"Are you clearing the emperor's side or rebelling?" Wen Yuxi asked coldly.
Shen Zhiyuan chuckled softly, "Minister Wen, what you say is rather thought-provoking. I am clearly purging rebellious officials for His Majesty. How can that be construed as rebellion? What do you all think?"
Sun Zhiyuan's gaze swept across the other court officials. The Minister of Revenue, Feng Yu, the Minister of Rites, Lin Feng, and even the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Chu Jian, all stood behind Sun Zhiyuan.
Four of the Six Ministries' ministers were in league. The remaining two, though favored by the Empress, found themselves in a precarious position. The Empress behind the curtain was very likely a fake. If she were real, how could she have allowed things to escalate to this point?
It was likely the Empress was not in the palace. Rumors in the capital claimed she had gone in search of Emperor Yun. Now, it seemed more probable, especially given the curtain at the front of the court.
The officials exchanged glances. Soon, some began to stand behind Sun Zhiyuan, leading to a stark polarization.
Apart from a few loyalists of Shen Yunxuan and Wen Yuxi, everyone else stood behind Sun Zhiyuan. Sun Zhiyuan sneered, "Minister Wen, Minister Shen, what do you have to say for yourselves now?"
"Sun Zhiyuan, you are attempting to usurp the throne." Wen Yuxi now understood that Sun Zhiyuan's initial target was not Shen Yunxuan, but rather Shen Yunxuan's predicament was merely a pretext for his meticulously planned scheme. His true ambition was the throne.
Alas, he had been deceived by Sun Zhiyuan, mistakenly believing that Sun Zhiyuan intended to eliminate Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan also realized at that moment that Sun Zhiyuan's target was not him, but the throne itself.
He glanced at Madam Zhou and Little Min. Little Min still held the infant Empress. He stepped forward and whispered to Shi Lang, "Escort my wife and your wife out of the palace. Do not return afterward."
Shi Lang was startled and about to refuse when a palm-sized, hard object was slipped into his sleeve. "My lord..."
"Promise me, guard it well," Shen Yunxuan said, word by word.
Seeing Shen Yunxuan's solemn expression, Shi Lang nodded. "My lord, rest assured, I will guard it as I would my own life."
Shen Yunxuan nodded.
Shi Lang pulled Little Min along, giving her a meaningful look. Little Min nodded and approached Madam Zhou, whispering, "Sister, come with me..."
Madam Zhou trembled, intending to refuse. Little Min spoke again, "These are Lord Shen's instructions."
Madam Zhou looked at Shen Yunxuan. Though his back was to her, she could feel he was telling her to go.
She wiped away a tear and whispered, "My lord, this concubine will await your return home."
Madam Zhou knew she could not help here and would only be a burden. It was better to leave, allowing him to fight with all his might.
At this point, she understood that this was no longer a matter between her and the Sun sisters, but had escalated to court affairs.
Madam Zhou followed Little Min as they retreated. Sun Wanzhu, spotting Madam Zhou's intention to leave, declared, "Minister Sun, Madam Zhou is trying to flee."
Sun Zhiyuan, watching Madam Shen and Shi Lang near the exit, sneered, "Trying to leave?"
The Imperial Guards firmly secured the exit, allowing them no room to maneuver.
"Minister Sun, why must you involve others in our personal feud?"
"Minister Shen, what if they go to report us? I must err on the side of caution," Sun Zhiyuan said with a cold smile.
"Minister Sun, they have something," a guard said, restraining Shi Lang's hand to prevent him from moving.
Sun Zhiyuan walked up to Shi Lang with a smile. "Official Shi, hand over the item, and I can spare your life."
"What are you talking about, Minister Sun? This official does not understand," Shi Lang replied.
"Shi Lang, do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit," Sun Zhiyuan threatened.
Shi Lang shielded Little Min with one hand and said sternly, "Minister Sun, misfortune should not extend to families. Do not think you can lay a finger on my family."
Sun Zhiyuan sneered, "I will do so today. Guards, seize them..."
Before he could finish, the Imperial Guards acted. Little Min clutched Xue Xingyue tightly in her arms, prepared to protect the child with her own flesh and blood.
Wen Yuxi instinctively moved to intervene, but Sun Zhiyuan threatened him, "Minister Wen, I advise you not to act rashly. Otherwise, this fake Empress may truly not survive."
Wen Yuxi shivered. Looking up, he saw Feng Ling'er being threatened with a dagger behind the curtain.
Feng Ling'er had been attempting to break through her limits for days, locking away all her internal energy. She was now weaker than an ordinary person.
The Imperial Guards seized Little Min, placing a blade against her throat. Though terrified, Little Min still fiercely protected the child in her arms.
"Official Shi, even now, you refuse to hand over the item?" Sun Zhiyuan pressed.
Sweat beaded on Shi Lang's forehead. Producing it would betray the Empress and the trust Shen Yunxuan had placed in him. Not producing it meant his wife's life was in peril...
"Minister Sun, whatever you want, come at me. Why trouble him? He is merely my subordinate," Shen Yunxuan said coldly.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Sun Zhiyuan sneered. "You will all be unable to escape shortly."
Sun Zhiyuan, seeing Shi Lang's defiance, gave a signal. The blade at Little Min's throat pressed closer, its sharpness seeming ready to slice through her neck.
Shi Lang gritted his teeth. Shen Yunxuan closed his eyes, then opened them again, saying with difficulty, "Give it to him."
Shi Lang trembled and looked at Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan added, "Her Majesty would not wish for that item to be obtained at the cost of human lives."
Shi Lang lowered his gaze and took out what Shen Yunxuan had given him from his sleeve. It was a brocade box.
Though unopened, Sun Zhiyuan was already ecstatic. It was the Empress's Phoenix Jade Seal.
With the Phoenix Jade Seal, he could ascend to the throne.
He stepped forward to take the brocade box when a voice suddenly rang out, "You are not worthy to touch my mother Empress's belongings."
Sun Zhiyuan trembled. Everyone was stunned. Little Min looked at the child in her arms, shocked. What had she just said?
"Put me down," Xue Xingyue said.
Little Min suddenly noticed a change in the child in her arms. She exuded an aura of unapproachability.
Xue Xingyue looked at Shi Lang and said, "Official Shi, give the brocade box to this Princess."
At this moment, Wen Yuxi saw Xue Xingyue and exclaimed in surprise, "Princess Xingyue, what are you doing here?"
Xue Xingyue glanced at Wen Yuxi and replied, "It's a long story. Let's deal with this traitor first."
Princess Xingyue? The officials suddenly recalled that the Empress had given birth to auspicious dragon and phoenix twins.
They were Princess Xingyue and Prince Xingchen.
Shi Lang was stunned. The child who had been affectionately nestled in his arms moments ago had now transformed into the most noble Princess Xingyue in the entire kingdom.