"If they don't come within 15 minutes, cut off two of them. Once all ten fingers are cut off, that's the throat."

Empress Shen's eyes were filled with a mad hatred, like a raging fire, wishing she could burn Ye Qingxue to ashes.

She almost bit her gums to pieces, and blood seemed to well up in her throat, but she managed to hold it in and said through gritted teeth, "Granny Dai, take Dongbai and bring Granny Xing and the others up here!"

The old nanny replied, and took Dongbai out.

Time seemed to stand still, with only the sound of everyone holding their breath and the emperor's slight panting.

He slowly backed away, slowly backed away, until he slumped into a chair, his eyes glazed over.

Now everyone understands that Ye Qingxue's accusations against Empress Shen are all true!

Empress Shen was not the original Shen family's legitimate daughter, Shen Hongxiu.

The real Shen Hongxiu is long dead!

Prince Ding is not of the Great Zhou bloodline, but a prince of the Heavenly Eagle Holy Kingdom!

The Heavenly Eagle Holy Kingdom's desire to seize the Great Zhou's territory began more than a decade ago.

Moreover, their valiant and loyal Marquis was actually killed by Empress Shen.

The deposed crown prince was also framed by Empress Shen, not the sixth prince; the sixth prince was just a scapegoat.

Ye Qingxue originally intended to kill Empress Shen, but Empress Shen took Ye Qingxue's relatives, who were far away in Jingzhou, hostage, forcing Ye Qingxue to suddenly stop.

As a result, Ye Qingxue became certain that the little girl was Empress Shen's child and took her hostage.

When Empress Shen chose to exchange hostages, it proved that Ye Qingxue was not lying, nor was she deliberately framing Empress Shen and Prince Ding for Prince Jing's sake!

They all understood, they all understood.

When the emperor stepped back and slumped into his chair, it meant that he was fully aware of the situation.

The one who has been deceiving him all along is not Ye Qingxue, but the Empress whom he has favored for more than ten years, and Prince Ding Yunchi whom he has loved for more than ten years!

After the emperor slumped into his chair, he gasped for breath, his eyes glazed over, his expression blank. It was clear that the truth before him had struck him like a series of thunderbolts, and he was powerless to resist.

Huaifu quickly stepped forward to help him catch his breath and had tea served immediately.

The Zichen Palace was unusually quiet at this moment.

Pan Yuanzhou, General Lan, Prince Yu, and Prince Xuan were all sweating profusely, but they only dared to look at each other.

This is a really big deal.

The empress, who was supposed to be the mother of the nation, was actually a beauty sent from an enemy country...

No wonder the emperor refused to believe it.

If this gets out, their emperor will become a laughingstock and a laughingstock for all time!

Any man would probably suffocate if he were in that situation, right?

No one spoke, no one spoke at all, only the night wind howled outside the window.

Why is it so quiet?

It's so unsettling, I always feel like some kind of storm is brewing outside!

But the storm just passed a few days ago, is it coming again now?

Within a quarter of an hour, Granny Dai brought Granny Xing and the others over. In addition to Granny Xing, there were three aunts, two uncles, and three children.

There are nine people in total.

The elders were people who had taken good care of Ye Qingxue, and the three children were people Ye Qingxue had taken good care of.

When Granny Xing saw Ye Qingxue, her eyes reddened. She wanted to go forward, but was stopped by the guard's long sword.

Ye Qingxue said, "Don't be afraid, Granny, I will save you!"

Empress Shen said, "Ye Qingxue, let's exchange hostages. You release Yiluo, and I'll let Granny Xing and the others return to your side."

Ye Qingxue said, "There is no priority; release them all at the same time!"

Empress Shen said, "Yes!"

Thus, witnessed by the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, the Shen family, and several court officials, Empress Shen and Ye Qingxue exchanged hostages.

A close call!

Empress Shen dared not gamble with her daughter's life.

She had left her hometown and devoted herself to her work for over ten years, all for her daughter. Therefore, she dared not play any tricks when exchanging hostages.

The hostage exchange went smoothly.

Ye Qingxue immediately instructed Dongbai to protect Granny Xing and the others behind her, and Empress Shen similarly instructed Granny Dai to protect her daughter behind her.

Seeing that the matter had been accomplished, the Empress Dowager immediately gave an extremely authoritative order: "Guards! Seize the Empress and Prince Ding and execute them on the spot!"

It was as if she had endured all this time for this very moment.

The affair between Empress Shen and Prince Ding must not be revealed. After their execution, the matter should be covered up and the public should be told that they died suddenly.

Otherwise, the emperor and the entire Great Zhou Dynasty would become a laughing stock, and the Empress Dowager would never allow such a thing to happen.

Empress Shen and her nanny protected the child and, along with their people, quickly took a step back.

Ye Qingxue, Pan Yuanzhou, and the others immediately retreated to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's side, as did the Shen family.

Inside the Zichen Palace, tensions instantly rose, as if even the wind blowing in from the window carried a murderous aura.

The way they looked at Empress Chen was as if she were a dying person. After switching her daughter, it would be her death day, and she would have no more bargaining chips.

But why didn't Empress Shen and Yun Chi show any sign of panic?