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

This time, Su Che did not avoid it, and accepted her bow without hesitation. He stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Since Your Highness has entrusted me with your life, I will do my utmost. There is no time to lose; I need to arrange some things immediately. Your Highness, please also be careful. The First Prince has spies everywhere. If it is not necessary, it is best to stay at home and make all communications through Qingdai and the mute woman. Please be extremely cautious."

"Sir, please be careful too," Yun Jin couldn't help but remind him.

Su Che nodded slightly, said no more, put on his bamboo hat, turned around and opened the door. His figure quickly disappeared into the still-drizzling night rain outside the door. With a few leaps, he vanished into the depths of the alley, as if he had never appeared.

Yun Jin stood by the door, gazing at the empty, rain-soaked alley, motionless for a long time. It wasn't until Qing Dai came over with a kettle of boiling water that she snapped out of her reverie.

"Your Highness, is that Mr. Su... trustworthy?" Qingdai asked in a low voice, her face still showing worry.

Yun Jin turned and went back into the house, closing the door to keep the wind and rain out. She walked back to the table, her fingers brushing against the back of the chair where Su Che had just sat, where a trace of cool and calm aura seemed to still linger.

"I don't know if he's entirely trustworthy." Yun Jin's voice was soft, yet carried a desperate resolve. "But I know this is the only lifeline we can grasp now, a rope that might change our fate. Qingdai, we have no way out. Do as Mr. Su said, and as we discussed before, and act. Tomorrow morning, you..."

The master and servant lowered their voices and began to carefully plan under the dim light of the oil lamp. This secluded courtyard, like the last calm harbor before a storm, was quietly brewing a storm that could upend the fate of many.

……

For the next two days, Lin Yuan City maintained an eerie calm beneath its bustling surface, but the undercurrents were beginning to surge faster.

Through old connections, Qingdai quickly obtained the Northern Di delegation's schedule: Tomorrow evening, the Crown Prince will host a banquet at his residence to entertain the Northern Di envoys, their deputy envoys, and other important leaders. Three days later, a formal court assembly will be held in the Linde Hall of the palace to receive the delegation, at which time members of the royal family and officials of the fifth rank or above in the capital are required to attend.

Meanwhile, through Aunt Fangling, who married a fur merchant, a vague but crucial clue emerges: Zhou Wenqian, the deputy envoy of the Northern Barbarians, seems to be quite infatuated with a courtesan in the city's "Red Sleeve Pavilion." He has been visiting her frequently recently, and whenever he is drunk, he is loose-lipped and likes to boast about his friendship with "important figures" from the Southern Dynasty.

Meanwhile, Su Che acted even faster. Gray Falcon and Night Owl were given specific tasks.

Night Owl was responsible for keeping a close eye on "Red Sleeves," especially Zhou Wenqian. Gray Falcon, on the other hand, used the highest-level "Listening" spy activation authority granted by Su Che to successfully contact a deeply hidden pawn who was now working as a low-ranking clerk in the Court of State Ceremonial.

This piece provided crucial information: the next "account reconciliation" between the First Prince and Zhou Wenqian would likely take place the day after the banquet at the First Prince's residence, perhaps at a place in the city called "Qingya Pavilion," which was ostensibly a teahouse but actually a secret accounting office belonging to the First Prince's followers.

Su Che, stationed at the temporary outpost in the south of the city, pieced together the scattered information gathered from various parties like a jigsaw puzzle. He unfolded a simple map of Lin Yuan City, his fingertip slowly moving across it, finally stopping at the points of "the First Prince's Residence," "Hongxiuzhao," "Qingya Pavilion," and "the Imperial Palace," his eyes sharp as knives.

"Tomorrow night's banquet is the perfect time to start the fire..." he muttered to himself, a complete and bold plan gradually taking shape in his mind.

He summoned the gray falcon and gave it instructions in a low voice for a long time. The gray falcon's eyes flashed with a sharp light as it listened, nodded repeatedly, and left to carry out its orders.

He then spread out paper and pen, and using a special code and coded language, wrote a short message, which he handed to Night Owl: "Find a way to deliver this letter to the Third Princess tomorrow afternoon. It must be given to Qingdai personally; it must not pass through the hands of a second person."

"yes!"

With everything arranged, Su Che walked to the window. The rain had stopped, the night sky was clear, and a cold crescent moon shone on the sleeping imperial capital, which harbored countless hidden schemes.

"Luan Di Wuwei, Zhou Wenqian, Crown Prince..." He gazed towards the palace, a cold smile playing on his lips, "I hope you will like this 'generous gift'."

He could almost see the sparks that might ignite at tomorrow's banquet, and the spectacular "show" that would surely unfold in the court three days later.

The chessboard is set up; all that remains is to make a move.

In this game where the fate of a princess is at stake, the true mastermind will soon be revealed.

......

The morning at Linde Hall was solemn and oppressive.

The gilded dragon pillars gleamed with a cold, hard luster under the thin sunlight filtering through the high windows, and the massive palace brick floor was so smooth it reflected the figures of civil and military officials standing solemnly like silent terracotta figures.

The air was filled with the scent of ambergris, the smell of old wood, and an indescribable tension that belonged to the center of power.

Emperor Yun Hong sat high on the dragon throne, his crown tassels hanging down, obscuring most of his face. Only the loose skin of his jaw and his tightly pursed, impatient lips could be seen.

He was over fifty years old and had been obsessed with alchemy for many years. His complexion was an unhealthy grayish-white, and his eyes were puffy. At this moment, he was unconsciously tapping the gilded armrest with his knuckles, making a dull "thump-thump" sound. Each tap made the hearts of the ministers below, who had their heads bowed, tighten.

The Minister of Revenue was kneeling below the imperial steps, his forehead touching the ground, his voice trembling as he reported on the dire situation of the empty treasury, the arrears of taxes and silver in various regions, and the unsustainable food and pay for the border troops.

Numbers may be dry, but the crisis they represent weighs heavily on everyone's mind. Jiangqiong has been weak for a long time, corruption among officials is rampant, land annexation is serious, natural disasters are frequent, and the national treasury is already robbing Peter to pay Paul, living beyond its means.

Although the forced marriage by the Northern Di has been temporarily suspended, the pressure from border troubles has not diminished, and the internal financial situation has been stretched to its limit.

"Enough!" the emperor finally interrupted impatiently, his voice hoarse and irritated. "I don't want to hear any of this! I want silver! I want grain! I want peace on the frontier! You eat the emperor's food, so you should share his burdens! What use are you if you keep complaining about being poor all day long?!"

The hall was deathly silent; the ministers lowered their heads even further. Everyone knew the crux of the matter, but who dared to speak out? Touching vested interests was harder than touching the soul. Reform? Easier said than done! Whose interests would be threatened?

The eldest prince, Yun Jie, stood at the head of the civil officials, eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought, like an old monk in deep meditation. He was delighted with the financial mess, which only served to highlight the "incompetence" of the third prince when he took charge of the Ministry of Revenue.

The Third Prince Yun Huan stood on the other side, his brows slightly furrowed, seemingly deep in thought, but in reality, he sneered inwardly. This mess was the result of years of accumulated problems, and now that it had erupted, it was a good opportunity for his father to see just how "capable" his good elder brother had recommended the Minister of Revenue was.

Amidst the suffocating silence and the emperor's rage, a clear yet resilient female voice suddenly rang out from the back of the ranks:

"Father, your son... may have a plan that can solve this urgent problem, and we may give it a try."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap, instantly attracting everyone's attention.