But Zhu Zhi wasn't finished. He crawled on his knees toward the emperor, crying and desperately trying to distance himself from the situation.

“Father, I am also a victim. Ren Yong’an is a habitual offender. As you just heard, the aphrodisiac that my fourth brother was given at the palace banquet a month and a half ago was also given by Ren Yong’an. Please, Father, see the truth. I was really drugged by her and fell into her trap.”

The people in the main hall, who had been thoroughly unaware of what was going on, finally understood.

While Ren Yong'an was flirting with Prince An, Zhu Yu, she also wanted to climb up to the Crown Prince, dreaming of becoming his wife one day.

They glanced at Bu Feizhang discreetly. The current Crown Princess was Bu Feizhang's granddaughter. Unfortunately, the Crown Princess was frail and suffered severe bleeding during childbirth, almost losing both her and her unborn child. She barely survived, and the child was also extremely weak.

The Left Prime Minister's wife felt like she was being pricked by thorns, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

She had thought that as long as her daughter could hold onto the Crown Prince, she could outlive the current Crown Princess. How could something like this have happened?

Fine, just faint.

Then, she also fainted.

Lu Xiaoyun and Zhu Yu exchanged a smile from afar.

The old emperor was so angry that his face was so dark it seemed to drip ink.

The Empress Dowager rubbed her forehead, looking as if she were in great pain.

Princess Ruoling hurriedly stepped forward to support the Empress Dowager, crying out, "Grandmother, what's wrong? Has your headache flared up again? Don't frighten Ruoling, Grandmother."

The old emperor was startled and immediately went to check on her. He saw large beads of sweat rolling down the Empress Dowager's forehead, and it seemed that she had fallen ill again.

The old emperor roared, "Get out of my sight!"

The grand palace banquet ended in such a lackluster manner.

Ren Yushan really didn't want to deal with his shameful daughter, but he couldn't just let her faint in Zhaoyang Palace like that, so he had no choice but to ask two eunuchs to carry her out.

Looking at his wife, who was lying unconscious to the side, he felt the veins on his forehead throbbing. He kicked her and said, "This is all your doing. Get up! You're a disgrace!"

The Left Prime Minister's wife woke up in a panic and followed Ren Yushan out of the palace in a sorry state.

"Mr. Lu, please take a look at the Empress Dowager."

Lu Yuyan hurriedly stepped forward to take the Empress Dowager's pulse.

The Empress Dowager frowned deeply, her face pale; her illness was most aggravated by any stimulation.

Zhu Zhi remained kneeling below, tears and snot streaming down his face. Had he said something wrong?

However, his first time with Ren Yong'an was indeed orchestrated by her. Although she didn't use any dirty drugs, the two of them were in the room, and the woman, charming and alluring, couldn't control her emotions, so they naturally ended up on the bed.

"Father, I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong, Father..."

Looking at the crown prince like this, the old emperor felt like his skull was about to burst into flames. He must have been out of his mind to appoint such a thing as crown prince.

Everyone has left, and instead of showing concern for the Empress Dowager's condition, they keep making a racket.

The old emperor, too lazy to pay attention, asked Lu Yuyan, "How is the Empress Dowager? Is she feeling unwell?"

Lu Yuyan: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has suffered a stroke due to her anxiety. I need to administer acupuncture to her immediately."

The old emperor helped the empress dowager to her feet: "Mother, let me help you back to Cisui Palace and have Minister Lu examine you."

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes slightly, leaning half her body against the old emperor, and nodded.

The old emperor could hardly bear the Empress Dowager's full weight pressing down on him; he was already over fifty years old.

Upon seeing this, Lu Xiaoyun hurriedly stepped forward and took the Empress Dowager from the old emperor's hands: "Father, your son will help the Empress Dowager return to Cisui Palace."

The old emperor glanced at Lu Xiaoyun and nodded.

Several people helped the Empress Dowager walk towards Cisui Palace.

"Father, Father, I was wrong, I was wrong, Father..." Zhu Zhi crawled to the old emperor's feet, grabbed the old emperor's leg and cried out.

The old emperor's temples throbbed. Looking at the crown prince, who showed no sense of responsibility whatsoever, how could he entrust the entire Zhou dynasty to him?

"You know you're wrong? Then tell me, where did you go wrong?"

Zhu Zhi's tears and snot smeared all over the old emperor's robes: "It was my lack of self-control. I was bewitched by that vile woman, Ren Yong'an, and fell into her trap. I was wrong, Father, I truly know I was wrong..."

The old emperor, panting heavily, kicked Zhu Zhi to the ground: "I see you still don't know where you went wrong. You'd better kneel here and reflect on your mistakes!"

"Father, Father..."

The old emperor was so angry he was about to vomit blood: "Kneel here and reflect on your actions. If you can't figure it out, don't get up!"

The old emperor turned and left.

As soon as he stepped out of the main hall, Zhang Zhongwei whispered, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhenguo is waiting for you in the Imperial Study."

The old emperor wearily pressed his temples: "Go to the Imperial Study."

Lu Xiaoyun, Zhu Yu, and others accompanied the Empress Dowager into Cisui Palace. Half an hour later, Lu Yuyan finally finished the acupuncture.

Princess Ruoling asked, choking back tears, "Mr. Lu, how is the Empress Dowager?"

Lu Yuyan breathed a long sigh of relief: "It's all alright now. Luckily I was there today, otherwise it could have been a real disaster."

After the Empress Dowager went to sleep, Lu Yuyan gave Ruoling a few instructions, and then the group left the palace without lingering any longer.

Zhu Yu asked Lu Yuyan, "How did you find out that Ren Yong'an was pregnant?"

Lu Yuyan raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly, "I noticed that she looked unwell as soon as I entered the palace, so I deliberately approached her, took her hand, and put it on her pulse to find out."

Zhu Yu sneered: "Those who reap what they sow will not live."

He then asked Lu Xiaoyun, "Did you do something?"

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