Undercurrents resurface, and crisis returns.

Shen Qingci's swift and decisive methods of reforming the bureaucracy cut through the deep-seated corruption in the court like a sharp blade, but also precisely targeted the deeply entrenched interest groups. Those corrupt officials who were dismissed and their cliques that were broken up secretly colluded and resolved to use the most insidious means to bring down this thorn in their side.

Rumors, like a plague in early spring, quietly spread through the streets and alleys of the capital and the shadowy corners of the imperial court. At first, they were just scattered whispers, saying that Vice Minister Shen acted arbitrarily and suppressed dissent. Gradually, they escalated into terrifying accusations of "raising an army for personal gain" and "plotting a rebellion." The rumors grew more and more rampant, even among ordinary citizens, who privately discussed them. Some even embellished the story, distorting Shen Qingci's military achievements on the border into evidence of "cultivating a private army."

When the news reached the palace, the emperor frowned deeply. He knew Shen Qingci's integrity and talent, and remembered his many contributions to the country and its people, but an emperor's heart was most wary of powerful ministers. Shen Qingci now held great power in administration, enjoyed popular support, and was deeply respected by his former subordinates in the Zhenbei Army. This prestige and influence inevitably caused the emperor some unease. In the court, some ministers who had aligned themselves with the old guard seized the opportunity to speak, hinting at the risk of "merit overshadowing the emperor," and urging the emperor to check and balance Shen Qingci.

When Shen Qingci learned of the rumors, he was reviewing the performance evaluation files of a new batch of officials at the Ministry of Personnel. His fingertips traced the words "honest and dedicated to public service," but the gossip from the streets echoed in his ears, filling him with both anger and anxiety. He knew all too well the destructive power of rumors—they required no concrete evidence, only to stir people's hearts and minds, capable of turning right and wrong upside down. If he couldn't clarify the situation in time, not only would his years of hard work be wasted, but it might also give those treacherous officials an opportunity to undermine the foundation of the court.

He immediately stopped his official duties, picked up his pen, and wrote a memorial. There was no feigned grievance in his words, only a heartfelt sincerity: "Since Your Majesty's favor and reinstatement to your post, I have devoted myself day and night to rectifying official corruption and pacifying the people. All my actions have followed the laws of the land and the will of the people, without a trace of personal ambition. If I have even the slightest thought of rebellion, I am willing to suffer the punishment of slow slicing to atone for my sins! I earnestly request Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly, uncover the source of the rumors, and restore order to the court."

The memorial was submitted to the palace, and the emperor read it repeatedly. Seeing the candor in the words, his doubts gradually dissipated. He recalled Shen Qingci's concern for the country even during his exile, his selfless dedication in resisting the Xiongnu, and his impartiality in reforming the bureaucracy. Ultimately, he could not bear to believe the rumors. He immediately issued an edict, ordering the Censorate to thoroughly investigate those spreading the rumors, and that anyone involved in fabricating rumors or inciting trouble would be severely punished.

However, the officials secretly plotting did not stop there. They knew that if one rumor failed, they would have to lay a more elaborate trap. In the dead of night, in a secret room in a side courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence, several people whispered and plotted. On the table lay forged letters and accounts—their meticulously crafted "ironclad evidence," enough to condemn Shen Qingci to eternal damnation. A much larger conspiracy against Shen Qingci was quietly brewing in the darkness, waiting to deliver a fatal blow in the imperial court.