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

Gifts from Princess Jingguo's residence poured in like a river, a brand-new vermilion plaque hung high above the door, and imposing stone lions replaced the old door piers. The carriages of officials coming and going to offer their congratulations almost blocked half the street.

However, inside the newly built "Tingtao Pavilion" study deep within the mansion, the atmosphere was completely different from the noisy congratulations outside. It was so quiet that only the dripping of the water clock and the soft sound of turning pages could be heard.

Yun Jin changed into her usual lotus-colored casual clothes, removed her hairpins and jewelry, and loosely tied her dark hair with only a jade hairpin. She was writing furiously at her desk.

She was compiling detailed reports on her trip to Jianghuai and subsequent strategies for salt administration reform; her handwriting was elegant yet powerful.

Qingdai carefully ground the ink, her eyes shining with pride, yet also with a lingering worry.

"Your Highness," Qingdai couldn't help but whisper, "the way the First Prince looked at you during the banquet today...it gave me the creeps. And those censors, although His Majesty reprimanded them, who can guarantee they won't..."

"The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease." Yun Jin continued writing, her voice calm, "Now that I stand at the forefront of the storm, I must be prepared to face it. As Mr. Su said, thunder and rain are both acts of imperial favor; open attacks and hidden arrows are also common occurrences. Fear is useless."

She looked up at the deepening twilight outside the window.

The clinking of glasses at the palace banquet, the emperor's heartfelt praise, the officials' flattery and congratulations, the eldest prince's icy gaze, and the third prince's profound scrutiny beneath his gentle exterior—all these scenes flashed before my eyes.

Behind the glory lies a deeper vortex.

She knew that in the Jianghuai case, she had not only cut off the Crown Prince's source of wealth, but also his tentacles reaching into the southeast, forcing him to take matters into his own hands.

The ensuing counterattack will surely be fierce and torrential.

"Any news from Commander Zhao?" Yun Jin asked.

After returning to Beijing, Zhao Jianing and the twenty elite soldiers went into hiding again, maintaining contact with her only through specific channels.

"A message came in this afternoon that everything is fine. As instructed by the master, we have dispersed and gone into hiding, awaiting further instructions."

Qingdai replied, paused, and lowered her voice even further, "In addition, the Third Prince's residence sent a visiting card this afternoon, saying that he has acquired several ancient paintings from the previous dynasty and, knowing Your Highness's refined taste, invites Your Highness to visit the residence the day after tomorrow to appreciate them."

Yun Jin's gaze narrowed slightly.

The third prince, Yun Huan, finally took the initiative to reach out.

This is both a test and an olive branch. With a formidable enemy at hand, even the enemy of my enemy, if not a friend, can temporarily offer mutual assistance.

In his secret letter, Su Che also mentioned that it was appropriate to make contact with the Third Prince to divide and restrain the First Prince.

"Reply to Third Prince, I will certainly keep the appointment on time the following day," Yun Jin said thoughtfully. "Prepare a generous gift to express my gratitude for Your Majesty's kind intentions."

"Yes," Qingdai replied, then remembered something else. "Your Highness, the guards bestowed by His Majesty have arrived, a total of two hundred men. The leader is a deputy commander surnamed Feng, who seems quite capable. Should the defense of the mansion, both inside and outside, be entrusted to them?"

Yun Jin shook her head: "The guards bestowed by His Majesty are sufficient for ceremonial duties and gate security. The core guards of the inner courtyard, especially those in the study and sleeping quarters, still need to be our own people."

The eight men Commander Zhao left behind are enough. You will handle this personally, and do not let anyone suspect anything.

Having experienced the life-or-death crisis in Jianghuai, she became more wary of the people and things around her.

"This servant understands."

As the master and servant were talking, there was a gentle knock on the study door, and a eunuch announced from outside: "Your Highness, an imperial decree has arrived, summoning Your Highness to the palace immediately. His Majesty will grant you an audience at the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

At this moment? Yun Jin and Qing Dai exchanged a glance, both seeing the doubt in each other's eyes.

The palace banquet has just ended, what business does Father have now?

Not daring to delay, Yun Jin quickly changed her clothes and entered the palace in a sedan chair.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was brightly lit, but Emperor Yun Hong did not review memorials as usual. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the deep night, his figure appearing somewhat desolate.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Yun Jin bowed.

"Rise." The emperor turned around, a hint of weariness on his face, and gestured to the embroidered stool beside him. "Sit. There are no outsiders here, no need for formalities."

Yun Jin sat down as instructed, her doubts growing even stronger.

The emperor remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice somewhat low: "Duke of Jingguo, at today's banquet, I promoted you to Princess Jingguo, bestowed upon you a certificate of merit, and appointed you Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince. Do you understand my intentions?"

"Your subject is foolish and ignorant; please enlighten me, Father." Yun Jin lowered his head.

There are three intentions.

The emperor walked back to his desk and sat down, looking at her with a complicated expression. "Firstly, your trip to Jianghuai was indeed of great merit, benefiting the country, the people, and my reputation. You deserve to be rewarded."

Secondly, I want to use your influence to teach certain people a lesson. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, clearly referring to the First Prince and his cronies. "Let them know whose world this court, this empire, truly belongs to."

Yun Jin felt a chill run down her spine and dared not reply.

"Thirdly," the emperor's tone became somewhat obscure.

"I am old and my energy is not what it used to be. My pursuit of alchemy and Taoism is nothing more than a desire for immortality, to prolong my life."

This empire will eventually be handed over to you brothers and sisters.

The eldest son is impatient for quick success and narrow-minded.

The third brother is deep and unpredictable.

The fourth and fifth children are both still young...

Although you are a woman, your actions have shown me a different kind of courage and responsibility.

He paused, looking at Yun Jin's shocked face as she suddenly looked up, and continued.

"I bestow upon you power and glory in the hope that you will become a blade, a sharp weapon for me and for this nation, to cut away the rotten flesh and deter the disobedient. But at the same time..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone turning stern, "You must also remember, a knife is ultimately just a knife. It can be used, or it can be discarded. I can give you everything, and I can also take everything away. Those people around you, that accountant, that guard commander, and... the other 'experts' who may exist behind you, I don't care about their origins, as long as they are loyal to the court and loyal to me."

But if they harbor even the slightest disloyalty, or if you become arrogant and do wrong... you should know the consequences.

This is a combination of carrot and stick, a blatant warning, and also a deal.