Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, there was a deathly silence.

Prince Jing's statement, "The Imperial Seal is fake," was like a thunderclap from the heavens, shattering everyone's spirits!

The real...Imperial Seal of the State?!

She was buried alongside the late Empress Dowager Duanhui?!

So what Your Majesty is using now—

All the officials raised their heads and looked up at the imperial steps—

Beside Nangong Yelong's desk was a large jade seal with a dragon-shaped knob, placed on a rosewood stand.

They worshipped that seal daily, and all imperial edicts and imperial decrees were based on it.

But what if...it's fake?!

"nonsense!"

Minister of Rites Zhou Xian was the first to step forward, his white beard trembling.

"The Imperial Seal of the State has been enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple for generations. When will it be buried with the late Empress Dowager?!"

Prince Jing, you spread heresies and mislead the public; your intentions are deserving of death!

"Spreading rumors and misleading the public?" Nangong Shuo laughed.

That smile carried an almost pitying mockery.

He slowly took out a bright yellow silk scroll from his robes—

The color and texture were clearly those of the "Bright Yellow Cloud Dragon Satin" specially supplied to the palace!

"Lord Zhou, and everyone present—"

He unfurled the silk scroll, his voice echoing in the deathly silent hall.

Do you recognize this?

The silk scroll is unfolded.

The top was covered with densely packed vermilion characters, the script vigorous and ancient, ending at—

A bright red seal!

The inscription is clear: "By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous!"

"This is..." An elderly man in his seventies stepped forward shakily.

He squinted to take a closer look, then his expression suddenly changed drastically.

"This...this is the late emperor's handwriting! This is...the late emperor's last edict?!"

"good."

Nangong Shuo held up the silk scroll so that everyone could see it.

"This is the late Emperor's personal edict, written before his death and entrusted to Empress Dowager Duanhui for safekeeping—a genuine will!"

He whirled around to face Nangong Ye, his eyes flashing with a crazed light:

"Your Majesty, is this the seal affixed to the imperial edict you saw when you ascended the throne?!"

Nangong Ye stared intently at the imperial seal on the silk scroll.

His face gradually turned pale.

The inscription...

That seal script...

Those tiny cracks...

It bears a striking resemblance to the imperial edict he remembered, with seven-tenths similarity!

No, it's nine out of ten! Almost identical!

but--

"impossible."

He spoke, his voice hoarse.

The Imperial Seal of the State has always been enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

When I ascended the throne, the Imperial Clan Court personally retrieved it in front of all the officials…

"That's fake!"

Nangong Shuo interrupted loudly.

"The real Imperial Seal of the State was placed in the mausoleum with Empress Dowager Duanhui when she passed away!"

This matter was known only to the emperors of past dynasties and the chief eunuch guarding the tombs!

He suddenly pointed outside the hall:

"If Your Majesty does not believe me—you may immediately send someone to the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Take out that "Imperial Seal of the State" and compare it with the inscription on my will!

Check the size, seal script, and ink color—are they exactly the same?

"If it's exactly the same, then someone has forged it!"

"What if they are different—"

He laughed wildly.

"That proves that the one in the Imperial Ancestral Temple is the fake!!!"

boom--

The hall erupted in chaos!

"This...how is this possible..."

"The Imperial Seal of the State... is it fake?"

"And what has His Majesty used all these years...?"

The officials were in a panic, and whispers rose like a tidal wave.

Those officials who were originally kneeling to beg for forgiveness,

At this moment, hope rekindled in my eyes—

If the imperial seal is fake, then His Majesty's throne... wouldn't it be illegitimate?!

Prince Su, Nangong Lie, stepped forward shakily, his old eyes fixed on the imperial seal on the silk scroll. After a long while, he slowly knelt down:

"Your Majesty... This old minister is willing to stake his head on it—this seal is indeed eight parts similar to the seal on the late Emperor's edict that I remember! But..."

He paused, then said with difficulty:

"I only caught a glimpse of it from afar back then and was unable to observe it closely."

If Prince Jing's will is genuine... then the jade seal in the Imperial Ancestral Temple...

He didn't finish speaking.

But everyone understood the meaning.

Nangong Ye gripped the armrests of the dragon throne tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He looked at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci was also looking at him.

Eyes facing each other.

There was no panic or shock in her eyes.

There was only a cold, almost cruel calm.

Then, she nodded slightly.

Nangong Ye took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Mysterious Shadow".

"Your subject is here!"

"Go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple immediately and retrieve the Imperial Seal of the State."

"Then—" he paused, "summon Zhao Quan, the chief eunuch in charge of the imperial tombs, to the palace for an audience."

"yes!"

Xuan Ying accepted the order and left.

Inside the hall, deathly silence fell once again.

But this time, the deathly silence was different from before.

Previously, they were intimidated by the emperor's power.

now--

There were undercurrents, restless hearts, and countless eyes darting back and forth between the Emperor and Empress and Prince Jing.

Nangong Shuo smiled.

He knew he had won.

At least for this moment, he has won half the battle.

He walked slowly to the center of the hall, gently placed the scroll of the imperial edict on the ground, and then bowed deeply to Nangong Ye.

"His Majesty."

He looked up, his eyes gleaming with the light of a victor:

"Your Majesty, I know this matter has been a great blow to you."

"But—if the national instrument is not properly placed, the foundation of the nation will be unstable. The Crown Prince possesses 'unusual signs,' so we must be even more cautious."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you reconsider—"

His voice suddenly turned stern:

"Depose the Empress! Depose the Crown Prince!! Hand over the two imperial seals!! We will discuss the succession to the throne once the true imperial seal is found!!!"

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that proposal!"

"Your Majesty! The foundation of the nation is of utmost importance!"

The kneeling officials shouted again.

This time, the voice was louder and the momentum was stronger.

Because they knew that if the Imperial Seal of the State was fake, then His Majesty's throne would be severely flawed!

Nangong Ye sat on the dragon throne, motionless.

Sunlight streamed in from outside the palace, illuminating his pale face and his bright yellow dragon robe.

The five-clawed golden dragon on the dragon robe was lifelike, with its claws outstretched and its movements fierce.

But what if the imperial seal is fake...?

This dragon robe, this dragon throne, this world—

Does it still belong to him?

He slowly closed his eyes.

In my ears, the increasingly loud voices of the officials pleading for their orders could be heard.

Before him were Shen Qingci's desperate eyes when he personally dragged her out of Kunning Palace back then.

And in the sea of ​​fire, she held Bao'er, and that one glance she gave him back—

Cold, resentful, resolute.

He suddenly laughed.

A low, hoarse laugh, almost self-deprecating.

Then, he opened his eyes.

He looked at Shen Qingci.

The voice was very soft, so soft that only she could hear it:

"Qingci."

"Am I, the emperor... a joke from the very beginning?"

Shen Qingci did not answer.

She simply looked at him quietly, then slowly got up and walked to his side.

Hold his hand.

Those hands were ice-cold.

She gripped it tightly, then turned to face the assembled officials.

Facing Prince Jing.

Facing the clamor and malice filling the hall.

She spoke, her voice clear and cold, yet it drowned out all the noise:

Is the Imperial Seal of the State genuine or fake?

"Once Xuan Ying returns, he'll know for sure."

"but--"

She stared at Nangong Shuo, speaking each word clearly:

"Your Highness Prince Jing, is your actions today truly solely for the sake of the 'foundation of the nation'?"

Or perhaps—

A cold smile curved her lips:

"You knew the Imperial Seal was missing all along, yet you endured it for three years, only to make your move today—"

"Is it because you've already found the whereabouts of the real Imperial Seal?"

"Or is it because—"

"You're ready to ascend the throne yourself after His Majesty abdicates?!"