Chapter 67: Everything Rests on This Single Move

"What is there that I cannot face?" Consort Dowager Xu asked, looking at Ning Junruo with utter bewilderment. "What does the Princess consort mean by this?"

Such a monumental matter, yet the Prince had kept it concealed from her all this time. If the Princess consort had not exposed it today, goodness knows how much longer he would have kept her in the dark.

Consort Dowager Xu always felt that her words were far more reliable than her son's.

Ning Junruo swept her gaze coldly across the people present, noticing a murderous intent emerging within Zhao Shenxing's resentful look, and intentionally kept them in suspense.

"Lady Chang surely knows better than anyone else. If Your Ladyship wishes to know, you might as well ask her." Having said this, Ning Junruo turned and took her leave.

The anger that Consort Dowager Xu had forcefully suppressed flared up once again. She fixed a piercing gaze on Chang Yuniang.

"Who is this Wu Yong? Is there still some hidden story between you and the Prince that we know nothing about?" Consort Dowager Xu's voice carried an undeniable majesty.

Tear tracks stained Chang Yuniang's face as she looked up at Consort Dowager Xu, her eyes filled with helplessness.

"Between this concubine and the Prince, other than the fact that I was once a courtesan in a pleasure house, there is nothing else being concealed. Today's affair was entirely orchestrated by the Princess consort. This concubine is truly innocent, and I implore Your Ladyship to thoroughly examine the truth."

"Orchestrated by the Princess consort? Why would she do such a thing?" Full of doubts, Consort Dowager Xu turned her head to look at Zhao Shenxing.

Zhao Shenxing remained silent for a long moment before slowly speaking, "Does the Princess consort not constantly clamor to leave the Prince's estate? Her doing this is nothing more than an attempt to force this Prince into agreeing."

Consort Dowager Xu gave him a look of complex emotions, seeming entirely disbelieving.

She sighed, then looked back at Chang Yuniang. "Do you truly not know the person she mentioned?"

"This concubine genuinely does not know!" Chang Yuniang replied without changing her expression.

"This palace will trust you for now."

Supported by Yansiu, Consort Dowager Xu slowly rose and departed.

No sooner had Ning Junruo returned to Yilan Residence than she received a letter from Mujin, stating that with the assistance of the Profound Valley and Mystic Gate, Miao Shan had been apprehended by the Department of Punishments.

Under severe torture, she finally confessed to the crime of plotting for wealth and taking lives.

Nurse Wei looked at her with worry. "My lady had a complete falling out with the Prince just now; are you not afraid that the Prince might secretly resort to malicious means?"

The corners of Ning Junruo's lips curled into a faint smile, her eyes flashing with a confident radiance.

"Nurse, rest assured, I have my own methods to deal with it. Now that Miao Shan has been caught, the truth coming to light is merely a matter of time. As for the Prince..."

Her voice paused slightly, a trace of icy chill flashing through the depths of her eyes, "He will not act rashly."

"Is my lady so confident?" Nurse Wei finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Of course. The Prince has yet to figure out my bottom line; I believe he wouldn't dare to make any reckless moves."

With a smile, Ning Junruo looked at the confidential letter in her hand, which not only detailed the process of Miao Shan's arrest.

The letter stated that Miao Shan had personally confessed to using gu poison to create the false illusion of a woman's pregnancy in order to extort wealth.

Once this matter spread, Xiao Yunjie's alleged pregnancy would become a laughingstock.

As Ning Junruo was hesitating over whether to push Xiao Yunjie into the open, a maidservant from the Prince's chambers suddenly delivered a box of water chestnut cakes, asking her to taste them while they were warm.

This was the first time Zhao Shenxing had ever sent someone to bring her something.

Had it been in the past, she certainly would have been ecstatic; now, she merely uttered a faint word of thanks.

The moment the maidservant left, Huaixi happily remarked, "The Prince has finally figured things out and knows to send things to my lady! This is truly an auspicious sign. Why don't we simply settle down here in peace?"

Ning Junruo smiled gently without answering, while quietly calculating in her heart.

Opening the box of water chestnut cakes, several translucent pastries were neatly arranged inside, giving off a tempting fragrance.

Just as she was about to taste one, Nurse Wei suddenly picked one up and began to eat it.

"This taste is actually quite... good."

How could Ning Junruo fail to understand her intentions? At the same time, she was deeply grateful for the nurse's thoughtful consideration.

Although Zhao Shenxing's gesture of goodwill was not so simple, at least for the present, he would not openly make a move against her.

The next day was the day Ning Junruo was scheduled to visit the Mystic Goddess Temple.

Over the years, she had formed a habit: on the first day of every month, she would go to the Mystic Goddess Temple to offer incense and pray for the blessings of her family far away in the capital.

Today, as usual, she arrived at the Mystic Goddess Temple in the western part of the city well before dawn.

The ancient and rustic temple was permeated with the faint scent of incense, and morning light filtered through the gaps in the foliage, spilling onto the bluestone pavement to create an exceptionally tranquil and serene atmosphere.

She familiarly passed through the front hall and walked straight toward the Dust-Free Pavilion in the back courtyard, which was a place she visited every single time.

"Princess consort, you have arrived." An elderly Daoist nun with benevolent and kind features hurried forward to greet Ning Junruo upon seeing her.

"Immortal Qingchen, have you been well recently?" Ning Junruo politely inquired, though a hint of eagerness stirred in her heart. Aside from the routine prayers, she had a more important matter to attend to on this trip.

"All is well. To finally welcome the Princess consort, this poor Daoist feels deeply honored." Immortal Qingchen bowed slightly, a trace of imperceptible profound meaning flashing through her eyes.

"Immortal, I have a favor to ask." Ning Junruo glanced around to confirm that no one else was present, then lowered her voice.

"Please speak, Princess consort."

Qingchen led her into a quiet chamber, furnished simply yet elegantly with only an antique desk and two bamboo chairs.

Once seated, Ning Junruo spoke with a solemn expression, "Now only the final step remains, and I wish to ask the Immortal to help me divine whether this trip to leave the Prince's estate will go smoothly."

"What the Princess consort speaks of involves heavenly secrets. This poor Daoist must cast a Qimen Dunjia chart in order to catch a glimpse of it." Immortal Qingchen's tone was calm, yet it could not mask the solemnity in her eyes.

Immortal Qingchen was well-versed in mountain arts, medicine, fate, and divination, but she rarely cast Qimen Dunjia charts for others. Ning Junruo was exceedingly grateful.

"Success or failure hangs on this single attempt; I sincerely hope the Immortal will speak quite plainly!"

Qingchen nodded slightly, then retrieved an antique scroll and slowly unrolled it. Across the scroll, various Qimen Dunjia charts were drawn like a scattered array of stars.

Ning Junruo held her breath and stared intently as Immortal Qingchen closed her eyes, chanting incantations under her breath, and then extended a finger to point at one particular chart.

"Oh? It is actually a Fuyin chart!"

A soft exclamation broke the silence, and Immortal Qingchen's brows knitted slightly. "Though the Princess consort's journey appears fraught with danger, it actually conceals vitality within. But you must bear in mind: everything originates from the heart; while external assistance is important, your own choices remain the critical key."

Hearing this, a whirlwind of mixed emotions churned within Ning Junruo—filled with both apprehension for the future and a yearning for freedom. "Thank you, Immortal, for your guidance. Junruo will keep it firmly in mind."

"Princess consort, there is one more matter." Immortal Qingchen abruptly shifted the topic. "Recently, this poor Daoist chanced upon a wondrous dream in which the Mystic Goddess instructed that a noble person will appear to assist you. This person possesses a special status and may lend you a helping hand. This dream also harmonizes with this chart. Since success or failure depends on this one move, I must ask the Princess consort to proceed with caution."

Hearing this, a ripple stirred in Ning Junruo's heart. A noble person to assist? Could it be...

Just as her thoughts were racing, a commotion drifted from outside the door, as if a crowd had gathered and was buzzing with discussion.