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

"If that person is setting a trap for me, Ah Wan, let them do as they please. I don't need the position of Empress Dowager."

"I haven't even started yet, Empress Dowager, why have you surrendered and lay down first?"

"No, you have to get up and come with me."

I can't let the main system single me out and torture me relentlessly; if I'm suffering, nobody else will be.

"Mother, what are you saying? The harem still needs you. Please don't say such things again."

"The only way to confirm today's events is to establish that Consort Yu conspired with her maid to assassinate you before the Yu family could react, and that she committed suicide out of fear of punishment after the plot was exposed."

"Furthermore, when I went to the Taiji Hall just now, Consort Yu's body was gone. I do not believe that the Yu family is innocent."

“We need to quickly turn the tables, take control of the Yu family, accuse them of treason, and fake their deaths after the assassination attempt failed. Even if the Yu family are just pawns, if they want to prove their innocence, let them go find Consort Yu's body themselves.”

The Empress Dowager looked at Shen Sangwan, who had a serious expression and was seriously thinking about countermeasures, and her heart tightened.

Ultimately, it was because she was too useless that she caused her daughter to worry about her so much.

"Mother...Mother—?"

"What did Awan say?"

"Mother, have you remembered what I just said?"

"Yes, I will issue the decree immediately."

Before the rumors about Chonghua Palace could spread, an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager was issued and sent out of the palace.

The imperial decree was delivered by Cen Qingyu, the commander of the Imperial Guards, who led two squads of Imperial Guards to seal off the Yu residence as quickly as possible.

No one in the household was imprisoned; they were all simply confined to the mansion.

"Yu Qinxue, daughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, conspired with her maid to assassinate me and seriously injured the Empress. After the plot was exposed, she faked her death to escape. This is a crime of treason. I am grateful for Yu Qinxue's service to the court and hereby grant her permission to atone for her crime by handing over the traitor. She will be spared the death penalty. She has five days to do so. If she fails to hand over the traitor, her family will be confiscated and exiled for treason."

When Cen Qingyu came to deliver the imperial decree, Yu Anhua was having a meal with his wife, Madam Li.

He listened to the Empress Dowager's decree with an incredulous expression.

Did their daughter assassinate the Empress Dowager?

He faked his death to escape?

The two looked at each other blankly for several moments.

“Commander Cen, my daughter is definitely innocent. She doesn’t even dare to see poultry being killed, so how could she assassinate the Empress Dowager? There must be some misunderstanding.”

Li knelt on the ground, shaking her head repeatedly. Her daughter was the most gentle and obedient; how could she have committed such a rebellious act?

Having been immersed in officialdom for many years and serving in the Dali Temple, Yu Anhua was able to recover his senses.

"The humble minister accepts the order."

"His Majesty was furious when he learned of this. This five-day grace period was only obtained by the Princess on your behalf, Lord Yu. You must make the most of it and not go down the wrong path and lose your life in vain."

After handing the imperial edict to Yu Anhua, Cen Qingyu bent down and whispered a reminder in his ear.

"This humble official thanks the Commander for his guidance."

Having completed the task assigned to him by Shen Sangwan, he appointed a captain to guard the palace and rode back to report.

Wen Yuening's mind was a little muddled, and she seemed to hear someone calling her "A-Ning" over and over again.

She vaguely saw someone waving at her in the distance, with a smile on their face.

She wanted to get closer to see the person more clearly, but the closer she got, the less she could make out the person's appearance.

Just as she was about to touch the figure, a red vortex swept in and pulled her in.

The scene shifts again to the dream I had after getting drunk that day.

Mountains of corpses piled up like seas, and wreckage was everywhere.

This time she could see it more clearly; the words "Zhongdu" were engraved on the city tower where the female general stood.

She could still not see the female general's face clearly, but she could clearly see the several arrows stuck in her back.

It turns out she died from betrayal by her own people.

Wen Yuening smiled sarcastically, feeling sorry for the female general.

The person she protected with her life betrayed her in the end.

I don't know whether to lament the coldness and indifference of the world and people's hearts.

We should still criticize this female general for being utterly ignorant and stupid.

As she approached the man, a dull ache throbbed in her heart. Was she weeping for the female general?

Suddenly, my mind exploded with a deafening roar.

Scene after scene flashed before my eyes.

"Your Highness, what is this? How can it be so ingeniously crafted?"

"These are mechanical gadgets made by skilled craftsmen from Dongrui Kingdom. They are little things to pass the time. I thought that A Ning usually likes to tinker with these things, so I had many brought back."

......

"Your Highness, these are newly made snacks, please try them."

"A-Ning's skills have improved again. The pastries she makes are becoming more and more fragrant and delicious, which is great."

......

"Your Highness, you must return from your campaign against the Northern Witch Kingdom as soon as possible. The pear blossom wine brewed for Your Highness is about to be opened. If Your Highness returns late, His Majesty may take it all."

“Alright, I will return in triumph soon. When that happens, I will celebrate with the pear blossom wine brewed by Ah Ning.”

......

"Your Highness, where is this place?"

"Ah Ning, do you like it?"

"Of course I like it."

"If A-Ning likes it, then all my efforts have been worthwhile."

......

"Your Highness, you clearly promised to take me away, why did you break your promise?"

"Your Highness, don't leave A-Ning alone."

"Your Highness, A-Ning has come to keep you company."

Wen Yuening fled as if she had gone mad. She closed her eyes, afraid to look or think.

Shattered light and shadow lingered around her, a misty haze enveloped her, and fear gripped her entire being.

"call--"

Suddenly, I awoke from the nightmare, a lingering, disorienting feeling washing over me.

My heart aches, like it's being stabbed with a knife. An endless stream of bitterness and pain surges out, as if a wound etched deep in my soul has been torn open again, leaving it bloody.

"Your Majesty, you've finally woken up!"

Qingque and Qingluan were assigned tasks by the Empress and returned from outside the palace just before the palace gates were locked.

Upon returning to Fengluan Palace, he heard the news that his mistress had been injured at the Empress Dowager's residence, and he rushed to Chonghua Palace.

Having taken over from Shuyi, who had been guarding the bedside, Shuyi felt much more at ease upon seeing Wen Yuening open her eyes, and a smile appeared on her face.

"Would Your Highness like something to eat?"

The person on the bed didn't respond even after being asked twice; they were just staring blankly at the bed curtains above their head.

Qingque dared not be careless and immediately went out to report to Shen Sangwan and the Empress Dowager.

As for Shen Yuchen, after seeing the Empress, he threw a huge tantrum in Chonghua Palace, but was calmed down by Shen Sangwan and returned to Xingde Palace.

"Empress Dowager, Your Highness, Her Majesty has woken up."

"Ah Wan, go and see her for me. My old ailment has flared up today. I have a terrible headache and feel extremely tired."

"Mother, please rest early."

The Empress Dowager entered the main hall's sleeping quarters, while Shen Sangwan turned and went to the side hall.

Qingluan carefully helped the person up and half-reclined against the headboard.

Their eyes met, and looking into each other's eyes, Shen Sangwan felt as if her heart was being gripped.

He was slightly stunned; why was she looking at him like that?

Pity, regret, and... lingering affection?