The Four Princes Return to the City

Di Qingyu did not report what had happened that night to Di Yunqian. Judging by Du Yutao's words, someone had set their sights on her and deliberately let him out to disgust her and put her in her place.

There was probably nothing more she could get out of Du Yutao.

Whoever was behind it, in the face of absolute power, Di Qingyu did not care about any of them, apart from Gu Wenci and his system.

After returning to the palace, Di Qingyu washed up and went straight to sleep. The next morning, she went to the Ministry of Works with the architectural plans she had designed to discuss how to renovate the Du residence.

The people at the Ministry of Works marveled at the ingenuity of her designs. Had Di Qingyu not ordered them not to let a single detail leak out, they would have wanted to try them out everywhere.

By the time they finished their discussion, it was already noon.

Di Qingyu had a casual meal at a nearby restaurant.

"Master, Wei Xin has taken the fake-death medicine, and the blame has been planted on a palace maid at Consort Rong's side."

Wei Xin had acted quickly.

Di Qingyu paused with her chopsticks in hand, then picked up a piece of stewed meat and placed it in her bowl.

"When the palace servants take the body out for disposal, switch Wei Xin with the body we prepared."

Someone had to take the blame for the poisoning, didn't they? That way, everyone would know the Wei Family and Consort Rong were enemies, and the empress would feel even more assured that Wei Ning would not turn against her and support Consort Rong's faction, the second prince's greatest rival.

"Yes." Chunzhi nodded. "Should I bring Wei Xin to see you?"

"No."

Di Qingyu shook her head. "I've said everything I needed to. Take her straight to the Information Pavilion to find Shao Chi. Have her watch and learn, and train her fighting skills as well. Tell her that if she can't even manage the Information Pavilion, what right will she have to manage anything else for me in the future?"

That "anything else" encompassed far too much.

"All right."

Suddenly, a commotion broke out on the street outside the restaurant. Di Qingyu walked slowly to the window, lifted a corner of the wooden shutter, and glanced down.

"I heard the four princes who went to Yulu City for disaster relief are back. They're almost at the city gate, and His Majesty is welcoming them in person! Hurry and have a look!"

"Looks like the flooding in Yulu City has been dealt with. Thank heavens Xiling has heaven's blessing."

"Exactly. Who knows what kind of scoundrels had the nerve to hijack the disaster-relief grain last time? If the court catches them, they ought to be beheaded for all to see!"

Standing beside the window, Di Qingyu lowered her gaze to the crowd chattering animatedly below. Her eyes half-lidded, she curved her lips in a soft laugh.

"My four imperial brothers have returned already."

Unfortunately for them, her chess game was already set. Even if they returned now, there was no way for them to interfere.

Chunzhi asked, "Master, would you like to go and see?"

"Yes, of course."

Di Qingyu lifted her chin slightly, a faint smile on her cool, fair face. "My four imperial brothers have just returned. I must give them a proper welcome."

When she had left the Cold Palace a year ago, she had been granted Yaohua Hall, yet she had always called herself "I," merely to conceal her sharp edge and make herself easier to approach.

This was the first time she had used the imperial self-reference "this princess," and it also meant she was going to start using her power to overawe others.

"Your sons pay their respects, Imperial Father. Long live Your Majesty, long, long may you reign!"

Beneath the city walls, the gates stood wide open.

At the head of a travel-worn party, four handsome, distinguished young men swung gracefully down from their tall horses. As soon as they landed, they hurried forward, knelt, and raised their hands in salute.

The emperor and a host of officials stood before them, a vast crowd of people.

"Hahaha, you've finally returned. All of you, rise."

In high spirits, Di Yunqian stepped forward and helped them up. "If you'd stayed away any longer, the empress would have kept fretting to me about you for a good while yet."

His attitude was worlds apart from the anger he had shown them when the disaster-relief grain was hijacked.

The eldest prince inclined his head and smiled modestly. "Knowing Imperial Mother was concerned for us, however rushed our journey back was, it was worth it. Still, we're sorry to have caused her worry. We have been unfilial."

"It's already very good that you were able to return ahead of time." Di Yunqian patted him on the shoulder, visibly moved. "You've had a long, tiring journey. Go back and wash up first. I've already had a celebratory banquet prepared for you. We can discuss your reports later."

"Yes."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the group returned to the palace with Di Yunqian.

Once the four princes had washed up, they entered the hall where the celebratory banquet had been prepared together.

"Greetings, Eldest Prince, Second Prince, Fourth Prince, Fifth Prince."

Upon their entrance into the magnificent, gilded hall, the officials and their families who were already seated rose one after another to greet the four princes, including Zhu Juxuan, Zhang Lingshen, Wei Ning, and the others.

"Please be seated, officials. There is no need for such ceremony."

The four responded with modest smiles, then let the palace maids lead them to their seats.

But then-

"Wait. Other than Imperial Mother and Noble Consort Gao, who else attending has a seat above Eldest Imperial Brother's?"

The fifth prince noticed something amiss the moment he was shown to his seat.

In the past, according to the rules, the third seat on the left beneath the emperor's had always belonged to the eldest prince. Now, however, his seat was third on the right, clearly a rank lower.

The fifth prince, Di Jinzhao, had spoken loudly enough for the officials in the seats ahead to hear. They all sat in silence, merely lowering their eyes.

The eldest prince also noticed something was wrong and frowned slightly, but his brow soon smoothed. Under the gaze of many, he calmly took the third seat on the right.

The four of them had rushed back from Yulu City without stopping and had followed the emperor straight into the palace. They had had no time to receive any news at all. Moreover, it was only the third day since Di Qingyu had been granted the title of Grand Princess, and news needed time to travel from the royal capital to the rest of Xiling.

The other three princes exchanged glances, then all sat down calmly as well.

They would wait and see how things unfolded.

In any case, that seat could not belong to the crown prince. The princes with the strongest claims had all gone to provide disaster relief; how could a crown prince have suddenly been appointed at a time like this?

The low murmur in the hall had barely lasted a moment when a eunuch called out.

"Her Highness the Grand Princess arrives!"

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Everyone wore a different expression.

"Grand Princess? Doesn't Imperial Father have no sisters? Where did a Grand Princess come from?" Di Jinzhao turned to the fourth prince in surprise.

The fourth prince narrowed his eyes, then shook his head, equally unable to make sense of it. It seemed that seat was for this Grand Princess.

Everyone turned their eyes toward the entrance to the hall.

A slender figure appeared amid light and shadow, clad in dark red interwoven with black and gold. Sunlight streamed directly through the doorway, making it impossible to see her face; only a corner of her stunning robes could be glimpsed.

Her figure was delicate, yet she bore the bearing of imperial royalty.

Only when she slowly stepped out of the dazzling light did everyone see the Grand Princess's face clearly.

For a moment, everyone in the hall except the four princes rose in unison and bowed formally to Di Qingyu.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Grand Princess. May Your Highness live a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

"May Your Highness live a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

The mighty chorus echoed through the hall, striking straight at the heart.

"How could it be her?" Di Jinzhao's eyes widened, his face full of astonishment.

Even the ever-composed eldest prince could not help but have his pupils contract slightly, a complicated look in his eyes. She had actually become the Grand Princess...