Quick Travel to the Clouds

Yue Zhi presented a new secret report: "Carrier pigeon from the capital: Prince Beijing is claiming illness, Prince Xilin has been impeached by the imperial censors. His Majesty has ordered the Pacification Office to conduct a thorough investigation of the Shuanghuang Order."

The candlelight crackled, illuminating the fresh blood oozing from the gauze on Yun Chu's shoulder. The corners of her lips curved like an ice blade:

"My 'thank you gift' has just begun... Send a message..."

Shen Ji silently put his cloak on Yun Chu, his fingertips brushing the back of her cold hand. ——This storm sweeping across the government and the country is dragging everyone deeper into the vortex of the chess game.

Three months passed in a blink of an eye. Prince Huang Yunjin of Beijing and Prince Huang Yunqiong of Xilin lost their titles and became commoners.

The fate of both of them was that Yun Chu sent people to collect evidence of their crimes and presented it to the emperor.

In three months, Yun Chu's injuries had recovered, and all the officials of the twelve counties of Canglan were subjugated by Yun Chu through various means (Fire Iron Flying Ants collected various secrets of the officials, and Yun Chu used these secrets to threaten them, or directly executed the corrupt officials).

Now the twelve counties of Canglan are Yun Chu's territory.

The love value mission was completed. Yun Chu disguised himself and began to travel around the twelve counties of Canglan, taking the first step towards writing a book.

As for the management of the twelve counties of Canglan, Yun Chu handed it over to Shen Ji and the other three.

A year passed in a flash. Looking at the imperial edict from Yujing City, Yun Chu slowly stood up. The sunlight shone through the stained glass window onto the armrests of her black iron throne, casting a cold shadow.

The Queen was banished to the cold palace for poisoning Luo Guijun and the tenth princess Huang Yunmeng; the Empress Huang Yu went all out to overcome public opposition and made Luo Guijun the empress and Huang Beimeng the crown princess.

At this moment, a new decree came: she and the other four princesses who were crowned as kings rushed to Yujing to attend the palace of the new king and queen.

At the end of the edict, the imperial edict in cinnabar was eye-catching: "All the kings will set out from today to meet in Yujing and build the new empress's palace together." The tone was calm, but every word was as sharp as a knife.

The empress's decree has spread to all the vassal states.

As the convoy departed from Canglan Palace, the frosted leaves shone like blood. Thirty-six armored riders guarded a black carriage, their hooves breaking the thin ice.

Yun Chu leaned back in the car, and Shen Ji silently handed her warm ginseng soup, his movements as gentle as the brush of a feather; Gu Tingzhou directed the route through the curtain, and every gesture was as precise as playing chess; Liu Rufeng rode his horse beside him, and from time to time he roared to repel the prying birds; Bai Mo warmed up a pot of hot tea for Yun Chu.

After half a month's journey, we arrived safely.

In front of the gate of Yujing City, a golden plaque hangs high with the words "Heaven Bless the Phoenix Dynasty".

On October 15th, the day when the new emperor and empress entered the palace, the bells in the imperial city rang nine times.

When Yun Chu and his party stepped onto Suzaku Street, the people knelt down and colorful silks flowed like waves.

Inside the palace gate, the empress sat high on the dragon throne, the newly crowned queen Luo was wearing a phoenix crown and a red robe, and the princess Huang Beimeng was standing at the steps.

The four princes have arrived: Huang Yunli, the prince of Dongning, is surrounded by pearls and jade, with a beautiful smile but a sinister look in her eyes; Huang Yunlan, the prince of Ximo, is wearing a fur coat and hunting clothes, with his sword still on his saddle; Huang Yunxuan, the prince of Nanzhao, gently waves a silk fan, with a faint fragrance wafting from her sleeves; Yunchu, in a black cloak, rustles as he steps onto the jade steps alone.

The ceremony in the main hall was solemn and eerie.

The ceremony in the main hall behind the new emperor was long and oppressive, and finally came to an end amid the sound of nine-fold magnificent ritual music.

A grand palace banquet had already been set up in the magnificent Fengyi Palace. Delicacies were laid out on the rosewood table inlaid with gold, and fine wines were stored in glass cups, emitting an alluring glow.

Auspicious music flowed from the fingertips of the musicians in the palace, and female officials dressed in elaborate palace costumes shuttled back and forth to serve. It was a prosperous scene unique to the imperial capital, but it could not conceal the invisible gleam of swords and sabers.

The Empress Huang Yuqing sat high on the dragon throne above the Danchi, and the newly crowned Queen Luo sat beside her. She was wearing a phoenix crown and a red robe, and her beauty was unparalleled, but she could not hide a subtle tension.

The twelve-year-old princess Huang Beimeng, wearing a bright yellow python robe, sat in the most honorable seat at the bottom. Her little face was tense, and her big eyes looked at the four princesses sitting in the seats below with childlike admiration and a bit of instinctive vigilance.

Yunchu was seated among the four princes—Dongning King Huang Yunli smiled sweetly and greeted the royal family members beside him, but there was a cold sting hidden in the corners of his eyebrows and eyes;

Ximo Wang Huang Yunlan sipped the strong wine on the golden horse, and the sharkskin sheath of the sword at his waist shone dimly in the candlelight;

Nan Zhao Wang Huang Yunxuan held a broken jade fan and fanned it carelessly, a faint fragrance wafting from the slight movement of her sleeves.

Yun Chuze, still wearing his black cloak, sat quietly behind the desk. He picked up a piece of lotus cake, sniffed it, and put it down. His phoenix eyes scanned the entire hall calmly, like an outsider hunter assessing the jungle.

The seats behind her were empty - Shen Ji, Gu Tingzhou and others, as the prince's "household servants", were not qualified to attend such a private banquet of the imperial family. Now they could only wait in the inn outside the palace.

The feast was in full swing. Amidst the clinking of glasses, the princess accepted a bowl of rock sugar and snow pear soup from a waiter. The crystal clear bowl reflected the innocent face of a child.

Huang Beimeng took a sip and seemed to find the taste acceptable, so she tasted a few more spoonfuls.

Prince Dongning suddenly raised his cup and offered a distant congratulatory speech, which drew responses from the crowd. Amidst this harmonious and joyful noise—

A sudden change occurred!

The white jade bowl in the princess's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter" and shattered. Her small body twitched and curled up suddenly, a short and strange "ho ho" sound came from her throat, and her fair and tender face instantly turned a terrifying purple!

She clutched her throat tightly with one hand and scratched the air with the other. Her eyes bulged in pain and beads of cold sweat rolled down her forehead.

"Meng'er!" Empress Huang Yuqing's scream was like gold and silk being torn apart. She suddenly stood up, and her dragon robe overturned the jade table in front of her, leaving cups and plates in a mess! All the beautiful spring scenery solidified and shattered in an instant!

The hall was completely silent, and then chaos broke out:

"Imperial Physician! Send the message to the Imperial Physician quickly!"

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

"Escort! Escort!"

The terrified shouts, the sound of cups falling to the ground, and the screams of palace maids instantly shattered the music.

The imperial guards rushed in like wolves and tigers, their swords drawn. The cold light of their blades instantly illuminated the carved beams and painted buildings, transforming the entire Fengyi Hall into a murderous battlefield. All the guests were roughly pressed into their seats, and no one dared to move.

The empress rushed down the steps and picked up her convulsing little son. For the first time, a panicked and stern expression crossed her well-maintained face. "Investigate! Seal off this entire palace! Not a single one of them, including the water, rice, cups, servants, and guests, shall be spared! If we can't find the person who poisoned you, you will all be buried with me!"

Huang Yuqing's sharp eyes, like those of an eagle, swept across the area below fiercely - his eyes finally fell like poisoned arrows on the four kings sitting at the same table: Dongning, Ximo, Nanzhao, and Anchen.

Suspicion needs no announcement; it's already a raging storm! Only these four powerful princes have the motive to poison the crown prince and destabilize the nation! They have the credentials to approach the case! They have the ability to orchestrate such a murderous scheme!

Ximo Wang Huang Yunlanhua turned pale, covered her face and exclaimed: "Your Majesty is wise! How dare my second sister..." But her fingers in her sleeves were clenched so tightly that the knuckles turned white.

Prince Huang Yunli of Dongning suddenly slammed the table and stood up, her eyes wide open in anger: "Who dares to slander me?!" Her hand was already on the hilt of the knife, causing the guards to point their blades at her throat.

Nan Zhao Wang Huang Yunxuan's face turned pale, and the folding fan in his hand fell to the ground with a "bang". He said in a trembling voice: "Poison... There must be something fishy..." But his eyes drifted towards Yun Chu who was pushed back to his seat intentionally or unintentionally.

Yun Chu, however, was remarkably calm. She didn't argue, didn't panic, and didn't even stand up.

He just slowly stroked with his fingertips the piece of lotus cake that he had just picked up and put down.

When the empress's gaze was fixed on her like a branding iron, she even raised her eyes slightly.

There was no fear in the depths of those phoenix eyes, but instead a hint of cold mockery and a deep understanding of everything.

Everyone saw that the princess had the attack after drinking the soup, and before being served, the soup was inspected by the palace maids in front of the four princes' seats to prove that it was "non-toxic."

The seemingly flawless process turned out to be a chain of murder.

The wind blew in from outside the tightly closed palace door, bringing with it the chill of early winter, enveloping the strong smell of blood and medicine in the palace, as well as the uncertainty that hung heavy on their shoulders - poisonous snakes were hiding, sharp blades were hanging by their necks, and the deep palace of Yujing was opening its huge mouth to devour people.