Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

The sound of Xuan Ying's footsteps echoing as he left to receive the order reverberated in the deathly silent Taihe Hall.

Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo, was deathly pale, with fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead.

He stared intently at Shen Qingci, his usually gentle and smiling eyes now churning with deep-seated resentment.

But he did not break down.

Instead—he laughed.

"Well done, Tingfeng Tower, and Lady Yehuang."

He clapped his hands, his laughter hoarse.

"Your Majesty, I have truly underestimated you."

He slowly straightened up, tidied his slightly disheveled princely robes, and his demeanor regained its composure.

"But—" He looked up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Does Your Majesty think this is all the preparation I have made?"

Shen Qingci's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the teacup.

"Xuan Ying, go investigate. Just do it."

Nangong Shuo paced back and forth, his voice echoing within the hall.

"If my brother dares to do it, he is not afraid of being investigated."

But Your Majesty, are you and His Majesty truly so clean?

He turned abruptly to face the officials, his voice suddenly rising in pitch:

Empress Shen and Xiao Jue, the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, had many secret meetings late at night and exchanged letters frequently!

During the war in the north, Xiao Jue obeyed the Empress's orders without question, even at the cost of defying the Emperor's military orders!

Is this kind of 'tacit understanding' truly just the bond between ruler and subject?!

"Buzz—"

An uproar erupted once again inside the hall!

This is an attempt to smear the claim of "colluding with foreign generals"!

Nangong Ye's face instantly darkened: "Nangong Shuo, are you courting death?"

"I have evidence!"

Nangong Shuo pulled a letter from his sleeve and held it high above his head.

"This is a letter personally written by Xiao Jue to Her Majesty the Empress—every word on it is filled with tender affection, too much to bear!"

He unfolded the letter and read aloud:

"I bid farewell to my beloved: The northern border is cold, but I only think of your warmth."

In my dreams, I often return to the Phoenix Garden in Jiangnan, where I can play chess and enjoy tea with you.

If we win this battle, I wish to lay down my arms and retire to my hometown to stay by your side.

"If you wish, I will follow you to the ends of the earth, even if it means the most difficult journey..."

"Enough!" Nangong Ye roared, slamming his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne!

The solid gold handrail was actually cracked by the impact!

"Forged letters, framed the Empress, Nangong Shuo, do you think I'm blind?!"

A murderous intent surged in his eyes.

"I recognize Xiao Jue's handwriting! This is not—"

"Your Majesty, please calm down," Shen Qingci suddenly said.

She stood up, walked to Nangong Shuo, and held out her hand: "Let me see the letter."

Nangong Shuo sneered and handed over the letter.

Shen Qingci took it, glanced at it, and then smiled.

"Well done."

she says,

"The handwriting is about 70% similar, and the tone is about 30% copied. What a pity—"

She turned the letter towards the officials, pointing to one particular spot:

"When Xiao Jue wrote to me, he never addressed her as 'Qing Ci,' but only as 'Your Majesty the Empress' or 'Miss Ye Huang.'"

This is what he said himself—"There is a distinction between ruler and subject; I dare not overstep it."

"Furthermore," she pointed to another spot.

"The letter says, 'In the Qihuang Garden in Jiangnan, I play chess and drink tea with you.'"

In fact, Xiao Jue visited me in Jiangnan three times, but never stayed overnight at Qihuang Garden.

They always held meetings during the day and left at sunset.

Qian Sihai, Mo Shisan, and Jinshu can all testify to this.

She casually tossed the letter aside, but the light paper felt like a slap across Nangong Shuo's face.

"Your Highness Prince Jing, before you fabricate evidence again—"

She said calmly,

"Remember to train your spies to be more professional first."

Nangong Shuo's face turned pale and then red, but he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Even if this letter is fake! What about Tingfeng Tower?!"

He suddenly pointed outside the hall and hissed:

"The Listening Wind Pavilion is spread all over the world, with countless spies who can even spy on the secret chambers of princes and the private residences of court officials!"

What else could this be but a secret spy organization spying on the imperial court?!

Your Majesty, by building up such a powerful force, what exactly do you intend to do to help His Majesty govern the country?

Or does he want to be emperor himself?!

That's incredibly hurtful!

Even some neutral officials couldn't help but look at Shen Qingci, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

Shen Qingci smiled.

"Is Tingfenglou a secret intelligence organization?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Then I shall ask you—if it weren't for Tingfeng Tower, how could the salt tax embezzlement case in Jiangnan last year have been solved?"

Without Tingfeng Tower, how could the truth about the hijacking of the Northern Army's funds have been uncovered?

Without the Tingfeng Tower, today's evidence of your, Prince Jing's, collusion with the Western Ridge and plot to rebel would be—

And where did it come from?!

She took a step forward, her momentum unstoppable:

"Every single thing that Tingfenglou has done is to eliminate traitors for the country and harm for the people!"

All intelligence has been submitted to His Majesty for review!

All actions have been authorized by His Majesty!

"Your Highness Prince Jing, you keep calling Tingfeng Tower a 'spy organization'—" she sneered, "Then I'd like to ask, what about those remnants of 'Dark Fragrance' in your household who actually monitor officials, bribe palace maids, and pass on secret messages?!"

"You—!" Nangong Shuo was speechless.

"And there's Jinxiufang."

Shen Qingci didn't even give him a chance to catch his breath and continued her pursuit.

You said that Jinxiufang "monopolizes the national economy and people's livelihood"?

Then let me ask you again—how much tax has Jinxiufang paid since its establishment?

How many people were supported in total, including craftsmen, weavers, bodyguards, and laborers?

In the three prefectures and fourteen counties of Jiangnan, how many people were supported by the weaving, dyeing, and transportation industries that arose from the Jinxiu Workshop?!

She turned to face the assembled officials, her voice clear and melodious:

"Last year, when there was flooding in Jiangnan, Jinxiufang donated 500,000 taels of silver and 100,000 shi of grain!"

During the war in the North, Jinxiufang donated 200,000 cotton-padded coats and 300 cartloads of medicinal herbs!

The Beijing Orphanage and Almshouse provide monthly assistance to no fewer than a thousand elderly people living alone, orphans, and abandoned infants through the Jinxiufang program!

"This is what you call monopolizing the national economy and people's livelihood?!"

She turned around abruptly and stared at Nangong Shuo:

"Then I shall ask Your Highness Prince Jing—your 'Wantong Money Shop'..."

Last year, taking advantage of the drought in Jiangbei, they raised grain prices three times, making a fortune off the national crisis!

The "Sihai Shipping Company" you control smuggles salt and iron, traffics people, and treats human life with contempt!

"The eight major cloth shops in Jiangnan that you colluded with have been selling inferior goods, engaging in bullying and monopolistic practices, and driving countless small workshop owners to their deaths!!"

"Compared to what you've done—"

Shen Qingci's words were sharp and clear, like icicles.

"What does Jinxiufang's little bit of 'monopoly' even mean?!"

"puff--"

Nangong Shuo was so angry that he trembled all over and even spat out a mouthful of blood!

He staggered two steps, supported by his trusted aides behind him, but still roared hoarsely, "Empress! Empress, your tongue is silver! I cannot argue with you! But—where is the Crown Prince?!"

His bloodshot eyes stared at the dragon throne atop the imperial steps, as if trying to see through the palace walls to Bao'er in the harem.

"Crown Prince Nangong Yue, though only three years old, can see into people's hearts and command birds and beasts!"

What else could this be but the supernatural?!

His voice was shrill and piercing, like that of a demon.

"Your Majesty! Your Excellencies! Think about it—"

"If a crown prince can see right through you, what chance do you have of surviving when he ascends the throne?!"

"Today he can see that Prince Su is 'hypocritical,' tomorrow he will be able to see who among you is loyal and who is treacherous!"

The day after tomorrow, he'll see through your shady dealings!

"This kind of crown prince is not the chosen one—he's a monster! He's a scourge!!!"

He suddenly knelt down, banged his head on the ground, and cried out in a hoarse voice:

"Your Majesty! For the sake of the Nangong family's future, for the sake of our ancestors' legacy!"

Please depose the Crown Prince! Please summon a high-ranking monk to the palace—to exorcise the evil spirits from the Crown Prince!!!

"Your Majesty, please depose the Crown Prince! Exorcise the evil spirits!"

"Your Majesty, please depose the Crown Prince! Exorcise the evil spirits!"

The kneeling officials, as if grasping at a last straw, also began to cry out.

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a cacophony of wailing and howling erupted.

Nangong Ye's face was ashen, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

He looked at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci was also looking at him.

Eyes facing each other.

There was no panic, no anger in her eyes.

There was only a cold, almost cruel calm.

Then she smiled.

He slowly walked back to the steps, sat down again, and picked up his teacup.

"Are you done talking?" she asked.

The voice was very soft, yet it drowned out the wailing that filled the hall.

Everyone looked at her.

"Since His Highness Prince Jing has played his last card—"

Shen Qingci took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and made a crisp sound.

"Then it's time for me to reveal my hand."

She raised her eyes and looked outside the hall:

"Mo Shisan".

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Bring forth those 'evidence' that His Highness Prince Jing mentioned—"

A cold smile curved her lips.

"Take them all out."

"Let the gentlemen see—"

"Who is the demon, and who is the evil one?"