Just as Su Muyao finished agreeing, she heard wailing coming from afar.

"Mother, you must stand up for me! Waaah... I heard from the maid that the Emperor was unconscious, so I came here to take care of him."

Unexpectedly, my father-in-law not only blocked the door and prevented me from entering, but also ordered the guards to hold a knife to my neck.

"I am a concubine of the highest rank, yet I have been bullied to this extent by a mere eunuch."

The Empress Dowager was extremely annoyed by the incessant chatter of the Imperial Concubine, and she still didn't know how the Emperor was doing. The woman in front of her was wailing like she was at a funeral.

But now is not the time to argue with her.

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived! Her Imperial Concubine has arrived!" the eunuch with the cunning voice shouted at the door.

The Empress hurriedly went to the door to greet him, while the Emperor lay back down on the bed.

Su Muyao looked curiously at the door, and the next second an old woman wearing a yellow phoenix hairpin and a bright yellow wide-sleeved shawl slowly walked in.

Looking at his age, which was probably close to 60, he quickly walked over to the emperor lying on the bed.

My dear son!

The emperor, moved by the weeping, truly believed he was dying and could no longer lie down. He hurriedly tried to sit up, and the empress went to help him.

The imperial concubine frowned. It seemed the poison wasn't as potent as claimed; at least the person was still conscious.

"Your Majesty, you must do me justice! Your Eunuch De is preventing me from entering."

As she spoke, she looked at the Emperor with an air of weakness and helplessness.

Looking at the Imperial Concubine's appearance, Su Muyao instantly thought of the "white lotus" (a term used to describe a seemingly innocent but actually manipulative woman). It's true that the "white lotus" is ubiquitous, whether in modern or ancient times.

Even at his age, he's still quite talented to be able to do something like this.

"Alright, His Majesty needs to rest more. The eunuch is only keeping you out because of His Majesty's decree."

Upon hearing the Empress's words, the Imperial Concubine immediately raised her voice: "He won't let me in but lets you, the Empress, in. What does this mean? Does he look down on me as just an Imperial Concubine?"

"Your Highness is mistaken. Eunuch De always obeys the Emperor. Who the Emperor wants to see or doesn't want to see is not up to him. He is just following orders. Why make things difficult for him?"

"How can the Empress defend a eunuch like this? Oh, look at my foul mouth."

Su Muyao listened as the imperial concubine kept trying to smear the empress.

She is now extremely grateful that she was not born into royalty, otherwise she would be driven crazy by all the scheming and intrigue every day.

"When my royal aunt knew that my royal uncle was not feeling well and needed to rest, she took meticulous care of him, keeping her eyes on him the whole time he came in!"

Although Su Muyao's words sounded naive, everyone understood their meaning.

The Empress knew the Emperor was ill, so her eyes were entirely on him.

From the moment this concubine arrived, she kept criticizing the eunuch beside the emperor, and after criticizing him, she started to speak sarcastically. The empress, on the other hand, never paid any attention to the emperor lying in bed.

With such a comparison, it becomes immediately clear who is sincere and who is insincere.

The Imperial Concubine suddenly realized that this little brat was subtly mocking her for not caring about the Emperor. "Where did this ignorant child come from? I'm speaking to the Empress, who gave you the right to interrupt?"

"You have no manners at all! How dare you call me 'Uncle Emperor'? Who brought you into the palace?"

"How dare you! Ahem, the Imperial Concubine is disregarding etiquette and making a ruckus, and has been confined for a month."

The Imperial Concubine looked incredulous and immediately said, "Your Majesty, I came here specifically to see you, but I was first stopped outside and couldn't get in. Then this little kid from who-knows-where talked back to me, so I spoke without thinking. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"Yaoyao is the Princess of Chang'an, whom I personally bestowed upon her, and I also allowed her to call me Imperial Uncle. What is the meaning of your reprimanding her without any explanation?"

"Your Majesty, are you really going to punish me for the sake of a baby?"

"Take Consort Liu away from me. She will only be released when the appointed time arrives."

Several people quickly entered and took Consort Liu away.

"This is the little princess you mentioned. She's quite clever, and I like her very much. Her name is Yao Yao, right? Please come to my palace more often in the future."

"Mu Yao greets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Her Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

"Oh, what a delightful little guy! Look at his chubby little face, just like your brother Longyuan when he was little."

"Your Majesty, I also think this little fellow is just as clever and quick-witted as Long Yuan was when he was young! He's not at all like a naughty toddler."

The Empress Dowager nodded and then turned her gaze to the Emperor.

"What happened? Why did you suddenly fall ill again?"

"Mother, I was drugged by the Prince of Xiaoyao, but fortunately the little princess cured me."

However, this matter cannot be made public to prevent him from resorting to desperate measures, although his military power has been weakened.

But given his years on the border, it's hard to say he might have other schemes up his sleeve. With both external and internal troubles looming, it's not the right time to openly confront him.

After listening, the Empress Dowager nodded. "But we can't just let him get away with this. He's poisoned you and your son time and time again. What if something really happens?"

"Mother, Yuan'er has sent a battle report saying that he has recovered two cities. Yuan'er's purpose is not only to reclaim lost territory but also to win over the hearts of the people."

"Mother, please don't worry about it. Let them figure these things out themselves." The Empress held the Empress Dowager's hand with concern.

It's really not good for the Empress Dowager to worry. The imperial physicians have said that she needs to rest and recuperate. Even if she does, she doesn't have many years left.

If it weren't for the support of the Empress Dowager and the Empress's family, as well as the Prime Minister and others, the Emperor might not even be alive today!

Before the late emperor passed away, he said that the current emperor was not suitable to ascend the throne, but was just better than others.

To put it bluntly, they had no choice. The others were either ruthless or indifferent to politics and only interested in beautiful women.

"Yaoyao, thank you for saving the Emperor. From now on, whatever you need, just ask and I will grant it to you."

The Empress Dowager made a promise to the little boy, and she was truly grateful to Su Muyao. She was terrified of what would have happened to the Emperor if it weren't for her.

After saying that, she took off a red and green bracelet from her hand. "Since you are a princess, you will certainly not lack other rewards. I will give you this red bracelet."

"If anyone in the capital dares to bully you in the future, just tell me and I will stand up for you. And if you find a suitable man, I will arrange a marriage for you!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress's heart tightened. "Your Majesty, this princess is still quite young. It will be at least seven or eight years before she can be married!"

"You're not young anymore, it's good to settle down sooner rather than later, so that the good ones won't all be taken."

Su Muyao's lips twitched as she stood to the side. She really wanted to say that she was only five years old, five years old!!!

Although I know that marriages started early in ancient times, with girls getting engaged around ten years old and only being able to marry when they were fourteen or fifteen.

"What Mother said is that if Yao Yao takes a fancy to one, Mother will definitely help her take a look."