Assassinating the late emperor was a capital offense.

The Empress Dowager's heart leaped into her throat.

Subconsciously, I searched for clues in my past memories.

She had two sons in her life, the elder son Yu Jingyuan and the younger son Yu Sijin.

She kept Yu Jingyuan by her side and they were very close.

When Yu Sijin was born, she was implicated and demoted to the rank of concubine because her uncle's family embezzled disaster relief funds, and she also lost the right to raise Sijin.

She could only watch helplessly as the late emperor, in the pouring rain, accused her of being incompetent and immoral, and took away her child.

At that time, the world seemed cold.

Only Yu Jingyuan believed in her; in the vast palace, only the mother and son held each other and cried.

Later, Si Jin was raised by the late emperor.

She hated the late emperor, and soon after, she also began to hate Si Jin, who looked remarkably like him, feeling that Si Jin was a disgrace and a stain on her life.

Even over the years, he has consistently tolerated Yun Mu Nian's deception and Yu Jing Yuan's plot to seize power.

The bond between them as mother and son can never be the same again.

But she killed the late emperor so secretly. Yu Sijin was only twelve years old at the time and was studying in the Eastern Palace. How could she possibly know?

The Empress Dowager couldn't understand it at all. A wave of panic washed over her, and her hands, gripping the chair, trembled uncontrollably. She gritted her teeth and said:

"Your Majesty, as the ruler of a country, how can you be so ignorant of etiquette?"

"You spilled my tea, and instead of kneeling down to apologize, you dare to spout nonsense!"

"Kneel? Hahaha." Si Jin couldn't help but chuckle, as if watching a clown whose conspiracy had been exposed but who was still trying to cover it up.

"General Gu once taught me that a man should stand tall and upright."

You've only ever knelt to heaven and earth, to gods, to your parents, and to your ancestors. What are you to me?

"A beast who condones the persecution of his own son by the entire court of officials dares to bark at me?"

As he spoke, he slowly rose and approached the Empress Dowager step by step.

Every step I took was accompanied by an endless chill.

Those eyes and brows, so strikingly similar to the late emperor's, seemed to be demanding his life on his behalf.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but recall how she had risked assassinating the late Emperor to ensure Yu Jingyuan's early ascension to the throne. But who knew that the late Emperor had left a will beforehand, and it was Yu Sijin who would ascend the throne.

The Empress Dowager became increasingly flustered, and finally even tried to get up and run away:

"Yu Sijin, stay away from me!"

What exactly do you want?!

Let me tell you, I am the Empress Dowager!

She is your biological mother!

"Yes, but all you've taught me over the years is obedience. You just want me to be your dog, a stepping stone for Yu Jingyuan's ascension to the throne!"

Si Jin went to the Empress Dowager's side, grabbed her thin shoulder, and shoved her back into the chair, saying each word slowly and deliberately:

"It was General Gu who taught me how to be a person, and how to be an emperor!"

And you are merely my enemy.

As she finished speaking, Si Jin took out a yellowed piece of paper from her wide sleeve.

With a "whoosh," it was thrown in front of the Empress Dowager.

The soft, old paper, imbued with divine power, became incredibly sharp.

The moment it landed, it cut a deep gash across the Empress Dowager's face.

Blood gushed out, staining her face powder.

The red and white hues fell together onto the emerald green gown.

The Empress Dowager's eyes instantly reddened.

Enraged, she raised her hand, intending to slap Si Jin hard, just like before.

Unfortunately, her hand was grabbed tightly by the boy just as it reached mid-air.

Si Jin gripped her wrist tightly, added divine power, and shattered all the bones in her hand.

Then, amidst the Empress Dowager's piercing screams, she was thrown to the ground, chair and all:

"Your Majesty, please take a good look."

This piece of paper is what you left behind when you made that deal with the assassin.

The document contains detailed evidence of your hiring of a hitman!

This evidence was found by Xiao Yao after reviewing the plot overnight, and there is absolutely no mistake about it.

Si Jin, disgusted by the Empress Dowager's ugly face, looked away from her and continued:

"I hope you can issue an edict of self-reproach."

Tell the whole world that you are not the wise and virtuous woman they admire, but a vicious woman who kills and harms others.

Otherwise, this picture would be made public immediately.

As he spoke, he slowly took out a portrait of a beautiful woman from his wide sleeve.

This is the Empress Dowager's treasured possession.

It was something he had Xiao Yao steal from the bookshelf in the warm pavilion of Cixi Palace.

The painting depicts Yun Munian with her clothes half-undone.

This fully demonstrates why the Empress Dowager valued Yun Munian.

It was because after her husband's death, she craved another man's body.

Yun Munian never expected to see this picture.

His usually calm demeanor changed instantly; he abruptly stood up from his chair and glared angrily at the Empress Dowager.

Why would this old woman draw this kind of picture?

How is he going to explain this to his beloved Jinjin now?!