Chapter 25: Passive-Aggressive Exchanges Between Uncle and Nephew

Matron Zhang’s face turned from ash to pale, her lips trembling, yet for a long while, she could not utter a single word. Inwardly, she lamented her misfortune; the testimony she had so meticulously planned was now crumbling under Shen Ning-shuang’s relentless counterattacks.

The Emperor, seeing Matron Zhang stuttering like this, opened his eyes wide in fury and slammed his hand onto the armrest of the dragon throne, causing the teacups on the table to rattle. "Hmph! Even now, you still dare to quibble? My patience is not infinite!"

At that very moment, the attendant who had been searching the palace hurried forward, knelt on one knee, and reported in a loud voice, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the list has been found."

The Emperor’s expression turned stern, and he asked urgently, "Where was it found?"

"Your Majesty, it was discovered in a hidden compartment beneath the Empress’s bed."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince’s face changed drastically, and he blurted out without thinking, "Cease your nonsense!"

The attendant quickly replied, "Your Highness, everyone present during the palace search witnessed it with their own eyes. When the item was retrieved from the hidden compartment, the Empress herself saw it."

The Emperor asked through gritted teeth, "What does the Empress have to say about this?"

"Your Majesty, the Empress repeatedly insists she knows nothing of this matter."

The Emperor let out three cold laughs. "She denies it? Fine, very well. I shall see for myself who is playing tricks behind the scenes! Men, arrest everyone on this list immediately, hand them over to the Ministry of Justice, and interrogate them one by one! I must get to the bottom of this!"

"As you command!"

Following this, the Emperor turned to Shen Feng-mo and said, "Lord Shen, for today, I shall trust that your daughter is innocent. However, as this matter has yet to be fully investigated, your daughter must remain in your residence. She is not to leave without permission and must be ready to be summoned at any time."

"I obey your decree," Shen Feng-mo replied.

This thrilling and treacherous deliberation thus drew to a temporary close, and the participants dispersed, each harboring their own hidden thoughts and schemes.

Leng Zhaowen hurried back to his palace. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he slammed both hands onto the table in a fit of rage, producing a dull thud. The black-clad man from before appeared as if by magic, emerging from the shadows to kneel quietly before him. "Master..."

Leng Zhaowen turned abruptly and kicked the man squarely in the chest, roaring, "Look at the mess you’ve made!"

The kick was heavy; the man stumbled back several meters. When he looked up, he was shocked to find himself staring into the cold, indifferent eyes of Leng Yichen. The man scrambled to his feet in panic, assuming a defensive stance.

Leng Zhaowen, now noticing Leng Yichen’s presence, barked at the man, "Get out!"

He then asked as if nothing had happened, "Why has the Imperial Uncle come so suddenly? No one even announced your arrival."

Leng Yichen stared at him without a word, thinking to himself that this Imperial City was indeed full of hidden talents; not a single person here was simple. Leng Zhaowen had been raised at the Empress’s side for years, under the constant watch of the Crown Prince, yet he had managed to orchestrate such a scheme in the shadows.

"Imperial Uncle?" Leng Zhaowen asked again when Leng Yichen remained silent.

"I came covertly, so naturally, there was no need for an announcement," Leng Yichen finally spoke, his voice ice-cold.

"Then what brings the Imperial Uncle to see your nephew?"

"She is currently detained in her residence, her every word and action monitored, making it difficult for her to act. She asked me to relay a message to you."

"Please speak, Imperial Uncle."

Leng Yichen did not relay the message immediately. Instead, he shifted the topic: "You are the mastermind behind these men in black, aren't you?"

Leng Zhaowen smiled with scholarly grace. "Imperial Uncle, what kind of joke is that?"

Leng Yichen did not call his bluff, merely stating calmly, "I was the one who placed that list in the Empress’s palace."

Upon hearing this, Leng Zhaowen’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, and he looked at Leng Yichen in surprise.

"When did you place it there, Imperial Uncle?"

"On the way to escort Shen Ning-shuang into the palace," Leng Yichen replied calmly.

Leng Zhaowen probed cautiously, "Was this... Sister Shuang’s intention?"

Leng Yichen did not respond, a tacit admission. Leng Zhaowen’s expression instantly relaxed. "It seems the Imperial Uncle has agreed to conspire with Sister Shuang. In that case, we uncle and nephew are now tied to the same rope."

Leng Yichen still did not answer, asking instead, "Why does she say you have no desire to usurp the throne?"

"Because I truly do not."

"The reason?" Leng Yichen pressed.

Leng Zhaowen chuckled. "Imperial Uncle, I know you have many doubts. I also dare to assert that you do not fully trust Sister Shuang, and even less do you trust me. Therefore, until I have earned your trust, I will tell you nothing."

"Hmph, you want me to trust you? Do you think the confrontation in the Imperial Study was a brilliant performance? For a matter this significant, you were so negligent that I had to clean up your mess. Do you think your competence is worthy of my trust?"

Leng Yichen’s words were sharp and merciless. Leng Zhaowen clenched his fists involuntarily; it was indeed his oversight that Shen Ning-shuang had been implicated in this incident, and he did not wish to defend himself.

"I am indeed grateful to the Imperial Uncle for this, but I shall handle future affairs properly. There is no need for you to trouble yourself."

"Do you know where this list came from?" Leng Yichen asked.

"There was no list to begin with," Leng Zhaowen said decisively. "And there are no so-called remnants of the previous dynasty. You were right; I fabricated all of it."

Leng Yichen found this quite amusing. "Then whose man was the guilty servant who was identified?"

"I will get to the bottom of that myself."

"In that case, very well!"

Leng Yichen turned as if to leave, but suddenly looked back. "Shen Ning-shuang said that since the item was found in the Empress’s palace, and the guilty servant is also one of her people, then this matter must be the work of the Empress and the Crown Prince. Once the charges are confirmed, the Empress may take the blame to protect the Crown Prince, but we must not let her have her way."

He paused, then added pointedly, "The Eastern Palace is due for a shake-up."

Leng Zhaowen’s expression turned serious. He knew that Shen Ning-shuang was about to make a major move.

"Oh, she also said that the direction you are suspicious of is the same one she suspects," Leng Yichen added.

Leng Zhaowen bowed his hands. "Thank you, Imperial Uncle, for relaying the message. If you have the chance to see Sister Shuang again, please tell her that I understand what she means."

Leng Yichen smiled on the surface, but his eyes were cold. "Tsk, tsk, such chemistry—it is truly enviable. You two are quite the match!"

Faced with this sarcasm, Leng Zhaowen found it deeply ironic. Having memories of his past life, he knew exactly what kind of man his Imperial Uncle was. To Leng Yichen, Shen Ning-shuang was his Achilles’ heel—his exclusive possession, a treasure he would allow no one else to touch. Even if he had not yet realized his own feelings, he would subconsciously reject anyone who drew close to her.

Leng Zhaowen offered no further explanation and simply said, "I bid the Imperial Uncle farewell."