The following days passed peacefully and stably.

No more letters came from the Capital City, but with Ji Chengfeng around, Xie Wanqing could still quickly learn about changes in the court’s situation.

The Crown Prince and Second Prince’s final counterattacks unsurprisingly failed to stir up any waves.

In the early spring of the next year, the old emperor ordered the confinement of his two sons.

Since his collapse and blood vomiting at court last year, the old emperor’s health had been deteriorating, and after issuing this edict, he couldn’t even leave his throne.

After days of suspension from court, it was officially announced that the throne was passed to the Crown Prince.

Lu Ziyuan had been acting as regent since last year, and imperial power was already firmly in his hands.

This decree of succession was no surprise to civil and military officials, nor to the masses across the land.

While Xie Wanqing was delighted at her son beginning to teeth, his father, miles away in the Capital City, officially ascended to the throne.

Upon hearing the news, she playfully teased her chubby son and smiled at Ji Chengfeng, saying, "See, everything’s back on track, isn’t it?"

The struggle for the throne concluded smoothly, and though Lu Ziyuan was arrogant and unruly, in these chaotic times riddled with traitors and thieves, only a god of killing like him could stabilize things; any ruler with a soft approach would be utterly devoured, leaving not even bone remnants.

Pei Yuqing was also unharmed, and they all lived well.

Meanwhile, the Great Khan had transformed from his decline to a thriving state.

Indeed, her decision back then was correct.

Next, she waited for time to erode the past.

And waited for him to become a true emperor of his era.

He would have a harem filled with consorts; his descendants would flourish; he would drive away foreign enemies and quell internal chaos.

He would be recorded in history as a ruler who revived the state, bringing the Great Khan back to a prosperous and tranquil era.

Sung of through ages.

Xie Wanqing thought so.

Soon, the routine sweep after the new emperor’s ascension began.

Lu Ziyuan showed no leniency for those ministers who found themselves on the wrong side in the power struggle.

In his eyes, the princes, along with the Jin Thief who had abducted his Wanwan, must have acted on these people’s schemes.

With thunderous methods, some were demoted, others killed.

Then they abolished the titles of the two main culprits, the already confined princes, reducing them to commoners.

He deliberately enclosed a piece of land at the Royal Hunting Ground, constructing a long alley, and imprisoned both princes along with their offspring and female relatives inside.

No decree would ever set them free.

The main wife of the Crown Prince, Yu Family, who had been dispatched to the military camp, was granted clemency and returned to her husband’s side.

As for Lady Shufei, once favored in the harem, she had long been deposed, naturally following her son now.

Regarding the Second Prince.

His main wife aside, but speaking of the concubine who joined last year—she was none other than Lu Family’s eldest daughter, Lu Xiyao.

It was a marriage bestowed by the emperor during his reign.

At that time, some ministers speculated that perhaps the emperor was leaving a lifeline for his son.

After all, Lu Ziyuan had grown up in the Lu Family, and the nurturing grace received from Lu Family was an undeniable fact.

Lu Xiyao had once been his own younger sister, and with her in the Second Prince Mansion, it was thought the Second Prince’s future wouldn’t be too bleak.

Only Xie Wanqing understood.

Perhaps this marriage decree was issued by Lu Ziyuan himself.

He simply wanted Lu Xiyao to be lumped together with either the Crown Prince, the Second Prince—in any case, gathered in one place.

So that they could all be dealt with at once.

She always wondered about Lu Xiyao’s fate in a past life.

Thinking now, probably it was the same back then.

No one would know what kind of life those people led inside that cold alley from which none could escape.