The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

The Imperial Palace, a side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The candlelight flickered, casting Lin Chu's long, swaying shadow on the wall. She had removed her heavy court robes and was now dressed in plain everyday clothes. Her face no longer held the triumphant air she had displayed during her daytime coronation; instead, it showed deep weariness, shock and anger, and a hint of panic that she herself was unwilling to acknowledge.

Su Che ran away.

On the very night she issued the decree to strip him of his power and tacitly allowed Gao Tianci to surround his residence, he vanished silently under her nose with his core group of former subordinates. He even managed to rescue a few insignificant officers and merchants, delivering a resounding slap in the face to both Gao Tianci and her.

He was not disheartened, nor did he retreat into seclusion out of weariness.

He had planned this all along! He saw right through me! No, perhaps even earlier, he had already stopped trusting me and secretly orchestrated all of this!

This realization sent a chill down Lin Chu's spine. She had always believed that she was the one in control. No matter how clever Su Che was, he was nothing more than a weapon in her hands. But now, the weapon had not only slipped from her grasp, but had also turned around and slashed its owner's palm.

"Your Majesty," Gao Tianci knelt below, not daring to raise his head, his voice filled with fear and resentment, "it is my dereliction of duty that I failed to detect the traitor's treacherous plot in time. I beg Your Majesty to punish me! I have already dispatched elite light cavalry to pursue and capture the traitor along the way, and we will surely bring him back!"

Lin Chu didn't speak immediately, but instead gently traced the warm rim of the teacup with her fingertips. After a long while, she finally spoke softly, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Gao Qing, why do you think Mr. Su left?"

Gao Tianci was taken aback, then said angrily, "Of course he's guilty! He must have harbored rebellious intentions for a long time. Seeing that His Majesty has ascended the throne and the court is stable, his ambitions could not be fulfilled. Fearing that his past crimes would be exposed, he fled in panic!"

"Crime?" Lin Chu chuckled lightly, his meaning ambiguous. "What crime has he committed? Is it the crime of assisting me in ascending the throne, or the crime of offering advice to the country and its people?"

Gao Tianci was speechless, sweat beading on his forehead: "This... Your Majesty, this man's origins are unknown, his temperament is eccentric, he has no respect for the emperor, and his followers are everywhere in the army and the court. He is a formidable threat! Now that he has fled, it only confirms his sinister intentions! Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to capture him and bring him back to justice to bring peace to the realm!"

"Capture him?" Lin Chu put down his teacup, his gaze falling on Gao Tianci with scrutiny. "If he truly planned this all along, as you say, he would probably have already fled. Can the pursuers you sent really catch him? Even if they do, with Mr. Su's abilities, can your men hold him back?"

Gao Tianci blushed, wanting to defend himself, but unable to find a way to argue. Although he envied Su Che's wisdom and skills, he had to admit that they were unfathomable.

Silence fell again in the hall, broken only by the occasional crackling of candle flames.

"Those things he left behind..." Lin Chu suddenly asked, "Eunuch Chen, have they been examined?"

Eunuch Chen, who was standing to the side, quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this old servant has made a rough check. The register, seals, and tokens are all there, and they seem to be complete. However, the key details are probably not known to anyone other than the original owner. Moreover..." He hesitated for a moment, "Lord Su... the traitor Su Che, left so decisively, leaving these things behind so easily. This old servant just doesn't feel at ease..."

Lin Chu felt the same way. Su Che's actions resembled cutting off his own tail to save himself, but the cut was too swift and too proactive. Given his personality, would he so easily give up years of hard work?

No, this isn't like him.

Unless... what he left behind was a trap in itself? Or perhaps these things were no longer core to him?

This thought made Lin Chu even more uneasy. She realized that she had never truly understood how many cards Su Che had up his sleeve.

"Your Majesty," Gao Tianci said, seizing the opportunity to speak as he observed Lin Chu's changing expression, "Su Che is the most hypocritical and cunning man, but also the one who values ​​loyalty the most. He and Your Majesty have a past, and perhaps... he still harbors a sliver of hope for Your Majesty. Perhaps Your Majesty could personally write a letter, sincere in words, reminiscing about past affections, explaining that the previous decree was a misunderstanding, instigated by a villain, that Your Majesty still trusts him, and hopes he will return to the capital to discuss state affairs, promising him high office and generous rewards... He might then harbor a glimmer of hope, hesitate, or even change his mind. At that time, we can..."

He made a gesture that suggested "inviting the enemy into the urn, catching the turtle in the urn".

Lin Chu narrowed his eyes slightly.

This plan isn't clever, it's even a bit underhanded. But...maybe it will work?

Has Su Che truly lost all affection for her? The night before his ascension to the throne, the way he looked at her clearly still held warmth. Today, as he handed over power, though calm, wasn't there a trace of genuine emotion in his "weariness" and "relief"?

What if... what if he still harbors even the slightest illusion about me?

Use this illusion to lure him back, then completely control or eliminate him to prevent future troubles.

Once this thought arises, it coils around you like a poisonous vine.

She was an emperor. An emperor doesn't need useless old feelings; she only needs a stable empire. Su Che was too much of a threat. His leaving alive was itself a challenge to her authority and a hidden danger to the stability of the empire.

It must be eliminated.

We will stop at nothing.

Lin Chu's gaze gradually turned cold and resolute. She looked at Gao Tianci: "Pen and ink."

Gao Tianci was overjoyed and immediately laid out paper and ground ink himself.

Lin Chu picked up his pen, hesitated for a moment, and then the pen fell to the ground. The handwriting was still elegant, but the tone was completely different from the cold and hard decree he had received earlier that day. It was full of reminiscence, self-reproach, affection, and expectation.

"...I recall that snowy night in the dilapidated temple, you, thinly clad, gazed intently at me, your eyes burning with unwavering devotion, captivating my heart. For years since, we've weathered storms together, entrusting each other with life and death. Without you, Su Qing, where would I be today? The imperial decree of the day was a moment of folly on my part, a deliberate misjudgment, a fear that your growing power would threaten our relationship, and a fear that public opinion would damage your reputation. Now, I am filled with remorse. This misunderstanding is entirely my fault. You are my pillar of strength, the backbone of the nation, and my heart has never wavered. I hope you will return swiftly upon receiving this letter. I wish to set aside past grievances and join hands with you to govern this vast land, fulfilling the vow we made that snowy night. The wine in the palace is still warm; I remember your favorite, 'Autumn Dew White,' and I await your return. I eagerly await your return. Chu, handwritten."

She wrote slowly, each stroke seemingly imbued with genuine emotion, and by the end, her eyes were even slightly moist. Putting down her pen, she blew on the ink to dry it, placed the letter in an elegant envelope, dripped sealing wax on it, and stamped it with her small seal.

"Select your most trusted confidant and deliver this letter to Su Che personally as quickly as possible." Lin Chu handed the letter to Gao Tianci, his tone chilling. "Tell him that I have prepared his favorite wine in the palace, so that when he returns, we can drink until we're completely drunk."

Gao Tianci accepted the letter with both hands, feeling its weight and the murderous intent within. A surge of excitement rose within him: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will personally select a skilled warrior to deliver this letter! As long as Su Che retains even the slightest bit of old affection, he will surely walk right into our trap!"

Lin Chu waved his hand, and Gao Tianci bowed and withdrew.

The hall returned to silence.

Lin Chu sat alone in the candlelight, watching the leaping flames, as if he could see Su Che's gentle and clear eyes, and also as if he could see those eyes full of resentment and mockery on the execution ground.

She picked up the cup of tea, which had long since gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp, the icy, bitter liquid sliding down her throat.

Su Che, will you come back?

If you return, that cup of "Autumn Dew White" will be my farewell wine to you on your final journey.

If you don't come...

Lin Chu gripped the teacup tightly, his fingertips turning slightly white.

Then you should never come back.

……

Three days later, at dusk, on the southern slope of Qishan Mountain, a weary troop was taking a short rest by a stream, watering their horses and preparing a meal.

Su Che sat on a large rock, listening to the reports from the scouts sent by Zhao Jianing.

"Sir, we have spotted pursuers about 300 light cavalry twenty miles behind us. They are flying the banner of Gao Tianci's direct subordinate 'Tiger Might Battalion.' They are moving very fast and will catch up with us by tomorrow morning at the latest."

Su Che nodded, not surprised. If Gao Tianci couldn't even organize this much pursuit, then he would be utterly useless.

At this moment, Pang Xiaopan hurried over, holding a small copper tube in her hand, her expression somewhat strange: "Sir, Di Ting has sent a secret message via hawk from the capital. It is... it is His Majesty's own handwriting, and he specifically requested that it be delivered to you."

Su Che took the copper tube, unscrewed it, and pulled out the finely rolled silk scroll inside. He unfolded it and quickly scanned it.

Familiar handwriting, sincere words, reminiscence, regret, expectation, invitation... and, between the lines, an almost overflowing hypocrisy and murderous intent.

"Autumn dew is white..." Su Che murmured these three words, then suddenly chuckled softly.

The laughter was soft, yet it sent a chill down the spines of Zhao Jianing and Pang Xiaopan standing nearby.

"Sir?" Pang Xiaopan asked in confusion.

Su Che stopped laughing and casually handed the silk scroll to Zhao Jianing. Zhao Jianing and Pang Xiaopan huddled together to read it, both of them with angry expressions.

"Utterly shameless!" Zhao Jianing gritted her teeth. "She even tried to use this kind of trick to lure you back!"

"This wine is probably poison that will kill you," Pang Xiaopan said.

Su Che watched the setting sun gradually sink on the horizon, the afterglow casting a pale golden hue on his profile, his voice calm and unwavering: "She did prepare wine. However, it wasn't for my farewell."

He stood up and patted off non-existent dust from his robes.

"Tell the brothers to eat and drink their fill and get some rest. Tomorrow morning, we'll give General Gao's elite Tiger Might Battalion..."

"Send a 'return gift'."

His gaze was fixed on the direction where the pursuers were approaching, and a cold flame seemed to quietly ignite in the depths of his eyes.