The last golden rays of the sunset cast a warm glow on their intertwined figures. Xin Kui clutched the ebony hairpin tightly in her hand, as if she were holding onto the happiness and future she had never dared to hope for.

The capital city, the imperial palace, the imperial study.

The atmosphere was as heavy as the stillness before a storm. Even the scent of ambergris could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere.

Princess Rongchang, dressed in solemn palace attire, stood before the Emperor with a dignified expression. Behind her, two palace maids carefully carried a heavy sandalwood box. Zhou Zhengqing, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Shen Jing, the Minister of Revenue, and the Minister of Works stood respectfully to the side, each holding their breath, beads of sweat glistening on their foreheads.

On the dragon bed, the emperor's face was sallow, leaning against thick pillows, clearly exhausted, but his slightly cloudy eyes were now sharply fixed on the box. He had just finished reading the final report on the corruption in the Grand Canal, presented by Princess Rongchang and compiled under the leadership of Xin Jiuwei.

"Cough cough...Good, very good!" The emperor's voice was hoarse, filled with thunderous rage. He slammed his hand on the edge of the couch, making the teacups clatter. "My grain transport, my transport troops, the lifeblood of my people, have been so slavishly wasted by these parasites! Forty percent! They dared to embezzle forty percent from the Linqing granary! 'Bottom-bottom measure'? Breaking the legs of the transport troops? Lawless! Utterly lawless!"

A violent cough interrupted his roar. The eunuchs rushed forward to attend to him. Princess Rongchang said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of your health. These parasites should be dealt with severely according to the law. Please don't let your anger ruin your health."

The emperor, catching his breath, blazed with even greater fury: "Severely punish them? I'll skin them alive! Zhou Zhengqing!"

"Your subject is here!" Zhou Zhengqing immediately stepped forward.

"I hereby appoint you as Imperial Envoy, with my golden token, and order you to leave the capital immediately! Together with the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, arrest Wang Lu, the ambassador of the Qingcang granary, the powerful Zhao Bancheng, their cronies in the capital, and all the officials involved along the way. Bring them all to the capital without exception! Interrogate them severely and punish them according to the law! Those who deserve to be killed will be killed, and those who deserve to be exiled will be exiled! Confiscate their property and deposit it into the national treasury for disaster relief and to compensate the victims of the transport troops!" The emperor's voice was filled with an iron-blooded and ruthless aura.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Zhou Zhengqing solemnly accepted the order, his eyes filled with righteous indignation.

"Respect!"

"Your subject is here!"

"The Grand Canal Transport Commissioner's Office is guilty of incompetence and negligence in its supervision! You are hereby appointed to temporarily assume the duties of Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, and together with the Ministry of Works, to immediately rectify the canal transport system based on the 'Ten Policies for Grand Canal Transport' submitted by 'Lady Huimin'! Abolish all corrupt practices! Standardize measuring instruments! Strictly investigate the granaries along the route! The treatment of transport soldiers must be improved! If there is any further exploitation or deduction, you will be held accountable!"

"Your Majesty, I obey! I will certainly not fail in your trust!" Shen Jing replied solemnly, filled with admiration for the wise and intelligent Lady Huimin who was strategizing far away in the Prince's residence.

"Furthermore," the emperor said wearily, closing his eyes and waving his hand, "Issue an imperial decree... Lady Xin, the wise and discerning, has been dedicated to the nation and has keenly observed the deep-seated problems. She has contributed greatly to the country and its people by presenting the 'Ten Strategies for the Grand Canal.' Her contributions are immeasurable. She is hereby granted... a pair of jade ruyi scepters, a bushel of pearls from the East Sea, and ten bolts of Shu brocade as a reward."

"On behalf of Lady Huimin, your subject (your daughter) thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!" Princess Rongchang and several ministers said in unison.

A storm sweeping through the imperial court and the country over the Grand Canal transport officially began with the emperor's thunderous wrath and Princess Rongchang's forceful intervention. The news spread like wildfire throughout the capital. Some rejoiced, while others lived in constant fear.

The West Garden of the Sixth Prince's Residence.

Xin Jiuwei, accompanied by Lin Jingshu, was taking a leisurely stroll in the warm pavilion, stretching her muscles and bones. The imperial physician had advised her that she needed to move around appropriately during the later stages of her pregnancy.

"Wei'er, have you heard? Lord Zhou has left the capital by imperial decree! He's carrying His Majesty's golden token! Wang Lu, Zhao Bancheng, and those others are doomed this time!" Lin Jingshu excitedly told her the news that had just arrived.

Xin Jiuwei stroked her slightly protruding belly, her face showing little joy, but rather a hint of solemnity: "The storm has begun, and we must be even more wary of desperate measures. The remnants of the Second Prince's faction have been entrenched for many years, their roots run deep, and the Grand Canal is a vital source of their wealth. Now that they have been uprooted, how could they be content?"

Just then, Chen Qing hurried in, his face grave: "Madam, Miss Lin. We just received a secret message from Young Master Qi of Yuncheng via carrier pigeon!" He presented a small bamboo tube.

Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat. She quickly took the paper and unfolded it. It bore Qi Huaihe's familiar, steady, and powerful handwriting:

"The case of the grain transport incident in the capital has been swift and decisive, potentially triggering a backlash. We've discovered unusual activity from the 'Black Tiger Gang' in the capital region, seemingly in frequent contact with the relatives of Sun Youlu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. The Black Tiger Gang is a gathering place for outlaws, raising assassins. Their target is likely the capital, intending to create chaos or commit dangerous acts. My sister is in the capital; we must be extremely vigilant! The Qi family's secret guards have already set off north and will arrive in the capital soon to be on standby. Huaihe."

The note trembled slightly between Xin Jiuwei's fingertips. The Black Tiger Gang? Desperate assassins? Their target is the capital? She instantly thought of herself, and of Xiao Xun's imminent return! The remnants of the Second Prince's faction are indeed going to resort to desperate measures!

"Chen Qing!" Xin Jiuwei's voice was as cold as ice. "Order all guards in the mansion to immediately enter the highest state of alert! Strengthen patrols throughout the mansion, especially where I and important documents are located! Strangers are strictly prohibited from approaching within a hundred paces of the mansion! Notify Princess Rongchang's mansion and Marquis Anguo's mansion to issue a warning!"

"Yes!" Chen Qing accepted the order, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and turned to leave quickly.

Lin Jingshu's face turned pale, and she tightly grasped Xin Jiuwei's hand: "Wei'er! What... what should we do? Why don't you... why don't you go to the palace first? Or go to the Marquis of Anguo's residence for temporary refuge?"

Xin Jiuwei forced herself to calm down, grasped Lin Jingshu's cold hand in return, her gaze deep and resolute: "Sister, don't panic. Leaving the manor now would be too commotion and make us easy targets. The manor is the foundation His Highness has built over many years, heavily guarded, with additional secret guards left behind by His Highness. Cousin Qi's secret guards are also on their way. As long as we hold the manor and remain vigilant, the villains might not dare to come! If they do dare to come..." A cold glint flashed in her eyes, "Then let them never return! It'll be a perfect opportunity to clean up Lord Zhou's corruption in the grain transport system!"

She straightened her back, her hand protecting her lower abdomen. The majesty and composure befitting a future empress gradually calmed Lin Jingshu's flustered heart.

"Okay! I'll go with you! We're not going anywhere!" Lin Jingshu said through gritted teeth.

Night fell, like thick ink, silently enveloping the capital. Inside the Sixth Prince's residence, lights shone brightly, and guards patrolled silently along the corridors and walls, the air thick with the tense atmosphere of an impending storm.