The night was very dark.

Dark clouds covered the silver moon—not a trace of light remained.

The Cold Palace was desolate. From time to time, women’s weeping could be heard, making it seem terrifying.

“Chu’er, I’m fine.” Consort Yun spoke with a smile. “The reason women in the Cold Palace feel sad, distressed, and go mad is because they have expectations. But my expectations were exhausted long ago. It’s just changing where I live—nothing more.”

Yun Chu nodded: “Aunt, settle in for now. I’ll have people send some things over.”

After Consort Yun entered the Cold Palace, Yun Chu let out a long breath of stale air.

She raised her head to look at the pitch-black night sky, a moment of dejection in her eyes.

Just two more days—only two days left until success, yet…

She only indulged in dejection for an instant before quickly regaining clarity.

Now that Chu Rui had moved into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he would definitely replace all the eunuchs and palace maids. There wouldn’t be a single one of her people near the Emperor, making administering the antidote impossible.

The fastest method now was to capture Chu Rui alive, forcibly kill the child insect, then kill Chu Rui.

While contemplating, Yun Chu returned to the Eastern Palace.

As soon as she walked in, a figure sitting at the entrance suddenly awakened, stood up and said: “Mother, are you alright?”

“Brother Yu, why haven’t you slept yet?” A smile appeared on Yun Chu’s face. “The sky will be light in another hour, and you still need to go to the Imperial Academy. Go rest quickly.”

“Mother, is there anywhere I can help?” Chu Hongyu’s face was full of worry. “Don’t think I’m young—there are many things I can do. I really want to help Mother.”

Yun Chu touched his face: “That you have such thoughtfulness makes Mother truly happy. However, right now there really isn’t anything you need to help with. When Mother needs you, I’ll tell you, alright?”

“Tell me too.” Chu Changsheng walked out from inside and said softly: “Elder Brother, Mother, I’ve grown up too.”

Yun Chu led the two children inside and slept together with them.

But after sleeping only a short while, she awoke.

She got up quietly, dressed properly, and went to Changqiu Palace.

“Chu’er, Chu’er…” Consort Yin’s eyes had just been red-rimmed, but upon seeing Yun Chu, as if seeing her pillar of support, she couldn’t help crying out: “Qinghua—what will become of her? Her face is completely ruined. What should we do…”

Yun Chu looked silently at Qinghua lying on the bed, not knowing what to say.

When she learned Chu Rui had abducted Qinghua, what she worried about most was that Qinghua would be bought off by Chu Rui… After all, in her view, Qinghua really didn’t have much sense.

But what she hadn’t expected was that Qinghua would rather endure inhuman torment than betray the Emperor.

Although Qinghua wasn’t very clever, she also possessed the proud integrity of an imperial princess.

“Shen’er… Brother Shen!”

Qinghua cried out in alarm and woke up.

When she saw the two people before her, she sighed in relief: “I’ve been rescued, right? Brother Shen is also fine, isn’t he?”

Consort Yin nodded: “Brother Shen is perfectly fine—nothing’s wrong. He doesn’t even know something happened to you yet. First recuperate your health, dear.”

Only then did Qinghua realize something. She reached to touch her face, her ear, her hair. Immediately, tears streamed down her face as she cried with her whole body trembling.

“Qinghua, my Qinghua!”

Consort Yin also began crying, holding Qinghua as they cried together.

After crying enough, Qinghua revealed an ugly smile: “I’m just disfigured—nothing major… As long as Father Emperor is fine…”

With these words, Consort Yin cried even harder.

Qinghua’s heart sank. She raised her head: “Yun Chu, Father Emperor he…”

“Father Emperor has been bewitched by Chu Rui.” Yun Chu’s voice was somewhat heavy. “I’ll assign additional shadow guards to Changqiu Palace. During this time, Mother Consort and Second Sister shouldn’t leave Changqiu Palace.”

She had shadow guards that Chu Yi left for her, as well as shadow guards from the Yun family, but there were still too few usable people.

The sky gradually brightened.

The sun rose from the eastern sky, illuminating the palace. Palace maids and eunuchs busily went about their tasks in an orderly manner.

No matter what major events occurred last night, on a new day, the tasks that needed doing still had to be done.

“Crown Princess, where are we going?” Qiutong behind her asked softly.

Yun Chu looked ahead: “To the Office of the Heir Apparent.”

The palace had an Office of the Heir Apparent, subordinate to the Eastern Palace organization. Its main function was to teach and assist the Crown Prince.

Above the Office of the Heir Apparent were the Junior Tutor, Junior Mentor, and Junior Guardian—second-rank official positions, equivalent to advisors to the Eastern Palace.

After Chu Yi became Crown Prince, he had replaced many people in the Office of the Heir Apparent with those he trusted. In the current situation, she could only ask these advisors to jointly plan major affairs.

“We greet the Crown Princess!”

Everyone from the Office of the Heir Apparent hurriedly paid their respects. Those currently working inside were all fifth and sixth-rank officials and deputy envoys.

Although their official ranks were small, they had also heard some of what happened in the palace last night.

It was said that Consort Yun led the Imperial Guards in searching the rear palace and injured Prince Zhuang. In the end, Consort Yun was confined to the Cold Palace, and the Imperial Guard commander was replaced.

The palace was not peaceful. They didn’t know what the Crown Princess was doing here at this time.

Yun Chu spoke: “I would trouble Secretary Liu to go invite the three lords—the Junior Tutor, Junior Mentor, and Junior Guardian—to come.”

This was one inconvenience of moving into the palace—leaving the palace required requesting permission from the Empress. Without an Empress, one had to request permission from the consort managing the rear palace. She didn’t know who would manage the rear palace after Aunt was confined to the Cold Palace.

While sitting in the Office of the Heir Apparent waiting.

News came from the front court that shocked Yun Chu immensely.

After many days, the Emperor attended court despite his illness. At court, he announced that he would focus on recuperating from his illness. Since the Crown Prince was not present, Prince Zhuang would supervise the state.

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was in an uproar. Countless veteran officials raised objections.

Because Chu Rui’s status was special—allowing Chu Rui to supervise the state would nurture his ambitions, and the Great Jin Kingdom would fall into chaos.

But the Emperor completely refused to listen to everyone’s opinions. Instead, he personally wrote an imperial edict, enfeoffing Chu Rui as Prince Regent.

This action was even more baffling.

An old official, because of his remonstrations, struck his head against a pillar and died on the spot.

The group of minor officials in the Office of the Heir Apparent couldn’t help discussing among themselves.

“Wasn’t he sickly? That he’s lived until now—he must have been feigning illness to gain the Emperor’s trust…”

“I think he’s like the Empress Dowager—both want that position… After all, in the Empress Dowager’s and his view, that position should have been his to begin with.”

“Shh, you dare say such things? Do you not want to live?”

“I just don’t understand—what is the Emperor thinking? How can he let the legitimate son of the former Crown Prince supervise the state? There’s never been such a precedent.”

“And enfeoffing him as Prince Regent—in the history books, only when a young emperor ascends the throne is a Prince Regent appointed to assist the state…”

“Enough, let’s not discuss this anymore. Don’t bring trouble to the Crown Prince.”

“…”

During the discussion, the three lords—the Junior Tutor, Junior Mentor, and Junior Guardian—also entered.

All three had poor expressions, clearly because of what happened at morning court.

“We greet the Crown Princess.”

The three collected their thoughts and cupped their hands toward Yun Chu.

Yun Chu stood up: “Please don’t be so formal, my lords. Let’s sit inside. Someone come, serve tea.”

Palace maids brought in steaming hot tea.