A quarter hour later.
The convoy returned to the palace.
Emperor Qian Yuan and Yun Liyue were both furious when they learned of the assassination attempt. Qian Yuan immediately ordered the Imperial Guard and the Court of Judicial Review to launch a joint investigation into the matter.
In the rear palace, Autumn Water Courtyard.
As soon as Yang Cheng returned, Yun Liyue hurriedly summoned the imperial physician to examine him. The physician checked him over for a while, his expression turning a bit odd. "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is unharmed, and his vital energy is exceptionally strong."
What he didn't say was that the crown prince's vitality was so strong it bordered on monstrous—stronger than many adults. But he knew better than to babble needlessly. His job was to confirm the crown prince's safety, not invite trouble for himself.
Yun Liyue finally let out a long breath of relief.
Once the physician left, Yang Cheng said he wanted to rest. In truth, he needed time to get used to the surge in his qi and blood. As his breathing gradually calmed and he appeared to fall asleep, Yun Liyue's eyes turned icy cold.
She hadn't wanted to go to extremes. She'd even considered giving some people a chance. But it seemed they were determined to throw themselves into ruin.
"Cheng'er…" she murmured as she gazed at her son in his cradle. "Mother regrets it now. I never should have hesitated—I should have struck first."
Her voice trembled with suppressed rage.
According to Hu Po, Yuhui—the crown prince's personal bodyguard—had turned out to be an assassin. If not for Zhang Qian's loyal sacrifice, risking his life to protect Yang Cheng, the prince might truly have been killed this time.
"Your Majesty," Hu Po said as she stepped forward. "This servant has discovered that all the assassins today were from the Seven Kill Society."
She added, "Before I came, I questioned Qiu Yun. She said it was Consort Xian who ordered her to contact the Seven Kill Society three days ago."
The Seven Kill Society was the most infamous assassins' guild in the entire Wasteland Realm.
Crack!
The chair arm under Yun Liyue's hand shattered into splinters.
She had thought the assassins were sent by Noble Consort Zhuang Wanrong. She never expected it would be Yun Yirou. Her own sister was even more eager than Zhuang Wanrong to eliminate Cheng'er.
Cold light flickered in Yun Liyue's eyes. "She wanted to use the Seven Kill Society to assassinate Cheng'er so she could keep her hands clean. What a cunning plan."
"If we hadn't already been watching Universal Peace Hall closely, and if we hadn't secretly taken control of several of Consort Xian's maids' families, we wouldn't have been able to pressure Qiu Yun into confessing," Hu Po added.
Qiu Yun was Consort Xian's head maid. They'd forced her hand because they had her family under their control. Qiu Yun didn't care much for her parents, but she adored her five-year-old sister, whom she'd been supporting with her meager wages as a palace maid.
"Her little sister is her greatest weakness," Hu Po continued.
Yun Liyue's face was emotionless. "Tell Qiu Yun that if she exposes Consort Xian tomorrow, I will guarantee her family's safety."
She didn't like using such ruthless tactics. But for Cheng'er's sake, she was willing to become the villain everyone feared.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Hu Po replied, bowing deeply.
Their conversation didn't escape Yang Cheng's ears. Neither woman made any effort to guard their words around him. They assumed he was asleep, and besides, they didn't want him exposed to such darkness at his age.
'So, based on what Mother and Hu Po said, Yun Yirou is doomed this time?' Yang Cheng thought, astonished.
In his past life, Yun Yirou had become the Empress Dowager of the Western Palace. Even before his crown prince title was stripped away, his mother had never discovered Yun Yirou's true face. But this time, because of his earlier hints, his mother had grown wary of Yun Yirou—and now she'd already caught her red-handed.
It proved that Yun Yirou's success in his previous life wasn't because she was more cunning than his mother. It was only because she'd taken advantage of the familial bond between sisters.
Not long after, Yun Liyue ordered Hu Po to fetch Emperor Qian Yuan.
"Your Majesty," Yun Liyue said when he arrived, her expression grim.
She laid out everything she'd discovered about Yun Yirou's involvement. Emperor Qian Yuan was stunned after hearing the full account.
This matter was completely beyond Emperor Qian Yuan's expectations.
The true mastermind behind the plot to kill the crown prince was Yun Yirou? Yun Yirou was Yun Liyue's own younger sister—the crown prince's aunt. The whole thing was utterly absurd.
If it hadn't been Yun Liyue herself saying this, he would've immediately ordered whoever brought the news thrown into the dungeons, convinced it was a malicious lie.
"Su Jin, bring Qiu Yun here in secret," Emperor Qian Yuan commanded coldly.
As his consort, Yun Yirou naturally held some status in his heart. But no matter how high her position, it couldn't compare to Yang Cheng, the crown prince. Besides, Yun Yirou's standing was entirely because she was the empress's sister.
Soon, Qiu Yun was quietly brought in. The moment she saw Emperor Qian Yuan, her face turned as white as paper. She knew there was no longer any chance to turn things around. She had to choose: her younger sister or Consort Xian.
After three breaths, Qiu Yun said, "Your Majesty, this servant will not dare hide a single thing."
She confessed everything in detail: how Consort Xian ordered her to contact the Seven Kill Society and arrange the assassination of Yang Cheng.
Emperor Qian Yuan's face showed no visible anger, but his voice was calm and chilling. "The Seven Kill Society may be vicious, but they never act lightly. For them to target the crown prince of Great Zhou… what did Consort Xian give them in return?"
Qiu Yun lowered her head. "Your Majesty once obtained three Yin-Yang Rebirth Pills. One was gifted to Her Majesty the Empress. Years ago, when Duke Wei was gravely wounded in battle, Her Majesty left her own Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill with him in case something happened."
The Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill could bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh and bone. Duke Wei was Yun Liyue and Yun Yirou's father—Yang Cheng's maternal grandfather.
Hearing this, Emperor Qian Yuan understood. "So Consort Xian offered the Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill to the Seven Kill Society?"
"Yes," Qiu Yun replied, trembling.
"Su Jin, send the shadow guards to the Duke Wei's estate. See if the Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill is still there," Emperor Qian Yuan ordered with a cold laugh.
Yun Liyue was shaking with fury. After all this, Yun Yirou had paid for assassins using the very pill she had given to support the Yun family.
Su Jin's efficiency was exceptional. Within a quarter hour, a messenger pigeon arrived with the shadow guards' report.
Su Jin scanned the secret letter and reported, "Your Majesty, the Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill is no longer in the Duke Wei's estate."
Emperor Qian Yuan's eyes narrowed. "Bring Consort Xian here."
Though his voice remained flat, everyone in the room could feel the suffocating tension.
After Su Jin left, Emperor Qian Yuan rose to his feet. "Empress, wake the crown prince."
Yun Liyue's heart clenched. "Your Majesty, Cheng'er is still so young."
"If he were an ordinary child, of course he shouldn't witness what's about to happen. But Cheng'er is the crown prince—he must learn to shoulder his responsibilities," Emperor Qian Yuan said.
Yun Liyue bit her lip hard. "I still believe it's inappropriate…"
She didn't care if her son grew up to be a wise monarch or a useless one. All she wanted was for him to live peacefully and safely.
"Father, Mother," Yang Cheng's voice came from the crib just then. He crawled up and faced them. "Though I am young, I do not fear storms."
He couldn't let his mother clash with his father over this, so he spoke up decisively.
Emperor Qian Yuan's eyes lit up. "My son, are you truly unafraid?"
"With Father and Mother behind me, what is there to fear?" Yang Cheng said firmly.
"Hahaha, worthy son of mine!" Emperor Qian Yuan roared with delight.
But at the same time, his killing intent toward Yun Yirou only grew stronger. Yang Cheng was everything he hoped for in an heir. How could he let anyone threaten him?
At that moment, Su Jin returned, leading Yun Yirou into the room.