Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

November 3rd, Beijing, Zhuque Avenue.

The sky cleared after the snow.

The ten-mile imperial road from the city gate to the palace was packed with people.

People stood on tiptoe and craned their necks, watching the black-armored torrent gradually become clearer outside the city gate.

A triumphant army.

The red-gold banner bearing the character "Shen" at the very front fluttered in the pale winter sunlight.

Beneath the banner, Shen Qingci rode a pure white warhorse.

He wore a dark red battle robe and a black cloak—that belonged to Nangong Ye.

Behind her, sixteen strong soldiers carried a specially made palanquin.

A bright yellow curtain covered the carriage, and a person could be vaguely seen lying inside.

Her face was hidden by a veil, but everyone knew who she was.

The emperor personally led the expedition, but returned victorious despite being seriously wounded.

Beside the palanquin, a small figure rode a small pony; that was Bao'er.

The little guy is wearing his formal princely robes today.

Her little face was tense, trying hard to look serious.

But his eyes looked around curiously.

"They're here! They're here!"

The crowd began to stir.

Then, someone shouted it out first:

"Long live the Empress!!!"

In an instant, the sound waves were like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing!

"Long live the Empress!!!"

"Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!!!"

"A great victory in the North! God bless Nangong!!!"

The cheers rose in waves, almost shaking the entire street.

People threw prepared flowers, colorful ribbons, and even freshly baked bread in the direction of the army.

This is the highest level of welcome from the people of the North.

Shen Qingci sat on his horse, his expression calm.

She held the reins with her left hand, but her right hand remained on her waist, not with a sword, but with a small bronze whistle.

This was specially made by Mo Shisan at her request; once it's blown,

Nightblades, lying in ambush along the way, will immediately take action.

Triumph is both glory and crisis.

Especially when the emperor was in a coma, the crown prince was young, and her prestige as empress was at its zenith.

If it's too perfect, it becomes fake.

Her gaze swept over the attics, teahouses, and second-floor windows of shops on both sides of the street.

Those places were overtly or covertly populated by numerous officials, representatives of prominent families, and... eyes from all sides.

She saw her father standing at the very front of the Ministry of Rites officials.

His white beard trembled slightly in the wind, his eyes filled with tears, and he nodded vigorously at her.

She saw Physician Chen; all the people from the Imperial Hospital had arrived.

Physician Chen stood in the crowd and gave her a gesture that said "everything is fine".

She knew this meant that Nangong Ye's condition had stabilized.

She also saw... Prince Jing.

Nangong Shuo stood at the very front of the prince's entourage.

Dressed in a purple python robe, with a gentle smile on his face, he was clapping softly along with the crowd.

But the guards behind him were positioned strategically, blocking all possible angles from which a sudden attack could occur.

profession.

Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes.

She rode her horse slowly forward and stopped in front of Prince Jing.

"Your humble servant respectfully welcomes the Empress Dowager's triumphant return."

Nangong Shuo bowed deeply, his posture impeccable.

"Your Majesty is unwell, and I am extremely worried. I wonder if Your Majesty..."

"Your Majesty is overworked and needs to rest."

Shen Qingci's voice was flat.

"The imperial physician said it is not advisable to disturb them."

"Yes, yes, rest is the most important thing."

Nangong Shuo nodded repeatedly and took a brocade box from the guard behind him.

"This is a thousand-year-old snow ginseng that my brother specially sought out; it is extremely nourishing."

I hope my sister-in-law will forward this to my brother, as a token of my gratitude.

The brocade box is exquisite, made of carved sandalwood with gold trim.

Shen Qingci did not answer.

Her personal guard stepped forward and took the brocade box.

But instead of accepting it immediately, he opened it in front of everyone—

Inside was indeed a snow ginseng of excellent quality, with intact roots and a pure white body.

But Shen Qingci's gaze fell on the lining of the brocade box.

There was a very subtle, unnatural crease at the edge of the silk lining.

Ordinary people wouldn't notice, but a killer's eyes wouldn't miss it.

"Your Highness is very kind."

She said calmly,

"However, His Majesty is too weak to receive such nourishment, so Your Highness should keep this valuable item for yourself."

Nangong Shuo's smile remained unchanged: "Sister-in-law, you jest. This snow ginseng..."

"Take it."

Shen Qingci said to his guards, but then added,

"Send it to the Imperial Hospital and ask Physician Chen to examine it before storing it in the warehouse."

This is very blunt: I don't trust you, I need to get a drug test first.

The expressions on the faces of the surrounding officials became subtle.

A shadow crossed Nangong Shuo's eyes, but his smile remained: "That's how it should be, that's how it should be."

Shen Qingci stopped looking at him and continued walking.

But her fingers gently caressed the bronze whistle.

---

In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Imperial Palace.

The triumphant ceremony reached its climax here.

According to the rites, the emperor should personally ascend the high platform to receive the congratulations of the officials and reward the three armies.

But now that the emperor is in a coma, this step can only be taken by the crown prince—even though the crown prince is only three years old.

Bao'er was carried by Jinshu as they walked step by step up the white marble steps.

The little guy was unusually calm today.

When the master of ceremonies loudly proclaimed "Kneel—",

When all the officials knelt down in unison and shouted "Long live the Crown Prince!"

He wasn't frightened; he just stared wide-eyed at the dark mass of people below.

Then, he did something that surprised everyone.

He struggled out of Jinshu's arms.

Reaching the edge of the platform, her little hands gripped the railing.

In a childish but clear voice:

"Rise."

Two words.

His voice was childish, yet it carried a strange air of authority.

The master of ceremonies was stunned—this wasn't part of the procedure.

According to ancestral rules, the crown prince only needs to stand there and receive the homage; he does not need to speak.

But the officials had already stood up instinctively.

Bao'er turned her head again and looked at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci nodded slightly at him.

Bao'er took a deep breath and continued—

These are the words she taught him, one by one, last night:

"Father said...the soldiers have worked hard."

"The peace in the North was bought with your lives."

"Father... thank you."

The entire room fell silent.

Then, one of the veterans choked out, "Your Majesty... I swear to serve you to the death! I swear to serve His Highness the Crown Prince to the death!!!"

"I swear to be loyal to you to the death!!!"

The roar was deafening!

At that moment, everyone forgot that the emperor was still unconscious.

Forgot the empress standing below the high platform,

All I could see was that three-year-old child.

With the most innocent voice, they spoke the most comforting words.

Standing at the very front of the princes' procession, Nangong Shuo could no longer maintain his smile.

He stared intently at Bao'er on the high platform.

Staring at that small figure who was admired by all, his fingers clenched white in his sleeve.

What a fitting title for "Your Highness the Crown Prince".

What a fine "Father Emperor said" statement.

That child... is only three years old!

How could someone say such a thing?!

It must have been Shen Qingci who taught him!

She's using this child to win over the military and the people!

But what terrified him even more was—

The child's demeanor, tone of voice, and even the rhythm of his pauses when he spoke.

They all look exactly like Nangong Ye when he was young.

Is the power of bloodline really that terrifying?

After the ceremony, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was established.

Nangong Ye was carefully moved back here.

The sleeping quarters have been renovated according to Shen Qingci's requirements.

All the furniture edges were covered with soft cloth, and the floor was covered with a thick carpet.

Double curtains were added to the windows to prevent strong light from irritating them.

The military doctors were replaced by elite medical personnel from the Imperial Medical Academy, led by Physician Chen, who took turns on duty every twelve hours.

Shen Qingci dismissed everyone, sat down by the couch, and checked on Nangong Ye's condition again.

His pulse was much more stable than before, and his breathing was more even.

Although his face was still pale, the deathly gray had faded.

The detoxifying effect of the purple cloudberry formula was even better than she had expected.

Three days ago, the venom draining from his wound was dark red, but today it has turned pale yellow.

This means that about 70-80% of the toxins have been cleared.

But the person is still not awake.

"Your Majesty," Physician Chen said in a low voice.

"His Majesty's health has been severely damaged."

In addition, since the toxins have invaded the heart meridian, even after detoxification, it will take time to recover.

A coma... is actually the body's self-protection mechanism.

"I know." Shen Qingci tucked the blanket around him. "I was just worried..."

She didn't finish speaking.

What are you worried about?

Are you worried that he will never wake up again?

Were they worried that Prince Jing would take the opportunity to cause trouble?

Worried that his high reputation would arouse suspicion?

There are.

"Your Majesty," Physician Chen hesitated for a moment, "today you return in triumph, and the people's cheers for you are very high."

Shen Qingci looked up at him: "What does the imperial physician want to say?"

"This old minister simply feels..."

Physician Chen lowered his voice.

"A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

The Empress's prestige is now at its zenith.

He also holds military power in the northern border, and... he even made His Highness the Crown Prince say those things in public.

There might be someone in the court…

"You say I'm a hen crowing at dawn?"

"You're saying I'm usurping the Emperor's power and manipulating the Crown Prince?"

Shen Qingci smiled. "Let them talk."

She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside, which was gradually darkening.

"Physician Chen, do you know what's the most dangerous thing on the battlefield?"

"Is it... enemy forces?"

"It's behind."

Shen Qingci turned around,

"On the battlefield, you can trust those who entrust their backs to you. But in the court..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Physician Chen understood.

"That snow ginseng," Shen Qingci suddenly asked, "have you investigated it?"

"I checked."

Physician Chen's expression was grave.

"The ginseng itself is fine, but the brocade box containing the ginseng... has three poisoned silver needles hidden in the inner lining."

The poison is described as "seven-day death," meaning that those poisoned will die within seven days due to organ failure, with symptoms resembling an incurable serious illness.

Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes.

really.

"Can the source of the poison on the needle be determined?"

"Xiling".

Physician Chen said with certainty,

"Seven-Day Dead is a secret poison of the Western Ridge royal family, extremely difficult to obtain outside."

Prince Jing, Xiling.

The line is now connected.

"Keep the evidence safe."

Shen Qingci said calmly,

"Now is not the time to take action against him."

"Your Majesty, are we just going to let him do this—"

"Let him jump," Shen Qingci interrupted. "The higher he jumps, the harder he'll fall."

She walked back to the bedside, looked at the unconscious Nangong Ye, and whispered:

"When he wakes up, I'm going to give him a... big gift to clean house."

---

On the same night, in the secret room of Prince Jing's residence.

Nangong Shuo smashed the third teacup of the night.

"That little brat...that little brat!"

He growled hoarsely.

"Only three years old! Three years old!"

His words were impeccable! And Shen Qingci—

She publicly rejected my gift and publicly demanded a drug test!

She's slapping me in the face! She's slapping the face of the entire Prince Jing's mansion!

"Your Highness, please calm down," an aide whispered. "Although we lost face today, we didn't come away empty-handed."

"Harvest? What harvest?"

"The Empress's prestige is too high." A glint of shrewdness flashed in the advisor's eyes.

"The height is so high that it has made many veteran officials uneasy."

Today, in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, it was clear to everyone with eyes that the Crown Prince's words were instructed by the Empress.

She was using the crown prince to win people's hearts, which, in the eyes of those old ministers who valued "ancestral laws," was an act of usurpation.

Nangong Shuo calmed down: "Continue."

"And military power."

Another aide, who came from a military background, spoke up,

The Northern Army now obeys only the Empress's orders, Xiao Jue is her loyal follower, and the Nine Tribes of Xiling have also sided with her.

His Majesty is in a coma, and the Crown Prince is too young… Your Highness, tell me, if the Empress were to do something at this time, who could stop her?”

Nangong Shuo's eyes lit up.

"You mean...?"

"To praise someone to death."

The aide uttered two words.

"Keep promoting her. Let her prestige soar to the heavens, so high that all those who fear a woman in power unite against her."

So high that... even people within her own camp are starting to feel afraid.

Nangong Shuo slowly sat down, his fingers lightly tapping on the table.

After a long while, he smiled.

"Okay, then let's give it a thumbs up."

"Issue the order: Tomorrow morning at court, I will be the first to present my memorial—"

Please bestow upon the Empress the title of "Empress Zhenguo Shengchen," grant her the Nine Bestowments, and allow her the power to oversee the state!

The advisors were taken aback: "Your Highness, this... wouldn't this give her even more power?"

With great power comes great responsibility.

Nangong Shuo sneered.

"Once she takes on the title of 'Guardian of the Nation,' who will go if there is another war in the Northern Border?"

If the national treasury is empty, who will replenish it? If the government makes mistakes, who will bear the responsibility?

He paused, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes:

"Besides, His Majesty is not dead yet."

"A comatose emperor, and a 'nation-protecting' empress..."

What do you think those loyal ministers who serve His Majesty will think?