Fifteen minutes ago, Xiao Chengci came to visit the Empress Dowager.

The two chatted for a bit, and it seemed like the atmosphere was just right.

Then the Empress Dowager pointed out that Shang Huai now had someone he loved.

She wanted to ask Xiao Chengci for an imperial decree, hoping that he would agree to allow Shang Huai to stay in the capital and get married.

The Empress Dowager wanted to witness Shang Huai's marriage in the capital.

Xiao Chengci refused without hesitation.

The Empress Dowager conceded, hoping that Xiao Chengci would issue an imperial decree to bestow a marriage upon Shang Huai, which would be considered a special honor for him.

Xiao Chengci still refused, and the Empress Dowager took another step back.

The Empress Dowager only hoped that His Majesty would allow Shang Huai's grandparents and father to attend Shang Huai's wedding banquet.

Xiao Chengci still refused.

Xiao Chengci told the Empress Dowager that Shang Huai could not marry the girl he loved, because he, the supreme emperor, also loved that girl.

Without thinking, the Empress Dowager threw a teacup at it.

Xiao Chengci had practiced martial arts; if he wanted to dodge, he could easily dodge by slightly turning his head.

But Xiao Chengci didn't. The teacup smashed against Xiao Chengci's eyebrow, and blood flowed down.

Xiao Chengci nonchalantly picked up the handkerchief handed to him by a palace maid and wiped the blood from his forehead.

The Empress Dowager stood up, pointed at Xiao Chengci, and said angrily, "Is it because you can't stand to see Shang Huai doing well?"

"You like whoever he likes?"

"You're an emperor now, why do you still bother with Shang Huai?"

Xiao Chengci tossed aside his handkerchief. "Mother, when did I ever hold a grudge against Shang Huai?"

"Moreover, I was the one who knew this girl first."

"Your Majesty, you also know this girl. Her name is Pei Zhi."

"Pei Zhi?" the Empress Dowager asked in confusion. "Wasn't she dead?"

"That was just an accident."

"Otherwise, why would Shang Huai tell you so openly that he has a girl he likes?"

The Empress Dowager pursed her lips, seemingly surprised that Shang Huai now liked the same person from back then.

The Empress Dowager was also puzzled as to how the person who had been said to be dead had come back to life.

The Empress Dowager softened her tone, "But that girl personally promised me that she would marry Shang Huai."

The Empress Dowager said gently, "Aci, this time, don't try to take it from Ahuai."

"You are an emperor, what kind of girl can't you have? Why bother competing with Ah Huai?"

The Empress Dowager thought for a moment, then added, "What if the fight goes on to the end and both sides are severely injured?"

"Mother, have you forgotten who your son is?"

"Why are you here advising me to back down? Why don't you advise Shang Huai instead?"

"Tell him not to oppose me, the emperor."

Xiao Chengci said with an imposing expression, "Those who oppose the emperor usually don't have a good ending."

"But Ah Huai is your cousin, you are related by blood, why do you have to make things difficult for him?"

Xiao Chengci seemed to have heard a joke: "Blood relation?"

"Mother, have you forgotten how many people Father Emperor left behind who are related to me by blood?"

"Aren't they closer to me than Shang Huai?"

Xiao Chengci sneered: "I show no mercy when I kill them, let alone Shang Huai?"

"You dare!" The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table. "As long as I am alive, do you dare to touch Shang Huai?"

Xiao Chengci stroked the wound on his head, "Mother, when Father was alive, he also hit my forehead."

"At that time, Father Emperor seemed fine on the surface, but in the end, his eyes reddened."

"My father was an emperor, and in the end, he would instruct me to have the imperial physician treat me."

"Father will also complain to me, why didn't I avoid it, did I do it on purpose to make him feel sorry for me?"

Xiao Chengci's eyes were full of nostalgia. "I still remember."

“After my father smashed the pot for me, his eyes were full of heartache.”

Xiao Chengci questioned, "And what about you, Mother?"

The Empress Dowager was taken aback. "So, that's why you deliberately didn't dodge?"

Xiao Chengci lowered his head and chuckled, then shook his head with a mocking smile.

"Mother, you should live out your days in peace and comfort in the other courtyard."

"From now on, no one may come to visit without my decree."

The Empress Dowager realized what was happening, "You unfilial son, are you planning to imprison me?"

Xiao Chengci retorted, "Mother, you're overthinking it. I did this so that you could live out your remaining years in peace."

"Presumably, no one will disturb the Empress Dowager, and there will be no rumors of my filial impiety."

The Empress Dowager felt inexplicably guilty. "I am your mother. You should respect and honor me."

"In the end, you were spoiled by the late emperor."

Xiao Chengci said sternly, "That's enough."

"You have no right to mention the Emperor."

“If you hadn’t argued with Father Emperor and made him so angry that he vomited blood, Father Emperor would have lived a few more days.”

The Empress Dowager was displeased, saying, "In the end, you still hold a grudge against me."

"Shouldn't I hold a grudge against you?"

Xiao Chengci shouted: "You know perfectly well that Father is seriously ill, yet you still insist on arguing with him."

The Empress Dowager softened her tone: "Don't forget, it was I who gave birth to you."

"Of course I dare not forget."

"That's right, so you can live out your remaining years in the villa until you die."

After Xiao Chengci finished speaking, he got up and left.

"no."

The Empress Dowager wanted to chase after them, but was stopped by the guards.

"Xiao Chengci, you dare to imprison your own mother, you will be punished by heaven."

"A heartless and ungrateful person like you will probably be alone for the rest of your life."

Xiao Chengci ignored all these words.

Once outside the villa, Pei Minxue was waiting.

Upon seeing the wound on Xiao Chengci's head, Pei Minxue immediately said, "I will have the imperial physician come and bandage Your Majesty."

"Go straight back to the palace and summon the Imperial Physician. The wound isn't deep."

On the way back to the palace, Xiao Chengci gave Pei Minxue some instructions.

"In private, investigate the Minister of Personnel and find a pretext to remove him from his post."

"Your humble servant obeys."

Pei Minxue kept his public and private affairs very separate.

Pei Minxue did not need to inquire about the reasons for His Majesty's decree.

All Pei Minxue needed to do was obey the order and find a way to complete it.

Pei Minxue had also heard some things about this Minister of Personnel.

The Minister of Personnel seems to have some private dealings with the Empress Dowager's faction, but not deep, and His Majesty is too lazy to eliminate them completely.

It seems that the Empress Dowager has thoroughly angered His Majesty this time, which is why His Majesty has acted this way.

Pei Zhi spent several days playing at the estate.

It wasn't until Shang Huai received the secret letter that he hurriedly sent Pei Zhi back to the Pei residence and left on his own.

Pei Zhi returned to her residence, rested for a while, and then decided to go out for a stroll.

However, they discovered that there were soldiers guarding outside the mansion.

Madam Pei hurriedly came to persuade him, "Minxue said he's been restless these past few days and told you not to leave the manor."

Pei Zhi hesitated, "Does this mean I shouldn't leave the manor, or that no one should leave?"

Madam Pei smiled and said, "Of course, it's best if everyone stays home."

Pei Zhi pointed to the maids who went out the side door to make purchases, "What are they doing here?"

Madam Pei's smile froze for a moment, and she could only murmur, "It was your brother's idea."