The Hall of Containing Light remained silent for a long time, then the Empress Dowager's voice rang out again: "What are your thoughts?"

Old Master Qin bowed his head respectfully and reported: "This old minister dares not. I only wish to proceed according to the established rules, and pray that the Empress Dowager makes the sole decision."

After thinking for a while, the Empress Dowager nodded slowly. Proceeding according to the established rules meant that since His Majesty had passed away, the Crown Prince should naturally ascend the throne. Thinking of the several conversations she had held with the Crown Prince in the past two days, the Empress Dowager grew increasingly satisfied with this grandson, feeling that the boy was much more astute than his mother.

The Empress Dowager was the Empress's aunt, and from any perspective, the Crown Prince's ascension was her first choice. Now that she had received the veiled support of a key military official, there was no reason to change anything.

"What about the Fan residence?"

"Your Majesty… should not forget that woman surnamed Ye from before."

After another deathly silence, the Empress Dowager said, "You may withdraw for now."

"Yes." General Qin gave a salute and withdrew from the Hall of Containing Light. However, not far from the palace, the most senior figure in the Qing Kingdom's military unconsciously looked back. He felt a prickling sensation that he could faintly hear someone crying inside the hall.

The old man's heart suddenly twitched, and he remembered the wisp of the Emperor's soul on the distant Great Dong Mountain. An unprecedented sense of unease and fear surged into his heart, and cold sweat began to seep from his back as he quickened his pace out of the palace.

After the initial two days and two nights, the concubines who had been summoned to the hall by the Empress Dowager's decree returned to their respective residences, except for Consort Ning, Worthy Consort Yi, and Virtuous Consort Shu. The reason was simple: these three concubines had all borne sons. In such a critical moment, if the Crown Prince was to safely ascend the throne, the Empress Dowager had to keep these three women under her control.

As for the Eldest Princess, she returned to Guangxin Palace, a place she had long been away from.

The Empress Dowager sat alone on the couch, a few old maids serving in the back, holding their breaths and not daring to make a sound. The dim yellow light shone on the old Empress Dowager's cheek, clearly delineating countless wrinkles, making the current most powerful person in Qing Kingdom appear hopelessly old and frail.

"Did I make the wrong choice?"

The question in the Empress Dowager's heart gnawed at her confidence like a venomous snake. Hearing the news of her son's death at the end of her life was an extremely difficult blow for any elderly person to bear. However, the Qing Kingdom's Empress Dowager had forcefully suppressed her grief and begun to seek the most reliable and secure path for the future of Qing Kingdom.

"If he were still alive, he would blame me, wouldn't he?"

The Empress Dowager slowly closed her eyes, thinking of the Emperor who had already left this world, and her heart was filled with sorrow. His Majesty's goal in going to Great Dong Mountain to offer sacrifices to Heaven was to depose the Crown Prince. Yet, now that His Majesty had just passed away, she, his mother, was about to re-establish the Crown Prince on the throne. His Majesty's soul would surely be furious.

But for the sake of Qing Kingdom, for the continued existence of the vast land her imperial son had established, the Empress Dowager seemed to have no other choice.

Even the terrible suspicion lurking in her heart would not affect her decision.

The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes, as if trying to find her son's soul in the palace. She quietly looked at the night palace, her lips slightly parted, and suppressed her voice to say, "I don't care who harmed you, or whether it was the person I chose who harmed you. But you are already dead, do you understand? You are already dead, so nothing else matters!"

Yes, the Empress Dowager was not a foolish old village woman. The so-called evidence that had poured into the capital in recent days could not completely convince her that her distant grandson, whom she was not particularly close to, was the mastermind behind the assassination.

She even vaguely suspected the roles her daughter and her other grandsons had played in the Emperor's assassination, because from any perspective, the Emperor's death had given these people the most wonderful fruits.

But suspicion was useless, and belief was only a subjective choice. The Empress Dowager knew that if she wanted to spend her remaining years in peace, she had to force herself to believe that Fan Xian was the real murderer, and that the Crown Prince would surely become a wise ruler.

"Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess has arrived." An old maid lowered her voice and reported.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand weakly, and the Eldest Princess Li Yunrui, wearing white palace attire, slowly walked into the main hall of the Hall of Containing Light, giving a graceful bow to the Empress Dowager, appearing timid and frail.

The Empress Dowager was silent for a moment, then waved her hand again. The maids and palace women serving in the entire palace quickly retreated from the main hall, leaving this empty and desolate palace to the mother and daughter.

The Empress Dowager looked at the trace of tears in her daughter's eyes, momentarily lost in thought. After a long while, she said, "I heard you've been washing your face with tears these past few days. Why torment yourself so much? The person is already gone, and there's no use in crying here."

The Eldest Princess smiled serenely, using a gentle tone that she had never shown to the Empress Dowager before, and said, "Mother's teachings are correct."

Then, she sat beside the Empress Dowager, leaning against her gently like a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl.

The Empress Dowager was silent for a moment, then said, "Your brother is an unreliable fellow. Now that His Majesty has passed away, come and keep me company more often when you have time."

"Yes, Mother."

The Empress Dowager watched her daughter out of the corner of her eye, then suddenly frowned and said, "Try to persuade me, about Anzhi's matter."

The Eldest Princess was slightly startled, seemingly not expecting her mother to ask so directly. After a long silence, she said, "I don't understand Mother's meaning."

The Empress Dowager's gaze gradually grew cold, then quickly faded away, and she said gently, "I just need something to convince myself."

The Eldest Princess lowered her head. After a moment, she said, "Fan Xian has a reason to do this."

"Why?"

"Because his mother is Ye Qingmei." The Eldest Princess raised her face, looking at her mother with a hint of desolation. "And he never considered himself to be surnamed Li."

The Empress Dowager was not angered and said calmly, "Continue."

"He colluded with the people of Northern Qi in Jiangnan. The specifics will become clear after investigation." The Eldest Princess said calmly, "Also… Fan Xian has some ambiguous connections with Dongyi City. Recently, the young Ninth Rank expert who has been following him should be a closed disciple of Sigu Jian."

"Are you talking about Wang Shisanlang?" The Empress Dowager said.

The Eldest Princess's eyebrows furrowed slightly, seemingly not expecting her mother to be so aware of these matters. She lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

"Several months ago, Chengqian went to Southern Zhao, and Wang Shisanlang took care of him along the way." The Empress Dowager's eyes became calm. "If he is Fan Xian's man, then I think… Anzhi is a good child."

The Empress Dowager continued slowly, "The Crown Prince has already told me about Wang Shisanlang." The old woman sighed. "For several days, the Crown Prince has been vigorously defending Fan Xian. Judging from this point alone, Chengqian is also a good child."

The Eldest Princess nodded, "I think so too."

The Empress Dowager quietly looked at her daughter, "His Majesty's sons each have their own strengths, and I am very pleased. Therefore… I don't want to see these younger generations continue to be tormented by you."

"I understand your meaning." The Eldest Princess replied calmly, "From now on, I will definitely be law-abiding."

"Although His Majesty was a bit stubborn and confused in recent years, he was still your brother after all." The Empress Dowager's brows gradually furrowed, her eyes filled with deep sorrow and helplessness as she looked at her daughter, unable to speak for a long time.

The Eldest Princess slightly turned her head, exposing her beautiful cheek to the dim light.

The Empress Dowager raised her palm and slapped the Eldest Princess heavily on the face, making a crisp sound. The Eldest Princess grunted and fell to the ground, a trace of blood flowing from her lips.

The Empress Dowager's chest rose and fell rapidly. After a long time, she gradually calmed down.

---

It is unclear whether Fan Xian had the closest to accurate judgment on the situation in the palace. If he knew it, he would definitely not choose to enter the palace, stating the truth about Great Dong Mountain in person to the Empress Dowager, and handing over His Majesty’s handwritten letter and the jade seal.

In this world-shocking event, Fan Xian had to admit that his mother-in-law's choice was a very simple, clear and effective plan. As long as His Majesty died, then whether it was the court officials or the Empress Dowager, they would take the Crown Prince, who was becoming more and more like a monarch, as the first choice.

From the perspective of name and stability, there was no better choice than the Crown Prince.

Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne and the dust settled, Fan Xian could only find a way to go to Northern Qi to freeload. But the current problem was that the Fan residence was under the control of the palace, and he heard that his wives and concubines had been brought into the palace. Even if he wanted to freeload, he couldn’t abandon his main course.

The women of the Li family were really more vicious than the other.

While Fan Xian was repeating the words "old bitch" with historical significance in his mind, he took advantage of the darkness to climb over a high wall and gently landed in a green garden.

This was the residence of a minister. Although there were no expert guards, there were many servants in the residence and many officials coming and going. From the foot of the courtyard wall to the study, Fan Xian, who was still seriously injured, felt a surge of blood in his heart and almost revealed his whereabouts.

After quietly listening to the movements inside the study for a while, Fan Xian used a dagger to pry open the window and flashed inside. He was met with a snow-white arrangement, which made him frown slightly. Then, he turned around and grabbed the throat of the minister who was about to exclaim, leaned to the other party's ear, and whispered, "Don't shout, it's me."

The minister who was subdued by him heard his voice, his body shook as if struck by lightning, but gradually relaxed.

Fan Xian vigilantly looked into his eyes and pulled his iron-like palm away from the other party's throat. If the other party really disregarded his life and called for help, with his current state, he was afraid it would be really difficult to escape from Kyoto alive.

This was a gamble, but Fan Xian's life was a big gamble, and his luck had always been good.

The minister did not call for help, but instead looked at Fan Xian's somewhat pale face with a strange look, as if somewhat surprised, yet somewhat unexpectedly joyful.

…

…

"Old Shu, don't look at me like that." Fan Xian confirmed that his judgment was correct, retracted the dagger, and sat opposite Shu Wu.

Yes, at this time he was in Shu's study. After several calculations, Fan Xian decided to find this great scholar who held a high position in the court first, because among all the civil and military officials, he always felt that only Zhuang Mohan's student was the most trustworthy in terms of character and morality.

Shu Wu looked at him with complex eyes and suddenly said, "Three questions."

"Please speak." Fan Xian replied solemnly.

"Is His Majesty dead?" Shu Wu's voice trembled slightly.

Fan Xian was silent for a moment: "When I left Great Dong Mountain, he was not dead yet, but…" He thought of the figure coming by boat, thought of Sigu Jian lurking nearby, thought of the great bald head who was likely to strike, and frowned and said: "He should be dead."

Shu Wu sighed, and didn't say anything for a long time.

"Who is the mastermind?" Shu Wu looked into his eyes.

Fan Xian pointed at his nose and said: "According to the information from the military and the Overwatching Council, it should be me."

"If it was you, why would you still return to Kyoto?" Shu Wu shook his head: "Such a frenzied act is not in line with your heart."

Both of them fell silent, and Fan Xian suddenly said, "Since I have come to find you, naturally I have something to ask you to do."

"What is it?"

"Don't let the Crown Prince ascend the throne." Fan Xian stared into his eyes, and said word by word.

Shu Wu's eyebrows furrowed and then loosened, and he lowered his voice and said, "Why?"

A faint self-deprecating smile floated on the corner of Fan Xian's lips: "Because… I believe that Grand Scholar Shu is unwilling to watch a parricidal and regicidal scum sit on the dragon throne of Qing Kingdom."

The room was silent. Fan Xian stood up, took out the letter he had hidden close to his body, and said softly, "Shu Wu, receive the decree."

Shu Wu was shocked, knelt on the ground, and took the letter with trembling hands. A great doubt welled up in his heart, thinking that if His Majesty had already returned to heaven, who wrote this decree? But he had been in the court for many years, and had been in charge of the imperial library for a long time. He was extremely familiar with His Majesty's handwriting and tone. He only looked at the cover and the explanation at the end of the letter, and knew that it was His Majesty's own handwriting. He couldn't help but get excited, and his eyes started to get wet.

Fan Xian tore open the envelope and handed the letter to Shu Wu.

The more Shu Wu read, the more shocked and angry he became. Finally, he couldn't help but slap the desk next to him and cursed: "Beast! Beast!"

Fan Xian gently and softly supported his hand, not letting Grand Scholar Shu's palm strike the desk, and said slowly: "This was personally written by His Majesty the night before he sent me back to Kyoto."

"I'll enter the palace immediately." Shu Wu stood up, his face full of anger that could not be concealed. "I want to see the Empress Dowager."

Fan Xian shook his head.

Shu Wu frowned and said: "Although the funeral has not been held, the palace has already started preparing for the Crown Prince's enthronement. Time is of the essence. If it's late, I'm afraid it will be too late for anything."

Fan Xian lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then said: "This imperial letter was originally… written for the Empress Dowager to see."

Shu Wu was shocked, and thought: That's right, with Fan Xian's hidden power in Kyoto and his own super strength, even if the palace city was now heavily sealed off, he must have a way to enter the palace, meet the Empress Dowager, and with this letter and the traveling seal he had seen earlier, the Empress Dowager would definitely believe Fan Xian's words.

"Ah…" Shu Wu's face changed all of a sudden, and he stared at Fan Xian blankly, "Impossible!"

"There is never anything impossible in this world." There seemed to be will-o'-the-wisps dancing in Fan Xian's eyes: "You are a civil official, and I am supposedly a member of the royal family. I can see the thoughts of those nobles in the palace more clearly. If it wasn't for fear of the Empress Dowager, why would I risk coming here tonight?"

After a moment of silence, he said: "The Li imperial dynasty is itself a vital thing, it will naturally correct the deformation of the body, so as to ensure that the entire royal family occupies control of the world and ensures its own survival... Under this major premise, nothing else matters."

Fan Xian looked at Grand Scholar Shu and said calmly: "Things have been done thoroughly, and it is right for you to choose what you choose. You can pretend that I haven't been here today."

Shu Wu also fell into a long silence. This Qing Kingdom minister suddenly became old all over, and after a long time, he said in a hoarse voice: "Since Lord Fan has been here, and this old man also knows about it, naturally I can't pretend that you haven't been here."

Fan Xian was slightly moved.

"This old man is just very curious, although Fan Shangshu is now under house arrest, but you still have many friends in the court, why did you choose this old man, and didn't go to see others, such as Director Chen, such as the First Prince?" Shu Wu's pupils emitted a comfortable light, and he asked with a smile.

Fan Xian also laughed and said: "Force will always only be the last way to solve things. In the end, this matter still needs to resort to force, but before taking action, Qing Kingdom needs to talk about reason."

He said calmly: "The reason why I chose you to reason for His Majesty is very simple, because you are a scholar."

Fan Xian finally said: "I am not a simple scholar, but I know what a real scholar should look like, such as your teacher, Mr. Zhuang Mohan - a scholar has bones, and I want to borrow your bones."

…

…

(It's the last day of June, and I'm asking everyone for monthly tickets as usual. Although the state of writing stories has been problematic since I went out, fortunately everyone is understanding, and I am truly grateful.)