Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, New Year's Eve, in a secret room of Prince Jing's mansion.

There were no windows, and the walls were covered with thick velvet blankets, which absorbed all the sound.

The only light source was the glass lampshade on the table.

The light illuminated half of Nangong Shuo's face, while the other half remained in shadow.

There were three lists spread out in front of him.

The first document contained seventeen names written in vermilion ink, followed by their official titles, family assets, and incriminating evidence.

These are "usable people"—all former nobles angered by Shen Qingci's new policies.

The veterans' home divided their land, and the progressive tax system ripped them off.

The border trade cut off their monopoly on border trade and their source of wealth.

"The eldest son of the Duke of Zhao was impeached by the censor for forcibly seizing farmland. Shen Qingci approved the order to 'investigate' him, and he is currently imprisoned in the Dali Temple."

Nangong Shuo pointed to the first name with his fingertip.

He hated her to the core.

The second list, written in ink, contained nine names.

This is a "person who can be contacted"—a military general.

Some were wary of Shen Qingci's high reputation in the army.

Some were dissatisfied with her heavy reliance on generals from humble backgrounds, such as Xiao Jue.

Some of them were simply spies planted by Prince Jing over many years.

"General Wang Ben, the commander of the Northern Garrison, had his deputy position taken by Xiao Jue's confidant."

Nangong Shuo sneered.

"Xiao Jue is now the Empress's favorite, and he calls the shots with the 200,000-strong army in the Northern Frontier. Can Wang Ben accept this?"

The third list, written on parchment, contained only five code names.

This is "Dark Blade"—the remaining elite of "Dark Fragrance" after Liu Chengming's death.

These people are skilled in assassination, poisoning, disguise, and espionage; they are knives that cannot be seen in the light of day.

"Liu Chengming has been defeated, but his sword remains."

Nangong Shuo stroked the code on the sheepskin.

"As long as I pay enough and make enough promises, these knives... can be used by me."

Three people were sitting across the table.

An old man with a goatee was Du Wenyuan, the leading figure in the literary world of Jiangnan, whose students were all over the country and who controlled most of the public opinion.

A middle-aged general with a gloomy face was Zhao Meng, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, who was in charge of one-third of the imperial guards in the capital.

A woman with a veil covering her face, revealing only a pair of long, narrow, cold eyes.

He is the current leader of the remnants of "Dark Fragrance," codenamed "Night Bloom."

"Mr. Du," Nangong Shuo looked at the old man, "the rumors can be put to rest."

Du Wenyuan stroked his beard, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "Where does Your Highness intend to begin?"

"A two-pronged approach," Nangong Shuo said in a low voice.

"First, attack Shen Qingci. Say that she is 'a hen crowing at dawn, an omen of misfortune for the country.'"

The victory in the North was a fluke, the new policies were disastrous for the country, the veterans' home was a way to win people's hearts, and the progressive tax system was a way to compete with the people for profit.

The key point was that she favored those from humble backgrounds and suppressed established families—something those long-established nobles couldn't stand to hear.

"Second," he paused, "attack the Crown Prince. Say that the Crown Prince 'possesses supernatural qualities and is not fit to be a ruler.'"

The events at the family dinner on the eve of the Lunar New Year were embellished and spread around the country. People said he could read people's minds.

They said he was unlike any other person, that he...would bring misfortune to his family.

The last two words were spoken very softly, but the temperature in the sealed room seemed to drop several degrees.

Keqin.

The emperor was seriously injured and fell into a coma. Was he cursed?

Du Wenyuan nodded slowly: "I understand."

Teahouses, taverns, academies, and poetry societies in the capital, Jiangnan, and various prefectures,

Within two weeks, these rumors will have spread to every corner of the world.

"It should be natural," Nangong Shuo added.

"We can't rush things. We should start with the small circle of intellectuals and gradually expand to the general public."

Once public discussion arises, the Censorate will then submit a memorial 'in accordance with public opinion.'

"Your Highness is brilliant."

Nangong Shuo then looked at Zhao Meng: "Commander Zhao, how are things on your end?"

Zhao Meng clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Among the Imperial Guards, there are seven generals who are dissatisfied with the Empress, and they are all from aristocratic families."

They worried that if a general from a humble background rose to power, they would lose their future.

With just a command from the prince, they could control two of the four gates of the palace in a critical moment.

"Two doors aren't enough," Nangong Shuo shook his head.

"At least three doors are required."

Continue to court them, promising them hereditary titles, fiefdoms, and high ranks upon success.

"yes!"

Finally, he looked at Ye Tan.

The woman didn't speak, but simply pushed a piece of paper across the table.

It has an address and a time written on it.

"Of the four tribes of Xiling, the Black Bear Tribe and the Snow Eagle Tribe have not yet submitted."

Night-bloom's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed against it.

"Their leader will arrive in the capital in three days."

I stayed at the Yuelai Inn in the south of the city, room number three (Tianzi).

Nangong Shuo's eyes lit up: "People from Xiling? What are they doing here?"

"Buy weapons," Ye Tan said.

"With the fall of the Northern Desert, the internal structure of the Western Ridge will be reshuffled."

The Black Bear and Snow Eagle tribes wanted to arm themselves and annex other small tribes.

But they dared not take the open route—the Empress strictly controlled the export of ironware.

"So we took the secret route."

Nangong Shuo smiled, "Good, that's great."

Make the arrangements; I will personally meet with them in three days.

Ye Tan nodded, her figure flickered, and she disappeared into the shadows—

Even a military general like Zhao Meng couldn't see how she came in or how she left.

Du Wenyuan and Zhao Meng also resigned one after another.

The secret room fell silent again.

Nangong Shuo sat alone, looking at the flame in the glass lamp, and suddenly chuckled softly.

"Shen Qingci, oh Shen Qingci..."

"Your implementation of new policies has offended all those who have vested interests."

"Your son possesses extraordinary abilities, which has terrified all the imperial relatives and court officials."

"Your prestige is so high that even your emperor husband... doesn't he feel the slightest bit of apprehension?"

He picked up a pen and slowly wrote eight characters on a blank sheet of paper:

"How can someone who is the target of everyone's criticism not fall?"

---

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, before the festive atmosphere had even dissipated, rumors spread like a plague.

It started at poetry gatherings in various academies.

Several young scholars, after drinking, made a slip of the tongue, lamenting that "since ancient times, when a woman ruled, the nation's fortunes inevitably declined," citing examples of several empress dowagers from previous dynasties who ultimately brought disaster to the country by ruling from behind the curtain. Others echoed this sentiment, mentioning that the current empress "monopolizes power," "disrupts the emperor's authority," and "relys on commoners, which has chilled the hearts of the gentry."

These words quickly spread throughout the city.

In the teahouse, the storyteller began reciting newly composed tales: something about "the phoenix suppressing the dragon, yin and yang reversed," and something about "a woman commanding troops, her blood clashing with the fate of the nation." He spoke with such vivid detail, as if he had witnessed it himself.

In the tavern, a drunkard slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Progressive taxation? That's robbery! Why should my hard-earned fortune be given to those wounded soldiers and cripples?"

Inside the grand mansion, the noblewomen whispered among themselves: "I've heard that His Highness the Crown Prince can see through people's hearts... Oh dear, that's terrifying. Who will dare to speak to him anymore?"

"More than that! Everyone says His Majesty's serious injury this time was caused by..."

"Shh—keep your voice down! Are you out of your mind?"

Rumors spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the capital overnight.

---

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, in the Phoenix Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Shen Qingci sat behind his desk, with more than a dozen secret reports spread out in front of him.

Mo Shisan stood to the side with his hands at his sides: "The source of the rumors has been identified as the Prince Jing's Mansion. The perpetrators are Du Wenyuan's protégés, and the network of dissemination covers seventeen major prefectures across the country."

Currently, the three most hotly debated topics among the people are: first, the empress's "unfaithful behavior"; second, the crown prince's "possession of supernatural powers"; and third, the new policies' "competing with the people for profit."

Shen Qingci asked calmly, "What about the court?"

"Five officials from the Censorate are preparing to jointly submit a memorial requesting His Majesty to 'reclaim the Empress's power'."

"Choose another great scholar to teach the crown prince."

Leading the group was Liu Huan, the Imperial Censor, a protégé of Prince Su.

"In the military?"

"Zhao Meng, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, has recently been frequently contacting lower and middle-ranking officers."

He hosted seven banquets. The people he cultivated...

They were all from prominent families and harbored resentment towards General Xiao.

"Over at Xiling?"

"The leaders of the Black Bear and Snow Eagle tribes secretly entered the capital and stayed at the Yuelai Inn. Last night... people from Prince Jing's residence left."

Shen Qingci put down the secret report, picked up her teacup, and slowly took a sip.

The tea has gone cold.

"Your Highness," Mo Shisan said in a low voice, "Prince Jing's actions this time... are quite significant. Should we...?"

"No rush." ​​Shen Qingci put down her teacup. "Let him keep dancing."

She took out a piece of paper and began to write.

The first order was written to Shen Anbang:

"Father, contact all the poor officials, merchants, and common people who have benefited from the new policies and prepare a 'Letter of Ten Thousand People.' The content should express their support for the new policies and gratitude for the Empress's benevolent rule. I want to see their names in three days."

The second document was addressed to Physician Chen:

"Starting tomorrow, His Majesty's condition will improve, and he will be able to occasionally meet with important officials. The first person he will see is Prince Su."

The third message was addressed to Xiao Jue:

"You shall return to the capital in person, without making a fuss. Take with you the military merit register of the Northern Frontier. I want you to read it aloud in the court, in front of everyone, to those who say that 'it is inauspicious for a woman to command troops.'"

After writing it, she handed the note to Mo Shisan: "Send it out immediately."

"Yes."

After Mo Shisan left, Shen Qingci walked to the window and looked at the fine snow that had started to fall again outside.

Nangong Ye came out of the inner hall, holding a cloak in his hand, and gently draped it over her shoulders.

"You knew all along?" he asked.

"Hmm." Shen Qingci didn't turn around. "Where is His Majesty? What are his plans?"

Nangong Ye was silent for a moment: "I can issue an edict to ban the rumors and arrest those who spread them."

"Isn't that exactly what he wants?" Shen Qingci turned to look at him.

"If Your Majesty were to suppress this with swift and decisive action, it would only confirm your guilty conscience and your tyranny."

Rumors tend to spread from the open to the shadows, where they burn even brighter.

Looking at her calm profile, Nangong Ye suddenly asked, "Aren't you angry?"

"Angry?" Shen Qingci laughed.

"Why be angry? Everything he did was exactly what I expected."

She walked to the sand table—which no longer depicted the terrain of the northern border, but rather the power distribution map of the entire Nangong Dynasty.

"He contacted the old aristocracy because they hated me."

But the old aristocracy was already corrupt, possessing only wealth but no military power.

"He won over the generals in the army, but the real military power was in the hands of Xiao Jue and me."

Those powerful military families can't stir up any trouble.

"He colluded with the remnants of the Western Ridge forces, attempting to destabilize the northern border."

Unfortunately, seven of the nine tribes of Xiling have already submitted to them, leaving only two...

I had already prepared a big gift for them.

She pointed to the location of "Prince Jing's Residence":

"His only asset is the few knives of the remnants of the 'Dark Fragrance' clan."

"But Your Majesty, don't forget—"

She raised her head, a cold glint characteristic of an assassin flashing in her eyes:

"I am the ancestor of knife-wielding."

Nangong Ye looked at her for a long time, then gently took her hand.

"Qingci."

"Um?"

"Do whatever you want," he said. "I am here."

Shen Qingci's fingers trembled slightly.

She didn't pull her hand away, but whispered:

"This time, I'm going to solve the problem once and for all."

"I will make Prince Jing, and everyone behind him—"

"They'll never be able to turn things around."

Outside the window, the snow was falling heavier and heavier.

A reckoning colder than the snowstorms of the North is quietly brewing.

That night, in room number three of the Tianzi class at Yuelai Inn.

Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo, met with Zha Ge, the leader of the Xiling Black Bear Tribe, and Wu Zhu, the leader of the Snow Eagle Tribe.

Both men were rugged grassland men with fierce eyes and menacing faces. They carried curved knives at their waists and smelled strongly of mutton.

"Your Highness," Zago said bluntly, "we need iron, swords, and arrows. The more the better."

"Okay," Nangong Shuo smiled, "but I need you to do one thing."

"explain."

"After spring, I will start an uprising in Jiangnan," Nangong Shuo said in a low voice.

"At that time, I ordered both Xiling tribes to march south simultaneously to attack Black Stone City."

You don't need to win.

All you need to do is hold back Xiao Jue's Northern Army, preventing him from returning to reinforce the capital.

Wuzhu narrowed his eyes: "Attack Blackstone City? That's the Empress's territory. That madman Xiao Jue will fight us to the death."

That's why we need you to go.

Nangong Shuo took out two land deeds from his pocket.

"These are the share deeds for two salt fields in Jiangnan, with annual dividends of no less than 100,000 taels."

"I'll give you this amount after it's done—"

He held up five fingers.

"Five hundred thousand taels?" Zago's eyes lit up.

"Five million taels," Nangong Shuo said, "plus Xiling's autonomy, which will never require tribute again."

The room fell into a deathly silence for a moment.

Then, the two leaders stood up simultaneously, placing their right hands on their chests:

"make a deal."