Zhao Bi regarded Zhao Shu as a thorn in his side, not for any other reason than that Zhao Shu always opposed him and ruined his plans.

However, Zhao Shu has a powerful backer, so he absolutely dares not do anything to her at this time. Even if he hates her, he must pretend to be magnanimous and try to be lenient with her.

After all, he wanted to be an emperor, not a bandit.

Upon hearing this, he said in a very gentlemanly manner, "Sister A-Jun, please feel free to ask any questions you may have. Your fourth brother will answer them to the best of his ability."

He tried his best to appear as a good older brother so that Zhao Shu would believe that once he became emperor, he would trust her as much as the crown prince.

Zhao Shu and Sun Yun exchanged a glance, and Zhao Shu asked, "Fourth Brother, how did the Tenth Prince die? Was the evidence in the case of Consort Ning switching the princes truly irrefutable?"

"Zhao Shu, your fourth brother treats you like his own sister, yet you stab him in the back. Your fourth brother is also human and can be hurt. If he is hurt, don't blame him for not showing brotherly affection!" Zhao Bi threatened Zhao Shu with a cold face.

To put it bluntly, when I'm willing to support you, you are a noble princess; when I'm not willing to support you, what difference is there between you and a commoner?

No, what difference is there between them and the dead?

Before Zhao Shu and the others could speak, Yi De interrupted, sneering, "Bi'er, haven't you seen clearly yet? Even if you become emperor, these people will not submit to you. Why bother to embarrass yourself? Go tell your father to write an imperial edict quickly."

She had just been worried that Zhao Shu and the others were only pretending to flatter her, which would leave them with no excuse to detain her. As long as Zhao Bi was wary and angry, Zhao Shu would never be able to leave the palace.

Zhao Bi knew what was important. He set aside the matter of Zhao Shu and turned to Emperor Mingde. He stepped forward and personally added ink for Emperor Mingde. "Father, please write. Your son will govern the country well. Rest assured. I am not boasting, but I believe I am more capable than my eldest brother and more decisive than my seventh brother. I am the most suitable candidate. Why is Father still hesitating?"

As the eldest brother, Zhao Xiu was immediately furious to hear his younger brother belittle him like this. Ignoring Yang Zhong's warning, he rushed up to Zhao Bi, pointed at Zhao Bi's nose, and said, "Fourth brother, your coercion of Father is treason, a crime punishable by immediate execution. Besides, in what way is eldest brother inferior to you? Since ancient times, the eldest son has been the heir apparent. Seventh brother relinquished the position of crown prince, so Father should make me the heir apparent. How could it be your turn!"

“Brother Emperor,” Zhao Bi changed his tone, “You committed a treasonous coup and forced the emperor to abdicate. I, your fourth brother, was merely purging corrupt officials from the court, nothing more.”

Zhao Xiu didn't understand the implied meaning, but he understood the literal meaning. He angrily pointed at Zhao Bi and said, "Zhao Bi, what do you mean? Are you framing me? Father, look at the fourth prince, he's trying to frame me. Father, you must do justice for your son!"

Seeing that Zhao Xiu was incapable of succeeding, everyone sighed and shook their heads. Zhao Bi, however, smiled, waved his hand to summon the guards, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, you have brought outside troops into the palace without permission, which is tantamount to treason. You have forced Father to make you the heir apparent and staged a coup. You cannot escape any of these accusations. Guards, take this traitor away!"

Zhao Xiu had finally realized that Zhao Bi was blatantly distorting the truth. He wanted Zhao Bi to bear the infamy while he would achieve merit in serving the king, thus becoming the crown prince and waiting to ascend the throne!

Yang Zhong knew the power of the matchlock gun, and he had already instructed the royal guards not to act rashly. At this moment, Zhao Bi's men slowly surrounded Zhao Xiu, and no one spoke up for him.

Just then, Consort De, who had gathered a group of concubines in the palace to cheer her on, arrived. As soon as she stepped inside, she saw her son surrounded by the Imperial Guards.

Suddenly, her mind went blank, and her smug expression turned to terror. She knelt down before Emperor Mingde with a thud. "Your Majesty, please have mercy! Xiu'er was confused for a moment. He would never dare to disobey you. Your Majesty, please forgive Xiu'er. Your Majesty, please forgive him this once, considering his filial piety and obedience over the years."

Consort De cried miserably, and her wailing annoyed Emperor Mingde. But even more so than his annoyance, Zhao Xiu thought his mother was dumber than a pig. She only saw the Imperial Guards but didn't see that they had changed masters!

Seeing this scene, the concubines in the harem dared not speak. They had only come to flatter Consort De. Now that Consort De had lost power and Zhao Xiu was surrounded by the Imperial Guards, they immediately changed their tune and knelt on the ground one by one. "Your Majesty, your family has sent you a pill. It is said to be a sacred medicine from the Western Regions. We have come here to present it to Your Majesty."

The concubines were all seasoned veterans of the palace, so they naturally knew how to distance themselves from Consort De. With just a few words, they made it clear that their purpose in coming here was to offer medicine and visit her.

Emperor Mingde ignored it. The coup attempt made him see everyone's true colors; he had truly been abandoned by all.

He thought he would never experience that heart-wrenching feeling again in his life, but unexpectedly, he was hurt twice by the same person.

When she faked her death, he believed it was real and was devastated. Now that she has come back to life, she is leading her son to force him to resign, causing him to experience heartbreak once again.

He didn't understand women's hearts, he never did. He asked himself, "I've already given her everything to pamper her, what more does she want from me?"

“Your Majesties, please return. Your Majesty still has state affairs to attend to,” Zhao Bi said.

No one spoke; everyone held their breath. Even Zhao Shu and the others didn't intend to interrupt. It seemed that Zhao Bi's actions were none of their concern, or perhaps they were too afraid to intervene.

The concubines dared not utter a word and fled in panic. Only then did Consort De realize what was happening. She raised her tear-streaked face and looked at Consort Yi, "You, it's you!" She didn't know how to describe the suspicion in her heart.

She simply couldn't believe that the Imperial Guards had been bribed. She had tried to bribe the Imperial Guards herself, but she had failed. She never expected that Yi De and Zhao Bi could do it.

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