He was born as a prince and received royal education. He cut off all emotions and love and put the welfare of the people of the world first.

As a member of the royal family, it is his responsibility to marry, take concubines and have children.

He is destined to be unable to be sentimental and to treat everyone equally without favoring anyone.

But he gave his wife the greatest dignity and rights as a mistress, gave his concubines gold, silver and jewelry, and gave honors and favors to women who gave birth to children.

It's like a deal, a deal that both parties accepted in advance.

It would be a joke to ask the prince to stay with one person for the rest of his life.

The Queen knew her mission from the very beginning, to be the mother of the country and to bring glory to her family.

But as she looked at the young and promising handsome man day by day, her heart gradually fell in love with him.

Once you fall in love, you lose your composure, worry about gains and losses, become jealous, resentful, and sad. You even want to monopolize this man.

Gradually it became unrecognizable.

Since there is no love, then we need rights, we must get something.

Her mind raced as she kept making excuses, "Your Majesty, I can guarantee the loyalty of my family. They are from the royal family and are on the same boat with you. There is no reason for them to collude with Xiao Xiteng to betray the court and you."

The emperor's expression was slightly cold. "Li Nianxi, the daughter-in-law of Duke Cheng'en, is also of the bloodline of the previous dynasty. She was arranged by the deposed Queen Mother to be a pawn in Duke Cheng'en's Mansion."

With such a handle, it was natural for King Jin to use it.

It has to be said that the deposed queen mother, who had been immersed in the deep palace for many years, had good means and had made several preparations in advance.

Even if she died, there were still hidden dangers left.

The queen was shocked as if struck by a bolt from the blue, and her vision went dark. He actually knew it!

Looking at her expression, what else does the emperor not understand? His mood became heavier and heavier, "Look, this is my good queen. She has to protect her family even if it harms the interests of the royal family. She is unworthy of being a queen."

The last sentence completely hit the queen's soft spot. Her legs went weak and she fell to her knees and cried.

"Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation. I just found out about this as well. I struggled for a long time and wanted to confess it these days, but I didn't expect the Queen Mother to fall into a coma. I didn't have time to tell her..."

The emperor doesn't want to hear this nonsense. The queen mother and General Du are in danger.

"Hand over the antidote. If anything happens to the Queen Mother and Commander Du, everyone in the Cheng'en Mansion will be buried with them."

The queen's expression froze, "There is no antidote."

The emperor had completely lost his patience. He had done his best. "Pass the order down. Kill all 411 people in the Cheng'en Mansion. Don't spare any of them."

Wei Shaohui came out from the darkness, knelt down and replied, "Yes."

The queen was terrified and her heart was about to burst. "No, Your Majesty, please have mercy. For the sake of the little princess, please spare the people in the Cheng'en Mansion."

It would have been fine if she hadn't said this, but the emperor got even angrier after hearing this. "The Queen Mother has raised the little princess. If you had cared about the little princess, you wouldn't have done anything to hurt the Queen Mother. Now that something has happened, you think of using this as a shield? You are really unworthy of being a mother."

He originally took into consideration the relationship between husband and wife and only punished her. Afterwards, the palace affairs were divided into three parts to prevent the queen's family from having the sole power.

The queen was like being slapped hard in the face. She was angry and anxious, "It wasn't me. I really know nothing about it."

Well, she is still not honest even now. The emperor is very disappointed in her. "Commander Wei, start with Duke Cheng'en's most beloved grandson. Hurry up."

"Yes." Wei Shaohui turned and walked away.

The queen was so anxious that she blocked Wei Shaohui's way out of control. "No, no, no, no, no, Your Majesty, you are a benevolent and wise ruler. How can you commit such a brutal act of slaughtering an entire family?"

She was really out of her mind and dared to say anything.

Wei Shaohui shook his head in his heart. The Queen was finished, and the Cheng'en Mansion was finished too.

In fact, if you confess to the emperor from the beginning, the emperor will at most punish you, but it will not cause any actual harm.

However, they deliberately concealed the truth, made one mistake after another, and committed an unforgivable crime.

The emperor's eyes were as cold as snow. "The Cheng'en Mansion sold out intelligence, causing the deaths of countless innocent people. I will seek justice for them."

His voice was full of murderous intent. The Queen had been married to him for many years, so she naturally knew that he really intended to kill her.

Her heart sank into the cold snow and she gritted her teeth, "There is an antidote, but only one."

The emperor's eyes became even colder. "One? Did you do it on purpose?"

The queen lowered her eyebrows and said, "No, there is really only one. I can take it out, but you must let Cheng En Mansion go."

Well, after all this time, she found the antidote.

Who would believe if she said she had no involvement?

The emperor was extremely angry. This was the person who was sleeping beside him. She had been pretending so well all these years.

"One antidote, stripping the title and executing all males. Two antidotes, executing all adult males, and allowing female relatives and underage males to return home."

This was not what the Queen wanted. She wanted everyone to get out of this unscathed. "The others are innocent..."

The emperor sneered, "Those dead civilians are even more innocent. You have no right to bargain. Either die or take the antidote."

In the queen’s mind, those untouchables could die at will, and the lives of the people in Cheng’en Mansion were not as important.

But no one cares what she thinks.

Finally, she took out an antidote, and even threatened the lives of all the men, there was only one, and that was indeed the case.

In the Cining Palace, all the imperial doctors were guarding here. They hadn't slept for two days and two nights, and their eyes were red from staying up all night.

They looked haggard and in a very miserable state, and their days were like years.

Tomorrow will be the third day. If I don’t wake up, then…

A voice came from outside, "The Emperor has arrived."

The imperial doctors looked at each other, their faces tense, their foreheads covered in sweat, and they dared not see the emperor.

But, we still have to go forward to welcome him.

The emperor walked in quickly, looked at the Queen Mother and General Du by the bed, and asked a few questions with concern.

The doctor's heart was in his throat and he held his breath nervously, fearing that the emperor would throw them out and chop them to pieces in a rage.

Fortunately, the emperor took out a jade bottle and said, "This is said to be the antidote. There is only one. Study it carefully and make a few identical ones as soon as possible."

The imperial doctors were surprised and delighted. There was actually an antidote. That was great.

But, why only one?

"Your Majesty, we cannot guarantee that the dosage will be wrong by a hair's breadth." Note (1)

The emperor did not accept this argument, "You are all top doctors, I believe in you."

The imperial doctors don't believe in themselves, but there's nothing they can do about it.

The doctor carefully scraped off a little bit of powder, and everyone gathered together to study it.

Time passed little by little and the sky gradually brightened.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Oh no! The Queen Mother's condition has worsened."

Another voice also sounded, "Du Shuai has also deteriorated."

Everyone's expression changed. The doctor quickly picked up the antidote, but after taking a few steps, he froze.

"Your Majesty, who is the only one to eat?"

Whether it was the Queen Mother or General Du, they were people he could not afford to offend.

It's not his turn to make the decision.

The emperor looked gloomy. He looked at this and that, struggling internally. Finally, he closed his eyes and said, "Give it to the empress dowager first."

"Yes." The chief physician personally gave the empress dowager the medicine, and the various symptoms gradually stabilized. However, Du Shuai was not doing well. His complexion became worse and worse, his breath was weak, and his eyes turned white.

The emperor was furious and anxious, "How come you can't even make an antidote? You are useless, useless."

The imperial doctors all knelt down, unable to speak out their grievances. The antidote needed to be deciphered, and the various medicinal materials and dosages had to be analyzed. Even a small mistake would not do.

How could they have such a short time? They are not gods.

At this moment, the chief eunuch rushed in and said, "Your Majesty, this is from Princess Qingping. It is urgent."

The emperor's face changed. What happened?

He took the brocade box, removed the seal, and opened it. He saw a pill emitting a fragrant aroma and a letter attached.

The emperor was moved and hurriedly opened the letter. It was written by Mu Wanqing: This is a detoxification pill that I accidentally got many years ago. It is said to be able to cure all poisons. There is only one pill. I have not tried it and I don't know if it works. You make the decision, I will not take any responsibility.

This is Mu Wanqing's style, simple and clear, but a little doggy.

Although, taking out an antidote pill at this time makes people think too much.

But this irresponsible tone made the emperor laugh and cry. Mu Wanqing was really a person that people both loved and hated.

A panicked voice came from my ear, "Your Majesty, Commander Du is dying."

The emperor didn't have time to think about it. He took a deep breath and handed the pill over, "Feed this to him."

The doctor subconsciously sniffed it. This smell... "What kind of medicine is this?"

He wanted to ask more, but Du Shuai's body began to twitch and foam came out of his mouth.

Everyone was frantic, "Hurry up!"

The doctor dissolved the medicine in water and fed it to Du Shuai. Since he couldn't swallow it, he pinched a point on his body and let it go in naturally.

They have done everything they can, and now they can only leave it to fate.

Everyone was waiting, and time seemed to be passing very slowly.

After an unknown amount of time, "The Queen Mother's eyelids moved. They moved."

The emperor rushed over hastily, "Mother."

The Queen Mother opened her eyes with difficulty, then closed them, and opened them again. After several attempts, her eyes finally focused, "My son."

The voice was extremely hoarse and so weak that it was almost inaudible.

But the emperor's eyes were red with excitement, "Great, mother, you finally woke up."

Although the Queen Mother has woken up, her vitality has been damaged and her longevity is in danger. If she takes good care of herself, she can still live for another four or five years.

After hearing this, the emperor emanated a chill that frightened the people around him.

Du Shuai has not woken up, but his condition has not continued to deteriorate. As to whether he can survive this, it depends on God's will.

The emperor asked half of the imperial doctors to go back and rest, and left the other half to continue guarding.

Returning to the Yangxin Palace, the emperor sat there blankly for a long time, "Call Princess Qingping to the palace."

Half an hour later, Mu Wanqing arrived and the first thing she asked was, "Your Majesty, how are the Queen Mother and Commander Du?"

The emperor looked at her intently. She didn't look well, with dark circles under her eyes, and it seemed that she didn't sleep well.

He felt inexplicably comforted, "The Queen Mother has woken up, but Commander Du is still in a coma and is not out of danger."

Mu Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad that he was not dead. She had not slept well all night for fear of hearing the news of his death. "Congratulations, Your Majesty."

Apart from these four words, she didn't know what to say.

Mu Wanqing touched her rumbling stomach and said, "Your Majesty, have you eaten yet? I haven't had breakfast yet. Can I have a bowl of dragon beard noodles? The noodles should be thin, with a spoonful of meat sauce and a fried golden egg."

The emperor's complicated thoughts were scattered, and he rubbed his brows, "Come here, serve the meal."

A plate of donkey meat hot pot, a plate of braised beef in soy sauce, a plate of pickles, millet porridge, and small wontons. This is the emperor's breakfast. He is really simple.

Mu Wanqing got a bowl of fragrant dragon beard noodles, half a bowl of meat sauce, a golden poached egg on the noodles, and sprinkled with chopped green onions.

She slurped the noodles in big mouthfuls and enjoyed them so much.

The emperor looked at her several times, but she was completely unaware. He couldn't help but order one portion as well and eat it first.

He had no appetite for the past two days, but seeing how deliciously she ate, he suddenly regained his appetite.

After a bowl of hot noodle soup, a bowl of millet porridge, and four small wontons, I felt much better after being full.

Mu Wanqing also asked for fruit after the meal, not at all shy, because she knew where the emperor's bottom line was.

He is very tolerant of such trivial matters.

"Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Your pill..." The emperor felt complicated.

Mu Wanqing pursed her lips. To be honest, she had been struggling internally these past few days.

This detoxification pill was given to her by Wei Shaohui. There was only one pill, and it was originally kept just in case.

Besides, she hasn't used it, so she can't say for sure.

If you take it out rashly, who will take it? If it doesn't work, whose fault is it?

"I have been hesitating whether it is worth taking such a big risk. In the end, I just want to have a clear conscience, even though I feel a little sad."

It was quite touching, but she added with a smile, "Of course, you are the one who makes the decision, and the consequences have nothing to do with me."

emperor:……

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Note (1) From "Da Dai Li Ji. Bao Fu"