Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Seven days after the investiture ceremony, at Qingyan Pavilion.

Shen Qingci was watching Bao'er in the courtyard, "talking" to a few sparrows that had flown in from who-knows-where.

The child stretched out his little hand, his palm holding crushed pastry crumbs.

Several sparrows hopped and pecked at the food, occasionally letting out a few clear chirps.

Bao'er giggled and muttered softly, "Eat slowly, there's more."

Sunlight filters through the sparse branches and leaves, creating a serene and beautiful scene.

Jinshu was doing needlework on the side, a smile on her lips.

Eunuch Li leaned against a pillar, feigning sleep, but his eyelids remained slightly open as he warily scanned his surroundings.

The tranquility was broken by a series of hurried yet light footsteps.

Mo Shisan appeared at the courtyard gate like a ghost, covered in dust and with a solemn expression.

He didn't disturb Bao'er.

He walked straight to Shen Qingci, knelt on one knee,

He presented a small bamboo tube tightly wrapped in oilcloth, with dark red stains faintly seeping through its edges.

"Master, an urgent message from Jiangnan, delivered by express courier."

His voice was very low, hoarse from the long journey.

"Liu Chengming... has been found."

Shen Qingci's eyes narrowed, and she put down the needle and thread she was using to sew a baby's clothes for Bao'er.

She didn't immediately take the bamboo tube, but instead gave Jinshu a wink.

Jinshu understood, immediately got up, and gently coaxed Bao'er:

"Your Highness, shall we go and see if the plum tree in the back garden has formed flower buds?"

I think I saw some red dots yesterday.

Attracted, Bao'er obediently followed Jinshu to the backyard, while several sparrows fluttered away.

Eunuch Li also opened his eyes and slowly walked over.

His gaze fell on the bamboo tube, which was stained with a suspicious dark red color, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Shen Qingci then took the bamboo tube.

It feels slightly heavy and cool to the touch, with a faint smell of blood and the damp, musty smell of the Jiangnan region.

She unwrapped the oilcloth, and inside was an ordinary envelope... or rather, it used to be an envelope.

At this moment, it was mostly soaked in some kind of dark brown liquid.

The edges were damaged, and there was no sealing wax at the seal; only dried, blackened blood fingerprints remained.

Her expression remained unchanged.

He used his fingertips to pry open the sticky seal and pulled out a folded letter, also stained with blood.

The letter paper was of ordinary quality, the kind of bamboo paper commonly found in Jiangnan, but the handwriting on it made her eyes suddenly turn cold.

The words were written in blood.

It wasn't cinnabar; it was real, dried, blackened blood.

The handwriting was messy and chaotic, with many trembling and blurred areas.

Clearly, the person who wrote this was in extreme pain or weakness at the time.

However, one can still discern the unique, slightly arrogant style of Liu Chengming's calligraphy.

The content consists of only a few lines:

"Night Phoenix, the game is not over."

"You've won the first step, eliminating the Liu family, cutting off my father as a scapegoat, and blocking my path to enlightenment."

"Their methods were ruthless enough; I'm completely convinced."

"But do you think the real opponent is my old, decrepit father, or my stupid, pig-like sister?"

"Ha...you're wrong."

"From the moment you stepped into the capital, you have never been facing the Liu family."

"Be careful... of those eyes in the shadows."

"He's watching you, he always has."

"Good luck, my dear... Empress."

"Liu Chengming's last words."

In the lower right corner of the letter, there was no signature, but a very faint, almost bloodstained, dark mark.

Shen Qingci held the letter up to the sunlight to examine it carefully—

It was a private seal, with a design of a coiled dragon encircling a broken jade ruyi.

The coiled dragon could not be used except by emperors or those of specific noble titles.

A broken jade ruyi...

Shen Qingci's memory palace was operating at high speed.

Old palace archives, royal family genealogy... jade ruyi (a type of scepter).

It often symbolizes "everything goes well", a broken jade ruyi... that's it!

During the reign of the late emperor, due to an old case,

In a fit of anger, he smashed the jade ruyi scepter that had been a gift to one of the princes.

He also criticized him, saying that "his intentions were not pure, and he could not have everything he wanted."

That prince was later bestowed the title of... Prince Jing.

Nangong Shuo.

Although the mark was small, the carving style was similar to those she had seen through some clandestine channels.

The marks on some old items that came out of the Prince Jing's Mansion in the early years are extremely similar.

This is the hidden pattern of Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo's personal seal!

In his final moments, Liu Chengming wrote a warning to her in blood.

They even went so far as to leave clues pointing to Prince Jing.

Was it a deathbed repentance?

No, Liu Chengming is definitely not that kind of person.

This is more like... a twisted form of revenge.

Or, she could lure a more dangerous beast towards her, diverting the trouble elsewhere.

He lost, but he didn't want his real "master" or "collaborator" to have an easy time.

"Where did he find him? How is he?"

Shen Qingci put down the letter.

The sound was calm and even, yet it made the surrounding air feel colder.

Mo Shisan lowered his head and replied, "In a dilapidated temple in a remote mountain on the way from Jiangnan to Fujian."

Our people tracked him down based on clues for half a month, and when they found him, he... was already dead.

He had more than a dozen wounds on his body, including knife wounds, poison wounds, and... marks left by torture.

He appeared to have suffered prolonged torment before his death.

He hid the letter in a crevice in the base of the Buddha statue.

Wrapped in oilcloth, it was stained with his blood.

"Are there any signs of a struggle at the scene? Are any valuables lost?" Eunuch Li asked in a deep voice.

"There were signs of a struggle, but the area was small; it was more like a one-sided massacre."

His personal belongings, including some banknotes and a valuable jade pendant, were still with him, which didn't seem like robbery. Moreover,

Mo Shisan paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"The person who killed him was extremely professional; the wounds were treated very cleanly."

Almost no valuable clues were left behind.

Our people searched carefully and only found half a faint footprint in one corner.

It resembles the style of military boots, but its origin is uncertain.

"To silence them."

As Eunuch Li asserted, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his aged eyes.

"Liu Chengming knows too much."

His escape from the capital was a handle for some people to use against him.

Now that the Liu family has fallen, he has lost his value and has instead become a burden and a hidden danger.

But... I didn't expect them to act so quickly and ruthlessly.

Shen Qingci traced the dark pattern of a coiled dragon encircling a broken ruyi scepter on the letter with her fingertips.

A chilling smile curved his lips.

"It's not that I didn't expect it," she said slowly, "it's that I should have thought of it a long time ago."

She raised her eyes and looked at Eunuch Li and Mo Shisan:

"Who suffered the most when the Liu family fell from power?"

Were they officials who were affiliated with the Liu family?

Are they Liu family's cronies in the court?

Yes, but not all.

The biggest beneficiaries should have been His Majesty, who eliminated the treacherous officials, and... those who seized the opportunity to fill the power vacuum.

"Prince Jing..."

Mo Shisan gasped.

"He always considered himself a wise ruler, avoided factional strife, and treated scholars with respect..."

"Not involved in partisan strife?"

Shen Qingci interrupted him, sneering.

"Those who are truly uninvolved in factional strife will do so when the Liu family has just fallen, His Majesty is unsettled, and my power base is not yet secure."

He frequently came into contact with those upright officials and frustrated military generals who had been suppressed by the Liu family.

Would they appear fair in court, but in reality, every word they uttered pointlessly to shift blame onto "women's interference in politics" and "the growing power of maternal relatives"?

Eunuch Li nodded slowly:

"This old servant has also noticed some recent rumors targeting Her Highness and the Crown Prince."

Although the sources are varied, there are several key driving forces that vaguely point to former associates and acquaintances of Prince Jing's mansion.

It's just that it's so well hidden that it's difficult to find concrete evidence.

"Because he is smarter and more cautious than Ryu Seung-myung."

Shen Qingci carefully folded the blood-stained letter.

Instead of putting it away, it was placed on the stone table to the side, as if it were something dirty.

"The Liu family is a knife in the open, arrogant and domineering, with countless enemies."

And he is the knife-wielder hidden in the shadows, patiently waiting for the blade to dull.

"When the blade is dulled, he personally steps in to clean up the mess and earns a good reputation."

She recalled the seemingly gentle and congratulatory gaze of Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo, at the investiture ceremony, a gaze that was actually cold and scrutinizing in his eyes.

Thinking of what Tingfenglou reported these past few days,

The location where some court officials secretly met.

There are always a few that are not far from the Prince Jing's villa or related industries.

"Liu Chengming's letter was both revenge and a warning."

Shen Qingci looked towards the distant palace walls.

"He told me that my real adversary was hiding in deeper waters."

The Liu family, perhaps from the very beginning,

They were simply pushed out to draw fire.

Or... a pawn that can be discarded at any time after cooperation.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"Master, what should we do next?"

Mo Shisan asked,

"Should we increase surveillance on Prince Jing's residence?"

Or should we reveal the contents of this letter to His Majesty?

In his view, Prince Jing was a member of the imperial family.

Given the sensitive nature of his identity, it would be safest for His Majesty to handle the matter personally.

Shen Qingci shook her head.

"Tell His Majesty?"

She smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Where is the evidence? A letter of unknown origin, covered in blood, written by a dead fugitive?"

A faint, hidden pattern of a private seal?

How much of it will His Majesty believe?

Even if you believe it, without solid evidence,

Furthermore, given that Prince Jing currently enjoys an excellent reputation and has not committed any significant misconduct,

How can Your Majesty deal with an imperial uncle?

She picked up the letter and walked to the copper basin in the corner of the courtyard.

There is water in the basin, which is used to water the flowers.

She unfolded the letter and gently dipped it into the water.

The bloodstains slowly dissolved in water, turning the water a pale red, and the writing began to blur.

"Liu Chengming wants to use me to deal with Prince Jing. I will not do as he wishes."

Shen Qingci's voice was calm to the point of being cruel.

"This letter never existed."

Liu Chengming was killed by enemies or bandits while on the run, and was not responsible for anything.

Mo Shisan and Eunuch Li looked at her.

"Then Prince Jing..." Eunuch Li pondered.

"He knows I know."

Shen Qingci retrieved the letter, which was completely stained and illegible.

Wring it dry, then take the tinderbox from your sleeve.

With a gentle breath, a pale blue flame ignited, setting the damp paper ball ablaze.

"The fact that this letter ended up in my hands may not be without his tacit approval, or even... his encouragement."

He wanted to see my reaction—whether I would panic or rush to retaliate.

The flames engulfed the paper ball, quickly turning it into a small clump of ashes that landed on the edge of the copper basin.

Shen Qingci clapped his hands, as if brushing away dust.

"He wanted to play, so I played with him."

She turned and walked down the corridor.

The sunlight fell once more on her cool profile, casting a serene yet sharp halo of light.

"Pass down the order: Tingfeng Tower's surveillance of Prince Jing's Mansion and its related forces will be upgraded from covert to overt, and the level of surveillance will be raised to the next level."

There's no need to deliberately hide it; you can even let his people notice some insignificant "attention."

Mo Shisan was taken aback: "Master, why is that?"

To stir up trouble and alert the enemy is surely disadvantageous.

"Make the empty appear real, and the real appear empty."

Shen Qingci said calmly,

"Only when he knows I'm investigating him will he make a move and reveal his weaknesses."

At the same time, a message was sent to Qian Sihai informing him of all collaborations between Jinxiufang and any businesses under or affiliated with Prince Jing.

Whether overt or covert, gradually shrink and seek alternatives.

This cut off one of his sources of income in Jiangnan.

"Inform my father that any proposals made in court against Prince Jing and his cronies..."

There's no need for vehement opposition, but extra attention to detail is necessary.

This is especially true for matters involving the appointment and removal of officials by the Ministry of Personnel, engineering projects by the Ministry of Works, and finances and grain by the Ministry of Revenue.

Find out the key details and any potential transfer of benefits.

"in addition,"

She looked at Eunuch Li.

"Master, in the palace, especially those who might have a past connection with Prince Jing's mansion..."

Please compile a list of palace concubines and stewards who have recently had close contact with the concubines of Prince Jing, the Crown Prince's wife, or other female relatives.

Also, double-check everyone around Bao'er to make sure everything is foolproof.

Each instruction was clear and calm, instantly weaving together an invisible net.

Eunuch Li and Mo Shisan solemnly accepted the order: "Yes!"

Shen Qingci looked at the sparrows that had quietly flown back into the courtyard.

And the faint sounds of Bao'er and Jinshu laughing could be heard.

His gaze softened for a moment, then was replaced by a cold, resolute expression.

The Liu family is an open enemy; we can resolve this quickly and decisively.

Prince Jing, however, is a venomous snake lurking in the shadows.

It requires patience, planning, and... a single, decisive strike.

"Is the game not over yet?"

Shen Qingci softly repeated Liu Chengming's words, her eyes flashing with a chilling light.

"Let's see who comes out on top in the end."

She turned and walked towards the backyard.

The hem of her skirt brushed the ground, stirring up a gentle breeze that ruffled the still-warm ashes around the edge of the copper basin.

Ashes rose and fell.

Silently.

It was as if nothing had happened.

But beneath the calm surface, a storm is quietly brewing.

And this time, her opponent,

He will be a more adept at hiding his true nature, a better understanding of human nature, and a more dangerous... royal prince.