"Cui Chen, if you truly hate me and that’s why you’re doing this, come at me directly. I will give you my life. Don’t help Canglan Country, will you?" Song Jing cried out, then her face suddenly turned pale. She vomited a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, only to be quickly supported by Cui Zhao.

"Jing’er, what’s wrong?"

"I... ugh—" Song Jing tried to speak but spat out another mouthful of blood, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Ah Chen glanced at her and said, "It must be the poison taking effect. To detoxify, you can ask Song Chong and Consort Li. They know exactly what poison they used, as they’re aware of what was applied to Song Jing’s clothes and accessories. By the way, these were originally meant for me and were just slightly altered. It’s been so long, it’s probably hard to cure, but it shouldn’t be fatal."

Song Jing couldn’t believe it. At this moment, she could no longer pretend, her eyes filled with hatred toward Ah Chen. "Why would you harm me like this?"

"Wasn’t it Song Chong and Consort Li who poisoned you? If they hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been poisoned. The real problem lies with them, Ninth Princess. You should be questioning them."

"Just like sending the princess to Bei Qi, it was him being incompetent, unable to even protect his own daughter, having others take her place. Does such a cowardly failure deserve to sit in that position?" Ah Chen looked at the dejected Song Chong, "Bei Qi has perished, and now Nan Qi should perish as well."

"By the way, Mr. Cui," Ah Chen glanced at Cui Yu, "you once said I’m no longer part of the Cui Family. What does it matter to me if it does good by the ancestors of the Cui Family?"

Cui Yu wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.

"Today, I will reintroduce myself to everyone. My name is not Cui Chen, nor Song Chen, but Yu Chen, the founding Emperor of Canglan Country."

Yu Chen?

It matches, her surname matches with the Empress of Canglan Country!

Cui Yu’s eyes widened, so she had changed her surname even back then?

He felt regret and remorse, filled with various regrets, how could this happen? If he had agreed with her back then, wouldn’t the Cui Family have soared to the skies?

But how did she do it?

What, she’s the Empress of Canglan Country?

Everyone stared at Ah Chen in shock, their minds filled with disbelief, how could she possibly be the Empress?

The hatred in Song Jing’s eyes dissipated in that instant, her face filled with bewilderment. No, it couldn’t be, Cui Chen couldn’t possibly be the Empress of Canglan Country. What truly happened at the palace banquet in Bei Qi that night? Was there someone powerful helping Cui Chen? Yes, that must be it, there was surely someone helping Yu Chen. Yu Chen couldn’t be that formidable, just her helper was, and maybe they just wanted to put someone forward, and it happened to be Yu Chen.

After comforting herself, Song Jing calmed down. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

At that moment, a figure suddenly leaped down from the roof with incredible speed, appearing before Ah Chen in the blink of an eye. Everyone was startled by the scene, followed by several holding a bit of hope. This should be the Emperor’s Shadow Guard; if they killed Yu Chen here today, at least half the crisis would be resolved.

Ah Chen didn’t even look up, casually pulled out a hairpin to throw up. As the person’s blade was about to strike her, it was instantly pierced through the throat by the hairpin, heavily falling to the ground, lifeless.

The crowd, once holding onto a glimmer of hope, lowered their heads. The most capable Shadow Guard couldn’t manage to kill Yu Chen? Her skills were formidable indeed.

If she couldn’t be killed today, there would be even less chance to eliminate Yu Chen in the future.

It turned out she wasn’t joking; during the last palace banquet in Bei Qi, she single-handedly destroyed the Bei Qi Royal Family, leading to the formation of Canglan Country. Bei Qi was unpopular not just with the people who hated it, but also with a portion of its officials and nobles who refused to collude, they all despised the royal family. With her boldly appearance, it’s imaginable how many would support her.

So, it wasn’t a miracle but rather the right time, place, and people. Her prowess was substantial, appearing at the perfect moment.

In the Golden Throne Hall, each minister of Nan Qi looked despondent, their eyes void of any hope.

Song Chong, who once sat on the dragon throne full of hope, sighed deeply once again. Even the Shadow Guards failed, apparentlty Nan Qi’s fate was truly sealed. He regretted more now, knowing that sending Cui Chen would become Empress Yu Chen of Canglan Country. Why did he forsake the bigger for the smaller? If he had sent Jing’er in the beginning, perhaps Canglan would not exist, and Nan Qi would not face today’s plight.

No matter how much Song Chong regretted, the facts were already irreversible.

Song Jing, who just comforted herself, could no longer deceive herself.

"You once hated Bei Qi, but what difference is there between your actions and those of Bei Qi?" Ah Chen asked with a smile, leaving everyone silent, yet they understood, realizing there’s indeed little difference upon reflection.

"Your Majesty, Consort Li has been brought," Hong Zhu entered with people, followed by others escorting Consort Li forward.

Consort Li called out, "Your Majesty."

As she sought help, she suddenly realized the unusual atmosphere in the Golden Throne Hall.

Clearly Song Chong was sitting at the highest position, but he exhibited none of his usual authority, slumped lifelessly on the dragon throne.

The ministers, each with ashen faces, appeared as if they mourned the death of a parent.

What happened?

What on earth happened?

"Jing’er? Jing’er, what’s wrong with you?" Consort Li rushed over concerned when she saw blood at the corner of Song Jing’s mouth.

No one stopped her.

Hong Zhu helped explain, "Maybe the poison you used took effect, didn’t Consort Li know about this poison?"

What?

Consort Li was still a bit confused, holding Song Jing’s hand, asking what was going on.

Song Jing saw that Ah Chen surprisingly did not stop them, as if giving them time to talk, she closed her eyes. How could this happen? Every time she thought she could be happy and smile, something even more unacceptable would happen. She thought that today, after exposing Yu Chen, she would regain her identity as the Ninth Princess, and in the future, the two of them would be as different as heaven and earth. She would be the heaven, and Yu Chen the earth.

But it turned out she was the earth, and Yu Chen was the heaven.

The other party was already the Empress of Canglan Country, and after annexing Nan Qi, the Canglan Country grew stronger. It’s unimaginable what achievements might come in the future.

They clearly grew up together, she thought she knew Yu Chen’s capabilities well, but now she realized she didn’t understand her at all.

Consort Li, upon understanding the situation, was dumbfounded.

How could this be?

She looked at Ah Chen in disbelief, how could such a small woman accomplish this? What Jing’er said, was it all true?

Looking again at the Shadow Guard who was already dead, with a hairpin stuck in his neck, Jing’er said this was caused by Yu Chen with a mere flick of her hand.

"What do you want to do?" Consort Li asked subconsciously, feeling a bit fearful after asking. Now the other party held the power over life and death, asking this question was of no use.

"Chenchen." The Ning Family suddenly spoke, "Chenchen, no matter what, you came from the Cui Family..."

Ah Chen glanced at the Ning Family and did not respond to her words but looked at Cui Yu. Every reaction of the Ning Family nearly followed Cui Yu’s lead.

"Mr. Cui, I once asked you whether to make a choice. At that time, you chose loyalty to the Emperor. Now, if given another chance, would you still choose loyalty to the Emperor, or stand with me?"

Cui Yu suddenly raised his head, could he still choose? Why did he feel it wasn’t that simple? Especially in front of so many people. Was she trying to make him lose his reputation as a loyal official? Actually, compared to the glory of the Cui Family, he didn’t care so much about the reputation of a loyal official. History is written by the victors. As long as the Cui Family can continue to be glorious, how to write about the Cui Family is up to them, isn’t it?

Cui Yu’s heart pounded wildly.

Cui Zhao looked anxiously at Cui Yu, this was the last chance. He felt sometimes reputation wasn’t that important. Even if they were scorned, at least the Cui Family could survive. They are relatives of the Emperor of Canglan Country, how could outsiders casually discuss them?

Song Chong also looked over, how would Cui Yu choose?

"Your subject greets Your Majesty." Cui Yu bowed to Ah Chen.

Song Chong sneered, so Cui Yu wasn’t as loyal as imagined, everything was just the other party’s weighing, at this moment he clearly understood.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Cui Zhao reacted.

Cui Chen, pulled by Cui Zhao, was still in a daze.

At this time, they heard laughter echoing throughout the Golden Throne Hall, coming from Ah Chen.

Everyone felt something was wrong, Cui Zhao became anxious: "Does Your Majesty intend to go back on your word?"

"No, what I just said was, if now I gave you another opportunity, not that I’m giving you an opportunity."

Cui Yu and Cui Zhao were almost angry enough to collapse, Ah Chen mocked them: "How amusing you all are."

"Song Chong, I’ll give you another opportunity to wield the power of the Emperor of Nan Qi. How should a traitorous official like Cui Yu be dealt with?" Ah Chen asked.

Cui Yu shouted anxiously: "Cui Chen, how dare you!"

"Aren’t you afraid of being reviled for all eternity?" Cui Zhao was anxious beyond words, how could this happen.

Cui Chen, however, laughed softly, today’s scene was indeed amusing.