The words struck like a blade.

A ripple moved through the court—whispers, disbelief calculation. Some ministers stiffened, others lowered their gazes instantly, unwilling to be seen reacting at all.

It was though the accusation itself had stolen air from the hall, everyone suspended in a moment too fragile to survive sound.

Ru Yi did not move.

It looked like she had underestimated the wolves, a part of her thinking they’d back down from the fight.

In fact, that was what she had hoped for after hiding the Peony seal in Shen Yexue’s chamber like the Empress had instructed.

But she had to give it to them, they definitely had the back bone that she was very much lacking.

The triplets were openly accusing the Empress of attempted treason.

At the head of the court the Empress sat poised, her expression serene—a direct opposite of the chaos that was infiltrating the hall. If not for the faint curve of satisfaction at the edge of her lips, she might’ve appeared mournful.

"Do you realize what you’re saying?" General Han Zheng asked in a threatening voice, "this is nothing shy of committing treason yourself."

Shen Qingyue maintained a straight face. "I am not here to make baseless accusations, the proof is in your hands."

The Emperor entered a coughing fit at that moment, every head in the hall turning to him. He brought a cloth to his lips, his entire body shaking from the force of it.

"Your highness," The Emperor was already turning to play the role of the devoted wife. "I can help you back to your chambers if you’re unfit—"

The Emperor raised a hand, halting her speech. Then he looked at Shen Qingyue, "I’ll give you a chance to retract your statement. Consider it a show of mercy...as your father."

Qingyue shook her head. "Instead of mercy, how about you try having a little faith in me?"

Minister Cui Mingde finally moved forward, even though his words were a stuttering mess. "The princess," he gave a low bow to Qingyue, "has served this kingdom since she was a child. She would not so recklessly come to sabotage its future now."

Some of the ministers nodded.

"All we need to do is look at the documents she has presented."

General Han Zheng looked at the documents in his hand, before passing it to another minister. The wax on them gleamed under the light that streamed into the hall—perfect, unmistakable.

"This is your seal," the minister in charge said, hands tracing the pattern.

"They are forged," The Empress replied in a cool voice.

It was Shen Lieyin that stepped forward this time. "Forged?" she repeated. "Every decree? Every letter ordering the low poisoning of His Majesty? Every instruction given to assassinate our mother?"

Cui Mingde turned to the other ministers. "Every document has already been confirmed by me. It is as Princess Qingyue has said."

The Emperor shot up from his seat, only to stumble back with a cough.

Empress Shen Lihua immediately reached for him, patting his back gently. "I do not know where this accusation is coming from. I would never do anything to harm His Majesty. As for the late Empress, I understand that you were once grieving children and have simply manipulated your pain."

"Yes," it was minister Han Shuqing, "all her majesty has done is take proper care of the Emperor and all three of you. At least show some dignity where she is concerned."

Shen Lieyin did not regard his person. "So we forged your seal and all these documents? We broke into your private chambers? Risked execution...for what? Your amusement?"

"Revenge," the Empress replied.

There was a brief moment of silence.

The Emperor’s fingers tightened against the arm of his throne. He’d always known the triplets hated Empress Lihua. Hadn’t they said it to his face that they’d never consider her their mother?

This had to be one of their plots to cast her away.

Empress Shen Lihua might have her flaws, but she took care of him the most and held his sickly hand through the years. She was the only light in his dark world.

"You’re lying," Lieyin raged on.

"Am I?" Lihua turned to face the Emperor fully now. "Your majesty, I have served you faithfully. If someone had used my seal, then they had both access and motive."

Her gaze slid back to the triplets.

Grief.

Revenge.

Inheritance.

The words did not need to be spoken between them. They hung there anyway, thick and poisonous.

The Emperor exhaled slowly, and for the first time he hesitated. It was either the Empress or his daughters. But has he ever truly held enough power to be able to choose?

Shen Qingyue stepped forward again, urgency breaking through her composure. "Your majesty, she’s turning this against us."

"And you," the Empress interrupted smoothly, "have yet to explain how you came into possession of imperial documents that are supposedly sealed under my authority."

That did it.

Now the doubt was real.

All that hard work they’d put in was dangling by a thread, right in front of their eyes.

The court was no longer watching a guilty maid. They were watching a family tear itself apart.

With great difficulty the Emperor rose, the movement alone was enough to silence everything. "Until the truth is uncovered, the Empress will be confined to her chambers."

There was a sharp inhale from the court. It wasn’t an execution, but not complete freedom either.

"And for the princesses," he continued, his gaze settling on them with something unreadable, "will remain within the palace grounds under watch."

Lieyin’s hands folded into fists at her side.

Their own father did not trust them, even with the glaring evidence that was right in front of him.

"Your majesty," General Han Zheng finally said, "If the Empress’s seal has been misused, then the one responsible for it must be within these walls. I therefore request that all relevant chambers be searched." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The court stirred instantly.

Everyone understood what he meant. It wasn’t all chambers, but the triplet’s.

Shen Yexue immediately stepped in. "You mean ours?"

Empress Lihua was the one who replied. "If you have nothing to hide, then surely you have nothing to fear."

This was a trap, a beautifully laid one.

"Fine," Shen Qingyue said, "Let the chambers be searched. You’ll be wasting your time, not mine."