Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager felt her breath catch in her throat, her ears ring, and her mind go completely blank.

She moved her feet stiffly, then slowly turned around, only to see Emperor Guangqi's sorrowful face.

He, who was originally delirious and unconscious, slowly opened his sharp, eagle-like eyes.

He stood up from the sedan chair with ease, and then, one step, two steps, he walked to the Empress Dowager.

Everyone was stunned.

Today's events were full of twists and turns, leaving everyone's eyes wide open and their mouths agape.

Emperor Guangqi looked at her with slightly red eyes, then closed them briefly: "Mother, you are a spy from the Western Rong, you just want your son's throne, don't you?"

Everyone was even more shocked when they heard Emperor Guangqi's words. The ministers picked at their ears, craned their necks, and opened their mouths even wider.

Good heavens, what is this all about?

Did the Empress Dowager poison His Majesty?

The Empress Dowager is a spy from the Western Rong!

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's blood seemed to boil. Her face flushed red, and she glared angrily at the Emperor, all traces of her previous composure and dignity gone.

"Nonsense! You're talking nonsense!"

"I am your birth mother. I have been a vegetarian and chanted Buddhist scriptures, which attracted the Buddha to appear. How could I possibly harm you!"

The Empress Dowager's eyes were red at this moment. Her gaze swept back and forth between Song Xizhi, the Crown Prince, and the Emperor. Finally, she understood everything!

All of this is a setup by them!

They knew their plan all along, which is why they chose this day! In front of everyone! To deliver the most fatal blow!

It's really not easy! He's kept up the act until now! He's pretended to be a dead or disabled person! He's fooled her completely!

As the Empress Dowager thought of this, her chest heaved violently. She pointed almost hysterically at the imperial physician, Rihua, beside the emperor, and then spoke:

"It's you!"

"It's you!"

"They must have poisoned and manipulated the emperor; he's now completely out of his mind!"

"Guards, tie up the Divine Physician Rihua for me, and take him away along with the Crown Prince and this fake Song Xizhi!"

After the Empress Dowager finished speaking in a hoarse voice, the soldiers on the altar looked at each other in the direction of the Emperor, not daring to make a move.

Emperor Guangqi's expression was tinged with sorrow: "Empress Dowager, this is the last time I will call you Empress Dowager."

"Song Xizhi's appearance proves that the Crown Prince did not murder the ministers, yet you say that Song Xizhi is a fake. I was personally brought out of the palace by you, and now that I am sober, you say that I was manipulated."

"If it weren't for me, if it weren't for Song Xizhi, would you have dared to plot against my empire in front of all the ministers and the people of the land?"

At this moment, the court officials fully understood the Empress Dowager's intentions, and the people of the land were completely speechless.

The Empress Dowager's chest heaved, her fingertips trembled, and her face was deathly pale. She shook her head at the Emperor: "You are my child, my own child! I have become the most honored woman in the world, why would I want to harm you?"

"Your Majesty, who has deceived you?!"

Emperor Guangqi gazed at her intently, his eyes glistening with tears: "Yes, why did you harm me, Mother? I am your own son."

He frowned, speaking softly, seemingly very puzzled.

"Why exactly do you want to be a spy for the Western Rong?"

After he finished speaking, he closed his eyes briefly, and a tear slid down his cheek.

When he opened his eyes again, his voice had become incredibly heavy:

"Guards! Execute the Empress Dowager on the spot! Show no mercy!"

As soon as the emperor uttered these words, countless Imperial Guards who had been lying in wait poured out. Some jumped onto the altar and surrounded everyone, while others began to evacuate the crowd.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's eyes narrowed sharply, and her body swayed slightly. She had never imagined that the Emperor, the one with whom she shared blood, could be so heartless!

"Your Majesty, are you really going to do this?"

The Empress Dowager stared at him sharply.

Emperor Guangqi didn't look at her, but instead slightly opened his mouth and said, "Make your move."

As soon as he said this, the Empress Dowager suddenly raised her hand, and at that moment, countless figures suddenly appeared on the altar.

The people who appeared at this moment were all dressed as martial monks, wearing monk robes and with their heads shaved. Their movements were filled with internal energy.

They were all trained martial artists.

The leader shouted, "The Empress Dowager is the true form of Buddha! His Majesty has been bewitched by treacherous people! Guards, protect the Empress Dowager!"

Upon hearing this, all the monks surrounded the Empress Dowager again, creating a standoff with the Imperial Guards.

All the ministers kneeling on the altar huddled together, shrank their necks, and began to tremble.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Guangqi burst into laughter: "Mother, this is your purpose, isn't it? You've been a vegetarian and a devout Buddhist for over ten years, all for this moment!"

"Your obsession with Master Yuanhui and your efforts to win over officials of the Court of State Ceremonial are all for the purpose of training troops and accumulating weapons in the temples of the capital and even throughout the entire Daqian region!"

Emperor Guangqi shook his head, his heart heavy with sorrow: "So this was your trump card. Just how many people did you scheme to seize my throne?"

"One thousand? Two thousand?"

The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh. Now that she had broken off all pretense with the Emperor, there was no longer any affection between them: "I am merely purging the court of corrupt officials. My influence extends throughout the entire Daqian, and the number of martial monks in the capital is just as many as your Imperial Guards."

The Empress Dowager's eyes were also utterly cold: "Originally, out of consideration for family ties, I didn't intend to treat you like this, but now, you've been too severely bewitched by the Crown Prince. I'm doing this on behalf of Buddha to purge the court of corrupt officials!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager suddenly looked in He Jingyan's direction: "General He, the tiger tally is in your hands, but where are your soldiers?"

He Jingyan then slowly rose from the ground and walked to the Empress Dowager's side. He raised the tiger tally in his hand high and shouted again:

"Someone come here!"

As soon as he said this, countless well-equipped soldiers poured in from the city gate and soon surrounded the entire altar.

The number of monks and soldiers combined far exceeds the number of Imperial Guards at this moment.

At that moment, the head of the guards shouted loudly, "Help His Majesty quell the rebellion and punish the traitors!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor's eyes darkened, and he said, "Very well! Guards! Seize the Empress Dowager!"

But after he finished speaking, the armored soldiers did not move; instead, they pointed their swords at the emperor.

The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened for a moment, and a smug smile appeared on her lips.

The emperor's muscles tensed up instantly.