Chen Shiyu was overjoyed: "Is Your Highness really telling the truth?!"

Shang Beiyu glanced at him indifferently.

Chen Shiyu happily reached out and covered Shang Beiyu's hand, then laughed and said, "Look at me, His Highness would never lie to me. I'll go back and prepare now!"

Having said that, Chen Shiyu abruptly stood up, turned and left, inwardly overjoyed:

His Highness has finally made his move!

Ninth Prince, you're dead this time!

Shang Beiyu watched Chen Shiyu's happy departure with great interest, a slight smile playing on his lips: This little pet's self-righteous and adorably silly appearance is quite amusing.

That night.

A sharp arrow pierced through a thick stack of paper and nailed to the headboard of Shang Xiche and Consort Yin's bed.

Shang Xiche, whose mental state had been deteriorating recently, was so frightened that he almost lost control of his bladder. He summoned Gao Chengwei again overnight and mobilized most of the Imperial Guards to search the palace, but they couldn't even find a trace of Nanhai Ke.

Gao Chengwei took the thick stack of papers off the arrow, unfolded it, and was immediately startled. He quickly handed it to Shang Xiche with both hands: "Your Majesty!"

When Shang Xiche took it to look at it, Consort Yin also leaned over and glanced at it.

The stack of papers, as thick as a fist, was covered with detailed financial statements, listing either boxes of gold and silver or valuable items.

And on the last sheet of paper, it was clearly written:

The amount of wealth that the Ninth Prince has amassed recently is approximately as shown above!

Shang Xiche felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the last two words, "about". The Ninth Prince had managed to amass so much wealth in such a short time!

Where did this wealth come from?

It was naturally plundered from the Crown Prince's faction!

After a moment's thought, Gao Chengwei clasped his hands and boldly suggested, "Your Majesty, it is truly inappropriate for the Ninth Prince to remain in the capital any longer."

“But now that he’s wealthy and powerful, it might not be so easy for him to leave the capital,” Shang Xiche said, his fingertips trembling as he spoke.

At this moment, an eunuch announced from outside, "The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

Shang Xiche, Consort Yin, and Gao Chengwei all looked surprised: It's the middle of the night, why would the Empress Dowager come here?

Several people stood up to greet them.

The Empress Dowager, looking listless and emaciated, sat in her wheelchair and waved her hand: "There are no outsiders here now, so there's no need for these formalities. Emperor, I heard that there were assassins here, and I'm really worried. I have something important to tell you."

"You two go outside and wait," Shang Xiche said to Gao Chengwei and Consort Yin.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gao Chengwei and Consort Yin obeyed the order and left the inner palace, closing the door behind them.

"Mother..."

"Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince cannot be allowed to live any longer!" Shang Xiche and the Empress Dowager spoke almost simultaneously, but the Empress Dowager went straight to the point, saying just this.

Shang Xiche was shocked: "Why does Your Majesty say such a thing?"

The Empress Dowager then recounted how Shang Xiye had beaten all the eunuchs she had sent to death and how he had also punished Zheng Mama. She then briefly recounted Shang Xiye's recent conflicts with Cining Palace: "Your Majesty, judging from these various signs, the Ninth Prince's disloyal intentions are now crystal clear; his audacity in beating those people to death shows that he is not afraid of breaking ties with my son and me, and what's more..."

At this point, the Empress Dowager paused, trembling, and lowered her voice again: "I fear a great calamity is about to befall you, Your Majesty! Tonight's events are most likely a test!"

"Mother, what should we do!" Shang Xiche was also anxious: "It is true that the Ninth Prince handed over half of the beast token, but that half of the beast token is used to control the garrison in the northwest; his forces in the capital have not been moved at all, and no one dares to make a move against him rashly!"