Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 30 The Inescapable Trap I've Laied! Just Waiting for Consort Rou to Walk Right Into It.

The first day of the Lunar New Year is the beginning of the new year.

The palace was filled with the noise of New Year's greetings. The masters of the palaces visited each other, and the maids and eunuchs carried reward money and had smiles on their faces.

The Cold Palace remained cold and deserted.

But Shen Qingci's heart was burning with passion.

She sat on the broken wooden bed, with a newly drawn diagram spread out in front of her—not a blueprint for a textile machine, but a diagram of relationships.

At the center of the picture is her own name: Shen Qingci (Night Phoenix).

Four lines extend from the center.

The first line reads "Power within the Palace".

The following are some names: Eunuch Li (Master/Guardian), Jinshu (Confidant/Accountant), Xiaoluzi (Informant/Huayang Palace Agent), and Physician Chen (Medical and Poison Supporter/Imperial Hospital Agent).

Each name is followed by a description of their abilities and current task.

The second line reads "External Forces".

Shen Anbang (father/leader of the Qingliu faction), Shen Fu (leader of the secret guards/liaison), Qian Sihai (future business partner).

The third line reads "Hostile forces".

Liu Ruyan (Consort Rou/Direct Enemy), Liu Chengzong (Prime Minister/Enemy in the Court), Liu Chengming (Secret Agent/Jiangnan Force), and Liu Yuanshi (Enemy of the Imperial Hospital).

The fourth line reads "Forces to be observed".

Nangong Ye (Emperor/Target of Revenge), Prince Zhenbei (Military Force), Prince Jing Nangong Shuo (Royal Force), Xiling Wu Kingdom (Mysterious Force).

Four lines, crisscrossing each other.

Like a net.

A net she wove herself, slowly tightening.

"Your Majesty," Jinshu said, bringing in a bowl of hot porridge. Her eyes lit up when she saw the drawing. "You drew this so clearly."

Shen Qingci took the porridge and sipped it slowly: "It's better to be clear-headed than to act rashly. We need to know who our own people are, who our enemies are, who we can win over, and who we must eliminate."

The porridge was very thin; you could count the grains of rice.

But Shen Qingci drank very seriously.

Every bite is the power to live.

"Jinshu," she put down her bowl, "did you remember the account book method I taught you yesterday?"

"I've got it!" Jinshu quickly pulled out a small notebook from her bosom—it was made of old paper bound together, and it was covered with numbers and symbols. "I practiced until midnight last night."

Shen Qingci took it, looked at it, and nodded: "Not bad. Once Jinxiufang opens, you can keep accounts using this method."

Jinshu nodded vigorously, her eyes full of anticipation.

She used to be just a maidservant, but now the Empress is teaching her to read, do math, and keep accounts... It seems she's being groomed to be a trusted confidante.

She absolutely cannot betray the Empress's trust!

Just then, they heard Eunuch Li coughing outside the door.

Shen Qingci immediately put away the map, and Jinshu also put away the account book.

Eunuch Li entered with a hunched back, carrying a small cloth bag in his hand: "Your Majesty, this old servant has returned."

"Master, you've worked hard." Shen Qingci stood up. "How did things go?"

Eunuch Li placed the small cloth bag on the table and took out a few items from it: "I've made contact with Qian Sihai. Following Your Highness's instructions, I told him about the Jinxiu Workshop project and the improvement of the loom. He's very interested and said he's willing to cooperate."

"However," Eunuch Li paused, "he has a condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"He wants to see the blueprints for the improved loom with his own eyes," said Eunuch Li. "He said that if it is as the Empress says, and the efficiency can be increased by more than five times, he is willing to provide all the start-up capital and take charge of all affairs in Jiangnan."

Shen Qingci smiled: "Okay. I've almost finished drawing the blueprints, and they'll be completed in a few days. I'll trouble Master to make another trip then."

"Yes." Eunuch Li nodded, then took out a small wooden box from his cloth bag. "This is from Physician Chen, who asked me to bring it to Her Majesty. He said that something has happened at the Imperial Hospital."

Shen Qingci frowned: "What happened?"

"Academician Liu noticed that Physician Chen and the others were getting close, and he became suspicious." Eunuch Li lowered his voice. "Yesterday, Academician Liu found an excuse to call Physician Chen and the others in for a talk. He was warning them not to form cliques."

Shen Qingci's eyes turned cold: "Academician Liu is quick on his feet."

"However, Physician Chen said that Your Highness should not worry," said Eunuch Li. "Their little clique has already been formed, consisting of seven people, all of whom have been ostracized by Imperial Physician Liu. They are now sticking together for mutual support. Imperial Physician Liu will have to think twice before he tries to harm them."

Shen Qingci nodded: "Tell Physician Chen to be careful. If necessary... it's okay to show weakness appropriately."

"Show weakness?"

"Yes," Shen Qingci said, "We want to make Imperial Physician Liu think that their little circle is insignificant, just a few disgruntled imperial physicians complaining. That way, Imperial Physician Liu will lower his guard."

Eunuch Li understood: "Your Majesty is wise."

"In addition," Shen Qingci thought for a moment, "I'll have Physician Chen find a way to develop one or two 'fence-sitters' within the Imperial Hospital."

"A fence-sitter?"

"They're the kind of people who side with whoever's in power," Shen Qingci said. "Although these people are unreliable, they can be used to spread false information. For example, let Imperial Physician Liu know that Physician Chen and his team are currently working on a 'traditional folk remedy,' and that they were just lucky to cure Consort Rong's illness."

Eunuch Li's eyes lit up: "Is Her Highness trying to... bewitch Imperial Physician Liu?"

"That's right." Shen Qingci sneered, "Truth and falsehood, reality and illusion. If we make Imperial Physician Liu focus all his attention on the 'unorthodox remedy,' he won't notice what we're really doing."

"This old servant understands." Eunuch Li nodded solemnly.

After Eunuch Li left, Jinshu asked softly, "Your Highness, do we... now consider ourselves to have our own power?"

Shen Qingci looked at the relationship network diagram on the table and nodded gently: "It's starting to take shape."

Inside the palace, there was a peerless master like Eunuch Li protecting her, a trusted confidante like Jinshu managing internal affairs, an informant like Xiao Luzi passing on messages, and a physician like Chen providing medical and poison support.

Outside the palace, there's her father, Shen Anbang, secretly maneuvering in the court; there are bodyguards like Shen Fu responsible for making contacts; there are business talents like Qian Sihai waiting to cooperate; and there are potential allies like Xiao Jue that she can try to win over.

Although it is still very weak.

Although it's still in the shadows.

But at least, she was no longer fighting alone.

"Jinshu," she turned her head, "did Xiaolu come last night?"

"She's here," Jinshu said. "She said Consort Rou has been in a good mood these past few days because Young Master Liu gave her many treasures. However..."

"But what?"

"However, it seems that Consort Rou is still preparing something." Jinshu frowned. "Xiao Luzi said that he heard Consort Rou tell her trusted maid that she wanted to 'solve the problem once and for all'."

Once and for all.

Shen Qingci's eyes turned cold.

Consort Rou is... getting impatient?

Also.

Liu Chengming has returned to the capital, and the Liu family's plans are accelerating. As a pawn of the Liu family in the palace, Consort Rou naturally needs to speed up her actions as well.

"Have Xiao Luzi keep an eye on things," Shen Qingci said, "especially who Consort Rou meets, what she takes, and what she says—the more details the better."

"Yes." Jinshu nodded.

Shen Qingci walked to the window and looked at the gray sky outside.

It's already January, but it's still so cold.

I wonder how things are in the North.

Did the Prince of Zhenbei receive his father's warning?

Does the Liu family really dare to extend their reach into military power?

And Xiling...

What role does that mysterious country play in the Liu family's plan?

she does not know.

But she knew one thing—

A storm is coming.

She must become stronger before this storm arrives.

Powerful enough to protect Bao'er.

Powerful enough to... overturn everything.

The little one inside her belly moved slightly at that moment.

Shen Qingci lowered her head and placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

It's been six months.

Bao'er is already very active. Sometimes she can even feel Bao'er stretching, rolling over, or gently kicking her with her little feet.

That feeling was wonderful.

She was the only warmth in this cold world.

"Baby," she whispered, "wait three more months. Once Mother has prepared everything, I'll take you away from here."

Leave this cannibalistic palace.

Leave behind these hypocritical faces.

Go to a... wider world.

The little one inside my belly kicked again.

It's as if it's saying: Mother, I'm waiting for you.

Shen Qingci smiled.

Her smile was gentle yet firm.

it is good.

It's settled then.

She turned around and unfolded the relationship chart again.

Pick up a pen and write a line of small characters in one corner of the picture:

"Phase One Goal: Survival. Completed."

"Phase Two Goal: Strategic Planning. In Progress."

"Phase Three Goal: Break the deadlock. To be initiated."

Her pen tip touched the words "Pending Startup".

Then, at the very end of the diagram, another line of text was written:

"Ultimate goal: Please, go to your death."

The handwriting is sharp and forceful.

Like a blade.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded outside the window.

Thunder in winter is rare.

But Shen Qingci raised her head, looked at the gloomy sky outside the window, and a smile appeared on her lips.

Thunder is good.

The louder the thunder, the cleaner the sky will be after the rain.

And she couldn't wait to see it—

That clear sky.

[Volume 1, Phase 2, End]

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Next Preview: The Palace Burns Amidst Flames! Consort Rou's deadly move is arson to silence witnesses? Shen Qingci struggles to give birth amidst the flames, while Nangong Ye witnesses his wife and child dying—at that moment, the tyrant's heart begins to shatter! His period of seclusion in the Cold Palace ends, the revenge officially begins. He beseeches you…to die!