Zhou Shuqing and Liu Fangniang were escorted into the main courtyard. Seeing their arrogant and smug appearance, Song Xia looked at them as if they were idiots.

"Song Xia, Song Xia, you have lost in the end. They have come to capture you."

Liu Fangniang struggled to her feet, her expression extremely smug. The pent-up resentment on her face dissipated, revealing a terrifyingly ferocious expression.

Aunt Gao and Aunt Meng were terrified when they heard this, but they did not make any move. They just looked at Song Xia and followed her instructions.

"It's alright, you guys go and comfort Sister Lin."

"Still putting on an act! You think you can still protect them? You two wretches, I've had enough of you for a long time. Once you're in jail, I'll kick both of them out of the mansion."

Song Xia sighed softly. This Liu Fangniang must be crazy, her delusions are so severe.

Zhou Yongli added, "Song Xia, confess your sins."

"Why aren't you releasing us yet?" Zhou Shuqing coldly rebuked, then glanced at Wu Chunying who had rushed over.

The servants remained unmoved, only watching Song Xia nervously.

Liu Fangniang and the others acted like clowns, spouting extremely arrogant words, but no one listened to their commands.

Zhou Yongli was furious. Even at this point, these people were still so tactless. So he shouted, "Song Xia! If you are polite now, you might be spared a proper burial later."

Song Xia scoffed, "What makes you think I'm a traitor?"

"Who else could it be but you? His Majesty Prince Huai has ascended the throne. Are you suggesting the soldiers are here to arrest us?"

"Who told you that Prince Huai has ascended the throne? Even if what you say is true, on what grounds did Prince Huai conclude that I, the county princess, am a traitor?"

Zhou Yongli was stumped by the question and stammered, "Naturally, it's because of Sister Ying."

"Huh?" Song Xia laughed, a very sarcastic laugh. "You really think that illegitimate daughter is some kind of phoenix that has flown to the top?"

As she spoke, she said to her servants, "Go open the door and let the soldiers in."

Seeing her so calm, Zhou Yongli, Liu Fangniang, and the others became suspicious and uneasy. Could it be that she really wasn't the traitor? But who else could it be but her?

"To be honest, I'm tired of playing with you clowns for the past few years. Now that things are settled, I'm too lazy to pretend with you anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that I already knew about the poisoning plot against me back then, including the old lady's plot against Old Madam Zhou's eldest son, and I have found evidence of it."

Zhou Yongli and Liu Fangniang were thunderstruck. How did Song Xia know? If she knew, why did she endure it for so many years?

“By enduring it without making a scene, of course we’ll torment you for a few more years.” Song Xia rested her chin on her hand. “Torture you to despair, then give you hope, then let you despair again. Tsk, it’s really interesting to see you jumping around like this.”

"So all these years, you've repeatedly made Fangniang stand in the proper order on purpose?"

"Yes, it must be tough to fall from grace. It's all thanks to my efforts in giving you hope that you could have held on until now."

Liu Fangniang was furious when she thought about all these years: "Song Xia, your arrogance is about to end. Don't think we'll let you off the hook."

Song Xia still smiled: "I told you, I'm not the traitor, you are."

"You're talking nonsense. How could we be rebels? When His Highness Prince Huai ascended the throne, Ying'er became a Noble Consort, and Shu'er was even granted a title of Marquis."

Wu Chunying was completely bewildered. What rebel? What ascension to the throne? What on earth was happening outside?

"Who says the one who ascends the throne must be Prince Huai?" Song Xia shattered their illusions. "The people are here. Let's see who they've arrested."

A group of officers and soldiers walked in, and Zhou Yongli and the others pointed excitedly at Song Xia: "Sir, the traitor you asked for is here."

"Bullshit! Who said the Princess of Rongcheng was a traitor?"

The leading officer first scolded her, then respectfully bowed to Song Xia: "Princess Rongcheng, you have been frightened."

"It's alright. How are Your Highness and Prince Ding? What's the situation at Prince Cheng's residence?"

"Her Majesty the Empress and Prince Ding have brought the situation under control. After His Majesty's passing, Prince Cheng has been in the palace assisting Her Majesty in stabilizing the court. Now all the traitors have been captured, and we are just waiting for this official to escort them into the palace to report back."

Song Xia felt completely relieved: "That's good."

After hearing these words, Zhou Yongli, Liu Fangniang, and the others were completely dumbfounded. Since Her Majesty the Empress had taken control of the situation, didn't that mean Prince Huai had won? Who was the traitor? And who was the person they were supposed to arrest?

"His Highness Prince Ding is destined by Heaven. The villains are all here. Don't delay Her Majesty the Empress's important business."

"Thank you, Princess. Her Majesty the Empress also said that if you are not tired, you can come and take a look as well."

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

Not only Song Xia, but Zhou Yongli also came along. He was shocked and furious to see Liu Fangniang and Zhou Shuqing being treated so rudely.

He stared intently at Song Xia: "It's your scheme again, isn't it? What have you done?"

"What have I done? Why don't you ask your good son and good lover what they've done? They plotted to murder His Majesty! Don't think you can get away with it just because you're not tied up yet. Once they're in jail, do you think you can escape punishment?"

"You're talking nonsense! How could Fangniang and the others be related to His Majesty's death?"

Song Xia looked at him with a half-smile: "Shouldn't you thank your good daughter who's so eager to climb the social ladder? Tsk, back then, it wasn't enough that you harmed Old Madam Zhou's son and my premature birth of Yuqing, you even dared to drug His Majesty. Do you think His Majesty's criticism of Prince Huai for having ulterior motives the other day was just a casual remark?"

Zhou Yongli instinctively retorted, "That's impossible, that medicine is long gone."

"You admit it!"

He abruptly turned his head away, not daring to look Song Xia in the eye.

"It's impossible."

"Oh, they really didn't tell you? Didn't you know that Old Madam Liu has reconnected with her clan? That medicine isn't extinct. Now we have witnesses and evidence. Before His Majesty fell into a coma, he reprimanded Prince Huai. How can Prince Huai ascend the throne now?"

"No...it's not Prince Huai..."

"Not only Prince Huai, but also Prince Ding. You've all forgotten that Prince Ding is the rightful heir. Tsk, speaking of which, Prince Huai is quite pitiful. He's been kept in the dark by the Empress for so many years. Why should he be so sure that the Empress will support him? Isn't Prince Ding closer to him?"

"Prince Ding!" Zhou Yongli was struck dumb, showing that he had never considered this possibility.

“How could it be Prince Ding? Prince Ding is a generation below him…” Zhou Yong muttered to himself, clearly this blow was too great for him.

After all, having worked so hard for so long, always holding the belief that victory was certain, it would be hard for a normal person to accept the sudden realization that their biggest enemy was actually "their own people."

"You knew all along?" Zhou Yongli's eyes were bloodshot. "Why didn't you tell us?"

He tried to pounce on Song Xia and strangle her, but Song Xia grabbed his throat first: "Why should I tell you? Zhou Yongli and Liu Fangniang tricked me into getting pregnant back then. Why didn't you tell me after you found out? For the past few years, I've been playing with you and deliberately torturing you. Now I don't want to play anymore. The game is over, so you can all die."