Chapter 160 Something Happened

Wanqing pondered for a moment, her almond-shaped eyes growing brighter and brighter. She suddenly realized, "This servant understands!"

"That old fox Liu Wenyuan is inherently suspicious. Your unusual behavior, Miss, will be interpreted in two completely different ways by him!"

"Or he might think that you, Miss, are just an ignorant woman who can't see the dangerous situation at all. He thinks that you only know how to cry and make a fuss when the prince is in trouble, and that you are not worth fearing."

“Or,” Wanqing’s voice carried a hint of excitement, “he would think that you must have learned something from the prince, and that you are certain that the prince will be fine, which is why you are so confident and still have the mood to hold a grand birthday banquet!”

After thinking it over carefully, she said with certainty, "In my opinion, given Liu Wenyuan's suspicious nature, it's highly likely... to be the latter!"

“That’s right.” Shen Qingci nodded, a cool smile playing on her lips. “The more he suspects, the more uneasy he will become. As long as he can’t find solid evidence, he will be troubled by this matter and unable to eat or sleep. That will be enough to make him… lose his composure.”

Upon hearing this, Wanqing's eyes were filled with admiration. Her young mistress's tactic of "feigning reality while revealing falsehood, and vice versa" was truly ingenious!

She immediately stopped talking, accepted the order, and went to prepare for the birthday banquet as usual.

The next morning, the managers of each shop came to the Prince's Mansion to present their account books as agreed.

This time, the one mingling in the crowd was none other than Suzaku, who had already disguised himself.

After all the stewards had left, Zhuque took out a thick book from his bosom and respectfully handed it to Shen Qingci.

"Your Highness, as you instructed, I have had my spies planted in various prefectures secretly probe the situation through the 'Southern Bamboo' incident. The list of all officials who acted strangely after hearing about this matter, as well as their respective reactions and subsequent actions, has been recorded in detail."

Shen Qingci took the heavy booklet, gently ran her fingertips over the cover, and then slowly opened it.

What came into view were names she knew all too well.

[Zhou Wei'an, Vice Minister of War]—once one of her father's most capable deputy generals, whom her father had risked his life to rescue from an enemy encirclement. She remembered that he had visited her more than once with lavish gifts to express his gratitude, addressing her as "benefactor" with earnest words. Yet, the register clearly recorded that after hearing of "Nan Zhu's" appearance, he secretly destroyed several letters exchanged with the border that very night.

[Li Jingzhi, Academician of the Hanlin Academy]—his father's closest friend, the two often played chess and drank tea at his residence, talking all night long. However, on the second day after the "Southern Bamboo" incident, he immediately sent a painting of "Frontier Marching" that was said to be a unique work from the previous dynasty, which was in his family's collection, to the Prime Minister's residence.

[Zhao Kuo, Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guard]—His elder brother's sworn brother; the two had fought side by side on the battlefield, their bond as strong as brothers. Upon learning the news, he immediately dispatched men on horseback to the southern border…

Shen Qingci slowly closed her eyes, a mocking laugh escaping her lips.

Power is truly the most seductive poison in the world.

These people had once received immense favors from the Shen family, and had been on friendly terms with her father and brothers, sharing drinks and laughter. Yet, in the end, under the coercion and enticement of power, they turned their backs without hesitation, stabbing their benefactors with the sharpest blade!

Shen Qingci slowly stroked the cold booklet, her gaze turning fierce in an instant.

ungrateful……

So be it.

She will avenge these grudges, one by one, with interest, for her father and brothers!

Zhuque looked at her cold expression and couldn't help but worry, saying, "Your Highness, your actions... are far too risky. Most of these people are accomplices of Liu Wenyuan, and their connections are deeply entrenched. If we make the slightest move, they will know that it is our people who are secretly probing us. At that time, I'm afraid... we will be exposed."

"I don't care." Shen Qingci scoffed, her eyes filled with resolute fearlessness. "So what if I'm exposed?"

"The ones who feel guilty are them, not me. They are the ones who should be worried and unable to sleep at night."

“Moreover,” a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, “I am now the Regent’s wife. As long as I live, I will make them…live in constant fear!”

Upon hearing this, Zhuque did not offer any further advice, bowed to accept the order, and quietly withdrew.

Shen Qingci memorized every single word of the booklet. Just as she closed it, Wan Qing walked in from outside with light steps.

"Your Highness, I have completed all the tasks you entrusted to me!"

Shen Qingci's hand, which was about to hand the booklet to Wan Qing, suddenly stopped in mid-air.

She remained silent on the surface, but her heart was instantly filled with turbulent emotions!

princess?

wrong!

Since she married into the Regent's Palace, everyone in the palace, from the steward to the guards, has started calling her Princess Consort.

Only Wanqing, the maid who had been by her side since childhood and was like a sister to her, stubbornly retained that intimate "Miss" that belonged only between the two of them.

This had long become an unspoken habit among them.

But just now, the first thing she said when she entered the room was...

"princess".

This is really not right!

Shen Qingci's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.

She slowly lowered her eyes and silently put the book, stained with filth and betrayal, back into her sleeve.

A terrible thought uncontrollably surfaced in her mind—

The "late Qing Dynasty" before our eyes is a lie!

She couldn't rule out the possibility that the real Wanqing had already met with misfortune and had been... impersonated by someone else!

After all, although the Regent's Palace was impregnable and fortified, the core of all their defenses revolved around her and Chu Jichen.

Wanqing was her right-hand woman, the only person she could completely trust in this isolated city. She frequently had to leave the manor to contact Zhuque, relay messages, and handle personal matters for her.

There are simply too many opportunities for the enemy to strike!

Even without leaving the palace, with Liu Wenyuan's cunning, it wouldn't be difficult for him to plant one or two insignificant spies in this vast Regent's Palace.

Shen Qingci's thoughts raced through her mind in an instant, but her face remained calm.

She looked up and gave a gentle smile to the "Wanqing" in front of her, as if she hadn't noticed anything unusual at all.

"Okay, that's good." She said casually. "I've been busy all morning and I'm a little tired. Go to the kitchen and tell them that I'd like some plum juice for lunch to whet my appetite."

"Yes, Your Highness." "Wanqing" replied respectfully, then turned and left.

Watching her departing figure, the smile on Shen Qingci's face vanished instantly, replaced by an icy chill!

Without the slightest hesitation, she called out coldly to the empty corner, "Yuanbao!"

Yuanbao's figure appeared silently before her like a ghost.

"Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"Wanqing...something happened." Shen Qingci's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth.

Upon hearing this, Yuanbao's eyes widened in astonishment: "Wanqing? But didn't she just come back?"

“The one who came back is a fake.” A terrifying killing intent flashed in Shen Qingci’s eyes. “I suspect that the real Wanqing has been kidnapped, and the one in front of me is an imposter sent by the enemy in disguise!”

"Immediately send men to investigate thoroughly in secret! Find out where Wanqing went and who she met after she left my side!"

“Furthermore,” she paused, her voice growing colder, “find a pretext immediately, such as ‘there is an assassin in the manor,’ and shut all the gates of the manor tightly!”

"From this moment forward, no one is permitted to enter or leave at will!"

"Search the entire mansion thoroughly, inch by inch!"