With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Shen Nian had read many books while following Shen Nannan and had also seen the imperial edicts sent from the palace to the Shen family.

Ordinary letters wouldn't use that color.

"Yunli is not feeling well today, so please take Miss Shen back to the side hall to rest," the Empress Dowager instructed.

A palace maid immediately stepped forward to lead the way.

Xiao Yunli bowed to the Empress Dowager and led Shen Nian out of the main hall.

Only after the palace doors closed behind him did he slowly loosen his clenched fingers.

My palms were covered in cold sweat.

"Those clothes aren't mine," he said in a low voice.

"I know." Shen Nian didn't look at him immediately, but pretended to admire the flowers and trees outside the corridor, without stopping her steps.

"That's the style Father Emperor wore," Xiao Yunli said, his voice trembling.

Shen Nian's heart sank.

"Did you see what was in that box just now?" Shen Nian asked in a low voice.

Xiao Yunli nodded. "It looks like an imperial edict."

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing unease in each other's eyes.

The Empress Dowager did not allow them to return to their residences.

The palace maid led them to the West Warm Pavilion, saying that the Sixth Prince should copy a Buddhist scripture there to calm his mind.

The old woman arrived soon after.

She placed the wooden box into the innermost cabinet of the West Warm Pavilion, locked it, and instructed the palace maids outside not to allow anyone to enter.

Shen Nian and Xiao Yunli saw all of this through a half-screen.

A moment later, a palace maid brought over writing brush and ink.

Xiao Yunli sat at his desk, but couldn't write a single word.

Shen Nian ground the ink, her gaze occasionally sweeping towards the cabinet.

Shen Nian touched her neck.

The jade pendant engraved with the character "礼" (li, meaning propriety) was still inside her clothes.

She had promised Shen Nannan that if she encountered a truly urgent situation, she would find a way to give the jade pendant away.

Just as Shen Nian was about to take off the jade pendant, footsteps suddenly came from outside the warm pavilion.

More than one person.

The voice of the old woman who served the Empress Dowager came through the door.

"Where did my key go?"

Immediately afterwards, the sound of someone pushing the latch on the door could be heard from outside.

Xiao Yunli stood frozen in place.

Shen Nian shoved the imperial edict back into the wooden box and put the box into the cabinet.

But it was too late for them to lock the door again.

The door to the West Warm Pavilion was slowly opening from the outside.