Phoenix Cry Clear Sky

The storm was brewing and the atmosphere in the Forbidden City was suffocatingly oppressive.

Lin Wanru's meticulously planned "witchcraft" case was finally, amidst her anxious anticipation, revealed by accident by her trusted imperial physician within the Imperial Hospital. The news spread like wildfire throughout the palace—a cursed object, believed to be used to ward off evil, was found under the pillow of a second-class maid in the Kunning Palace!

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Jingche flew into a rage. Witchcraft had always been a taboo for the emperor; those who violated it would face no mercy. He immediately set out for Kunning Palace, his face sullen and a terrifying, gloomy aura emanating from him. Lin Wanru followed closely behind, her face etched with (what she perceived as) barely concealed grief, anger, and fear, yet secretly gloating, anticipating the sight of Lu Qinglan, unable to defend himself and tumbling into the abyss.

Inside Kunning Palace, Lu Qinglan wasn't as panicked as Lin Wanru had imagined. She was dressed in her usual empress's attire, her makeup neatly applied, and she stood calmly in the hall, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

"Empress!" Xiao Jingche stepped into the palace, his gaze like an icy blade sweeping over her, the trembling palace maid Xiao Cui kneeling on the ground, and the dazzling sachet that was presented to them. "How do you explain this thing?!"

Before Lu Qinglan could speak, Lin Wanru took the lead and cried, "Your Majesty! I never thought that the Queen...she would do such a treasonous thing! Someone must have framed the Queen! Your Majesty, please investigate!" She retreated to advance, seemingly making excuses for Lu Qinglan, but in fact, every word she said was confirming that the Queen was inseparable from the matter.

Lu Qinglan glanced at her indifferently, his eyes were calm, but it made Lin Wanru feel a chill in her heart for no reason.

"Your Majesty," Lu Qinglan spoke slowly, her voice clear and unwavering, "I also believe that this matter must have been framed."

"Framed? The evidence is solid. Who framed you?!" Xiao Jingche said sternly.

"Who framed me?" Lu Qinglan's lips curled up with a hint of sarcasm, and he turned his gaze to the imperial physician. "Imperial Physician Zhang, you testified that this item came from my palace. Did you witness it with your own eyes and instruct me, or did you just find it with a palace maid?"

Under Lin Wanru's gaze, the imperial physician Zhang said with a stiff upper lip, "Your humble servant... Although your humble servant did not personally witness the Empress's instructions, this amulet was indeed found by someone in Kunning Palace. Moreover... and the medicine contained in it is not available to ordinary palace servants. It must be someone of high rank and power..."

"Oh?" Lu Qinglan interrupted him, "Doctor Zhang is quite clear about the source of the medicinal materials. Fu Yu."

"I'm here." Fu Yu responded and came out, holding an account book and several letters in her hands.

“We will present to His Majesty the evidence we have found regarding Imperial Physician Zhang’s recent acceptance of huge sums of money from the eunuchs of Yonghe Palace, and the sudden access of his nephews to important positions in the shops under the name of Duke Cheng’en.” Lu Qinglan’s tone remained calm, but it sounded like thunder in everyone’s ears!

Doctor Zhang turned pale instantly and collapsed to the ground.

Lu Qinglan stopped looking at him and turned her gaze towards Xiao Cui. "Xiao Cui, I want to ask you, when and who placed this sachet under your pillow? Tell me the truth, and I may be able to keep your family safe."

Xiao Cui had already been frightened by the scene. When she heard Lu Qinglan mention his family and saw that Doctor Zhang had been exposed, she could no longer hold back. She kowtowed and cried, "Your Majesty, please spare me! Your Majesty, please spare me! It was... it was Eunuch Qian from Yonghe Palace! He secretly slipped this into my hand the night before yesterday, saying... that it was a reward from the Imperial Concubine, and told me to keep it safe and not to tell anyone... I had no idea this was inside, Your Majesty!"

The spearhead instantly turned and pointed directly at Yonghe Palace!

Lin Wanru's face turned pale as she shrieked, "Nonsense! You lowly slave are slandering me! Your Majesty, she must have been ordered by the Queen to frame me!"

"Whether it's a false accusation or not, we'll know once we investigate." Lu Qinglan didn't give her any more chances and said to Xiao Jingche, "Your Majesty, since Eunuch Qian of Yonghe Palace is implicated, why not bring him here for a face-to-face confrontation with Imperial Physician Zhang and Xiao Cui? Also, I have a copy of some of the accounts showing the Cheng'en Mansion's collusion with the Northern Di, transferring funds through Ruiyuxuan, and aiding the enemy in treason. Your Majesty, please review them as well!"

She finally delivered the fatal blow! She directly linked the witchcraft case to the treason case!

Fu Yu held the copy of the account aloft. Xiao Jingche's pupils constricted, and he gestured for Cao Jin to take it. He quickly flipped through the pages, which clearly documented the vast financial transactions between the Cheng'en Mansion, Ruiyuxuan, and the Northern Di caravan. The timing, amounts, and individuals involved perfectly matched the clues previously uncovered by the Imperial City Division, and were even more detailed!

When Lin Wanru saw the account book, she felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She collapsed to the ground and murmured, "No... This isn't real... It's fake..."

"Forgery?" Lu Qinglan sneered. "Your Majesty, can you order the Imperial City Bureau to immediately search the Cheng'en Mansion and Ruiyuxuan and check the original account books to determine the authenticity? Check if there are more letters of treason hidden in the father-in-law's residence, and check if there are any channels for contacting 'Ninth Brother' in the secret room of Ruiyuxuan!"

When Lu Qinglan uttered the words "Ninth Brother," Xiao Jingche's entire body trembled, and he suddenly looked at her. Even Cao Jin hadn't figured out the core codename yet, and she actually knew it?!

Lu Qinglan met his gaze and said frankly, "I not only know about 'Ninth Brother', but I also know that they promised Beidi that if they helped them succeed in their regime, they would cede the three towns in Hexi! Your Majesty, will you still tolerate such a traitor?!"

Her words were like hammers, shattering Xiao Jingche's final hesitation and consideration.

The chain of evidence is complete. From the witchcraft accusation, to the manipulation of the imperial physician, to the treason of the Cheng'en Mansion, and the shadow of "Ninth Brother" looming behind the scenes... all clues point to Lin Wanru and her family!

Xiao Jingche looked at Lin Wanru, who was lying on the ground in a state of disarray. The last trace of affection in his eyes disappeared, leaving only the overwhelming rage of being deceived and betrayed and the emperor's ruthlessness.

"Evil woman! Traitor!" He squeezed out four words from between his teeth, his voice icy and piercing.

"Your Majesty! I am innocent! It was the Queen! It was the Queen who harmed me!" Lin Wanru let out a desperate wail and rushed forward to grab Xiao Jingche's robe.

Xiao Jingche kicked her away in disgust and shouted, "Come here! Banish Lin to the cold palace! Depose her as a commoner! Duke Cheng'en Lin Zhaoren, strip him of his title, confiscate his property, and imprison him. Hand him over to the Three Departments and the Imperial City Department for strict trial on charges of treason and collaborating with the enemy! All those implicated will be severely punished!"

The imperial guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers, dragging the wailing and struggling Lin Wanru away. Her shouts, pleas, and curses finally disappeared outside Kunning Palace.

The hall instantly became quiet, leaving only Xiao Jingche's heavy breathing and Doctor Zhang and Xiao Cui lying limp on the ground.

Xiao Jingche looked at the ever-calm Lu Qinglan with a complex gaze. She had won, so completely, so... coldly. She had already grasped everything, yet she held back until Lin Wanru herself handed the knife to her, and then she delivered the fatal blow.

"Queen... knew it a long time ago?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

Lu Qinglan nodded slightly. "I know a thing or two. But I'm not as wise as Your Majesty, who can be so decisive in eliminating treacherous officials and rectifying the government."

Her words were respectful, yet carried a certain distance. She no longer needed to play the role of meekness in front of him, nor did she need to explain the source of her information.

Xiao Jingche looked at her, at this woman who had stood by his side for ten years, yet had become so unfamiliar, so powerful. He suddenly felt an unprecedented exhaustion and... loneliness. He had eliminated one of the greatest threats to his life, but he also clearly saw that the chasm of trust and affection between him and the Queen had become unbridgeable.

He opened his mouth but said nothing in the end. He turned around and left Kunning Palace with Cao Jin and the fatal account book, staggering a little.

Silence returned to the hall.

Lu Qinglan slowly walked to the door of the hall and looked at Xiao Jingche's departing back with a distant and firm gaze.

The cold wind blew snowflakes into the hall, ruffling her clothes.

The phoenix's cry resonated through the heavens, its voice resonating throughout the nine heavens. After this battle, no one in the harem could rival her, and the former nobility suffered a severe blow. One of the greatest stumbling blocks on the path to the pinnacle of power had been removed.

What remains is the final game with the ultimate opponent - "Ninth Brother", and her husband who is becoming increasingly alienated from the throne.