Chapter Nineteen: Crisis in the Eastern Palace, the Unraveling of Schemes and Affections

Li Chengyin decided to stage a banquet of his own, a trap meant to test Zhao Sese.

He stormed into her quarters, feigning the fury of an enraged monarch, and hurled the love letter before her. The document struck like a blade, slicing through the already stifling tension in the room.

"Do you know what this is?" he asked coldly.

Zhao Sese felt as if she had been struck by a bolt of lightning; her body trembled uncontrollably. She forced a show of composure, attempting to mask her internal panic with a veneer of calm. Yet, her eyes darted away from Li Chengyin’s burning, scrutinizing gaze, much like a hare fearful of the hunter’s sight.

"Your Highness," she stammered, "this... this couldn't possibly have been written by the Crown Princess, could it?"

Li Chengyin let out a cold laugh, a sound as sharp and piercing as an icy sword. "Do you truly think me so easily deceived? While the handwriting mimics hers to a degree, it is riddled with flaws—no more substantial than a paper lantern that tears at the slightest touch."

Zhao Sese turned deathly pale, as if her very blood had been drained away. Fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, trickling down until they fell to the floor. "Your Highness, I... I merely heard rumors and thought..."

Ignoring her feeble excuses, Li Chengyin turned and strode away, his retreating figure like a solitary warrior fading into the distance. Yet, in his heart, he was now certain of her involvement; it was as if he had caught a glimpse of dawn in the darkness, bringing him one step closer to the truth.

He intensified his investigation, like a bold general sounding the charge for battle. His men traced the connections between Zhao Sese’s maid and the court officials, tracking them with the keen instincts of hounds. Eventually, they discovered that the two parties had been meeting in secret at a remote, secluded residence—a place that stood like a mysterious and perilous fortress hidden in the shadows. It turned out to be an undercover property belonging to Minister Guo, a powerful official at court.

Once he received this intelligence, Li Chengyin ordered the house to be placed under surveillance, lying in wait like a leopard in the tall grass, patiently watching for his prey to stumble. Their persistence paid off; they uncovered further evidence, including correspondence detailing the conspiracy and discarded scraps of paper used to practice forging the handwriting. These pieces of evidence were like fragments of a puzzle, slowly revealing the full, grim picture of the plot.

He personally tracked down the palace maid who had originally delivered the love letter. Upon seeing Li Chengyin, she looked as if she had come face-to-face with the Grim Reaper. Terrified, her knees buckled and she collapsed to the ground, her face as white as paper, devoid of all color. She knew that if this plot were exposed, her life would be forfeit; thus, no matter how Li Chengyin questioned her, she kept her lips tightly sealed, like a startled clam clutching a pearl within its shell.

Watching the terrified maid, Li Chengyin knelt slowly. His gaze became steady and gentle, like the warmth of a spring sun, attempting to dispel the shadows of fear in her heart.

"You need not be afraid," he said softly. "If you tell me the truth, not only will I ensure your safety, but I will grant you a generous reward, enough to keep you in comfort for the rest of your days. I, Li Chengyin, always keep my word; I am as unshakable as a towering mountain."

The maid looked up, meeting his sincere gaze. Her mind wavered like a delicate scale. Finally, encouraged by his resolute expression, she confessed everything. It turned out that the entire plot had been orchestrated by Zhao Sese and the powerful Minister Guo. Zhao Sese had never intended to conspire with court officials, but driven by jealousy and a desperate desire to eliminate Xiaofeng and reclaim Li Chengyin’s love, she had agreed. Minister Guo, for his part, had hoped that after Li Chengyin dealt with Xiaofeng, he could further impeach the Prince before the Emperor, slandering him for allowing personal affairs to compromise the state, thereby toppling him and seizing control of the government—a carefully laid chess game where every move hid a lethal strike.

Upon learning this, the fire of vengeance within Li Chengyin burned even brighter, like an erupting volcano with molten lava churning in his chest. He was determined to make the conspirators pay a heavy price, to make them regret their actions with every fiber of their being.

With the skill of a master tactician, he utilized his network of informants to subtly present the gathered evidence to the Emperor. The Emperor, upon seeing the proof, flew into a rage that shook the heavens. He immediately issued a decree to severely punish all officials involved, forcing them to swallow the bitter fruit of their betrayal and treachery. Zhao Sese, too, faced the Emperor’s harsh judgment; she was confined to her residence and forced to copy the *Precepts for Women*, like a bird locked in a cage, stripped of both her freedom and her dignity.

Throughout all of this, Xiaofeng remained blissfully unaware, living as if in a secluded paradise untouched by the world. It was not until one day, when she overheard the maids in the Eastern Palace whispering, that she ran over and asked, "What are you talking about?"

When she learned from their excited chatter that Li Chengyin had handled the entire affair for her, her bright eyes widened in disbelief, as if she had witnessed something truly impossible. Her face was filled with astonishment, her expression mirroring the wonder of a fantastical tale. Suddenly, as if drawn by an invisible force, she turned and hurried off to find Li Chengyin, her heart overflowing with gratitude and love, even as she felt a deep, chilling repulsion for the treacherous machinations of the palace.