Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 11: Palace Maids' Casual Chat Reveals Secrets! The Truth Behind the Liu Family's Overbearing Power

The Cold Palace remained unusually quiet for the next few days.

Wang Fu stopped causing trouble, and the eunuchs who were monitoring him relaxed their guard a bit, occasionally hiding in a corner to take a nap.

When Jinshu went to collect her meal, she found that the food had actually improved a bit—the porridge wasn't so sour anymore, and there were even a few vegetable leaves occasionally.

"Your Majesty, have they changed their ways?" Jinshu muttered softly, holding her bowl.

Shen Qingci drank her porridge without saying a word.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

There's been no movement from Liu Ruyan for the time being. Either she's planning something bigger, or... she's waiting for something.

She needs more information.

Information often comes from the most inconspicuous places.

For example, there were two young palace maids who delivered meals to us every day.

One of them was named Xiao Cui, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a round face and a talkative nature.

One of them was named Xiaohong, about the same age, but more silent and always with her head down.

That noon, the two came to deliver food again.

As usual, there were two bowls: one for porridge and one for pickled vegetables.

But today there was an extra cornbread—though it was still as hard as a rock.

Xiao Cui put the bowl on the table, glanced into the room, and saw Shen Qingci leaning against the headboard.

His face was still pale, so he pursed his lips and whispered to Xiaohong:

"It looks like things are really going downhill...tsk tsk, they used to be so glamorous, now they can't even afford a hot meal."

Xiao Hong nudged her: "Say less."

"What are you afraid of? She can't hear you."

Xiao Cui didn't take it seriously, but she still lowered her voice a little.

"Hey, have you heard?"

Yesterday in court, Prime Minister Liu promoted two more of his protégés; one was appointed to the Ministry of Personnel, and the other to the Ministry of Revenue.

Shen Qingci had her eyes closed and was breathing evenly, as if she were asleep.

But their ears were already perked up.

Xiao Hong seemed reluctant to discuss this: "That's a matter for the imperial court; let's not talk about it..."

"What does it matter?" Xiao Cui snorted.

"Now everyone in the palace knows that Prime Minister Liu wields immense power, and four out of the six ministries are under his control."

Even His Majesty has to give him some face—otherwise, how could the Imperial Concubine be so favored?

"Don't talk nonsense..."

"How could I have lied?"

Xiao Cui got excited and asked, "Do you know what His Majesty bestowed upon the Imperial Concubine on her birthday the day before yesterday?"

The luminous pearl presented as tribute from the South China Sea was as big as a fist!

It is said that it can glow at night, making the entire Chunxi Palace as bright as day.

There were also silks and satins from the Western Regions, embroidered goods from Jiangnan… ten whole boxes filled!

Xiao Hong gasped, "So many?"

"Of course," Xiao Cui said enviously.

"If you ask me, the Imperial Concubine will become Empress sooner or later."

"Look, after Empress Shen fell, the position of Empress was vacant, and His Majesty hasn't appointed a new Empress. Isn't he just waiting..."

"Xiao Cui!" Xiao Hong exclaimed anxiously, "How can you say such things?"

Xiao Cui realized she had said too much and quickly shut up.

The two put down their food and left in a hurry.

The door closed.

Shen Qingci slowly opened her eyes.

His eyes were clear, showing no sign of sleepiness.

Four out of the six departments are staffed by members of the Liu family…

The South China Sea's luminous pearl, ten chests of gifts...

The back position is empty...

She pieced together the information in her mind.

Liu Chengzong's power was greater than she had imagined.

The Ministry of Personnel was in charge of official promotions, while the Ministry of Revenue was in charge of money, grain, and taxes.

With these two most important departments in his hands, he essentially controlled the lifeline of the imperial court.

No wonder he was able to easily bring down his father, a mere Grand Tutor.

And Nangong Ye...

Shen Qingci sneered.

Rewards, favors, exclusive favor.

On the surface, it seems like deep affection and loyalty, but upon closer examination—

If you really love Liu Ruyan so much, why don't you make her your empress?

The daughter of a powerful prime minister and a favored concubine who saved his life—it's perfectly legitimate for her to become empress.

But Nangong Ye did not stand up.

What is he waiting for?

Or rather... what is he guarding against?

Shen Qingci recalled the man's deep and unfathomable eyes from the original owner's memories.

He was the emperor.

How could an emperor who could fight his way out from among many princes and sit firmly on the throne really be swayed by emotions?

The so-called "exclusive favor" is probably more of a check and balance.

He used Liu Ruyan's favor to appease the Liu family, while simultaneously keeping them occupied and restrained by the vacancy of the empress's position.

Three birds with one stone.

Good tactic.

"Spoiled?" Shen Qingci muttered to himself, his voice full of sarcasm. "Just a pawn in the game of checks and balances."

Just like she was back then.

The Shen family is a prominent and upright family, with disciples and former associates throughout the court and the country. Making her empress would both win over the faction of upright officials and balance the influence of the Liu family, who are related to the imperial family.

Therefore, she was made empress.

So when the Shen family "made a mistake," she was abandoned without hesitation.

From beginning to end, she was no different from Liu Ruyan.

They are all pawns.

The only difference is that Liu Ruyan, this pawn, is still useful now.

She had already become a discarded pawn.

"Your Highness?" Jinshu pushed open the door and came in. Seeing Shen Qingci sitting on the edge of the bed in a daze, she asked worriedly, "What's wrong? You don't look well..."

"It's nothing." Shen Qingci shook her head. "Jinshu, you said before that Father had stayed in the Northern Border?"

Jinshu nodded: "Yes, my lord once served as the Imperial Inspector of the Northern Border, where he rectified military discipline and improved people's livelihoods, and was well loved by the border troops and the people."

Later, after returning to the capital and being promoted to Grand Tutor, the generals from the northern border would often write to inquire after him.

Shen Qingci's eyes flickered slightly.

north.

Prince Zhenbei.

If she remembered correctly, Prince Zhenbei, Xiao Qingtian, was one of the few military generals in the court who did not respect the Liu family's authority. He held a large army and guarded the border.

However, it seems that Liu Chengzong's influence has not yet extended into the army.

At least, it cannot extend into the northern border.

Is this an opportunity?

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out in the courtyard.

Wang Fu's shrill voice was particularly grating: "Watch your step!"

The Imperial Concubine is going to the Imperial Garden to admire the chrysanthemums tomorrow. If she passes by our area, anyone who dares to bump into her will be in for a beating!

Appreciating chrysanthemums?

Passing by the Cold Palace?

Shen Qingci and Jinshu exchanged a glance.

The Cold Palace was located at the westernmost part of the palace, while the Imperial Garden was at the easternmost part.

Liu Ruyan wanted to go from Chunxi Palace to the Imperial Garden, so there was no way she could "pass by" the Cold Palace.

This was done on purpose.

"Your Majesty," Jinshu's voice tightened, "is she going to...?"

"Let's see if I'm dead or not," Shen Qingci said calmly. "And by the way... to show off."

Jinshu gritted her teeth: "Then what do we do?"

"Lie down." Shen Qingci lay back down, pulling the tattered blanket over herself. "When you're dying, shouldn't you be lying down?"

"But……"

"Jinshu," Shen Qingci said, looking at her.

"Tomorrow, no matter what happens, no matter what you see, don't move or speak."

Remember, we are now... ants.

Ants.

An ant that can be crushed at any moment.

Therefore, they must lie low.

We must endure it.

Jinshu's eyes reddened, and she nodded vigorously: "This servant understands."

Shen Qingci closed her eyes.

My mind was racing.

Liu Ruyan is coming tomorrow.

This is an opportunity.

An opportunity to observe the enemy up close.

It's also an opportunity to...test the waters.

She needed to know just how wary Liu Ruyan was of her.

It is also necessary to know how much of Nangong Ye's "doting" on Liu Ruyan is genuine.

Outside the window, Wang Fu was still shouting.

The eunuchs busily swept the courtyard and pulled weeds.

They even moved a few half-dead chrysanthemums from elsewhere to decorate the entrance.

That's really... a lot of effort.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Shen Qingci's lips.

Then, she suddenly felt a slight movement in her lower abdomen.

The fetus has become active again.

Lately, the baby's movements have become more and more frequent, and every time it moves, that warm current flows on its own, like it's... cultivating itself?

Shen Qingci suddenly remembered the book "Cultivating Qi" in the tree hole.

She hasn't started practicing yet.

Perhaps, it's time.

She asked Jinshu to take out the booklet from the hidden compartment, and then she carefully read it by the light coming through the cracks in the window.

The breathing method is very simple.

By using specific postures, you can guide your breath to circulate through several basic acupoints.

She tried to adjust her breathing using the method described above.

Each breath is long and gentle.

At first, I didn't feel anything.

But slowly, the warm current in my abdomen began to respond.

It automatically flows along the path marked on the booklet, following the rhythm of its breathing.

It was very gentle and smooth, like reviewing a lesson that I was already familiar with.

Shen Qingci was surprised to find that the path of this warm current was almost exactly the same as the one drawn in the booklet!

It's like... a fetus is born knowing how to train.

Or perhaps, this "Cultivating Qi" chapter was actually prepared for this special constitution?

She continued to guide.

As I breathed deeper, the warm current became clearer and more abundant.

Her meridians, which had become sluggish due to long-term poisoning, began to loosen slowly.

Like a dried-up riverbed finally receiving fresh water.

Although it was only a tiny bit.

But things are indeed improving.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Qingci slowly opened her eyes.

He exhaled a breath of stale air.

I feel a bit more relaxed.

Even her complexion improved a bit.

"Your Majesty," Jinshu looked at her with surprise, "your complexion..."

"Keep your voice down," Shen Qingci gestured for her to be quiet.

She lay back down, reverting to her frail and sickly appearance.

But in my heart, a storm was brewing.

This "Cultivating Qi" chapter is effective.

And the effect is very good.

If she takes antidote, her recovery will be much faster.

And all of this is thanks to that mysterious Eunuch Li.

Who is he?

Why help her like this?

Just then, a very faint "click" sound came from outside the window.

It sounded like a pebble hitting the ground.

Shen Qingci's eyes sharpened.

Jinshu heard it too and nervously looked out the window.

But it was quiet outside, with only the rustling of the wind through the bare branches.

Shen Qingci used her newly acquired sensory abilities to probe out.

Everything is normal within a ten-zhang radius.

Wang Fu was gone, and the eunuchs were dozing in the courtyard. The withered tree in the corner stood silently; the secret of the tree hollow had long been taken away by her.

There was nothing there.

But that sound just now...

She frowned.

Is it just my imagination?

Or...is someone deliberately testing us?

Night was falling.

The Cold Palace fell silent once more.

Meanwhile, inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Nangong Ye put down his vermilion brush and rubbed his temples.

The chief eunuch cautiously stepped forward: "Your Majesty, it's time to rest."

"Hmm." Nangong Ye got up and walked to the window.

The moonlight outside the window is beautiful.

His gaze unconsciously drifted westward again.

That direction leads to the Cold Palace.

"The Shen family..." he murmured.

"Your Majesty?" the chief eunuch asked in confusion.

Nangong Ye snapped out of his reverie, his face regaining its usual coldness: "Nothing. Have the arrangements been made for the Imperial Concubine's chrysanthemum appreciation tomorrow?"

"It's all arranged. Her Highness the Imperial Concubine said she'd like to go through the Western Six Palaces and enjoy the autumn scenery along the way."

The Western Six Palaces.

They will pass by the Cold Palace.

Nangong Ye's eyes darkened.

"Let her be."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the inner hall.

Just as he turned around, his fingers unconsciously curled up slightly.

It looked like it was trying to grab onto something.

It's as if there's nothing at all.