Two days passed quietly, and the situation in the court seemed to have stabilized, with no obvious disturbances inside or outside Fengjing.

As dawn broke, the willow branches inside the palace walls were glistening with dew, and birds sang, creating a scene of tranquility and peace.

Those restless elements lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike, had long been silently extinguished by the Xuanji Guards, without disturbing the world.

In the long streets and deep alleys, the occasional lights of night patrols sweep across the bluestone brick surface.

Then silence returned, as if nothing had ever happened.

Even the curfew has been lifted, and the long streets are bustling with people again.

With the heavy military patrols no longer visible, the streets gradually returned to their former vitality.

The aroma of teahouses and taverns wafted out again, and the shouts of vendors rose and fell, though a hint of caution lingered beneath their smiles.

News of a great victory also came from the north.

The Shuofeng Dynasty launched a fierce attack on Zhenbei Pass, but suffered heavy losses under the command of the Grand Princess and was defeated.

When the good news reached the capital, the people were overjoyed and their spirits were greatly lifted.

In the marketplace, storytellers had already woven tales of the eldest princess's heroic deeds into their own stories, drawing cheers from the crowd.

However, the air inside the Imperial Study remained heavy and stagnant, like the stifling atmosphere before a downpour.

The delicate fragrance of agarwood rose gently from the gilded beast-shaped incense burner, yet it could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere.

The reason is simple: Princess Qin Zhaoyue has not closed her eyes for two consecutive days.

His eyes were tinged with a faint bluish-black, his skin had a paleness that came from not seeing the light for a long time, and his eyes were filled with a resentful look as if they were burning with two eerie flames.

The most tormented were the members of the Mo Group beside her.

They kept a close watch on His Highness, never letting him truly fall asleep;

On the other hand, the longer His Highness remained awake, the more unpredictable his temperament became.

Her lips and teeth seemed to be dipped in honey and contained sharp wit; every time she opened her mouth, she could leave people speechless and unable to lift their heads.

Fortunately, the Mo Group had been serving for a long time and had become somewhat accustomed to it, with Sui Mo and Mo Yi leading the way.

Now even the Third and Fourth Princesses are lowering their voices in front of her, and a storm is brewing in the Imperial Study.

For example, right now, the Fifth Prince held his breath and tiptoed past the bed...

"Look at you, walking like a little girl. What's wrong, just had it cut?"

Everyone: ...

The Fifth Prince pursed his lips, feeling wronged, but dared not argue.

"Hmm..."

He just lowered his head and silently retreated, which only made Qin Zhaoyue more irritated.

Her temper wasn't without reason.

The inability to sleep was certainly unbearable, but the real reason for his inner anxiety was never mentioned to anyone:

The increase in merit points was far less than expected.

The purge of the four great families was not entirely successful.

According to the intelligence gathered by the Xuanji Guard, those who escaped were all the foundations cultivated by various races over many years and hidden behind the scenes.

These cunning and calculating individuals had already prepared their escape routes long before the situation tightened.

What's more troublesome is that two days have passed, and these people are still nowhere to be found, as if they have vanished into thin air.

Despite using every means at their disposal, the Xuanji Guard was still unable to extract any clues from the captured individuals.

As a result, all four major clans on the surface were destroyed, but the merit points gained were greatly reduced.

Despite the balance of Yin and Yang, the upward movement was not as expected.

Despite a period of rapid growth thanks to Prime Minister Pei's vigorous promotion, the growth quickly slowed down and almost came to a standstill.

Qin Zhaoyue knew that the matter had already been decided when the results of the provincial examinations were announced and the court discussed politics.

The establishment of girls' schools is not something that can be accomplished overnight, and its far-reaching impact cannot be seen in a short time.

It is feared that another surge will not be seen until after the provincial examination, the palace examination, and even the final appointment of officials.

But how could Qin Zhaoyue possibly wait until then?

I fear that before that day comes, she will already be exhausted and unable to keep going without sleep.

These two items together bring in fifty to sixty thousand merits, enough to sustain the Empress's life force, but she has no confidence in completely cleansing the poison from her life force.

What puzzles Qin Zhaoyue the most is that the page with the words "national prosperity and peace" has not been changed in the slightest.

Fengjing remained calm, and no unusual activity was observed in the surrounding areas.

The battle report from the North was detailed, describing a great victory with numerous enemy casualties, which caused the north wind to crumble and become difficult to rise again.

Although the barbican of Zhenbeiguan was abandoned, the pass remained fortified.

The appearance of five thousand heavily armored cavalry was enough to deter the Northern Wind Army from attacking again for a short time.

If that's the case, why does it still remain completely still?

What is wrong with the country? What is wrong with the people?

Despite extensive intelligence gathering by the Xuanji Guard, they were still unable to find the answer.

Qin Zhaoyue could endure some hardship, but she feared the suffering would be endless.

Because of this unquenchable anxiety, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study grew increasingly somber, with everyone holding their breath as if walking on thin ice.

Even Xiao Jiu didn't dare to play around as usual, and just sat quietly in the corner, occasionally stealing a glance at her sixth sister.

That afternoon, Yin Zhe suddenly strode in, abruptly breaking the silence of the room.

Her clothes fluttered in the wind as she barged in, her eyes revealing a rare hint of panic amidst the turmoil.

All eyes immediately focused on her, and even Qin Zhaoyue straightened up slightly.

"Something has happened, a rebellion has broken out in Suzaku South Province."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room trembled, and everyone's expression changed drastically.

Qin Zhaoyue was also taken aback, and after the initial shock, she suddenly realized as if the fog had parted.

It turns out that the reason for the stagnation of "national prosperity and peace" was never in the north, but in the south.

Unconsciously, his fingertips tapped the edge of the couch, making a rhythmic, soft sound.

The third princess raised her voice hastily, her knuckles gripping the teacup already white.

"Where is my second brother? Is he alright?"

Hidden Serpent's eyes suddenly turned cold, his voice deep and chilling:

"He has issued a proclamation, intending to declare himself emperor and establish his own independent territory."

It was as if a thunderbolt had struck the imperial study.

The scroll in the Third Princess's hand fell to the ground with a "thud." The Fifth Prince gasped, and even the most composed Fourth Princess lost her composure and stood frozen in place.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!