Jin Xiang paid no attention to her anger, saying indifferently: “This servant’s mouth can indeed be silenced, but the situation won’t change. Everything this servant has said will soon happen. By then, if Your Highness wants to regret, it will be too late.”

Zheng Shi gripped the armrest tightly, her knuckles showing layers of white: “Who sent you?”

Jin Xiang smiled slowly: “It was Master Liu who sent this servant to care for Your Highness.”

“Master Liu…” Zheng Shi repeated murmuringly, then said in surprise: “Liu Hongji?”

“Correct. Master Liu and Prince Qin both care deeply about Your Highness, but being helpless against the Crown Prince’s stubbornness and Noble Consort Ji’s interference, they cannot openly assist. They can only secretly send this servant to look after things.”

“Look after?” Zheng Shi sneered: “How nicely put. Since we’re at this point, let’s make everything clear. Stop hiding and concealing.”

“Your Highness is truly straightforward.” Saying this, Jin Xiang said softly: “Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest – when disaster strikes, each flies away. Even loving couples are like this, let alone when the Crown Prince treats Your Highness so heartlessly.”

Zheng Shi’s eyes narrowed slightly as she said coldly: “You want me to betray the Crown Prince?”

“Not betrayal, but seeking a way to survive for yourself and Second Young Master and the others. Prince Qin promises that as long as Your Highness helps him succeed, though Your Highness cannot become Empress of the realm, you will surely live in wealth and comfort, and Second Young Master and the others will receive everything they deserve.”

Zheng Shi stared at her, saying coldly: “Prince Qin… also wants to rebel?”

Jin Xiang bowed her head slightly: “Your Highness is ice-snow intelligent, truly admirable to this servant.”

“You… you’re all simply mad!” Zheng Shi stood up and paced back and forth in the room, trying to calm the shock and fear in her heart. Li Jiancheng wanting to force the palace and rebel was shocking enough, and now there was another Li Shimin. She really… didn’t know what to say.

“Prince Qin takes desperate measures only because he’s been forced into a corner by the Crown Prince. Your Highness has lived in seclusion these past years and doesn’t know how excessive the Crown Prince has become in colluding with Prince Qi and Noble Consort De.”

After a long while, Zheng Shi finally calmed down somewhat, stopped pacing, took a deep breath and said: “I’m just a fallen-from-favor Crown Princess. What can I help you with?”

Jin Xiang smiled: “Very simple. Prince Qin wants to know when the Crown Prince will act.”

Zheng Shi wasn’t stupid and quickly guessed Li Shimin’s intention: “Prince Qin wants to strike after the enemy moves first?”

“Correct. Only this way can Prince Qin legitimately ascend the throne.” After a pause, Jin Xiang added: “This time is not only Prince Qin’s opportunity, but also Your Highness’s opportunity. It depends on whether Your Highness wants to seize it.”

Zheng Shi didn’t answer. This matter was of great importance and she needed to carefully consider the pros and cons. Jin Xiang understood this point, so she didn’t press, waiting quietly.

This time, for their mother and children, it might be an opportunity, or it might be an abyss. It was like a high-stakes gamble – win and they’d live in wealth and comfort without needing to watch others’ faces; lose, and they’d have nothing, falling into the eighteen levels of hell.

Should she… really gamble this once? Using three lives to gamble?

Just as she was in difficulty, Jin Xiang said: “Opportunity knocks but once. Time is running out. Your Highness should decide early.”

Zheng Shi bit her silver teeth hard: “All this is just your word alone. Why should I believe you?”

“This servant can swear to Heaven that every word spoken today represents Prince Qin’s intentions, without half a sentence of deception. If Your Highness still won’t believe, this servant has no solution. Additionally… Master Liu asked this servant to tell Your Highness that he can promise you one more thing.”

“What thing?”

“Master Liu knows that Your Highness fell to today’s situation all because of harm from Jirong. If not for this woman’s instigation, even if the Crown Prince and Your Highness weren’t loving spouses, it wouldn’t have become today’s situation. So Master Liu promises that if successful, he’ll hand Jirong over to Your Highness to deal with. Whether she lives or dies, neither he nor Prince Qin will interfere.”

Zheng Shi’s expression brightened as she stared intently at Jin Xiang. Her silver teeth behind her vermillion lips bit again and again. After a long while, she said: “Not just Jirong, but including the child she bore – all must be handed over to me to deal with!”

Jin Xiang said without hesitation: “Agreed!”

Zheng Shi said gravely: “You agreed readily enough, but what about Master Liu? What about Prince Qin? Will they agree?”

Jin Xiang smiled and took out a paper slip from her sleeve, handing it over. It clearly stated that if Zheng Shi mentioned Jirong’s son, he would also be handed over to her to deal with.

“Master Liu anticipated Your Highness would have this request, so he agreed early on. Master Liu’s decision will not be opposed by Prince Qin, so Your Highness can rest assured.”

Zheng Shi was startled, then sneered: “Liu Hongji, he’s truly skilled at reading people’s hearts. No wonder the Crown Prince was so worried when he learned Liu had sided with Prince Qin.” Saying this, she stared in the direction of Changchun Pavilion, saying word by word: “That bitch owes me things, and I’ll collect them one by one!”

Jin Xiang said with a smile: “So Your Highness agrees?”

“Isn’t this what you wanted?” Saying this, Zheng Shi frowned: “However, learning the exact time when Li Jiancheng raises troops is truly troublesome.”

Jirong must know about this matter, but she wasn’t Jirong. Given Li Jiancheng’s current feelings toward her, he would absolutely never come tell her.

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Shi’s eyes lit up as she looked at Jin Xiang: “I’ve thought of a method, but it will require wronging you a bit.”

Jin Xiang bit her teeth: “As long as it can help Prince Qin succeed, this servant doesn’t mind suffering some grievance.”

“Good.” Zheng Shi beckoned Jin Xiang forward and whispered in her ear.

That afternoon, Li Jiancheng was in his study discussing final details with Li Yuanji, Xie Shufang and others. This matter concerned all their lives and deaths, requiring extreme caution.

After hearing the personnel arrangements, Li Jiancheng turned his eyes: “Yuanji, how are things with Chang He?”

Li Yuanji smiled: “Eldest brother, rest assured. Chang He has already agreed to submit to us. When the time comes, not only will he not obstruct us, he’ll secretly assist.”

Li Jiancheng nodded: “That’s naturally best, but this person Chang He… can he be trusted?”

“I knew eldest brother would have this concern, so I sent people to secretly watch Chang He’s parents. Unless he doesn’t want those two old lives, he absolutely won’t dare betray us.”

Li Jiancheng smiled: “You’ve thought thoroughly this time. Also…”

“Knock knock knock!” The knocking outside interrupted Li Jiancheng’s words. “What is it?”

A servant’s voice quickly came from outside: “Your Highness, the Crown Princess requests an audience.”

Li Jiancheng’s brows furrowed. Zheng Shi – what was she coming for now? Though somewhat puzzled, he didn’t intend to satisfy his curiosity. To him, anything related to Zheng Shi was a waste of time, not worth his attention.

Thinking this, Li Jiancheng called out: “I still have business. Tell her to go back.”