She truly had never imagined that someone would use such underhanded, despicable tactics from harem power struggles against her.

In her previous life, Jiang Xuening had married directly as Princess Consort Linzi. Shen Jie’s household was clean; when she first entered the palace, her position was secure and she controlled the harem—who would dare harm her? Only later, when Xiao Shu entered the palace, did she truly begin facing formidable threats.

But the struggle for the Empress’s position was never merely a harem struggle.

Both she and Xiao Shu knew that such petty harem tactics couldn’t affect the bigger picture—they were crude and beneath them. So their power struggles focused on the imperial court, without those small underhanded poisonous schemes, yet all the more bloody and brutal, all the more cruel.

Yet she never expected that what she hadn’t experienced in her previous life would all be made up for in this one.

Jiang Xuening suddenly found it supremely ironic.

But upon further thought, when others wanted to harm you, they had ten thousand ways to do so. Whether she had anticipated it or not, this calamity was bound to come.

Trapped in this sudden crisis, an extreme calm instead settled over her.

Jiang Xuening withdrew her gaze from surveying the crowd and looked toward Wang Quan, who held that page, saying: “This is not my possession.”

Wang Quan gave a cold laugh: “Searched from your room and it’s still not yours?”

Jiang Xuening said coolly: “If we follow Eunuch Wang’s logic, my room is in the palace, this page was searched from my room, therefore it was searched from within the palace. Whose head should it fall upon?”

“Sophistry!” Wang Quan hadn’t expected that facing death she would suddenly become so sharp-tongued. He flew into a rage: “I see you won’t shed tears until you see your coffin! Today I must make you understand that the palace is not a place where you can act willfully! Seize her!”

But Jiang Xuening suddenly demanded coldly: “By what authority do you seize me?!”

Everyone around had initially been somewhat frightened. Hearing Jiang Xuening openly challenge Wang Quan, they couldn’t help but reveal expressions of terror, thinking she had gone mad: Eunuch Wang was the Chief Steward of the Inner Palace!

Wang Quan himself hadn’t expected her to say he lacked authority. He gave a contemptuous laugh: “This search was ordered by the Empress Dowager herself. It was stated long ago that all suspicious persons in the palace are to be arrested! Stop wasting words—first take her to the Office of Careful Punishment, and wait for the Empress Dowager to deal with her tomorrow!”

But Jiang Xuening said: “I am not a palace person.”

Her voice was so calm, so flat, that it carried a chilling, imposing quality that made even the young eunuchs about to seize her pause.

Wang Quan was also stunned.

Jiang Xuening stared at him steadily and said: “I entered the palace as a companion reader for Her Highness the Grand Princess. I am the legitimate second daughter of Jiang Boyou, a third-rank court official. I am neither a consort nor a palace maid. If the Office of Careful Punishment wishes to detain me, I, a weak woman, naturally cannot resist. But I also ask Eunuch Wang to consider carefully—if afterward it’s proven I am innocent and blameless, yet something unfortunate happens to me in the Office of Careful Punishment…”

How could she not know about the Office of Careful Punishment?

Living people entered and half their lives were surrendered.

Now with “rebel” materials already searched from her room, who knew what would happen if she entered the Office of Careful Punishment! If she suffered injuries or disfigurement, even if she came out safely, who could she seek justice from?

So this was a place she absolutely could not go.

Wang Quan had spent many years immersed in the palace and had handled affairs for many influential masters within. He was well aware of certain methods.

But a new official lights three fires upon taking office.

Having finally waited for those in the Bureau of Palace Attendants to fall from favor so he could rise to power, he wanted to use this opportunity to perform well before the Empress Dowager, which was why he had created such a grand spectacle.

But Jiang Xuening was right.

This wasn’t some palace maid or eunuch with no background whatsoever—this was the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue.

If she truly was part of the rebel faction, there was nothing more to say—throw her into the Office of Careful Punishment. But what if this was a case of immortals fighting while he, without a second thought, locked Jiang Xuening away and something went wrong? The high and mighty immortals wouldn’t suffer, but he himself would be the one left holding the blame!

Wang Quan wasn’t stupid either. His mind turned and he understood, only narrowing his eyes to look at Jiang Xuening like a snake: “Fine! This servant has handled affairs for the Empress Dowager for so many years, and this is the first time I’ve encountered someone as tough as Second Miss Jiang! Since you yourself say you’re unwilling to go to the Office of Careful Punishment and feel this servant lacks the authority to deal with you, then this servant must apologize.”

With a wave of his hand, he actually had Jiang Xuening released.

Jiang Xuening stood without moving.

Wang Quan waved again, pointing to a young eunuch nearby, saying: “Go report to Cining Palace—say we’ve found rebel evidence, the person is a companion reader for the Grand Princess but refuses to submit to detention in the Office of Careful Punishment. Request the Empress Dowager’s decision.”

The young eunuch received the command and hurried out.

Wang Quan then smiled meaningfully, walked in, and actually sat down in an armchair on the left row. Sweeping his gaze over the pale-faced companion readers, he simply said: “Ladies, don’t be afraid. Please, sit down.”

Who among them dared to sit?

Hearing Wang Quan’s words, not only did they not sit, but they stood even more properly in the hall, heads bowed even lower.

Only Jiang Xuening lowered her eyelids expressionlessly, lightly brushed the sleeve that had been wrinkled when grabbed earlier, and directly sat down opposite Wang Quan.

The companion readers were utterly dumbstruck.

Fang Miao’s eyelid twitched incessantly, thinking Jiang Xuening must have taken the wrong medicine today.

But Jiang Xuening didn’t spare them a glance. She even picked up a cup of tea she hadn’t finished earlier and calmly drank half of it.

Less than two quarters of an hour later, the young eunuch who had gone earlier came running back as if fleeing for his life, gasping: “Eunuch Wang, the Empress Dowager has spoken—she orders you to immediately escort the person to Cining Palace. Her Majesty wishes to personally question her. Additionally, all the companion readers from Yangzhi Studio must follow to be available for the Empress Dowager’s interrogation.”

Wang Quan responded: “Very well.”

Only then did Jiang Xuening raise her head to glance at the others: upon hearing they too must go to Cining Palace for questioning, most panicked. The timid ones like Yao Rongrong and You Yue trembled, barely able to stand; Yao Xi, Fang Miao and others also showed unease on their faces, forcing themselves to remain calm. Only Xiao Shu, as always the most composed of them all, merely frowned slightly upon hearing this.

At this point Wang Quan showed Jiang Xuening some courtesy, even gesturing to her, though with a false smile: “Second Miss Jiang, shall we?”

Jiang Xuening thought to herself that two quarters of an hour was about right.

She set down her teacup and rose, not needing the attendants on either side to escort her—she lifted her foot and stepped out the door herself.

The sky had darkened, and lamps were lit throughout the palace.

Yet there was not a single human voice.

The group walking along the path felt oppressed and deathly silent.

At this moment, Cining Palace was already brilliantly lit. Seated high in the main hall was the cold-faced Empress Dowager Xiao. Empress Zheng, who had come upon hearing the news, sat below her with bowed head, occasionally raising her head to look toward the palace gate.

Zheng Bao stood with hands lowered behind her.

Finally, they arrived.

If one ignored the somewhat harsh and terrifying atmosphere, the current scene was truly no different from when Jiang Xuening and the others first entered the palace to pay their respects.

Everyone gave greetings and prostrated themselves.

But Empress Dowager Xiao’s face was full of gloom. She didn’t even tell Xiao Shu to rise, only extending her hand toward Wang Quan below.

Wang Quan immediately bowed and came forward, presenting to her hand that page of “rebel words” searched from Jiang Xuening’s room, reporting: “This servant, following the Empress Dowager’s decree, conducted a thorough search in the palace, especially of those who recently entered. Today when searching Yangzhi Studio, this was found in Second Miss Jiang’s room, pressed under a book on her desk. Had we not searched carefully, being hidden so well, we might not have discovered it.”

These past few days, Empress Dowager Xiao had become quite familiar with what was written on this paper.

She didn’t fly into a rage as she had when first seeing the jade ruyi.

But this kind of calm often meant even greater danger.

She even laughed once, only saying: “Seditious words have reached into the palace—quite impressive. Jiang Xuening, I ask you, do you have anything to say?”

The old hag was still the same as in her previous life—condemning people without asking the facts.

Jiang Xuening was well acquainted with her nature and truly wasn’t surprised. She only performed another bow neither humbly nor arrogantly, saying: “This subject’s daughter is but a small woman of the inner chambers—how could I collude with rebels? Moreover, the handwriting on this paper clearly isn’t from my hand. The characters I wrote today in Fengchen Hall can be used for comparison. I ask the Empress Dowager to investigate clearly. Though I don’t know how this page came to be in my room, it absolutely was not my doing.”

Empress Dowager Xiao said: “You certainly wash your hands clean.”

Jiang Xuening said: “The innocent are naturally innocent. I have a clear conscience.”

“…”

Empress Dowager Xiao suddenly realized that this young woman’s bearing at this moment was quite different from when she first entered the palace to pay respects.

She pinched that page, but her gaze darkened.

After pausing for a while, she said: “Your father is Jiang Boyou?”

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s demeanor, Jiang Xuening knew something was wrong. Her heart jumped in alarm as she answered: “Yes.”

Empress Dowager Xiao then said: “Then your Jiang household and the Yongyi Marquis household must be quite close, on good terms? After all, where there’s smoke there’s fire—you and Yan Lin were on the verge of discussing marriage.”

Jiang Xuening was shocked with horror!

She abruptly raised her head to stare directly at Empress Dowager Xiao, clearly seeing the sudden flash of vicious cruelty in her eyes!

Empress Dowager Xiao swept the jade cup from before her off the table, shouting sternly: “Someone come! Drag her down and beat her with the court rod until she confesses! Let’s see whether her mouth is harder or the rod is harder!”

At this moment, Jiang Xuening finally confirmed—

The Yongyi Marquis household had met with disaster!

Who had framed her was still unclear, but Empress Dowager Xiao’s actions showed she wanted to condemn to death everyone connected to the Yongyi Marquis household!

An old hag is still an old hag!

Jiang Xuening had died in her previous life. Driven to desperation by this series of events, she instead threw caution to the wind, no longer the least bit hesitant. She actually pulled out the gold hairpin from her head and gripped it in her palm, shouting coldly and sternly: “Who dares touch me?!”

The young eunuchs coming from both sides to seize her were all startled by her shout.

Seeing her grip that gold hairpin, one moment pointing it at them, the next moment pressing it against her own throat, they nearly broke out in cold sweat!

Yao Rongrong and the others shrieked in alarm!

Nearly all the companion readers who had come with her hurriedly retreated backward!

Even Empress Dowager Xiao had never witnessed such a defiant scene and was startled: “Audacious! What are you doing!”

But Jiang Xuening knew the situation today had reached an extremely dangerous point.

Such circumstances had provoked that long-buried vicious streak in her character—not to mention she had detested this old hag in her previous life!

Controlling what remained of her rationality, Jiang Xuening stared at Empress Dowager Xiao and said: “This dynasty’s laws state the harem must not interfere in government! Though the Empress Dowager and Empress are masters of the six palaces, models for the realm, Xuening is not a person of the palace. According to law, if involved in a rebel case, the investigation should be conducted by the imperial court! Furthermore, Xuening is a minister’s daughter. Cases involving nobility and officials must either be reported to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and sent to the Imperial Prison, or brought to the Ministry of Justice for investigation and joint trial. The Empress Dowager, based solely on this single page, wishes to torture me. I’m not afraid of suffering torture—I only fear the Empress Dowager will earn the infamy of extracting confessions through torture, causing unease among the civil and military officials of the court!”

As she spoke these words, her hand was extremely steady.

The sharpest end of that gold hairpin remained pointed at her own throat. If anyone dared approach her at this moment, blood would immediately spill on the spot!

Empress Dowager Xiao had experienced the ups and downs of two reigns and knew that if a minister’s daughter died in the palace under such unclear circumstances, it would be a thorny matter. Even if they could gloss it over, the imperial court would likely refuse to let it rest.

If Jiang Boyou lost a daughter in grief, who knew what mad actions he might take?

She had originally wanted to use severe torture to force Jiang Xuening to confess, never expecting her to be so fierce in nature—though not speaking it aloud, threatening death with her actions, and even bringing up court law to pressure her!

Recently, the palace had been full of rumors that the Emperor wanted to establish his younger brother Prince Linzi as Crown Prince, though the possibility of other princes being established as heir hadn’t been ruled out. The Emperor’s mind didn’t seem fully decided.

If a prince became heir, Empress Dowager Xiao would be an Empress Dowager in name only, since the prince wasn’t born of her.

But if Shen Jie were established as Crown Prince, he was still her own flesh and blood, and naturally she would remain the most illustrious Empress Dowager.

Naturally she wanted Shen Jie established as heir.

But her son who was Emperor might not think the same.

Though Empress Dowager Xiao felt Shen Lang was usually filial to her, in the imperial family there was no blood kinship—anything involving the dragon throne was extremely delicate.

After hearing Jiang Xuening’s words, she thought even more deeply than the words themselves.

For quite a while she said nothing. Then she suddenly laughed, unexpectedly relaxing her body and sitting back on that high throne, only saying: “What a silver tongue! But you’re also right. Since you’re a minister’s daughter, palace punishment naturally cannot be applied to you. I shall grant your wish!”

A cold, cruel glint lurked in her eyes as she told Wang Quan: “Send someone to the Ministry of Justice offices. These days they should be working through the night and haven’t returned home. If they’re there, summon Chen Ying for me!”

Chen Ying had exerted great effort on the Yongyi Marquis household case.

This man was very sensible.

It was merely the effort of staging another performance. Empress Dowager Xiao didn’t mind spending this bit of time. Having finished speaking, she looked toward Jiang Xuening: “Chen Ying has served as Vice Minister of Justice for less than half a year but has already concluded numerous major cases. He will certainly not wrongly accuse you!”

But Jiang Xuening didn’t dare relax in the slightest.

Her gaze imperceptibly turned toward where Empress Zheng was seated, glancing at Zheng Bao standing behind Empress Zheng.

At this moment Wang Quan’s gaze also fell on Zheng Bao.

Very naturally, he made a gesture to Zheng Bao indicating “go.”

Jiang Xuening slowly lowered her eyelids—

Such was the palace.

For a case in the inner palace to require the Ministry of Justice, and connected to rebels no less, was a matter of grave importance. They would never send an ordinary young eunuch.

So there would be no one more suitable than Zheng Bao in the hall.

She could only hope he was perceptive enough to grasp her intent.

After dispatching Zheng Bao, the entire Cining Palace fell quiet.

Only then did Empress Dowager Xiao glance at Xiao Shu, telling her to rise and come to her side, also telling the others to rise.

Only Jiang Xuening remained, having set down her gold hairpin, kneeling prostrate on the ground.

A fast horse from the palace to the Ministry of Justice offices didn’t take long, and with the Empress Dowager’s urgent decree it would be even faster without stopping.

Half an hour later, Zheng Bao returned with someone.

Jiang Xuening had knelt until her legs lost all feeling. Knowing the most difficult trial was arriving, she also knew Chen Ying was a cruel official—if the old hag dared summon him, she must have something to rely on, so if she truly fell into his hands, her fate would certainly be even more miserable.

She closed her eyes slightly.

She only heard several footsteps pass by her, then voices greeting Empress Dowager Xiao—

“This subject, Vice Minister of Justice Chen Ying, pays respects to the Empress Dowager and greets Her Majesty!”

“Rise.”

Jiang Xuening’s heart grew colder, forcing herself not to tremble.

Then she heard Empress Dowager Xiao’s voice.

It carried some doubt: “Who came with you?”

That person stood diagonally behind Chen Ying, in black official robes. Even with scarlet cloud and thunder patterns pressed at the edges and corners, it was hard to diminish his cold, austere, detached air. He only lowered his eyes calmly and said: “This humble subject, Bureau Director of the Jiangxi Bureau of Evaluations in the Ministry of Justice, Zhang Zhe, pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

“…”

In that instant, a thunderous sound exploded in Jiang Xuening’s mind like floodwaters breaching a dam, yet obliterating all surrounding existence.

She raised her head.

And saw that figure standing diagonally ahead—cold, lean, and tall, as if from another lifetime.