Chapter 556: Meeting Without Recognition

Chapter 556: Face to Face, Yet Unrecognized

He had once loved her, but compared to the power Empress Dowager Yuan gave him, what were love and women worth?

As for the Jiang family's business, he could find a way to take it over later.

The National Preceptor had everything perfectly planned, even secretly hoping the guards would beat Madam Cao to death.

At the critical moment, Shen Xiangming stood up, kicked away a guard, and helped Madam Cao to her feet.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Yuan angrily said, "Shen Xiangming, are you trying to rebel?"

Shen Xiangming raised his chin to look at her, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This official would not dare. I just think Your Majesty might be killing an innocent person by mistake."

Empress Dowager Yuan sneered coldly, her gaze mocking, "What kind of innocent person is she? Just a lowly merchant's wife. Does she not know her place, daring to come before me and make a scene?"

"My cousin Jiang Yanfan fell off a cliff and died seventeen years ago. This is common knowledge."

"But this Cao Shi, she is so restless, not only coming to the palace to talk nonsense but also ruining the reputation of me and the National Preceptor."

"It would not be excessive to have her beaten to death, let alone chopped into pieces."

Madam Cao looked disheveled, but a cold smile curled at the corners of her mouth. She looked at Empress Dowager Yuan and the National Preceptor and said, "Am I the one talking nonsense, or have you two been sneaking around behind my back, doing unspeakable things?"

"Jiang Yanfan used sorcery to change his face to that of Master Lingxu of Taibai Mountain. Are you comfortable wearing that face?"

National Preceptor: "!!!"

Empress Dowager Yuan: "!!!"

If she had not been sure before that today's events were deliberately arranged, Madam Cao's words made Empress Dowager Yuan completely certain.

This was a carefully orchestrated conspiracy. The person behind it not only wanted to stop her from establishing Yuanchao as Crown Prince but also wanted to ruin her and the National Preceptor, ensuring they could never recover.

Only Jiang Yanfan, Empress Dowager Yuan, and Grand Marshal Yuan knew about the face-changing sorcery. No one else could possibly know.

But the recording, combined with Madam Cao's accurate account, proved the other side had already gathered enough evidence.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Yuan's desire to kill Madam Cao grew even stronger.

At the same time, she also wanted to find out who was behind it all.

This person had managed to investigate so much evidence in such a short time; she could not rest easy without having them killed.

Shaking off her thoughts, Empress Dowager Yuan walked up to Madam Cao, grabbed her chin, and squeezed hard.

"Speak, who sent you to frame me?"

"Tell me, and I'll spare your life."

Madam Cao looked at her with disgust but did not answer her question.

"I know you want to kill me, but there's no such thing as a secret that stays hidden. All your dirty deeds will come to light and drag you straight to hell."

Hearing this, Empress Dowager Yuan flew into a rage and slapped her across the face.

With a sharp "smack," Madam Cao's head snapped to the side, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

But as if she felt no pain, she said coldly, "So today, I didn't come alone. I brought three others with me."

With that, she turned to look at Shen Xiangming, "General Shen, please bring them in."

Empress Dowager Yuan's heart lurched. Her intuition told her that the three people Cao Shi brought could completely expose her relationship with the National Preceptor.

Seeing Shen Xiangming actually about to leave, Empress Dowager Yuan's face darkened, her eyes darkening with fury.

"Shen Xiangming, you dare! Do you believe I will strip you of your general position?"

Shen Xiangming glanced at her, "Do as you wish, Your Majesty."

With that, he left without looking back.

The moment he agreed to help Ji Yuntang and Hua Feixue, he knew there was no going back.

Shen Xiangming also didn't expect to leave the palace alive this time.

He knew this was just the beginning. Once Prince Chengxuan's troops entered the city and the armies clashed, Hua Feixue's bid for power would truly begin.

His job now was to stall for time and stir up internal strife, turning the noble families and court officials completely against Empress Dowager Yuan.

Empress Dowager Yuan shook with fury. Moments later, Shen Xiangming returned with three people.

The three were none other than Madam Cao's son, daughter, and mother-in-law.

Old Madam Jiang, her hair white and leaning on a cane, was helped in by her grandchildren.

It was their first time in the palace, and all three looked nervous. Shen Xiangming told them,

"Don't be afraid. I, General Shen, will protect you."

Jiang Yutong and Jiang Shixu nodded in unison.

Not knowing the purpose of the visit, Old Madam Jiang was still telling her grandchildren, "When you go in to see the Empress Dowager, don't say anything careless, got it?"

Jiang Yutong and Jiang Shixu obediently replied, "Yes, Grandmother."

But no one expected what happened as they neared Qikun Hall. Jiang Shixu's sharp eyes caught sight of his mother being choked by a woman, her face bright red.

At the sight, his eyes turned red. Without a second thought, he charged into the hall and shoved Empress Dowager Yuan aside.

He spread his arms wide, shielding Madam Cao behind him. "You evil woman! Don't you dare bully my mother!"

Jiang Yutong quickly ran in and helped Madam Cao to her feet.

"Mother, are you okay?"

The National Preceptor froze at the sight of them.

He clearly remembered that when he left the Jiang family, his son and daughter were still under a year old.

He never imagined they'd grown so much!

In their features, the National Preceptor could still see echoes of himself.

The daughter had snow-white skin and a graceful figure; the son was strong, sunny, and full of life. Clearly, Madam Cao had raised them well over the years.

The National Preceptor's eyes grew a little red; he couldn't deny being moved.

Old Madam Jiang stumbled in as well. When she realized her grandson had shoved Empress Dowager Yuan, she felt like the sky was caving in!

Old Madam Jiang's legs buckled, and she dropped to her knees, wailing, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It's my daughter-in-law and grandchildren who don't know the rules and offended Your Majesty. I'll discipline them properly once we get home."

"They're the last of my son's blood left in this world. I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of Yanfan being your cousin once, to spare his wife and children. Please don't hold their mistakes against them."

Before Empress Dowager Yuan could speak, Madam Cao had already pointed at Jiang Yanfan.

"Mother-in-law, look closely. Isn't that your son, dead these seventeen years?"

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