Dou'er sat in the inner courtyard, her fingers tapping restlessly against the small vial in her hand. Her eyes narrowed, clouded with doubt.
Tch… why didn't it work? Could it have been swapped with a mere sleeping draught?
She scratched her temple, the thought gnawing at her. Curiosity pressed harder and harder, whispering in her ear.
Should I try it myself…?
Slowly, Dou'er loosened the stopper. A sharp, acrid scent rushed up to her nose, stealing her breath. She quickly sealed it again, her body stiff with hesitation. Her heart pounded wildly, caught between fear and fascination.
Her hand trembled as she lifted the vial once more. With a thread-thin sliver of courage, she let the tip of her tongue brush the mouth of the vial. Her whole body froze, waiting for what would come.
---
In the imperial study, Li Jun received the regional governors who had come to pay their respects. Her gaze swept over them, then she summoned one.
"Governor of Hezhou, Wen Zhiming, how is Hezhou?" she asked.
Wen Zhiming stepped forward and bowed deeply, confidence in his posture. "Your Majesty, this year's millet harvest in Hezhou has been especially bountiful. Our fields stand tall and golden, surpassing even last year's yield. The people live in prosperity and happiness."
"Is that so?" Li Jun's lips curved into a smile, though it never reached her eyes.
Wen Zhiming's throat tightened. Something about that expression chilled him to the bone.
Bang! The empress slammed her palm against the desk. The sharp crack echoed through the chamber. All the governors instantly dropped to their knees, trembling.
"Wen Zhiming, how could the millet harvest possibly be bountiful? This year the rains in Hezhou have been relentless and unpredictable. Millet cannot grow under such floods. Your people starve, while you sat idle and kept silent."
She hurled the Hezhou Gazetteer toward his face. The heavy tome hit the floor with a resounding thud. "If you do not even understand the conditions and hardships of your own people, how could you possibly be governor?"
Li Jun swept the stack of memorials off the desk, the scrolls scattering across the floor. "Is this what you dare call memorials? I asked for the truth, yet all you give me are hollow words and empty boasts!"
The room went silent. No one dared raise their eyes; the weight of her voice pressed down heavier than the scrolls at their feet.
Before the governors even stepped into the study, she had already read the local gazetteers, compared them with weather records and tax ledgers. Their false reports were full of holes.
"For the next six months, your work will be closely reviewed. Fail your duty, and you will be removed from office without mercy."
The governors' faces turned pale, unease written clearly across them, but none dared speak. They had long been accustomed to comfort and complacency. Now, under Li Jun's rule, their lives were under threat.
They did not quietly return to their posts. Instead, they gathered at the grand residence of Prime Minister Nalan Wenzheng, where governors and corrupt officials, long imperiled under Empress Shangwen's sharp gaze, held a conspiracy meeting.
"Prime Minister Nalan," Wen Zhiming spoke. "The empress is becoming more ruthless by the day. If this continues, none of us will be safe. We beg for your protection."
Nalan Wenzheng's aged face remained calm as he stroked his long beard. "Believe me, Li Jun's reign will not last. When she falls, it will not be I who takes the throne. The one destined to rule is the Grand Eldest Princess, Nalan Yan. This world will once again belong to the Nalan clan." He let out a low, sinister laugh.
A ripple of murmurs passed through the hall. Some bowed their heads in agreement, others exchanged furtive glances. Deep down, everyone knew the truth: they would rather kneel to a man than to a woman.
"She is Emperor Nalan Yanchi's only daughter, bearing the honored name of our clan. No one is more suited for the throne than Nalan Yan. With the Nalan clan's influence in court, her rise will not bring turmoil."
Though Prime Minister Nalan Wenzheng remained a staunch traditionalist, he had little choice. Emperor Nalan Yanchi had left behind only Nalan Yan, for the princes had all perished in the struggle for power. Had Emperor Jingxuan not been captivated by her beauty and granted her plea to spare the remnants of the Nalan clan, the entire clan might have perished.
Not all were satisfied with this arrangement. General Liu Hong, a man whose ambition burned hotter than his loyalty, straightened in his seat with a smirk.
"I agree to Nalan Yan becoming empress," he said with pride, "but only if she marries my son. The Nalan clan may hold sway in court, but my family commands the armies. With such power, who would dare oppose her reign?"
Prime Minister Nalan Wenzheng lifted his teacup with composure, taking a slow sip before setting it down again. His eyes gleamed with quiet calculation. "Very well. Your proposal will be conveyed to Princess Nalan Yan. The choice shall rest with her."
Silence fell over the hall. The tension lingered for a moment, then one by one, the officials began to nod in agreement.
To them, the details no longer mattered. Whether through marriage or the strength of the Nalan clan, what they truly desired was the same: Li Jun must be cast down. Only then could their own ambitions find room to breathe.
---
"Your Majesty… something terrible has happened." Hong Yi came running, breathless, words tripping over her tongue.
Li Jun arched a brow. "What could possibly be so serious? Don't tell me my father took another concubine and got caught by my queen mother?"
Hong Yi nearly burst into tears. Oh heavens… please give me back my serious empress.
She shook her head frantically. "No… no… it's Dou'er. Dou'er's been poisoned!"
Li Jun exchanged a glance with Shen Yuqing, and without a word, followed Hong Yi to the inner courtyard. There lay Dou'er, lips darkened, her body faintly turning blue, yet her breathing was shallow. No one dared touch her until the Empress arrived.
"Quick, take her to the imperial clinic!" Li Jun commanded, her voice sharp, urgent.
Shen Yuqing picked up the small vial that had slipped from Hong Yi's trembling hands. She wrinkled her nose at the acrid stench.
"Careful." Li Jun took it from her, sealing it tightly before handing it off to the imperial pharmacy.
A physician bowed low. "Your Majesty, Dou'er can still be saved, but we cannot promise when or if she will fully recover. The poison is extremely potent… and dangerous."
Li Jun's gaze lingered on the fragile girl. "Do everything you can to heal her."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The physicians withdrew, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Shen Yuqing finally spoke, her tone edged with unease. "Why is Your Majesty so determined to save this girl? When they examined her, I saw a rose tattoo on her chest, the same mark as the assassin who nearly killed you."
Her silence stretched, but Shen Yuqing pressed on, voice tight with suspicion. "Is Your Majesty… interested in Dou'er?"
"She's only little girl. For her to take such a risk, someone must be backing her. If Dou'er survives, she may be the key to uncovering who's behind it all."
Shen Yuqing frowned, torn between concern and doubt. She turned to Li Jun, whose face was shadowed with worry.
Li Jun's thoughts darkened. If she was right, Dou'er had deliberately tested the poison on herself, confused as to why it hadn't worked on her. The needle test was useless. The mastermind kept improving their concoctions; this time, even the needle couldn't detect it. They would not stop. Not until she was dead.