The Princess Consort of Zhennan leaned forward and bent down to grasp Song Chuyi’s hand, her two eyes staring tightly at her, quite curious: “Old Madam, Xiaoyi, don’t laugh at my heavy curiosity. I just don’t quite understand—Xiaoyi, why… why did you have to specifically target Princess Shijia?”

She had only learned later when Princess Rongcheng told her that it had been Song Chuyi’s designated target from the very beginning. This little girl’s capabilities were even greater than she had imagined. She had actually been able to make Zhou Weizhao, the Chen family, and even her own family all agree with her ideas and willingly pave the way for her.

Old Madam Song knew why. In that terrifying dream, it had been Empress Dowager Rongxian and Wang Jinsi who had cruelly beaten Song Yan into foundation piles, nailing him alive to death before sending him into the Princess Tomb to arrange a ghost marriage with Princess Shijia.

She could see the profound hatred in Song Chuyi’s eyes—whenever she mentioned Shen Qingrang, her eyes were full of disheartened disappointment, but when she mentioned Empress Dowager Rongxian, the hatred bursting from her eyes was astonishingly intense.

“Princess Shijia may indeed have truly been unaware of this matter.” Song Chuyi deliberated for a while, finally not avoiding the Princess Consort of Zhennan’s question: “But the Empress Dowager most certainly intended to pin the crime of murdering the Crown Prince on our family… I thought, only Princess Shijia could make the Empress Dowager feel pain.”

Not just pain—Prince Tai was dead, Wang Jinsi was dead, and now Princess Shijia was practically the Empress Dowager’s very life. Song Chuyi—this was clearly aimed at taking Empress Dowager Rongxian’s life.

The Princess Consort of Zhennan couldn’t help but feel afraid of this little girl’s ruthlessness in striking straight at someone’s vital point, yet at the same time she couldn’t help but nod continuously like the Prince of Zhennan—just as Princess Rongcheng had said, if the Crown Prince had truly met with misfortune, she probably wouldn’t have wanted only Princess Shijia’s life.

Different allegiances naturally meant different perspectives on matters. Standing from the Prince of Zhennan’s residence’s angle, she naturally couldn’t wait to see the Empress Dowager, who wished ill upon the Crown Prince, suffer misfortune.

She patted Song Chuyi’s hand, unable to say clearly what she was feeling at this moment. After a long while she sighed: “I’m afraid now the Empress Dowager and Princess Shijia truly know what pain feels like to have one’s heart gouged and flesh carved.”

The Princess Consort of Zhennan’s guess wasn’t wrong. Empress Dowager Rongxian had already emotionally collapsed. Days of high pressure and disguised house arrest had already tormented her unbearably. Her concern and worry for her daughter grew stronger with each passing day. She continuously sent people to summon the Emperor to see her, but all efforts were futile.

That made sense—the Emperor had seized the opportunity and couldn’t wait for her and Shijia to die thoroughly. How could he possibly show mercy? Her remaining fingernails had all been worn down. Her entire person had become so haggard and aged that she looked nothing like the same person from half a month ago. Full of gloomy energy, she turned back to glare at Yu Pei: “How long has it been already? Can the distance from Changning Hall to Qingning Hall be so far it takes an entire day to walk?!”

Yu Pei had also been tormented thin. She carefully approached to try her best to placate her: “The young eunuch hasn’t returned yet. Your Highness, don’t be anxious. His Majesty will surely…”

Empress Dowager Rongxian had already reached out to overturn the small table. The decorations on top scattered all over the floor in disarray. She widened her bloodshot eyes, appearing crazed: “Send someone again! This old woman wants to see if he can really avoid me for a lifetime!”

And that bitch of an Empress! How many people she had sent out had all been turned away at the Empress’s place…

Yu Pei was so anxious she didn’t know what to do. Days of worry and internal heat had caused blisters on her lips. These past days, the young eunuchs sent out had without exception been unable to enter even the doors of Qingning Hall or Taiji Hall…

Fortunately, just as Empress Dowager Rongxian was about to start throwing things again, a loud announcement sounded from outside: “His Majesty arrives!”

The cloisonné mirror Empress Dowager Rongxian had been gripping in her hand finally escaped disaster. She coldly raised her head high, watching Emperor Jianzhang walk step by step before her, the words she spoke both urgent and sharp: “The Emperor has finally deigned to see this old woman. How truly rare. This old woman thought you considered the Empress Dowager of Changning Hall already deceased.”

Emperor Jianzhang had his hands clasped behind his back. Hearing these words, he involuntarily smiled: “How could that be? The Empress Dowager is in the prime of her years. You will certainly live to nine thousand years.”

Empress Dowager Rongxian’s face filled with disdainful mockery—she had always hated Emperor Jianzhang being like this, saying whatever he pleased to himself no matter what she said, as if he couldn’t understand any attacks.

“Whether I live that long or not, what does it matter? Isn’t it all just a matter of one word from you, Emperor?” She touched her own flat, short nails that could barely wrap around flesh, raising her head to look at Emperor Jianzhang: “Taking so long to come, you must have already decided how to deal with this old woman, correct?”

“The Empress Dowager is the mother of the nation and also the late Emperor’s legitimate empress. How would this son dare to deal with you?” Emperor Jianzhang picked up a chair and sat down, his tone as bland as if he were merely discussing Changning Hall’s decorations with her: “I came this time to pay respects to you and incidentally bring you some news. Elder sister has been spoiled rotten these recent years. Because of the Prince Consort’s death, she actually bears a grudge against you, resenting that you made her remain a widow all these years and wouldn’t allow her to divorce. She actually practiced witchcraft at home to curse you…”

Years ago, under Empress Dowager Rongxian’s strong promotion, Princess Shijia had been matched with the legitimate second son of Duke Chengguo’s residence as her Prince Consort. Later, when Duke Chengguo’s household was exterminated, the Prince Consort was also implicated and executed together…

Due to Empress Dowager Rongxian’s selfish intentions, Princess Shijia had remained a widow all these years without finding a new Prince Consort.

Suddenly bringing up two painful matters, each sentence piercing her heart, Empress Dowager Rongxian couldn’t restrain her rage and stood up abruptly: “Nonsense!”

Emperor Jianzhang was not affected by her anger. Unhurriedly, he took the tea Eunuch Feng handed him and lightly sipped: “How could I be talking nonsense? Human and material evidence are both present. Both the Imperial Guard and the Court of Judicial Review have examined it. If Mother does not believe it, we can have the Three Judicial Offices conduct a public trial…”

He was threatening her—if she didn’t accept this version of events, he would have the Three Judicial Offices conduct a joint trial, openly and officially establishing the crime of poisoning the heir apparent…

“This matter has nothing to do with her! She knew nothing at all. You clearly know…” She closed her eyes, feeling her blood freeze: “Come at me instead…”

Emperor Jianzhang placed his teacup on the table, producing a crisp sound. He fell silent for a while, his voice cold as this late autumn evening: “Mother, witchcraft is a grave crime warranting household extermination. Elder sister is so lacking in judgment, harboring dissatisfaction toward you over such a trivial matter—she doesn’t deserve you pleading for her.”

He paused, then sighed: “Moreover, elder sister has already committed suicide by poisoned wine out of guilt…”