Chapter 265 Tearing Off the Mask, the Crime of King Murder

Ji Qingwu actually wanted to get away from the conflicts here.

But she couldn't leave.

Ji Qingwu first looked at the lifeless, blurry figure of the man lying on the bright yellow dragon bed, then turned her gaze back to Yuan Heng, who was standing next to Princess Huachang, his dark eyes warily watching everyone around him.

A dark look gradually appeared in her eyes; she had to protect Yuan Heng.

The Empress Dowager asked solemnly, "Eunuch Li, has His Majesty drafted an imperial edict regarding the establishment of an heir apparent?"

Li Yuzong said, "This old servant does not know."

The Empress Dowager nodded: "Even those who serve the Emperor are unaware of this, so it must be true."

"Regarding the matter of establishing an heir, I believe it is necessary to discuss it together with the veteran officials of the previous dynasty."

With tears still wet on her face, Wei Liru said, "Your Majesty, is there anything else that needs to be discussed with the previous dynasty? I think Your Majesty's true intentions are obvious to everyone."

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the golden nanmu wood armrest, her fingernails scraping against the wood with a harsh sound.

She glared at Consort Wei and said, "How dare you be so insolent in front of me!"

If Prince Yong were to succeed to the throne, Consort Wei would certainly suffer the consequences.

Wei Liru glanced at Wei Ting, who was standing silently beside her. Since her brother had the imperial decree to reinstate him to his original position and also held military power, what did she have to fear?

Consort Wei chose to break ties with the Empress Dowager.

She sneered, "The young prince's succession to the throne is a foregone conclusion, an indisputable fact. But for the Empress Dowager to bring up her own son at this time, isn't that a bit too selfish of her?"

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and said, "I am only expressing my opinion from the perspective of the stability of the court because the imperial grandson is still young and it would be too frivolous for a four-year-old child to ascend the throne."

Zhao Minghong was happy to be a carefree prince, but upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, he stood up with a deep frown.

"I did not..."

"Minghong!" The Empress Dowager stopped him in displeasure.

Wei Ting watched their conversation without interrupting, seemingly lost in thought.

Suddenly, a soft yet undeniable voice rang out.

"You all get out."

These words came from behind the Empress Dowager's ear.

It was neither too loud nor too soft; everyone in the hall could hear it.

The Empress Dowager turned her head with a slightly hesitant expression and saw a dark green hem of clothing brush past her.

All eyes turned to Ji Qingwu once again.

Ji Qingwu walked to the center of the hall and said, "The patient needs rest, or is the injury to the heart meridian, which requires quiet recuperation? Are you all planning to have a contest to see who can shout the loudest, trying to sever His Majesty's heart meridian and attempting to assassinate the emperor?"

The moment the words "regicide" were uttered, the hall fell into an eerie silence, and no one dared to utter another word.

Ji Qingwu's statement, made from a doctor's perspective, is not without merit.

However, after the Imperial Medical Academy announced the diagnosis that the medicine was ineffective, everyone was already prepared for the emperor's death and regarded the man lying on the dragon bed as a dying man.

Those who are quick-witted have already started planning for their future.

However, no one can bear the label of regicide.

Ji Qingwu's gaze was cool; she did not favor either side.

"Please move to the side hall and do not disturb His Majesty's peace any further."

Ji Qingwu called to the old man standing to the side, his face full of worry.

"Eunuch Li."

Li Yuzong exchanged a glance with her, immediately understood, and stepped forward to lead the way for them.

"Your Majesty, please go first."

Princess Huachang was the last to stand up from her seat, and she walked to Ji Qingwu's side.

With a slightly hoarse voice, she asked, "Qingwu, is there really no other way?"

Ji Qingwu opened her lips and said softly, "I have done my best."

Princess Huachang lowered her head and said, "I understand."

After calming down a bit, he took her arm and asked again, "And you, Qingwu, whose side are you on?"

The Empress Dowager's intention was clear: she wanted to promote Prince Yong to the throne so that her position as Empress Dowager would be more legitimate and she could thrive in the palace.

Consort Wei was a concubine of Emperor Wusu, and she had no children. If Prince Yong became the new emperor, she would either be buried in the imperial mausoleum or spend the rest of her life in seclusion with a Buddhist lamp. Only by supporting the young prince could she have a way out.

No one wanted what was best for Yuan Heng; they were all acting out of their own selfish motives.

Princess Huachang's armor was embedded in her flesh.

Ji Qingwu could sense that her emotions were churning; in fact, her heart was never at peace.

Before she could speak, her eyes reddened, and her composure vanished completely.

Ji Qingwu said, her voice choked with emotion, "Your Highness, I want to save him."

She didn't want to take sides, because no matter who ascended the throne as the new emperor, the situation facing Beili would be dire.

Yuan Heng is young and needs someone to assist him...

Prince Yong lacked a solid foundation and his ascension to the throne was illegitimate...

The world is about to descend into chaos.

Ji Qingwu had experienced the chaos and devastation of war when he first came here, and now he was going to have to go through it all again.

All she wanted was to save him.

She didn't care who would be the next person to sit on the dragon throne.

The system he carries is a procreation system, which is ironic because it can give birth to his offspring but cannot save his life.

She wanted to protect Yuan Heng.

But given her current status, she has no right to protect him.

Unable to take him away or provide him with support, Ji Qingwu's sense of powerlessness reached its peak.

Princess Huachang placed her hand on her back: "Given the current situation, we need to remain calm."

Ji Qingwu was very clear-headed; she knew that crying was useless.

So from the moment I saw his pale, paper-like face, I didn't shed a single tear.

Ji Qingwu doesn't have many people she can trust right now, so she asked, "Does the Princess have anyone she can trust in the palace?"

Princess Huachang was also a person with nothing to do.

She disliked the filth in the palace, but now that she needed people, she had nothing to rely on.

Seeing the princess's expression, Ji Qingwu understood.

She said, "Princess, please go to the side hall first. I'll stay here."

After Princess Huachang left, the officials outside the door started making an even bigger commotion.

What happened this time?

Ji Qingwu walked to the vermilion gate.

An urgent message came from the post station soldiers: Xijin had sent troops to invade the northern border overnight. Yuchi Lianping led his troops into battle and temporarily suppressed the attack.

The Empress Dowager hurriedly invited the ministers to a side hall to discuss matters.

Ji Qingwu stood at the main entrance, watching these important officials of the court walk towards the side hall.

They all sighed deeply, and some even shed tears, but these tears and sighs could not help her distinguish between loyalty and treachery.

Ji Qingwu walked back into the bedroom, lifted the gauze curtain, and sat down in front of the bed.

With his eyes closed, his features appeared exceptionally harmless and gentle.

His face was as pale as before, and if it weren't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he would have been indistinguishable from a dead man.

Ji Qingwu slowly reached out, took his hand, and grasped his thumb and forefinger.

After Emperor Wusu was assassinated, she dared not trust any of the people around him anymore, and even Li Yuzong, who served by his side, seemed somewhat suspicious to her.

She extended two fingers and touched the inside of his wrist.

Ji Qingwu felt a lump in her throat, and the sour taste made her eyes sting.

This pulse...