished. This old minister respectfully requests the Princess to return to the royal court to govern.”

Though other officials’ expressions showed some disagreement, with Qi Simiao taking the lead, they all quickly bowed down: “We ministers respectfully request the Princess to return to the royal court to govern.”

The watching common people discussed among themselves, talking about “spies” and “corvée taxes.” Finally, scattered voices of “we request the Princess to return to the royal court to govern” also arose from the crowd.

At the entire city gate, only the Jiang faction officials had not yet taken a stance.

The group of people stood awkwardly in the fine rain, constantly glancing at Prime Minister Jiang with their eyes, waiting for his signal.

The attendant Prime Minister Jiang had sent away earlier returned and whispered something to him. Prime Minister Jiang suddenly raised his eyes sharply to look at Wen Yu.

Wen Yu sat peacefully in the grand armchair. Rainwater accumulated on the oiled cloth umbrella surface gradually dripped down along the umbrella ribs. She gazed back at Prime Minister Jiang with a calm expression, not avoiding him in the slightest.

Prime Minister Jiang seemed to weigh his options, then finally also cupped his hands toward Wen Yu: “This old minister… respectfully requests the Princess to return to the royal court to govern.”

The Jiang faction officials who were still standing rigidly in the fine rain—whether or not they felt relieved was unclear—hurriedly bowed and cupped their hands: “We ministers respectfully request the Princess to return to the royal court to govern.”

Wen Yu’s lashes lifted slightly: “Everyone, remember—today, it is all of you who have ‘requested’ this palace to return to governance.”

The assembled officials maintained their gesture of cupping hands, not daring to speak a word.

Wen Yu rose to her feet, supporting herself on Zhaobai’s forearm. Tongque held the umbrella over the two of them, escorting Wen Yu back to the carriage.

The escort procession that had stopped outside the city re-entered the city.

The city’s common people blocked the streets and alleys along the route until they were impenetrable. Young women looked at the pitch-black coffin on the cart, crying until their hearts nearly broke.

The roads to the royal palace and the Jiang family residence diverged. After the carriage passed the fork in the road, Wen Yu lifted the curtain and glanced at the coffin bound with white silk mourning flowers being taken away by the Jiang family.

Fine rain flew slantwise outside. The spirit money scattered on the ground was dampened by the rainwater and trampled into paper pulp by countless congested common people.

As Wen Yu lowered the carriage curtain, she also closed her eyes, concealing all the complexity in them.

—

The carriage entered the palace gate. Just as it arrived at Zhaohua Palace, from the other end of the palace path came another palanquin. Seated under the canopy was none other than Empress Dowager Jiang.

All her emotions were concealed behind that stern and dignified face. Only the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were somewhat more pronounced than before.

Wen Yu, supporting herself on Zhaobai’s hand, stood quietly in place. After Empress Dowager Jiang’s palanquin stopped, she said: “Greetings to the Empress Dowager.”

Empress Dowager Jiang, helped by the old nanny at her side, stepped down from the palanquin. Without saying a word, her gaze went directly to Wen Yu’s abdomen with a certain indescribable sharpness and urgency.

However, winter clothing was thick, and Wen Yu was also wearing a great cloak—she could see nothing.

Empress Dowager Jiang withdrew her gaze. She opened her mouth as if wanting to ask something, but understanding this wasn’t the place for conversation, she only said sternly: “This Dowager has questions for you. We’ll speak in your palace.”

After speaking, she took the lead in walking toward Wen Yu’s Zhaohua Palace.

Zhaobai seemed quite dissatisfied with Empress Dowager Jiang’s such overbearing and domineering manner, calling out softly: “Princess…”

Wen Yu said calmly: “Let’s go in.”

She naturally understood what Empress Dowager Jiang wanted to ask. At the city gate, she had deliberately let Prime Minister Jiang know she was drinking fetal protection medicine.

With the Empress Dowager and Jiang family’s schemes beforehand, the Jiang family couldn’t possibly fail to understand her meaning.

During her carriage’s journey back to the palace, surely people from the Jiang family had already rushed to the palace to report to the Empress Dowager. That’s why the Empress Dowager had come so quickly to confirm with her.

Upon entering the inner hall, the old nanny at the Empress Dowager’s side was already waiting alone outside, nodding slightly toward Wen Yu.

Wen Yu then also instructed Zhaobai and Tongque: “Wait outside.”

She entered the inner hall alone. The Empress Dowager stood by the window. Thin smoke curled from the incense burner on the low table. She twisted the prayer beads wrapped around her hand one by one, but clearly her heart was not at peace—she twisted the beads extremely quickly.

Upon hearing Wen Yu’s footsteps, she raised her eyes to look. The grief in her gaze was all concealed behind sternness and sharpness: “Do you truly have Yu’er’s child?”