Chapter 262 Encounter

"Please, imperial physicians, continue to treat His Majesty." The head of the secret guards suddenly clasped his hands in a salute to the kneeling imperial physicians.

With so many secret guards here, the imperial physicians were trembling with fear.

They didn't even bother to look at Empress Xu and the Crown Prince anymore. They shakily got up and squeezed around Emperor Xiao Jing's bedside.

"We are the secret guards of the Emperor of Dayu, and we only obey the Emperor's orders."

Your Highness, wait until you ascend the throne before giving us your orders.

"At that time, I will obey your orders without question!" the head of the secret guards said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

The people in the Empress's palace...

Doesn't this mean His Majesty hasn't passed away yet?

If you, the crown prince, want to put on airs, wait a bit...

"The commander is right. The most important thing now is to treat His Majesty."

"As for other matters, we'll discuss them after His Majesty recovers," Empress Xu said hastily.

The current situation is very unfavorable for them.

The Imperial Guards have turned against us, and now the only force in the capital capable of opposing them is His Majesty's secret guards.

Although Empress Xu held a stable position as empress, she knew very little about Emperor Xiao Jing's secret guards.

The only person in the entire palace who had ever seen the secret guards was the Seventh Prince.

It was because the Seventh Prince frequently ran out of the palace that Emperor Xiao Jing was worried, so he arranged for two secret guards to follow the Seventh Prince.

Empress Xu was unaware of the orders Emperor Xiao Jing had given to these secret guards.

But the most important thing now is to bring the Imperial Guards and the Empress Dowager and their ilk under control...

As the noise and footsteps outside grew louder, everyone in Empress Xu's palace held their breath.

Empress Dowager Zheng was dressed in court attire, as was the Duke of Anguo beside her.

In addition, following closely behind the Empress Dowager was a nanny holding the Eighth Prince in her arms.

This scene made the high-ranking officials nervous.

No matter how you look at it, it looks like the Empress Dowager is forcing the emperor to abdicate!

The imperial guards protecting Zheng Taihou were the palace's imperial guards.

Seeing that the first batch of imperial guards had already reached the Empress's palace gates, the commander of the secret guards sneered and waved his hand.

Dozens of elusive guards, each wielding a curved blade, instantly decapitated the imperial guards charging towards the palace gates...

In that instant, dozens of imperial guards lost their lives.

This sudden reversal brought the Imperial Guards, who had originally intended to charge forward, to a halt.

Everyone was taken aback by this sudden turn of events.

"His Majesty is still receiving treatment inside. Anyone who dares to approach will be killed without mercy!" the commander of the secret guards said slowly.

Empress Dowager Zheng and Duke Anguo narrowed their eyes and looked at the commander of the secret guards.

Seeing that the other party showed no fear and simply stared back at them, they knew this was a big problem.

Empress Dowager Zheng immediately spotted Consort Die lying on the ground in the Empress's palace, barely breathing.

Empress Dowager Zheng cursed inwardly, "You vile woman, you've ruined my grand plan..."

She truly didn't know that Consort Die had poisoned Emperor Xiao Jing's tea while he was visiting her.

It was unprecedented in the Great Yu Dynasty for a concubine to poison the emperor.

The reason why imperial concubines were chosen from the families of various nobles was because imperial concubines could not do such things.

If someone were to actually do it, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family...

That damned Consort Die, she ruined all her plans with the Duke of Anguo's mansion...

If I hadn't prepared in advance, I would be a fish on the chopping block right now...

"I have come to see the Emperor."

Since all the ministers are here, I would like to ask the Empress: what is the reason for locking the palace gates without cause?

Also, what exactly happened to His Majesty?

"Why would the Empress and the Crown Prince poison the Emperor?" Empress Dowager Zheng asked sternly.

Everyone in the Queen's palace...

Is this some kind of distortion of the truth?

Isn't it obvious?

As expected of the Empress Dowager, she even lies with such righteous indignation.

"What is the Empress Dowager saying? It's not that whoever brings more people is right."

Why would I poison His Majesty?

Your Majesty, I have another question for you: Did you send your grandniece into the palace just for this day?

She claimed to be chronically ill and tricked the Emperor into visiting her, then used the opportunity to poison his tea.

Your Majesty, did you instigate Consort Die to do this? Or was she acting on the orders of the Duke of Anguo's mansion?

Where did Butterfly Queen's poison come from?

All the ministers were here just now, and they all heard it with their own ears—that Consort Die herself said that she had poisoned His Majesty.

Your Majesty, you should know what a terrible crime it is that a woman from the Zheng family poisoned the Emperor!

"Their entire family should be executed!" Empress Xu's imposing manner was in no way inferior to that of Empress Dowager Zheng.

Empress Dowager Zheng laughed heartily, then looked at Empress Xu with a cold smile.

"The Empress always likes to strike first; she can never get rid of this habit of blaming others!"

Has Consort Die admitted it?

Your Majesty, how can anyone believe what Consort Die, a woman who was raised in luxury, said after you subjected her to such severe torture?

Isn't this a case of forcing a confession through torture?

Butterfly has always been timid; would she poison the emperor? How could that be possible!

It was clearly the Empress who conspired with the Crown Prince to poison the Emperor.

They then framed Consort Die for the whole affair.

Such wolfish ambitions are intolerable to Heaven and Earth.

Empress Xu almost laughed in anger after the Empress Dowager finished speaking.

This old woman is still twisting the truth as she always has...

"Empress Dowager, you can't just say whatever you want! Everyone has eyes."

To plot against the emperor or to instigate a mutiny within the imperial guards—which of these is not a grave crime?

"Empress Dowager, you should think about how to explain this to the late Emperor!" Empress Xu continued to retort.

Empress Dowager Zheng didn't care what Empress Xu said.

"Your Majesty, you always blurt out whatever comes to mind."

I don't need to explain myself to anyone.

The Empress needs to explain properly; the Emperor hasn't left yet!

Why did you summon all these important officials to the palace?

Not only that, you also closed the palace gates and placed all the concubines under house arrest.

Are you trying to force me to resign?

And what about Wu Youde, the emperor's personal eunuch?

"Where is that old codger?" Empress Dowager Zheng asked sternly.

Empress Xu was startled.

Yes! Where is that Grand Eunuch Wu Youde? He was here when His Majesty fainted!

How did it suddenly disappear?

Empress Xu was also starting to panic.

The high-ranking officials also began to whisper among themselves.

Yes, where is the Grand Eunuch Wu Youde? Even if the Emperor is unconscious, as the Grand Eunuch, he should still be here!

Where did Wu Youde go?

Empress Dowager Zheng looked at Empress Xu with a smug expression.

"Speak! Your Majesty, did you kill Wu Youde?"

Or is it you who got Wu Youde to poison him?

"The emperor's actions were actually a result of your conspiracy!"