They seemed deeply moved by the plaintive atmosphere of sorrow.

It trembled slightly at first, and then slowly and reluctantly disappeared behind the layers of thick, inky clouds.

Like a fairy who couldn't bear to witness human tragedy, she chose to quietly avoid it, unwilling to let her cold, clear light shine on this land that was already immersed in endless suffering.

Half an hour passed silently in this almost suffocating atmosphere of sorrow, each second seemingly stretched to its limit, filled with torment.

The Emperor was deeply mired in this quagmire of sorrow as heavy as lead, and the intense pain in his heart was like a surging undercurrent, constantly assaulting his rational and emotional defenses.

However, as the ruler of a country, he knew he bore the heavy responsibility of the entire nation and could not allow himself to be completely consumed by grief at this moment.

So he clenched his teeth, his face contorted slightly from the effort to endure, and with extraordinary willpower, he forcibly suppressed his emotions that were on the verge of collapse.

He slowly raised his head, his once sharp eyes now replaced by sorrow and weariness.

Her gaze was somewhat vacant and confused as she looked at the four people who had been standing quietly to the side: Qin Qianluo, Su Jinyun, Yu Ji, and Pei Yanci.

In that initial, fleeting moment, a thought of doubt, like the cunning whisper of a devil, quietly took root in his heart.

He couldn't help but wonder if Qin Qianluo and her group harbored ulterior motives and had secretly plotted a shocking conspiracy to murder the Crown Prince.

In order to realize his wolfish ambition of seizing power, he orchestrated this heartbreaking and nightmarish upheaval.

However, the thought only flashed through his mind like a shooting star.

Like a fragile bubble, it was quickly dispelled by his own keen insight into the situation and deep understanding of the people.

Putting everything else aside for now, let's just talk about Qin Qianluo, with the profound influence she has accumulated in the court and among the common people.

If she truly coveted the supreme throne, which symbolized unparalleled power, and desired to ascend to the throne of the most honored ruler...

There is absolutely no need to go to such lengths and rack one's brains to plan and implement this series of complex plans.

Today, half of the officials in the imperial court are the poor scholars whom Qin Qianluo generously helped with her out of compassion.

These people, who were in dire straits, were deeply grateful to Qin Qianluo for her timely help and recognition. They regarded her as their benefactor and remained loyal to her.

They all knew that without the generous help of King Jinrui Zhao back then, they would not have achieved their current success.

If Qin Qianluo wanted to ascend the throne, she only needed to calmly and confidently take that step and sit firmly on the throne.

The court and its officials will surely be obedient, and all the ministers will bow down and submit, without any dissenting voices.

Moreover, Qin Qianluo has always been a philanthropist, helping those in need and supporting the poor.

Whether it was setting up soup kitchens to relieve disaster victims or sponsoring students' education, her reputation for good deeds has spread far and wide.

The people's admiration for her was like a surging river, never-ending.

If she truly intended to become empress, the people would gladly accept it, regarding her as the rightful monarch, and might even cheer and support her ascension to the throne.

Furthermore, if the four of them truly harbored treacherous ambitions and harbored sinister thoughts of rebellion and usurpation...

Su Jinyun would never have taken such a huge risk, disregarding her own safety, to send him a message, telling him in detail about all the changes that had occurred in the capital.

Su Jinyun has always been cautious in her actions. If she had any rebellious intentions, why would she expose her own weaknesses and take the initiative to reveal the information to him?

Thinking of this, the emperor slightly turned his stiff neck, his movements slow and heavy, his eyes full of pity and helplessness.

He glanced at the Empress and the Second Princess, who were still immersed in the abyss of grief, crying their hearts out and nearly fainting.

Then he took a deep breath, trying to calm his body, which was trembling with grief.

He tried to calm his hoarse, rough voice, which sounded like sandpaper being rubbed, caused by excessive grief.

Finally, with a hoarse, low, and weary voice, as if bearing the pain and helplessness of the entire world, he slowly said to Qin Qianluo and the others, "Follow me."

The voice seemed to come from the distant Netherworld, carrying a sense of weariness and heaviness after experiencing countless vicissitudes.

In the almost deathly silent imperial study, the echoes lingered, lingering like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of everyone present.