Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Shen Yuchen placed all the pressure on the Dali Temple before allowing the ministers and their families to leave the palace.

Shen Sangwan felt extremely weak, and Shen Yuchen was worried. He wanted the imperial physician to examine her before letting her return to the palace, but Shen Sangwan refused.

With Shuyun's help, they slowly walked back to Weiyang Palace.

Shuyi had already tidied up the bedroom, but a faint smell of blood could still be detected.

"Please lay out the soft couch and quilts. I will rest on the soft couch tonight."

Shuyi wanted to go to the side hall to prepare a new bed, but Shen Sangwan stopped her directly.

"Yes."

Shuyun carefully helped Shen Sangwan sit down in a chair. Her hesitant expression prompted Shuyun to ask directly, "Have you found any other clues?"

Shuyun nodded, then took out a tattered piece of cloth from her bosom.

“Your Highness, this is golden cotton, which is produced in Dongrui and is only used by the royal family. It is very strange that it appeared in the Nanjing Imperial Palace. Because the hall was in a state of chaos, I concealed it.”

Shen Sangwan took the tattered cloth; by the candlelight, dark cloud patterns could be vaguely seen on it.

I felt a sudden jolt in my head, some images flashed through my mind, and the pain was intense.

"Your Highness!"

Seeing Shen Sangwan suddenly cover her head, Shuyun was so frightened that she quickly bent down to check on her.

After a while, she waved her hand and said, "I'm fine. Go and thoroughly investigate the background of the Ming King, and scrutinize everyone around him. I suspect that he is colluding with the Northern Witch and the Eastern Rui."

"Yes, I will have my men investigate shortly."

"Your Highness, Yuanzhou's spies reported that Harichi of Dongrui had been harassing the border with a squad of soldiers from time to time recently, but one day it was suddenly replaced by Morgi. Upon investigation, it was discovered that he had died suddenly."

"What is Duke Song's strategy in response?"

"These are all minor skirmishes. The Duke of Song did not report to the court, nor did he send troops, allowing the other side to provoke him."

Shen Sangwan leaned back slightly in her chair, closed her eyes, and her mind was a jumble of thoughts.

The person behind this web is incredibly capable; everything that has happened in the past six months has been part of a carefully orchestrated plan.

If she can't find a way to counterattack, she'll be finished sooner or later.

"What's going on with Princess Ming and Consort Qi? Every time I see them, they don't look well."

"The concubine of Prince Qi has been subjected to long-term abuse by Prince Qi since entering the Prince's mansion. The Princess of Ming is unaware of this. The deepest our people have infiltrated is only to carry out tasks in the outer courtyard of the Prince's mansion. Moreover, the people in Prince Ming's mansion are very discreet. Even the gatekeepers and servants will not say a word of trivial matters on ordinary days."

"But in my observation, it should also be due to long-term tyranny."

Shen Sangwan, who was deep in thought with her eyes closed, frowned slightly. Perhaps some things could be found out from the person next to her in bed.

But Shen Yujing and Shen Yuwei are always present at the banquets, so she has to think of a way to invite Lin Wanyi and Xie Qianyun separately.

"Your Highness, the soft couch and bedding have been laid out."

"Yes, everyone, go out. I will take care of the princess."

Shuyi paused, swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and carried the basin of blessings out of the inner hall.

Shuyun returned to the Princess's residence as instructed by Shen Sangwan and assigned the tasks one by one.

Phoenix Palace

"Your Majesty, Qingtang previously sent word that the Prime Minister was plotting something. Could it be that tonight's events are orchestrated by the Prime Minister behind the scenes?"

Qingque massaged Wen Yuening's back shoulder, her brows furrowed in thought.

Wen Yuening, leaning back in her chair, raised her hand to stop Qing Que from pressing down on her.

"How is the investigation of Qingluan that I asked you to do?"

Upon hearing her younger sister's name, Qingque paused slightly, "Your Majesty, A-Luan, she..."

"Ok?"

"She secretly found a lover behind my back. After I had someone investigate him thoroughly, I discovered he was involved with a guard from the Prince Ming's residence. Your Highness, A-Luan is just a..."

Wen Yuening waved her hand, slowly stood up, and said ruthlessly, "Qingque, I don't care whether she was used or did it intentionally. I'm only giving you two days. Don't let me see her again, or you'll only see her corpse."

"Yes...yes, this servant thanks Your Highness on behalf of A-Luan."

Qingque knew that this was already the best possible outcome.

Those who betrayed their own mistress in the past never seemed to have a good ending.

“Since he is a guard of the Prince Ming’s mansion, then the person who assassinated Princess Yuan’an must be related to the Prince Ming. Have Qingzhi find an opportunity to capture that guard for me and see if we can get anything out of him.”

"Yes."

"Also, have the people in the branch pavilions keep a close eye on the movements of Dongrui and the Ming Prince's Mansion. I have a feeling that something is not quite right."

"Your Majesty, Dongrui and Nanjing have a long-standing feud. Do you suspect that Prince Ming is colluding with Dongrui?"

As the weather turned cooler, the palace servants had already closed the windows of the inner palace, so Wen Yue Ning gently pushed them open.

The chilly autumn wind at night cleared Wen Yuening's mind considerably.

"I suspect that the person who went to the pavilion twice to buy His Highness's life was the Ming King."

Qingque was puzzled, her brows furrowed. "But Prince Ming and His Highness have always been on good terms, how could this be—Your Majesty! Could it be that His Highness Prince Ming harbors ambitions to seize the throne...?"

As she finished speaking, Qingque covered her mouth, looked around with her eyes, and then secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Whether he is plotting a rebellion or not is another matter. What I am worried about is that he already knows my identity."

"Your Highness always appears in the form of a man and speaks to others in a man's tone. Even Qingzhi and the others do not know your identity. How did His Highness Prince Ming find out?"

Qingque remained kneeling on the ground, not getting up. She slightly raised her head and looked at Wen Yuening with some confusion.

"The second assassination attempt was a test. It's hard not to be suspicious of Feng Shao's matter. Once he guesses it, things might not go so smoothly afterward."

“Your Majesty, you did not stop the two assassination attempts. Even if he was testing us, Feng Shao is a traitor who wants to take control of the Soul-Hooking Pavilion for himself. Your Majesty is cleaning up the house and has nothing to do with His Highness.”

The night was beautiful, but Wen Yuening had no interest in appreciating the moon.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty is heading towards our Phoenix Palace."

Qingluan's voice sounded from outside the door. Wen Yuening reached out and closed the window, then turned and gave Qingque a look.

Having received the message, Qingque bowed and withdrew.

She ordered the two palace maids, Rushan and Ruzhu, who had been assigned by Shen Yuchen, to serve her, while she herself, along with Qingluan, secretly left the palace through the secret passage that Wen Yuening had previously used.

When Shen Yuchen arrived at Fengluan Palace, his mind was full of Shen Sangwan's affairs, and he didn't notice that Qingque, who served Wen Yuening closely, was not there.

"Fu'an said the Empress is unwell. Has the imperial physician been summoned to examine her?"

Although he didn't really like his empress, he still had to put on a show.

"Perhaps I kicked off the covers while sleeping and caught a chill, which caused my headache. I have already had fish head soup made, and it has helped a lot after I drank it."

"Your Majesty doesn't look well. Has something else happened, like a fire in the heated room?"