Before he had time to look at Shen Guiyan a few more times, Gu Chaodong left the palace with a pale face and headed straight for the Yuwen residence.

Yuwen Houde and Han Jiangxue seemed to have developed a rift recently. Probably because time had passed, he wasn’t as eager to appease his wife as before. Yuwen Houde took Gu Chaodong out drinking without saying much to Han Jiangxue.

Gu Chaodong plied him with strong liquor, saying all the flattering words appropriate to the occasion. Once he was quite drunk, only then did he ask about Shen Guiya’s matter.

“If not for her, Xue’er wouldn’t treat me like this now.” Yuwen Houde was full of grievances. “Back then one misstep became an eternal regret… Sorry, I shouldn’t speak of the minister’s sad matters.”

Gu Chaodong’s face turned greenish. Suppressing his anger, he said: “It’s fine, I’m not sad. You just need to tell me the truth, and I won’t hold you accountable for anything.”

Liquor emboldens the timid. Yuwen Houde didn’t care that the person before him held a much higher official position. With a thick tongue he said: “The truth? The truth is that woman lifted the coffin lid and ran away. Now she’s even quite glorious—truly formidable. But Minister, she’s become the Great Priestess now. You wanting to find your wife back is simply impossible.”

“How is it impossible?” Gu Chaodong asked.

Yuwen Houde grunted twice. “She was elevated to divine status by the Emperor. Now someone backs her. If you run around saying she’s your wife, others will just think you’re crazy. His Majesty won’t acknowledge it either.”

He wasn’t wrong. But if that was the case, why did Yan’er still come looking for him?

Gazing at the night outside, Gu Chaodong fell into contemplation again.

Gu Chaobei was so busy in the Imperial Study he had no time even to sleep. He’d already arranged for some city defense troops to be transferred from neighboring districts. The imperial city guards and palace Imperial Guards were managed by Shi Fulong and would naturally protect the Emperor.

However, he still couldn’t figure out what National Uncle Wen intended by coming back. If he directly attacked the capital, this level of defense wouldn’t be enough. But if the other side said they were simply returning triumphant to the capital, having soldiers travel in disguise to avoid disturbing the people, then his show of force would seem rather petty.

What troubled him more was that the Wen family’s forces in the court hadn’t been eradicated, and Scholar Fu’s people were still in the rear palace. For the time being, he simply couldn’t handle so many matters at once.

With a splitting headache, the Emperor’s face had lost its casual demeanor. Instead, he was like an irritable lion, frightening the trusted confidants standing before him into trembling.

“Your Majesty, please take some food first.” Zhuiyun entered and said softly: “You didn’t eat lunch. At least eat some dinner.”

“Who has the mood to eat?” Gu Chaobei even yelled directly at Zhuiyun. “Send it again after I’m done with my work!”

Zhuiyun coughed lightly and steeled himself to say softly: “This was sent from Yonghe Palace.”

Gu Chaobei froze.

The several confidants below carefully looked up and saw all the Emperor’s violent aura seem to instantly withdraw. He picked up a spoon, was silent for a moment, then quietly drank all the porridge in the bowl.

When he put the bowl back, he noticed there was still a note pressed at the bottom.

Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow and unfolded it to look.

“You advance forward, this consort remains behind. Eat more, need not worry.”

Zhuiyun, seeing the Emperor’s softened expression, finally breathed a sigh of relief and signaled those standing below to continue speaking.

Several confidants, including Ye Wendao, were very curious what was written there that could instantly tame a lion. However, the Emperor had already placed the note in his sleeve and was looking at them with a pleasant expression, asking: “How are the capital’s military forces deployed?”

He was in front, with her behind. Was Yan’er saying she would help him handle other matters? Although Gu Chaobei felt that with her temperament she might struggle somewhat, looking at that note still put him in a good mood.

At least he wasn’t alone.

Shen Guiyan had always been very quiet, never actively attacking anyone. Having been in the rear palace so long, Gu Chaobei quite naturally saw her as a little kitten.

However, what the kitten delivered to his desk the next day was a petition signed by a thousand people.

“National Uncle Wen served country and people. He was a good person and died too unjustly. Three thousand students in the capital express their wish to vindicate him.” Shen Guiyan looked at the Emperor, speaking word by word.

In the Imperial Study, Scholar Fu, Prime Minister Gu, and others were all present. Hearing these words, they all had the same reaction as the Emperor.

Had Consort Yan gone mad?

What kind of person was National Uncle Wen? Using carriages and horses to mock refugees, extorting the people’s wealth, forcibly seizing commoner girls—what hadn’t he done? Popular resentment was widespread. It was only because the Wen family protected him that no one in the court dared speak out. When he suffered Heaven’s punishment, quite a few people clapped in celebration.

Now Consort Yan was actually saying the common people wanted to vindicate National Uncle Wen?

Gu Chaobei looked twice at the thick scroll in his hands and said in a heavy voice: “National Uncle Wen died from Heaven’s punishment. How should he be vindicated? Beloved Consort, don’t make trouble.”

“This isn’t this consort’s meaning, but the people’s meaning.” Shen Guiyan knelt before the throne, very seriously saying: “Rumors arose from somewhere among the people saying the Great Priestess is an impostor who deceived Your Majesty’s trust and wrongly killed good people. They ask Your Majesty to see through the Great Priestess’s true face as soon as possible.”

Scholar Fu frowned. “Ignorant foolish people, how would they understand Heaven’s mandate…”

“Does Scholar Fu also feel National Uncle Wen indeed deserved Heaven’s punishment?” Shen Guiyan asked.

Everyone froze and looked up at him. Scholar Fu nearly bit his own tongue and hastily waved his hands. “This old minister doesn’t mean that. National Uncle Wen’s treatment of people was indeed quite good…”

“So that means you also agree with the people’s viewpoint, believing Heaven’s punishment was unjust and the Great Priestess is very likely a fraud?” Shen Guiyan smiled slightly. “Scholar Fu is wise.”

Wrong either way. Scholar Fu’s face turned ashen. Speaking was wrong, not speaking was wrong. He shouldn’t have opened his mouth just now!

Gu Chaobei finally understood Shen Guiyan’s intention. He smiled inwardly, though his face remained very serious. “Since a thousand people have submitted petitions, this matter should still be investigated. Entrust it to Scholar Fu to handle.”

“Your Majesty, this subject recently cannot spare the time.” Scholar Fu quickly shook his head. “This subject still needs to repair the archives…”

“No matter, that can be entrusted to others. This matter concerns National Uncle Wen, so only you venturing forth would be more appropriate.” Gu Chaobei said seriously: “I give you three days. You must investigate the truth thoroughly. As for the Great Priestess, first confine her to Tongtian Temple.”

“Your Majesty is wise.” Shen Guiyan bowed in acknowledgment.

Looking up again, the two gazed at each other from afar. He didn’t speak, nor did she need to say more—they understood each other perfectly.

Scholar Fu was in a difficult position. Investigate the Great Priestess? She was currently helping them. But to say National Uncle Wen deserved death—wasn’t that right? When the National Uncle returned, the first head he’d take would be his.

Why would such a difficult problem be thrown into his hands?

Shen Hanlu, confined to quarters, immediately understood the Emperor wanted to move against her. So she immediately had Xiuping write a thousand flyers to be distributed throughout the capital at night.

The flyers read: “The current Son of Heaven obtained his position through treachery. Refusing Heaven’s words, he frames the priestess. Our dynasty’s mountains and rivers will surely shatter, the people will suffer terribly, not a blade of grass will grow.”

Rather than calling it Heaven’s words, it was more like a curse. Common people feared curses most—better to believe than not to believe. Like in modern times when somewhere tells you to forward something and if you don’t your whole family will die—that kind of thing with cursing implications. Even knowing it’s false, there will still be a large group of people who forward it.

The current common people had this mentality. So in just one night, the populace rioted. The capital’s citizens surrounded the imperial city, with some even threatening uprising.

Shen Hanlu sneered coldly in Tongtian Temple, waiting for the Emperor to come fetch her out to quell this popular resentment.

However, she didn’t wait for Gu Chaobei. What came instead was Shen Guiyan.

“Fifth Younger Sister, it’s time to go home.” Upon seeing her, this was what Shen Guiyan said.

Shen Hanlu was utterly astonished. Having changed her name long ago, she’d lived as herself and had long forgotten that in this era she was called Shen Guiya, Shen Guiyan’s fifth younger sister.

This address made past events surge up like they were choking her throat, making it hard to breathe.

“Eldest Young Madam, come change clothes.” Baoshan sneered coldly. Having guards restrain Xiuping beside her, she removed Shen Guiya’s priestess outer robe and replaced it with burial clothes.

“What do you want to do?” Shen Guiya’s eyes widened in terror as she looked at Shen Guiyan standing before her with her protruding belly. “I’ve already avoided you. Why do you still oppose me?”

Shen Guiyan waved her hand, and Shen Guiya’s mouth was gagged.

“Why?” Shen Guiyan looked at Shen Guiya. “Because you oppose my husband’s realm.”

Shen Guiya couldn’t speak, but her eyes were full of venom. This wretched woman who wouldn’t die well—without evidence she dared arrest her like this. She was currently this dynasty’s Great Priestess with National Uncle Wen backing her!

Scholar Fu followed into the room, his expression full of hesitation, but he still read from the imperial edict in his hands: “Shen Guiya faked her death to deceive the Gu family and escape the punishment of being drowned in a pig cage. Later she bewitched Dowager Consort Wen and deceived her way into the palace. Now she even impersonates a deity, wrongly executing loyal court officials. Using the pretext of Heaven’s punishment, she caused the deaths of National Uncle Wen and a group of worthy ministers, causing me to painfully lose my right and left arms. Now a thousand people petition to execute this evil spirit. I specially order Shen Guiya to return to her grave. I am also willing to accept responsibility for failing to recognize people clearly, fasting for one month to comfort the spirits of loyal ministers in Heaven.”

Her pupils contracted. Shen Guiya looked at that edict in disbelief.

She deceived the Emperor? She perpetrated fraud? Although at the beginning she did have this idea, later the Emperor counter-exploited her!

Now he actually… actually turned to bite her!

What a Gu Chaobei! When he sent her to the Great Priestess position, he’d probably already planned it—first kill all the people in the court he wanted to kill and could kill, then push all the blame onto her. He only needed to say he listened to slander and was deceived, and he’d have no problems at all!

How could she have believed him!

Her mouth stuffed with something, unable to make a sound, Shen Guiya’s eyes bulged, bloodshot as she stared at Shen Guiyan.

Scholar Fu was just going with the flow. Without a Great Priestess, so be it—better than earning National Uncle Wen’s hatred.

“Are you unwilling?” Shen Guiyan stood before Shen Guiya and asked her softly.

“Mmph mmph!” Shen Guiya couldn’t speak. She wanted to ram her head into Shen Guiyan’s belly, but Baoshan had people tie her to a pillar.