Remove the firewood from under the cauldron

Gu Zhao's carefully worded memorial, yet concealing a veil of shock, was like adding another ounce of tension to an already taut bowstring. Xiao Jingche read it over and over again. Phrases like "unusual movements by the Northern Barbarians," "undercurrents within the court," "deep roots," and "widespread implications" pricked him like poisonous stings, making him restless. He immediately and secretly summoned Cao Jin, the governor of the Imperial City Division.

"Has your Imperial City Office noticed anything about what Prime Minister Gu said?" Xiao Jingche stared at Cao Jin with a sharp gaze.

Cao Jin knelt on the ground, his heart pounding. The emperor had indeed asked about this matter! He dared not conceal anything, and reported the recent surveillance of "Rui Yuxuan" and some scattered clues he had gathered regarding the dealings of several noble families with suspicious Northern Di caravans. However, he left room for maneuver, not daring to directly implicate the imperial court. He simply said, "What we've obtained so far are only peripheral clues. The core network is deeply hidden, and there may be... powerful individuals behind this."

Although this statement wasn't explicitly stated, it vaguely echoed Gu Zhao's warning. Xiao Jingche felt an even greater chill in his heart. A traitorous group hidden deep within the court, potentially even violating the imperial palace! This was more terrifying than ten Zhao Kais or a hundred Liu Mingdes!

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!" Xiao Jingche's voice was filled with uncontrollable murderous intent. "No matter who is involved, there will be no leniency! I want to see who dares to be this thief who stole the country!"

"I obey!" Cao Jin kowtowed, knowing full well that a storm was about to sweep through the court. With the emperor's reckless and stern command, the Imperial City Administration, like a sharp knife, could finally strike those entrenched forces without hesitation.

Meanwhile, within Yonghe Palace, Lin Wanru also learned through secret channels of Gu Zhao's memorial and the Emperor's secret summons to Cao Jin. She was like a frightened bird, nearly suffocated by the intense fear. The Emperor had already begun to suspect him! He had even mobilized the Imperial City Bureau! If they discovered the connection between the Cheng'en Mansion and "Rui Yuxuan," and discovered that her father had acquiesced to, or even participated in, the "deals" with the Northern Di people to make up for his financial losses and to help her maintain the palace... then there would be no return!

She couldn't just sit there and wait for death! She had to stop the Imperial City Bureau's investigation, or at least divert the Emperor's attention!

An even crazier, more sinister scheme took shape in her mind. Since Han Mingyuan's suspension wasn't enough to quell the unrest, and since the emperor had already begun a thorough investigation, she had to completely muddy the waters! She wanted to create a bigger "scandal" that would shake the entire imperial court and draw everyone's attention!

Her target once again locked onto Kunning Palace. Lu Qinglan! Only by thoroughly implicated the Empress could the Emperor be distracted and the Imperial City Bureau's investigation completely diverted!

She summoned the old eunuch, her absolute confidant and one who had handled countless private matters for her. She lowered her voice, her face grim with desperation, "Go, find a way... to place this thing..." She pulled out a long-prepared sachet embroidered with delicate dragon and phoenix patterns, "in the quarters of a second-class maid in charge of laundry in Kunning Palace. Then, go find the person we have buried in the Imperial Hospital and have him prepare them. If anything happens, they'll accuse... the Empress of using this thing to perform sorcery and curse Your Majesty!"

The sachet contained no ordinary spices, but a mixture of special medicinal herbs that, upon prolonged inhalation, would cause restlessness and irritability. More importantly, hidden within the sachet's inner layer was a small piece of silk cloth inscribed with the emperor's birth date and studded with silver needles!

Witchcraft! Throughout the dynasties, this was the most taboo and cruelly punished crime in the palace! Once proven, even the queen would be deposed or even executed!

Lin Wanru is trying to cut off the source of the problem and use the most vicious frame-up as a last-ditch effort!

The old eunuch took the sachet, which was like a hot potato, with his hands trembling slightly, but looking at Lin Wanru's crazy and resolute eyes, he dared not say anything more, bowed his head and left.

However, Lin Wanru was unaware that her supposedly top-secret operation had been observed by Kunning Palace from the very beginning. Lu Qinglan never relaxed his surveillance of Yonghe Palace.

"Your Majesty, there's been some unusual activity in Yonghe Palace. The old eunuch named Qian secretly slipped a sachet under the pillow of Xiao Cui, our maid in charge of laundry," Fu Yu reported in a low voice, a hint of coldness in her tone. "Our men secretly checked and found something fishy inside the sachet, possibly a talisman."

Lu Qinglan was trimming a pot of orchids when he heard this. Without even a pause, he simply said, "As expected, a desperate dog will resort to extremes. Witchcraft? That's something Lin Wanru could come up with."

"Your Majesty, should we arrest Xiao Cui and the old eunuch immediately and catch them red-handed?" Fu Yu asked.

"No." Lu Qinglan put down the silver scissors and wiped his hands with a snow-white handkerchief. "Let her continue acting. Tell Xiao Cui to pretend she knows nothing and go about her daily routine. Also, have us in the Imperial Hospital cooperate with their acting, and then... turn the tables."

What she wanted was not to stop this frame-up, but to make the stage that Lin Wanru had built herself collapse at the moment of her own climax! She wanted Xiao Jingche to see with his own eyes how mad and heartless the woman he had once doted on and even tried to use to check and balance her was!

"Also," Lu Qinglan added, "prepare copies of the most crucial accounts we have regarding the financial transactions between the Cheng'en Mansion and the Northern Di people through Ruiyuxuan. When the witchcraft incident occurs, this evidence will be presented to the emperor."

She wanted to take this opportunity to destroy Lin Wanru and the Cheng'en Mansion, along with their possible connection with the "Ninth Brother" forces!

Lin Wanru was pulling out the fuel from under the cauldron, unaware that she was removing the last plank supporting her and her family. Lu Qinglan sat on the fishing platform, waiting for the fish to bite, ready to reel in the net.

A final storm of betrayal, frame-up, and treason is imminent. The madness of the Yonghe Palace and the calmness of the Kunning Palace form a sharp contrast, foreshadowing the final outcome of this struggle.