Chapter 170 Imperial Edict

"Could it be..." he drawled, his voice filled with malicious speculation, "that this so-called border war, from beginning to end, was just a play staged by the Regent and his own sister?"

"I wonder what the Regent's purpose is in doing this?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci showed no fear whatsoever, instead letting out a sneer in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.

"If Your Excellency has any doubts, you may... go and ask the Prince yourself."

"I just want to know why the Prime Minister, knowing that an enemy country is invading, refuses to send troops?"

After she finished speaking, she didn't look at Liu Wenyuan's ashen face anymore. She walked past him and headed straight for the Taiji Hall amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd!

"You don't need to stop me. This princess consort will not see Chu Jichen, but will go to see His Majesty. Is that alright?"

She walked with ease and without hindrance, and actually made her way all the way to the gate of the Taiji Hall!

Shen Qingci stepped into the spacious and majestic hall and bowed gracefully to Emperor Yongming, who sat on the dragon throne, looking bewildered by the commotion outside.

Before Emperor Yongming could speak, she had already taken the initiative, her clear voice resounding throughout the entire Taiji Hall:

"Your Majesty!"

"The Northern You Kingdom has brazenly torn up the peace agreement, deployed troops in the Southern Province, and launched a surprise attack on our Great Zhou! The border is in grave danger, and the military situation is dire!"

"However," her voice suddenly changed, filled with a chilling question, "Prime Minister Liu, as the head of all officials and temporarily in charge of the government, not only suppressed such important military intelligence and refused to send troops to reinforce the city! He even... secretly broke up a large number of troops into smaller units and infiltrated the capital!"

"Your Majesty!" She suddenly raised her head, her clear phoenix eyes filled with sincere concern and urgency for the country and its people. "Do you know what Liu Wenyuan... really wants to do?"

Emperor Yongming was taken aback by Shen Qingci's sudden "petition to the emperor," and immediately, a surge of anger at being ignored rushed to his head!

He slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne and roared in exasperation, "I am being held captive here by that traitor Chu Jichen, like a prisoner! How could I possibly know what is happening outside?"

He stared intently at Shen Qingci, his eyes filled with resentment: "Aren't you his princess? Tell him to release me! Once I regain my freedom, I will naturally find out what Liu Wenyuan is up to!"

"What a coincidence." Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci shrugged, looking helpless. "There's nothing I can do about it."

"His Highness is currently being held in the side hall by Prime Minister Liu and the other officials! If His Majesty wants His Highness to release you, then first, Prime Minister Liu must release His Highness, right?"

She abruptly changed the subject, a sly glint in her eyes, and a meaningful smile played on her lips: "How about... we make a deal?"

“Your Majesty, please issue a decree to me, which reads: ‘Order Liu Wenyuan to immediately cease interrogating the Regent and restore all his powers.’”

"If I can get this imperial edict and persuade Prime Minister Liu to release the Prince, I will then persuade the Prince to release you immediately. What do you say?"

"Ha!" Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongming laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "Do you think I am a three-year-old child?! Do you think that after Liu Wenyuan releases Chu Jichen, Chu Jichen... will release me?"

“I am not worried about that.” Shen Qingci shook her head. She slowly stepped forward, her voice low and seductive. “What I really want Your Majesty to verify is Prime Minister Liu.”

“Your Majesty…you might as well guess,” her voice was like a venomous snake’s hiss, precisely biting into the most vulnerable spot in Emperor Yongming’s heart, “if I were to take your personal imperial edict and go to summon him, would Liu Wenyuan…he disobey the imperial decree?”

"You've schemed and plotted for so long, even going so far as to negotiate with a tiger for its skin, all to wrest the throne back from the Regent. But have you ever considered... that in the end, not only have you failed to regain the throne, but you've also... personally nurtured a wolf even more greedy and uncontrollable than the Regent?"

"This empire, in the hands of you and the Regent Prince, will ultimately belong to the Great Zhou Dynasty of the Chu family."

“But if… if it falls into Liu Wenyuan’s hands,” her voice suddenly turned cold, “then it will truly mean a change of dynasty, the destruction of the country, and the extinction of the race!”

Emperor Yongming's eyelashes began to tremble violently and uncontrollably!

Chu Jichen...

That damn cripple, he seems to have said something similar to him a while ago!

Liu Wenyuan... does he really dare to defy the imperial decree?

Seeing the hesitation on his face, Shen Qingci knew the time was right. She immediately raised her eyebrows and provoked him with an extremely contemptuous tone: "What? Your Majesty... you wouldn't dare, would you?"

"It seems that His Majesty also doesn't trust that old fox Liu Wenyuan."

"Who says I dare not?" Emperor Yongming was provoked by her words and was instantly blinded by rage!

He suddenly stood up, rushed to the imperial desk, grabbed the brush and ink, and roared, "Write it! Today I want to see just how bold Liu Wenyuan really is!"

Shen Qingci watched as he actually began to write the imperial edict, and chuckled inwardly.

Her purpose in entering the palace today was merely to attract the attention of Liu Wenyuan and others, so as to create an opportunity for Yuanbao and the others.

But unexpectedly, there was such a pleasant surprise.

Seeing Emperor Yongming finish writing the imperial edict and put down his brush, Shen Qingci did not hesitate at all. He immediately stepped forward, picked up the heavy gold seal on the table, aimed it at the bright yellow silk, and slammed it down heavily with a "bang"!

She picked up the imperial edict, still fragrant with ink, and turned to leave.

"You...you stop right there!" Emperor Yongming finally realized that he seemed to have...fallen into this vile woman's trap again!

Shen Qingci had already reached the palace entrance. She slowly turned around and gave him a radiant smile.

"Your Majesty, rest assured," she said, waving the imperial edict in her hand. "I am an upright person and I hate nothing more than deception and fraud."

"Therefore, I have decided that this imperial edict will be read aloud right here at the entrance of the Taiji Hall!"

"In this way, His Majesty, being in the palace, can hear firsthand how his good prime minister reacted after receiving your imperial edict."

After saying that, Shen Qingci turned around and stepped out of the Taiji Hall without looking at Emperor Yongming's ashen face.

Holding the still-fragrant, bright yellow imperial edict, she stood atop the high jade steps of the palace, her voice, sharp as gold, resounding throughout the entire square:

"His Majesty has decreed—"

"Summon Prime Minister Liu Wenyuan to step forward and receive the imperial decree!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly silencing all the officials nearby!

All eyes were drawn to the woman who stood tall and proud, holding the imperial edict!

Liu Wenyuan and those around him were completely stunned!

Imperial edict?

How could that vile woman, Shen Qingci, possibly... obtain an imperial edict from His Majesty?

Liu Wenyuan narrowed his calculating old eyes, staring intently at Shen Qingci, countless thoughts flashing through his mind. He couldn't understand where things had gone wrong!

He remained silent for a long time, and finally, under the watchful eyes of countless people, he slowly walked out.

He walked down the jade steps, frowned as he looked at Shen Qingci, his expression arrogant.

Upon seeing this, Shen Qingci did not get angry but instead laughed.

Slowly, in front of everyone, she unfurled the bright yellow imperial edict with a "whoosh" sound!

The golden dragon patterns gleamed in the sunlight, so bright it was blinding.

"Liu Wenyuan!" Shen Qingci's voice suddenly turned stern, filled with an undeniable authority, "Seeing the imperial edict is like seeing the emperor's own family!"

Why don't you kneel?