The Moon Courtyard – Nightfall

It started with a whisper.

A minor noble from the Yu Clan, distant relatives to the Empress Dowager, was seen entering the palace’s south archives—a restricted area only the Emperor or the Crown Prince could approve.

Then came the letter.

A sealed scroll, discreetly delivered to a powerful official in the Ministry of Appointments, stamped with the ancient crest of the Yu bloodline:

“Should the Emperor no longer rise, the mandate must return to its proper line. The Crown Prince is but one son among many.”

Imperial Council – Three Mornings Later

The court sat tighter than usual. More guards. More stares. Less breath.

Crown Prince Li Shenzhao remained unreadable, hands clasped behind his back.

Shen Lianhua stood beside him—not behind him—facing the council like she was born for this moment.

Then Minister Yu Haiming stepped forward.

“With utmost loyalty,” he began, “I raise a matter not of rebellion, but of balance. As the Emperor’s condition worsens, it is our duty to consider the full royal bloodline. Including Prince Li Shenwei, first son by birth.”

Gasps.

The room trembled, barely.

Lianhua’s eyes flicked sideways—Li Shenwei, the banished prince. Arrogant. Power-hungry. Exiled for conspiracy five years ago. Now being recalled by the Yu clan as a “rightful alternative.”

Shenzhao remained still.

But Lianhua?

She smiled.

Later – Crown Princess’s Study

Xiao Fen entered with news from the shadow guard.

“Minister Yu met with Lady Gao of the Empress Dowager’s court last night. Shenwei is already en route. Secretly. From the southern coast.”

Lianhua stood, tapping a finger slowly against her desk.

“So they want to replace Shenzhao with a prince in their pocket.”

Fen hesitated. “What will you do?”

Lianhua’s voice was quiet. Cold.

“I’ll remind them who holds the pen while they sharpen their knives.”

Imperial Banquet – The Lantern Rite

That night, under lantern light and stringed zithers, Lianhua arrived in crimson brocade and a gold phoenix hairpiece.

She approached Minister Yu’s table personally, setting down a scroll in front of him.

“A gift,” she said sweetly. “From the archives you snuck into.”

He stiffened.

“It’s a full list,” she continued, “of every imperial edict you forged. Every name you bribed. Every cousin you elevated without merit.”

She leaned in, voice just loud enough for the nearest nobles to hear.

“The Emperor is not dead. But even if he were—you’d still lose to me.”

The nobles fell silent.

Minister Yu paled.

And across the room, Shenzhao finally smiled.

That Night – Emperor’s Infirmary

The Emperor stirred for the first time in a week.

His eyes fluttered open.

And his first words were:

“Who leads the court?”

His attendant bowed. “Your son and Lady Shen… together.”

He smiled faintly.

“Then let it be known. I chose well.”