Ping Prince's Mansion.
"Princess, the Shen family has been imprisoned in the imperial prison. It is said that Prince Qin will personally interrogate them tomorrow."
Upon hearing Liu'er's words, a look of vindictive satisfaction flashed across Song Xiyan's face.
"That venomous woman Shen Hua'er claimed she would make me the most outstanding noble lady in the capital, yet she conspired with Song Yanzheng to drug me. Now that she's fallen to this state, it is entirely her own doing."
Liu'er's eyes flickered subtly. "Princess, this lowly servant dares to suggest that this is your perfect opportunity."
"Go on."
Song Xiyan plucked flower petals one by one, crushing them before tossing them to the ground.
"The eldest imperial grandson personally impeached the Shen family. If the princess consort learns of this, she will surely sever ties with him completely. This way, you won't be left isolated and helpless in the mansion."
Recalling the rumors from Prince Qin's residence, Liu'er continued to sow discord, "Now the princess consort manages internal affairs while the eldest imperial grandson handles external matters. If these two remain united, how will you ever rise? Just like during the cross-class examinations—every step was a struggle."
"You've become quite clever lately."
Song Xiyan glanced at Liu'er. She currently held no authority in the mansion, and even the servants secretly looked down on her. Only this Liu'er remained somewhat loyal.
"Come, let’s pay the princess consort a visit."
A quarter of an hour later, Song Xiyan arrived at the main courtyard. When she saw Shen Hua'er, she was startled.
In just a few days, Shen Hua'er's face had grown gaunt. Unconsciously, Song Xiyan took a step back. The current Shen Hua'er bore an eerie resemblance to her own mother when the Chang family fell from grace.
"Why have you come?" Shen Hua'er's eyes dimmed as she looked at Song Xiyan.
"The entire Shen family has been thrown into the imperial prison—not a single one escaped."
With just this one sentence, Song Xiyan made Shen Hua'er's eyes burn red with fury.
"So the princess has come to mock me."
"Do you know why not a single member of the Shen family escaped?" Song Xiyan slowly stepped closer. "Because it was Eldest Brother who personally petitioned the emperor. Before your family could flee the capital, the imperial guards had already sealed their fate."
"Among the three imperial grandsons in Ping Prince's Mansion, the princess consort favored Eldest Brother the most. And yet, look at what he’s done."
Watching Shen Hua'er's disbelief, Song Xiyan felt an overwhelming sense of gratification.
"He is the coldest and most selfish of men. Princess Consort, you misjudged him."
"Song Xiyan, what are you doing here?"
Song Yanzheng's voice rang out, sending a chill down Song Xiyan's spine. She rose leisurely. "Since Eldest Brother is here, I shall take my leave."
With that, she strode away, leaving Shen Hua'er staring at Song Yanzheng with eyes full of hatred.
......
"Song Yanzheng, you heartless, ungrateful wretch. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?"
Shen Hua'er gazed at him and let out a hollow laugh.
"I schemed tirelessly for your ambitions, even gave myself to you. And yet, without a shred of mercy, you impeached my family, condemning them all to prison. Song Yanzheng, you are despicable."
"Silence!"
Song Yanzheng glared in the direction Song Xiyan had left before clamping a hand over Shen Hua'er's mouth. "This was for the good of Ping Prince's Mansion. Severing ties with the Shen family ensures you won’t be implicated."
Shen Hua'er scoffed.
"Song Yanzheng, don’t forget—I know all your secrets."
She yanked his hand away. "You poisoned your own mother, stood by as your younger brother was abused, committed adultery with your stepmother... and even murdered..."
"Each of these would mean execution for you, wouldn’t it?"
As Shen Hua'er spoke, murderous intent pooled in Song Yanzheng's eyes.
"You were complicit in all of it."
"Indeed. So as long as I live, Your Highness will remain safe." Shen Hua'er was nearly delirious now. "But if I die, I will drag you down with me."
"And no matter what method you use, ensure at least one bloodline of the Shen family survives. Otherwise, I will ensure we perish together."
With that, she turned away, missing the naked killing intent in Song Yanzheng's gaze.
......
The next day, in the grand hall of the Ministry of Justice, Shen Pu was brought forward in prison garb.
"Prisoner Shen Pu, twenty heavy strikes first."
Without even allowing Shen Pu a chance to speak, Song Yu ordered the punishment immediately—a stark contrast to his courteous treatment of Shen Qingping days earlier.
By the twentieth strike, the old man was barely clinging to life.
"Did the Shen family engage in salt smuggling?" Song Yu's voice was icy. "This prince already holds irrefutable evidence. The only reason I sit here today is to grant you one final chance. If you refuse it, I will not hesitate to bring out the executioner's blade—and no one would dare question it."
Shen Pu trembled as he lifted his head.
He knew Prince Qin never made empty threats.
"Someone, read aloud the Shen family’s smuggling operations over these years."
At Song Yu's command, Liu Xi meticulously detailed the smuggling routes, including every bribed official at each port.
The last flicker of hope in Shen Pu's heart died.
"I confess. I confess everything."
After decades of dominance in the court, he had never imagined his downfall would come at the hands of Shen Qingping.
"Lord Shen is indeed a pragmatist."
Song Yu smirked. "Given the scale of your smuggling profits, the Shen family warrants extermination."
With witnesses and evidence laid bare, officials implicated in the case were rounded up and brought to the capital. At the words "extermination," Shen Pu collapsed unconscious.
A century-old noble house—utterly destroyed in an instant.
......
Purple Dawn Palace.
Emperor Yuanyou watched as Shen Mingwen hesitated over his next move in their game of Go. Though impatient, he refrained from urging him—after all, Shen Qingping deserved the highest credit for the Shen family case.
Clack.
Shen Mingwen placed a stone. "Your Majesty, this humble official dares to ask—how do you intend to deal with a centuries-old family like the Shen clan?"
"Punish the guilty. Execute the irredeemable."
The emperor snorted. "Since ancient times, noble houses rise and fall with each dynasty. None are untouchable. Moreover, salt smuggling violates imperial law. The Shen family brought this upon themselves."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Shen Mingwen smiled faintly. "Chu Wuliang and his faction have long been close allies of the Shen family, and their crimes are no fewer."
"Deal with them all impartially," Emperor Yuanyou declared.
Satisfied, Shen Mingwen nodded.
"However..." The emperor's tone shifted. "After this matter, how should I promote your third son?"
For a moment, Shen Mingwen struggled to grasp the emperor's implication.
"Your third son currently holds a third-rank position. If promoted further, he may surpass you in a few years." The emperor feigned a frown.
"Minister Shen, do you think I should grant him a promotion this time?"
