The mad princess forces love upon him, and the aloof imperial advisor trembles every night.

"Granny, what if Her Highness the Eldest Princess suddenly went mad and started committing violence with a sword in court, only to be 'forced' to kill her on the spot by the Imperial Guards... Would that be a good ending?"

Granny Li was trembling all over and couldn't utter a single word.

The empress looked at the porcelain vase in her hand, a mad light burning in her eyes:

"The 'Heart-Eating Powder' from Southern Xinjiang is colorless and odorless. If it gets on your clothes, it will cause poisoning. Once poisoned, the person will go berserk and kill anyone they see... and eventually die from having their heart meridians severed."

She gently shook the porcelain bottle, and the liquid rippled within.

"Chu Qingyue, aren't you highly skilled in martial arts? Aren't you a man of deep thoughts?"

"I'd like to see... if you can still cause trouble after being poisoned by this."

——Morning morning——

Inside the Taiji Hall, civil and military officials stood on both sides, whispering amongst themselves.

A strange excitement filled the air—the kind of excitement only hyenas have when they smell blood.

"Have you heard? The entire male line of the Prime Minister's family has died out."

"Who's so powerful as to dare touch the Pei family? That's the Empress's maternal family!"

"Not only the Prime Minister's residence, but I heard that the Princess's residence was also assassinated last night. Prefect Cai of the Capital Prefecture even had ten carriages full of the bodies of the assassins."

"This princess is too amazing; with so many assassins, she still couldn't..."

"This princess... is too terrifying..."

Shh—here it comes!

Outside the palace, a eunuch announced loudly: "The Princess Zhenguo has arrived—!!"

All discussion came to an abrupt halt.

Chu Qingyue entered against the light. Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, unadorned, except for a striking shade of vermilion on her forehead.

She wore a dark black court dress embroidered with gold phoenixes, with a jade belt around her waist, and her steps were graceful as if she were walking on clouds.

The morning light slanted in through the palace gates, casting a pale golden outline around her, making her appear both sacred as a deity and eerie as a demon.

All eyes were on her—with awe, apprehension, calculation, and deep-seated fear.

She walked to the front of the military officers and stood there, her posture upright like a lone pine tree on a cliff.

She slightly raised her eyes, her gaze calmly sweeping over everyone in the hall, and wherever she passed, the hushed discussions completely disappeared.

A deathly silence.

Chu Xuanjing stepped out from the ranks of civil officials, a gentle and polite smile on his face:

"My dear sister, you were frightened yesterday."

Chu Qingyue's lips curved into a very faint smile:

"It's alright, stretching your muscles is good too. But Third Brother, your eyes are dark-circled, did you not sleep well last night?"

Chu Xuanjing's smile froze, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "I've been tossing and turning, unable to sleep, worried about my sister's safety."

"That's really too much trouble for you, Your Majesty," Chu Qingyue said softly.

"But rest assured, Your Majesty, those assassins... all departed peacefully."

At the rear, Emperor Chu listened to the commotion in the front court and rubbed his aching temples.

Wang Defu bowed and offered tea: "Your Majesty, you don't look well. Would you like to rest?"

The Chu Emperor took the teacup but didn't drink it. He stared at the rising steam for a long time before sighing.

"It's good to be young, full of energy and fighting every day. Unlike me..."

He didn't go on.

But he could feel that his health was getting worse and worse.

Sometimes, while reviewing memorials, I would suddenly feel dizzy and everything would go black.

The imperial physician came to see him and said it was due to overwork, but he knew that wasn't the case.

The position of crown prince was vacant, and the eldest prince was the most suitable candidate, but he died.

The remaining princes are the deep-thinking Third Prince, the纨绔不良 (wán kù bù lián, a spoiled and good-for-nothing) Sixth Prince, the Seventh Prince who is leading troops in the field... and this Princess Zhenguo.

Chu Qingyue.

The Chu Emperor closed his eyes.

He had to admit that his daughter's personality and style were indeed very similar to that of the founding emperor, who was both a scholar and a warrior, and who expanded the territory.

The military achievements of conquering Beiming and expanding territory are unparalleled even among princes throughout history.

Her prestige within the army was terrifyingly high; even the most ruthless members of the Northern Underworld Army only listened to her.

Unfortunately... she was just a girl.

At that moment, a voice in my mind asked: If she were a man, would you pass the throne to her?

Emperor Chu opened his eyes, looked towards the main hall, and slowly shook his head.

Will not.

Even if she were a prince, the throne would never be passed to her. At most, she could be guaranteed a life of wealth and glory, but nothing more.

As for why...

He thought of her birth mother, Madam Liang.

I recall those clear, watery eyes, and her words: "Your Majesty, I have no regrets. I only beg you... to treat Yue'er kindly."

"Liang Shi," the Chu Emperor murmured to himself, "Don't blame me for being heartless. Blame her..."

He regained his composure, straightened his back, strode quickly to the dragon throne, and slowly sat down.

After the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" rang out, Wang Defu's voice then rang out:

"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

"Your subject has something to report!" A mournful cry interrupted the chant.

Everyone turned around and saw Pei Wenzheng, who had been castrated, sitting in a wheelchair and being pushed in by the empress's maid.

His face was ashen, his lips were cracked, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and although a thin blanket covered his lower body, traces of blood could be vaguely seen seeping out.

As soon as he entered the hall, he stared intently at Chu Qingyue, his eyes filled with such venomous resentment that they seemed to ooze poison.

Chu Qingyue was looking down at the gold thread on her sleeve when she felt his gaze. She looked up and smiled at him.

That smile was both cold and bewitching, yet it sent a shiver down Pei Wenzheng's spine, and he immediately burst into tears, his voice hoarse.

"Your Majesty, this old minister pays his respects, but due to... due to illness, this old minister is unable to perform the proper greetings. I humbly request Your Majesty's understanding."

The officials looked at the prime minister, who had always been arrogant, in this state.

Some people chuckled quietly, some looked sympathetic, and many more had schadenfreude in their eyes—the Pei family had been arrogant for too long, so long that everyone was hoping they would fall.

The Emperor of Chu was secretly delighted to see the wretched state of this old man who always opposed him, but he feigned concern on the surface.

"No need for formalities. What happened to you, my dear minister? Why are you in a wheelchair?"

Chu Qingyue spoke first, her voice clear and melodious:

"Father, perhaps the Prime Minister is too stout and finds walking too tiring, so he prefers to sit in a wheelchair."

She paused, then added.

"It's alright, Your Excellency's children and grandchildren are very filial; even if you're in a wheelchair, someone will push you around—"

"Oh, I forgot," she smiled more, "the Prime Minister's residence... seems to have no 'descendants' now."

Upon hearing the words "descendants," Pei Wenzheng wept even harder, almost unable to breathe.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You must do justice for this old minister!"

The Emperor of Chu frowned: "My dear minister, please speak freely. If you have truly suffered an injustice, I will surely give you justice."

Pei Wenzheng took a deep breath, as if using all his strength:

"My Pei family, starting with my grandfather, has devoted itself to serving the Great Chu. We have produced two prime ministers and one empress. We believe that we have done our utmost and will not rest until our dying breath."

He turned around abruptly, pointing at Chu Qingyue, his finger trembling:

"Your Highness! If my Pei family has truly offended you in any way, please speak frankly!"

"As long as the evidence is conclusive, even if you acted first and reported later, this old minister will never cry foul!"