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

There was less probing and distance, and more solemnity and tacit understanding as they fought side by side.

"Sir," Yun Jin spoke again, her tone now carrying the calm of a decision-maker, "what should we do next? The First Prince will certainly not give up after this setback. My Third Brother will probably also take action. The court is still embroiled in debate over the 'Ten Memorials,' and the Northern Barbarian delegation has not yet left the capital... With so many things to deal with, where should we begin?"

Su Che spread out a piece of paper, picked up a pen, and wrote as he spoke: "There are several urgent matters that need to be dealt with immediately."

"First, consolidate Your Highness's position in the court. Since His Majesty is interested in the 'Ten Memorials,' Your Highness cannot simply offer suggestions. You need to select one or two clauses that are less controversial and have quicker results, such as 'work relief' or 'improvement of agricultural tools,' and draft more detailed implementation plans to gain His Majesty's support for a trial run on a small scale. If successful, Your Highness's prestige and influence will be greatly enhanced. I can consult with Your Highness on the specific details of this matter."

"Secondly, we need to deal with the Northern Barbarian delegation. Although the marriage alliance has been temporarily suspended, the Northern Barbarian King will not give up easily. The eldest prince may also still harbor treacherous intentions. What we need to do is make the Northern Barbarian delegation 'make a mistake' on their own and leave 'shamefully'. I already have some ideas about this matter, and I need Your Highness's cooperation to give that Left Wise King Luandi Wuwei a chance to 'perform' at the next court assembly or in a public setting."

"Third, establish our own foundation." Su Che paused, looking at Yun Jin. "Your Highness, you need to use your status as a princess to befriend and cultivate a group of truly talented and ambitious officials in the court, especially those in the lower and middle ranks and young talents, who are not closely associated with the First and Third Princes, to form our 'pure stream' core. Outside the palace, I will begin to establish a more comprehensive intelligence network called 'Eavesdropping,' and try to control some necessary industries to provide financial and material support for our operations."

Furthermore, "his gaze narrowed slightly, "we need to secretly build a core military force that is absolutely loyal and obeys only His Highness and me. The number of personnel does not need to be large, but it must be elite and reliable to deal with dangers like tonight's. I can be responsible for training and commanding this matter."

"Fourth, Blackwater Town." Su Che wrote the place name on the paper. "That's our first foothold in Jiangqiong, and also one of our important future rear bases. Although it's remote, it's a no-man's-land, making it easy to manage. I've already sent people to integrate the local forces and remove obstacles. After Your Highness has established a firm foothold in the court, you could request permission to designate Blackwater Town and its surrounding area as Your Highness's 'pilot area' under the guise of 'understanding the people's sentiments and trying out new policies,' so that you can legitimately manage and develop it."

Each item is clearly defined, encompassing both short-term responses and long-term plans, covering various aspects such as the imperial court, diplomacy, economy, military force, and base areas.

Yun Jin was deeply moved, yet also felt immense pressure.

But she knew that this was just the beginning, a thorny path leading to hope.

"Yun Jin understands." She nodded emphatically. "I will get to work as soon as possible on the details of cultivating relationships with court officials and the Ten Memorials. The affairs of the Northern Barbarian delegation and the court assembly will be entirely handled by you, sir. As for matters outside the palace, I will also trouble you with your concern. However..."

She hesitated for a moment, "Sir, the money needed to establish intelligence and military capabilities..."

"Your Highness need not worry about money," Su Che said calmly. "I have my own channels. Your Highness only needs to focus on the court, which is the greatest support you can give us."

Yun Jin didn't ask any more questions, and she gained a new understanding of Su Che's power.

"It's late. Your Highness has been frightened today and needs to rest well." Su Che put down his pen and pushed the paper filled with key points in front of Yun Jin. "Tomorrow, we will discuss the specific details."

"Please rest early, sir." Yun Jin stood up and carefully put the paper away.

Su Che nodded, got up to say goodbye, and walked towards the side room prepared for him in the front yard.

Yun Jin stood alone at the door of the study, watching Su Che's tall figure disappear behind the pillars. She then looked back at the bright oil lamp on the table and the wild chrysanthemums in the vase, still carrying the chill of the night dew.

A small cabin in dire straits, a bloody assassination, a mysterious ally, a grand blueprint... all of this was turned upside down in just a few days.

She knew that from tonight onward, from this seemingly ordinary courtyard that had become her and Mr. Su's first real "base," her life would be completely different.

Princess Yun Jin is no longer the third princess who passively accepts her fate.

Rather, they are the ones who wield the pieces, the ones who break the deadlock.

She gently blew out the oil lamp, leaving only a wisp of smoke curling upwards.

In the darkness, her eyes shone even brighter than the lamplight had shone earlier.

......

As dawn broke and the chill of the night had not yet completely dispelled, Lin Yuan City slowly awoke from its slumber.

Inside the three-courtyard compound deep in the working-class area of ​​Xicheng, the lights had been on for quite some time.

Inside the main room, Qingdai was carefully doing Yunjin's makeup.

Today's attire is of utmost importance; it cannot be too extravagant and ostentatious, lest it arouse envy, nor can it be too plain and shabby, lest it lose the dignity of royalty.

The final choice was a moon-white palace dress with subtle patterns, over which was a light blue gauze overlay. The fabric was of the highest quality, yet the color was soft. Her hair was styled into an elegant cloud-like bun, adorned with a mutton-fat white jade ruyi hairpin and a few rice-bead hair ornaments. Her makeup was extremely light, focusing on the delicate beauty of her eyebrows and eyes and enhancing her complexion, concealing the weariness and shock of the past few days.

"Your Highness, isn't this... a bit too plain?" Qingdai hesitated, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Though elegant and refined, she inevitably appeared thin.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Yun Jin noticed that the childishness and timidity in her eyes seemed to be being replaced by something calmer and more determined.

She gently stroked the delicate patterns on her dress and whispered, "There are advantages to being modest. Today, the main characters are Father Emperor and the court, not me. We... are just going to 'express our gratitude' and 'listen to His teachings,' so the more humble we are, the better. Remember, observe more, listen more, and speak less. Unless Father Emperor asks, there's no need to say anything more."

"Yes, this servant has remembered." Qingdai nodded, but was still somewhat uneasy. "However, in the palace... there's the First Prince's side, and the Imperial Concubine..."

"What's meant to come will come." Yun Jin stood up, straightened her sleeves one last time, and looked through the window at the gradually brightening dawn on the eastern horizon. "Let's go, it's almost time."

Outside the door, an inconspicuous blue sedan had been waiting for a long time.

This was arranged by Su Che through "Huitong Trading Company". The coachman and the two servants accompanying him were all reliable people personally selected by Grey Falcon. They seemed ordinary, but in fact, they all had the ability to protect themselves.

Yun Jin led Qingdai into the sedan chair. The curtain fell, blocking the view from the outside world and also from the worried gaze of the mute old woman in the courtyard.

The sedan chair traveled through the gradually bustling streets and alleys, heading towards the imperial city.

Inside the sedan chair, Yun Jin closed her eyes to rest, but in reality, she was repeatedly rehearsing the various situations that might arise later, silently memorizing the key points of the response that Su Che had discussed with her the night before.

About half an hour later, the sedan chair arrived at the "Yong'an Gate" on the west side of the palace.

This place is mainly frequented by members of the imperial family, female relatives, and low- to mid-level officials. Unlike the main gate, Chengtian Gate, which is solemn and dignified, it is still heavily guarded.

Yun Jin handed over her waist tag and announced her name.

The Imperial Guard captain at the gate checked Yun Jin's waist tag and glanced at her simple yet composed attire. A hint of surprise flashed across his face, but he said nothing and waved her through.

The sedan chair was then carried by palace eunuchs and entered the deep, secluded palace walls.

The familiar red walls and yellow tiles, the familiar majestic palaces, and the familiar, omnipresent sense of oppression once again enveloped Yun Jin.

This time, however, her mindset was completely different. She was no longer a pitiful princess who could only passively wait for fate to strike. In her hands, she had gained political capital from the "Ten Memorials on Strengthening the People and Enriching the Country," and behind her, she had an unfathomable ally, Su Che.

The destination was a side hall of the "Zichen Hall," where the emperor lived daily.

According to custom, the royal family members who receive the reward must enter the palace the following day to express their gratitude and receive admonitions.